Archive for editor
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (343): Norway cruise, USA school openings, WHO, global
COVID-19 -- Norway- WHO has published a COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Progress Report. The report highlights the progress made from [1 Feb to 30 Jun 2020] under the 3 objectives outlined in the Strategic Response and Preparedness Plan: scaling up international coordination and support; scaling up country preparedness and response by pillar; and accelerating research and innovation.- "Immune systems are compromised by malnutrition, especially in the case of children, leaving them vulnerable to Read more [...]
DG Digest: PHMSA issues ICR on safety of last week’s ruling allowing LNG on railways
The nation enters August still struggling with the COVID-19 pandemic; so far at least it shows little signs of abating in most of the country. We can all help control this outbreak by following appropriate CDC guidelines, being mindful of our neighbors, and doing our best to help. We can win this fight, but we...
The post DG Digest: PHMSA issues ICR on safety of last week’s ruling allowing LNG on railways appeared first on Labelmaster Blog. Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Scombroid fish poisoning – Europe (02): Sweden ex Viet Nam
Poisoning -- Sweden"Histamine poisoning results from the consumption of foods, typically certain types of fish and cheeses that contain unusually high levels of histamine. Spoiled fish of the families Scombridae and Scomberesocidae (e.g., tuna, mackerel, bonito) are commonly implicated in incidents of histamine poisoning, which leads to the common usage of the term "scombroid fish poisoning" to describe this illness. However, certain non-scombroid fish, most notably mahi-mahi, bluefish, and sardines, Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Vesicular stomatitis – USA (13): cattle, horse
Vesicular Stomatitis -- United StatesIn its [23 Jul 2020] Situation Report, the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed Adair, Nowata, and Tulsa counties in Oklahoma as newly infected with vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV). These are in addition to Osage and Ottawa counties, which were confirmed as newly infected in APHIS' [20 Jul 2020] Situation Report, and Craig and Washington counties, which were previously reported with confirmed cases.Presently, quarantined premises Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> West Nile virus (06): Europe, ECDC update
West Nile Virus -- Worldwide/UnknownBetween [24 and 30 Jul 2020], EU Member States reported 5 human cases in Greece (4) and Romania (1). All cases were reported from areas that have been affected during previous transmission seasons. No human cases were reported from EU neighbouring countries. This week, no deaths have been reported.Since the beginning of the 2020 transmission season and as of [30 Jul 2020], EU Member States have reported 12 human cases in Greece (10) and Romania (2). No cases have Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Foodborne illness – China: (GD) bongkrekic acid, fatal
Foodborne Illness -- ChinaSuspected food poisoning in a Guangdong rice noodle roll shop causes 1 fatality; preliminarily determined to be bongkrekic acid poisoningRegarding the issue of "Suspected food poisoning at a rice noodle roll shop in Huilai County", a staff member of Jieyang Health Bureau in Guangdong's Huilai County told The Paper on the afternoon of 3 Aug 2020 experts at Guangdong Province CDC provisionally confirmed the event was caused by bongkrekic acid poisoning.On the same afternoon, Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Salmonellosis, st Newport – USA (04): FDA, onions, recall
Salmonella -- United StatesCompany announcementThomson International Inc. of Bakersfield, California is recalling Red, Yellow, White, and Sweet Yellow Onions shipped from [1 May 2020] through the present. The onions are being recalled because they have the potential to be contaminated with _Salmonella_, an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with _Salmonella_ often Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (51): Australia (VI) poultry, HPAI H7N7
Avian Influenza -- AustraliaBirds on [a free-range egg] farm near Lethbridge [Victoria] have tested positive for H7N7 avian influenza virus. Fowl found to have contracted the virus are being euthanized to stop the spread of the disease. [The farm had 43 000 birds and 21 750 cases of avian influenza, according to the immediate notification of the event to OIE; see . - Mod.TG]H7N7 is spread from one sick bird to another and mainly affects chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, guinea fowl, quail, pheasants, Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Severe fever w/ thrombocytopenia synd – China (02): (JS) susp, RFI
Hemorrhagic Fever -- ChinaA woman in Nanjing, Jiangsu was recently confirmed at Jiangsu Province People's Hospital to have contracted the new bunyavirus, becoming the 37th person in the province [Jiangsu] to have been infected by this virus.--Communicated by:ProMED-mail Rapporteur Dan Silver[ProMED-mail thanks Dan Silver for submitting this report.The name of the new bunyavirus is not given in this report, nor of the 36 previous cases mentioned above or if a tick bite was involved. Coincidentally, Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Tick-borne encephalitis & babesiosis – UK: (England)
