Archive for Global Disease Alerts
PRO/EDR> VIM-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa – USA (02): ex Mexico, medical tourism, alert
P. aeruginosa -- United StatesTwo people in San Diego county [California, USA] remain hospitalized and 1 person is under care at a nursing facility after contracting a potentially deadly superbug infection at a Tijuana [Baja California, Mexico] hospital. "Right now these patients are treatable, but we want to make sure no one else gets that infection," said Eric McDonald, MD, medical director of epidemiology for the county of San Diego. "All of the patients who were hospitalized in San Diego had Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Mumps update (05): UK (England) USA (PA) university
Mumps -- United KingdomMore than 220 suspected cases of mumps have been reported at 2 universities, Public Health England (PHE) has said.Students are being urged to ensure they are vaccinated due to an outbreak at Nottingham Trent University and the University of Nottingham.A total of 40 cases have been confirmed so far. PHE, which confirmed the cases, said it was working with the universities to persuade unprotected students to get the MMR [measles, mumps, rubella] jab.Latest news and stories from Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Porcine epidemic diarrhea – North America (03): USA (OK) pigs
Novel Swine Enteric Coronavirus -- United StatesPigs were diagnosed with porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) at the Oklahoma Youth Expo in Oklahoma City, OK on Wed 20 Mar 2019. Several pigs have become ill, and show veterinarians assume that most pigs that were at the show or are there now have been exposed, according to a statement released by the Oklahoma Youth Expo (OYE)."PEDV is not a human health risk, and pork is safe to eat. However, the disease causes a transient illness in feeder pigs Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> West Nile virus (09): India, crows & mosquitoes tested
West Nile Virus -- IndiaA week after a 6-year-old boy from Malappuram, Kerala lost his life to West Nile fever, samples of dead crows and mosquitoes have now been sent to the National Institute of Virology in Alappuzha to test for the virus.West Nile fever is a mosquito-borne viral disease. West Nile virus is related to viruses that cause Japanese encephalitis, Yellow fever and St Louis encephalitis. The mosquitoes catch the virus through infected birds. The virus is most often transmitted to humans Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Canine distemper – North America: new dog strain
Canine distemper -- Worldwide/UnknownA young dog imported from South Korea into western Canada last October [2018] brought along a dangerous hitchhiker: the Asia-1 strain of canine distemper virus (CDV), which until then had not been reported in North America.Scientists at Cornell's Animal Health Diagnostic Center (AHDC) identified the virus in samples from the dog, which they suspect was part of a shipment of animals rescued from a Korean meat market by an animal welfare organization. Dogs that Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Chronic wasting disease – USA (09): (SD) captive elk
Chronic Wasting Disease -- United StatesSouth Dakota's state veterinarian says chronic wasting disease has been confirmed in a captive elk in Clark County.State Veterinarian Dr. Dustin Oedekoven said Wednesday [20 Mar 2019] that the owner of the 21-month-old female elk noticed the animal was sick and contacted his veterinarian. The USDA's National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa later confirmed that samples tested positive for the disease.Chronic wasting disease is endemic in free-ranging Read more [...]
PRO/AH> Foot & mouth disease, Rift Valley fever – Egypt: mass vaccination
Rift Valley Fever, Foot and Mouth -- EgyptDr. Mona Mehrez, the deputy minister of agriculture, said that through the national campaign to vaccinate livestock against foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and Rift Valley fever [RVF], which started on [Sat 2 Feb 2019] and ended on [Thu 14 Mar 2019], the campaign succeeded for the 1st time in reaching the target immunization proportion of 89% instead of the 81% [reached] the last year [2018].The Deputy Minister of Agriculture for Animal, Poultry and Fishery Read more [...]
