Archive for Global Disease Alerts
PRO/AH/EDR> E. coli EHEC – USA (07): O103, ground beef, CDC, recall
E. coli -- United StatesSince the last update on 26 Apr 2019, 19 more ill people were added to this outbreak.As of 13 May 2019, 196 people infected with the outbreak strain of _E. coli_ O103 have been reported from 10 states. CDC is reporting the 196 illnesses that the PulseNet laboratory network has confirmed are part of this outbreak. States are investigating additional illnesses that might be a part of this outbreak.State / ll People------------------Florida / 5Georgia / 49Illinois / 1Indiana Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Poliomyelitis update (35): Pakistan (KP) eradication challenges
Polio -- PakistanTwo new polio cases were reported from Bannu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa [KP] on [Sat 11 May 2019], raising the number of polio victims to 15 in the country this year [2019].Health experts, however, feared the number of polio cases would grow further by the end of 2019, as health and polio workers have been facing multiple problems to eradicate the disease in Pakistan and particularly in KP and erstwhile tribal areas. According to officials, the National Institute of Health (NIH) Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Equine sarcocystosis: horse, human, new research
Other Animal Disease -- Worldwide/UnknownHistorically, veterinarians have reported finding parasites in the skeletal muscle of some horses with neuromuscular disease. One they've always written off as an incidental finding or not actually related to the neuromuscular disorder is the protozoan parasite _Sarcocystis fayeri_.Monica Aleman, MVZ, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM, an associate professor of medicine and epidemiology at the University of California, Davis (UC Davis), School of Veterinary Medicine, believes, Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Unidentified febrile disease – Indonesia: (SE)
Fever -- IndonesiaNo one really knows what is spreading in the small village of Garonggong in Jeneponto regency, South Sulawesi. However, for the last couple of months, nearly all people living there have been experiencing mysterious symptoms, which started with a fever and pain all over the body, especially in their joints.The unknown disease killed 4 people from a total of 72 people that had experienced similar symptoms.The village administration has declared a health emergency. Several villagers Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Equine infectious anemia – Uruguay: (FD) OIE
Equine Infectious Anemia -- UruguayInformation received on 13 May 2019 from Dr. Eduardo Barre Albera, Director General, Servicios Ganaderos, Ministerio de Ganadería, Agricultura y Pesca, Montevideo, UruguaySummaryReport type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 29 Apr 2019Date of confirmation of the event: 2 May 2019Report date: 10 May 2019Date submitted to OIE: 13 May 2019Reason for notification: recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: 10 May 2007Manifestation Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Foot & mouth disease – Libya: (MS, TR) cattle, serotype pending, OIE
Foot and Mouth -- LibyaInformation received on [and dated] 13 May 2019 from Dr. Zakaria Mohamed Mustafa Elkhatal, Director General, National Centre for Animal Health (NCAH), Ministry of Agriculture, Animal & Marine Wealth, Tripoli, LibyaSummaryReport type: Immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 25 Apr 2019Date of confirmation of the event: 3 May 2019Reason for notification: recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: 30 Dec 2014Manifestation of disease: clinical Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Anthrax – Georgia: Risk factors
Anthrax -- United StatesRao S, Traxler R, Napetavaridze T, et al. Risk factors associated with the occurrence of anthrax outbreaks in livestock in the country of Georgia: A case-control investigation 2013-2015. PLoS One. 2019;14(5):e0215228. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0215228Abstract--------IntroductionAnthrax is considered endemic in livestock in Georgia. In 2007, the annual vaccination became the responsibility of livestock owners, while contracting of private veterinarians was not officially required. Read more [...]
