Archive for editor
PRO/AH/EDR> Tremorgenic toxin – Canada: (NS) dogs, susp.
Poisoning -- CanadaAn Amherst veterinarian is urging pet owners to always be aware of their animal's surroundings. This after 3 dogs in 5 days came down with a sudden illness having brought about seizures."The 1st case involved a dog walking with its owner at the golf club and on the way home in the car began to seize. It was put in a drug-induced coma and just got well enough to go home," Carolyn Hollis said. "It was a long process and it was a close call."Just as the 1st dog was recovering, someone Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Hantavirus – Americas (01): Argentina (BA)
Hantavirus -- ArgentinaA pregnant woman from an area in Buenos Aires [province] was admitted to hospital with [a] hantavirus [infection], so the local health authorities are investigating how she was infected in order to predict if there are possibilities of more cases.The patient is (currently) 28 weeks pregnant and was taken into the health system this past [5 Jan 2020] for a physical illness that later was recognized by the physicians attending her as [a] hantavirus [infection]; currently she Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Undiagnosed pneumonia – China (HU) (10): genome available, Hong Kong surveill.
Pneumonia -- ChinaFurther to our letter dated [9 Jan 2020], we would like to update you with the latest situation of the reported cluster of pneumonia cases in Wuhan, Hubei Province.After the preliminary determination that the pathogen of "viral pneumonia with unknown cause" is a novel coronavirus, the expert groups have immediately revised and improved the protocols on diagnosis, treatment and surveillance of viral pneumonia with unknown cause. The Wuhan Municipal Health Commission has arranged Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Poliomyelitis update (05): Malaysia (SA) RFI
Polio -- MalaysiaTwo more children have been confirmed infected with polio virus in Sabah after a 3-month baby boy was recorded having the disease in Tuaran in December last year [2019].Health director-general Datuk Dr. Noor Hisham Abdullah said the 2 boys, aged 8 and 11 were foreigners. "The 8-year-old boy who is from Sandakan was found not vaccinated against polio. On [Thu 9 Dec 2019], he had fever and 3 days later, he could not walk."Another boy in Kinabatangan who was also not vaccinated, had Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Undiagnosed pneumonia – China (HU) (09): novel coronavirus, more info, fatality
Coronavirus -- ChinaOn Twitter and other forums, pressure is growing on China to share genetic sequences and other details about the new coronavirus implicated this week in an unexplained pneumonia outbreak in Wuhan.So far, the only official announcements on cases came from Wuhan's health commission, which hasn't released any updates since [Sun 5 Jan 2020]. The announcements of preliminary identification of a new coronavirus have come mainly from tightly controlled Chinese media reports quoting Chinese Read more [...]
Why weighted blankets became the ‘it’ present for the holidays – Chicago Tribune
Why weighted blankets became the ‘it’ present for the holidays Chicago Tribune
PRO/AH/EDR> Anthrax – Zimbabwe (03): (ME) cattle, human cases hospitalized
Anthrax -- ZimbabweThree people are battling for their lives after consuming meat from animals that died of anthrax in Mahusekwa, Marondera district. The 3 cases were picked at Chimbwanda Clinic last week and were confirmed at Mahusekwa Hospital on Monday [6 Jan 2020].Marondera District Veterinary Officer Dr. Kramer Manyetu said, on investigation, it was established that the affected 3 people consumed meat from 2 cattle that died on [30 Dec 2019]. "No meat was still available when the affected property Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Poliomyelitis update (04): Ghana (BO, BE, AF) RFI
Polio -- GhanaA total of 3 cases of poliomyelitis with 2 deaths have been recorded in the Bono, Bono East and Ahafo regions.The 1st case reported, in the Bono Region, was a 24-month-old girl from Asiri in Goka, a subdistrict in the Jaman North District. The 2nd case was a 33-month-old girl resident in Sissala line in the Techiman West submunicipality in the Bono East Region, and the 3rd case was a 37-month-old boy from Kwasuso in the Asutifi South District of the Ahafo Region.Poliomyelitis is highly Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Kyasanur Forest disease – India (02): (KA)
