Archive for Global Disease Alerts
PRO/AH/EDR> African swine fever – Europe (35): Russia (PR) domestic, OIE
African Swine Fever -- RussiaInformation received on [and dated] 5 Aug 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: 30 Jul 2019Date of confirmation of the event: 3 Aug 2019Reason for notification: 1st occurrence of a listed diseaseManifestation of disease: clinical diseaseCausal agent: African swine fever virusNature of diagnosis: Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (41): Viet Nam (BV) poultry, HPAI H5N6
Avian Influenza H5N6 -- VietnamViet Nam's southern Ba Ria Vung Tau province has seen its 1st outbreaks of A/H5N6 bird flu, which have led to the culling of 10 500 chickens, local media reported on Tuesday [6 Aug 2019].The outbreaks were spotted in 2 communes in Xuyen Moc district on 31 Jul and 1 Aug 2019, and then tests confirmed that some chickens were infected with the bird flu virus, Viet Nam News Agency quoted the provincial Department of Livestock and Animal Health as reporting.Relevant local Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Vesicular stomatitis – USA (12): (CO) more cases
Vesicular Stomatitis -- United StatesMore than 250 animals have been quarantined after a viral disease was discovered in 14 counties, the Colorado Department of Agriculture said. Vesicular stomatitis [VSV], which primarily affects horses, spreads through insect bites.Cases of the disease have been found in Adams, Archuleta, Boulder, Broomfield, Conejos, Delta, Jefferson, La Plata, Larimer, Mesa, Montezuma, Montrose, Morgan and Weld counties. A total of 93 cases were confirmed in Larimer County as Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Seal deaths – USA: (HI) toxoplasmosis, update
Toxoplasmosis -- United StatesWhen we ponder the idea of the circle of life -- the interconnectedness between all natural life on Earth, the connection between kitty litter and the endangered monk seal may not be obvious. Alas, scientists over the last couple decades have compiled evidence that cat feces, which often drains into the ocean in coastal cities, can infect Hawaiian monk seals with toxoplasmosis -- a potentially fatal disease caused by a single-cell parasite.Worse, there are only an estimated Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Vesicular stomatitis – USA (11): statistics update
Vesicular Stomatitis -- United StatesSince the start of the outbreak, 512 VSV-affected premises have been identified:[VSV map 1 Aug 2019, USDA APHIS -- available at the source URL above]Since the last vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) last situation report issued [29 Jul 2019] by USDA APHIS [United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service ] Veterinary Services, there have been 146 new VSV-affected premises identified (48 confirmed positive, 98 suspect). No new VSV-affected Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Hepatitis A – USA (28): CDC
Hepatitis A -- United StatesSince March 2017, CDC's Division of Viral Hepatitis (DVH) has been assisting multiple state and local health departments with hepatitis A outbreaks, spread through person-to-person contact.The hepatitis A vaccine is the best way to prevent HAV infectionThe following groups are at highest risk for acquiring HAV infection or developing serious complications from HAV infection in these outbreaks and should be offered the hepatitis A vaccine in order to prevent or control Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Measles update (53)
Measles -- United StatesIn the period from 20 Jul-25 Jul 2019, a total of 5 cases of measles were reported. From the total number of newly reported cases, 4 cases are from Skopje, while one is from Kumanovo.In total, since the onset of the epidemic in December 2018 as of 25 Jul 2019, 1870 cases of measles have been registered in the Republic of North Macedonia with a disease rate of 90.4 per 100 000 inhabitants.Due to the epidemiological criteria, a measles epidemic is ongoing in the entire territory Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Poliomyelitis update (65): Pakistan (BA)
Polio -- PakistanAnother case of polio was reported in Balochistan on [Sat 3 Aug 2019], taking the total number of cases detected across the country this year [2019] so far to 48.The victim has been identified as a 5-month-old boy from Qilla Abdullah, according to the health department. His parents hadn't allowed polio teams to administer the vaccine to him.Four cases have so far been reported in Balochistan, 2 from Qilla Abdullah and one each Quetta and Jaffarabad.Babar bin Atta, the prime Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> MERS-CoV (59): Saudi Arabia (RI, QS)