PRO/AH> African swine fever – Asia (43): China (Hong Kong) domestic, ex mainland, OIE
African Swine Fever -- ChinaInformation received on [and dated] 12 May 2019 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: 2 May 2019Date of confirmation of the event: 10 May 2019Reason for notification: 1st occurrence of a listed disease in the Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Salmonellosis, st Typhimurium – New Zealand: sprouts, alert, recall
Salmonella -- New ZealandAfter a series of outbreaks associated with sprouts in the mid-1990s, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published guidelines in 1999 for sprouts producers to reduce the risk of contamination. The recommendations included treating seeds with an antimicrobial agent such as calcium hypochlorite solution and testing spent irrigation water for pathogens. From 1998 through 2010, 33 outbreaks from seed and bean sprouts were documented in the USA, affecting 1330 reported Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update (13): Asia (Yemen)
Cholera -- YemenThe Ministry of Public Health and Population of Yemen reported 18 171 suspected cases of cholera with 13 associated deaths during epidemiological week 18 (29 Apr-5 May) of 2019. 15% of cases were severe. The cumulative total number of suspected cholera cases from 1 Jan 2018 to 28 Apr 2019 is 668 891 with 1081 associated deaths (CFR 0.16%). Children under 5 represent 22.7% of total suspected cases during 2019. The outbreak has affected 22 of 23 governorates and 294 of 333 districts Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Invasive mosquito – Chile
Pests -- ChileHealth authorities in Chile today [28 Mar 2019] confirmed the detection in the north of the country of _Aedes aegypti_, the vector of dangerous diseases such as dengue, Zika, chikungunya, and yellow fever [viruses]. The secretariat of the Ministry of Health in the northern Tarapaca region states that on 21 Mar [2019], a specimen of the mosquito was captured in a ovaposition trap for monitoring the presence of these insects in a women's penitentiary in Iquique city.According to press Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Influenza (14): Australia, seasonal activity
Influenza -- AustraliaWith 40 000 confirmed influenza cases in Australia this early in the season [2018-19], experts this week warned that deaths in the country could hit 4000 unless infection rates slow before the winter peak, and urged the public to get a flu vaccinationThe number of confirmed cases is triple the typical levels seen at this part of the flu season. In 2018, there were 58 000 recorded cases for the entire year.Robert Booy, who heads a collective of health organisations called the Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Ricin – USA (02): (MN) possible poisoning
Poisoning -- United StatesOne person has been hospitalized after an "unconfirmed report of ricin" at a Dinkytown apartment building, according to the Minneapolis Fire Department.Minneapolis Fire says crews were called to 515 14th Avenue SE Tuesday afternoon [7 May 2019] on a report of a hazardous substance.Crews are evacuating the apartment building and isolating the affected area according to Minneapolis Fire's Twitter account.The fire department says one resident was transported to the Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Rabies (28): Americas, USA, cattle, imported dogs, corr.
Rabies — United States
PRO/AH/EDR> Leishmaniasis, cutaneous – Pakistan (05): (KP)
Leishmaniasis -- PakistanKhyber-Pakhtunkhwa health authorities have decided to set up permanent centres in North Waziristan for the treatment of leishmaniasis patients.The Health Department has dispatched medical teams to control the new outbreak of leishmaniasis in tehsils of Shewa and Speen Wam. Moreover, it will set up permanent camps in the more stricken areas to serve people close to their homes.North Waziristan Agency Surgeon Dr Hameed Ullah said: "We are providing free-of-cost services in Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Salmonellosis, st Typhimurium – UK (02): sheep, t5 3225 strain, control measures
Salmonella -- United KingdomAdvice on dealing with a newly emerging strain of salmonella in sheep has been issued by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), following identification in 2 UK flocks.The outbreaks were classified by Public Health England as Salmonella typhimurium t5 3225, which has left sheep appearing "dull with diarrhoea" and has resulted in high mortality.The strain can affect pigs, horses, dogs, cattle and wildlife, as well as humans, with the cause of the outbreak currently Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> HIV – USA: (NM) cosmetic use of PRP, contaminated needles, RFI
HIV/AIDS -- United StatesTwo people in New Mexico have tested positive for HIV after getting vampire facials on 2 May 2019.As per the news report, the VIP Spa in old town Albuquerque (the largest city in New Mexico) shut down last year [2018] after reports of an unidentified infection being imparted to the visitors. Now, it has been made public that 2 visitors had contracted HIV after obtaining a vampire facial.A vampire facial is a common phrase for platelet-rich plasma therapy treatments. These Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Dengue/DHF update (12): Asia, Pacific, Africa, research
Dengue -- Worldwide/UnknownSingapore scientists have succeeded in mapping out the structures of the dengue and Zika virus strains, a crucial milestone in the development of treatments for the potentially deadly diseases.Researchers from A-Star's (Agency for Science, Technology and Research) Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS), together with scientists from Duke-NUS Medical School and A*Star's Bioinformatics Institute mapped the long genetic materials of 4 dengue and 4 Zika virus strains. They studied Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Diphtheria, cutaneous: travelers
