Archive for Global Disease Alerts
PRO/AH> Flu virus carriers – dogs and other animals: study
Influenza -- Worldwide/UnknownDogs and other companion animals such as ferrets could be carriers of several types of deadly flu viruses, a new study in Korea revealed. People and animals are typically capable of carrying viruses, bacteria, and fungi, but a scientist from Korea University has called for stricter monitoring of dogs and other companion animals because they could be carriers of human influenza strains."Until now, dogs were considered neglected hosts in the field of flu research," said Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> MERS-CoV (40): Saudi Arabia (SH)
MERS -- Saudi ArabiaIn the past 24 hours since the last update [MERS-CoV (39): Saudi Arabia (RI, JZ, MK, SH) http://promedmail.org/post/20190404.6404984], there have been 2 more cases of MERS-CoV infection, including one death, reported from Ash Sharqiyah (Eastern Region). In addition, there were 2 recoveries reported among previously reported cases.Information on newly confirmed cases (2):[1]Date of confirmation report: 5 Apr 2019Case no.: 19-1896MERS in Alkhafji city: 60-year-old male in Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Ebola update (34): Congo DR (NK, IT) cases, summaries, spread, research
Ebola -- DR CongoSince the beginning of vaccination on 8 Aug 2018, 94 791 persons have been vaccinated [total numbers of people vaccinated in North Kivu, Ituri, Tshopo, and Haut-Uele provinces can be seen at the source URL above].--Communicated by:ProMED-mail rapporteurs Mary Marshall and Kunihiko Iizuka[Infection and death of healthcare workers continue to increase. Effort should be made to vaccinate all healthcare workers to protect them from becoming infected when treating very sick and very Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Cholera, diarrhea and dysentery update (07): Asia (Yemen)
Cholera -- YemenCholera is surging once again in Yemen, with the UN reporting that the number of suspected cases has doubled in March 2019 over previous months and doctors in overwhelmed health facilities fearing it could rival a 2017 outbreak that spiraled into the world's worst flare-up. The surge underscores how Yemen, which has endured multiple outbreaks of cholera amid 4 years of civil war, still isn't able to stop its spread.At al-Sabeen Hospital in the capital of Sanaa, beds are full and patients Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Acute flaccid myelitis – North America (04): USA, update, EV-D68
Other Human Disease, Enterovirus 68 -- United StatesAbstract--------Since 2014, acute flaccid myelitis (AFM), a long-recognized condition associated with polioviruses, nonpolio enteroviruses, and various other viral and nonviral causes, has been reemerging globally in epidemic form. This unanticipated reemergence is ironic, given that polioviruses, once the major causes of AFM, are now at the very threshold of global eradication and cannot therefore explain any aspect of AFM reemergence. Instead, Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (25): China (LN) poultry, HPAI H5N1, OIE
Avian Influenza H5N1 -- ChinaInformation received on 4 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: 26 Mar 2019Date of confirmation of the event: 2 Apr 2019Report date: 3 Apr 2019Date submitted to OIE: 4 Apr 2019Reason for notification: recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: 1 Aug Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Hepatitis A – USA (12): (KY, WV, OH)
Hepatitis A -- United StatesAge range: 1-87Median age: 37Male: 1433 (58%)Hospitalizations: 1222 (49.9%)Deaths: 21Risk factors----------Co-infection with hepatitis C (information available for 1878 cases): 1051 (56%)Co-infection with hepatitis B (information available for 1878 cases): 192 (10.2%)Reports illicit drug use (information available for 2101 cases): 1471 (70%)Homeless: 234 (9.5%)--Communicated by:ProMED-mail[Date / Cases / New cases per week23 May 2018 / 106 / -29 Jun 2018 Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> MERS-CoV (39): Saudi Arabia (RI, JZ, MK, SH)
MERS -- Saudi ArabiaSince the last MERS update on 29 Mar 2019 (see MERS-CoV (38): Saudi Arabia (RI, SH) WHO http://promedmail.org/post/20190329.6393420), there have been a total of 6 newly confirmed cases of MERS-CoV infection reported by Saudi Arabia. In addition, there have been 4 outcome reports: 3 deaths and one recovery reported during this period.Information on newly confirmed cases (6):[1]Date of confirmation report: 31 Mar 2019Case no.: 19-1890MERS in Alkharj city: 25-year-old male in Read more [...]
