Archive for editor

PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (240): Delta, long Covid, vaccine boosters, Guillian-Barre, WHO

COVID-19 -- Worldwide/UnknownThe head of the World Health Organization (WHO) today [Mon 12 Jul 2021] warned that the pandemic is worsening with the delta (1617.2) variant spreading at a scorching pace, and chided countries and drug companies for pushing for 3rd vaccine booster doses when many countries don't have enough to protect their health workers and other vulnerable groups.Meanwhile, in promising vaccine supply developments, the WHO said it has licensed 2 more AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine manufacturing Read more [...]

PRO/EDR> Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update (20): Africa (Nigeria)

Cholera -- Nigeria57. Luquero FJ, Grout L, Ciglenecki I, et al.: Use of _Vibrio cholerae_ vaccine in an outbreak in Guinea. N Engl J Med. 2014; 370(22): 2111-20;58. Severe K, Rouzier V, Anglade SB, et al.: Effectiveness of oral cholera vaccine in Haiti: 37-month follow-up. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2016; 94(5): 1136-42;59. Bhattacharya SK, Sur D, Ali M, et al.: 5-year efficacy of a bivalent killed whole-cell oral cholera vaccine in Kolkata, India: a cluster-randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Read more [...]

I-75 remains closed through Tuesday morning after tanker truck crash in Troy – FOX 2 Detroit

I-75 remains closed through Tuesday morning after tanker truck crash in Troy  FOX 2 DetroitI-75 remains closed in Troy due to fuel tanker fire  The Detroit NewsTanker Fire Closes I-75 in Troy (video) • Oakland County Times  Oakland County TimesTROY FIRE & POLICE INVESTIGATE FUEL TANKER FIRE  MI HeadlinesView Full Coverage on Google News Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> Die-off, dolphin – China: (Zhejiang) strandings

Animal Die-off -- ChinaIn the past few days, rescue workers in various places along the coast of Zhejiang have been very busy, because cetaceans have been stranded on the tidal flats, and rescue operations have also attracted intense attention.On 6 Jul 2021, 12 melon-headed whales [or electra dolphins, _Peponocephala electra_, Family Delphinidae] stranded collectively in Linhai Toumen Port, Taizhou, Zhejiang. After dozens of hours of intense rescue, 6 of them were successfully released, 5 unfortunately Read more [...]

PRO/PL> Bacterial leaf streak, rice – Cote d'Ivoire: 1st rep (SV)

Other Plant Disease -- Cote d'IvoireBacterial leaf streak (BLS) of rice caused by _Xanthomonas oryzae_ pv. _oryzicola_ (Xoc) is considered an emerging disease of rice in Africa. [It] is now present in at least 8 African countries including Burundi [ProMED post http://promedmail.org/post/20150327.3258500], Burkina Faso, Kenya, Madagascar, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, and Uganda. Yield loss by BLS is estimated at 20 to 30%. BLS has not been described in adjacent rice-growing Ghana and Liberia. Xoc samples Read more [...]

ChaRM: The Nonprofit on a Mission to Keep Hazardous Household Materials Out of the Environment – Sustainable Brands

ChaRM: The Nonprofit on a Mission to Keep Hazardous Household Materials Out of the Environment  Sustainable Brands

DG Digest: PHMSA Seeks Leading-edge, Innovative Ideas to Advance the Safe Transport of DG

Amazingly, it’s already almost mid-July!  Crazy, how quickly the summer goes.  Hopefully everyone is having a chance to enjoy a little down time; be sure that if and when you do, you remain attentive to safety, especially for big chores around the house and most especially, driving.  Summer trips often mean unfamiliar territory, extra road... The post DG Digest: PHMSA Seeks Leading-edge, Innovative Ideas to Advance the Safe Transport of DG appeared first on Labelmaster Blog. Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> Canine influenza – North America (02): USA (FL) dog, shelter

Canine Influenza -- United StatesThe Florida Veterinary Medical Association (FVMA) has sent an alert about a canine influenza outbreak in Palm Beach. The initial number exceeds 60 reported from a shelter, and other pets are being diagnosed. This news is a concern for Central Florida because canine influenza (CI), or dog flu, is a highly contagious viral infection affecting dogs and also cats. There are 2 strains of canine influenza virus: H3N8 and H3N2. This outbreak is caused by H3N2, the same strain Read more [...]

