Archive for Global Disease Alerts
PRO/AH/EDR> African swine fever – Europe (23): Bulgaria (PV) domestic, reintroduction, OIE
African Swine Fever -- BulgariaA 2nd outbreak of African swine fever [ASF] in domestic pigs was confirmed in Bulgaria on Wed [3 Jul 2019], the country's Food Safety Agency said in a statement on its website.The disease has been found in a small farm in the village of Zhernov near the Danube River, some 210 km [130 mi] northeast of Sofia. A total of 14 pigs were fattened in the farm, the statement said.All measures have been taken to eradicate the outbreak and prevent its spreading, such as setting Read more [...]
PRO/PL> Blast disease, rice – Nigeria: (BA)
Other Plant Disease -- NigeriaA rice disease suspected to be rice blast has invaded farmlands in Bauchi state. The disease, noticed in the area in the last 3 weeks, has wreaked havoc infesting about 20 hectares [about 49 acres] of rice farms across the area. "It is very difficult to assess the extent of damage to yields as the crops are at varying stages of growth," [a local official] stressed. "We have never recorded such pests in the last 4 years we have been carrying out irrigated (dry season) Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Undiagnosed illness – Bolivia (02): (LP) Bolivian hemorrhagic fever conf
Hemorrhagic Fever -- Bolivia[The Ministry of] Health confirmed that a virus that killed a hospitalized patient and 2 physicians from La Paz is an arenavirus transmitted by rodents. The disease, after 7 days, causes hemorrhagic fever, a symptom presented by the patients hospitalized in intensive care in 2 health centers in La Paz.One of the viruses in this family is Machupo that causes Bolivian hemorrhagic fever, a disease that, according to hypotheses, is affecting the patients that are under observation, Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> HIV/AIDS – Pakistan (02): (SD) WHO
HIV/AIDS -- PakistanThe response to the event has been led by the provincial Department of Health (DOH) and the Sindh AIDS Control Program (SACP). The response has been supported by UN partners, the Pakistan Field Epidemiology & Laboratory Training Program (FELTP), Aga Khan University, and other partners.A new HIV/AIDS ART Treatment Center for children has been established at Shaikh Zaid Children Hospital. Unauthorized laboratories, blood banks, and clinics have been closed.A mission led by the Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Crimean-Congo hem. fever – Asia (06): Pakistan (SD) alert
Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever -- Pakistan[Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever] claimed 3 lives in Karachi in June [2019], citing local health department officials ARY News reported on [Tue 2 Jul 2019].All 3 patients of the Congo virus died in a private hospital in Gulshan Iqbal locality of the city. Doctors have expressed apprehensions of an outbreak of Congo virus in the city with the arrival of sacrifice animals to Karachi for sale ahead of the Eid ul-Azha [11-12 Aug 2019]. Director, health and medical Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Aspergillosis – USA: (WA) fatal, ped. hospital, OR, air-handling system
Aspergillosis -- United StatesSeattle Children's Hospital has revealed that one patient has died and 5 others have been infected by a potentially dangerous mold that has forced the medical center to close all of its main operating rooms. The hospital disclosed the infections and death to The Seattle Times [Tue 2 Jul 2019] in response to follow-up questions regarding the closures of 4 operating rooms on its main Seattle campus [18 May 2019] because of _Aspergillus_ mold and of the remaining 10 operating Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Poliomyelitis update (56): Pakistan (KP)
Polio -- PakistanK-P [Khyber Pakhtunkhwa] health department has confirmed 5 more cases of polio in the province. All 5 children, 3 from Bannu and 2 from [Torghar], native area of Peshawar were not administered polio drops. The total number of polio cases after these 5 new cases has reached 31 [37] this year [2019].[Byline: Muhammad Irfan]--Communicated by:ProMED-mail******[2]Date: Wed 3 Jul 2019 01:04 PM PKTSource: UrduPoint/Pakistan Point News [edited]Persistent propaganda and Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Kyasanur Forest disease – India (17): (KA) vaccination
