Archive for Global Disease Alerts
PRO/AH/EDR> Rabies (15): Americas, Brazil (RS) bat, cattle
Rabies -- Brazil1. Brass DA. Rabies in bats: natural history and public health implications. Ridgefield CN: Livia Press, 1994. 335 pp.2. Greenhall AM: Feeding behavior. In: AM Greenhall and U Schmidt, editors. Natural history of vampire bats. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, 1988. 111:31. - Mod.TGHealthMap/ProMED map available at:Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil: ][See Also:Rabies (13): Americas, USA (CO, PA) dog, cow, human exposure http://promedmail.org/post/20190327.63902722018--Rabies (56): Americas Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Monkeypox – Africa (03): Congo DR, Republic of the Congo
Monkeypox -- DR Congo[This report also has information about monkeypox cases in the Central African Republic and in Nigeria that has already been posted by ProMED-mail (see archives below). The Republic of the Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo reports are new. - Mod.TY]Republic of Congo:The Republic of Congo is reporting cases of monkey pox since February 2019; 2 samples from Makontipoko village in Gambona district tested in the INRB-Kinshasa turned positive for monkeypox (PCR OPX). Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Anthrax – Kenya (05): (NK) human, bovine, wildlife
Anthrax -- KenyaVaccination of southern white rhinos at Lake Nakuru National Park has started following an anthrax outbreak that has killed 10 buffaloes.The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) yesterday [7 Apr 2019] confirmed that the dead buffaloes tested positive for anthrax. Four more buffalo carcasses were found after the dead 10.Susan Koech, the Principal Secretary for wildlife, said the 4 carcasses were found by KWS patrolling teams, although it has not been confirmed that they died of Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Equine influenza, equine – Senegal: (DK, DB) st pending, OIE
Equine Influenza -- SenegalInformation received on [and dated] 6 Apr 2019 from Dr Mbargou Lo, [Director of Veterinary Service, Ministry of Livestock and Animal Production], Dakar, SenegalSummaryReport type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 26 Mar 2019Date of confirmation of the event: 2 Apr 2019Report date: 6 Apr 2019Date submitted to OIE: 6 Apr 2019Reason for notification: 1st occurrence of a listed disease in the countryCausal agent: Equine influenza virusSerotype: pendingNature Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Invasive tick – UK: (England)
Pests -- United KingdomHansford KM, Carter D, Gillingham EL, et al. _Hyalomma rufipes_ on an untraveled horse: Is this the first evidence of Hyalomma nymphs successfully moulting in the United Kingdom? Ticks Tick Borne Dis. 2019;10(3):704-708. doi: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2019.03.003. PMID: 30876825. Abstract available at:Roberts, Larry S., John Janovy, Gerald D. Schmidt, and Steve Nadler. "Chapter 41: Parasitic Arachnids: Subclass Acari, Ticks and Mites." Gerald D. Schmidt & Larry S. Roberts' Foundations Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Hantavirus – Americas (15): Argentina (CH)
Hantavirus -- ArgentinaThe confirmation of the [hantavirus infection] case in Las Golondrinas [Chubut province] was issued by Dr Jorge Elias on air to Radio 3 and he remarked the "this is the 1st case of the year [2019] not related to the outbreak in Epuyen, which is absolutely closed."The infected person is a craftsman who was in contact with the natural environment of the endemic disease [virus]. "The man has a history of having been camping in a wild environment and, in fact lives, in a semi-wild Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> African swine fever – Asia (31): China (XJ, XZ) domestic, spread, OIE
African Swine Fever -- ChinaInformation received on [and dated] 6 Apr 2019 from Dr Zhang Zhongqui, director general, China Animal Disease Control Centre, Veterinary Bureau, Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing, China (People's Rep of)SummaryReport type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 1 Apr 2019Date of confirmation of the event: 3 Apr 2019Report date: 6 Apr 2019Date submitted to OIE: 6 Apr 2019Reason for notification: 1st occurrence of a listed diseaseManifestation of disease: clinical Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> MERS-CoV (41): Saudi Arabia (SH, MK, RI, NJ)
MERS -- Saudi ArabiaSince the last update on 5 Apr 2019 [See MERS-CoV (40): Saudi Arabia (SH) http://promedmail.org/post/20190405.6406661], there have been a total of 6 newly confirmed cases of MERS-CoV infection reported by Saudi Arabia. In addition, there were 4 outcome reports, one fatality, and 3 recoveries, all previously confirmed cases. [note that information on 7 Apr 2019 events were reported today, 8 Apr 2019].Information on newly confirmed cases (6):[1]Date of confirmation report: 7 Apr Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update (09): Africa (Mozambique)