MERS -- Saudi ArabiaIn the period since the last update (MERS-CoV (58): Saudi Arabia (RI,QS,NJ) WHO, RFI http://promedmail.org/post/20190725.6586218) there have been a total of 2 newly confirmed cases of MERS-CoV infection and 4 outcomes reported: 2 deaths and 2 recoveries.Information on newly confirmed cases (2):[1]Date of confirmation report: 25 Jul 2019Case No: 19-1942MERS from Riyadh city: a 59-year-old male from Riyadh city, Riyadh regionContact with camels: yesCase classification: Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> USAMRIID shut down – USA: (MD) failed safety inspection
-- United StatesThe U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases has begun a major re-set of its biological safety program and research is currently on hold. The move results from several actions recently taken by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in response to concerns about USAMRIID's past management of its Biological Select Agents and Toxins research program. During a site visit to USAMRIID in June 2019, CDC inspectors identified several deviations in Standard Operating Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever – Africa (05): Uganda (LY) fatal
Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever -- UgandaOne person has been confirmed dead and 49 others currently are isolated following an outbreak of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) in Lyantonde District.According to the Lyantonde District Health Officer, Dr Moses Nkanika, [VB], 42, who was a businessman dealing in cattle, succumbed to the deadly disease on [Wed 31 Jul 2019]."The blood samples we got from the deceased in Kasagama Sub County have tested positive for CCHF, not Ebola as earlier suspected," Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Powassan virus encephalitis – USA (03): (NY)
Powassan virus -- United StatesA Hudson Valley man has died from Powassan virus, a rare and often serious disease spread by infected ticks, health department officials said.This is the 1st known case of an individual diagnosed with the Powassan virus in New York State this year [2019], the department said.The resident, who lives in Gardiner, had additional underlying health conditions and died earlier this week, said the Ulster County Department of Health.Powassan, known as "POW," is named after Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> West Nile virus (23): Europe (Greece)
West Nile Virus -- GreeceTwo people over 80 were the 1st victims of West Nile virus in Greece this year [2019], according to the weekly epidemiological surveillance report published by the National Public Health Organization (EODY).From the beginning of epidemiological surveillance until today [2 Aug 2019], 25 cases of West Nile virus infection have been diagnosed and studied in Greece. In 17 of the patients reported, the central nervous system (CNS) was affected (encephalitis and/or meningitis/acute Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Hepadnavirus, novel, cats – Italy
Other Human Disease — Italy
PRO/AH/EDR> Trichinellosis – Argentina (02): (MZ) family
Trichinosis -- ArgentinaA family living in El Borbollon, Las Heras, ate ham and sausages after fixing pork at their home, but after this, 11 persons needed medical attention because of the occurrence of symptoms related to trichinellosis.It was reported that the Provincial Livestock Direction confiscated homemade ham and sausages after receiving an alert from the Epidemiology Area of Lagomaggiore Hospital, which stated they received and attended (infected) people with symptoms of thichinellosis.The Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Salmonellosis, st. Enteritidis – France: raw sheep milk cheese, alert, recall
Salmonella -- FranceAlmost 50 people are ill in France as part of a foodborne outbreak linked to eating a brand of unpasteurized, raw milk sheep's cheese. A spokeswoman from Sante Publique France told Food Safety News that _Salmonella_ Enteritidis was responsible for 49 illnesses and one person needed hospital treatment.Those ill are men and women, mostly adults between 22 and 94 years old, but 5 children were infected. The patients live in 5 different regions of the country. The 1st patients were Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Ebola update (76): Congo DR (NK, IT) cases, WHO, summary, response, vaccine
Ebola -- DR Congo- Mod.LK]- ResearchSat 3 Aug 2019. Inactivated rabies virus-based Ebola vaccine preserved by vaporization is heat-stable and immunogenic against Ebola and protects against rabies challenge.[J Infect Dis, edited]Citation: Kurup D, et al.: Inactivated Rabies Virus-Based Ebola Vaccine Preserved by Vaporization Is Heat-Stable and Immunogenic Against Ebola and Protects Against Rabies Challenge. J Infect Dis. 2019 Aug 3. pii: jiz332. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiz332. [Epub ahead of Read more [...]