PRO/AH> Anthrax – UK: (Scotland) Gruinard Island, 77 years later
Anthrax -- United KingdomGruinard was officially out of bounds from 1942 to 1990 as a result of secret anthrax testing during World War Two with few visitors returning to the island today. Even today, there are seldom any visitors to the isle apart from perhaps the odd curious kayaker lapping at its shores or a fisherman collecting a stranded buoy. Gruinard has effectively been a no-go zone for almost 80 years after it became a top-secret UK government test centre for biological weapons during World Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> E. coli EHEC – USA (02): O103, multistate spread
E. coli -- United StatesIn less than a week, that Kentucky-centered outbreak of the rare _E. coli_ O103 has exploded to 44 cases in the Bluegrass State and spread to Tennessee, Ohio, and Georgia, the Minneapolis-based Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) reports. As recently as last Friday (29 Mar 2019), the Kentucky case count stood at 24.CIDRAP, headed by Dr. Michael Osterholm, PhD, MPH, University of Minnesota Regents Professor, and McKnight Presidential Endowed Chair in Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Pertussis update (04): Canada, Australia, USA
Whooping Cough -- CanadaBritish Columbia [B.C.] Health Minister Adrian Dix announced last month [February 2019] B.C. is considering a vaccination registration system in the province's schools after a measles outbreak. As of last week there have been at least 17 confirmed measles cases this year [2019]. In addition to the measles, there have been 2 reported cases of whooping cough, or pertussis, on Vancouver Island this week.The spread of communicable diseases increases when less than 90 to 95% of Read more [...]
PRO/AH> Anthrax: climate change
Anthrax -- Worldwide/UnknownWalsh MG, de Smalen AW and Mor SM. Climatic influence on anthrax suitability in warming northern latitudes. Sci Rep. 2018 Jun 18;8(1):9269. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-27604-w.Abstract--------Climate change is impacting ecosystem structure and function, with potentially drastic downstream effects on human and animal health. Emerging zoonotic diseases are expected to be particularly vulnerable to climate and biodiversity disturbance. Anthrax is an archetypal zoonosis that manifests Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (24): Bulgaria (LV) ducks, H5, spread
Avian Influenza -- BulgariaBulgaria's food safety agency authorities reported on [Wed 3 Apr 2019] an outbreak of the bird flu virus on a duck farm in the village of Yoglav in central Bulgaria and said birds on the farm were being culled. A 3 km [1.8 mi] protection zone had been set around the farm and the movement of domestic, wild and other birds and has been banned within it, as has the sale of eggs and poultry, the food safety agency said in a statement.[Byline: Angel Krasimirov & Susan Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Histoplasmosis – Italy: ex Mexico (CP) cavers, bat guano exposure, susp.
