Archive for editor
PRO/AH/EDR> Undiagnosed illness – India (03): (AP), RFI
Undiagnosed -- IndiaOfficials in India are investigating the cause of an unidentified illness which led to more than 140 people being admitted to hospital over the weekend.The patients, from Eluru in Andhra Pradesh, had a wide range of symptoms from nausea to fits and falling unconscious, doctors said.A number of beds at Eluru Government Hospital have been freed up in case they are needed.The illness comes as India continues to battle the coronavirus pandemic. Local media said the patients had taken Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Yellow fever – Africa (24): Nigeria
Yellow Fever -- NigeriaHighlightsThe Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) is currently responding to clusters of yellow fever (YF) outbreaks in Delta, Enugu, Bauchi, Benue, and Ebonyi States.From the clusters of outbreaks across the 5 states:- In this reporting week 47: - One new confirmed case was reported from Enugu. - No new LGAs across the affected states reported confirmed cases. - 3 new deaths among confirmed cases were reported [Bauchi (1), Enugu (2)]- Cumulatively from epi-week Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Undiagnosed skin disease – Senegal (03) chickenpox susp. RFI
Chicken Pox -- SenegalMore than 500 fishermen in Senegal have contracted a mysterious skin disease after returning from sea, a senior government health official said on Thursday [19 Nov 2020].The men, who come from several fishing towns around the capital Dakar, have been placed in quarantine for treatment, according to Ousmane Gueye, national director of health information and education."It's a dermatitis associated with an infectious disease," Gueye told Reuters. "We are checking further and hope Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (522): viral persistence, assays, markers, 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): 908 663 (5511) / 17 664 (113)European Region (61): 19 775 465 (232 575) / 444 571 (5689)South East Asia Region (10): 11 023 450 (48 082) / 167 782 (711)Eastern Mediterranean Region (22): 4 256 386 (33 778) / 106 609 (696)Region of the Americas (54): 27 754 113 (315 772) / 742 Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Eastern equine encephalitis – North America (25): USA (FL, SC) horse
Eastern Equine Encephalitis -- United StatesOn 25 Nov [2020], officials at the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) confirmed a donkey at a private facility in Orange County with eastern equine encephalomyelitis (EEE). The 4-year-old presented with clinical signs, which included recumbency (down and unable to rise) on 17 Nov [2020]. She had not been vaccinated and was euthanized.The case is Florida's 22nd confirmed case of EEE in equine in 2020.[Byline: Diane E. Rice]--Communicated Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Rabies (33): Americas (USA) cow, skunk, cat, raccoon, human exp
Rabies -- United StatesThe South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control says 2 recent encounters with rabid animals have exposed both people and pets to rabies.According to DHEC, a cow located near Nance Street and Dennis Dairy Road in Newberry tested positive for rabies. DHEC is investigating the potential for multiple human and animal exposures, and anyone known to have had potential exposure to the rabid cow has been referred to their healthcare providers. The cow was submitted Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Rabies (32): Asia (Malaysia, Bhutan) human, dog
Rabies -- MalaysiaA 58-year-old man has been confirmed as the latest person to die of rabies in Sarawak this year [2020], said Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr. Noor Hisham Abdullah today [3 Dec 2020]. He also said another rabies case involving a 3-year-old boy was still receiving treatment for the disease and was reported to be in stable condition."With these 2 latest cases, the total number of rabies cases involving humans in Malaysia for the year 2020 has increased to 8 cases. The total accumulative Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (521): CDC guidelines, Europe 2nd wave, 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): 903 152 (5518) / 17 551 (57)European Region (61): 19 535 185 (234 687) / 438 615 (5472)South East Asia Region (10): 10 975 368 (50 086) / 167 071 (770)Eastern Mediterranean Region (22): 4 221 205 (36 176) / 105 857 (662)Region of the Americas Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (520): Denmark, Netherlands, mink, human-animal interface, WHO
COVID-19 -- DenmarkOn 4 Nov 2020, Denmark decided to cull all farmed mink in Denmark. This decision was made following information that it had not been possible to prevent the spread of infection from farm to farm, or from animals to humans, and mink are acting as a reservoir and contributing to the ongoing transmission in Denmark [comment 1]. On 5 Nov 2020, movement restrictions were introduced in the affected areas in North Jutland. On 6 Nov 2020, Denmark shared the full genome sequences of SARS-CoV-2 Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (519): Switzerland (ZH) animal, cat, OIE
COVID-19 — Switzerland
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (518): virus origin, placebo trials, vaccine, WHO, global
COVID-19 -- Worldwide/UnknownWe find ourselves 10 months into one of the most catastrophic global health events of our lifetime and, disturbingly, we still do not know how it began. What's even more troubling is that despite the critical importance of this question, efforts to investigate the origins of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus and of the associated disease, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), have become mired in politics, poorly supported assumptions Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Malaria – Namibia (02): (ZA) resurgence