PRO/PL> Asian greening, citrus – South Africa: alert
Other Plant Disease -- South AfricaResearchers expect the imminent arrival of the Asian greening disease [huanglongbing, HLB] vector or the bacteria in South Africa. The South African [citrus] industry should be very concerned, [said] Dr Vaughan Hattingh, Citrus Research International. Arrival of HLB is not a case of if, but rather when.The vector, the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP; _Diaphorina citri_), was in 2015 detected in Tanzania, 2016 in Kenya, and is known to occur in Reunion and Mauritius. However, Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Hepatitis A – USA (11): (KY,WV,OH)
Hepatitis A -- United StatesAge Range 1-87Median Age 37Male 1433 (58.4%)Hospitalizations 1221 (49.7%)Deaths 21Risk Factors----------Co-infection with Hepatitis C (Information available for 1852 cases) 1048 (56.1%)Co-infection with Hepatitis B (Information available for 1852 cases) 191 (10.2%)Reports Illicit Drug Use (Information available for 2071 cases) 1462 (70.1%)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> Kyasanur Forest disease – India (12): (KL) fatal
Kyasanur Forest Disease -- IndiaKyasanur Forest disease (KFD) or monkey fever has claimed one life in Wayanad [district in Kerala state], marking it the 1st KFD death in the state after 2015.[S] aged (27), a resident of the Begur tribal hamlet, died at the Kozhikode Medical College Hospital Saturday night [23 Mar 2019]. He was admitted to the Mananthavady district hospital on [10 Mar 2019] with symptoms of the disease and was later referred to the medical college."The deceased had gone for work in Read more [...]
PRO/AH> African swine fever – Asia (25): China (CQ) domestic, spread, OIE
African Swine Fever -- ChinaInformation received on 22 Mar 2019 [but see date submitted, below] 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: 17 Mar 2019Date of confirmation of the event: 21 Mar 2019Report date: 22 Mar 2019Date submitted to OIE: 25 Mar 2019Reason for notification: recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Botulism – Canada (02): brewed coffee, risk, recall
Botulism -- CanadaA botulism scare has forced the recall of a local [British Columbia] coffee company's product. Cherry Hill Coffee's N7 Nitro Cold Brew Coffee has been recalled after it was learned that temperature issues during the manufacturing process could have led to a failure to control pathogens, including botulism.On Wed 20 Mar 2019, Interior Health put out a warning to the public advising anyone who purchased the cold brew coffee from the Kelowna company to not drink it."Either throw out Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (19): Iraq (BA) HPAI, poultry, H5N8, OIE
Avian Influenza H5N8 -- IraqInformation received on [and edited] 25 Mar 2019 from Dr Salah Fadhil Abbas, Director General, Veterinary Directorate, Ministry of Agriculture, Baghdad, IraqSummaryReport type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 17 Mar 2019Date of confirmation of the event: 22 Mar 2019Report date: 24 Mar 2019Date submitted to OIE: 25 Mar 2019Reason for notification: recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: 2 Jul 2018Manifestation of disease: clinical Read more [...]
PRO/PL> Crop diseases – Rwanda, Burundi: impact
Other Plant Disease -- RwandaAbstract--------Biotic constraints cause major crop losses and, hence, food insecurity in sub-Saharan Africa. This study documented farmers' perceptions on the severity of biotic constraints and the impact of related crop losses for the key root, tuber, and banana (RTB) crops (cassava, potato, sweetpotato, and banana) in 2014 in Rwanda and Burundi. Farmers were asked to estimate crop loss due to pests and diseases.Cutworms and late blight in potato, weevils and _Xanthomonas_ Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Ebola update (31): Congo DR (NK, IT) cases, summaries, opinions, research
Ebola -- DR CongoVaccination - Since the beginning of vaccination on 8 Aug 2018, 91 286 persons have been vaccinated [see URL for number of vaccinees in each location].SPECIAL COMMUNICATION FROM THE MINISTER OF HEALTHThis Sun 24 Mar 2019, the Ebola outbreak in the provinces of North Kivu has exceeded the threshold of 1000 cases.Before being a public health emergency, an Ebola epidemic is above all a human and social tragedy. Behind these numbers are several hundred Congolese families directly Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Psittacosis – Sweden: wild bird contact
