Archive for Global Disease Alerts
PRO/AH> Foot & mouth disease – Israel (03): (HZ) cattle, spread
Foot and Mouth -- IsraelOn Mon 8 Mar 2021, samples obtained from beef cattle in Tuba-Zangariyye, suspected of FMD, were received in the Kimron Veterinary Institute at Beit-Dagan. The Institute's FMD laboratory has confirmed FMD by PCR, followed by virus growth in tissue culture.A protection zone (3 km [1.9 mi]) and a surveillance zone (10 km [6.2 mi]) have been established around the outbreak.--communicated by:ProMED-mail[The location of Tuba-Zangariyye (2 merged Bedouin settlements combined) is Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Undiagnosed deaths – USA: (TX): dog, toxic algae susp
Algae -- United States"Toxins are compounds that have a harmful effect on other cells, tissues, and organisms. In the natural environment, these toxins are generally contained within the blue-green algal cell but they are released into the water when the cell is damaged or dies."Blue-green algal toxins can be divided into the following groups:1. Hepatotoxins- Hepatotoxins cause blood to collect in the liver causing circulatory shock and can lead to death by internal hemorrhaging.- Hepatotoxins can Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (95): vacc reactions, vacc approval, Americas, WHO
COVID-19 -- DenmarkUse of vaccine paused for 14 days in Denmark while investigators probe reports of possible 'serious side-effects'Denmark will not use AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine for 2 weeks after reports that some recipients had developed serious blood clots, and in one case may have died as a result, the country's authorities said on Thursday [11 Mar 2021]. They did not say how many reports of blood clots there had been, but Austria has stopped using a batch of AstraZeneca shots while investigating Read more [...]
PRO/AH> Equine rhinopneumonitis – Spain (04): (VC) EHV-1, horse, intl spread, Luxembourg
Equine Herpes Virus -- SpainIn recent days, many cases of the equine virus EHV-1 have been identified across Europe, leading to the cancellation of several equestrian competitions. It has since been confirmed that a case has been reported in the Grand Duchy.The Luxembourg Ministry of Agriculture announced the discovery of the 1st case to be found in the Grand Duchy on Tue 9 Mar [2021]. The Administration of Veterinary Services has stated that the virus is not transmissible from animals to humans.In Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Poliomyelitis update (04): global, WPV1, cVDPV
Polio -- Worldwide/UnknownData as of 10 Mar 2021, World Health Organization- New wild poliovirus isolates reported this week:Acute flaccid paralysis [AFP] cases: 0Environmental samples [ES]: 6Others: 0- New cVDPV isolates reported this week:AFP cases: 30ES: 17Others: 3Summary of new WPV and cVDPV this week (AFP cases and ES positives):- Afghanistan: 14 cVDPV2 cases and 10 cVDPV2 positive ES- Pakistan: 6 WPV1 positive ES- Cote d'Ivoire: 3 cVDPV2 positive ES- Dr Congo: 3 cVDPV2 cases- Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> N. meningitidis: clonal expansion, fluoroquinolone-resistant CC4821, ex China
Meningitis - Neisseria -- ChinaChen M, Harrison OB, Bratcher HB, et al. Evolution of sequence type 4821 clonal complex hyperinvasive and quinolone-resistant meningococci. Emerg Infect Dis. 2021 Apr [date cited]. ; DOI: 10.3201/eid2704.203612.Abstract-------Expansion of quinolone-resistant _Neisseria meningitidis_ clone ChinaCC4821-R1-C/B from sequence type (ST) 4821 clonal complex (CC4821) caused a serogroup shift from serogroup A to serogroup C invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) in China. To determine Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Salmonellosis, st Enteritidis – Norway: RFI
Salmonella -- NorwayPublic health officials in Norway are investigating an outbreak of salmonellosis with up to 20 patients. Folkehelseinstituttet (the Norwegian Institute of Public Health) reported the outbreak of _Salmonella [enterica_ serotype] Enteritidis has seen 10 people need hospital treatment. A dozen people have been diagnosed with the outbreak strain, and there are 8 suspected cases. Samples were taken from the end of January [2021] through the end of February [2021].Patients are geographically Read more [...]
