Archive for Global Disease Alerts
PRO/AH/EDR> Ross River virus – Australia (02): (VI)
Ross River Virus -- AustraliaHealth authorities are warning Gippsland residents to protect themselves against mosquitoes following the detection of Ross River virus in 10 people in Wellington Shire so far this year [2021].While the latest warning from the Victorian Health Department is for people travelling to the Bellarine Peninsula and surf coast regions, where there has been a big jump in cases in recent months, local infections show the virus is still present in mosquitoes in Gippsland.Well known Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (31): Algeria (OB) poultry, HPAI H5N8, OIE
Avian Influenza H5N8 -- AlgeriaInformation received on [and dated] 8 Feb 2021 from Dr Ahmed Chawki El Karim Boughalem, Directeur des Services Veterinaires, Direction des Services Veterinaires, Ministere de l'Agriculture, du Developpement Rural et de la Peche, Alger, AlgeriaSummaryReport type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 17 Jan 2021Date of confirmation of the event: 26 Jan 2021Reason for notification: new strain of a listed disease in the countryCausal agent: highly pathogenic Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (58): animal, China, origin, WHO mission
COVID-19 -- ChinaRepresentatives from China and an international joint mission team led by the World Health Organization (WHO) today [Tue 9 Feb 2021] in Wuhan detailed the results of a 2-week probe into the zoonotic source of the outbreaks, which didn't reveal a definitive source but did shed new light on the events.At the nearly 3-hour briefing, officials laid out 4 main theories, some of them less likely possibilities. The 10-person joint mission team has been in China since 14 Jan [2021] and followed Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (30): China (JS) wild bird, HPAI H5N8, OIE
Avian Influenza H5N8 -- ChinaInformation received on [and dated] 8 Feb 2021 from Dr. Huang Baoxu, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group, Animal Health and Epidemiology Centre, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Qingdao, China (People's Republic of)SummaryReport type: Immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 29 Jan 2021Date of confirmation of the event: 4 Feb 2021Reason for notification: New strain of a listed diseaseManifestation of disease: Clinical diseaseCausal agent: Highly Read more [...]
PRO/ALL> New in IJID (02): February 2021
COVID-19, Antimicrobial resistance, Hospital-Related Infection, Rickettsia, Salmonella, Legionnaires', Acinetobacter baumannii, Staph, Sepsis, Tuberculosis, Influenza, Lassa Fever, Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever, Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Avian Influenza, HIV/AIDS, Leishmaniasis, Malaria, Tetanus, Gastroenteritis, Sexually Transmitted Infection, West Nile Virus, Hepatitis A, Strep -- Worldwide/UnknownEditorial---------COVID-19: A PCR-defined pandemicThirumalaisamy P. Velavan, Christian G. Meyer. Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Undiagnosed hemorrhagic disease – Tanzania: (MB) RFI
Undiagnosed -- TanzaniaA mystery illness that causes people to vomit blood has killed 15 people in Tanzania and hospitalized more than 50 others.The New York Post reported that the illness killed its mostly male patients within hours of them developing symptoms []. The illness is being reported in the southern Mbeya region of the country, according to the U.K. Sun.Expert medical teams have been deployed to the area to try to uncover the cause of the outbreak. Tanzania borders the Democratic Republic Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> African swine fever – Asia (03): China (Hong Kong) domestic, OIE
African Swine Fever -- ChinaInformation received on 6 Feb 2021 from Dr. Thomas Sit, chief veterinary officer/assistant director (Inspection & Quarantine), Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, Hong Kong, Hong Kong (SAR - PRC)SummaryReport type: Immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 2 Feb 2021Date of confirmation of the event: 3 Feb 2021Report date: 5 Feb 2021Date submitted to OIE: 6 Feb 2021Reason for notification: Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Peste des petits ruminants – Thailand: (PB) goat, 1st rep, OIE
Peste des petits ruminants -- Worldwide/UnknownInformation received on [and dated] 8 Feb 2021 from Dr Sorravis Thaneto, Director General, Livestock Development, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Bangkok, ThailandSummaryReport type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 28 Jan 2021Date of confirmation of the event: 3 Feb 2021Reason for notification: 1st occurrence of a listed disease in the countryCausal agent: Peste des petits ruminants virusNature of diagnosis: Laboratory (advanced)This Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> COVID-19 update (55): vaccines, variants, WHO, global
COVID-19 -- South AfricaSouth Africa recently received 1 million doses of AstraZeneca-Oxford COVID-19 vaccine and was poised to start vaccinating healthcare workers, but yesterday [7 Feb 2021], health officials announced a pause for the rollout to investigate early findings that it offered little protection against mild-to-moderate disease caused by variant 501Y.V2, lineage B.1.351 that's dominant in the country.New questions about the vaccine come as World Health Organization (WHO) advisers this Read more [...]