Hemorrhagic Fever -- IndiaA year after a major outbreak of the disease in the region, 2 confirmed cases of Kyasanur Forest disease (KFD) popularly known as 'monkey fever' have been reported in Shivamogga district of Karnataka in the past one week, [N] (55) from Hemmakki village in Theerthahalli was diagnosed with KFD on [2 Jan 2020] and [B] (18) from Sagar was diagnosed on [Tue 7 Jan 2020]. The diagnosis was confirmed after tests conducted at the Virus Diagnostic Laboratory (VDL) in Shivamogga.Both Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Parainfluenza – Canada: (BC) extended care facility
Other Human Disease -- CanadaHealth officials are asking visitors to stay away from Talarico Place [extended care home in Castlegar, British Columbia] as they are trying to contain a respiratory infection outbreak at the facility.Interior Health declared the outbreak at the extended care home on [27 Dec 2019] and expects it to be a bit longer before the status changes. 2 incubation periods of 4 to 14 days (depending on the infection's cause) must pass with no new cases before the outbreak can be Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Borna disease – Germany: (BY)
Other Human Disease -- GermanySummary-------BackgroundIn 2018-19, Borna disease virus 1 (BoDV-1), the causative agent of Borna disease in horses, sheep, and other domestic mammals, was reported in 5 human patients with severe to fatal encephalitis in Germany. However, information on case frequencies, clinical courses, and detailed epidemiological analyses are still lacking. We report the occurrence of BoDV-1-associated encephalitis in cases submitted to the Institute of Clinical Microbiology and Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Undiagnosed pneumonia – China (HU) (08): novel coronavirus, WHO
Coronavirus -- ChinaChinese authorities have made a preliminary determination of a novel (or new) coronavirus, identified in a hospitalized person with pneumonia in Wuhan. Chinese investigators conducted gene sequencing of the virus, using an isolate from one positive patient sample. Preliminary identification of a novel virus in a short period of time is a notable achievement and demonstrates China's increased capacity to manage new outbreaks.Initial information about the cases of pneumonia in Wuhan Read more [...]
Ex-Councilman Makes Deal for Removing Hazardous Materials – U.S. News & World Report
Ex-Councilman Makes Deal for Removing Hazardous Materials U.S. News & World Report
Ex-councilman makes deal for removing hazardous materials – San Francisco Chronicle
Ex-councilman makes deal for removing hazardous materials San Francisco Chronicle
Ex-councilman makes deal for removing hazardous materials – New Haven Register
Ex-councilman makes deal for removing hazardous materials New Haven Register
8 Dangerous Goods myths and misconceptions—busted!
Remember Mythbusters? A couple of former Hollywood effects pros created one of the top shows on cable TV by debunking popular myths and misconceptions. They proved—over and over—that just because “everyone knows” something doesn’t make it true. If there were a supply chain TV network, Dangerous Goods professionals could probably run their own version of…
PRO/EDR> Poliomyelitis update (03): global (WPV1 Afghan., Pak., cVDPV2 Zambia), Pakistan
Polio -- AfghanistanNew wild poliovirus isolates reported this week:AFP cases: 13Environment: 15Others: 3New cVDPV isolates reported this week:AFP cases: 1Environment: 4Others: 0Summary of new viruses this week (AFP cases and ES positives):- Afghanistan: 2 WPV1 cases and 2 WPV1-positive environmental samples;- Pakistan: 11 WPV1 cases, 13 WPV1-positive environmental samples, and 2 cVDPV2-positive environmental samples;- Malaysia: 1 cVDPV1 and 1 cVDPV2-positive environmental samples;- Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Staph. aureus – UK: (Scotland) bacteremia, nosocomial, 2019 RFI
Hospital-Related Infection, Staph -- United KingdomCases of a potentially deadly bloodstream infection spiked in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde [NHS GGC] last summer [2019], months after a rare strain of the bacteria claimed 3 babies' lives.Health Protection Scotland said the above average rate of _Staphylococcus aureus_ bacteraemia (SAB) which affected patients treated in hospital between July and September last year [2019] "needs to be looked at further". A total of 93 healthcare-associated cases Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Malaria – Burundi: national epidemic
Malaria -- BurundiIn a follow-up on the malaria situation in Burundi in 2019, the World Health Organization reports a progressive increase in cases in the past year across all 46 districts of Burundi.Since the beginning of the year [2019], 8 392 921 malaria cases, including 3113 deaths have been reported. The population in the landlocked country in Southeast Africa is estimated at 11.53 million in 2019.Malaria has been a scourge in Burundi in recent years. In fact, World Vision International reports Read more [...]
