Archive for Global Disease Alerts
PRO/AH/EDR> Ebola update (21): Congo DR (NK) Guinea, WHO
Ebola -- DR CongoMinisters of Health from Guinea -- which is combating a new Ebola outbreak -- and neighbouring countries have agreed on a unified front to combat the virus that re-emerged about 3 weeks ago.The meeting was opened by His Excellency, the Prime Minister of Guinea, Dr Ibrahima Kassory Fofana in Guinea's capital, Conakry on [2 Mar 2021]. Ministers and government representatives from Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Senegal, and Sierra Leone attended the inter-ministerial Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Dirofilaria repens: Ukraine
Other Human Disease -- UkraineOfficials in the southeastern Ukraine city of Melitopol are reporting the 1st human case of dirofilariasis this past January [2021]. The individual was confirmed as having dirofilariasis of the eyelid.There have been 200 cases reported in Ukraine in the past 2 decades.Experts say that in recent years, there has been an increase in the incidence of dirofilariasis in those countries where it is considered rare. You can protect yourself only by preventing mosquito bites.The Read more [...]
PRO/PL> Undiagnosed leaf blight, tomato – India: (OR)
Undiagnosed -- IndiaLeaf blight affecting tomatoes when nearing harvest has farmers worrying about their crops in Jajpur district. It might lead to heavy loss if the disease is not checked from spreading further. Observers claimed that leaf blight disease happens due to fungal infection and advised to use pesticide with constraint. They also advised to conduct awareness programme to sensitise the farmers about the disease.However, the [local] agriculture department has failed to be of any help. The Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Theileria – New Zealand: spread by sheep
Tick-borne disease -- New ZealandNew Zealand researchers have proven sheep can carry and potentially spread the parasite behind the bovine anaemia epidemic. Sheep were asymptomatic carriers of the tick-borne parasite _Theileria orientalis_, which meant they were unaffected by the disease but could spread it to the ticks feeding on them._T. orientalis_ is a tickborne intracellular parasite of red blood cells causing severe and mild infections in various ruminants worldwide. To date [22 Feb 2021], Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Undiagnosed deaths, goat – Morocco: (SS) RFI
Undiagnosed -- MoroccoMore than 200 goats have died in the village "Torrit Ekarkaren" from Targua n'touchka in Chtouka Ait Baha province, over the past few days and the reasons are still unknown.According to the owner of the dead herd, the incident caused a financial, environmental, and sanitary disaster. The foul smells and stray dogs that gather at the place where these dead animals were disposed of, threaten the safety of the citizens.Hespress newspaper learned that the local authority had previously Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (85): USA challenges, Brazil reinfection, WHO
COVID-19 -- United StatesOver the weekend [27-28 Feb 2021] both the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) gave the green light to Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine, making it the 1st one-dose option available to Americans. The newly approved vaccine is expected to arrive in arms as soon as tomorrow. A total of 4 million doses will be administered across the United States by the end of the week, Reuters reported. Johnson & Johnson previously Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (39): Ukraine (KS) wild bird, HPAI H5, OIE
Avian Influenza -- UkraineInformation received on 2 Mar 2021 from Svitlana Shlapatska, focal point for animal disease notification, UkraineSummaryReport 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: 12 Jan 2017Manifestation of disease: clinical diseaseCausal agent: highly pathogenic avian influenza virusSerotype: H5Nature of diagnosis: laboratory Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Ebola update (21): Congo DR (NK), Guinea
Ebola -- DR CongoProvincial health officials in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) said yesterday [1 Mar 2021] that 3 more Ebola cases have been confirmed in North Kivu, raising the outbreak total to 11, according to a report from Reuters.North Kivu Health Minister Eugene Nzanzu Salita said the new cases involve people from Butembo health zone. If added to the World Health Organization (WHO) total, they would be the 1st cases reported since 22 Feb 2021. The DRC first reported this most recent Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (84): statin use, long haul flight transmission, WHO
COVID-19 -- Worldwide/UnknownPatients who used statins prior to COVID-19 hospitalization were almost 50% less likely to experience 30-day in-hospital mortality compared with those that didn't, according to a retrospective study published late last week in Nature Communications [see [B] below].Statins are drugs meant to reduce blood fat for conditions such as high cholesterol, and, as such, they have anti-inflammatory and anti-clotting properties.The researchers matched 648 patients who used statins Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Leptospirosis – Australia: (NT) cattle workers, alert