PRO/AH> Vesicular stomatitis – USA (10): policy background
Vesicular Stomatitis -- United StatesWhy the Concern?VSV is not a fatal disease, but health officials are diligent to prevent its spread because symptoms are similar to those of foot-and-mouth disease. Any VSV outbreaks must be accurately identified. Foot-and-mouth disease is a much more serious foreign disease of cloven-hoofed animals and was eradicated from the US in 1929; officials are vigilant to prevent its reappearance. Also, the clinical signs of VSV are similar to swine vesicular disease, Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> African swine fever – Europe (34): Moldova (NI) domestic, OIE
African Swine Fever -- MoldovaInformation received on [and dated] 2 Aug 2019 from Dr. Vitalie Caraus, head of 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: 22 Jul 2019Date of confirmation of the event: 26 Jul 2019Reason for notification: 1st occurrence of a listed diseaseManifestation of disease: clinical diseaseCausal agent: Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Cyclosporiasis – Mexico: (QR) Cancun
Foodborne Illness -- MexicoBritish holidaymakers visiting Mexico are being warned about an intestinal parasite that is ravaging resorts in the country.A total of 14 tourists staying at luxury hotels in the Riviera Maya resort and Cancun have experienced crippling stomach pains, sickness and diarrhoea due to an illness that is passed on through contaminated food.The cause of the illness is the _Cyclospora cayetanensis_ parasite, which is transmitted by faeces coming into contact with water and food. Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Chlamydia trachomatis – Finland: NAAT, mutation 23S rRNA target, false negativity
Chlamydia -- FinlandTo the editor: We read with great interest the recent article by Rantakokko-Jalava, et al. about false-negative _Chlamydia trachomatis_ (CT) specimens in the nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) Aptima Combo 2 assay (AC2; Hologic Inc.) [1]. These very important findings indicate that 6-10% of CT-positive cases in Finland might have been missed due to false-negative/equivocal AC2 results. The AC2 false-negative/equivocal CT specimens were observed in several Finnish settings, Read more [...]
PRO/AH> Lymphatic filariasis – Yemen: eliminated
Filariasis -- YemenThe Global Alliance to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis (GAELF) reported this week that Yemen has eliminated lymphatic filariasis as public health problem, making them the 2nd country in the Eastern Mediterranean Region of the World Health Organization (WHO) to achieve this.Yemen's success comes after almost 2 decades of tremendous efforts of sustained elimination measures as recommended by WHO of the 2 pillars -- mass drug administration (MDA) and morbidity management and disease Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Equine viral arteritis – UK (02): (England) OIE
Other Animal Disease -- United KingdomInformation received on 1 Aug 2019 from Dr Christine Middlemiss, chief veterinary officer, DEFRA, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, London, United KingdomSummaryReport type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 20 Jul 2019Date of confirmation of the event: 31 Jul 2019Report date: 31 Jul 2019Reason for notification: recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: 2019Manifestation of disease: sub-clinical infectionCausal Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> African swine fever – Europe (33): Serbia (BG) domestic, 1st report
African Swine Fever -- SerbiaDue to suspicion of a possible infectious disease, and on the basis of the reported death of one pig in the village Rabrovac, the competent services of the Veterinary Directorate carried out euthanasia of pigs in the said village and in the village Velika Krsna.Euthanasia was carried out in accordance with the procedures laid down, and all preventive measures were taken to protect the health of the animals in the area.The Veterinary Directorate told Tanjug that pig samples Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Tuberculosis – Germany (02): (BW) school outbreak, RFI
Tuberculosis -- GermanyAn unusually high number of students and teachers at a school in southwestern Germany have been infected with tuberculosis. Health officials are scouring the school for clues about why the disease spread.Health officials on Thursday [1 Aug 2019] examined a school in the southwestern German town of Bad Schonborn where a tuberculosis outbreak has infected dozens of children and adults.A total of 109 students, teachers and other school employees have been infected, the district Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Legionellosis – Canada: (NB)
