Archive for Global Disease Alerts
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (46): vaccine, mAb, diabetes, age, WHO
COVID-19 -- RussiaSummary-------BackgroundA heterologous recombinant adenovirus (rAd)-based vaccine, Gam-COVID-Vac (Sputnik V), showed a good safety profile and induced strong humoral and cellular immune responses in participants in phase 1/2 clinical trials. Here, we report preliminary results on the efficacy and safety of Gam-COVID-Vac from the interim analysis of this phase 3 trial.MethodsWe did a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial at 25 hospitals and polyclinics in Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Brucellosis – USA: (AK) caribou
Brucellosis -- United StatesState biologists have found an unusual disease among caribou in Southwest Alaska. The disease is called brucellosis, and the Department of Fish and Game recently detected cases in the Mulchatna Caribou herd; they discovered the 1st potential case about a year ago.Biologists typically find the bacteria brucella, which cause brucellosis, in caribou herds to the north, not in in the southwestern part of the state. The disease is caused by the bacteria brucella; it can be Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Rabies (04): Africa (S Africa, Egypt) human, dog; Asia (Israel) jackal
Rabies -- South AfricaAs reported by the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) in January [2021], a 10 year old boy was bitten by a dog in Umbumbulu in November 2020. No medical consultation was sought until the child experienced nausea, vomiting, confusion, and restlessness, and died on 7 Jan 2021. Rabies virus antigen was detected in a postmortem brain specimen, collected on 12 Jan 2021."In 2020, a total of 7 cases of human rabies were laboratory-confirmed in South Africa, 6 of which Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (23): India, Nepal, Germany, poultry, wild bird, HPAI H5N1, H5N8, OIE
Avian Influenza H5N8 -- IndiaInformation received on 1 Feb 2021 from Dr Atul Chaturvedi, secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, New Delhi, IndiaSummaryReport type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 14 Jan 2021Date of confirmation of the event: 25 Jan 2021Reason for notification: recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous recurrence: 30 Sep 2020Manifestation of disease: clinical diseaseCausal agent: highly Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (45): fake test result & vaccine, meat plant variant, WHO
COVID-19 -- United KingdomAs long as travel restrictions remain in place due to the pandemic, it is very likely that criminals will seize the opportunity of producing and selling fake COVID-19 test certificates, warns a Europol Early Warning Notification published today [1 Feb 2021].Several cases have already emerged of fraudulent COVID-19 test certificates being sold to travellers:- a forgery ring selling negative test results to passengers was dismantled at the Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, Read more [...]
PRO/PL> Undiagnosed root rot, onion – India: (TN)
Undiagnosed -- IndiaWith onion crops on hundreds of acres damaged by rain and affected by root rotten disease in Perambalur district, farmers have started destroying the remaining standing crop. Those who took up cultivation during October-November [2020] suffered heavy loss due to incessant rain. "Most of the crops were affected by root rotten disease," said a farmer. Though they administered the prescribed pesticides and fertilizers, nothing could safeguard the crop, said another farmer.Horticulture Read more [...]
PRO> Invasive mosquito, A. stephensi – Africa: malaria
Pests -- Worldwide/UnknownAbstract_Anopheles stephensi_ mosquitoes, efficient vectors in parts of Asia and Africa, were found in 75.3% of water sources surveyed and contributed to 80.9% of wild-caught anopheles mosquitoes in Awash Sebat Kilo, Ethiopia. High susceptibility of these mosquitoes to _Plasmodium falciparum_ and _P. vivax_ infection presents a challenge for malaria control in the Horn of Africa.Conclusions_An. stephensi_ mosquitoes have spread from Asia throughout the Horn of Africa, detected Read more [...]
