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What COVID-19 test sites must know about shipping infectious substances
For complete guidelines and resources for transporting COVID-19 test samples, please visit our coronavirus shipping guidelines page. With new COVID-19 test sites setting up all over the United States and the world, many businesses and their employees will be transporting infectious substances for the first time. These shippers must be aware of two important topics:...
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DG Digest: vital transport, extra hand sanitizer, critical infrastructure workforce — agencies respond to the global pandemic
As readers have no doubt already guessed, the global response to the COVID-19 outbreak dominates this week’s regulatory news, with a widening variety of actions now being promulgated to assist the transport industry in coping with the unprecedented situation. Labelmaster has been designated as an essential business in this circumstance and will continue to operate. ...
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‘Take-Home’ Exposures Still Persist
Occupational health has evolved into a largely technical field dedicated to identifying and eliminating the physical, chemical, and biologic hazards found at the workplace (Peckham et al, 2017). Central to this approach has been the distinction between work-related and non-work-related exposures, injuries, and illnesses which has become a line of demarcation between occupational safety and health and other disciplines within public health (Flynn 2018; Flynn and Wickramage 2017). However, there is Read more [...]
PRO/PL> Blast & undiagnosed rust, wheat – Bangladesh: (RP)
Other Plant Disease -- BangladeshBoth wheat and rice blast are caused by the fungus _Pyricularia oryzae_ (synonym _Magnaporthe oryzae_). Although the pathogens are currently classified as the same species, the wheat blast pathogen is a genetically distinct population (referred to as _P. oryzae_ Triticum population) and does not cause disease in rice. Over 50 species of grasses and sedges can be affected by related fungal strains, each of which generally appears to affect only a limited number of Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (34): Germany (NI) poultry, HPAI H5N8, OIE
Avian Influenza H5N8 -- GermanyInformation received on [and dated] 21 Mar 2020 from Dr. Dietrich Rassow, Director for Animal Health and Animal Welfare, Chief Veterinary Officer, Directorate of Animal Health and Animal Welfare, Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Berlin, GermanySummaryReport type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 20 Mar 2020Date of confirmation of the event: 20 Mar 2020Reason for notification: recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: 12 Jun Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (51): global, more countries, WHO
COVID-19 -- Worldwide/Unknown2 Feb 2020: 17 187 / ... / 80 024 / ... / 80 860 / 80 881 / 80 894 / 80 928 / 80 967 / 81 008 / 81 054 / 81 093 Mainland China2 Feb 2020: 15 / ... / 3726 / ... / 8236 / 8320 / 8413 / 8565 / 8652 / 8799 / 8897 / 8961 / South KoreaCountries with major activity (more than 500 cases with community spread)---------------------------------------------2 Feb 2020: 2 / ... / 1694 / ... / 24 747 / 27 980 / 31 506 / 35 713 / 41 035 / 47 021 / 53 578 / 59 138 / Italy2 Feb 2020: 11 Read more [...]
Entire list of what are essential COVID-19 services – SouthCoastToday.com
Entire list of what are essential COVID-19 services SouthCoastToday.comWhat jobs are 'essential' during a stay-at-home order? WTSP.comLIST: Services deemed 'essential' under Gov. Baker's order WESTERNMASSNEWS.comWhat shelter-in-place and stay-at-home orders mean and how to prepare NewsCenterMaine.com WCSH-WLBZHere’s the full list of businesses that are allowed to stay open in Massachusetts under Charlie Baker’s order Boston.comView Read more [...]
PRO/AH> African swine fever – Europe (08): Poland (LB) domestic pig, commercial farm
African Swine Fever -- PolandFor the 1st time, African swine fever [ASF] has also hopped onto a large domestic pig farm in Western Poland, affecting over 23 700 pigs. It is the largest affected pig farm since Poland started reporting ASF outbreaks in 2014.The outbreak was discovered on 18 Mar 2020, and the confirmation was given on Sat 21 Mar 2020, according to the German agricultural title Top Agrar []. The report has already been filed in the European Animal Disease Notification System (ADNS) and Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (50): China (Hong Kong) dog, 2nd case PCR positive, OIE
COVID-19 -- ChinaInformation received on 21 Mar 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: 18 Mar 2020Date of confirmation of the event: 20 Mar 2020Report date: 20 Mar 2020Date submitted to OIE: 21 Mar 2020Reason for notification: emerging Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Crimean-Congo hem. fever – Asia: Pakistan (SD)
Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever -- PakistanA Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) case was reported at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) here on Saturday.Executive Director, JPMC, Dr Seemin Jamali, while talking to PPI, said a 40-year-old man, a resident of Pak Colony, was reported in the emergency department with Congo fever related complications. She informed that the patient is a butcher by profession and he is patient with a positive PCR CCHF.She informed that the patient was first Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Pneumococcal disease – France: (PR) Marseille, shipyard workers
