Archive for Global Disease Alerts
PRO/EDR> COVID-19 update (541): COVI-VAC, prevalence, fungal infections, WHO, global
COVID-19 -- Worldwide/UnknownSummary-------BackgroundDecisions about the continued need for control measures to contain the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) rely on accurate and up-to-date information about the number of people testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 and risk factors for testing positive. Existing surveillance systems are generally not based on population samples and are not longitudinal in design.MethodsSamples were collected from individuals aged 2 Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Measles update (29): Africa (DRC)
Measles -- DR CongoMeasles DR Congo: MSF says 183 837 cases causing 3667 deathsA. Situation analysisDescription of the disasterThe DRC's Ministry of Health declared a measles outbreak in the country on 10 Jun 2019, presenting it as the deadliest outbreak in the country since the 2010-2011 outbreak which caused at least 210 deaths according to Médecins Sans Frontières. The epidemic spread rapidly to all 26 provinces of the country, exposing an unprecedented 9 110 984 people, affecting Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Eastern equine encephalitis – North America (26): USA (SC) horse
Eastern Equine Encephalitis -- United StatesOfficials at Clemson Livestock Poultry Health (CLPH) have confirmed a 15-year-old Shetland pony mare with Eastern equine encephalomyelitis (EEE). The mare, which resided in Clarendon County, was unvaccinated and is deceased.This is Clarendon County's 1st case of EEE in an equine this year [2020], and South Carolina's 17th.Eastern equine encephalomyelitis is caused by the Eastern equine encephalitis virus, for which wild birds are a natural reservoir. Mosquitoes Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (540): S Africa MIS-C, USA risk factors, Iran serosurvey, WHO global
COVID-19 — United States
PRO/AH/EDR> Chronic wasting disease – North America (05): USA (OH) deer
Chronic Wasting Disease -- United StatesThe 1st positive case of chronic wasting disease has been reported in Ohio, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR).The positive test came from a white-tailed deer in Wyandot County northwest of Columbus.The deer was shot by a hunter on private property, ODNR says. Tissue samples submitted by a taxidermist returned a positive result [10 Dec 2020].CWD is a fatal neurological disease affecting white-tailed deer and other similar species such Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (110): poultry, HPAI, Japan, H5, South Korea (CN) H5N8, spread
Avian Influenza H5N8 -- JapanJapan has reported outbreaks of H5 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in poultry [in the following municipalities/prefectures, namely in] Saeki city, Oita prefecture [date of confirmation, 10 Dec 2020], Kinokawa city, Wakayama prefecture [date of confirmation, 10 Dec 2020], Mimasaka city, Okayama prefecture [date of confirmation, 11 Dec 2020], and Higashiomi city, Shiga prefecture [date of confirmation, 13 Dec 2020].--Communicated by:ProMED-mail [The said information Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Poliomyelitis update (20): Sierra Leone, cVDPV
Polio -- Sierra LeoneSierra Leone's Minister of Health, Dr. Alpha Wurie, has confirmed 3 new polio cases in Sierra Leone for the 1st time in 10 years. He said the cases were recorded in Kambia, Tonkolili, and Western Area Rural District. The minister, however, said that the cases were not from the wild poliovirus strain, rather vaccine derived.Asked how they were able to piece that together, Dr Wurie said that the samples were tested abroad and proved traceable to vaccines.The confirmation comes Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Foot & mouth disease – South Africa (02): (LP) cattle, serotype SAT 1, OIE
Foot and Mouth -- South AfricaInformation received on [and dated] 13 Dec 2020 from Dr. Bothle Michael Modisane, chief director, Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Animal Production and Health, Pretoria, South AfricaSummaryReport type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 3 Sep 2020Date of confirmation of the event: 2 Oct 2020Reason for notification: recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: 30 Apr 2019Manifestation of disease: sub-clinical infectionCausal Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza, human (07): China (JS) H5N6
Avian Influenza H5N6 -- ChinaChinese health authorities report a human case of avian influenza A(H5N6) in an 81-year-old female farmer from Changzhou of Jiangsu Province.The individual had exposure to live chickens at home prior to developing symptoms on [16 Nov 2020]. She was hospitalized and subsequently passed away on [27 Nov 2020].From 2014 to date, 25 human cases of avian influenza A(H5N6) have been reported by the Chinese health authorities.Avian influenza is caused by those influenza viruses Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (539): UK new variant, genomic study on severity, WHO, global
COVID-19 -- United Kingdom"Host-mediated lung inflammation is present(1), and drives mortality(2), in critical illness caused by Covid-19. Host genetic variants associated with critical illness may identify mechanistic targets for therapeutic development.(3) Here we report the results of the GenOMICC (Genetics of mortality in critical care) genome-wide association study(GWAS) in 2244 critically ill COVID-19 patients from 208 UK intensive care units (ICUs). We identify and replicate novel genome-wide Read more [...]
