Archive for Global Disease Alerts
PRO/AH/EDR> Australian bat lyssavirus – Australia: (QL) bat
Other Animal Disease -- AustraliaA Biosecurity Queensland laboratory test has confirmed a case of lyssavirus in a bat found in the state's far north as health authorities report a surge in flying fox bites and scratches.The ABC understands the little red flying fox was found in suburban Cairns and euthanised by a local wildlife carer who then sent the animal to Brisbane for testing.Biosecurity Queensland principal veterinary officer Janine Barrett confirmed this was the 3rd infected bat discovered Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Anthrax – Croatia (02): (ZD) cattle conf, horse susp, OIE
Anthrax -- CroatiaInformation received on [and dated] 8 Dec 2020 from Dr. Tatjana Karacic, Assistant Minister, Chief Veterinary Officer, Veterinary Services, Ministry of Agriculture, Zagreb, CroatiaSummaryReport type: Immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 4 Dec 2020Date of confirmation of the event: 8 Dec 2020Report date: 8 Dec 2020Date submitted to OIE: 8 Dec 2020Reason for notification: Recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: October 2007Manifestation of Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Anthrax – India (06): (AS) elephant, conf
Anthrax -- IndiaThe carcass of a wild elephant found inside Joypur reserve forest in Assam's Dibrugarh district last week has tested positive for anthrax, the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) said Wednesday [9 Dec 2020]. Though the highly infectious disease caused by the bacteria called _[Bacillus] anthracis_ had earlier been detected in cattle in the state, this is likely to be the 1st confirmed case of anthrax in wild elephants in Assam.Forest officials had found the carcass of a sub-adult female Read more [...]
PRO/ALL> New in IJID (12): December 2020
COVID-19, Zika virus, Influenza, E. coli, Tuberculosis, Norovirus, HIV/AIDS, Other Human Disease, Leishmaniasis, Malaria, Hepatitis, Histoplasmosis -- Worldwide/UnknownEditorial---------Lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic -- unique opportunities for unifying, revamping and reshaping epidemic preparedness of Europe's public health systemsGiuseppe Ippolito, Francesco Nicola Lauria, Franco Locatelli, et al. IJID 2020; 101: 361-366.Clinical--------COVID-19 and sickle cell disease in BahrainAbdulkarim Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (528): heterologous prime-boost, mass test, WHO, global
COVID-19 -- United Kingdom1. Lu S. Heterologous prime-boost vaccination. Curr Opin Immunol. 2009; 21(3): 346-51. doi: 10.1016/j.coi.2009.05.016. Epub 2009 Jun 6; .2. Hu SL, Abrams K, Barber GN, et al. Protection of macaques against SIV infection by subunit vaccines of SIV envelope glycoprotein gp160. Science. 1992; 255: 456-459. doi: 10.1126/science.1531159; .3. Agrawal B. Heterologous Immunity: Role in Natural and Vaccine-Induced Resistance to Infections. Front Immunol. 2019; 10:2631. Published Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (105): China (SX) wild bird, HPAI H5N8, OIE
Avian Influenza H5N8 -- ChinaInformation received on [and dated] 30 Nov 2020 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: 19 Nov 2020Date of confirmation of the event: 26 Nov 2020Reason for notification: new strain of a listed diseaseManifestation of disease: clinical diseaseCausal agent: highly pathogenic Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Undiagnosed illness – India (06): (AP) fatal, organochlorine pesticide susp, RFI
Undiagnosed -- India- Water samples sent for heavy metal analysis.- 9 units of milk samples from the affected areas have been sent for testing.- Rapid antigen test was done and reported negative for COVID-19- Random sampling CSF samples were taken and reports are normal.- Blood samples were taken for Hb, CBP [complete blood picture], LFT [liver function test], RFT [renal function test] and GRBS [random blood glucose test] -- all are normal.- Blood samples were inoculated and reports are awaited.- Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (527): animal, Greece (WM) mink, spread, genome analysis
COVID-19 -- GreeceFollowing the 1st confirmed case, which was reported on 16 Nov 2020 [http://promedmail.org/post/20201115.7944705], I would like to inform you about 11 further cases of SARS-Cov-2 detection on mink farms. They are located in the Region of Western Macedonia and in particular in the Regional Units of Kozani (5), Kastoria (4) and Grevena (2).All new positive farms but one were inspected following notification of confirmed human cases in the framework of the repeated weekly surveillance Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Anthrax – India (05): (AS) elephant
Anthrax -- IndiaThe recovery of the bodies of a female elephant and a calf within 3 days in Joypur rainforest in Dibrugarh district has spread an anthrax scare in the forest area.On 3 Dec 2020, inside the Joypur rainforest of Naharkatia, the body of an elephant calf was recovered. The veterinarians from Tinsukia Guijan and Naharkatia suspected the cause of death of the elephant calf to be infection of anthrax. The fear of anthrax thickened on 5 Dec 2020 after the recovery of the carcass of a female Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (526): Canada (BC) animal, mink, human
COVID-19 -- CanadaIt is currently unclear what will happen to the mink at this farm or whether they even have the disease. The outlook could be grim. Farmers in the entire region, or even country, will likely be following the outbreak with trepidation given the swift and heavy handed responses authorities around the world have taken when there have been outbreaks at mink farms. Denmark, for instance, illegally ordered the cull of its entire 17 million-strong herd after discovering a potentially dangerous Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (525): Spain, animal, zoo, lion, human