Histoplasmosis — Italy
PRO/AH/EDR> Die-off, dolphin – USA: (FL, MA) Alzheimer's like lesions
Chronic/Non-Infectious Disease -- United StatesDavis DA, Mondo K, Stern E, et al. Cyanobacterial neurotoxin BMAA and brain pathology in stranded dolphins. PLoS One. 2019; 14(3): e0213346. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0213346. eCollection 2019; available at .Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common human progressive neurodegenerative disorder causing dementia. Cerebral amyloid angiopathy, massive deposition of amyloid beta peptide as senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles (NFT) are 3 neuropathological Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Measles update (23)
Measles -- Worldwide/UnknownIn the period 23 Mar-29 Mar 2019, a total of 109 cases of measles (laboratory confirmed or related to the epidemiological link) were reported.Out of the total number of newly reported cases, 49 cases are from Skopje, with 89.8% of them incomplete vaccinated, unvaccinated, or with unknown vaccine status. The remaining 60 patients are from 11 other cities in North Macedonia:- From Kumanovo and Struga, 30 cases (15 cases in each) were reported, of which 90% were unvaccinated, Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Kunjin virus – Australia (02): (NT) background
Encephalitis -- AustraliaThe following background information on Kunjin virus infection is abstracted from Gideon and the Gideon e-book series [1]. Primary references are available on request.Kunjin virus (KUN), a subtype of West Nile virus, was 1st isolated in Australia in 1960 from mosquitoes (_Culex annulirostris_). The virus is named for an Aboriginal clan living on the Mitchell River in Kowanyama, northern Queensland. Most cases of human infection are reported in Australia, with sporadic reports Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Bovine tuberculosis – Israel (03): (HZ) cattle, M. bovis, OIE
Bovine TB -- IsraelInformation received on [and dated] 3 Apr 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: 1 Mar 2019Date of confirmation of the event: 1 Apr 2019Report date: 3 Apr 2019Date submitted to OIE: 3 Apr 2019Reason for notification: Recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: 1999Manifestation of Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Foot & mouth disease – Palestinian Auth (02): (WE) sheep, goats, st pending, OIE
Foot and Mouth -- Palestinian AuthorityInformation received on [and dated] 2 Apr 2019 from Dr Iyad Adra, Director General of Veterinary Services & Animal Health, CVO, Ministry of Agriculture, Ramallah, Palestinian Auton. TerritoriesSummaryReport type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 26 Mar 2019Date of confirmation of the event: 1 Apr 2019Reason for notification: recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: 4 Oct 2018Manifestation of disease: clinical diseaseCausal Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Pertussis update (03): Australia (NS)
Whooping Cough -- AustraliaThe Port Macquarie-Hastings local government area has recorded a staggering 11 cases of whooping cough over the past 4 weeks. That is just under half the 23 cases for the Mid North Coast.The Mid North Coast local health district has issued an urgent warning for all pregnant women and parents to be aware of the symptoms of whooping cough and to ensure they and their children are vaccinated on time. Children with symptoms should see a doctor. If a doctor diagnoses whooping Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Undiagnosed resp. illness – Guyana (02): (BA) manganese mine, fatal, update
Respiratory Illness -- GuyanaPublic health officials have ruled out swine flu (H1N1), Zika, Chikungunya, dengue, and influenza A and B as possible causes of the recent spate of illnesses and death in Matthew's Ridge. Thus far, there has been no evidence of person-to-person transmission of infection. It is noted that only persons who were directly exposed to one common area became ill.As of Sunday, 31 Mar [2019], a response team comprising the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Surveillance, EH, Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Foodborne illness – France: (LP) fatal, RFI
Foodborne Illness -- FranceAt least 4 people have died, and 15 others are in intensive care, following a food poisoning scandal at a retirement home in France. A total of 22 residents at the residential care facility in Lhrem, near Toulouse, sat down for dinner last night [Sun 31 Mar 2019] before becoming violently ill."The residents all had symptoms at around 8:00 p.m., an hour and a half after their meal," deputy mayor Frederic Pasian said, adding that many were "vomiting and displaying other serious Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Unidentified febrile disease – Brazil: RFI
Fever -- BrazilInfectious disease physicians in the state health network of the Rio Grande do Sul Federal University UFRN) did not confirm that the disease, having symptoms similar to chikungunya [virus infection], observed this past week in 140 residents of 2 neighborhoods of Tirol and Petropolis in Natal [state] is in fact chikungunya. Blood tests done on Sat 23 Mar 2019 on samples from 6 individuals detected the presence of that virus, but the specialist physicians do not discard other hypotheses. Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update (06): Africa (Mozambique)
Cholera -- Worldwide/Unknown1. Guerrant RL, Carneiro-Filho BA and Dillingham RA: Cholera, diarrhea, and oral rehydration therapy: triumph and indictment. Clin Infect Dis. 2003; 37(3):398-405; available at: .2. Gregorio GV, Gonzales ML, Dans LF and Martinez EG: Polymer-based oral rehydration solution for treating acute watery diarrhoea. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2009; (2): CD006519. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD006519.pub2; available at: .3. Gore SM, Fontaine O and Pierce NF: Impact of rice based oral Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> African swine fever – Asia (29): Cambodia (RO) domestic, 1st rep, OIE
African Swine Fever -- CambodiaInformation received on [and dated] 3 Apr 2019 from Dr Sen Sovann, Director General, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, General Directorate of Animal Health and Production (GDAHP), Phnom Penh, CambodiaSummaryReport type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 22 Mar 2019Date of confirmation of the event: 2 Apr 2019Report date: 3 Apr 3019Date submitted to OIE: 3 Apr 2019Reason for notification: 1st occurrence of a listed disease in the countryCausal Read more [...]