Kyasanur Forest Disease -- IndiaThe Department of Health and Family Welfare plans to take up a vaccination drive and step up surveillance activities to tackle Kyasanur Forest disease (KFD), also known as monkey fever, in the 2019-20 season.In 2018-19, 14 persons died in the state of monkey fever -- 12 deaths in Shivamogga district and 2 in Uttaa Kannada district. As many as 440 positive cases were reported in the state during this period, of which 341 cases were from Shivamogga district. Aralagodu Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Salmonellosis, st I 4,[5],12:i:- – USA: pig ear dog treats
Salmonella -- United StatesCDC, public health and regulatory officials in several states, and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are investigating a multistate outbreak of multidrug-resistant _Salmonella_ I 4,[5],12:i:- infections linked to contact with pig ear dog treats.Public health investigators are using the PulseNet system to identify illnesses that may be part of this outbreak. PulseNet is the national subtyping network of public health laboratories coordinated by CDC. DNA fingerprinting Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Vesicular stomatitis – USA (03): (NM,TX) horse
Vesicular Stomatitis -- United StatesOn 26 Jun 2019, the National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) in Ames, Iowa, confirmed a finding of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) infection (Indiana serotype) on a premises in Sandoval county, New Mexico. 2 horses on the premises have met the case definition of infection with compatible clinical signs and positive complement fixation test (CFT) titers at a greater than 1:40 dilution, indicating recent infection.Both horses are also polymerase chain reaction Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Ebola update (62): Congo DR (NK, IT) case update, summaries, education
Ebola -- DR Congo- 148 183 people vaccinated- 70 953 538 people checked at 80 entry and operational health checkpoints [The number probably includes people who passed by checkpoints more than once, coming and going - Mod.DK]- 127 contaminated healthcare workers- One of Beni's non-vaccinated healthcare workers is one of the new confirmed cases.- The cumulative number of confirmed/probable cases among healthcare workers is 127 (5% of all confirmed/probable cases), including 40 deaths.--Communicated Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> African swine fever – Europe (22): Belgium, wild, spread, Luxembourg, prevention
African Swine Fever -- BelgiumOn Fri 28 June 2019, Walloon [Agriculture] minister Rene Collin closed an area of 7000 hectares (about 17 300 acres) of woodland in connection with the discovery of a new [case] of a wild boar infected with African swine fever (ASF). The new area is located in the southeast of the province of Luxembourg, extending the existing surveillance area further to the border with [the] neighboring [country of] Luxembourg.In various Belgian media Collin calls the location of new Read more [...]
PRO/PL> Greening disease, citrus – Colombia: (AT)
Other Plant Disease -- ColombiaYellow dragon disease [is devastating] Colombia's citrus plantations. Citrus producers in the department of Atlantico have had to suspend the production on 1270 hectares [about 3138 acres] due to the plague and have reported losses of millions of dollars a day.According to municipal leaders, the alternatives that the ICA [Colombian Agricultural Institute] has proposed do not respond to the needs. One of the options has been to replace the plantations with new trees, Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Trichinellosis – Argentina: (SL) alert
Trichinosis -- ArgentinaThe Ministry of Health of San Luis issued an epidemiological alert after 3 cases of trichinosis were confirmed by laboratory.The cases are one child, his father, and his mother. Another 12 probable cases are under investigation, all from the distant towns of Concaran and Villa Mercedes, 163 [101 mi] and 100 kilometers [62 mi], respectively, from the provincial capital [San Luis].The affected patients would have contracted the disease after consuming sausages purchased in La Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Undiagnosed illness – Bolivia (LP) fatal, RFI
Undiagnosed -- BoliviaAn unknown disease that led to the death of an internal medicine physician and that has another 2 in serious condition has led to the activation of health protocols in Bolivia, requesting assistance from international medical teams in order to identify the etiology of the disease, it was announced on Mon 1 Jul 2019 by the Minister of Health, Gabriela Montano.Initial diagnostic tests indicated a "viral disease," but through the analysis of the physician who died and the 2 other Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Equine infectious anemia – Austria (02): (OO) OIE