PRO/AH> Foot & mouth disease – Uganda: (KH) cattle, st pending, RFI
Foot and Mouth -- UgandaThe authorities in Kiruhuura District have banned all animal movements in the district, one of the latest measures to contain spread of foot and mouth disease (FMD). The disease has persisted since November [2020] and has so far spread to the sub-counties of Kikatsi, Kenshunga, Kashongi, Kinoni and Kiruhura Town Council. Each of these sub-counties has at least one farm affected by FMD. Others, including Kikatsi Sub-county, have as many as 8 farms affected by the disease."Kiruhura Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (44): immunocompromise & mutations, Israel vaccine, WHO
COVID-19 -- United StatesAmong the 100 million people around the world who have battled coronavirus infections, scientists are turning to the case of a 45 year old COVID-19 patient in Boston to understand how the virus is able to outwit humans. During his 154 day illness -- one of the longest on record -- the patient's body became a crucible of riotous viral mutation. He offered the world one of the first sightings of a key mutation in the virus's spike protein that set off alarm bells when it was Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (22): Senegal, wild bird, HPAI H5N1
Avian Influenza H5N1 -- SenegalSome 750 pelicans found dead in a UNESCO World Heritage site in northern Senegal last week [18 - 24 Jan 2021] have tested positive for H5N1 bird flu, the head of the parks authority told Reuters on [Fri 29 Jan 2021]. Rangers found the pelicans on [23 Jan 2021] in the Djoudj bird sanctuary, a remote pocket of wetland near the border with Mauritania and a resting place for birds that cross the Sahara Desert into West Africa each year. The birds were incinerated and the Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (43): animal, China, origin, WHO mission, Huanan market
COVID-19 -- ChinaAccording to Agence France-Presse [AFP], experts from the World Health Organization [WHO] investigation team visited the South China Seafood Market in Wuhan on Sunday [31 Jan 2021]. More than a year ago, the first reported new corona [COVID-19] pneumonia epidemic was related to this market.Since January last year [2020], the South China Seafood Market has been under lockdown. According to an AFP reporter at the scene, after WHO experts entered the market, security personnel immediately Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (41): vaccine, EU, Iran, US navy ship, long haulers, WHO, global
COVID-19 -- Worldwide/UnknownThe European Commission said on Friday [29 Jan 2021] that it had agreed on a plan to control exports of vaccines from the European Union, including to Britain, arguing it needed to do so to ensure its own supplies.EU trade commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis told a news conference the export monitoring and controls were "time limited," initially lasting until the end of March 2021, and applied to COVID-19 vaccines the EU had bought in advance.The bloc could block the export Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Ebola update (04): long term sequelae, antibody resurgence
Ebola -- Worldwide/UnknownAlthough Ebola is from a different virus family, survivors' long-term symptoms are similar to those of people with long Covid. Scientists are studying the similarities between long Covid and ongoing symptoms experienced by survivors of Ebola and chikungunya virus in the hope of devising new treatments to improve their health.Like patients with long Covid, survivors of these other, relatively new human viruses, often experience lingering symptoms which can make it difficult Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Rift Valley fever – Eastern Africa (02): Kenya (IS, GA) animals, OIE, human, RFI
Rift Valley Fever -- KenyaA roll-out has been launched to vaccinate thousands of cattle in Isiolo County following reported cases of Rift Valley fever (RVF) disease outbreak.The vaccination, which will be carried for the next 21 days in Meri and Garbatula sub-counties of Isiolo, will target animals in hot spot areas where cases have been reported recently. Seven people and over 100 heads of cattle succumbed to the disease recently in Erisaboru Biliki and Sericho areas of Isiolo County. Speaking during Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (41): animal, China, origin, WHO experts mission, visits start
COVID-19 -- China"Article 42: The state is to strengthen biosecurity management of pathogenic microbiology labs and draft uniform standards for laboratory biological security. Pathogenic microbiology laboratories shall meet the national standards and requirements on biological security."Engagement in experiments of pathogenic microbes shall strictly follow relevant national standards, laboratory technical regulations, and operational procedures, and shall employ safety and prevention measures."Article Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (40): vaccines, Thailand, Viet Nam, 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): 1 396 042 (9951) / 24 216 (187)European Region (61): 33 929 775 (193 515) / 735 449 (5320)South East Asia Region (10): 12 796 765 (35 424) / 196 976 (675)Eastern Mediterranean Region (22): 5 624 974 (24 510) / 133 088 (424)Region Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (21): Europe, wild bird, poultry, H5N8, H5N5, H5N4, H5N3, OIE
