Archive for editor

The last week of 2020 (hooray!) sees important relief from FMCSA and the end of the ORM-D mark

What has been one of the most difficult years in our nation’s modern history finally comes to an end later this week. It is likely none of us will be unhappy to see 2020 in our rearview mirrors. Meanwhile, although the vaccines currently being distributed will eventually help put an end to the COVID-19 pandemic,... The post The last week of 2020 (hooray!) sees important relief from FMCSA and the end of the ORM-D mark appeared first on Labelmaster Blog. Read more [...]

Bomb squad called to Madison neighborhood, no hazardous materials found – WKOW

Bomb squad called to Madison neighborhood, no hazardous materials found  WKOW

Fuel tanker driver ticketed in Christmas night wreck – Now Habersham

Fuel tanker driver ticketed in Christmas night wreck  Now Habersham

PRO/AH/EDR> Leishmaniasis – Syria: (DY) cutaneous

Leishmaniasis -- SyriaOfficials at Hajin Hospital are reporting a widespread surge of cutaneous leishmaniasis, aka Aleppo boil, among children in Hajin and its villages east of Deir ez-Zor, according a Radio Al-kul report. It is reported that 1750 cases among children have been seen this year [2020] in the area and demonstrates the need for urgent medical intervention.Leishmaniasis lesions require lengthy and expensive treatment because the medication is imported. It is difficult for the people to Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (559): immunity duration, South Asia, stillbirths, WHO, global

COVID-19 -- AfghanistanAbstract--------Waning humoral immunity in coronavirus disease patients has raised concern over usefulness of serologic testing. We investigated antibody responses of 58 persons 8 months after asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. For 3 of 4 immunoassays used, seropositivity rates were high (69.0%-91.4%).--communicated by:ProMED-mail[Selection criteria for this study were PCR confirmed cases in individuals in Read more [...]

Big rig crash stalls Highway 14 traffic – Santa Clarita Valley Signal

Big rig crash stalls Highway 14 traffic  Santa Clarita Valley Signal

PRO/AH/EDR> Undiagnosed deaths, buffalo – Taiwan (02): (Yangmingshan N Park) malnutrition susp

Undiagnosed -- ChinaThe initial findings of an investigation into the recent deaths of 25 wild water buffaloes in Yangmingshan National Park in Taipei indicate that the animals were victims of malnutrition, the spokesman for the park headquarters said on Monday [21 Dec 2020].At a meeting of experts held by the Taipei City Animal Protection Office earlier in the day to discuss the issue, contagious diseases, pesticides, and fences on the mountains were ruled out as causes of death. A "composite environmental Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> Yellow fever – Americas (14): Brazil (PR) monkeys

Yellow Fever -- BrazilIn a follow-up report on the yellow fever situation in Parana state, Brazil on Wednesday [23 Dec 2020], the Secretariat of Health of Parana released a biweekly yellow fever bulletin recording 3 dead monkeys (epizootics) confirmed in the municipalities of Cruz Machado, Honorio Serpa, and Palmas.The epidemiological period beginning in July 2020 totals 87 notifications of epizootic diseases: 11 were confirmed as the deaths of monkeys infected by yellow fever [virus]; 32 were discarded; Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> Undiagnosed illness – India (09): (TG) pesticide susp.

Undiagnosed -- India[Please note, this is NOT Eluru's mystery illness. This is a different location with only 20 hospitalized people, not over 100 hospitalized and more than 600 affected as in Eluru. These individuals have different clinical signs than those in Eluru. - Mod.TG]As many as 20 people belonging to Bajana thanda of Ayodya village were hospitalised on Fri 25 Dec 2020 after they experienced stomach pain and diarrhoea.According to sources, around 102 persons belonging to the thanda have Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> Pigeon fever – Canada (BC): horse

Other Animal Disease -- CanadaThree forms of PF have been described in horses: external abscesses, internal infection, and ulcerative lymphangitis or limb infection. Ulcerative lymphangitis and internal infection must be treated more aggressively with antimicrobial therapy, while use of antimicrobials for external abscesses is generally unnecessary. _C. pseudotuberculosis_ produces various extracellular exotoxins which play a role in virulence and explain the presence of pain and edema at the site Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> Chronic wasting disease – North America (07): USA (MT) deer

