Archive for editor

PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (231): delta variant growth, Olympics, Cuba, global

COVID-19 -- CubaMlcochova P, Kemp S, Dhar MS, et al. SARS-CoV-2 B.1.617.2 Delta variant emergence and vaccine breakthrough. In Review. Nature Portfolio. DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-637724/v1]The SARS-CoV-2 B.1.617.2 (Delta) variant was first identified in the state of Maharashtra in late 2020 and has spread throughout India, displacing the B.1.1.7 (Alpha) variant and other pre-existing lineages. Mathematical modelling indicates that the growth advantage is most likely explained by a combination of increased Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (230): animal, USA, zoo, vaccination

COVID-19 -- United StatesA United States zoo has begun inoculating big cats, bears, and ferrets against the virus using an experimental vaccine, as efforts are ramped up to protect animal species from the coronavirus.The Oakland Zoo in the San Francisco Bay Area administered the shot to its tigers Ginger and Molly, as well as black and grizzly bears, mountain lions, and ferrets. Primates and pigs are next on the list.The shots have been donated by the veterinary pharmaceutical company Zoetis, which Read more [...]

PRO/PL> Multiple viruses, tomato – India: (MH)

Other Plant Disease -- IndiaA plethora of viruses as well as insect vectors and pests pose an emerging threat to the tomato belt; it is a wake-up call to stakeholders to adopt good agricultural practices. Currently, the tomato virus is wreaking havoc in districts of Maharashtra. Tomatoes have turned into yellow, spongy, plastic-textured fruits.Last year [2020; ProMED post http://promedmail.org/post/20200528.7388319], farmers complained of early ripening and substantial yield loss. Samples from Satara Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> Listeriosis – USA (05): (TX, DE) precooked RTE chicken, fatal, recall

Listeriosis -- United StatesTyson Foods Inc., a Dexter, Missouri, establishment, is recalling approximately 8 492 832 pounds of ready-to-eat (RTE) chicken products that may be adulterated with _Listeria monocytogenes_, the US Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today [Sat 3 Jul 2021].The frozen, fully cooked chicken products were produced between 26 Dec 2020 and 13 Apr 2021. The products that are subject to recall are listed here: . View the labels here: Read more [...]

PRO/EDR> Foodborne illness – Nigeria: (ZA) sorghum, fatal, RFI

Foodborne Illness -- NigeriaTen members of the same family have died as a result of eating poisonous food in Jangeme village of Gusau local government area in Zamfara state.A neighbour of the deceased family members, [MSS], informed newsmen that [the family members] were served with guinea corn food called "tuwon dawa" in Hausa, which was allegedly cooked by one of the members of the family, [AM].According to [MSS], immediately [after] the family members ate the food, they developed stomach cramps Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> Salmonellosis, st. Hadar – USA (02): FDA, turkey products

Salmonella -- United StatesAs of 17 May 2021, a total of 33 people infected with the outbreak strain of _Salmonella_ Hadar were reported from 14 states. Illnesses started on dates ranging from 28 Dec 2020 to 22 Apr 2021.Location / Number of sick people----------------------------------------Arizona / 1Connecticut / 2Indiana / 1Maine / 1Maryland / 1Massachusetts / 7Missouri / 2New Hampshire / 1New Jersey / 3New York / 4North Carolina / 3Pennsylvania / 4Vermont / 1Virginia / 2Sick Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> Crimean-Congo hem. fever – Europe (03): Spain

Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever -- SpainA woman, 68, was admitted last Fri 25 Jun [2021] to the Hospital Rio Hortega of Valladolid in Northern Spain with a suspected case of Crimean-Congo fever, which is caused by tick bites.According to health sources, the woman has been isolated since then, and samples have already been sent to the San Carlos Institute in Madrid. If results come back positive for the disease, then this would be the 2nd case in just over 2 months, as on 26 Apr [2021], the general Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (229): Lambda variant, diagnostics, prisons, CIDRAP, global

COVID-19 -- Worldwide/Unknown"Background: The newly described SARS-CoV-2 lineage C.37 was recently classified as a variant of interest by the WHO (Lambda variant) based on its high circulation rates in South American countries and the presence of critical mutations in the spike protein. The impact of such mutations in infectivity and immune escape from neutralizing antibodies are entirely unknown."Methods: We performed a pseudotyped virus neutralization assay and determined the impact of the Lambda Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> Invasive mosquito – France (02): (CN) spread

