Archive for editor
PRO/EDR> Legionellosis – Australia (02): ex Indonesia (Bali) alert
Legionnaires' -- AustraliaWestern Australians [WA] who have recently been to Bali [Indonesia] or are planning a trip to the island are being warned of a potential risk of legionnaires' disease at Ramayana Resort and Spa in central Kuta. It comes after the 4th notified case in WA since February [2019].WA Health Department director of communicable disease control Paul Armstrong said the hotel was linked to earlier outbreaks in 2010 and 2011, which affected at least 13 Australians.Legionnaires' disease Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza – Nigeria (55): (SO) poultry, HPAI H5N6, OIE, amendment
Avian Influenza H5N6 -- NigeriaThe URL of the OIE report published by ProMED-mail on 29 Nov 2019, archive number http://promedmail.org/post/20191129.6802815, is no longer available. On 23 Dec 2019, Nigeria sent a new immediate notification to the OIE replacing the report sent in November.The epidemiological comments made in this latest OIE report noted: "The original report submitted [on 27 Nov 2019] for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) with OIE reference number 32493 was deleted and replaced Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Leishmaniasis, visceral – India: (WB) indigenous people
Leishmaniasis -- IndiaAt least 10 people of an Adivasi [indigenous people to the place] village in South Dinajpur district's Kushmandi block [West Bengal state] have been infected with kala-azar [visceral leishmaniasis], officials said. Kala-azar is a form of the disease leishmaniasis marked by emaciation, anaemia, fever, and enlargement of the liver and spleen.The disease is [transmitted] by the bite of infected female phlebotomine sandflies, an official said. The health department has started spraying Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (54): Nigeria (SO) poultry, H5N6, 1st case
Avian Influenza H5N6 -- NigeriaInformation received on [and dated] 23 Dec 2019 from Dr Olaniran Alabi, director, chief veterinary officer, Veterinary and Pest Control Services, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Abuja, NigeriaSummaryReport type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 25 Jun 2019Date of confirmation of the event: 27 Nov 2019Reason for notification: new strain of a listed disease in the countryCausal agent: highly pathogenic avian influenza virusSerotype: Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Glanders – Turkey (02): (IB,BL) horse, OIE
Glanders -- TurkeyInformation received on [and dated] 23 Dec 2019 from Dr Nihat Pakdil, Deputy Undersecretary of Ministry, Veterinary Services, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Ankara, Turkey.Summary:Report type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 21 Nov 2019Date of confirmation of the event: 4 Dec 2019Report date: 23 Dec 2019Date submitted to OIE: 23 Dec 2019Reason for notification: recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: 8 Nov 2017Manifestation of Read more [...]
UPDATE: Martinsburg evacuees returning home after air considered safe – WDTV
UPDATE: Martinsburg evacuees returning home after air considered safe WDTVChemical response team responding to hazardous materials situation in Martinsburg WCHS-TV8Chemical incident prompts evacuations in downtown Martinsburg West Virginia MetroNewsChemical spill in Martinsburg leads to evacuations, traffic disruptions WDVM 25View full coverage on Google News Read more [...]
Port Neches Explosion: Texas Chemical Plant Blast Injures 3 People – NPR
Port Neches Explosion: Texas Chemical Plant Blast Injures 3 People NPRPort Neches explosions: 60,000 people forced to evacuate after explosions at Texas chemical plant CBS NewsExplosion and fires at 2 US chemical plants prompt emergency orders WCBIThousands Evacuated in Texas After Explosion at Port Neches Chemical Plant The New York TimesPort Neches Texas chemical plant explosion and fire: By the numbers Fox BusinessView full coverage on Google Read more [...]
ITC fire cast long shadow over Deer Park during year – mySanAntonio.com
ITC fire cast long shadow over Deer Park during year mySanAntonio.com
PRO/AH/EDR> Newcastle disease – Russia (06): (PR) poultry, OIE
Newcastle Disease -- RussiaInformation received on [and dated] 23 Dec 2019 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 2019Date of confirmation of the event: 12 Dec 2019Report date: 23 Dec 2019Date submitted to OIE: 23 Dec 2019Reason for notification: Recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: 11 Jun Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> African swine fever – Europe (57): Moldova (FL) wild boar, spread, OIE
African Swine Fever -- MoldovaInformation received on [and dated] 20 Dec 2019 from Dr. Vitalie Caraus, head of the Animal Health and Welfare Department, Animal Health and Welfare Department, National Food Safety Agency of the Republic of Moldova, Chisinau, MoldovaSummaryReport type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 17 Dec 2019Date of confirmation of the event: 19 Dec 2019Reason for notification: 1st occurrence of a listed diseaseManifestation of disease: clinical diseaseCausal agent: Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Sponge die-off – Tunisia: warming & pollutants susp
Animal Die-off -- TunisiaThere's an account of a 5th-century marker that stood on the border between what is now Algeria and Tunisia. On it was recorded the taxes levied on the different kinds of goods that passed its way: dates, grain and, critically, sponges.Sponges continue to be harvested in Tunisia. Sailing from the Kerkennah Islands and the southern fishing town of Zarzis, Tunisian sponge fishermen have been plying the high-risk trade carried on by their families for as long as anyone can Read more [...]