Chronic Wasting Disease -- United StatesThe Blackfeet Fish and Wildlife Department was notified by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (MFWP) that a tribal hunter harvested a whitetail deer from the Meriwether Road area on 11 Nov 2020, which tested positive for chronic wasting disease (CWD). The tribal hunter had voluntarily provided a sample to MFWP for CWD testing in Bozeman.CWD is a fatal neurologic disease of moose, elk, whitetail deer, mule deer and caribou for which there is no known cure. It Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> Yersiniosis – Norway (02): lettuce

Foodborne Illness -- NorwayThe source of infection of the national outbreak with _Yersinia enterocolitica_ is probably a pre-cut lettuce product, according to the investigation of the outbreak.The outbreak is considered over. Lettuce has a short shelf life, and the relevant lettuce products are probably no longer on the market, says senior researcher Umaer Naseer at the National Institute of Public Health.The outbreak of _Yersinia enterocolitica_ O3 started in mid-November 2020. In total, as of 21 Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> Issyk-Kul virus – Germany: bat, 1st rep

Other Animal Disease -- GermanyBats have been gaining attention as potential reservoir hosts of numerous viruses pathogenic to animals and man. Issyk-Kul virus, a member of the family _Nairoviridae_, was first isolated in the 1970s from vespertilionid bats in Central Asia. Issyk-Kul virus has been described as a human-pathogenic virus, causing febrile outbreaks in humans with headaches, myalgia and nausea. Here we describe the detection of a novel strain of Issyk-Kul virus from _Eptesicus nilssonii_ Read more [...]

Transport Canada responds to Masse on potential for hazardous materials on Ambassador Bridge – Windsor Star

Transport Canada responds to Masse on potential for hazardous materials on Ambassador Bridge  Windsor Star

PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza, human (08): China (HN) H5N6, new case

Avian Influenza H5N6 -- ChinaAccording to the Hunan Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, on the evening of 21 Dec 2020, a human case of H5N6 avian influenza was confirmed in Ningyuan County, Yongzhou City, Hunan Province. The patient is currently receiving treatment, and his vital signs are stable. Local live poultry trading has been suspended from 20 Dec 2020.It is understood that the patient contracted the disease at a live poultry trading market in Ningyuan County. He was sampled Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (558): variants, Africa, Europe, Hong Kong, trials, WHO, global

COVID-19 -- Worldwide/UnknownAll our Nigerian SARS_CoV_2 sequences obtained from the beginning of the pandemic in Nigeria till date are available at . All of these sequences are also available on GISAID.Partners and CollaboratorsAfrican Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID), Redeemer's University, Ede, Osun State, @acegid.Redeemer's University, Ede, Osun State (RUN), @RedeemersUniNigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Abuja, Nigeria, @NCDCgov.Africa Center for Diseases Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (118): Russia (RO) HPAI H5, wild bird, OIE

Avian Influenza -- RussiaInformation received on [and dated] 23 Dec 2020 from Dr Nikolay Vlasov, Deputy Head, Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance, Ministry of Agriculture, Moscow, RussiaSummaryReport type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 17 Dec 2020Date of confirmation of the event: 21 Dec 2020Reason for notification: recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: 29 Mar 2017Manifestation of disease: clinical diseaseCausal agent: highly Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> Newcastle disease – Russia (04): (CN) poultry, OIE

Newcastle Disease -- RussiaInformation received on [and dated] 23 Dec 2020 from Dr. Nikolay Vlasov, Deputy Head, Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance, Ministry of Agriculture, Moscow, RussiaSummaryReport type: Immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 7 Dec 2020Date of confirmation of the event: 17 Dec 2020Reason for notification: Recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: 29 Apr 2019Manifestation of disease: Clinical diseaseCausal agent: Newcastle Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> Yellow fever – Africa (25): Guinea, WHO

Yellow Fever -- GuineaBetween 6 Nov and 15 Dec 2020, 52 suspected cases of yellow fever (YF), including 14 deaths, were reported in Guinea. A total of 50 cases were reported from the health district of Koundara in northwest Guinea, one from the health district of Dubreka (near Conakry, in the southwest), and one from the health district of Kouroussa, in the center of the country. Analysis performed at the Nongo, Conakry Laboratory of Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers revealed that 10 cases of suspected YF Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (557): animal, Slovenia (SA) ferret, OIE