Avian Influenza H5N8, Avian Influenza -- ItalyInformation received on [and dated] 27 Jan 2021 from Dr. Davide Lecchini, Chief Veterinary Officer, Directorate General for Veterinary Health and Veterinary Medicinal Products (DGSAF), Ministry of Health, Rome, ItalySummaryReport type: Immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 21 Jan 2021Date of confirmation of the event: 25 Jan 2021Reason for notification: Recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: 15 Nov 2017Causal agent: Highly Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (39): Spain, Switzerland, animal, mink, cat, OIE
COVID-19 -- SpainInformation received on [and dated] 26 Jan 2021 from Dr. Valentin Almansa, Director General, Health of Agricultural Production, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Madrid, SpainSummaryReport type: Immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 8 Jan 2021Date of confirmation of the event: 22 Jan 2021Reason for notification: Emerging diseaseMorbidity: [0.20%]Mortality: 0%Zoonotic impact: The infected animals showed no clinical signs.Causal agent: SARS-CoV-2New Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (38): infectious duration, post vaccine infection, WHO, global
COVID-19 -- South KoreaThe duration of transmissibility of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the associated level of contagion have been uncertain. We cultured severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in serial respiratory samples obtained from hospitalized patients with COVID-19 to assess the duration of shedding of viable virus.The data reported here represent all the patients with COVID-19, as confirmed by positive real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Sea star wasting syndrome – North America: oxygen depletion
Other Animal Disease -- Worldwide/UnknownIn 2013, the lives of millions of sea stars were mysteriously extinguished. Limbs that were once strong, probing arms searching for sustenance, shrivelled and tore themselves away from the rest of their bodies and melted into a sickly goo."There were arms everywhere," ecologist Drew Harvell told The Atlantic's Ed Yong. "It looked like a blast zone."The dismal remains of these animals, who are usually capable of regenerating their own limbs, were strewn along Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Eastern equine encephalitis – North America (01): USA (FL) horse
Eastern Equine Encephalitis -- United StatesA 4-year-old quarter horse from a private facility in Volusia County has been confirmed with eastern equine encephalitis (EEE).The unvaccinated horse showed signs of inability to stand, incoordination, and weakness of hind limbs earlier this month [January 2021]and was euthanized.This is the 1st confirmed case of EEE in Florida for 2021.--Communicated by:ProMED[While eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) crops up every year, especially in unvaccinated animals, Read more [...]
PRO/ALL> Announcements: Opt-in coming soon for ProMED
Not Yet Classified — Worldwide/Unknown
PRO/EDR> Pertussis update: Canada (NT)
Whooping Cough -- CanadaThe NWT's [Northwest Territories'] chief public health officer has declared an outbreak of pertussis, or whooping cough, in the Dehcho region after a total of 7 cases were confirmed in 2 communities. The cases were confirmed in Jean Marie River and Fort Simpson, according to an advisory issued Wednesday [13 Jan 2021] morning. Last week, officials advised of 4 people that had been diagnosed in Fort Simpson [].Pertussis is a vaccine-preventable disease that affects the lungs Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (37): neutralizing antibodies, variant updates, WHO, global
COVID-19 -- United KingdomAbstract--------ImportanceCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) continues to spread rapidly worldwide. Neutralizing antibodies are a potential treatment for COVID-19.ObjectiveTo determine the effect of bamlanivimab monotherapy and combination therapy with bamlanivimab and etesevimab on severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) viral load in mild to moderate COVID-19.Design, setting, and participantsThe BLAZE-1 study is a randomized phase 2/3 trial at 49 Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (20): Europe, poultry, captive bird, H5N8, H5N5, OIE
Avian Influenza H5N8, Avian Influenza -- ItalyInformation received on [and dated] 25 Jan 2021 from Dr Davide Lecchini, Chief Veterinary Officer, Directorate General for Veterinary Health and Veterinary Medicinal Products (DGSAF), Ministry of Health, ROME, ItalySummaryReport type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 22 Jan 2021Date of confirmation of the event: 23 Jan 2021Reason for notification: recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: 23 Mar 2018Causal agent: Highly Read more [...]