PRO/AH> Lumpy skin disease – Namibia (01): (OH) cattle, OIE
Lumpy Skin Disease -- NamibiaSummaryReport type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 27 Jan 2021Date of confirmation of the event: 11 Feb 2021Report date: 9 Mar 2021Reason for notification: recurrence of a listed diseaseDate last occurrence: 19 Jul 2018Manifestation of disease: clinical diseaseCausal agent: Lumpy skin disease virus Nature of diagnosis: clinical, laboratory This event pertains to: a defined zone within the countryNew outbreaks (2)Outbreak 1: Otjiuapehuri, Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (94): blood donor Abs, self-check, pollen, variant, WHO
COVID-19 -- Worldwide/UnknownAbstract--------In this study, we investigate the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among blood donors in the cities of Wuhan, Shenzhen, and Shijiazhuang in China. From January to April 2020, 38 144 healthy blood donors in the 3 cities were tested for total antibody against SARS-CoV-2 followed by pseudotype SARS-CoV-2 neutralization tests, IgG, and IgM antibody testing. Finally, a total of 398 donors were confirmed positive. The age- and sex-standardized SARS-CoV-2 Read more [...]
PRO/PL> Undiagnosed disease, rice – Nigeria: (TA)
Undiagnosed -- NigeriaRice farmers in Taraba State have raised alarm over an unidentified fungal disease. The Rice Farmers Association said [that] farmers have sprayed their rice with all known pesticides without results as the destruction of the crops persisted. The association has reported the outbreak to the Ministry of Agriculture. They said that many farms have been destroyed by the strange disease.[byline: Magaji Lsa Hunkuyi]--communicated by:ProMED[It is unclear why a 'fungus' is considered Read more [...]
PRO/AH> Lumpy skin disease – Viet Nam: (HT,NA) cattle, spread
Lumpy Skin Disease -- VietnamThe lumpy skin disease [LSD] virus, which has been detected in cows and buffaloes in Viet Nam since mid-October [2020] has continued spreading in Viet Nam. To date [9 Mar 2021], Viet Nam [sic. Presumably should say LSD. - Mod.SH] had hit 163 communes in 65 districts of 18 cities and provinces in Viet Nam, affecting 2200 cows and buffaloes with 300 culled.By 1 Mar 2021, the disease had attacked roughly 1000 cows and buffaloes in many districts of the Ha Tinh province [North Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (93): Estonia (HA) animal, cat, OIE
COVID-19 -- EstoniaSummaryReport type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 21 Feb 2021Date of confirmation of the event: 28 Feb 2021Report date: 10 Mar 2021Date submitted to OIE: 10 Mar 2021Event status: ongoingReason for notification: emerging diseaseMorbidity: 1 (scale 0 to 5)Mortality: 0 (scale 0 to 5)Diagnostic details: clinical signs, laboratory testZoonotic impact: noCausal agent: SARS-CoV-2New outbreaks (1)Summary of outbreaks:Total outbreaks: 1Outbreak Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (92): allergy mRNA vacc, sex-specific risk, WHO
COVID-19 -- Worldwide/UnknownAcute allergic reactions occurred in 2.10% but anaphylaxis in only 0.025% of employees of 2 Boston hospitals who received their 1st dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, according to a research letter published yesterday [8 Mar 20201] in JAMA [ref: Blumenthal KG, Robinson LB, Camargo CA Jr, et al. Acute allergic reactions to mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. JAMA. 2021 Mar 8. doi: 10.1001/jama.2021.3976. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 33683290; ].Scientists from Read more [...]