Leptospirosis -- AustraliaThe best wet season in a decade has also seen a spike in cases of the rare disease leptospirosis among cattle workers in the Top End.There have already been 9 cases confirmed in the Northern Territory [NT], which has prompted the issuing of a health warning.Leptospirosis can be a fatal disease, which passes to humans chiefly through animal urine and cases have risen after the return of a better La Nina-inspired wet season across the Territory. It can be successfully treated Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Bluetongue, cattle – Spain: susp. international trade issue, RFI
Bluetongue -- SpainSpanish authorities are about to begin slaughtering hundreds of calves that have spent months crisscrossing the Mediterranean, said a lawyer for the cattle shippers.The 864 cattle due for slaughter are onboard the Karim Allah, which is docked in the Spanish port of Cartagena. It is one of 2 vessels that left Spain in mid-December 2020 to deliver live cargoes of young bulls. The 2nd vessel, Elbeik, loaded almost 1800 cattle from Tarragona.The Elbeik, now carrying more than 1700 Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Koala retrovirus – Australia: update
Other Animal Disease -- AustraliaKoala bears are infected with a virus which is inserting itself into their DNA and causing cancer, a study has found. The marsupials are native to Australasia [and South America], only eat eucalyptus and have a range of health issues, including chlamydia and cancers such as leukaemia and lymphoma. They are also being dramatically impacted by wildfires and habitat loss. While it is known that chlamydia is widespread among koalas, the cause of their cancers has long Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (83): summary tidbits, intellectual property, holistic model, WHO
COVID-19 -- Worldwide/Unknown- The US Food and Drug Administration approved the Johnson & Johnson vaccine for emergency use on Saturday evening [27 Feb 2021], making it the 3rd vaccine to be given the green light in the country.- Thousands of Argentinians gathered in front of government buildings in Buenos Aires on Saturday [27 Feb 2021] evening to protest "vaccine privileges." The revelation that people close to the minister of health had been able to jump the queue sparked outrage and ended Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Ebola update (20): USA, Guinea, Sub-Saharan Africa
Ebola — Worldwide/Unknown
PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza, human (03): Russia, H5N8, update
Avian Influenza H5N8 -- RussiaOn 18 Feb 2021, the National IHR Focal Point for the Russian Federation notified WHO of detection of avian influenza A(H5N8) in 7 human clinical specimens. These are the 1st reported detections of avian influenza A(H5N8) in humans.Positive clinical specimens were collected from poultry farm workers who participated in a response operation to contain an avian influenza A(H5N8) outbreak detected in a poultry farm in Astrakhan Oblast in the Russian Federation. The laboratory Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Measles update (04): Canada, UK, Pakistan
Measles -- CanadaThere hasn't been a measles outbreak in Canada recently, and the country has gone more than a year without a single case of the disease.Dr. Theresa Tam shared the news about this milestone on Twitter. She said that "Measles has also been self-isolating" since the COVID-19 pandemic started.Even though there has been enhanced surveillance going on regularly in Canada, it has been a full year without any reported cases of the disease. Dr. Tam said that this is "good news."Canada puts Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (82): mapping escape mutants, variants, vaccines, 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): 1 613 598 (6565) / 28 892 (152)European Region (61): 38 529 578 (163 763) / 849 461 (3357)South East Asia Region (10): 13 492 895 (26 038) / 207 696 (401)Eastern Mediterranean Region (22): 6 360 314 (30 978) / 144 138 (341)Region of the Americas (54): 50 246 580 (187 378) Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Lead poisoning – North America: USA, Canada, bald eagle
Poisoning -- United StatesThe Montana Raptor Conservation Center reported on their Facebook page they rescued a bald eagle on Tuesday [23 Feb 2021] suffering from lead poisoning. According to the post, the amount of lead found in the eagle was too high to register on their system.The center said they have rescued 11 eagles so far this year [2021] and 9 were tested for lead poisoning. All 9 tested positive.The center also stated that switching to non-lead hunting and fishing products could prevent Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> African swine fever – Asia (04): Malaysia (SA) domestic, wild boar, 1st rep, OIE
African Swine Fever -- MalaysiaInformation received on 26 Feb 2021 from Dr. Sarah Dadang Abdullah, Focal Point for Animal Disease Notification Malaysia, MalaysiaSummaryReport type: Immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 8 Feb 2021Date of confirmation of the event: 19 Feb 2021Reason for notification: 1st occurrence of a listed disease in the countryCausal agent: African swine fever virus, genotype 2Nature of diagnosis: Clinical, laboratory (advanced), necropsyThis event pertains to a defined Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (81): transmission, reinfection, vaccine and case severity, WHO
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): 1 607 050 (5754) / 28 740 (164)European Region (61): 38 361 386 (172 843) / 856 034 (3130)South East Asia Region (10): 13 466 857 (26 312) / 207 295 (475)Eastern Mediterranean Region (22): 6 329 304 (31 486) / 143 797 (415)Region Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Equine herpesvirus – North America (05): Canada (QB) horse, RFI