PRO/PL> Undiagnosed disease, mustard – India: (PB)
Undiagnosed -- IndiaA mystery disease has damaged the standing mustard crop in [parts of] Sangrur District. Fearing damage in other areas in coming days, the Agriculture Department has started efforts to contain the disease spread. "I have taken 13 acres on lease and sown mustard on it. But for the last 10 days, plants have been shriveling and not bearing any fruit. It's ripening time," said a farmer. The shriveling of mustard has given tension to other farmers, who have demanded quick action to Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Rabies (05): Americas (Peru)
Rabies -- PeruThe Departmental Veterinary Medical College of Lima warned that there is a risk that canine rabies could be reintroduced in the capital.This situation could be due to the weakness of the epidemiological surveillance system in the capital, a vital tool to identify the increase in cases. Last year [2020], in Lima only, 11 samples were received and processed for the diagnosis of rabies, when in the capital, there are about 2 million dogs."There should be approximately 4000 annual samples Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Yellow fever – Americas (02): Brazil (PR) monkeys
Yellow Fever -- BrazilIn a follow-up on epizootic yellow fever situation in Parana state, Brazil, the State Department of Health reported 3 more deaths of infected monkeys (epizootics) that occurred in the municipality of Palmas, in the area of the 7th Regional Health, in Pato Branco, in the southwest part of the state.The epidemiological monitoring period for yellow fever in Parana began in July 2020 and continues until June this year [2021]. The State has so far registered 104 reports of animal Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Sarcina troglodytae, novel pathogen – Sierra Leone: (Tacugama) chimpanzee, fatal
Other Animal Disease -- Sierra Leone1. Owens LA, Colitti B, Hirji I, et al. A _Sarcina_ bacterium linked to lethal disease in sanctuary chimpanzees in Sierra Leone. Nat Commun. 2021 Feb 3; 12(1): 763. doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-21012-x. PMID: 33536429; 2. Ratuapli SK, Lam-Himlin DM, Heigh RI. _Sarcina ventriculi_ of the stomach: a case report. World J Gastroenterol. 2013; 19(14): 2282-5. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v19.i14.2282. PMID: 23599657; PMCID: PMC3627895; .The research mentioned above included a case-control Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (54): post-COVID syndrome, reinfection, variants, WHO, global
COVID-19 -- United StatesAlmost 80% of people who have been exposed to the coronavirus need further examinations and tests, told the Bulgarian National Radio Director of the Bulgarian Cardiac Institute and Director of the Department of Cardiology at the Heart and Brain Hospital in Pleven Assoc Prof Yana Alexieva.She explained that 1600 patients have so far taken part in the free screening and treatment campaign, Life After COVID-19, for helping post-COVID patients. In her words, a Swiss national Read more [...]