PRO/EDR> Measles update (11): Africa (DR Congo; Nigeria), Pakistan

Measles -- DR CongoWith many children missing out on measles vaccines because of disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic, fears are growing that there could be an outbreak of the disease in the Democratic Republic of Congo. "In the last 2 to 3 months we've not been able to carry out routine measles vaccinations, which is worrying," says Eugenie Ngabo Nzigire, a nurse based in the eastern city of Bukavu. "It takes just one sick child and the whole community is in danger," adds the 57-year-old Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (239): Belgium, vacc. passp., Israel, Russia, Aust., Africa, WHO

COVID-19 -- BelgiumControversy around new technologies has been a running theme during the pandemic. But while some -like the vaccines themselves- have encouraged conspiracy theories, a more useful parallel may be digital contact tracing apps -systems intended to let you know if you'd been exposed to the virus. These started blanketing the world last spring as public health officials and technologists tried everything they could do to stop the spread. We started tracking the use of digital contact Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (96): Europe (Sweden) wild bird, HPAI H5N4, OIE

Avian Influenza -- SwedenSummaryReport type: immediate notificationStarted: 2 Mar 2021Confirmed: 28 Jun 2021Reported: 2 Jul 2021Reason for notification: New strain in the countryCausal agent: Highly pathogenic avian influenza virusSerotype: H5N4Nature of diagnosis: clinical, laboratoryThis event pertains to a defined zone within the country.New outbreaks (1)Summary of outbreaksTotal outbreaks (1)Outbreak location 1: Solvesborg, Solvesborg, BlekingeStarted: 2 Mar 2021Ended: 2 Mar Read more [...]

Traffic alert: Truck crash in Fort Bend County closes all lanes of I-69 northbound – KPRC Click2Houston

Traffic alert: Truck crash in Fort Bend County closes all lanes of I-69 northbound  KPRC Click2Houston

PRO/EDR> Syphilis – Ireland: rising incidence, men, alert

Syphilis -- IrelandIrish health officials are warning of a national outbreak of syphilis.Syphilis is a bacterial infection usually spread by sexual contact. Untreated, it can cause serious health problems to the heart, brain, eyes, and nervous system, and complications may take many years to develop.According to the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC), a national outbreak of early infectious syphilis (EIS) [primary and secondary syphilis] was declared and has been under investigation since Read more [...]

???Auto parts maker Faurecia defied instructions from firefighters to evacuate its Saline, Michigan plant during fire – WSWS

Auto parts maker Faurecia defied instructions from firefighters to evacuate its Saline, Michigan plant during fire  WSWS

PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (238): missed 2nd vaccinations, future, WHO, global

COVID-19 -- Worldwide/UnknownMore than 1 in 10 people in the US have missed their 2nd dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, new data from the CDC showed. As the country begins to see a rise in coronavirus cases caused by the highly transmissible Delta variant, public health experts are urging Americans to complete the vaccination process.Around 88% of people who were eligible for a 2nd dose received it as of 16 Jun [2021], according to CDC data shared with CNN, a decrease from the 92% completion rate seen Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> Crimean-Congo hem. fever – Asia (06): Pakistan (BA)

Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever -- PakistanWith Eidul Azha less than 2 weeks away, officials in Balochistan reported 2 Congo virus cases on Thursday [8 Jul 2021]. The cases were confirmed by Dr Sadiq Baloch, additional medical superintendent at Quetta's Fatima Jinnah Chest and General Hospital. He said the 2 patients had been placed in an isolation ward."Their condition is stable," he said. According to the official, one of the patients was an 11-year-old boy from Chaman, while the other was a 40-year-old Read more [...]

Chemical leak at Kitchener company prompts response – CTV Toronto

Chemical leak at Kitchener company prompts response  CTV Toronto

Most Hanford cleanup workers exposed to hazardous materials: Washington state report | TheHill – The Hill

Most Hanford cleanup workers exposed to hazardous materials: Washington state report | TheHill  The Hill

Illinois chemical plant explosion, fires prompt evacuations . 1 day ago – Associated Press

Illinois chemical plant explosion, fires prompt evacuations . 1 day ago  Associated PressMassive fire at chemical plant prompts evacuations in Rockton; No injuries reported  WGN TV ChicagoRockton Chemtool explosion causes major fire, smoke at chemical plant; evacuation ordered in area  WLS-TVMassive chemical fire at Chemtool in Rockton could burn for days  Rockford Register StarMassive chemical plant fire causes evacuations in Illinois  WWBT NBC12 Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> Scombroid fish poisoning – Syria: (LA)