West Virginia City Partially Evacuated Due to Chemical Spill – NBC4 Washington
West Virginia City Partially Evacuated Due to Chemical Spill NBC4 Washington
Chemicals Spill In Martinsburg, Part Of Downtown Evacuated – West Virginia Public Broadcasting
Chemicals Spill In Martinsburg, Part Of Downtown Evacuated West Virginia Public Broadcasting
Chemical incident prompts evacuations in downtown Martinsburg – WV MetroNews – West Virginia MetroNews
Chemical incident prompts evacuations in downtown Martinsburg – WV MetroNews West Virginia MetroNews
PRO/AH/EDR> Foodborne illness – Philippines: (LG, QZ) fatal, methanol poisoning susp., RFI
Foodborne Illness -- PhilippinesAt least 9 people are confirmed dead Sunday [22 Dec 2019] from suspected poisoning after reportedly consuming lambanog, or palm wine. Eight of the victims were from Rizal, Laguna.According to Rizal mayor Vener Munoz, the victims were drinking a generic brand of lambanog. Munoz added it was unclear when the victims drank the beverage. He also said over 100 other people complained of pain after drinking lambanog but were not critical. They are currently being treated Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Bluetongue – Israel: (HZ) cattle, sheep, BTV-9 1st report
Bluetongue -- Israel2017 / cattle / 10 / 14 / 2, 4, 6, 152017 / sheep / 14 / 26 / 3, 4, 6-------2018 / cattle / 13 / not available / 2, 3, 4, 6, 152018 / sheep / 8 / not available / 3, 4, 6The report (in Hebrew) is available at .Another new airborne orbivirus affecting cattle, namely epizootic haemorrhagic disease (EHD), appeared for the 1st time in Israel in 2006 (serotype 7), and then again in 2015 (serotype 6) and 2016 (serotype 1). The said new introductions, as well as recent (up to 2018) BTV Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Trypanosomiasis (Chagas disease) – Bolivia: rapid diagnostic tests
Chagas -- BoliviaChagas disease, caused by the parasite _Trypanosoma cruzi_, is the neglected tropical disease with a highest burden in Latin America. Its acute stage is mostly asymptomatic and goes unnoticed. Symptoms appear at the chronic stage, which is when diagnosis is usually made. This is based on the agreement of 2 conventional serological tests such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). There are commercial kits with good sensitivity and specificity, but their use is impractical Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Shewanella haliotis – USA: (NY) appendiceal abscesses, raw fish consump
Foodborne Illness -- United StatesCitation: Liu D, Fiel RH, Cheng LS, et al. Notes from the field: first reported case of _Shewanella haliotis_ in the region of the Americas -- New York, December 2018. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2019;68:1168-9. On 18 Dec 2018, a man aged 87 years was evaluated in a hospital emergency department in Flushing, New York, for right lower abdominal quadrant pain. Evaluation included a computed tomography scan, which showed acute appendicitis with multiple abscesses measuring Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Listeriosis – USA (03): fatal, bulk hard-boiled eggs, 2017-2019, alert
Listeriosis -- United StatesReported cases: 7States: 5Hospitalizations: 4Deaths: 1Recall: NoAdvice for retailers, food service operators, and consumers--------------------------------------------------------------The CDC is concerned that bulk, fresh hard-boiled eggs produced by Almark Foods of Gainesville, Georgia, are contaminated with _Listeria_ and have made people sick. These products were packaged in plastic pails for use nationwide by food service operators. These products have not been recalled. Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Measles update (77)
Measles -- SamoaAs of 16 Dec 2019, approximately 94% of all eligible people in Samoa have been vaccinated against measles.National Emergency Operation Center (NEOC) continues to be the focal point providing collaboration and operational coordination amongst all stakeholders, with advice and technical guidance from MOH for the duration of the Emergency Period.--Communicated by:ProMED-mail Rapporteur Kunihiko Iizuka******[5] Samoa: Press release 32Date: Wed 18 Dec 2019Source: Government of Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Legionellosis – Canada (05): (ON) comment
Legionnaires' -- CanadaOn behalf of the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit, I'd like to offer this response to the post:At this time, the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit's investigations, including genotyping of clinical and environmental isolates, do not indicate a link between the Barrie and Orillia clusters of Legionnaire's disease.--Heidi Pitfield, MPH, CPHI(C), CICProgram Manager, Infectious DiseasesSimcoe Muskoka District Health UnitOntario, Canada[ProMED-mail recently posted 2 reports Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Chronic wasting disease – USA (20): (TX) wild deer