Cholera -- Mozambique57. Luquero FJ, Grout L, Ciglenecki I, et al. Use of _Vibrio cholerae_ vaccine in an outbreak in Guinea. N Engl J Med. 2014; 370(22): 2111-20. Available at: .58. Severe K, Rouzier V, Anglade SB, et al. Effectiveness of oral cholera vaccine in Haiti: 37-month follow-up. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2016; 94(5): 1136-42; Available at:.59. Bhattacharya SK, Sur D, Ali M, et al. 5 year efficacy of a bivalent killed whole-cell oral cholera vaccine in Kolkata, India: a cluster-randomised, double-blind, Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> West Nile virus (10): Americas (USA) avian, grouse, conservation concern
West Nile Virus -- United StatesThere's not a lot that's positive to report right now when it comes to ruffed grouse. Populations of the forest-dwelling bird appear to be on the decline throughout the Northeast and Midwest, according to reports from wildlife management agencies from Maryland to Michigan and all points between.The Ruffed Grouse Society, for example, holds a "national grouse and woodcock hunt" each fall in Minnesota. This year [2019], the expectation was that grouse numbers were up, Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Bombali ebolavirus – Africa: Sierra Leone, Kenya, bat
Ebola -- Sierra LeoneGoldstein T, Anthony SJ, Gbakima A, et al. The discovery of Bombali virus adds further support for bats as hosts of ebolaviruses. Nat Microbiol. 2018 Oct;3(10):1084-1089. doi: 10.1038/s41564-018-0227-2.; abstract available atAbstract--------Here we describe the complete genome of a new ebolavirus, _Bombali virus_ (BOMV) detected in free-tailed bats in Sierra Leone (little free-tailed (_Chaerephon pumilus_) and Angolan free-tailed (_Mops condylurus_). The bats were found roosting Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Undiagnosed resp. illness – Guyana (03): (BA) Mn mine, tunnel exp., leptospirosis
Leptospirosis -- GuyanaHealth officials in Guyana have reported a leptospirosis outbreak among Guyana Manganese Inc. (GMI) workers on [Fri 5 Apr 2019].According to authorities, 2 Chinese nationals have been treated and released, while another mining employee, who was also tested positive for leptospirosis, is in "critical but stable condition".One individual died from complications associated with leptospirosis on [Wed 3 Apr 2019] night while undergoing treatment at the Georgetown Public Hospital Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Anthrax – Kenya (04): (NK) human, bovine, wildlife
Anthrax -- KenyaMore than 22 people from Tegat Village in Molo were admitted at the Nyayo hospital in Elburgon, with residents fearing they may have contracted anthrax after consuming milk from a sick cow. According to Emily Sang, the Nyumba Kumi chairperson of the area, the 22 include the owner of the cow, his wife and 2 children.Elburgon assistant commissioner Naftali Korir says 18 people have been treated and discharged. Korir has further cautioned residents against eating or drinking un-inspected Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Leishmaniasis, cutaneous – Pakistan (04): (KP)
Leishmaniasis -- PakistanAfter previously ravishing hundreds of people in Mohmand [Peshawar division of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa], a leishmaniasis outbreak has been reported in South Waziristan [Dera Ismail Khan division of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa] with hundreds of patients registered at the district headquarters hospital (DHQ) while others have sought treatment at the Bannu district [Bannu division of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa] Headquarters Hospital.Afraid of any adverse health impacts of the parasitic infection Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Ebola update (35): Congo DR (NK,IT) cases, setbacks, preparedness, personal acct
Ebola -- DR Congo- Laboratories play a central role in the response to the Ebola outbreak. The positive result of a sample taken from a patient will trigger a series of interventions around the patient to minimize the risk of contamination of relatives and the spread of the epidemic. These interventions include the transfer of the patient from the transit center to the Ebola treatment center, the vaccination of the patient's contacts, the disinfection of his household and the health centers through Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (27): China, HPAI H7N9, human, animal, epidemiology