Malaria -- NamibiaSix people died from malaria and 2643 positive cases were recorded in the Zambezi region this year [2020].Regional health director Agnes Mwillima told The Namibian they monitor malaria cases weekly and during the same time last year [2019] they had only recorded 261 positive cases and one death. This is an indication that the cases have increased drastically, she said."The cause of the increase in malaria cases might be because the climate in the region is conducive for mosquitoes Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Salmonellosis, st Bovismorbificans – France: dry pork sausage, alert, Europe recall
Salmonella -- FranceAlmost all patients had eaten dried pork sausage of one brand bought in several locations of the same supermarket chain, according to the [French National Public Health Agency]. The link between illness and eating dry cold meats manufactured by France Salaisons was previously made by the Directorate General for Food (DGAL), Directorate General for Health, and [French National Public Health Agency]. The company is based in the Rhone region of France.Potentially contaminated product Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> E coli EHEC – Germany: (MV) O26, day care centers, RFI
E. coli -- GermanyMore than 20 _E. coli_ infections are being investigated in a German municipality. 4 day care centers in the Luetzow-Luebstorf district are affected by the outbreak of _E. coli_ O26, an enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) strain. Luetzow-Luebstorf is in [Northwestern Mecklenburg, in Mecklenburg-West Pomerania], Germany. EHEC is often referred to as Shiga toxin-producing _E. coli_ (STEC).Authorities initially reported 18 patients but that had risen to 25 by the end of this past week. Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Methanol poisoning – Russia: (SK)
Poisoning -- RussiaEight people who drank hand sanitizer at a house party in Russia after the alcohol ran out have now died, including the parents of 5 children who are now orphaned.A 48-year-old woman, the children's mother, became the latest to have died on Thursday [3 Dec 2020] after succumbing to internal injuries caused by the industrial-grade alcohol.Her husband was among 5 men aged between 27 and 69 who were the 1st to die, along with a woman, 41, and another person, whose gender and age were Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (103): Poland (MZ) turkey, H5N8, OIE
Avian Influenza H5N8 -- PolandInformation received on [and dated] 3 Dec 2020 from Dr Bogdan Konopka, chief veterinary officer, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, General Veterinary Inspectorate, Warszaw, PolandSummaryReport type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 1 Dec 2020Date of confirmation of the event: 2 Dec 2020Reason for notification: recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: 13 May 2020Manifestation of disease: clinical diseaseCausal agent: highly Read more [...]
The quick e-commerce guide to compliant Dangerous Goods returns
There has never been a bigger holiday season for e-commerce. And that means this will also be the biggest holiday season ever for e-commerce returns. Here are the startling stats: In Q3 2020, consumers spent nearly $200 billion online with U.S. retailers, up 37.1% from the same quarter in 2019. 1 in 4 e-commerce purchases...
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Millersville University Students Support NIOSH Research
Two students from Millersville University in Pennsylvania, Emily Rae Seiler and Samuel Welk, recently completed virtual internships with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health’s Division of Safety Research and Division of Science Integration. Building on their coursework in an Occupational Safety and Environmental Health class, the students supported NIOSH research endeavors while working on real-life safety and health issues. Summaries of the student projects follow. Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Botulism – USA (08): (CO)
Botulism -- United StatesColorado Department of Public Health and Environment has investigated several cases of confirmed or suspected foodborne botulism in the state since September 2020.Testing from CDC confirmed 4 of the cases. One is still under investigation and test results are pending. All 5 cases occurred along the Front Range. The individuals are either hospitalized or recovering. 3 of the cases appear to be unrelated as no common food item was identified. The last 2 confirmed cases were Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> West Nile virus (31): Americas, USA (FL)
West Nile Virus -- United StatesThe Florida Department of Health [FDOH] confirmed a positive human case of West Nile virus in Martin County on Monday [30 Nov 2020] -- the 1st in 2 decades, FDOH data shows.It is unknown when the last time a Martin County resident would have tested positive for the illness, as readily available information only dated back to 2000. St Lucie and Indian River counties also haven't seen a human case since at least 2003."It's unusual in that aspect," Martin County health Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (517): medicines, vaccines, FDA, WHO, global
COVID-19 -- Worldwide/UnknownAbstract--------BackgroundWorld Health Organization expert groups recommended mortality trials of 4 repurposed antiviral drugs -- remdesivir, hydroxychloroquine, lopinavir, and interferon beta-1a -- in patients hospitalized with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).MethodsWe randomly assigned inpatients with COVID-19 equally between one of the trial drug regimens that was locally available and open control (up to 5 options, 4 active and the local standard of care). The Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (516): China (Hong Kong) animal, dog, Lithuania, mink, OIE