Babesiosis, Tick-borne Encephalitis -- United KingdomHolding M, Dowall SD, Medlock JM, et al. Tick-borne encephalitis virus, United Kingdom. Emerg Infect Dis. 2020 Jan [date cited]. . - Mod.TY_Babesia_ spp. is well known in several animal species in the UK; see for instance:Johnson N, Paul Phipps L, McFadzean H, Barlow AM. An outbreak of bovine babesiosis in February, 2019, triggered by above average winter temperatures in southern England and co-infection with _Babesia divergens_ and _Anaplasma Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (342): USA overnight camp, selected countries, WHO, global
COVID-19 -- United StatesThe YMCA did not make anyone available for an interview. In a written statement, Parrish Underwood, chief advancement officer for the YMCA of Metro Atlanta, said the organization now regretted holding the camp. "We made every effort to adhere to best practices outlined by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the American Camp Association," and the governor, Underwood said. "Attending Camp High Harbour is a tradition numerous generations of Y families look forward to Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Ebola update (37): Congo DR (EQ)
Ebola -- DR CongoHow organisations funded by the Humanitarian Emergency Fund (HEF) responded to the Ebola crisis in DRC in 2019.The integrated report, including case studies, covers work done by the following HEF-funded organisations:- British Red Cross- Christian AidContents1. Executive Summary2. Context3. Christian Aid Project -Plan and Impact4. British Red Cross Project -Plan and Impact5. Project Approaches6. Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL)7. Key Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Yellow fever – Americas (08): French Guiana, WHO
Yellow Fever -- Région d'outre-mer de French Guiana, FranceOn 23 Jul 2020, the France IHR National Focal Point reported a confirmed autochthonous (locally acquired) case of yellow fever in a 14-year-old male in French Guiana. On 17 Jul 2020, the case was laboratory confirmed at the French National Reference Centre for arboviruses, Institute Pasteur Cayenne.The case-patient had severe disability and developed dengue-like symptoms on 12 Jul [2020]. On 16 Jul [2020], he was hospitalized in an Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Invasive tick – USA (02): (OH)
Pests -- United StatesOn Friday [31 Jul 2020], the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) announced that an exotic tick, known as the Asian longhorned tick [_Haemaphysalis longicornis_], has been found in Gallia County.ODA says the United States Department of Agriculture's National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa confirmed the exotic tick.The tick was found on a stray dog originating from Gallia County, ODA said. The dog was later transported to a shelter in Canal Winchester, and the tick Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Foodborne illness – Jordan (03): (BA) ready meals
Foodborne Illness -- Jordan57 new food poisoning cases have been reported in Ain Al-Basha, the Director of Al-Balqa Health Affairs Directorate, Wael Al-Azab, has announced.All patients had eaten ready meals from a restaurant in Baqaa camp. Cases were admitted to the Prince Al-Hussein Hospital in Salt and Al-Hussein Hospital in Ain Al-Basha, he said. All patients are in stable condition, and no one was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit.A total of 23 restaurants have been shut down for precautionary Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Foodborne illness – Jordan (02): (BA) shawarma, fatal, poss. campylobacteriosis
Foodborne Illness -- JordanThe Jordanian Ministry of Health announced on Friday [31 Jul 2020] the death of a man in his 40s, 2 days after the death of a child, as more than 800 people have suffered from foodborne illness from eating contaminated shawarma meals from a restaurant in the Al-Baqa'a area, northwest of Amman.The official TV in Jordan quoted the Minister of Health, Saad Jaber, as announcing the ministry's registration of a 2nd death from the mass poisoning incident in Al-Baqa'a. He pointed Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (341): infections, shedding, Al-Jazeera, countries, WHO, global
COVID-19 -- Worldwide/UnknownBackgroundBacterial co-pathogens are commonly identified in viral respiratory infections and are an important cause of morbidity and mortality. The prevalence of bacterial infection in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 is not well understood.ObjectiveTo determine the prevalence of bacterial co-infection (at presentation) and secondary infection (after presentation) in patients with COVID-19.Data SourcesWe performed a systematic search of MEDLINE, OVID Epub and EMBASE Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (340): animal, China, envir monitoring, Netherlands (NB), mink
COVID-19 -- ChinaChina's National Health Commission (NHC) has urged local authorities to strengthen monitoring for the coronavirus at major wholesale markets that can cover extensive neighbouring areas, especially those with stands selling frozen and refrigerated meats and seafood, or with moist and closed spaces, according to a notice published on the commission's website.The guideline comes after China's capital city Beijing reported in early June [2020] a cluster of coronavirus infections that Read more [...]