Avian Influenza H7N9 -- China1. OverviewHazard: Influenza A(H7N9) virus with pandemic potential.Country: China; imported cases in Malaysia (1) and Canada (2).Number of human cases: 1567 confirmed; 615 deaths (since Feb 2013).New findings in birds/environment since last update (6 Mar 2019): 1New human cases since last update (6 Mar 2019): 0[For the map presenting human cases and positive findings in birds or the environment in China for Period 7 (October 2018-3 Apr 2019), and for the inset map for Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Equine viral arteritis – UK: (England) horse
Other Animal Disease -- United KingdomThere has been an outbreak of equine viral arteritis (EVA), a serious viral disease in horses, in Dorset.The UK's Chief Veterinary Officer confirmed today (5 Apr 2019) that 2 cases of EVA in non-thoroughbred stallions have been discovered on a premises in the county.Although deaths from EVA are very rare in healthy adults, pregnant mares that become infected may abort, and very young foals may die from a form of pneumonia as a result of it.Humans can spread the Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Equine piroplasmosis – Ireland: (KK) OIE
Other Animal Disease -- IrelandInformation received on 5 Apr 2019 from Dr Martin Blake, Chief Veterinary Officer, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Agriculture House, Dublin, IrelandSummaryReport type: immediate notification (final report)Date of start of the event: 16 Feb 2019Date of confirmation of the event: 27 Feb 2019Report date: 5 Apr 2019Date submitted to OIE: 5 Apr 2019Reason for notification: reoccurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: 9 Dec 2009Manifestation Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Candida auris: MDR, emergence due to agricultural use of azoles, susp.
Antimicrobial resistance -- Worldwide/UnknownA deadly, drug-resistant fungus is infecting patients in hospitals and nursing homes around the world. The germ, a fungus called _Candida auris_, preys on people with weakened immune systems, and it is quietly spreading across the globe. Over the last 5 years, it has hit a neonatal unit in Venezuela, swept through a hospital in Spain, forced a prestigious British medical center to shut down its intensive care unit, and taken root in India, Pakistan and Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Salmonellosis, st Enteritidis – Canada
Salmonella -- CanadaThe Public Health Agency of Canada is collaborating with provincial public health partners, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Health Canada to investigate an outbreak of salmonella infections [_S._ Enteritidis] involving 6 provinces: British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec.The source of the outbreak has not been identified, and the investigation is ongoing. Outbreak investigators are gathering information on possible sources. The outbreak appears Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Equine herpesvirus – North America (09): USA (IA, ID) horse
Equine Herpes Virus -- United StatesA 2nd horse is showing signs it may have contracted the equine herpesvirus [EHV], a highly contagious condition, the Iowa Department of Agriculture confirmed.One horse already tested positive for EHV. Owners say he went from healthy to near death in hours. The horse needed to be euthanized. The confirmed case was found at the Pine Hollow Stables in Altoona, where now a 2nd horse started showing signs of EHV.The animal is now in quarantine and being evaluated.--Communicated Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Measles update (24)
Measles -- United StatesA judge in upstate New York on Friday [5 Apr 2019] lifted the ban on unvaccinated children in public places despite 166 confirmed measles cases, most of which have been in the local ultra-Orthodox Jewish community. According to the judge, the number of measles cases in the county did not meet the legal requirement for an emergency order, CBS New York reports.Officials in Rockland County, New York, issued an emergency order on 26 Mar [2019] that prohibited unvaccinated children Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Newcastle disease, poultry – USA (07): (AZ) pet chicken
Newcastle Disease -- United StatesThe U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced 5 Apr 2019 it has confirmed the presence of virulent Newcastle disease (VND) in a small flock of pet chickens in Coconino County, Arizona. Coconino County includes the Flagstaff area in northern Arizona, including Grand Canyon National Park, but APHIS did not disclose the actual location of the affected flock.APHIS said this is the 1st case of VND confirmed in Arizona Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Bufo toad toxicity – USA: (FL) dog death