PRO/PL> Wart disease, potato – Netherlands: (GR) new strain
Other Plant Disease -- NetherlandsAn unknown variant of potato wart was discovered in Stadskanaal [Groningen province]. According to the NVWA [Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority], the new variant may have consequences for the control of wart disease in the northeast of the Netherlands. It is still unclear whether potato varieties with good resistance to the known forms of wart disease are also resistant to the variant. The NVWA is investigating the origin of the infection and Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (109): Ireland, Germany, poultry, wild bird, HPAI H5N8, OIE
Avian Influenza H5N8 -- IrelandInformation received on [and dated] Fri 11 Dec 2020 from Dr. Martin Blake, Chief Veterinary Officer, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Agriculture House, Dublin, IrelandSummaryReport type: Immediate notification Date of start of the event: 9 Dec 2020Date of confirmation of the event: 10 Dec 2020Reason for notification: First occurrence of a listed disease in the country Causal agent: Highly pathogenic avian influenza [AI] virusSerotype: H5N8Nature of diagnosis: Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (108): Netherlands, poultry, LPAI H5 OIE
Avian Influenza -- NetherlandsInformation received on [and dated] 14 Dec 2020 from Dr. Christianne Bruschke, Chief veterinary officer, Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, The Hague, NetherlandsSummaryReport type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 4 Dec 2020Date of confirmation of the event: 9 Dec 2020Reason for notification: recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: 8 Mar 2018Manifestation of disease: sub-clinical Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (538): USA, animal, zoo, snow leopard
COVID-19 -- United StatesAnother big cat species tested positive for coronavirus, this time a snow leopard. It's the 6th animal species confirmed to have been infected with the virus after human contact.Three snow leopards, 2 males and a female, tested positive for the virus at the Louisville Zoo [Kentucky], the zoo and the US Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service confirmed Friday [11 Dec 2020].The female's infection was confirmed first. All 3 leopards, whose symptoms Read more [...]
PRO/PL> Undiagnosed disease, cassava – Uganda: (NB)
Undiagnosed -- UgandaCassava farmers in Nebbi District are counting losses after a strange disease destroyed their plantations. The district production officer said the cassava could have been attacked by both brown streak and soft root diseases, with about 40 percent of 647 registered farmers affected.The farmers were mobilised in 2018 to plant Nasse-19, a cassava variety which matures in [approximately 18 months], with the aim of supplying factories. But the project has been beset by a number of Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (536): animal, USA (UT) wild mink, 1st case
COVID-19 — United States
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (535): Denmark, animal, mink, zoonotic, cat, RFI
COVID-19 -- DenmarkAfter a few weeks with many newly infected persons residing on mink farms (production or owner addresses), where as many as 8% (260 persons) were tested positive during weeks 46 and 47, there has been a marked decrease in the number of persons residing on mink farms infected with SARS-CoV-2. This is shown in the latest situation update by the Statens Serum Institut (SSI).According to the memo, the number of newly infected persons associated with mink production fell to 28 in week Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (534): tests, data, therapy, vaccines, WHO, global
COVID-19 -- Worldwide/UnknownCoronavirus lateral flow tests only pick up 49 per cent of infections because they fail to catch people with low levels of the virus, researchers have found.The findings of a pilot of 3199 people has blown a hole in the government's mass testing strategy, which featured plans to hand out millions of 30-minute tests to allow Britons to go back to living life normally, it was revealed yesterday [11 Dec 2020].The lateral flow test, produced by US-based Innova, only picks Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Equine infectious anemia – North America (06): USA (TX) horse
Equine Infectious Anemia -- United StatesTexas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) officials have confirmed 4 cases of equine infectious anemia (EIA) in the state: 2 in Harris County, 1 in Ector County, and 1 in Johnson County. All cases involved Quarter Horses.All premises involved are under official quarantine until TAHC's requirements have been met. TAHC staff continue to work with owners and attending veterinarians to monitor horses that were potentially exposed, and to enact enhanced biosecurity Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Chronic wasting disease – North America (04): USA (MT) deer
Chronic Wasting Disease -- United StatesDeadly, always fatal, and much feared, chronic wasting disease has now been confirmed in deer roaming both the Gallatin and Paradise valleys, and state wildlife officials are also concerned about a major emerging hotspot for disease along the lower Ruby River. [CWD appears not to have been found in these areas previously. - Mod.TG]The arrival of CWD in big game animals around southwest Montana, a prominent part of the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem, is certain Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Poliomyelitis update (19): comment
Polio — Worldwide/Unknown
PRO/AH/EDR> Equine herpesvirus – North America (10): USA (CA) horse