PRO/PL> Undiagnosed diseases, vegetable crops – Uganda: (LM)
Undiagnosed -- UgandaAn estimated 900 vegetable farmers in Lamwo district [Northern region] have lost several acres of vegetable crops to a strange disease. The vegetables most affected are cabbages, eggplants, and tomatoes. The disease, which was first detected in April 2020, attacks the roots or fruits of the crops, causing wilting of the whole plant when still young. According to [a farmer], they alerted their district agricultural officer about the strange disease in April last year [2020], but Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Syphilis – Japan: more cases
Syphilis -- JapanFor the 4th year in a row, Japan's National Institute of Infectious Diseases in Tokyo (NIID) has reported more than 5000 syphilis cases in the country. In 2020, 5784 syphilis cases were reported in Japan, with 1550 reported in Tokyo (26.8%) and 889 (15.4%) in Osaka.Syphilis was a major issue in Japan until shortly after the end of World War II, but the total reported cases declined to several hundred annually until 2011, when a rebound began. In 2014, more than 1600 cases were reported, Read more [...]
PRO/PL> Fig mosaic virus – Russia: 1st rep (Crimea)
Other Plant Disease -- Russia_Fig mosaic virus_ (FMV) (genus _Emaravirus_, family Fimoviridae) is considered the etiological agent of fig mosaic disease (FMD) recorded in most of the fig-growing areas with an average global infection rate of 33%. FMD-like symptoms, which include mosaic, chlorotic ringspots, and oak leaf patterns, were observed in approximately 1/3 of 400 fig accessions in Yalta Botanical Gardens [southern Crimean Peninsula].Symptomatic leaves of 59 32-year-old trees representing Read more [...]
PRO/AH> Foot & mouth disease – Israel (02): (HZ) deer, gt O/ME-SA/PanAsia-2, spread
Foot and Mouth -- IsraelInformation received on [and dated] 25 Jan 2021 from Dr. Tamir Goshen, Acting Director, Veterinary Services and Animal Health, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Beit Dagan, IsraelSummaryReport type: Follow-up report no. 3Date of start of the event: 1 Jan 2021Date of confirmation of the event: 4 Jan 2021Report date: 25 Jan 2021Date submitted to OIE: 25 Jan 2021Reason for notification: Recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: 9 Sep Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Monkeypox – Africa (01): Congo DR 2020
Monkeypox -- DR CongoThe number of monkeypox cases, confirmed and suspected, reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), was nearly a 1000-case increase compared to 2019.In 2019, DRC reported 5288 suspected monkeypox cases, a high number, indeed; however, this number was eclipsed in 2020, during which a total of 6257 suspected and confirmed cases were reported. In addition, the number of deaths from 2019 to 2020 more than doubled: 107 and 229 deaths, respectively.Monkeypox is a rare disease Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Yellow fever vaccines: fractional dose effective
Yellow Fever -- UgandaSummary-------BackgroundStocks of yellow fever vaccine are insufficient to cover exceptional demands for outbreak response. Fractional dosing has shown efficacy, but evidence is limited to the 17DD substrain vaccine. We assessed the immunogenicity and safety of 1/5 fractional dose compared with standard dose of 4 WHO-prequalified yellow fever vaccines produced from 3 substrains.MethodsWe did this randomised, double-blind, non-inferiority trial at research centres in Mbarara, Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Ross River virus – Australia: (NS)
Ross River Virus -- AustraliaRoss River fever cases have increased by 260 per cent in the southern Riverina in New South Wales, prompting the Murrumbidgee Local Health District (MLHD) to issue a health alert.From 1-20 Jan [2021], 18 new cases of the mosquito-borne disease had been identified across the district, a significant increase from the fewer than 5 notified cases for the same period last year [2020].MLHD infectious diseases manager April Roberts-Witteveen said the virus was regularly seen Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (35): South Korea (KN) animal, cat