Poisoning -- United StatesA Tampa woman says her dog died after coming into contact with a bufo toad this week. [She] explained she let her 3 dogs outside, and she noticed Otis had not come back inside after a while. [She] went outside and saw her dog standing in the yard with a huge toad in his mouth. She immediately knew it was a bufo toad. [Her dog] soon collapsed.[He] ran inside to grab a jug of water. By the time she returned, [The dog] was seizing and foaming at the mouth. She tried to flush Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Western equine encephalitis – Mexico (02): (NA) horses, additional details
Western Equine Encephalitis — Mexico
PRO/AH/EDR> African swine fever – Asia (30): China, Viet Nam, Cambodia, pigs, spread, FAO
African Swine Fever -- ChinaChina:Since the China Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) confirmed its 1st ASF outbreak in Liaoning Province on 3 Aug 2018, a total of 118 ASF outbreaks have been detected in 28 provinces/autonomous regions/municipalities. Around 1 million pigs have been culled in an effort to halt further spread.- Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region: The 1st ASF outbreak occurred on one farming cooperative in Midong District, Urumqi City; 15 of 200 pigs became sick and died Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Leishmaniasis – UK: (England) dogs, 1st local cases
Leishmaniasis -- United KingdomVeterinary professionals have sounded the alarm in this week's Vet Record after treating the 1st UK case of a dog with the potentially fatal infection leishmaniosis that is thought to have been passed on by another dog, rather than by travel to an area where the infection is endemic.Canine leishmaniosis is caused by the parasite _Leishmania infantum_, carried by the female sand fly and transmitted in its bite. It is zoonotic, so can be passed on to people.Dogs have Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Undiagnosed deaths, cattle – Zimbabwe: (MV) RFI
Undiagnosed -- ZimbabweFarmers in Gutu have raised a red flag over a rare disease that has killed more than 100 cattle in the district ravaged by Cyclone Idai. Masvingo Beef Association provincial chairperson Mr. Robert Makado said the situation was dire. Some farmers no longer have cattle.Mr. Makado said reports suggested that unscrupulous butchery operators were buying the carcasses for a song and selling meat to unsuspecting villagers. He appealed to the department of veterinary services to be Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Rhinosporidiosis – India
Other Human Disease -- IndiaCitation: Singh CA, Sakthivel P. Rhinosporidiosis. N Engl J Med 2019;380:1359. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMicm1811820.A 27-year-old man presented to the otorhinolaryngology outpatient clinic with a 3-month history of progressive obstruction and bleeding from the right naris. Physical examination showed a red, granular, pedunculated, nonpulsatile mass that obstructed the right nasal cavity and bled on touch (see Panel A at the source URL above). The patient reported bathing frequently Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza, human (05): China (GS) H7N9
Avian Influenza H7N9 -- ChinaOfficials with the National Health Commission in China have reported the 1st human case of avian influenza A(H7N9) this year [2019] in Gansu. The male patient, age 82 years, from Jiuquan has been hospitalized and is in serious condition.Since March 2013, there were a total of 1568 human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) reported globally (in the past 6 waves).Avian influenza is caused by those influenza viruses that mainly affect birds and poultry, such as chickens or Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (26): Mexico (MX) poultry, HPAI H7N3, OIE
Avian Influenza -- MexicoInformation received on 2 Apr 2019 from MVZ Joaquin Braulio Delgadillo Alvarez, Director General of Animal Health, National Service of Health and Agrifood Quality (SENASICA), Ministry of Agriculture, Stockbreeding, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food], Mexico.Report type: Immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 6 Mar 2019Date of confirmation of the event: 10 Mar 2019Reason for notification: Recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: 18 Apr Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Rabies (14): Americas, USA (KY, VT) dog, coyote, human exposure
Rabies -- United StatesHealth officials are alerting the public about a rabies case involving a deceased Bath County dog. The Gateway District Health Department announced the rabies was of skunk variant.The department encourages pet owners to get their animals vaccinated to prevent the spread of infection. This is mating season for many animals, which means there could be an increased number of cases.Kentucky Wildlife Center director Sam Opp said skunks are probably the 2nd most common carrier of Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Grimontia hollisae infection – USA: (WA) raw blue crab ingestion