Regina Hendrix: What is Project Shuttle? – Charleston Gazette-Mail
Regina Hendrix: What is Project Shuttle? Charleston Gazette-Mail
PRO/AH/EDR> Salmonellosis, st Newport – USA (03): CDC, red onions
Salmonella -- United StatesSince the last update on 24 Jul 2020, an additional 184 ill people have been reported in this outbreak, including 37 from 11 new states: Alaska, Colorado, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Nevada, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas.As of 29 Jul 2020, a total of 396 people infected with the outbreak strain of _Salmonella [enterica_ serotype] Newport have been reported from 34 states.State / Ill people------------------Alaska / 6Arizona / 14California / 49Colorado Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (339): hydroxychloroquine, post-COVID-19 sequelae, WHO, global
COVID-19 -- Worldwide/Unknown- In his regular media briefing, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros highlighted the high rates of COVID-19 in long-term care facilities, drawing attention to a recently published WHO policy brief. Dr. Tedros also reminded us that COVID-19 is not only a disease that affects the elderly and that "young people must take the same precautions to protect themselves and protect others as everyone else. They can be leaders -- they should be leaders and drivers of change."- During Read more [...]
A guide to the four levels of Hazardous Materials (HazMat) response – HazMat Management Magazine
A guide to the four levels of Hazardous Materials (HazMat) response HazMat Management Magazine
Why Effective Chemical Safety Training Is More Important Than Ever – Occupational Health and Safety
Why Effective Chemical Safety Training Is More Important Than Ever Occupational Health and Safety
How Collecting and Analyzing COVID-19 Case Job Information Can Make a Difference in Public Health
Collecting, coding, analyzing and reporting industry and occupation data from COVID-19 cases is necessary to inform strategies to reduce the impact of the pandemic on workers. As described in the previous blog post, “Collecting occupation and industry data in public health surveillance systems for COVID-19,” it’s important to collect job information for all workers with COVID-19. Having information about industry and occupation helps the public health community identify work-related Read more [...]
Two workers exposed to hazardous chemical while cleaning up Tempe train derailment – 12news.com KPNX
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (338): Europe ex Africa, China, Viet Nam, WHO, global
COVID-19 -- ChinaAs the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread, all African countries have recorded infections and there are now more than 750 000 confirmed cases across the continent. Despite a range of prevention and containment measures against the pandemic, the number of reported new cases is increasing in countries like Algeria, South Africa, Egypt, Nigeria and Ghana. Because of limited availability of supplies and local capacity (similar to the situation in many high-income countries when the Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (50): Australia (VI) poultry, HPAI H7N7, OIE
Avian Influenza -- AustraliaInformation received on [and dated] 31 Jul 2020 from Dr. Mark Schipp, Chief Veterinary Officer, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, Australian Government, Canberra, AustraliaSummaryReport type: Immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 24 Jul 2020Date of confirmation of the event: 31 Jul 2020Reason for notification: Recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: 21 Feb 2014Manifestation of disease: Clinical diseaseCausal agent: Hghly Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Spring viremia of carp – Italy: (VN) OIE
Other Animal Disease -- ItalyInformation received on [and dated] 27 Jul 2020 from Dr. Silvio Borrello, Chief Veterinary Officer, Food Safety and Collegial Bodies for Health Protection, Ministry of Health, Department for Veterinary Public Health, Rome, ItalySummaryReport type: Immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 19 Jun 2020Date of confirmation of the event: 7 Jul 2020Reason for notification: Recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: 2004Manifestation of disease: Clinical Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Rabies (23): Americas (USA) bat