Poisoning -- Syria"This information is intended for food business operators, enforcement officers and other interested parties. It:- Provides information on the causes of histamine food poisoning linked to fish and fishery products- Includes the relevant legislation governing acceptable limits of histamine in fish and fishery products- Provides information on how to minimise the risk of histamine build-up in fish and fishery products"What is histamine? Histamine is a biogenic amine which is a Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> Rabies (24): Americas (Colombia, Canada, USA) human death, exp, multiple animals

Rabies -- United StatesThe Colombian National Institute of Health (INS) confirmed to the Department of Health of Huila, a case of death due to the rabies virus, which affected a young man who had been referred for hospital care from the municipality of La Argentina."We come from the previous year on Red Alert for the case of human rabies having occurred in the municipality of Neiva, a measure maintained when this new case is notified and the Departmental Council of Zoonosis has already convened to Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> Eastern equine encephalitis – North America (05): USA, horse

Eastern Equine Encephalitis -- United StatesThe Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has reported the 8th and 9th eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) cases in horses this year [2021] in the state.The 8th confirmed case of EEE was reported in a horse from a private facility in Jefferson County. The animal has died.The 9th confirmed case was reported in a horse from a private facility in Madison County. The horse was euthanized.--Communicated by:ProMED******[2] FloridaDate: Tue 6 Jul Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (237): diagnostics with LFDs, COVID in youth, WHO, global

COVID-19 -- Worldwide/Unknown0-9 / 11.8%10-19 / 39.6%20-29 / 8.5%30-39 / 6.8%40-49 / 11.4%50-59 / 8.2%60-69 / 8%70-79 / 4.6%80-89 / 1%90+ / 0.1%(Source: Israel Ministry of Health)It's a trend that's not restricted to Israel. In the United States and the United Kingdom, COVID-19 has "become a disease of the unvaccinated, who are predominantly young," says Joshua Goldstein, a demographer at the University of California, Berkeley.This shift is occurring in many countries that vaccinated older Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> Undiagnosed deaths, dog – Australia: (VI) voluntary meat diet dog food recall

Other Animal Disease -- AustraliaFive pet dogs are dead and another 25 have been treated for liver failure by veterinarians in Victoria's east, prompting an urgent investigation into potentially toxic pet food linked to the animals.A Bairnsdale pet food retailer has issued an "urgent product recall" of 10-kg [22 lbs] Bulk Coarse Beef urging customers on social media to "please stop feeding to your pets and return what is left to us. If you observe any signs of lethargy, illness or your pet is off Read more [...]

Risk Managed? New Report Finds Chemical Disaster Risks from Climate Change – CleanTechnica

Risk Managed? New Report Finds Chemical Disaster Risks from Climate Change  CleanTechnica

PRO> Announcements (06): ASTMH Innovations Pitch Competition

Not Yet Classified -- Worldwide/UnknownThe 4th Annual Innovations Pitch Competition, hosted at the ASTMH Annual Meeting, will focus on bright ideas to reduce risk, improve prediction and deliver better healthcare tools for outbreak-prone diseases in low-resource settings.This year's [2021] competition will highlight tools and methods that will improve 2 of the most consequential threats to a healthy and sustainable world: resilience in the face of a pandemic and reducing the deleterious impact of Read more [...]

Leak from tractor-trailer shuts down portion of I-78 for hours – 69News WFMZ-TV

Leak from tractor-trailer shuts down portion of I-78 for hours  69News WFMZ-TV

PRO/AH/EDR> Plague – USA (06): (CO) conf, fatal

Plague -- United StatesState health officials have confirmed that plague was responsible for the death of a Durango-area child. The 10-year-old girl was a member of a local 4H group, the Weaselskin 4H Club, confirmed one of the club's leaders, Mike Latham.A statement released Friday evening [9 Jul 2021] from the Colorado Department of Health and Environment [CDPHE] said the investigation of the case to determine how and when the girl contracted plague is continuing. "We are so sad for the loss of Read more [...]

PRO/EDR> Legionellosis – USA (05): (MN) hotel, hot tub/pool susp

Legionnaires' -- United StatesState health officials say 2 laboratory-confirmed cases of Legionnaires' disease have been linked to an Albert Lea hotel.The Minnesota Department of Health today [9 Jul 2021] issued an advisory warning anyone who stayed at the Ramada by Wyndham Albert Lea in late June [2021] and spent time in the pool/hot tub area to seek medical care promptly if they are ill.Officials say they have identified 2 laboratory-confirmed cases, so far, among people from unrelated groups who Read more [...]