Equine Herpes Virus -- CanadaCanadian Animal Health Surveillance System officials have confirmed a horse from Outaouais Region, Quebec, as positive for neurologic equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) [also known as equine herpesvirus myeloencephalitis or EHM]. The horse presented with clinical signs including fever, ataxia (loss of muscle control), mild cough, problems urinating and defecating, and recumbency (down and unable to rise). The horse, whose vaccination status was unknown, was euthanized. 6 horses Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Yellow fever – Americas (03): Trinidad & Tobago, monkey die offs
Yellow Fever -- Trinidad & TobagoMembers of the public are advised that there has been a recent increase in the number of deaths among the monkey population in South, Trinidad.Laboratory testing by the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) has confirmed the presence of the yellow fever virus in samples obtained from the bodies of the dead mammals.This was discovered amidst routine public health surveillance activities, which are usually conducted by the Veterinary Public Health Division and Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Anthrax – Burkina Faso: (SO) livestock, human exp
Anthrax -- Burkina FasoPer unofficial/media reports*, 2 people have died of anthrax and another was hospitalized in southwestern Burkina Faso, the Burkinabe government announced Thursday [25 Feb 2021]. "An outbreak of bacterial anthrax has been reported in the province of Bougouriba, precisely in Dano, in the commune of Gueguere", indicated the minister in charge of animal resources, Modeste Yerbanga, specifying that the deaths followed the recent death of 4 oxen, one of which has been eaten by locals. Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Salmonellosis, st Enteritidis – UK, EU: Polish breaded frozen chicken products
Salmonella -- United KingdomNearly 200 people in 8 European countries and the United Kingdom are involved in a _Salmonella_ outbreak ongoing since May 2018. _Salmonella [enterica_ serotype] Enteritidis infections have been linked to frozen breaded chicken products from Poland with the most recent illness in the UK in December 2020.Denmark has 2 infections, Finland has 4, France has 33, Germany has 6, Ireland has 12, the Netherlands has 3, Poland has 5, Sweden has 6, and the United Kingdom has 122. Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (38): Sweden, Afghanistan, poultry, HPAI H5N8, OIE
Avian Influenza H5N8 -- SwedenInformation received on [and dated] 25 Feb 2021 from Dr Hakan Henrikson, chief veterinary officer, Swedish Board of Agriculture, Ministry of Enterprise and Innovation, Jonkoping, SwedenSummaryReport type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 23 Feb 2021Date of confirmation of the event: 24 Feb 2021Reason for notification: recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: 19 Nov 2020Manifestation of disease: clinical diseaseCausal agent: highly pathogenic Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> E. coli EHEC – Austria: O146, unknown source
E. coli -- AustriaAustrian authorities are investigating an outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing _E. coli_ [also called enterohemorrhagic _E. coli_ (EHEC)] infections that has affected a handful of people. Between September and December 2020, 6 people fell ill with infections from _E. coli_ O146:H28. Those sick live in 5 federal states. Two people needed hospital treatment. As yet, there is no indication as to the source of the outbreak, according to the Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES). Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update (04): Africa (Congo DR, Mozambique)
Cholera, Dysentery, Diarrhea -- DR Congo1. Guerrant RL, Carneiro-Filho BA, Dillingham RA. Cholera, diarrhea, and oral rehydration therapy: triumph and indictment. Clin Infect Dis. 2003; 37(3): 398-405; .2. Gregorio GV, Gonzales ML, Dans LF, Martinez EG. Polymer-based oral rehydration solution for treating acute watery diarrhoea. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2009; (2): CD006519; .3. Gore SM, Fontaine O, Pierce NF. Impact of rice based oral rehydration solution on stool output and duration of diarrhea: Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Salmonellosis, st Typhimurium – USA: human, pet turtles
Salmonella -- United StatesCDC and public health officials in several states are investigating a multistate outbreak of _Salmonella [enterica_ serotype] Typhimurium infections linked to small turtles. Epidemiologic, laboratory, and traceback evidence show that contact with small turtles is making people sick.Epidemiologic data------------------As of 20 Feb 2021, a total of 22 people infected with the outbreak strain of _Salmonella_ Typhimurium have been reported from 7 states. Illnesses started on Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (79): fitness facilities, variants, vs influenza, WHO, global
COVID-19 -- United StatesSummary-------What is already known about this topic?COVID-19 outbreaks have been reported from fitness and sports facilities.What is added by this report?21 COVID-19 cases were linked to an index case in a fitness instructor, who, along with a patient who was also an instructor, taught classes less than 1 day, 1 to less than 2 days, and 2 days or more before symptom onset; aggregate attack rates were 95%, 13%, and 0%, respectively.What are the implications for public health Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Foot & mouth disease – Iran: dog, juvenile, 1st rep, 2016