Psittacosis -- SwedenSwedish public health authorities, Folkhalsomyndigheten, is reporting an outbreak of psittacosis, or parrot disease, since November 2018. According to officials, some 60 cases have been reported from the regions of Vastra Gotaland, Kalmar, Jonkoping, and Skane. This is the highest number of cases reported in one winter in 2 decades.Those who have now fallen ill have mainly come into contact with bird droppings from wild birds, for example through the handling of bird tables and Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Lumpy skin disease – Europe (02): EFSA epidemiology 2017-2018, EU control policy
Lumpy Skin Disease -- Worldwide/UnknownVaccination and other control measures have succeeded in halting the epidemic of lumpy skin disease (LSD) in the Balkans, new data suggest.EFSA's latest report on the status of the disease in southeastern Europe shows that there were no new outbreaks in 2018. The number of outbreaks had declined dramatically in 2017, down to 385 from 7483 in 2016, and the latest data indicate that the disease is now absent from the region.More than 2.5 million cattle were vaccinated Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Listeriosis – Europe: Denmark, fatal, WGS, smoked fish, ex Estonia, 2016-19
Listeriosis -- DenmarkDanish officials have solved a _Listeria_ outbreak that had been ongoing for 3 years. Cold-smoked fish products imported from Estonia are the source of the long-lasting outbreak, which had made 9 people sick and linked to 2 deaths since 2016.Statens Serum Institut (SSI), the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration (Fodevarestyrelsen), and DTU Food - National Food Institute reported that 2 of the 9 cases that became ill with the same type of _Listeria_ were in 2019. Luise Muller Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Equine influenza – UK (07): (England) horse, EIV H3N8 Florida clade 1, spread
Equine Influenza -- United KingdomThe 1st outbreak of equine flu in Cumbria, [England], has been confirmed by animal health officials. The Animal Health Trust says the horse affected was an unvaccinated non-Thoroughbred that had recently arrived on a private yard in the county following post-purchase movement from another part of the UK.A report on the AHT website said the horse had shown signs of mild fever, coughing, and nasal discharge shortly after arriving and tested positive for EI [equine Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Varicella update (03): Philippines, USA (NM)
Chicken Pox -- United StatesA public elementary school in Tubungan town, Iloilo has recorded a total of 36 chickenpox cases from 15 Jan to 3 Mar [2019], the Provincial Health Office (PHO) said. In an interview on Wednesday [20 Mar 2019], Dr. Patricia Grace Trabado, PHO head, said the cases were observed as patients who sought treatment at the rural health units (RHU) and private clinics in Tubungan.All the cases were recorded in Cadabdab Elementary School, with 21 male and 15 female students affected. Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> African swine fever – USA: travel alert
African Swine Fever -- United StatesThe US Department of Agriculture's (USDA) under secretary for marketing and regulatory programs, Greg Ibach, is alerting international travelers of a deadly swine disease they could unknowingly bring back into the United States on their clothes, shoes, or hands.African swine fever (ASF) is a highly contagious and deadly disease affecting both domestic and feral (wild) pigs. It does not affect human health and cannot be transmitted from pigs to humans. Recent spread Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Yellow fever – Africa (06): Sudan, vaccination
Yellow Fever -- SudanThe Federal Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and UNICEF, has launched a large-scale mass vaccination campaign in Sudan to vaccinate more than 8.3 million people 9 months to 60 years of age against yellow fever in the states of Blue Nile, Gezira and Sennar during 10-29 Mar 2019.The campaign represents a crucial step in protecting a large portion of the population and reducing the risk of severe and deadly Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> African swine fever – Asia (24): China, Viet Nam, domestic, spread, control, FAO
African Swine Fever -- ChinaChina:Since the China Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) confirmed its 1st African swine fever (ASF) outbreak in Liaoning Province on 3 Aug 2018, a total of 114 ASF outbreaks have been detected in 28 provinces/autonomous region/municipalities. More than 950 000 pigs have been culled in an effort to halt further spread.[During the week 15-22 Mar 2019, a new ASF outbreak was reported from] Chongqing Municipality: one farm with 91 pigs in Shizhu County.Viet Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Anthrax – India (04): (OR) cattle, human