PRO> Invasive mosquito – Australia: (NT)
-- AustraliaHealth officials have found dengue mosquitoes [_Aedes aegypti_] in the Northern Territory outback after they likely hitched a ride from tropical north Queensland. The female _Aedes aegypti_ -- also known as the yellow fever mosquito -- is the only insect that can spread dengue fever [not true. _Aedes albopictus_, the Asian tiger mosquito, can also transmit dengue viruses. - Mod.TY]During routine exotic mosquito surveillance in Tennant Creek, about 1000 km [620 mi] south of Darwin, 3 Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (91): USA post vacc, vacc passport, WHO
COVID-19 -- Worldwide/UnknownCOVID-19 vaccines are effective at protecting you from getting sick. Based on what we know about COVID-19 vaccines, people who have been fully vaccinated can start to do some things that they had stopped doing because of the pandemic.We're still learning how vaccines will affect the spread of COVID-19. After you've been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, you should keep taking precautions in public places like wearing a mask, staying 6 feet [2 m] apart from others, and Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Poliomyelitis update (03): global, WPV1, cVDPV
Polio -- AfghanistanNew wild poliovirus isolates reported this week- AFP cases: 0- Environment: 3- Others: 0New cVDPV isolates reported this week:- AFP cases: 12- Environment: 26- Others: 3Summary of new WPV and cVDPV this week (AFP [acute flaccid paralysis] cases and ES [environmental sample] positives):- Afghanistan: 1 circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) case and 9 cVDPV2 positive environmental samples- Pakistan: 3 wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) environmental samples, 3 Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Yellow fever – Americas (04): Brazil (SC) monkey, susp
Yellow Fever -- BrazilIn a little more than 15 days, the region has registered 40 dead monkeys in the cities of Santa Rosa de Lima, Rio Fortuna, Sao Martinho, Grao-Para and Braco do Norte, with 24 in just one week.Teams from regional Health Surveillance and the Zoonoses Surveillance Unit (UVZ), Tubarao Municipal Health Foundation (FMS), issued an alert about the possibility of yellow fever cases that could be causing the deaths of monkeys in municipalities of the region.Several days ago, 8 dead monkeys Read more [...]
PRO/PL> Tomato brown rugose fruit virus – Italy: (SC) spread
Other Plant Disease -- ItalyA convention discussed the spreading of ToBRFV in Sicily. "It is important for qualified personnel to perform [the] tests. The virus has already [spread] considerably. Over the past 2 years, we have noticed a lack of communication from companies, as they fear reporting the virus would lead to crops being uprooted," explained Professor Walter Davino [University of Palermo].Currently, around 45% of companies with protected crops report infections. In Sicily, the problem Read more [...]
PRO/AH> Equine rhinopneumonitis – Spain (03): (VC) EHV-1, horse, intl spread, Italy
Equine Herpes Virus -- SpainIn Italy, after the outbreak in Valencia (Spain), 4 outbreaks of rhinopneumonitis have been notified, 3 in Lombardia region and one in the province of Trento. Two outbreaks (both in Lombardia) are epidemiologically linked to Valencia. --Andrea CarvelliIstituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e della Toscana "M. Aleandri"[We are grateful to Dr Carvelli for the above timely update; Italy becomes the 7th country suffering EHV-1 infections in horses related to the event Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Ebola update (24): Congo DR (NK) Guinea
Ebola -- DR CongoDespite multiple warnings and the inevitability of infectious disease outbreaks, preparedness has [not received due priority] in the USA. From severe acute respiratory syndrome in 2003 to Ebola in 2014, the USA has confronted many outbreaks -- each should have served as a wake-up call to the importance of preparedness, knowing that these were not one-off events but part of a looming trend. Since their creation 15 years ago, the International Health Regulations of 2005 have been used Read more [...]
PRO/AH> Die-off, apis – Colombia: pesticide susp
Animal Die-off -- ColombiaFor the second time in 2 years, Gildardo Urrego is scooping up piles of dead bees after an invisible evil invaded his hives in north west Colombia, wreaking havoc among his swarms. Urrego has no proof, but he suspects the culprit is pesticides which have been fueling a commercial avocado and citrus boom in the country.Hundreds of hives have been killed off in Colombia in recent years, and some investigations have pointed to fipronil, an insecticide banned for use on crops Read more [...]
PRO/AH> African swine fever – Asia (06): Malaysia (SA) domestic, wild boar, spread
African Swine Fever -- MalaysiaThe African swine fever (ASF) virus has now spread to other districts, infecting both domestic pigs and their cousins, the wild bearded pigs [see comment]. In a statement here [in Kota Kinabalu] yesterday (Sun 7 Mar 2021), deputy chief minister Datuk Seri Panglima Dr Jeffrey Kitingan said the virus was detected among domestic pigs in Kota Marudu and Pitas as well as wild bearded pigs in Lahad Datu, Sandakan, Kinabatangan, Beluran, and Telupid [Sabah province]. "This Read more [...]