COVID-19 -- SloveniaInformation received on [and dated] 23 Dec 2020 from Dr Breda Hrovatin, Head, Animal Health and Animal Welfare Division, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food, Ljubljana, SloveniaSummaryReport type: immediate notification (final report)Date of start of the event: 25 Nov 2020Date of confirmation of the event: 1 Dec 2020Reason for notification: emerging diseaseMorbidity: 1%Mortality: 0%Zoonotic impact: noCausal agent: SARS-CoV-2New outbreaks (1)Total outbreaks: Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> Salmonellosis – Finland

Salmonella -- FinlandTwo different _Salmonella_ outbreaks have been reported in Finland with one linked to zucchini from Spain. The 1st outbreak, in the Finnish city of Rovaniemi, affected 20 people, but a source was not found. The 2nd incident, in the city of Mikkeli, led to 8 illnesses and was caused by contaminated chopped zucchini from Spain that was put in a salad.Officials in Rovaniemi initially reported a suspected outbreak in early December 2020. Onset of symptoms for the 1st patients began Read more [...]

PRO/EDR> Shigellosis – India: (KL)

Shigellosis -- IndiaAuthorities in Kozhikode district in Kerala went into high alert mode after a boy was found infected with the contagious _Shigella_ bacterium. Health Minister K.K. Shailaja has called upon the people to observe caution. Shailaja, however, maintained that the situation was under control and that the Health Department was geared up to face any eventuality.The 1.5-year-old child was admitted to a private hospital in Kozhikode following complaints of acute stomach pain and diarrhea. Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> Yersiniosis – Norway

Not Yet Classified -- NorwayThe Norwegian Institute of Public Health has discovered an increased incidence of the gastrointestinal bacterium _Yersinia enterocolitica_ O3. So far, infection has been detected in 10 people who live in several counties. Outbreak investigation has been initiated in collaboration with relevant municipal chief physicians, the Veterinary Institute and the Norwegian Food Safety Authority.The patients are between 11 and 59 years old, and all are women. The infected live in Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> Salmonellosis, st Potsdam – USA: FDA

Salmonella -- United StatesFDA's CORE Response Teams have published information about food poisoning outbreaks for the last month or so on their CORE Investigation Table. This table lists recent outbreaks caused by _E. coli_, _Salmonella_, _Listeria monocytogenes_, _Campylobacter_, and other pathogens. This table sometimes links to actionable steps for consumers to take, but it may not. At this time, there is no information about the potential food source for the new _Salmonella [enterica_ serotype] Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (556): Egypt, UAE, Thailand, diabetes, mutations, 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): 1 043 191 (8637) / 19 397 (84)European Region (61): 24 917 775 (245 610) / 548 256 (4266)South East Asia Region (10): 11 779 854 (33 084) / 179 666 (564)Eastern Mediterranean Region (22): 4 780 241 (24 537) / 118 097 (521)Region of the Americas (54): 33 878 565 (323 507) / Read more [...]

Escambia County officials seek quicker notification process following chemical leak – WEAR

Escambia County officials seek quicker notification process following chemical leak  WEAR

Chemical leak causes fumes, drainage issues in Forest – The Courier

Chemical leak causes fumes, drainage issues in Forest  The Courier

PRO/AH/EDR> African swine fever – Europe (34): Russia (TT) wild boar

African Swine Fever -- RussiaTatarstan isn't considered a safe region regarding the African swine fever [ASF] anymore, claimed vice head of the Main Veterinary Office of the Tatarstan Cabinet of Ministers, Gabdulkhak Motygullin, on 21 Dec [2020]."I will start with the unpleasant news: a mortality case of wild boars in Yelabuga District was found on Saturday [19 Dec 2020]. Samples were taken; a laboratory showed the ASF. The samples were sent to the Federal Centre in Vladimir to confirm the diagnosis. Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (555): USA (CO) animal, black-footed ferret, vaccine

COVID-19 -- United StatesIn late summer [2020], as researchers accelerated the 1st clinical trials of COVID-19 vaccines for humans, a group of scientists in Colorado worked to inoculate a far more fragile species. About 120 black-footed ferrets, among the most endangered mammals in North America, were injected with an experimental COVID vaccine aimed at protecting the small, weasel-like creatures rescued from the brink of extinction 4 decades ago.The effort came months before US Department of Agriculture Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (554): Nigeria mutation, UK duration of immunity, WHO, global