Rabies -- United StatesThere have been 9 confirmed rabid bats in San Bernardino County including 4 within the past 2 weeks [2nd half of July 2020] in Rancho Cucamonga, Fontana and Apple Valley. San Bernardino County Public Health is urging the public to protect themselves and their pets from interactions with unfamiliar, stray or wild animals."Rabies is almost always fatal in humans once symptoms begin," stated Dr. Erin Gustafson, County Interim Health Officer. "It is important to seek medical attention Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Vesicular stomatitis – USA (12): cattle, horse, alert
Vesicular Stomatitis -- United StatesVesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), a reportable animal disease, has been found in 7 states in 2020: Arizona, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas [now also in Arkansas; see [4] below]. As VSV may spread throughout the Midwest and mountain states, livestock owners, especially those with horses, should be looking for signs.VSV is a viral disease primarily affecting horses, also cattle, and occasionally swine, sheep, goats, llamas, and alpacas. Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Eastern equine encephalitis – North America (04): USA, horse
Eastern Equine Encephalitis -- United StatesThe Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) confirmed 2 horses in Suffolk were euthanized after testing positive for eastern equine encephalitis (EEE). Both horses were tested for EEE after presenting with acute neurological signs.The 1st horse tested positive for EEE on 14 Jul 2020 and the 2nd horse tested positive on 15 Jul 2020.Sometimes called sleeping sickness, EEE is a mosquito-borne illness that causes inflammation or swelling of Read more [...]
PRO/PL> Stem rust, wheat – Ireland: (CW)
Other Plant Disease -- IrelandSymptoms of what is believed to be stem rust disease were found in untreated plots of winter wheat at 4 sites at Oak Park Crop Research Centre [of Agriculture and Food Development Authority Teagasc] in Carlow. Teagasc's Dr Steven Kildea says it is the 1st time he has seen the disease in the field in his 15-year career. "The disease that has been in Ireland before, however it is quite some time since it has been detected." The fact the disease was only found in untreated Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Lumpy skin disease – Nepal (02): (MO, CH, RT) cattle, 1st rep, OIE
Lumpy Skin Disease -- NepalInformation received on [and dated] 29 Jul 2020 from Dr Banshi Sharma, Director General, Department of Livestock Services, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Kathmandu, NepalSummary:Report type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 24 Jun 2020Date of confirmation of the event: 27 Jul 2020Reason for notification: 1st occurrence of a listed disease in the countryCausal agent: lumpy skin disease virusNature of diagnosis: clinical, laboratory (basic Read more [...]
Results of the 5th Annual DG Confidence Outlook: strengths, weaknesses and tremendous resilience
The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly impacted the global dangerous goods supply chain. Yet even as the industry has shown tremendous resilience, this crisis has shed light on weaknesses related to DG organizations’ ability to keep shipments safe and compliant, and the need for further investment in DG training, technology and infrastructure. The 5th annual DG...
The post Results of the 5th Annual DG Confidence Outlook: strengths, weaknesses and tremendous resilience appeared first on Labelmaster Read more [...]
Measuring Workplace Risks across States
When assessing workplace safety in the United States, we have to consider what measures of risk to use. If all measures are strongly positively correlated, this may not matter. But they are not, so the choice of risk measure does matter: states where employers report the highest rates of non-fatal injuries have the lowest fatality rates; and those with the lowest non-fatal rates have high fatality rates. The figure below compares the fatality and DART (Days Away from work, Restricted work activity Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (337): Al Jazeera, USA, travel, selected countries, WHO, global
COVID-19 -- Worldwide/UnknownIn areas where the outbreak is worsening, officials must reinstate stay-at-home orders until numbers improve for at least 2 weeks, the brief said. Such a decision will be disruptive, it acknowledged, and therefore leaders must prioritise clear and transparent communications to convey to the public the motivations and anticipated timelines for the closures.Other recommendations included bolstering supplies of personal protective gear and diagnostic testing kits at healthcare Read more [...]