PRO/AH> Amebic meningoencephalitis, primary – Costa Rica
Amoeba -- Costa RicaThe Costa Rica Ministry of Health reported [Tue 7 Jan 2019] (computer translated) on the 2nd ever _Naegleria fowleri_, or "brain-eating amoeba" infection in their history.The case is a 15-year-old who is presenting with a clinical picture of primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) remains in a serious state at the Liberia Hospital. The investigation into the case shows the young man acquired the amoeba by inhaling water in the thermal springs of Guayabo de Bagaces.The 1st case Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Yellow fever – Americas (01): Brazil (PE) monkey, fatal, susp
Yellow Fever -- BrazilThe deaths of at least 14 marmosets are under investigation by the Health Secretary of Pernambuco, who was notified of this mortality in Camaragibe [Pernambuco], Recife region, at the end of December [2019]. Professionals of the State Program for Arbovirosis Control went to Camaragibe to collect the corpses and conduct tests to find out the cause of death. Among the hypotheses is infection by yellow fever virus. Other viruses considered are herpesvirus and dengue virus. Samples Read more [...]
PRO/PL> Stemphylium blight, onion – USA: (NY)
Other Plant Disease -- United StatesCornell University scientists have discovered that the long-dormant stemphylium leaf blight [SLB] disease is the cause of an increase in dieback of onion crops in New York [state]. Until recently, SLB has been considered a minor foliar disease as it has not done much damage in New York since the early 1990s.Most of the onions are said to be grown on high organic matter soils, where foliar disease management is considered crucial to productivity. [SLB] may affect Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> MERS-CoV (02): Saudi Arabia (RI, MD), UAE (AZ), WHO
MERS -- Saudi ArabiaOn [29 Dec 2019], the National IHR Focal Point of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) reported one laboratory-confirmed case of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) to WHO.The case is a 74-year-old male national who owns a camel farm located in Al Ain City, Abu Dhabi region, in UAE, where he is living. He developed fever, cough, and sore throat on [8 Dec 2019] and was admitted to hospital on [10 Dec 2019], then transferred to ICU on [16 Dec 2019]. A nasopharyngeal Read more [...]
DG Digest: EPA continues to refine TCSA and FRA proposes new truck safety standards
Welcome to 2020! It’s the first DG Digest of the New Year and new decade; here’s to a safe and successful year for you and yours. We’ll continue to bring our readers all the latest regulatory news of interest right here, so let’s get started. The last week of 2019 was typical of a holiday…
Supply Chain Moves: Week of January 6, 2020
Week of January 6, 2019 Linking technology news with Dangerous Goods compliance 2020 is here and technology is poised to continue transforming the supply chain. This is especially true for dangerous goods shippers as they much adapt to the continued growth of e-commerce, evolving consumer demands, increasing regulations and much more. To help companies keep…
PRO/AH/EDR> Mycoplasma gallisepticum – Canada: (SK) songbirds
Conjunctivitis -- CanadaA few cases of conjunctivitis, also known as the bacteria that causes pink eye, has been found in Saskatoon birds.The infection is fairly common among birds but doesn't tend to spread quickly until the winter months. "What happens is in the winter time, birds have the tendency to come to feeders more often for the easy pickings of food, so the spread of the disease is more common," said Jan Shadick, executive director of Living Sky Wildlife Rehabilitation."It takes one bird Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Plague – China: (Inner Mongolia) 2019
Plague -- ChinaPatient A. The index case (Patient A) was a 43-year-old male herdsman. On 25 Oct 2019, the day after working the soil on his farm, he had sudden onset of fever (40 C [104 F]), with chills, vomiting, chest pain, breathlessness, and cough with blood-tinged sputum. He reported no swollen lymph nodes. He sought treatment in a local county hospital, where he was admitted and stayed for 2 days. On 27 Oct 2019, his condition deteriorated, and he was transferred to League Central Hospital Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Undiagnosed pneumonia – China (HU) (07): official confirmation of novel coronavirus
Coronavirus -- ChinaA few days ago, on the issue of the pathogenic identification of unexplained viral pneumonia epidemic in Wuhan, the reporter interviewed Xu Jianguo, the leader of the preliminary assessment of pathogenic test results and a member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering. He said that the expert group believed that the pathogen of this unexplained case of viral pneumonia was initially determined to be a new coronavirus.Question 1: At present, what progress has been made in the pathogenic Read more [...]
These are the toxic chemicals in our neighborhood – By Stephen Betts – Courier-Gazette & Camden Herald
These are the toxic chemicals in our neighborhood – By Stephen Betts Courier-Gazette & Camden Herald
Why your New Year's resolution to go to the gym will fail – The Conversation US
Why your New Year’s resolution to go to the gym will fail The Conversation US