PRO/AH> African swine fever – Africa (02): Tanzania (SY) domestic, OIE
African Swine Fever -- TanzaniaInformation received on [and dated] 3 Feb 2021 from Dr Hezron Emmanuel Nonga, director of veterinary services, Veterinary Services, Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, Dodoma, TanzaniaSummaryReport type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 4 Jan 2021Date of confirmation of the event: 2 Feb 2021Reason for notification: 1st occurrence of a listed diseaseManifestation of disease: clinical diseaseCausal agent: African swine fever [ASF] virus genotype XNature Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Ebola update (05): DR Congo, (NK) fatal
Ebola -- DR CongoThe Ministry of Health announced this Sun 7 Feb 2021 a resurgence of the Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In a statement sent to 7SUR7.CD, the communication unit indicated that the minister of health had received a medical report of a new case of Ebola virus disease in Biena, in the territory of Butembo in North Kivu.According to the same source, the case is a farmer, wife of an Ebola virus disease survivor. On 1 Feb 2021, she presented with typical features and went Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Foodborne illness – India: (TG)
Foodborne Illness -- IndiaAt least 40 persons took ill after having dinner at a function in Peddapur of Metpally mandal late on Friday night, 5 Feb 2021. A resident threw a small party to celebrate construction of his house. The guests were served mutton curry and makka gudalu (deep fried maize/corn kernels seasoned with garlic, coriander seeds, and spices). At least 40 of the 60 villagers who participated in the function developed symptoms of food poisoning, like diarrhea and vomiting later in the Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Infant botulism – USA: (ND)
Botulism -- United StatesThe North Dakota Department of Health (NDDoH) [has] received a report of an infant diagnosed with botulism. The infant is recovering at home after hospitalization and botulism antitoxin treatment.Infant botulism is a disease that affects children younger than one year. Constipation is usually the 1st sign of illness, and other signs and symptoms may include poor feeding, decreased movement, diminished facial expression, weak and altered cry, loss of head control, and progressive Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (53): animal, mink, Denmark, zoonotic aspects
COVID-19 -- DenmarkIn June-November 2020, SARS-CoV-2-infected mink were detected in 290 of 1147 Danish mink farms. In North Denmark Region, 30% (324/1092) of people found connected to mink farms tested SARS-CoV-2-PCR-positive, and approximately 27% (95% confidence interval (CI): 25-30) of SARS-CoV-2-strains from humans in the community were mink-associated. Measures proved insufficient to mitigate spread. On 4 Nov 2020, the government ordered culling of all Danish mink. Farmed mink constitute a potential Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Yellow fever – Americas (01): Brazil (SC) monkey
Yellow Fever -- BrazilIn the municipalities of Palmeira, Anita Garibaldi and Bocaina do Sul, in Serra de Santa Catarina [SC], monkey deaths have been confirmed by the Central Laboratory (LACEN) as yellow fever. The last confirmation came this Tuesday [2 Feb 2021], in Palmeira.According to the Municipal Health Secretariat, the monkey was found dead in the Sao Sebastiao do Canoas locality on 19 Jan 2021, but the results of the tests were only released now. The test showed that the animal was infected Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (52): immunity, recomb, passport, reinfect, 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): 1 473 409 (8161) / 25 719 (193)European Region (61): 35 346 896 (146 569) / 759 122 (6059)South East Asia Region (10): 13 001 816 (25 566) / 199 982 (314)Eastern Mediterranean Region (22): 5 806 978 (23 968) / 136 611 (416)Region of the Americas (54): 46 675 418 (241 002) / 1 085 189 Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (29): Europe, wild bird, poultry HPAI H5N8, H5N4, LPAI H7N7, OIE
Avian Influenza H5N8 -- Worldwide/UnknownInformation received on [and dated] 5 Feb 2021 Mr Dr Ulrich Herzog, chief veterinary officer, Verbrauchergesundheit, Bmasgk, Vienne, AustriaSummaryReport type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 4 Feb 2021Date of confirmation of the event: 4 Feb 2021Reason for notification: recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: 28 Apr 2017Manifestation of disease: clinical diseaseCausal agent: highly pathogenic avian influenza virusSerotype: Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Foodborne illness – India: (AS) RFI
Foodborne Illness -- IndiaA magisterial inquiry has been ordered after over 170 persons were hospitalized with suspected food poisoning after they consumed food at a government function in Karbi Anglong attended by a chief minister and health minister. A 35 year old man who reportedly attended the program in Diphu on Tuesday [2 Feb 2021] died at his residence."Frankly, it looks like a case of food poisoning," Ng Chandra Dhwaj Singha, deputy commissioner, Karbi Anglong, told EastMojo. "We have sent Read more [...]