Equine Infectious Anemia -- AustriaInformation received on [and dated] 1 Jul 2019 from Mr. Dr Ulrich Herzog, Chief Veterinary Officer, [Consumer Health], BMASGK [Federal Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs, Health and Consumer Protection], Vienna, AustriaSummaryReport type: immediate notification (final report)Date of start of the event: 24 Jun 2019Date of confirmation of the event: 28 Jun 2019Reason for notification: recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: Jun 2019Manifestation Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> White nose syndrome, bats – North America (03): (ND) 1st rep
White nose syndrome -- United StatesThe National Park Service says the fungus that causes a deadly disease in bats has been discovered in North Dakota.The Bismarck Tribune reports the fungus was discovered after swab testing of a bat that was captured [6 May 2019] at Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site near Stanton.The fungus causes white-nose syndrome, which can lead to dehydration or other conditions that kill bats.To date, 33 states have confirmed the disease since it was found Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Rabies (35): Africa, Asia, Europe, human, dog
Rabies -- PhilippinesThe Philippines Department of Health in the Western Visayas [Region VI] reported 17 human rabies deaths during the 1st 5 months of the year [2019], the 2nd in the list of most affected regions in the country, following Central Luzon [Region III].This is the same number of human rabies deaths reported in all of 2018. This has prompted health officials to call on the public to become responsible pet owners.Program coordinator of the region's Rabies Prevention and Control Program Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Influenza (19): Australia, Asia, Americas
Influenza, Influenza H1N1 -- AustraliaVaccine recommendations were made based on factors including data from global influenza virologic and epidemiologic surveillance, genetic characterization, antigenic characterization, and the candidate vaccine viruses that are available for production. WHO recommended the northern hemisphere 2019-20 influenza vaccine composition, and the Food and Drug Administration's Vaccines and Related Biologic Products Advisory Committee subsequently made the influenza vaccine Read more [...]
PRO/PL> Panama disease, banana – Thailand: (CR) susp
Other Plant Disease -- ThailandOfficials from the Department of Agriculture have been dispatched to a banana plantation in Chiang Rai province after a report of an alleged outbreak of Panama disease. They cannot yet confirm whether it is Panama disease, and the disease has never occurred in Thailand before.The official said that that the Chinese company allegedly imported cuttings illegally to be planted," adding that the alleged disease is presently limited to this one plantation. Biochemists have Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Tuberculosis – Germany: (NI) fatal, slaughterhouse workers, RFI
Tuberculosis -- GermanySince the beginning of 2018, the health authorities in 2 districts of Lower Saxony (LK) have frequently registered cases of tuberculosis (TB) illness among slaughterhouse workers, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) reports (Epi Bull 26/2019 at ; German).13 employees had become infected and one person had died as a result of the disease. The persons infected are predominantly Romanian workers.During 2018 and up to 28 Feb 2019, 7 slaughterhouse workers who slaughtered and processed Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Measles update (47)
Measles -- ChinaMultiple humanitarian crises are unfolding in Ituri province, northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo, and hundreds of thousands of people are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance, according to international medical organisation Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)."This is not the 1st time there are urgent humanitarian needs in the area," says Dr Moussa Ousman, MSF Head of Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo. "But this time we are seeing not only mass displacement Read more [...]