Diphtheria -- Worldwide/UnknownA 5-year-old girl was brought to the emergency room at Evelina London Children's Hospital with itchy, rather unsightly sores on both legs. She had recently returned from a weeks-long trip to Sierra Leone, and the lesions, which 1st appeared 3 weeks into her stay there, had become larger and ulcerated.Diagnosis: cutaneous diphtheria, a disease rarely seen in many industrialised countries, including Britain and the United States, where most children are protected by the Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Ebola update (45): Congo DR (NK, IT) cases, summaries, WHO, risk, response
Ebola -- DR Congo- 113 667 Vaccinated persons- 550 people vaccinated on 10 May 2019.- Of those vaccinated, 30 484 are high-risk contacts (CHRs), 54 771 are contacts of contacts (CC), and 28 412 are front-line providers (PPLs).- Persons vaccinated by health zone:30 546 in Katwa, 23 888 in Beni, 13 803 in Butembo.- The only vaccine to be used in this outbreak is the rVSV-ZEBOV vaccine, manufactured by the pharmaceutical group Merck, following approval by the Ethics Committee in its decision of 19 May Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Equine infectious anemia – Chile: (RM) OIE
Equine Infectious Anemia -- ChileInformation received on [and dated] 9 May 2019 from Dr Oscar Eduardo Videla Perez, Jefe de Division de Proteccion Pecuaria, Servicio Agricola y Ganadero, Ministerio de Agricultura, Santiago, ChileSummaryReport type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 22 Apr 2019Date of confirmation of the event: 8 May 2019Report date: 8 May 2019Date submitted to OIE: 9 May 2019Reason for notification: Recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Rabies (28): Americas (USA) cattle, imported dogs
Rabies -- United StatesLarimer County has announced a confirmed case of rabies in a steer -- the 1st case in a mammal other than a skunk this year [2019]. The Larimer County Department of Health and Environment said rabies is most common in skunks and bats but will occasionally cross over into other species. So far this year [2019], Larimer County has the highest confirmed rabies infections in animals across the state with 26 skunks confirmed with rabies. Skunks are more likely than bats to pose Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Brucellosis, canine – USA (02): (IA) dog
Brucellosis -- United StatesThe state veterinarian says an outbreak of canine brucellosis in central Iowa has been traced to a small commercial dog breeding facility in Marion County. Dr. Jeff Kaisand says the Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is in the process of notifying individuals who have custody of the exposed dogs; the animals and the facilities are quarantined until the dogs can undergo testing.Brucellosis can be transmitted to both animals and humans; the threat to most pet Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> African swine fever – Asia (41): China (Hong Kong) domestic, spread
African Swine Fever -- ChinaHong Kong will cull 6000 pigs after African swine fever [ASF] was detected in an animal at a slaughterhouse close to the border with China, the 1st case of the disease in the densely populated financial hub."In order to minimise the risk of ASF virus spreading from the slaughterhouse, all pigs in Sheung Shui Slaughterhouse will be culled so that thorough cleansing and also disinfection could be conducted," Sophia Chan, Secretary of the city's Food and Health Department, Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Crimean-Congo hem. fever – Africa (06): South Africa (NW)
Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever -- South AfricaA case of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) has been confirmed in a 54-year-old man in North West, the provincial health department said. It said [CP] was in a stable condition, conscious, communicating and responding well to treatment at the Klerksdorp Tshepong hospital complex."[CP] from a farm between Ventersdorp and Coligny in the North West province was admitted in the Klerksorp Hospital HID (highly infectious disease) unit with the history Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Rift Valley fever – Mayotte (11): human, epidemiology, animal
Rift Valley Fever -- Région d'outre-mer de Mayotte, France(subscription)In February 2019, 63 cases of Rift Valley fever were diagnosed by PCR at the Mayotte hospital laboratory. The first 5 cases were detected in November 2018 by the hospital laboratory and confirmed by the Reunion Reference Center. The vector control center and the health emergency unit of the ARS OI [The Indian Ocean Health Agency] were able to analyze the epidemiology of 36 cases: 21 subjects had been in direct contact Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Diphtheria – Americas: PAHO/WHO update
Diphtheria -- HaitiIn 2018, 3 countries in the Region of the Americas (Colombia, Haiti, and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela) reported confirmed cases of diphtheria. In 2019, Haiti and Venezuela reported confirmed cases.The following is a summary of the epidemiological situation in Haiti and Venezuela.In Haiti, between epidemiological week (EW) 32 of 2014 and EW 16 of 2019, there were 838 probable cases (see note 1 below) reported, including 108 deaths; of these, 276 were confirmed (267 by laboratory Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Monkeypox – Singapore ex Nigeria
Monkeypox -- SingaporeThe Ministry of Health (MOH) has confirmed one imported case of monkeypox infection in Singapore, involving a Nigerian national who arrived last month [April 2019] for a workshop. The 38-year-old man tested positive for the rare viral disease, which is primarily transmitted to humans from animals, on Wednesday (8 May [2019]), said the MOH on Thursday [9 May 2019]. It is the 1st case of monkeypox reported here.He is currently in an isolation ward at the National Centre for Infectious Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Bovine tuberculosis – USA (04): (WI) cattle
Bovine TB -- United StatesA Dane County dairy herd at Maier Farms remains under quarantine since October 2018 when the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) confirmed Wisconsin's 1st bovine tuberculosis (bTB) case at the farm in more than 20 years.The animal health incident began in late September 2018 when a cow at slaughter had lesions in its lungs consistent with TB.The herd continues to be the only TB-affected herd in Wisconsin and is following a test and Read more [...]