Foodborne Illness -- United StatesSince [7 Feb 2019], Public Health, Seattle and King County, has learned of 2 people from one household who got sick after eating raw blue crab from Seafood City in Tukwila on 18-19 Jan 2019. One of the sick people has laboratory-confirmed _Grimontia hollisae_, which is part of the same family as _Vibrio_ bacteria and causes a similar illness to vibriosis. One of the ill people was hospitalized, and both have since recovered.The exact food or drink that caused the Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Hantavirus – Americas (14): Bolivia (CB)
Hantavirus -- BoliviaAn 18-year-old young man died due to a hantavirus [infection], regional chief of Epidemiological Surveillance Ruben Castillo stated on Thursday [4 Apr 2019]. "We have registered on week 13 the death of a patient, an 18-year-old young man. Regrettably, this would be the 1st fatal hantavirus [infection] case notified for this year [2019]," he told the reporters, without giving the name of the victim.According to Castillo, the patient went to a government health center in the Villa Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update (08): Africa
Cholera -- SomaliaApproximately 3385 cholera / AWD cases including 19 deaths have been reported in 10 out of the 21 countries in Eastern and Southern Africa Region (ESAR), with an average case fatality rate (CFR) of 0.6%, since the beginning of 2019. These countries include Angola, Burundi, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Somalia, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Kenya accounts for 35.4% (1198) of the total case load reported in 2019, followed by Mozambique at 31% (1048).Of the 10 countries with Read more [...]
PRO/AH> Toxic algae: blue-green algae, neurodegenerative disease association
Other Human Disease -- Worldwide/UnknownA story from the deserts of the Middle East during the first Gulf War could potentially end with a cure for Alzheimer's disease.Dr. Aspa D. Chatziefthimiou, a microbial ecologist and research scientist at Weill Cornell Medicine - Qatar (WCM-Q), is part of an international consortium of more than 50 scientists researching neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and ALS (also known as motor neuron disease or Lou Gehrig's disease). She is examining Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Poliomyelitis update (25): global (Afghanistan)
Polio -- AfghanistanNew wild poliovirus cases reported this week: 1Total number of wild poliovirus cases in 2019: 9Total number of wild poliovirus cases in 2018: 33New cVDPV cases reported this week: 0Total number of cVDPV cases (all types) in 2019: 4Total number of cVDPV cases (all types) in 2018: 104Headlines- The Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on immunization (SAGE) met on [2-4 Apr 2019] in Geneva, Switzerland. Among other immunization topics, SAGE was provided an update on the latest Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Equine influenza – USA (03): (TN) horse
Equine Influenza -- United StatesThe state veterinarian has announced that several horses returning from out-of-state events have been sickened by equine influenza virus (EIV) in Tennessee. Equine influenza is highly contagious, and the virus is spread by contaminated stable equipment and infected coughing horses. Signs in horses may include fever, nasal discharge, cough, loss of appetite, and weakness. Sick horses cannot directly infect people with EIV."With EIV, it is much easier for horse owners Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Equine herpesvirus – Australia: (NS) horses
Equine Herpes Virus -- AustraliaHunter Valley horse owners are being urged to be aware of the risks of equine herpesvirus (EHV). An EHV-1 abortion occurred on a local property last week, and during the 2018 breeding season, a number of others were reported to Hunter Local Land Services (LLS).There are many different EHVs that may infect horses. EHV-1 causes respiratory disease, abortion and neurological disease in horses and is a significant problem in the industry throughout the world. Once infected Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> E. coli EHEC – USA (03): O103, CDC
E. coli -- United StatesThe CDC, several states, the US Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service, and the US Food and Drug Administration are investigating a multistate outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing _Escherichia coli_ O103 infections. This investigation includes _E. coli_ O103 infections recently reported by the Kentucky Department of Public Health.Public health investigators are using the PulseNet system to identify illnesses that may be part of this outbreak. PulseNet Read more [...]