COVID-19 -- ChinaInformation received on [and dated] 27 Nov 2020 from Dr Thomas Sit, Chief Veterinary Officer / Assistant Director (Inspection & Quarantine), Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, Hong Kong, Hong Kong (SAR-PRC)SummaryReport type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 23 Nov 2020Date of confirmation of the event: 25 Nov 2020Reason for notification: emerging diseaseMorbidity: 1 (scale 0 to 5)Mortality: Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (102): Europe, wild bird, poultry, H5N8, H5N5, H5N1, spread
Avian Influenza H5N1 -- Worldwide/UnknownA total of 582 detections of HPAI H5 have been reported in Europe between 27 Oct 2020 and 28 Nov 2020. This new H5N8 2.3.4.4b clade variant was originally detected in poultry in Iraq in May 2020 with subsequent detections in Russia and Kazakhstan. It seems likely that migratory waterfowl played a key role in the incursion of this virus into Europe with over 500 detections in wild birds and spillover events into commercial poultry and captive birds.This situation Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Hepatitis E – Burkina Faso
Hepatitis E -- Burkina FasoBetween 8 Sep 2020 and 24 Nov 2020, the North-Central region of Burkina Faso reported a cumulative total of 442 cases of febrile jaundice. The vast majority of cases (87.5%) were reported from Barsalogho health district with 387 cases and 16 deaths, representing a case-fatality rate of 4.1% (see Figures 1 and 2 [for figures, see source URL above. - Mod.LL]). A total of 15 out of 16 deaths were reported in pregnant or postpartum women.A total of 10 cases were confirmed by Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Salmonellosis, st Typhimurium – Canada: hedgehog exposure
Salmonella -- CanadaFour people have been hospitalized and 28 others made ill from outbreaks of _Salmonella_ infections in 6 provinces caused by exposure to pet hedgehogs, the Public Health Agency of Canada said. According to the agency's investigations, 32 cases of the illness resulted from having direct or indirect contact with the pet beforehand. The outbreak of cases has been reported in 6 provinces: British Columbia (3), Alberta (6), Saskatchewan (1), Ontario (4), Quebec (17) and New Brunswick Read more [...]
Fire shuts Equinor methanol plant in Norway – Chemical Week
Fire shuts Equinor methanol plant in Norway Chemical Week
PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (101): South Korea (CB) poultry, HPAI H5N8, OIE
Avian Influenza H5N8 -- South KoreaInformation received on [and dated] 30 Nov 2020 from Dr. Dae Gyun Kim, Chief Veterinary Officer, Director General, Animal Health Policy Bureau, Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Sejong-si, Korea (Rep. of)SummaryReport type: Immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 26 Nov 2020Date of confirmation of the event: 28 Nov 2020Reason for notification: Recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: 17 Mar 2018Manifestation of disease: Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (515): USA ACIP recommendations, Europe schools, WHO, global
COVID-19 -- United StatesThe Advisory Committee on Immunization Practice has more about allocating COVID-19 vaccines ().--Communicated by:ProMED-mail[The ACIP is the key scientific body that reviews all vaccines and provides recommendations for the use of the vaccines. It routinely convenes 4 times per year but also when special needs arise such as the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine. (). Interestingly, they have convened on a vaccine(s) that have not been FDA approved as yet.The Washington Read more [...]
Letter: Ambassador Bridge can safely transport hazmat – The Detroit News
Letter: Ambassador Bridge can safely transport hazmat The Detroit News
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (514): Turkey restrictions, transmission by settings, WHO, global
COVID-19 — Turkey
Secondary attack rates related to familiar and prolonged close contacts were higher (such as social events with family and friends, 5.9% (95% CI: 3.8%-8.1%) than those related to low-risk casual contacts (such as strangers, 1.2%, 95% CI: 0.3%-2.1%). In addition, where the initial case was asymptomatic, the secondary attack rate was estimated to be two thirds lower (3.5%, 95% CI: 0.0%-6.4%) than when the index case had symptoms (12.8%, 95% CI: 8.9%-16.7%, p
PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (100): Europe, wild bird, H5N8, H5N5, spread, OIE
Avian Influenza H5N8 -- Worldwide/UnknownInformation received on [and dated] 30 Nov 2020 from Mr. Knut Ronningen, Director, Norwegian Food Safety Authority, Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Brumunddal, NorwaySummaryReport type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 22 Nov 2020Date of confirmation of the event: 27 Nov 2020Reason for notification: 1st occurrence of a listed disease in the countryCausal agent: highly pathogenic avian influenza [HPAI] A virusSerotype: H5N8Nature of diagnosis: Read more [...]
Why You Should Use Plume Models for Chemical Emergency Response – Occupational Health and Safety
Why You Should Use Plume Models for Chemical Emergency Response Occupational Health and Safety
DG Digest: PHMSA publishes HM-219C and IMO delays enforcement of Amendment 40-20
The week just finished saw the nation celebrate Thanksgiving and roll into the major stretch of the December holidays. As we all await the end of what has been an enormously trying year, let’s focus on helping employees and the transport chain stay safe and in doing our part to help improve the nation’s continued...
The post DG Digest: PHMSA publishes HM-219C and IMO delays enforcement of Amendment 40-20 appeared first on Labelmaster Blog. Read more [...]