PRO/AH> Equine infectious anemia – North America (01): USA (TX) horse
Equine Infectious Anemia -- United StatesTexas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) officials confirmed equine infectious anemia (EIA) in one quarter horse on a Dallas County premises on 26 Jan 2021. This is the 1st confirmed case of EIA in Texas this year [2021]. The horse was confirmed positive after testing was performed to meet regulatory requirements. The premises has been quarantined and will not be released until TAHC's requirements are met. TAHC staff are working closely with the owner and local Read more [...]
PRO/AH> African swine fever – Asia (02): Philippines (LE,AL) spread
African Swine Fever -- PhilippinesAt least 12 villages in Dulag, Leyte have been placed under strict surveillance due to new cases of African swine fever (ASF), the Department of Agriculture (DA) announced on Sunday [31 Jan 2021]. These villages are within the 7 to 10 km (4.3 to 6.2 mi) radius of a confirmed ASF case in Combis village as validated by the result of a laboratory test released on 29 Jan 2021."Village officials were given a thorough orientation briefing by the regional task force and Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (51): variant mortality, frailty, USA variants, 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): 1 465 248 (9309) / 25 526 (200)European Region (61): 35 196 220 (167 526) / 772 666 (4932)South East Asia Region (10): 12 982 540 (26 101) / 199 668 (377)Eastern Mediterranean Region (22): 5 783 010 (23 796) / 136 195 (384)Region of the Americas Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (28): Nigeria (KN) poultry, H5N1, OIE
Avian Influenza H5N1 -- NigeriaInformation received on 1 Feb 2021 from Dr Olaniran Alabi, director, chief veterinary officer, Veterinary and Pest Control Services, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Abuja, NigeriaSummaryReport type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 17 Dec 2020Date of confirmation of the event: 29 Jan 2021Report date: 31 Jan 2021Reason for notification: recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: 11 Feb 2020Causal agent: highly pathogenic Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (27): China (Hong Kong, Beijing) wild bird, HPAI H5N8, OIE
Avian Influenza H5N8 -- ChinaInformation received on [and dated] 3 Feb 2021 from Dr Thomas Sit, chief veterinary officer/assistant director (inspection & quarantine), Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, Hong Kong, (SAR-PRC)SummaryReport type: immediate notification (final report)Date of start of the event: 28 Jan 2021Date of confirmation of the event: 31 Jan 2021Date event resolved: 28 Jan 2021Reason for notification: recurrence Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (26): Mauritania, Senegal, wild bird, HPAI H5N1, OIE
Avian Influenza H5N1 -- MauritaniaInformation received on [and dated] 2 Feb 2021 from Dr Baba Doumbia, directeur, services veterinaires, Ministere du Developpement Rural, Nouakchott, MauritaniaSummaryReport type: immediate notification Date of start of the event: 27 Jan 2021Date of confirmation of the event: 2 Feb 2021Reason for notification: 1st occurrence of a listed disease in the countryCausal agent: highly pathogenic avian influenza A [AI] virusSerotype: H5N1Nature of diagnosis: suspicion, laboratory Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (50): UK vaccine study, Brazil reinfection, WHO
COVID-19 -- United KingdomVolunteers are being sought for a world-first trial to establish the efficacy of giving people a first dose of one vaccine and a second dose of a different vaccine. The trial, which is being run by Oxford University and is funded by the government's vaccine taskforce, has been described by ministers as "hugely important". It will recruit 820 people over the age of 50 who have not yet had a vaccine, to receive a first dose of either the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine or the Pfizer/BioNTech Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (25): Bulgaria (PV) poultry, HPAI, st pending
Avian Influenza -- BulgariaThe Bulgarian Food Safety Agency reported in a statement on Wednesday [3 Feb 2021] an outbreak of the highly pathogenic avian influenza.The virus was detected in a farm with 99 000 laying hens in the town of Slavyanovo, some 190 km [118 mi] north east of Sofia, after mortality there has increased, the statement said. All measures have been taken immediately to eradicate the outbreak, it said.The last outbreak of the disease in Bulgaria was registered in June 2020, the statement Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (49): Bosnia & Herzegovina (SA) animal, dog, OIE