PRO/ALL> Announcements (05): JHU Center for Health Security's disease prediction platform
Not Yet Classified -- Worldwide/UnknownThe Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security is launching the 2nd round of its public health crowd-sourcing effort this week.Volunteer predictors are needed to thoughtfully answer a set of forecasting questions on a weekly basis through December 2019 via the Collective Intelligence for Disease Prediction platform .We need you (and your colleagues) to make predictions about future outbreaks and other related events. This project aims to explore how crowd-sourced Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Acquired equine polyneuropathy – Iceland (02): additional cases
Other Animal Disease -- IcelandA mystery disease that usually strikes horses in Nordic countries during the winter months has emerged in Iceland for the 1st time, leading to the death of 13 horses.Equine polyneuropathy (AEP), also known as Scandinavian knuckling syndrome, 1st appeared in Scandinavia in 1995, and, despite extensive research, its cause has never been identified.The illness presents as muscle weakness in the back of the body, which can cause the fetlock joints to knuckle forward, giving Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> E. coli EHEC – USA (12): (CA) county fair, fatal
E. coli -- United StatesThe connections between the death of a 2-year-old boy and the violent illness suffered by 3 other children earlier this month weren't at first apparent. But on Fri 28 Jun 2019, public health officials zeroed in on the common denominator: all 4 tested positive for _E.coli_ bacteria and all 4 had visited animals at the San Diego County Fair.The discovery prompted the closure of all animal exhibits Sat 29 Jun 2019, a safety measure that will remain in effect through the remainder Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Squirrel pox, red squirrel – UK (02): (England) alert
Other Animal Disease -- United KingdomA group committed to preserving red squirrels has issued "strong advice" to people following an outbreak of squirrel pox in the Eden area.The presence of the disease, which is fatal to red squirrels, was reported in the area around the Lowther Holiday Park near Penrith.The Penrith and District Red Squirrel Group have asked people at the site to remove all squirrel and bird feeders, and to disinfect them as well as the feeding areas.They also provided a list of Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Salmonellosis, st Uganda – USA: Mexican papayas, alert
Salmonella -- United StatesCDC, public health and regulatory officials in several states, and the US Food and Drug Administration are investigating a multistate outbreak of _Salmonella_ Uganda infections.Public health investigators are using the PulseNet system to identify illnesses that may be part of this outbreak. PulseNet is the national subtyping network of public health and food regulatory agency laboratories coordinated by CDC. DNA fingerprinting is performed on _Salmonella_ bacteria isolated Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Canine influenza – USA (03): (CA) shelter dogs
Canine Influenza -- United StatesAbout 200 infected dogs are being moved to a warehouse after a "canine flu" outbreak in Oakland, CA. Oakland Animal Services says the warehouse was cleaned and filled with kennels and play areas.Pet Food Express has donated bowls and leashes and set up an emergency donation fund to help out with costs.The dogs will be quarantined there for between 4 to 6 weeks.--Communicated by:ProMED-mail from HealthMap Alerts[This is a contagious disease, and the move to the warehouse Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Rabies (34): Spain (CE) dog, OIE
Rabies -- SpainInformation received on [and dated] 26 Jun 2019 from Dr Valentin Almansa, Director General, Sanidad de la Produccion Agraria, Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentacion, Madrid, CeutaSummaryReport type: immediate notificationStart date: 17 Jun 2019Date of confirmation of the event: 24 Jun 2019Reason for notification: recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: 2009Manifestation of disease: clinical diseaseCausal agent: rabies virusSerotype: RABVNature Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (39): Denmark (SD) poultry, LPAI H5, OIE
Avian Influenza -- DenmarkInformation received on [and dated] 28 Jun 2019 from Dr Per Starcke Henriksen, chief veterinary officer, Danish Veterinary and Food Administration, Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, Glostrup, DenmarkSummaryReport type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 25 Jun 2019Date of confirmation of the event: 28 Jun 2019Reason for notification: Recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: 17 Mar 2019Manifestation of disease: Sub-clinical Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Ebola update (61): Congo DR (NK,IT) case update, summaries, leadership, response