Equine Herpes Virus -- United StatesA barn in Ventura County, California, has been quarantined after a mare developed neurologic signs associated with equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1), according to information supplied by the Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC).The 13-year-old Quarter Horse mare is in isolation at a local veterinary clinic for treatment while 32 potentially exposed horses at her home barn have been quarantined with extra biosecurity measures put in place. No additional cases have Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (533): Italy 2019, USA reinfection, USA vaccine, WHO, global
COVID-19 -- Worldwide/UnknownPatient is a 39-year-old white male, A-negative blood type, seen in July 2020 for anxiety, states otherwise healthy, had complained of a "SARS-like" illness in February 2020, with symptoms of mild fever, body aches and impaired smell. Patient recovered after 2 weeks of just self-supportive care. [When seen in July 2020] was noted to have a normal Chem 21 panel, CBC, and a positive SARS-CoV-2 IgG on serum lab [serum sent to 2 different commercial labs: 1 was positive for Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Undiagnosed hemorrhagic fever – China (03): (SA)
Hemorrhagic Fever -- ChinaToday (9 Dec [2020]), the First News reporter learned from the Office of Health Care in Linwei District, Weinan City, that there have recently been more cases of hemorrhagic fever in the district, causing harm to people's production, life, and health. In order to reduce the incidence of hemorrhagic fever and effectively control the occurrence of rodent-borne diseases, the Patriotic Health Office will carry out concentrated rodent-control activities in many places in Linwei Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Infectious hypodermal & hematopoietic necrosis – UK: (England) shrimp, OIE
Other Animal Disease -- United KingdomInformation received on [and dated] 4 Dec 2020 from Dr Christine Middlemiss, chief veterinary officer, DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs), London, United KingdomSummaryReport type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 30 Oct 2020Date of confirmation of the event: 3 Dec 2020Reason for notification: recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: December 2019Causal agent: infectious hypodermal and hematopoietic necrosis Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (107): Poland, UK, wild bird, HPAI H5N8, H5N5, OIE
Avian Influenza H5N8, Avian Influenza -- PolandInformation received on [and dated] 10 Dec 2020 from Dr. Bogdan Konopka, Chief Veterinary Officer, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, General Veterinary Inspectorate, Warsaw, PolandSummaryReport type: Immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 8 Dec 2020Date of confirmation of the event: 9 Dec 2020Reason for notification: Recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: 7 Jan 2020Manifestation of disease: Clinical diseaseCausal Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Poliomyelitis update (18): cVDPV2 (Pakistan, CAR, Chad, Somalia), nOPV2
Polio -- Pakistan[The data presented here comes from the GPEI weekly report email and is in discord with the website. It is unclear which are the correct figures. To be clarified in the coming days. - Mod.MPP]As of 9 Dec 2020:New wild poliovirus isolates reported this week:AFP cases: 0Environment: 5Others: 0New cVDPV isolates reported this week:AFP cases: 17Environment: 8Others: 4Headlines- Aidan O'Leary appointed new WHO polio eradication director: Mr Aidan O'Leary will assume the Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (532): Turkey, USA vaccine, Australia vaccine trial, WHO, global
COVID-19 -- TurkeyThe vaccine had been in stage one of trials, and proving to be effective in making antibodies. But it also generated HIV antibodies in some recipients -- which meant it showed false positives for HIV. Further testing proved the HIV wasn't there. CSL and UQ said fixing the flaw would take about a year, prompting a decision to abandon the trial. "It was likely to work. But we knew that we didn't want to have any issues with confidence, and this false-positive test may have caused Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Yellow fever – Americas (13): Brazil (PR) monkey
Yellow Fever -- BrazilThe state Health Department on Wednesday [9 Dec 2020] confirmed the deaths of 8 monkeys from yellow fever virus infection. These cases occurred in Clevelandia (2 cases), Coronel Domingos Soares (3), Mangueirinha (1), and Cruz Machado (2).Parana state in Brazil has registered to date since 1 Jul [2020] 81 notifications of monkeys dead of the virus. Of these, 11 cases are under investigation, 32 occurred for indeterminate causes, 30 were discarded [as yellow fever cases], and Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Anthrax – India (07): (AS) livestock vaccination
Anthrax -- IndiaThe authorities in eastern Assam's Dibrugarh district have undertaken a drive to vaccinate livestock around the Joypur rainforest after anthrax was confirmed as the cause of the death of 2 female elephants a week ago.This is the 2nd case of anthrax in [Assam] after 2 Asiatic water buffaloes died in the Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary in October 2019 [see Anthrax - India (09): (AS) Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, buffalo http://promedmail.org/post/20191021.6738770]. The sanctuary, 48 km (about Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Ebola update (54): neonatal survival after monoclonal antibody treatment, 2019
Ebola -- DR CongoDoctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontiéres' (MSF) case studies published in The Lancet this month [see [2] below] examine the 1st 2 Ebola-negative babies ever known to be born to Ebola-positive mothers. Both the mothers and babies received trial Ebola treatments while in an MSF-supported Ebola treatment center (ETC) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Historically, nearly all babies born to Ebola-positive mothers have been miscarried or stillborn, or died Read more [...]