Not Yet Classified -- FranceAfter Indre, Cher and Indre-et-Loire, now the tiger mosquito [_Aedes albopictus_] has been reported in Loiret, and colonization of the territory is inevitable, the regional health agency estimates, but we can adopt measures to limit its rapid spread.This mosquito is establishing itself more and more on French soil in [metropolitan] France and is a vector of diseases [viruses] such as chikungunya, dengue fever and Zika. The Regional Health Agency [ARS] of the Centre-Val Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (92): Viet Nam (QN) poultry, HPAI H5N8, 1st rep, RFI

Avian Influenza H5N8 -- VietnamPyankova OG, Susloparov IM, Moiseeva AA, et al. Isolation of clade 2.3.4.4b A(H5N8), a highly pathogenic avian influenza virus, from a worker during an outbreak on a poultry farm, Russia, December 2020. Euro Surveill. 2021; 26(24): 2100439. doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2021.26.24.2100439. PMID: 34142650; PMCID: PMC8212591; - Mod.ASHealthMap/ProMED map of Viet Nam: ][See Also:Avian influenza (88): China (NX) wild bird, HPAI H5N8, OIE http://promedmail.org/post/20210628.8480747Avian Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> Leishmaniasis, visceral – Kenya: increase

Leishmaniasis -- KenyaExperts have expressed concern over the steady rise in the number of reported cases of leishmaniasis in the country.Data from the Health Ministry show that the number of cases of the disease, also known as kala-azar, rose from 907 in 2018 to 1463 in 2019, before dropping to 1200 last year [2020].The Head of the Division of Vector-borne and Neglected Tropical Diseases at the Ministry, Sultani Matendechero, now says that [the disease was believed to be prevalent in just 6 counties Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> Foot & mouth disease – Namibia: (CA) cattle, st pending, OIE

Foot and Mouth -- NamibiaGeneral informationReport type: immediate notificationStarted: 1 Jun 2021Confirmed: 3 Jun 2021Reported: 1 Jul 2021Reason for notification: recurrenceLast occurrence: 21 Apr 2021Causal agent: foot-and-mouth disease virusSubtype: pendingNature of diagnosis: clinical, laboratoryThis event pertains to a defined zone within the country.Outbreak location: Kasuno crush-pen, Katima Muliro Rural, ZambeziDate of start of the outbreak: 1 Jun 2021Epidemiological unit: Read more [...]

PRO/AH> Bluetongue – Europe (04): Spain (PM) cattle, sheep, BT virus st 4, control

Bluetongue -- SpainThe Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA) has published its report on the detection of serotype 4 of the bluetongue virus in the Balearic Islands.The MAPA points out that the preliminary molecular studies carried out in the Central Veterinary Laboratory (LCV) of Algete on the virus indicate that the strain causing these outbreaks is similar to the one that affected the region in recent years, from the Balkans and Italy.The report remarks that it is "therefore different Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> Listeriosis – USA (04): (TX, DE) precooked chicken, fatal

Listeriosis -- United StatesAs of 2 Jul 2021, 3 people infected with the outbreak strain of _Listeria monocytogenes_ have been reported from 2 states (2 people in Texas and one in Delaware). Illnesses started on dates ranging from 6 Apr 2021 to 5 Jun 2021.Sick people range in age from 60-95 years, with a median age of 89, and 66% are male. All 3 people were hospitalized, and one death has been reported from Texas. The true number of sick people in an outbreak is likely higher than the number reported, Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> Undiagnosed illness – Somalia: camel, goat, RFI

Undiagnosed -- SomaliaPastoralists in Rabdhure and Elbarde in southern Somalia's Bakool region are complaining about an unidentified disease that has been killing their goats and camels since May [2021].[NAM], a goat herder in Aato village, said she lost 24 of her 120 goats over 3 weeks. She described the goats as having fever and being unable to walk and dying quickly within 24 hours of falling sick."Pastoralists provide for their families from the sale of their livestock's milk and meat. But now Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> E. coli EHEC – UK (02): (England) O157, farm visitors

E. coli -- United KingdomTwo confirmed cases of _E. coli_ O157 infection have been linked to a farm in England. Acton Scott Historic Working Farm in Shropshire temporarily closed this past week to take precautionary measures to reduce the risk of visitors becoming infected. The steps include providing more handwashing facilities and improving safety information about feeding and touching animals.Members of the Public Health England (PHE) West Midlands Health Protection Team and environmental health Read more [...]