Chronic Wasting Disease -- United StatesIn response to the confirmation of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in a free-ranging white-tailed deer in Val Verde County, the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) Executive Director established a CWD High Risk Area Containment Zone (CZ) in a portion of the affected area on 20 Dec 2019."Though CWD has not been discovered in non-native or 'exotic' susceptible species in Val Verde County, we believe the recent detection creates a high risk for exotic species Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Pseudorabies (Aujeszky's disease) – France (03): (LP) pigs, OIE
Other Animal Disease -- FranceInformation received on [and dated] 20 Dec 2019 from Dr. Loic Evain, Deputy Director General, CVO, Directorate General for Food, Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Paris, FranceSummaryReport type: Immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 13 Nov 2019Date of confirmation of the event: 18 Dec 2019Report date: 20 Dec 2019Date submitted to OIE: 20 Dec 2019Reason for notification: Recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: 30 Sep 2019Manifestation of Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Ebola update (118): Congo DR (NK, IT) cases, summaries, updates, perspective
Ebola -- DR Congo- A total of 2381 people were vaccinated, as of 16 Dec 2019, with the 2nd vaccine Ad26.ZEBOV/MVA-BN-Filo (Johnson & Johnson) in the 2 health areas from Karisimbi to Goma;- Since the start of vaccination on 8 Aug 2018 with the rVSV-ZEBOV vaccine, 257 953 people have been vaccinated.Entry point surveillance-------------------------- Since the start of the epidemic, the total number of travelers checked (temperature taken) at health checkpoints has been 129 849 674;- To date, a Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Contagious equine metritis – Denmark (02): (ND) horse, OIE
Other Animal Disease -- DenmarkInformation received on [and dated] 19 Dec 2019 from Dr. Hanne Larsen, Chief Veterinary Officer, Danish Veterinary and Food Administration, Ministry of Environment and Food, Glostrup, DenmarkSummaryReport type: Immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 16 Dec 2019Date of confirmation of the event: 18 Dec 2019Reason for notification: Recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: 31 Oct 2019Manifestation of disease: Subclinical infectionCausal agent: Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Poliomyelitis update (103): global (WPV1, cVDPV) Pakistan, nOPV2 soon to release
Polio -- PakistanNew wild poliovirus isolates reported this week:AFP cases: 9Environment: 14Others: 0New cVDPV isolates reported this week:AFP cases: 24Environment: 4Others: 11HeadlinesSummary of new viruses this week (AFP cases and ES positives):Afghanistan: 2 WPV1 cases and 2 WPV1-positive environmental samples;Pakistan: 7 WPV1 cases, 1 cVDPV2 case, and 12 WPV1-positive environmental samples;DR Congo: 8 cVDPV2 cases;Somalia: 2 cVDPV2-positive environmental samples;Angola: 11 Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Glanders – Turkey: (IB) horse, control
Glanders -- Turkey1. Elschner MC, Neubauer H, and Sprague LD. The resurrection of glanders in a new epidemiological scenario: a beneficiary of "global change". Curr Clin Microbiol Rep. 2017; 4(1): 54-60. Abstract available at .2. Van Zandt KE, Greer MT, Gelhaus HC. Glanders: an overview of infection in humans. Orphanet J Rare Dis. 2013; 8: 131. doi: 10.1186/1750-1172-8-131; available at .3. Kettle ANB & Wernery U. Glanders and the risk for its introduction through the international movement of Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> E. coli EHEC – USA (32): O157, romaine lettuce, CDC
E. coli -- United StatesSince the previous update on 4 Dec 2019, an additional 36 ill people have been reported. As of 17 Dec 2019, a total of 138 people infected with the outbreak strain of _E. coli_ O157:H7 have been reported from 25 states.State / Ill people------------------Arizona / 3California / 4Colorado / 6Florida / 2Idaho / 3Illinois / 10Iowa / 1Maryland / 5Michigan / 1Minnesota / 5Montana / 1Nebraska / 2New Jersey / 9New Mexico / 2North Carolina / 2Ohio / 12Oregon / Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Eastern equine encephalitis – North America (45): 2019 human case update
Eastern Equine Encephalitis -- United StatesAs of 17 Dec 2019, CDC has received reports of 38 confirmed [human] cases of eastern equine encephalitis virus disease for this year, including 15 deaths. Cases have been reported from the following 10 states:Alabama (1)Connecticut (4)Georgia (1)Indiana (1)Massachusetts (12)Michigan (10)New Jersey (4)North Carolina (1)Rhode Island (3)Tennessee (1)--Communicated by:Greg FolkersNIAID, NIH[This latest report increases the number of eastern equine encephalitis Read more [...]
DG Digest: PHMSA extends comment period for its Liquefied Natural Gas by rail NPRM
The penultimate digest week of the year finds regulatory activity much busier than one might have otherwise expected it to be, with several actions of interest. Meanwhile, this week begins the heart of the holiday season. The Labelmaster family wishes you and yours a safe and joyous holiday! Here’s all the latest: PHMSA The agency…