COVID-19 -- SpainVeterinary authorities said on Tuesday [8 Dec 2020] that 4 lions at Barcelona Zoo have tested positive for COVID-19, in only the 2nd known case in which large felines have contracted coronavirus.Three females named Zala, Nima, and Run Run and Kiumbe, a male, were tested after keepers noticed they showed slight [clinical signs] of coronavirus.The authorities said 2 staff at the zoo also tested positive for coronavirus, after the outbreak was first detected last month [November Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (524): import impact, vaccine distribution, Thailand, WHO, global
COVID-19 -- BrazilSummary-------BackgroundCountries have restricted international arrivals to delay the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). These measures carry a high economic and social cost, and might have little effect on COVID-19 epidemics if there are many more cases resulting from local transmission compared with imported cases. Our study aims to investigate the extent to which imported cases contribute to local transmission under different epidemic Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Undiagnosed illness – India (04): (AP) fatal, RFI
Undiagnosed -- IndiaAt least 290 residents, including women and children of Eluru in Andhra Pradesh's West Godavari district, had to be rushed to a hospital late last night [5 Dec 2020] after mysteriously falling ill. Those undergoing treatment include residents of Eluru's North Street, South Street, Arundhatipet and Ashok Nagar areas.The locals were rushed to the Eluru Government General Hospital in West Godavari district after they complained of headaches, vomiting, giddiness, and epilepsy-like Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Bovine tuberculosis – UK (02): venison source susp. foodborne spread, cat, human
Foodborne Illness, Bovine TB -- United KingdomAn outbreak of tuberculosis among UK cat owners may have originated from a batch of infected venison given to felines as part of a trendy raw meat diet.Experts led from Edinburgh investigated after 47 cats presented with suspected or definite infection with _Mycobacterium bovis_, the bacteria responsible for bovine TB.Among the cats, _M. bovis_ was found to have caused skin lesions, swollen lymph nodes, respiratory problems, lethargy, lost appetite, and Read more [...]
PRO/PL> Greening disease, citrus – Venezuela: impact
Other Plant Disease -- VenezuelaThe president of the Yaracuy [State] Fruit Growers Association stated that only 5% of the 35 000 hectares planted with citrus in Venezuela continued to exist. The massive reduction in citrus cultivation was due to Huanglongbing, also known as citrus greening. The bacterium is transmitted by the _Diaphorina citri_ vector insect. The plantations that haven't been affected are in colder areas, such as Merida, Tachira and Zulia [states].He insisted that they must control Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (104): France, Ukraine, wild bird, poultry, HPAI H5, OIE
Avian Influenza -- FranceInformation received on Wed 2 Dec 2020 from Dr. Loic Evain, Directeur General adjoint, CVO, Direction generale de l'alimentation, Ministere de l'Agriculture et de l'Alimentation, Paris, FranceSummaryReport type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 23 Nov 2020Date of confirmation of the event: 27 Nov 2020Report date: 1 Dec 2020Reason for notification: 1st occurrence of a listed diseaseManifestation of disease: clinical diseaseCausal agent: highly pathogenic avian Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (523): lessons learned, ANTICOV, Brazil, WHO, global
COVID-19 -- BrazilCOVID-19 has left little time for reflection about lessons to be learned. This coronavirus has provoked us, mobilised us, and distracted us. But with a vaccine on the horizon, it's perhaps time to pause. What have we discovered this past year? And how do these discoveries inform our future? Our annual Lancet-Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences conference -- held virtually last week -- provided a moment for such contemplation.Gabriel Leung underlined the phenomenon of East Asian Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Undiagnosed illness – India (03): (AP), RFI
Undiagnosed -- IndiaOfficials in India are investigating the cause of an unidentified illness which led to more than 140 people being admitted to hospital over the weekend.The patients, from Eluru in Andhra Pradesh, had a wide range of symptoms from nausea to fits and falling unconscious, doctors said.A number of beds at Eluru Government Hospital have been freed up in case they are needed.The illness comes as India continues to battle the coronavirus pandemic. Local media said the patients had taken Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Yellow fever – Africa (24): Nigeria
Yellow Fever -- NigeriaHighlightsThe Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) is currently responding to clusters of yellow fever (YF) outbreaks in Delta, Enugu, Bauchi, Benue, and Ebonyi States.From the clusters of outbreaks across the 5 states:- In this reporting week 47: - One new confirmed case was reported from Enugu. - No new LGAs across the affected states reported confirmed cases. - 3 new deaths among confirmed cases were reported [Bauchi (1), Enugu (2)]- Cumulatively from epi-week Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Undiagnosed skin disease – Senegal (03) chickenpox susp. RFI