COVID-19 -- NigeriaAbstract--------BackgroundThe relationship between the presence of antibodies to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and the risk of subsequent reinfection remains unclear.MethodsWe investigated the incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in seropositive and seronegative health care workers attending testing of asymptomatic and symptomatic staff at Oxford University Hospitals in the United Kingdom. Baseline antibody Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> Undiagnosed deaths, buffalo – Taiwan: (Yangmingshan Natl Park) RFI

Undiagnosed -- ChinaA team composed of veterinarians and animal health specialists is now looking into 24 deaths of wild water buffaloes in Yangmingshan National Park, the Taipei City Animal Protection Office said Saturday [19 Dec 2020].Among the 24 dead wild water buffaloes, the office noted 18 died over the past 19 days, including one calf that was found dead Friday evening [18 Dec 2020].To determine the cause of deaths, the team recently collected samples from the carcasses as well as water and Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (553): variants, immunocompromised, M East/N Africa, WHO, global

COVID-19 -- United KingdomThis variant shares some similarities to the one that has already been detected in the UK, although they have evolved separately.Both have a mutation -- called N501Y -- which is in a crucial part of the virus that it uses to infect the body's cells.Prof Neil Ferguson, from Imperial College London, said: "I think the greatest concern of ours at the moment is the South African one."There's certainly anecdotal reports of explosive outbreaks for that virus and very steep increases Read more [...]

EPA assisting in cleanup after Dixon train derailment – MyStateline.com

EPA assisting in cleanup after Dixon train derailment  MyStateline.com

PRO/AH/EDR> Rabbit hemorrhagic disease – USA (10): (WY) wild rabbit

Other Animal Disease -- United StatesAccording to the Wyoming Livestock Board, a wild eastern cottontail has tested positive for Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus 2 in Albany County.The disease is a viral pathogen that causes sudden death in rabbits and can be spread through direct contact with infected rabbits, meat or fur, or materials that come in contact with those carriers. It is only known to affect rabbits, both wild and domestic. It is highly contagious, fatal, and is not related to coronavirus. Read more [...]

Hazmat crews find Galloway plant's air OK after chemical mix prompts evacuations – WBAY

Hazmat crews find Galloway plant’s air OK after chemical mix prompts evacuations  WBAY

PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (117): Japan, wild bird, HPAI H5N8, OIE

Avian Influenza H5N8 -- JapanInformation received on [and dated] 24 Dec 2020 from Dr. Norio Kumagai, Director, Chief Veterinary Officer, Animal Health Division, Food Safety and Consumer Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Tokyo, JapanSummaryReport type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 3 Dec 2020Date of confirmation of the event: 9 Dec 2020Reason for notification: recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: 25 Mar 2018Manifestation of disease: Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> Rhinotracheitis, bovine (IBR/IPV) – Switzerland: (GR) cattle, recurrence

Other Animal Disease -- SwitzerlandSwiss authorities have identified a cow with the infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR), a respiratory disease, in the eastern canton of Grisons [Graubunden], local officials said on [Wed 23 Dec 2020].The disease, which is incurable in animals but harmless to humans, poses a threat to cattle. There have been no cases of IBR in Switzerland since 1993, the officials said [but see http://promedmail.org/post/20020918.5340 and comment. - Mod.AS]."In order to determine Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> Ebola-Reston, porcine – Philippines: USA, pig, experimental infection trial

Ebola -- PhilippinesReston ebolavirus (RESTV) should be considered a livestock pathogen with potential to affect other mammals, including people, according to National Institutes of Health scientists. The caution comes from a study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in which the scientists found that experimental piglets infected with RESTV developed severe respiratory disease and shed the virus from the upper respiratory tract. RESTV can infect humans but is not known to Read more [...]

PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (116): Belgium (WV), poultry, LPAI H5 OIE

Avian Influenza -- BelgiumInformation received on [and dated] 22 Dec 2020 from Dr. Herman Claeys, Head of the Health Policy Department: Animals and Plants, Directorate-General Animals, Plants and Food, Federal Public Health Service, Food Chain Safety and Environment, Brussels, BelgiumSummaryReport type: Immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 14 Dec 2020Date of confirmation of the event: 17 Dec 2020Reason for notification: Recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: 29 Jan Read more [...]

Norfolk Southern train derails in Gary; cleanup stretches into 2nd day, closes Route 12 from Hillcrest Road to Lake Street – WLS-TV

Norfolk Southern train derails in Gary; cleanup stretches into 2nd day, closes Route 12 from Hillcrest Road to Lake Street  WLS-TV