Legionnaires' -- CanadaCristin Muecke, the deputy chief medical officer of health, is urging anyone who develops pneumonia-like or respiratory symptoms to promptly seek medical care.There is an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease in the greater Moncton area, with 7 confirmed cases of the severe pneumonia in the past month, New Brunswick's deputy chief medical officer of health announced on Thursday [1 Aug 2019].Public Health is working with "multiple partners" to investigate the source of the _Legionella_ Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Poliomyelitis update (64): global (WPV1 & cVDPV)
Polio -- PakistanNew wild poliovirus cases isolates reported this week:AFP cases: 3Environment: 8Total number of wild poliovirus cases in 2019: 59Total number of wild poliovirus cases in 2018: 33New cVDPV isolates reported this week:AFP cases: 1Environment: 2Others: 20Total number of cVDPV cases (all types) in 2019: 44Total number of cVDPV cases (all types) in 2018: 104Headlines---------Summary of new viruses this week:- Afghanistan: 1 wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) case;- Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Salmonellosis, st 4,[5],12:b:- – UK: (England, Wales)
Salmonella -- United KingdomPublic Health England (PHE), Public Health Wales and the Food Standards Agency (FSA) are investigating a 5-single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) cluster of _Salmonella enterica_ 4,[5],12:b:- (SNP address: 1.1.249.265.270.271.%) identified through the analysis of whole genome sequencing (WGS) data. To date, 54 cases have been reported, with sample dates ranging from 23 Apr 2019 to 7 Jul 2019. Investigation is warranted due to the large number of cases and high reporting Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Plague – USA (03): (CO) prairie dogs
Plague -- United StatesPlague-infested fleas are affecting prairie dog colonies throughout the Commerce City region and prompted the closure of multiple heavily trafficked areas nearby. The Tri-County Health Department released a statement regarding the plague on Thursday [1 Aug 2019], saying the disease is common and can be dealt with using insecticide to kill the fleas ().While there are no reported cases of the plague detected in humans in Commerce City, the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Rabies – Americas (40): Canada (ON) bat, human exposure
Rabies -- CanadaThree people are being treated for possible exposure to rabies after a rabid bat was found in their barn. It's the 1st time a rabid bat has been confirmed in Dufferin County in nearly 30 years. Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health officials said all 3 people that were exposed were part of the same family.Health officials are reminding the public that if they come in contact with a bat indoors that they shouldn't touch it and should instead call a local animal control agency. Anyone Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Theileria – USA: (VA) cattle, longhorned tick, 2017
Tick-borne disease -- United StatesThe cause of the 7 cows' deaths wasn't immediately clear. All of the animals died between late summer and fall of 2017 in Albemarle County, the prosperous, semi-agricultural county that surrounds the city of Charlottesville. Another cow on the property, sick but alive, was found with signs of anemia, weakness, and respiratory distress.Fearing the deaths were a sign of a new foreign animal disease, the US Department of Agriculture came to Albemarle to investigate Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Undiagnosed illness – Papua New Guinea: (EH) fatal, Klebsiella susp, RFI
Klebsiella pneumoniae -- Papua New GuineaPapua New Guinea health officials have been dispatched to the Eastern Highlands after dozens of people reportedly died in a disease outbreak. The provincial governor, Peter Numu, told local media 35 people at the local hospital died from curable diseases. He said 11 died over the weekend [27-28 Jul 2019], although he didn't specify when the others died.PNG's Health Minister, Elias Kapavore, said health department officials alongside the World Health Organisation Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Listeriosis – Europe (05): (UK) nosocomial, fatal, meat sandwiches