PRO/ALL> Announcements (04): Grant program for antimicrobial stewardship in Latin America
Not Yet Classified — Worldwide/Unknown
PRO/AH/EDR> Foot & mouth disease – Israel (02): (HA) cattle, st pending, OIE, RFI
Foot and Mouth -- IsraelInformation received on [and dated] 9 May 2019 from Dr Tamir Goshen, Acting Director, Veterinary Services and Animal Health, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Beit Dagan, IsraelSummaryReport type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 2 May 2019Date of confirmation of the event: 9 May 2019Reason for notification: recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: 17 Mar 2019Manifestation of disease: clinical diseaseCausal agent: Foot and mouth Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> White nose syndrome, bats – North America: (TX)
White nose syndrome -- United StatesA fungus first identified in 2017 in the Panhandle now is spreading to other areas of the state, including Central Texas, with fatal results in bat colonies in San Saba county and in East and South Texas, experts say.The fungus that causes a disease in bats called white nose syndrome [WNS] was detected this year [2019] at 22 different testing sites in 16 counties, 11 of which were new to this study, a news release from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department [TPWD] Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> African swine fever – USA: feed warning
African Swine Fever -- United StatesAmerican pork producers are using feed from China for their pigs, raising concerns about bringing a contagious disease to the US.At least 129 cases of the African swine fever in China have been reported since August [2018], and the incurable viral disease has spread to other parts of Asia, including Viet Nam and Mongolia. The fear is it could reach the US, where it could devastate the more than USD 20 billion pork industry."Feedstuffs can carry it, and one of our Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Bovine viral diarrhea – Sri Lanka: cattle, 1st rep, OIE
Diarrhea -- Sri LankaInformation received on [and dated] 9 May 2019 from Dr Katulandage Dharmasiri Ariyapala, Director General, Department of Animal Production & Health, Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Economic Affairs, Livestock Development, Irrigation & Fisheries, Peradeniya, Sri LankaSummaryReport type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 10 Apr 2018Date of confirmation of the event: 27 Jul 2018Reason for notification: 1st occurrence of a listed disease in the countryCausal Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Poliomyelitis update (34): global (Pakistan, Niger), follow-up
Polio -- PakistanNew wild poliovirus cases reported this week: 3Total number of wild poliovirus cases in 2019: 18Total number of wild poliovirus cases in 2018: 33New cVDPV cases reported this week: 0Total number of cVDPV cases (all types) in 2019: 9Total number of cVDPV cases (all types) in 2018: 104Headlines- With recent introduction to the immunization coverage activities in Zimbabwe and Mongolia, at least 1 dose of Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) is now available worldwide in 126 Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Brucellosis, canine – Netherlands: first local cases, dog
Brucellosis -- NetherlandsThe Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) has found for the 1st time, the bacterium _Brucella canis_ in dogs born in the Netherlands. The bacterium causes the brucellosis disease. In theory, this disease can also spread to people, although the chance is very small.All veterinarians in the Netherlands have received a newsletter in which the NVWA alerts the professional group about the emergence of this disease of dogs. The most important signs of the disease Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Devil facial tumor, Tasmanian devil – Tasmania: sexual aggression
Other Animal Disease -- AustraliaTasmanian devils have a reputation as a fearsome animal - most of the time this is undeserved. When it comes to the mating season, however, it's a fair judgement. Between February and April, mating can be incredibly aggressive, with male and female devils prone to biting one another both during and after the act.That could be deadly for the devils, according to new research published online in the journal Behavioral Ecology. Unfortunately, biting drives the spread Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Foodborne illness – USA (02): (CA) raw mexican oysters
Foodborne Illness -- United StatesThe California Department of Public Health (CDPH) says oysters harvested from Baja California Sur, Mexico are linked to a gastrointestinal illness outbreak in California. The CDPH said 12 people between [February and April 2019] have reported getting sick after eating raw oysters from stores and restaurants in San Diego County, Los Angeles County, Orange County, and Santa Barbara County.The investigation is ongoing, but so far, laboratory testing of oysters harvested Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Ebola update (44): Congo DR (NK, IT) cases, WHO, response, vaccine, research
Ebola -- DR Congo- Armed men launched several attacks in the town of Butembo on Wed 8 May 2019 around 5:30 am. The attackers were repulsed by the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC). A dozen attackers were killed and 6 were captured. A policeman from the city also died in the attack. Because of this new security incident, the response teams have limited their movements in the city. Only a minimum service was performed. Since the beginning of May [2019], this is the 5th consecutive Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> African swine fever – Asia (42): China, domestic, spread, control, comment