Pneumonia -- FranceCassir N, Pascal L, Ferrieux D, Bruel C, et al.Abstract----------We report the 3rd outbreak of pneumococcal pneumonia within one year among workers in European shipyards. During January and February 2020, 37 cases of pneumonia were identified in a shipyard in Marseille, southeastern France. Outbreak control measures were implemented, including a mass vaccination campaign with 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine targeting all shipyard workers. Given the high mobility of Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> E. coli EHEC – USA (03): O103, sprouts, CDC
E. coli -- United StatesCDC, public health and regulatory officials in several states, and the FDA are investigating a multistate outbreak of _E. coli_ O103 infections linked to clover sprouts. As of 17 Mar 2020, 39 people infected with the outbreak strain of _E. coli_ O103 have been reported from 6 states. Illnesses started on dates ranging from 6 Jan 2020 to 2 Mar 2020. Ill people range in age from 1 to 79 years, with a median age of 28. 53 percent of ill people are female. Two people have been Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Malaria – Rwanda: rice farming
Malaria -- RwandaRice farming is a priority crop in Rwanda but working in the flooded fields means 10 hours a day exposed to mosquitoes.Rwanda's tens of thousands of acres of bright green, grassy rice fields present a paradox for the landlocked East African country. The crop is a dietary staple for virtually every family here, and it brings in a good chunk of the country's GDP. So, the government is embarking on an aggressive campaign to produce even more. But the waterlogged fields where the grain Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Malaria – India: (DL)
Malaria -- IndiaWith 4 new cases reported last week, the number of patients suffering from malaria has reached 19 this year [2020].Last year [2019], not even a single case of malaria was reported [up to the same] time. According to SDMC [South Delhi Municipal Corporation], mosquito-breeding has been reported in at least 118 households, and 393 legal notices have been issued this year [2020].There have been 15 prosecutions of individuals by the civic bodies up to 29 Feb 2020. At least 22 cases of Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (49): global, POS test approved, ILI surv, more countries, WHO
COVID-19 -- China2 Feb 2020: 17 187 / ... / 80 024 / ... / 80 860 / 80 881 / 80 894 / 80 928 / 80 967 / 81 008 / 81 054 / Mainland China2 Feb 2020: 15 / ... / 3726 / ... / 8236 / 8320 / 8413 / 8565 / 8652 / 8799 / 8897 / South KoreaCountries with major activity (more than 500 cases with community spread)-------------------------------------------------------------------------2 Feb 2020: 2 / ... / 1694 / ... / 24 747 / 27 980 / 31 506 / 35 713 / 41 035 / 47 021 / 53 578 / Italy2 Feb 2020: 11 / ... Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Diphtheria – UK: epidemiology 2009-2017
Diphtheria -- United KingdomGower CM, Scobie A, Fry NK, Litt DJ, et al.Abstract--------Background. Diphtheria is a potentially fatal disease caused by toxigenic strains of _Corynebacterium diphtheriae_, _C. ulcerans_, or _C. pseudotuberculosis_.Aim. Our objective was to review the epidemiology of diphtheria in the United Kingdom (UK) and the impact of recent changes in public health management and surveillance.Methods. Putative human toxigenic diphtheria isolates in the UK are sent for species Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Rabies (08): Americas (USA, Canada) cat, dog, fox, skunk, human exp
Rabies -- United StatesThe Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) reported today [13 Feb 2020] 4 people have been referred to their healthcare providers after being potentially exposed to rabies by a stray cat testing positive for the disease.The potential exposure occurred 10 Feb 2020 when the victims were potentially exposed by a black and white stray cat near the Celanese Road exit off Interstate 77 in Rock Hill, South Carolina. The stray cat was submitted to DHEC's laboratory for Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (48): global, cruise ships Australia, more countries, WHO
COVID-19 -- China2 Feb 2020: 17 187 / ... / 80 024 / ... / 80 860 / 80 881 / 80 894 / 80 928 / 80 967 / 81 008 / Mainland China2 Feb 2020: 15 / ... / 3726 / ... / 8236 / 8320 / 8413 / 8565 / 8652 / 8799 / South KoreaCountries with major activity (more than 500 cases with community spread)-------------------------------------------------------------------------2 Feb 2020: 2 / ... / 1694 / ... / 24 747 / 27 980 / 31 506 / 35 713 / 41 035 / 47 021 / Italy2 Feb 2020: 1 / ... / 84 / ... / 7845 / 9942 Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (47): research
COVID-19 -- Worldwide/UnknownBackground: No therapeutics have yet been proven effective for the treatment of severe illness caused by SARS-CoV-2.Methods: We conducted a randomized, controlled, open-label trial involving hospitalized adult patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, which causes the respiratory illness COVID-19, and an oxygen saturation (SaO2) of 94% or less while they were breathing ambient air or a ratio of the partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) to the fraction of inspired oxygen Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> African swine fever – Asia (09): China (HE) domestic, OIE
African Swine Fever -- ChinaInformation received on 17 Mar 2020 from Dr. Huang Baoxu, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group, Animal Health and Epidemiology Centre, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Qingdao, China (People's Rep. of)SummaryReport type: Immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 9 Mar 2020Date of confirmation of the event: 13 Mar 2020Report date: 17 Mar 2020Date submitted to OIE: 17 Mar 2020Reason for notification: Recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Equine influenza – USA (02): (IA,NE) horse