PRO/AH> Equine rhinopneumonitis – Spain (02): (VC) EHV-1, horse, intl spread
Equine Herpes Virus -- SpainThree more horse deaths have put the toll of the equine herpesvirus (EHV-1) outbreak in Europe at 9, with all but 2 occurring in Spain. Two horses have died in Germany, 2 in Barcelona, and 5 in Valencia, the centre of the outbreak. There are now 6 countries with confirmed cases: Spain, Germany, Belgium, France, Sweden, and Qatar. There is a case in the US, but it is not linked with the outbreak in Europe.Late on Friday [5 Mar 2021], the FEI, horse sport's world governing Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (90): UK sewage, Viet Nam, Cambodia, WHO
COVID-19 -- United KingdomA pilot study's analysis of schools' wastewater shows its potential as an early warning system for public health teamsSchools may have had more COVID-19 infections before Christmas [2020] than previous research showed, according to data from a pilot study that senior public health experts believe could provide a crucial early warning system against future outbreaks. COVID-19 was present in the sewage of 80% of 16 primary and secondary schools in England during December [2020], Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (89): co-re-infection, evolve,Tcell response,variants,WHO,global
COVID-19 -- Worldwide/UnknownAbstractUncertainty remains about how long the protective immune responses against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 persists, and suspected reinfection in recovered patients has been reported. We describe a case of reinfection from distinct virus lineages in Brazil harboring the E484K mutation, a variant associated with escape from neutralizing antibodies.--Communicated by:ProMED Rapporteur Kunihiko Iizuka[Previous reports have documented co-infection of Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (42): Algeria (BT) poultry, HPAI H5N8, spread
Avian Influenza H5N8 -- AlgeriaYesterday [Fri 5 Mar 2021], a new focus of bird flu virus was discovered in Batna wilaya, in the east of the country.The Agriculture Directorate of Batna State stated that "a focus of avian influenza virus has been confirmed in the Seriana region in the state."The directorate demanded that poultry keepers in the region attend a meeting to be held on Sunday [7 Mar 2021] in the Seriana region to take advantage of instructions and directives to avoid the spread of infection. Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Equine herpesvirus – North America (06): USA (FL, PA) horse
Equine Herpes Virus -- United StatesA mare in Marion, Florida, has tested positive for the neurological strain of equine herpesvirus, type 1 (EHV-1), raising concerns a very aggressive strain of the virus currently circulating in Europe may eventually make its way to the United States. [Currently there is no evidence of this more aggressive form in the USA. - Mod.TG]EHV-1 most often causes mild-to-moderate respiratory illness (rhinopneumonitis), but the infection occasionally leads to the life-threatening Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Toxic jellyfish – Australia: (NT) human case, fatal
Other Human Disease -- AustraliaAn Australian teenager has died after a suspected box jellyfish sting, authorities said Thursday [4 Mar 2021], in a rare case believed to be the country's 1st such death in 15 years.Health officials said the 17-year-old was stung while swimming at Bamaga, a remote community on the tip of Cape York in Australia's far north, on 22 Feb 2021. He was airlifted to a hospital where he died on 1 Mar 2021, according to police.The Australian box jellyfish, or _Chironex fleckeri_, Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (41): Sweden (SN), Niger (NI) poultry, HPAI H5N5, H5N1, OIE
Avian Influenza, Avian Influenza H5N1 -- SwedenInformation received on 5 Mar 2021 from Dr. Emeli Torsson, Senior Veterinary Advisor, SwedenSummaryReport type: Immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 2 Mar 2021Date of confirmation of the event: 3 Mar 2021Reason for notification: Recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: 19 Nov 2020Manifestation of disease: Clinical diseaseCausal agent: Highly pathogenic avian influenza virusSerotype: H5N5Nature of diagnosis: Laboratory (basic Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Sheep pox & goat pox – Bhutan: (Jigme Khesar Strict Nature Reserve) ungulates