COVID-19 -- South Korea1. Opriessnig T, Huang YW. Third update on possible animal sources for human COVID-19. Xenotransplantation. 2021 Jan 21: e12671. doi: 10.1111/xen.12671. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 33476071; - Mod.ASHealthMap/ProMED map of South Korea: ][See Also:COVID-19 update (22): Russia (LN) St. Petersburg, animal, cat http://promedmail.org/post/20210117.81119372020----COVID-19 update (552): USA, animal, cat, dog, snow leopard, OIE http://promedmail.org/post/20201223.8042405COVID-19 update Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (19): India, China, wild bird, HPAI H5N8, OIE
Avian Influenza H5N8 -- IndiaInformation received on 25 Jan 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 Rep. of)SummaryReport type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 13 Jan 2021Date of confirmation of the event: 19 Jan 2021Reason for notification: new strain of a listed diseaseManifestation of disease: clinical diseaseCausal agent: Highly pathogenic avian Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (34): vaccine, N-terminal domain, USA ex Brazil, WHO, global
COVID-19 -- United StatesAbstract--------"Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the causative infection of a global pandemic that has led to more than 2 million deaths worldwide. The Moderna mRNA-1273 vaccine has demonstrated approximately 94% efficacy in a phase 3 study and has been approved under Emergency Use Authorization. The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants with mutations in the spike protein, most recently circulating isolates from the United Kingdom (B.1.1.7) and Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Influenza (03): WHO global update, Europe (Ukraine)
Influenza -- HaitiInformation in this report is categorized by influenza transmission zones, which are geographical groups of countries, areas, or territories with similar influenza transmission patternsSummary-------- The current influenza surveillance data should be interpreted with caution as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has influenced to varying extents health seeking behaviours, staffing/routines in sentinel sites, as well as testing priorities and capacities in Member States. The various hygiene Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (33): Sweden, zoo, tiger, lion
COVID-19 — Sweden
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (32): vacc. impact, twins, variant, Japan travel, WHO, global
COVID-19 -- JapanVaccinated members sample, age group 60+ reviewGiven the great interest for data on the impact of Corona virus vaccine, Maccabi Health Services Research Center -- KSM, in collaboration with KI Institute, analyzed the data of COVID-19 infection and COVID-19-related hospitalizations among the 1st approximately 50 000 vaccine recipients (vaccinated between [19-24 Dec 2020]), ages 60+ [older than 60 years old].Our current work represents raw data without implementing statistical methods Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (18): Europe, wild bird, H5N8, OIE
Avian Influenza H5N8 -- FinlandInformation received on 22 Jan 2021 from Dr Taina Aaltonen, Chief Veterinary Officer and Deputy Director General, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Helsinki, FinlandSummaryReport type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 15 Jan 2021Date of confirmation of the event: 21 Jan 2021Report date: 21 Jan 2021Date submitted to OIE: 22 Jan 2021Reason for notification: recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (17): Kuwait (JA) HPAI, poultry, H5N8, OIE
Avian Influenza H5N8 -- KuwaitInformation received on [and dated] 21 Jan 2021 from Dr Ali Al-Qattan, Deputy of Director General of Animal Wealth, Animal Wealth, Public Authority of Agriculture Affairs and Fish Resources, Safat, KuwaitSummaryReport type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 4 Nov 2020Date of confirmation of the event: 8 Nov 2020Reason for notification: recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: 28 Dec 2016Manifestation of disease: Clinical diseaseCausal Read more [...]