Equine Influenza -- United StatesAn attending veterinarian reported equine influenza was confirmed in one horse in Pottawattamie County, Iowa, on [28 Feb 2020]. The 6-year-old Appaloosa gelding had onset of clinical signs on [25 Feb] 2020 including coughing, fever, and nasal and ocular discharge. The unvaccinated gelding was alive at the time of reporting. On the premises, 5 other horses were suspected with equine influenza and 20 others were exposed.It was noted at testing the confirmed gelding Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Monkey die-off, India: (KA) uterine infection, RFI
Animal Die-off -- IndiaA disease keeps spreading among the monkey population. A large number of female monkeys died at Vettikkattiri taking the death toll to 11. Veterinary surgeon Dr. David Abraham said that the cause of death was due to pus formation in the uterus. The doctor clarified that although humans would not be infected with this, it is better to avoid contact with these animals.As monkeys do not have contacts with each other, it is unlikely that it could spread among their habitats. The Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Listeriosis – USA (02): (MN) restaurant, advisory
Listeriosis -- United StatesOn Tuesday, [10 Mar 2020], The Minnesota Department of Health issued a health advisory in relation to a _Listeria_ outbreak along Highway [94]. The advisory was directed specifically to local and tribal health departments, hospitals, clinics, other facilities and any other healthcare providers. The advisory was not issued to the public as the outbreak is not believed to be linked to any products currently on the market.The advisory notes that Minnesota experiences approximately Read more [...]
Virtual hazmat training: interactive, customized and ideal for these times
While you’re coping with the COVID-19 pandemic, there are many things you can put off until life gets back to normal. Hazmat training, however, is probably not one of them. If your—or your team’s—certifications are coming due, you have to renew your training, or you risk fines for non-compliance. (Expired or incomplete training certifications are...
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PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (33): USA (NC) poultry, LPAI H7N3, OIE
Avian Influenza -- United StatesInformation received on [and dated] 16 Mar 2020 from Dr Mark Davidson, associate administrator, USDA-APHIS, United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, United States of AmericaSummaryReport type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 10 Mar 2020Date of confirmation of the event: 12 Mar 2020Reason for notification: recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: 30 Aug 2019Manifestation of disease: clinical diseaseCausal agent: low pathogenic Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Anthrax – Zimbabwe (11): contaminated meat in markets
Anthrax -- ZimbabweMahusekwa villagers who are into cattle farming told 263Chat how they have been losing cattle on a daily basis due to anthrax adding that they are no longer consuming beef due to the outbreak. "You eat beef in Harare because you don't know the real situation here. Cattle are dying daily when the situation was bad, you could wake up only to find 5 or 6 cattle lying down in the kraal. Butchery owners would then come, and sometimes dig it up, skin it and carry the meat to Harare, Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Anthrax – Azerbaijan: (SM) sheep, OIE
Anthrax -- AzerbaijanInformation received on [and dated] Wed 18 Mar 2020 from Dr. Galib Abdulaliyev, Head, CVO, Animal Health Department, Azerbaijan Food Safety Agency, Baku, AzerbaijanSummary:Report type: Immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 11 Mar 2020Date of confirmation of the event: 17 Mar 2020Reason for notification: Recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: 28 Aug 2019Manifestation of disease: clinical diseaseCausal agent: _Bacillus anthracis _Nature of Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (45): China (Hong Kong) animal, dog, 2nd case PCR positive
COVID-19 -- ChinaA spokesman for the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) said today [Thu 19 Mar 2020] that a pet dog sent to the AFCD has repeatedly tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. This is another infected case following an earlier case in which a 17-year-old Pomeranian dog tested weak positive during repeated tests for the virus.[see comment].The current case involves a German Shepherd dog that lived in a residence at Pok Fu Lam. When the owner was confirmed with COVID-19, Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (44): global, severe dis, long-term care, more countries, WHO
COVID-19 -- China2 Feb 2020: 17 187 / ... / 80 024 / ... / 80 860 / 80 881 / 80 894 / 80 928 / Mainland China2 Feb 2020: 15 / ... / 3726 / ... / 8236 / 8320 / 8413 / 8565 / South KoreaCountries with major activity (more than 500 cases with community spread)-------------------------------------------------------------------------2 Feb 2020: 2 / ... / 1694 / ... / 24 747 / 27 980 / 31 506 / 35 713 / Italy19 Feb 2020: 2 / ... / 978 / ... / 13 938 / 14 991 / 16 169 / 17 361 / Iran2 Feb 2020: 1 / ... Read more [...]
Clayton County authorities responding to crash involving hazardous materials – telegraphherald.com
Clayton County authorities responding to crash involving hazardous materials telegraphherald.com
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (46): global, comment, cruise ships, more countries, WHO