Hospital-Related Infection, Listeriosis -- United KingdomA 6th person has died from a _Listeria_ infection after eating NHS sandwiches, Public Health England (PHE) has confirmed, as they continue to investigate whether more people have died at dozens of trusts.In June [2019], public health officials said 5 seriously ill patients had died, and 9 more infected, after eating food, which contained the deadly bacteria _Listeria_.On [Thu 1 Aug 2019] they confirmed that 1 of the 9 patients infected has Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Lyme disease – UK: updated reporting
Lyme Disease -- United Kingdom1. Cairns V, Wallenhorst C, Rietbrock S, et al. Incidence of Lyme disease in the UK: a population-based cohort study BMJ Open 2019; 9: e025916. Full journal article available at . - Mod.ML]--Communicated by:ProMED-mail from HealthMap Alerts[Following is the abstract extracted from the journal article referenced in the news report above:Abstract--------"Objectives: The purpose of this study was to estimate the annual incidence of Lyme disease (LD) in the UK."Design: This Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Ebola update (75): Congo DR (NK, IT) cases, WHO, summary, response, research
Ebola -- DR CongoAnother 2 Ebola cases were confirmed in the provincial capital city of Goma today [1 Aug 2019], marking the 1st active transmission there, a development that prompted reports of a border closure with Rwanda.The quickly evolving developments come on the 1-year anniversary of the Democratic Republic of Congo's outbreak declaration.New cases are man's family members----------------------------------Both of the new cases in Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo's (DRC's) hard-hit Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Mumps update (10): USA (TX) outbreak update
Mumps -- United StatesAbout 100 new mumps cases have been identified in Texas immigrant-holding facilities in the last 5 weeks, according to reporting by News 88.7 in Houston, Texas.According to this Houston Public Media report on 29 Jul 2019, the new mumps cases include all federal facilities that hold immigrants, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Customs and Border Protection, and shelters that hold unaccompanied migrant children."To have this many cases concentrated in this Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Poliomyelitis update (63): African region, cVDPV, WHO
Polio -- NigeriaThe summaries below provide a situational update on circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) outbreaks in the WHO African and Eastern Mediterranean regions. No wild poliovirus has been detected on the African continent since September 2016.A - Nigeria and Lake Chad basin (LCB) sub-regionIn the Lake Chad basin (LCB) sub-region, multiple cVDPV2 outbreaks continue to spread. All the countries that comprise the sub-region (Niger, Cameroon, and Nigeria) have reported outbreaks Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Vesicular stomatitis – USA (09): (OK, CO) horse
Vesicular Stomatitis -- United StatesThe Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food & Forestry announced [Tue 30 Jul 2019] that vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) has been confirmed in a horse in Tillman County, OK.So far in 2019, VSV has been reported in Texas, Colorado, New Mexico, and Wyoming. This is the 1st case in Oklahoma since the 1990s, according to the Oklahoma State University Center for Veterinary Health Sciences (CVHS). VSV is a viral disease affecting horses and all clovened-hooved Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Brucellosis – Turkey: (MU)
Brucellosis -- TurkeyA total of 15 people engaged in animal fattening in the town and highlands of Kirkoy have been infected with brucellosis. A resident of the town said that many small ruminants in the town had suffered a miscarriage during the birth season and that 4 people in one family are now being treated for brucellosis. The patients had been seen at the Elazig Ataturk Research Hospital and "the doctors made the examinations and tests and as a result a brucellosis diagnosis was made. The Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Squirrel pox, red squirrel – UK (03): (England) alert
Other Animal Disease -- United KingdomA deadly outbreak of squirrel pox has hit Formby, putting the protected red species in danger at the National Trust.The highly contagious virus carried by grey squirrels has fatal consequences for red squirrels that come into contact with it. Symptoms include lesions around the eyes, mouth and paws and the virus usually results in death.Experts at the Lancashire Wildlife Trust are urging anyone who sees a sick or dead red squirrel to get in touch with them, after Read more [...]