Crews clean 1,000 gallon fuel spill at Forbes Field – WIBW

Crews clean 1,000 gallon fuel spill at Forbes Field  WIBW

Fire crews clean up over 80 gallons of diesel spilled in South Hill parking lot – 8News

Fire crews clean up over 80 gallons of diesel spilled in South Hill parking lot  8News

Jet fuel spilled cleaned at Freeman Holdings Fuel Farm – WIBW

Jet fuel spilled cleaned at Freeman Holdings Fuel Farm  WIBW

PRO/AH/EDR> Plague – USA (05): (CO) susp, fatal

Plague -- United StatesAdams / 4Archuleta / 1Boulder / 1Denver / 3Grand / 1La Plata / 9Larimer / 1Mesa / 1Pueblo / 1-----------------Total / 22In 2004, a Pueblo man died of the plague after hunting near Breckenridge. One of the deadliest years nationally for plague came in 2015, when 4 people died, including 2 Coloradans: an adult in Pueblo County and a teenager in Larimer County.The plague is caused by a bacterium, _Yersinia pestis_, and is usually transmitted to humans through an Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (236): Africa, Asia, research, WHO, global

COVID-19 -- Worldwide/UnknownBackground: As of 26 Mar 2021, the Africa CDC had reported 4 159 055 cases of COVID-19 and 111 357 deaths among the 55 African Union Member States; however, no country has published a nationally representative serosurvey as of May 2021. Such data are vital for understanding the pandemic's progression on the continent, evaluating containment measures, and policy planning.Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional, nationally representative, age-stratified serosurvey in Sierra Read more [...]

Hazardous materials response closes Interstate 78 East in Lehigh County (PHOTOS) – lehighvalleylive.com

Hazardous materials response closes Interstate 78 East in Lehigh County (PHOTOS)  lehighvalleylive.com

PRO/AH/EDR> Anthrax – Canada: (SK) sheep

Anthrax -- CanadaSaskatchewan Agriculture is reminding producers to be on the lookout for anthrax in their animals after confirmation that anthrax has been found in the RM of South Qu'Appelle no. 157. Anthrax was confirmed by laboratory results on 7 Jul 2021 as the cause of death in one animal in a flock of sheep. It is the suspected cause of death of 4 additional sheep on the same premises.Anthrax is caused by the bacteria _Bacillus anthracis_, which can survive in spore form for decades in soil. Read more [...]

PRO/EDR> Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update (19): Asia (India)

Cholera -- IndiaKalol taluka [a taluka is a local unit of administrative division in some countries of the Indian subcontinent that is usually translated to "township" - Mod.LL] in Gandhinagar is affected by a cholera outbreak with more than 100 suspected patients and 4 deaths since 3 Jul 2021, taluka health officer Dr Hemangini Patel confirmed on Tuesday [6 Jul 2021].The district collectorate's office also issued a notification on Tuesday declaring a 2-kilometer area [1.2 mi] in the Kalol municipality Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> Foot & mouth disease – Mongolia: livestock, st O, OIE

Foot and Mouth -- MongoliaGeneral informationReport type: Immediate notificationStarted: 16 May 2021Confirmed: 17 May 2021Reported: 7 Jul 2021Reason for notification: RecurrenceLast occurrence: 29 Jun 2018Causal agent: Foot-and-mouth disease virusSerotype: ONature of diagnosis: Clinical, laboratoryThis event pertains to the whole country.Outbreak location 1: Ongon sum, Ongon, SuhbaatarDate of start of the outbreak: 13 May 2021Epidemiological unit: FarmAffected animalsSpecies / Read more [...]

PRO/EDR> Foodborne illness – UK: (England) oysters, poss diarrheal shellfish poisoning

Foodborne Illness -- United KingdomA Whitstable oyster company farm has been closed down as officials investigate multiple reports of people falling ill after eating the shellfish. It is believed more than 100 people have fallen ill with vomiting and diarrhea symptoms since eating the oysters. Officials stress that the batches of oysters affected have been identified and testing is ongoing.The Food Standards Agency (FSA), Public Health England and Canterbury City Council have issued a joint statement Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> Plague – USA (05): (CO) cat

Plague -- United StatesOn Tuesday [6 Jul 2021], a domestic cat tested positive for the plague at a local veterinarian hospital in San Miguel County [Colorado]. The cat was hospitalized, tested, and treated and is recovering well. No fleas were found during treatment and those who handled the cat did not experience high risk exposures though will monitor for symptoms for the next week.This is one of a few instances of the plague in domestic and wild animals so far this summer [2021] across the state Read more [...]