PRO/AH> Anthrax, human – Russia: (SV) 1979, anniversary
Anthrax -- RussiaForty years ago, on [2 Apr 1979], there was a major leak of deadly anthrax spores from the Soviet biological warfare facility at Military Compound 19 on the edge of Sverdlovsk. The strain of the pathogen, Anthrax 836, was the deadliest. The filters that kept the anthrax dust from leaking into the environment had to be cleaned with the drying machines turned off. A subsequent investigation found that a technician had removed a filter, leaving a note to that effect. The note was not Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Kunjin virus – Australia: (NT)
Other Human Disease -- AustraliaThe Department of Health advises Top End residents and visitors to take precautions to protect themselves against mosquitoes, with widespread Kunjin virus activity detected in the Darwin region.Director of Medical Entomology, Nina Kurucz said results from flavivirus surveillance, carried out by the Department of Health in liaison with the Department of Primary Industry and Resources, showed widespread Kunjin virus activity in the greater Darwin region, with the virus Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> African swine fever – Asia (27): Japan ex China, ASFV, intercepted food products
African Swine Fever -- JapanThe African swine fever virus [ASFV] has been detected in a contagious state on Japanese soil for the 1st time, the government said Tuesday [2 Apr 2019]. The government has in the past detected genes of the ASFV in food brought from overseas, but never before has the virus been confirmed as being at an infectious stage.The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said the discovery of an infectious form of the virus has prompted a decision to strengthen measures Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Ebola Update (33): Congo DR (NK, IT) cases, summaries, response
Ebola -- DR Congo-Since vaccination began on 8 Aug 2018, 93 689 people have been vaccinated. [See URL above for total number of vaccinees in each location.]--Communicated by:ProMED-mail Rapporteurs Kunihiko Iizuka & Mary Marshall- Sun 31 Mar 2019. Epidemiological situation report, DRC Ministry of Health [in French, machine trans., abridged, edited]The epidemiological situation of the Ebola virus disease in the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri dated 30 Mar 2019:- Since the beginning of the Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> African swine fever – Asia (27): China (HU) domestic, spread, OIE
African Swine Fever -- ChinaInformation received on 2 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: 10 Mar 2019Date of confirmation of the event: 30 Mar 2019Reason for notification: recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: 10 Jan 2019Manifestation of disease: clinical diseaseCausal agent: African Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (23): India (OR) breeding ducks, HPAI H5N1
Avian Influenza H5N1 -- IndiaA team of veterinary doctors and experts culled more than 600 ducks and 66 chickens on [Sun 31 Mar 2019] following confirmation of bird flu (H5N1) in the city [Cuttack].An outbreak of bird flu was suspected after death of ducks in the Duck Breeding Centre and Dairy Farm at Khapuria. On 23 Mar 2019, as many as 13 ducks died on the day in the farm. District veterinary office investigated into the incident and sent blood samples to the National Institute of High Security Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Tick-borne encephalitis – Norway (02): cattle, background
Tick-borne Encephalitis -- NorwayTick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is one of 8 zoonoses carried by ticks in Norway (the others are anaplasmosis, babesiosis, louping ill, Lyme borreliosis, relapsing fever, rickettsial spotted fever, and tularemia). As displayed in the following graphs, rates of human TBE are considerably lower than those of other tick-borne diseases in Norway, and below TBE rates reported by neighboring countries. [1-3]See graphs at References----------1. Berger S. Infectious Diseases Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Crimean-Congo hem. fever – Asia (04): Pakistan (SD)
Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever -- PakistanDeadly [Crimean-Congo] hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) has claimed the life of a youngster at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) on [Mon 1 Apr 2019], after which the death toll due to the fever mounted to 3 this year [2019].Executive Director, JPMC, Dr Seemi Jamali, while talking to PPI [Pakistan Press International], confirmed the death of [a] 19-year-old [patient] from Congo fever who was brought to the health facility 2 days ago with high grade-fever Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (22): Taiwan (TP) wild bird, HPAI H5N2, OIE
Avian Influenza H5N2 -- ChinaInformation received on [and dated] 1 Apr 2019 from Dr Wen-Jane Tu, Chief Veterinary Officer, Deputy Director General, Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine Council of Agriculture Executive Yuan, Ministry of Agriculture, Taipei, Chinese TaipeiSummaryReport type: immediate notification (final report)Date of start of the event: 20 Mar 2019Date of confirmation of the event: 22 Mar 2019Report date: 1 Apr 2019Date submitted to OIE: 1 Apr 2019Date event Read more [...]
PRO/ALL> Announcements (04): ProMED-MENA seeking Animal Health Moderator
Not Yet Classified -- Worldwide/UnknownReporting:1. Check email at least twice daily, morning and afternoon/evening Monday through Friday, and at least once a day during weekends and holidays.2. Actively and regularly search the internet -- including the world-wide web, local media, disease outbreak sources of information (such as HealthMap), social media platforms, and relevant blogs -- for reports of outbreaks of emerging infectious diseases in the region and particularly focusing on North Africa Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (21): China (LN) zoo, poultry, HPAI H7N9, OIE
Avian Influenza H7N9 -- ChinaInformation received on 28 Mar 2019 from Dr Zhang Zhongqui, Director General, China Animal Disease Control Centre, Veterinary Bureau, Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing, China (People's Rep of)Summary:Report type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 17 Mar 2019Date of confirmation of the event: 25 Mar 2019Reason for notification: 1st occurrence of a listed diseaseManifestation of disease: clinical diseaseCausal agent: Highly pathogenic avian influenza [HPAI] Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Undiagnosed deaths, camels – Kenya: (TU) RFI
Undiagnosed -- KenyaAn outbreak of a rapidly fatal livestock disease has led to the loss of 675 camels in Turkana County threatening pastoralism which is a major source of livelihood to residents of the vast region that is also experiencing a devastating drought.Haemorrhagic Septicaemia locally known as Lookot is a contagious bacterial disease caused by certain strains of _Pasteurella multocida_ and is spread through contact with infected animals' fluids and excretion as well as ingestion and inhalation Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Poliomyelitis update (23): Afghanistan (OZ)
Polio -- AfghanistanA 2-year-old child was reported to have been affected by poliovirus despite receiving anti-polio vaccination in Afghanistan's southern province of Uruzgan [Oruzgan], a local official said on [Mon 1 Apr 2019].The case was found affecting a baby-boy in Charchino district of the restive province, where he received 5 times anti-polio immunization, Khan Agha Miakhil, director of provincial public health department, told Xinhua.The ongoing insurgency and conflicts have been hindering Read more [...]
PRO> Poliomyelitis update (24): comment
Polio — India