Anthrax -- IndiaFear of an anthrax and diarrhoea outbreak has triggered panic in Dasmantpur area as 3 people have died of it. The 2 diseases may take the form of an epidemic at the block, which has increased tension among the residents of the area.A medical team also visited and inspected Padabagri village of Dumba Guda panchayat [village council] under the block in Koraput district. The team of officers, comprising Dadhi Baman Tripathy, ADMO Arun Kumar Padhi, Koraput DSMO S. Patnayak and a community Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Salmonellosis, st Enteritidis – Australia: eggs, alert, recall
Salmonella -- AustraliaAn egg recall has been announced following the discovery of a _Salmonella_ outbreak at a Victorian egg farm. The scare has prompted a recall of some brands of eggs from outlets in 4 states.To date, 5 cases of _Salmonella [enterica_ serotype] Enteritidis have been linked to eggs produced by Victoria's Bridgewater Poultry, the state's health department said on [Thu 21 Mar 2019]. The company's free-range and barn-laid eggs are packaged as Woolworths brand, Victorian Fresh, and Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Rabies (12): Americas, USA (SC, CT) raccoon, dog, human exp
Rabies -- United States[One person] in Aiken county may have been exposed to rabies following an unfriendly encounter with a wild raccoon, according to the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control [DHEC].According to a DHEC press release, the victim was on the North Augusta Greeneway Walking Trail on 16 Mar 2019 when they were bitten by a raccoon. The raccoon was later submitted to DHEC and tested positive for rabies. [Apparently the DHEC knows there is a victim so their earlier Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Zearalenone – India: (UP) cereal grain
-- IndiaResearchers from the Indian Institute of Toxicology Research (IITR) have detected the presence of a toxin -- zearalenone -- in 84% of the cereals tested in Uttar Pradesh. The toxin, which is produced by soil fungi, behaves like an endocrine disruptor in humans, meaning this fungus can possibly lead to hormonal imbalances, birth defects, and other developmental disorders. Various studies have also indicated signs of early puberty in girls on exposure to a high intake of this toxin.The Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Equine herpesvirus – North America: USA (05): USA (NV) horse
Equine Herpes Virus -- United StatesThe state of Nevada is recommending all equine events scheduled for this weekend [23-24 Mar 2019] in the Silver State be canceled due to 3 horses in southern Nevada recently testing positive for herpes.In a Tuesday morning [19 Mar 2019] statement from the Nevada Department of Agriculture, state veterinarian JJ Goicoechea "strongly urges" equine events, especially in southern Nevada, be shut down in efforts to slow the spread of equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1), Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Foodborne illness – India: (OR) mushrooms susp.
Foodborne Illness -- IndiaThree members of a family, including 2 minor girls, fell sick after consuming toxic wild mushrooms in Mirigikhoji village under Patana block in Keonjhar district.According to sources, some members of the family complained of vomiting and nausea after consuming the wild mushroom. They were rushed to the Keonjhar district headquarters hospital where their health condition is stated to be critical.Although the actual reason behind the illness has not been ascertained, the doctor Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Undiagnosed poisoning – Malaysia (02): (JH) toxic waste
Poisoning -- MalaysiaOne suspect in the illegal chemical dumping activities in Sungai Kim Kim in Pasir Gudang here last Thursday [7 Mar 2019] is expected to be charged tomorrow [Thu 14 Mar 2019].Energy, science, technology, environment and climate change minister Yeo Bee Yin said the Department of Environment (DoE) had completed the investigation paper on the case and submitted it to the public prosecutor's office today [Wed 13 Mar 2019]."The suspect, one of the 3 arrested earlier this week, is the Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Poliomyelitis update (21): global (Nigeria), Pakistan