PRO/EDR> Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update (16): Asia (India)

Cholera -- India"Background: There are an estimated 1.3-4.0 million cases of cholera and 20  000-140  000 cholera-related deaths worldwide each year. The rice-based cholera toxin B subunit (CTB) vaccine, MucoRice-CTB, is an oral candidate vaccine that does not require a cold chain, has shown efficacy in animal models, and could be of benefit in places where there is a paucity of medical infrastructure. We aim to assess the safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity of MucoRice-CTB in Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> Lumpy skin disease – Asia (11): Laos (SV, VT) cattle, 1st rep, OIE

Lumpy Skin Disease -- LaosSummaryReport type: Immediate notificationStarted: 22 May 2021Confirmed: 28 May 2021Reported: 2 Jul 2021Reason for notification: 1st occurrence in the countryCausal agent: Lumpy skin disease virusNature of diagnosis: Clinical, laboratoryThis event pertains to the whole country.New outbreaks (9)[Since 22 May 2021, 9 outbreaks of lumpy skin disease (LSD) have occurred in the provinces of Savannakhet and Vientiane (prefecture). See details of each outbreak at the source URL Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (228): USA vacc, SE Asia surge, evolution, gender disparity, WHO

COVID-19 -- Worldwide/UnknownWHO region (no. countries/territories):Total confirmed cases (new cases in last 24 hours) / Total deaths (new deaths in last 24 hours)--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Western Pacific Region (19): 3 591 304 (20 099) / 55 139 (300)European Region (61): 56 083 678 (79 238) / 1 186 837 (991)South East Asia Region (10): 35 037 801 (90 372) / 492 609 (1636)Eastern Mediterranean Region (22): 11 022 816 (37 031) / 217 304 (516)Region Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> Powassan virus encephalitis – USA (03): (RI)

Powassan virus -- United StatesA Rhode Island resident has been diagnosed with a rare tick-borne disease that can cause muscular weakness or even paralysis, state public health officials said Tuesday [29 Jun 2021].The case of Powassan virus disease was confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the state Department of Health said in an emailed statement. The case was confirmed in a previously healthy man over the age of 70 from Providence County, who developed neurological symptoms Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> Anthrax – Armenia: (GR, SH) human, livestock

Anthrax -- Armenia[Anonymous member: A media news article* on 1 Jul 2021 reported that] 3 people in Armenia's Gegharkunik [Gelark'unik'] region have been confirmed to have contracted anthrax, the Ministry of Health reported.It said the anthrax was found in livestock in the communities of Vanevan and Torfavan by the specialists of the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention, who had been dispatched to the region to take samples from 7 local residents.Three of them were diagnosed with anthrax. Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> Salmonellosis – Finland (02): (CF) preschool children, more cases, lettuce susp

Salmonella -- FinlandAlmost 450 people have fallen ill in Finland with salad from Sweden suspected to be the source of infection. Officials in the city of Jyvaskyla are investigating _Salmonella_ cases and absence of children and staff at preschools and private day care centers who reported symptoms of infection, with the help of the National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL). In total, 377 children and 65 adults have been affected.On Tuesday [29 Jun 2021], only a few new cases were reported, Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (227): Delta variant Europe, Africa, Novavax, WHO, global

COVID-19 -- Worldwide/UnknownWHO region (no. countries/territories):Total confirmed cases (new cases in last 24 hours) / Total deaths (new deaths in last 24 hours)--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Western Pacific Region (19): 3 571 224 (17 753) / 54 839 (259)European Region (61): 55 994 496 (75 420) / 1 185 776 (1022)South East Asia Region (10): 34 945 413 (91 443) / 490 927 (1756)Eastern Mediterranean Region (22): 11 022 816 (37 031) / 217 304 (516)Region Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> Rabies (22): Americas (Brazil) bat, livestock alert

Rabies -- BrazilIn the last few days, the Centre for Zoonoses Control (CCZ) diagnosed more than 3 bats infected by the rabies virus in Foz do Iguaçu, the western region of Paraná state. The records raised the cases to 19 since January 2021, which is the same number recorded in the whole 2019, and close to the maximum of 32 infected bats recorded in 2018.Bats were spotted all over Foz do Iguaçu. According to Giselli Kurtz, coordinator of the Zoonoses Control Program, they were Read more [...]