Ebola -- DR Congo- The Minister of Health, Dr. Oly Ilunga Kalenga, chaired, on Fri 28 Jun 2019, the meeting of consensus and consensus on vaccination in the context of the 10th epidemic of the Ebola virus disease that has been raging since 1 Aug 2018 in the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri.- The 2-day meeting aimed to create a consultative framework to transparently share the latest scientific and technical information on existing experimental Ebola vaccines to facilitate the Ministry of Health's Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Undiagnosed deaths – Dominican Republic (04): travelers, resorts
Undiagnosed -- Dominican RepublicA Denver man is the latest American tourist to die in the Dominican Republic this year [2019]. [KA] died on Tuesday [25 Jun 2019], the State Department confirmed to USA TODAY.Denver's 9 News and Fox 31 report [KA] was on vacation with his daughter [MA] when he fell ill in the Caribbean vacation destination. [MA] told 9 News her father started to complain about a painful bump on his leg just before her flight home on Sunday [23 Jun 2019]. She said they stopped by their Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex – Germany: (NW) cattle, M. bovis, 2 farms
Bovine TB -- GermanyOn 23 May 2019 an outbreak of bovine tuberculosis was confirmed on a dairy farm in Meinerzhagen-Maerkischer Kreis. The infection had been detected during routine slaughter inspection of 2 cows from the holding.Another dairy farm in Froendenberg (Unna County) was identified as a contact during the epidemiological investigations. The farm was immediately shut down and the animals tested for tuberculosis.The investigations confirmed the suspicion on the 2 farms and complete depopulation, Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Toxic algae – UK: dogs
Algae -- United KingdomA dog has died from suspected exposure to deadly algae near Horsham, leading to a warning from a veterinary group. According to Edric Cross, clinical director of Arun Veterinary Group, the dog was swimming in Wephurst Wood near Loxwood in the Chichester district recently when it was thought to have come into contact with the deadly algae.It blooms at this time of year and releases toxins that can cause serious damage to the liver or nervous system, leading to seizures, liver Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Carbon monoxide poisoning – USA: keyless car problem, deaths
Poisoning -- United StatesFor [SHP], a former university chancellor, and her husband, [JDL], a retired physicist, the 2017 Toyota Avalon was a sensible purchase. It was a model she and her husband had owned before, but the new version had electronic sensors and other advanced features."The Avalon is very safe," Mr. [L]'s daughter [SL] recalled hearing [SHP] say. Last month [May 2019], one of those features proved fatal.[SHP], age 81, and [JDL], age 88, were found dead at their home in Sarasota, Florida, Read more [...]
PRO/ALL> New in IJID (07): July 2019
Tularemia — China
PRO/AH/EDR> Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (infection with) – Germany: cattle, OIE
Tuberculosis -- GermanyInformation received on [and dated] 27 Jun 2019 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: 8 Mar 2019Date of confirmation of the event: 15 Mar 2019Report date: 27 Jun 2019Date submitted to OIE: 27 Jun 2019Reason for notification: Recurrence of a Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Anthrax – USA (04): (TX) additional animal deaths
Anthrax -- United StatesThe Texas Department of State Health Services is reminding Texans to avoid sick or dead wildlife after 18 recent animal deaths in Uvalde County, including 2 which were confirmed anthrax-related cases.The 1st anthrax case of the year [2019] in Texas was confirmed in a captive antelope on a premises in Uvalde County on 19 Jun 2019 -- in a triangular area of southwest Texas where anthrax is historically found in the soil. Since then, another anthrax-related case has been confirmed, Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Legionellosis – USA (11): (IL) hospital
Legionnaires' -- United StatesA mysterious outbreak of Legionnaires' disease has been linked to a suburban Illinois hospital. All 4 cases have been traced back to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) said on Thursday [27 Jun 2019]. Health officials say that 3 of those infected are former patients and one is a hospital worker.According to the IDPH, the cases were 1st reported in 2018; 2 of the cases were reported from patients at the hospital Read more [...]