COVID-19 -- Bosnia and HerzegovinaInformation received on [and dated] 3 Feb 2021 from Dr Ljubomir Kalaba, director, Veterinary Office, Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, Sarajevo, Bosnia and HerzegovinaSummaryReport type: immediate notification (final report)Date of start of the event: 29 Jan 2021Date of confirmation of the event: 2 Feb 2021Date event resolved: 2 Feb 2021Reason for notification: emerging diseaseMorbidity: 1 (scale 0 to 5)Mortality: 0 (scale 0 to 5)Zoonotic impact: Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (48): Olympics, ICU mortality, seasonality, WHO
COVID-19 -- Worldwide/UnknownThe COVID-19 pandemic continues to cause critical illness and deaths internationally. Up to 31 May 2020, mortality in patients admitted to intensive care units (ICU) with COVID-19 was 41.6%. Since then, changes in therapeutics and management may have improved outcomes. Also, data from countries affected later in the pandemic are now available. We searched MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed and Cochrane databases up to 30 Sep 2020 for studies reporting ICU mortality among adult patients Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (24): Germany (BB) poultry, HPAI H5N8, spread
Avian Influenza H5N8 -- GermanyAn outbreak of bird flu [avian influenza] on a farm in the eastern German state of Brandenburg has forced authorities to begin slaughtering about 14 000 turkeys, the state government said on Wednesday [3 Feb 2021], reporting the 3rd outbreak there in recent weeks. Type H5N8 bird flu was confirmed in a farm in the Uckermark area, the Brandenburg state government said.A series of outbreaks of bird flu have been reported in Germany and elsewhere in Europe in past months Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Chikungunya (01): Americas, Africa
Chikungunya — Brazil
PRO/PL> Undiagnosed disease, capsicum – Bhutan: (GE)
Undiagnosed -- BhutanFarmers in Sarpang [Geylegphug] are losing chilli plants to a new disease, which is turning the plants yellow. This is an addition to pests like mites, aphids, and whitefly they have observed for the past 2 years. GS Rai, Agriculture Research and Development Centre (ARDC), said the yellowing disease is new in the region. "We isolated the pathogen from the infected plant for laboratory observation. We would be able to confirm the disease within 14 days."The centre does not have Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> E. coli EHEC – USA (01): O157, fatal
E. coli -- United StatesCDC, public health and regulatory officials in several states, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the US Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) are collecting different types of data to identify the food source of a multistate outbreak of _E. coli_ O157:H7 infections.Epidemiologic data------------------As of 1 Feb 2021, a total of 16 people infected with the outbreak strain have been reported from 5 states.State / Number of sick Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (47): Poland (PM) animal, mink, OIE
COVID-19 -- PolandPoland has found its 1st case of COVID-19 in mink, the agriculture ministry said, raising fears of costly culls in an industry that counts over 350 farms in the country. With new variants of the coronavirus threatening global efforts to get the pandemic under control, authorities in several countries have begun mass culls of the animals due to fears of a mutated strain of the illness being transmitted to humans.Late on Sunday [31 Jan 2021] the ministry said it had been informed Read more [...]
PRO/PL> Acidovorax citrulli blotch, tomato – Greece: (MH)
Other Plant Disease -- Greece_Acidovorax citrulli_ (EPPO A1 List) is the causal agent of bacterial fruit blotch disease of cucurbits. In Greece, it was first detected causing fruit blotch in watermelon (_Citrullus lanatus_) in 2005, and further outbreaks were then detected in 2006 and 2008 (EPPO RS 2009/216).The detection of _A. citrulli_ in symptomatic tomato seedlings (_Solanum lycopersicum_) in 2 transplant houses [was reported] in June 2019 and April 2020. Tomato leaves presented necrotic black Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Measles update (03): Americas, 2020, PAHO
Measles -- Worldwide/UnknownSeveral factors have contributed to the outbreaks of measles and diphtheria in the region of the Americas, including lack of compliance of vaccination coverage. Moreover, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has decreased the demand for vaccination services, followed by the impact on the vaccination coverages and the postponement of vaccination campaigns.The following is a summary of the epidemiological situation of measles in 2020, as of epidemiological week (EW) 53.In Read more [...]