PRO/EDR> Botulism – Ukraine: (ZP) retail-bought smoked fish

Botulism -- Ukraine1. Hughes JM, Hatheway CL, Ostroff SM: Botulism. In: Scheld WM, Whitley RJ, Durack DT, editors. Infections of the central nervous system. 2nd edition. Philadelphia: Lippincott-Raven, 1997, 615-28.2. Semenko N, Mokhort H, Sokolovska O, et al. Foodborne botulism in Ukraine from 1955 to 2018. Foodborne Pathog Dis. 2021; 18(4): 260-266. doi: 10.1089/fpd.2020.2826. Epub 2020 Dec 17. PMID: 33332209; PMCID: PMC8060719; .- Mod.LLHealthMap/ProMED map of Ukraine: ][See Also:Botulism - Read more [...]

PRO/EDR> Poliomyelitis update (13): global (cVDPV2 Nigeria, Egypt environmental sample)

Polio -- NigeriaPoliovirus weekly update as of 30 Jun 2021, World Health OrganizationNew wild poliovirus isolates reported this week:AFP cases: 0Environment: 0Others: 0New cVDPV isolates reported this week:AFP cases: 10Environment: 5Others: 3Summary of new WPV and cVDPV this week (AFP cases and ES positives):- Nigeria: 10 cVDPV2 cases and 4 cVDPV2 positive environmental samples- Egypt: 1 cVDPV2 positive environmental sampleAfghanistan- No wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) case Read more [...]

City of Ankeny closes off area near hazardous materials leak – Local 5 – weareiowa.com

City of Ankeny closes off area near hazardous materials leak  Local 5 – weareiowa.com

PRO/EDR> Mucormycosis – India: fatal, COVID/diabetes/corticosteroid predisposition

Mucormycosis -- India1. Gartenberg G, Bottone EJ, Keusch GT, et al.: Hospital-acquired mucormycosis (_Rhizopus rhizopodiformis_) of skin and subcutaneous tissue. N Engl J Med. 1978; 299: 1115-17.1a. Mead JH, Lupton GP, Dillavou CL, Odom RB: Cutaneous Rhizopus infection. Occurrence as a post-operative complication association with an elasticized adhesive dressing. JAMA. 1979; 242: 272-274.2. Mitchell SJ, Gray J, Morgan MEI, et al.: Nosocomial infection with _Rhizopus microsporus_ in preterm infants: Read more [...]

This July 4th, what is the most patriotic hazardous material?

Here’s a question that should have American Dangerous Goods pros debating hotly as July 4th approaches: What is the most patriotic hazardous material? Okay, it’s actually kind of a silly question, but it’s worth considering—especially since so many Dangerous Goods are normal, household items that American shippers often don’t realize are regulated hazmat. So, let’s... The post This July 4th, what is the most patriotic hazardous material? appeared first on Labelmaster Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (226): Bangladesh, mucormycosis, immune response research, WHO

COVID-19 -- Worldwide/UnknownWHO region (no. countries/territories):Total confirmed cases (new cases in last 24 hours) / Total deaths (new deaths in last 24 hours)--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Western Pacific Region (19): 3 553 482 (16 287) / 54 580 (293)European Region (61): 55 906 897 (64 877) / 1 184 536 (1053)South East Asia Region (10): 34 851 968 (84 963) / 489 124 (1508)Eastern Mediterranean Region (22): 10 985 785 (37 069) / 216 788 (512)Region Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (91): Togo (MA) poultry, HPAI H5N1, OIE

Avian Influenza H5N1 -- TogoGeneral informationReport type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 1 Jun 2021Date of confirmation of the event: 22 Jun 2021Reason for notification: recurrenceLast occurrence: 24 Mar 2019Manifestation of disease: clinical diseaseCausal agent: highly pathogenic avian influenza virusSerotype: H5N1Nature of diagnosis: clinical, laboratory, necropsyThis event pertains to the whole country.New outbreaks (2)Summary of outbreaksTotal outbreaks: 2Outbreak Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> Classical swine fever – Bhutan: (TM) wild boar, OIE

Classical Swine Fever -- BhutanGeneral informationReport type: immediate notificationStarted: 23 Jun 2021Confirmed: 23 Jun 2021Reported: 30 Jun 2021Reason for notification: recurrenceLast occurrence: 29 Jun 2018Manifestation of disease: clinical diseaseCausal agent: classical swine fever virus [CSFV]Nature of diagnosis: clinical, laboratoryThis event pertains to a defined zone within the country.Outbreak location: Samtenling, Chang, ThimphuDate of start of the outbreak: 23 Jun 2021Epidemiological Read more [...]