Sheep/Goat Pox -- BhutanWild animals within the Jigme Khesar Strict Nature Reserve (JKSNR) in Gakiling and Sangbaykha gewogs, Haa [District] have succumbed to a suspected outbreak of the viral infection capripox.The 1st case was detected in November last year [2020]. According to the rescue focal officer of JKSNR, Kinley Tenzin, an observed symptom is the development of skin lesions and gradual peeling off.So far, 3 Himalayan serows, one wild boar and a barking deer were reported dead from the disease. Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (88): variants, masks and on-site dining impact, WHO, global
COVID-19 -- Worldwide/UnknownWHO region (no. countries/territories):Total confirmed cases (new cases in last 24 hours) / Total deaths (new deaths in last 24 hours)--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Western Pacific Region (19): 1 648 543 (6276) / 29 444 (96)European Region (61): 39 418 631 (178 102) / 878 731 (3098)South East Asia Region (10): 13 632 174 (25 474) / 209 729 (303)Eastern Mediterranean Region (22): 6 552 836 (35 508) / 146 546 (444)Region Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Ebola update (23): Congo DR (NK), Guinea
Ebola -- DR CongoOutbreak brief 2: Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak- 11 new confirmed cases, 2 new recoveries, 1 new death- DRC: 11 cases, 4 deaths, 2 recoveries- Guinea: 17 cases (13 confirmed, 4 probable), 7 deaths, 2 recoveries- 7 healthcare workers are among confirmed casesOutbreak update: Since the last brief (23 Feb 2021), 11 new confirmed cases, 1 new death, and 2 new recoveries of EVD have been reported in Nzerekore, Guinea and North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (40): Sweden (HA) poultry, HPAI H5N8, OIE
Avian Influenza H5N8 -- SwedenInformation received on 3 Mar 2021 from Dr. Emeli Torsson, Senior Veterinary Advisor, SwedenSummaryReport type: Immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 28 Feb 2021Date of confirmation of the event: 1 Mar 2021Reason for notification: Recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: 19 Nov 2020Manifestation of disease: Clinical diseaseCausal agent: Highly pathogenic avian influenza virusSerotype: H5N8Nature of diagnosis: Laboratory (basic and Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (87): variants, Brazil, obesity & prognosis, WHO, global
COVID-19 -- BrazilSummary-------The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants highlighted the need to better understand adaptive immune responses to this virus. It is important to address whether also CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses are affected, because of the role they play in disease resolution and modulation of COVID-19 disease severity. Here we performed a comprehensive analysis of SARS-CoV-2-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses from COVID-19 convalescent subjects recognizing the ancestral strain, Read more [...]
PRO/PL> Flavescence doree, grapevine – Germany: (RP)
Other Plant Disease -- GermanyIn Germany, grapevine flavescence doree phytoplasma (EPPO A2 List) was first recorded in one grapevine plant (_Vitis vinifera_) in 2014 [ProMED-mail post http://promedmail.org/post/20141217.3038025] and declared eradicated in 2017 (EPPO RS 2014/202, 2017/135). The NPPO [National Plant Protection Organisation] of Germany informed EPPO that the pathogen was found again at the end of 2020 in one plant (_V. vinifera_) in a vineyard in Rheinland-Pfalz. The identity of the Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> African swine fever – Asia (05): China (YN) domestic, spread, pathogenicity
African Swine Fever -- ChinaOn 3 Mar 2021, an outbreak of African swine fever [ASF] has been confirmed in piglets being illegally transported through Funing county in China's southwestern province of Yunnan, the farm ministry said. The case comes amid growing concern that a severe wave of disease in recent months has hit China's hog herd, the world's largest. Six out of the 36 pigs had died, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said in a statement late on Tuesday [2 Mar 2021], while 6 more Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> COVID-19 update (86): transmission, variants, immune profiling, WHO, global
COVID-19 -- Worldwide/UnknownAbstract--------We constructed an age-to-age infection matrix to characterize the household transmission pattern of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Korea. Among 4048 household clusters, within-age group infection dominated the overall household transmissions. Transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 was more common from adults to children than from children to adults.--Communicated by:ProMED Rapporteur Kunihiko Iizuka[According to this study, Read more [...]
PRO/ALL> Announcement: Opt-In coming soon for ProMED
Not Yet Classified — Worldwide/Unknown
PRO/AH/EDR> Undiagnosed deaths, goat – Morocco (02): (SS) RFI, comment