Foot and Mouth -- IranWaters RA, Wadsworth J, Mioulet V, et al. Foot-and-mouth disease virus infection in the domestic dog (_Canis lupus familiaris_), Iran. BMC Vet Res. 2021 Feb 1; 17(1): 63. doi: 10.1186/s12917-021-02769-1. PMID: 33526020; PMCID: PMC7852191; From the article above, we herewith present 2 copied segments: "Case presentation" and "Discussion and conclusions.""Case presentation------------------Five puppies died after being fed lamb carcasses, the lambs having died during an outbreak Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Ebola update (19): Guinea (NZ), Congo DR (NK)
Ebola -- DR CongoThe 1st priority must be to make the response relevant to each context. Previous Humanitarian Policy Group (HPG) research on the 2014-2016 outbreak in West Africa and forthcoming research on the 2018-2020 outbreak in the DRC (commonly known as DRC's 10th outbreak) demonstrates that the main challenge at the outset is to place context at the centre of understanding problems and charting a strategy forward. We know from previous responses that this cannot be reduced to an anthropological Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Salmonellosis – UK: raw breaded frozen chicken products, recall
Salmonella -- United KingdomPeople are being reminded to take care when cooking raw breaded chicken products such as goujons and nuggets after 2 ongoing outbreaks of salmonellosis. Products are being recalled by Iceland [Foods Ltd.], Aldi, and Lidl.2 particular strains of salmonellosis are being investigated as they are linked to frozen, raw, breaded food products. Aside from raw, breaded uncooked chicken products, _Salmonella_ can be found in raw meat (processed and unprocessed), undercooked poultry, Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Plague – Congo DR: (IT) fatal
Plague -- DR CongoHealth officials and experts said on Friday [19 Feb 2021]. 31 people have died in an outbreak of plague that erupted in northeastern Congo DR 3 months ago, "We have more than 520 cases... of which more than 31 have been fatal," Patrick Karamura, health minister in Ituri province, where plague is endemic, told AFP. The cases are the bubonic form of the disease, except for 5 cases of pneumonic plague and 2 of septicaemic plague, he said.Anne Laudisoit, an epidemiologist with a New Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Salmonellosis, st Enteritidis – Canada: (NS,NL) eggs
Salmonella -- CanadaOn Thursday afternoon [18 Feb 2021], Health Canada declared an outbreak of salmonellosis in 2 Atlantic provinces. The federal agency says 57 cases of _Salmonella [enterica_ serotype] Enteritidis illness were confirmed, of which 25 are in Newfoundland and Labrador, and 32 in Nova Scotia.According to the release, these individuals became sick between late October 2020 and January 2021. 19 of them have been hospitalized, but no deaths have been reported to date. The agency says 68 Read more [...]
PRO/PL> Greening disease, orange – Nepal: (SL)
Other Plant Disease -- NepalOrange farmers [in Salyan district, province of] Karnali are deeply distressed because harvest was slashed by half due to a pest attack during the flowering period. The winter was slightly warmer, which attracted pests to the crops, experts said. A majority of orange growers are in trouble as production has been dropping annually.The bacterial scourge known as citrus greening has devastated orange orchards in Salyan. According to the Agriculture Development Office [ADO], Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Equine rhinopneumonitis – Spain: (VC) EHV-1, horse, susp, RFI
Equine Herpes Virus -- SpainThe CES Valencia Spring Tour in Spain was forced to cancel several of their classes yesterday [21 Feb 2021], after horses at the show had fallen sick from what is suspected to be a virus outbreak. The S Tour was in its 4th week of competition and originally scheduled to continue through with another 3 weeks.The International Jumping Riders Club today [22 Feb 2021] published the following information from the FEI regarding the situation:"The FEI Veterinary Department has Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (77): animal, Spain, pet ferret
COVID-19 -- SpainWe found SARS-CoV-2 RNA in 6 of 71 ferrets (8.4%) and isolated the virus from one rectal swab. Natural SARS-CoV-2 infection does occur in kept ferrets, at least under circumstances of high viral circulation in the human population. However, small ferret collections are probably unable to maintain prolonged virus circulation.--Communicated by:Mary Marshall[This report was just brought to our attention today, 24 Feb 2021. - Mod.MPP]The full preprint can be accessed at Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Buruli ulcer – Australia: (VI) increasing incidence
Mycobacteria, non-TB -- AustraliaCases of Buruli ulcer -- known colloquially as the 'flesh-eating bug' -- have begun appearing in the suburbs of Geelong [Victoria] as the painful disease continues to spread.The number of cases is on the rise and cases are being reported in areas where it has never previously been seen, including Aireys Inlet, Belmont, Frankston, and Rye.Local councils are increasing mosquito spraying programs while on the Mornington Peninsula, researchers are laying mosquito traps Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (80): vaccine, USA variants, comments, WHO, global