PRO/EDR> Melioidosis – USA: non-travel related, possible common source

Melioidosis -- United StatesSummary---------The Kansas Department of Health and Environment, the Texas Department of State Health Services, and the Minnesota Department of Health, with assistance from the CDC, are investigating 3 cases of _Burkholderia pseudomallei_ (melioidosis) infections. Based on genomic analysis, these 3 cases (1 male, 2 females; 2 adults, and 1 child) may share a potential common source of exposure. The 1st case, identified in March 2021, was fatal. Two other patients were Read more [...]

Part of Beltway reopens, hours after a crash where a tractor-trailer spilled hot asphalt – The Washington Post

Part of Beltway reopens, hours after a crash where a tractor-trailer spilled hot asphalt  The Washington PostOuter Loop Still Closed In Bethesda After Truck Crash  Patch.comOuter Loop of I-495 Closed After Tanker Overturns, Spills Hot Asphalt  Montgomery Community MediaOuter Loop near Rockville Pike reopens 12 hours after liquid asphalt spill  WUSA9.comHot liquid asphalt spills onto Outer Loop in Bethesda after crash injures driver  msnNOWView Full Read more [...]

Part of Beltway closed for hours in Maryland after crash, tractor-trailer spills hot asphalt – The Washington Post

Part of Beltway closed for hours in Maryland after crash, tractor-trailer spills hot asphalt  The Washington PostOverturned tanker spills asphalt, diesel on I-495 in Montgomery Co.  WTOPOuter Loop Closed In Bethesda After Truck Crash, Asphalt Spilt  Patch.comLanes shut down on Outer Loop near Rockville Pike due to overturned tractor-trailer  WUSA9.comHot liquid asphalt spilling onto Outer Loop in Bethesda after crash injures driver  msnNOWView Full Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (90): Togo (MA) poultry, HPAI H5N1

Avian Influenza H5N1 -- TogoTogo has culled hundreds of birds, quarantined a poultry farm, closed a local bird market, and banned the movement of poultry following an outbreak of the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian flu, the government said on Tuesday [29 Jun 2021].Over 800 birds have been culled, Batasse Batawui, director of livestock at Togo's Ministry of Agriculture, told Reuters.The government said in a statement that the birds were incinerated and eggs destroyed to stop the spread.It added that Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> Rabies (21): Americas (Canada, USA) coyote, horse, human exp

Rabies -- CanadaAt least 3 women were bitten by a coyote within minutes of each other in the Tuscany area Saturday night [26 Jun 2021], says one of the victims.[PO] said she was celebrating her high school graduation with 2 friends, drinking Slurpees [frozen carbonated drink] in a field in the northwest neighbourhood around 8 p.m. when they noticed what they thought was a dog approaching them. "There were people around us walking their dogs, so we thought it was another dog," said [PO], 18. She said Read more [...]

PRO/PL> Pepino mosaic virus, tomato – New Zealand

Other Plant Disease -- New ZealandNew Zealand tomato exports to six countries have been stopped, after the _Pepino mosaic virus_ (PepMV) was discovered on crops. The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has notified Australia, Japan, Thailand, Fiji, Tonga, and New Caledonia, because these countries consider PepMV a quarantine risk.The virus was first detected in an Auckland glasshouse and has subsequently been found in tomato production facilities in the wider region. The premises where PepMV has Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (225): animal, Spain (GA) mink, OIE

COVID-19 -- SpainSummaryReport type: immediate notificationStart on: 16 Jun 2021Confirmed on: 21 Jun 2021Reported on: 29 Jun 2021Event status: ongoingReason for notification: emerging diseaseEvent morbidity (%): 0.16Event mortality: -Zoonotic potential: yesDiagnostic details: laboratory testCausal agent: SARS-CoV-2This event pertains to a defined zone within the country.New outbreaks (1)Outbreak location 1: Abegondo, A Coruña, GaliciaStarted on: 16 Jun 2021Ended on: Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> Rabies (20): Americas (USA) imported dog

Rabies -- United StatesRabies was eliminated in dogs in the United States in 2007 [perhaps in people, but not necessarily so in pets - Mod.TG], though unvaccinated canines bitten by rabid wildlife (or that come in contact with their saliva) -- raccoons, skunks, or bats, for example -- can still contract the disease this way. Today, pet dogs in the United States are routinely vaccinated against rabies to protect them.But rabies remains one of the deadliest diseases that can be transmitted from animals Read more [...]