PRO/PL> Aphanomyces root rot, pea & lentil – Canada
Other Plant Disease -- CanadaRoot disease is omnipresent in pulses in 2020. There were ideal conditions for aphanomyces in large parts of the prairies in the summer. But exactly how prevalent the disease was is largely unknown because researchers weren't allowed to do in-field surveys due to COVID-19. "So, I don't have hard numbers," said Agriculture Canada's Syama Chatterton.Her informal survey was largely from pictures. "From what I gathered, it was a really rough year for aphanomyces," she said. Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (531): animal, Canada (BC) mink, OIE
COVID-19 -- CanadaInformation received on [and dated] 9 Dec 2020 from Dr Jaspinder Komal, Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Ottawa, CanadaSummaryReport type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 26 Nov 2020Date of confirmation of the event: 8 Dec 2020Reason for notification: emerging diseaseMorbidity: 1%Mortality: 1%Zoonotic impact: zoonotic diseaseCausal agent: SARS-CoV-2New outbreaks (1)Total outbreaks: Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (530): animal, mink, research, experimental infection, vaccine
COVID-19 -- ChinaCitation: Shuai L, Zhong G, Yuan Q, Wen Z, et al.: Replication, pathogenicity, and transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in minks. National Science Review. 2020; nwaa291, doi: (published 8 Dec 2020).AbstractMinks are raised in many countries and have transmitted severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) to humans. However, the biologic properties of SARS-CoV-2 in minks are largely unknown. Here, we investigated and found that SARS-CoV-2 replicates efficiently in both the Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (529): indoor transmission risk, vaccines, surveillance, 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): 931 803 (5393) / 17 997 (151)European Region (61): 20 869 839 (221 551) / 462 615 (5595)South East Asia Region (10): 11 195 661 (43 803) / 170 284 (614)Eastern Mediterranean Region (22): 4 256 386 (33 778) / 106 609 (696)Eastern Mediterranean Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Equine influenza – USA (07): (OR) horse
Equine Influenza -- United StatesOn 1 Dec 2020, an attending veterinarian confirmed a horse at a private facility in Clackamas County, Oregon, with equine influenza (EI). The 13-year-old Paint gelding, which was undervaccinated, began showing clinical signs on [26 Nov 2020]. Signs consisted of mild fever, nasal discharge, and mild cough. A voluntary quarantine has been enacted on his premises. No other horses were exposed.Equine influenza is a highly contagious respiratory disease infecting horses, Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Undiagnosed illness – India (07): (AP) fatal, investigation continues
Undiagnosed -- IndiaA 9-member team of the National Institute of Nutrition (NIN), Hyderabad on Tuesday [8 Dec 2020] collected samples of water, milk, rice, vegetables, along with the blood and urine sample of patients after a massive number of people fell sick due to unknown disease in Eluru town of Andhra Pradesh."They have collected blood and urine samples of patients from hospitals. Later they went to places in town where the cases have been developed. The team collected samples of water, milk, Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Peste des petits ruminants – China: (QH) sheep
Peste des petits ruminants -- ChinaThe Qinghai Animal Disease Control Center confirmed on 1 Dec 2020 an outbreak of peste des petits ruminants in Golmund city, Haixi prefecture, Qinghai province. A batch of 159 imported sheep was affected, of which 106 got sick and died. After the outbreak, the local authorities applied the epidemiological activities in accordance with relevant programs and technical specifications for prevention and control.--Communicated by:ProMED-mail[Peste des petits ruminants Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (106): Poland, Belgium, poultry, captive bird, HPAI H5N8, H5, OIE
Avian Influenza H5N8 -- PolandInformation received on [and dated] 8 Dec 2020 from Dr. Bogdan Konopka, Chief Veterinary Officer, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, General Veterinary Inspectorate, Warsaw, PolandSummaryReport type: Immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 3 Dec 2020Date of confirmation of the event: 4 Dec 2020Reason for notification: Recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: 13 May 2020Manifestation of disease: Clinical diseaseCausal agent: Highly Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (537): clinical trial, South Asia, comment, WHO, global