Polio -- NigeriaNew wild poliovirus cases reported this week: 0Total number of wild poliovirus cases in 2019: 6Total number of wild poliovirus cases in 2018: 33New cVDPV cases reported this week: 1Total number of cVDPV cases (all types) in 2019: 2Total number of cVDPV cases (all types) in 2018: 104Headlines- Following cyclone Idai's landfall in Mozambique, accessibility in many areas remains a challenge, particularly Beira city. However, outside of Beira, polio outbreak response is ongoing Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> West Nile virus (08): Americas (USA) hawk, alert
West Nile Virus -- United StatesA dead Cooper's hawk found in Lakeside has tested positive for West Nile virus [WNV], making it the 1st sign this year [2019] of the potentially deadly disease in San Diego County.County Vector Control officials said people should remember to follow the County's "Prevent, Protect, Report" guidelines -- particularly to dump out standing water and to wear insect repellent -- to protect themselves from mosquitoes that can transmit WNV and other diseases, such as chikungunya, Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Mumps update (04): USA (PA) outbreak
Mumps -- United StatesSt. Joe's Student Health Center and the Philadelphia Department of Public Health have advised students on campus to take precautionary measures after an outbreak of mumps at nearby Temple University.At the end of last month [February 2019], right before the school's spring break, Temple released a statement that there were 4 confirmed cases of mumps on campus. As of [18 Mar 2019], there have been 54 cases of mumps at Temple -- 12 confirmed and 42 probable --, according to the Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> MERS-CoV (36): Saudi Arabia (NJ, AS, RI)
MERS -- Saudi ArabiaIn the period from 13-21 Mar 2019, there have been a total of 3 newly confirmed cases of MERS-CoV infection reported with the most recent case being reported on 16 Mar 2019. In addition there have been 13 outcomes reported -- 2 deaths and 11 recoveries.Information on newly confirmed cases (3):[1]Date of confirmation report: 15 Mar 2019Case No: 19-1879MERS in Abha city: 41-year-old male in Abha city, Aseer [`Asīr] regionContact with camels: NoCase classification: Under Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Meningitis, meningococcal – Africa Mn belt: emergence of new sg post-mass vaccn.
Meningitis - Neisseria -- Worldwide/UnknownThe major cause of meningitis in Africa has changed in recent years, a study published in EBioMedicine and funded by Meningitis Research Foundation has confirmed. A type of bacterial meningitis called MenA (meningococcal group A) has seen huge declines, but now meningococcal groups W, X, and C have risen as major causes of meningitis in the African region known as the meningitis belt [Ref. 1].The meningitis belt countries of sub-Saharan Africa have been Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Ebola update (30): Congo DR (NK, IT) cases, summaries, WHO, preparedness
Ebola -- DR Congo- In the last 21 days, 97 new cases have been reported. The 3 main households for this period are Katwa (33 cases, or 34%), Masereka (18 cases, or 18.6%), and Mandima (15 cases, or 15.5%).- This increase in cases was expected, given the paralysis of the response in the town of Butembo after the armed attacks against the 2 CTEs. In addition, the community dialogue is starting to bear fruit. We are seeing an increase in alerts reported by the community, which makes it possible to detect Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Chikungunya (03): Americas, Africa, Asia
Chikungunya — Worldwide/Unknown
PRO/AH/EDR> Lumpy skin disease – Europe: Russia (UD) bovine, OIE
Lumpy Skin Disease -- RussiaInformation received on [and dated] 18 Mar 2019 from Dr Nikolay Vlasov, Deputy Head, Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance, Ministry of Agriculture, Moscou, RussiaSummary:Report type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 7 Mar 2019Date of confirmation of the event: 17 Mar 2019Reason for notification: recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: 15 Feb 2019Manifestation of disease: clinical diseaseCausal agent: lumpy skin Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> African swine fever – Asia (23): China, Viet Nam, domestic, Cambodia, alert
African Swine Fever -- ChinaWhen pigs on the Xinda Husbandry Co. Ltd breeding farm in northern China began dying in growing numbers in early January [2019], it looked increasingly likely that the farm had been struck by the much feared African swine fever [ASF], an incurable disease that has spread rapidly across the country since last year [2018].But after taking samples from some pigs, local officials in the Xushui district of Baoding city, about an hour's drive from Beijing, said their tests came Read more [...]