Chicken Pox -- SenegalMore than 500 fishermen in Senegal have contracted a mysterious skin disease after returning from sea, a senior government health official said on Thursday [19 Nov 2020].The men, who come from several fishing towns around the capital Dakar, have been placed in quarantine for treatment, according to Ousmane Gueye, national director of health information and education."It's a dermatitis associated with an infectious disease," Gueye told Reuters. "We are checking further and hope Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (522): viral persistence, assays, markers, 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): 908 663 (5511) / 17 664 (113)European Region (61): 19 775 465 (232 575) / 444 571 (5689)South East Asia Region (10): 11 023 450 (48 082) / 167 782 (711)Eastern Mediterranean Region (22): 4 256 386 (33 778) / 106 609 (696)Region of the Americas (54): 27 754 113 (315 772) / 742 Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Eastern equine encephalitis – North America (25): USA (FL, SC) horse
Eastern Equine Encephalitis -- United StatesOn 25 Nov [2020], officials at the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) confirmed a donkey at a private facility in Orange County with eastern equine encephalomyelitis (EEE). The 4-year-old presented with clinical signs, which included recumbency (down and unable to rise) on 17 Nov [2020]. She had not been vaccinated and was euthanized.The case is Florida's 22nd confirmed case of EEE in equine in 2020.[Byline: Diane E. Rice]--Communicated Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Rabies (33): Americas (USA) cow, skunk, cat, raccoon, human exp
Rabies -- United StatesThe South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control says 2 recent encounters with rabid animals have exposed both people and pets to rabies.According to DHEC, a cow located near Nance Street and Dennis Dairy Road in Newberry tested positive for rabies. DHEC is investigating the potential for multiple human and animal exposures, and anyone known to have had potential exposure to the rabid cow has been referred to their healthcare providers. The cow was submitted Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Rabies (32): Asia (Malaysia, Bhutan) human, dog
Rabies -- MalaysiaA 58-year-old man has been confirmed as the latest person to die of rabies in Sarawak this year [2020], said Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr. Noor Hisham Abdullah today [3 Dec 2020]. He also said another rabies case involving a 3-year-old boy was still receiving treatment for the disease and was reported to be in stable condition."With these 2 latest cases, the total number of rabies cases involving humans in Malaysia for the year 2020 has increased to 8 cases. The total accumulative Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (521): CDC guidelines, Europe 2nd wave, 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): 903 152 (5518) / 17 551 (57)European Region (61): 19 535 185 (234 687) / 438 615 (5472)South East Asia Region (10): 10 975 368 (50 086) / 167 071 (770)Eastern Mediterranean Region (22): 4 221 205 (36 176) / 105 857 (662)Region of the Americas Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (520): Denmark, Netherlands, mink, human-animal interface, WHO
COVID-19 -- DenmarkOn 4 Nov 2020, Denmark decided to cull all farmed mink in Denmark. This decision was made following information that it had not been possible to prevent the spread of infection from farm to farm, or from animals to humans, and mink are acting as a reservoir and contributing to the ongoing transmission in Denmark [comment 1]. On 5 Nov 2020, movement restrictions were introduced in the affected areas in North Jutland. On 6 Nov 2020, Denmark shared the full genome sequences of SARS-CoV-2 Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (519): Switzerland (ZH) animal, cat, OIE
COVID-19 — Switzerland
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (518): virus origin, placebo trials, vaccine, WHO, global
COVID-19 -- Worldwide/UnknownWe find ourselves 10 months into one of the most catastrophic global health events of our lifetime and, disturbingly, we still do not know how it began. What's even more troubling is that despite the critical importance of this question, efforts to investigate the origins of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus and of the associated disease, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), have become mired in politics, poorly supported assumptions Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Malaria – Namibia (02): (ZA) resurgence
Malaria -- NamibiaSix people died from malaria and 2643 positive cases were recorded in the Zambezi region this year [2020].Regional health director Agnes Mwillima told The Namibian they monitor malaria cases weekly and during the same time last year [2019] they had only recorded 261 positive cases and one death. This is an indication that the cases have increased drastically, she said."The cause of the increase in malaria cases might be because the climate in the region is conducive for mosquitoes Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Salmonellosis, st Bovismorbificans – France: dry pork sausage, alert, Europe recall
Salmonella -- FranceAlmost all patients had eaten dried pork sausage of one brand bought in several locations of the same supermarket chain, according to the [French National Public Health Agency]. The link between illness and eating dry cold meats manufactured by France Salaisons was previously made by the Directorate General for Food (DGAL), Directorate General for Health, and [French National Public Health Agency]. The company is based in the Rhone region of France.Potentially contaminated product Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> E coli EHEC – Germany: (MV) O26, day care centers, RFI
E. coli -- GermanyMore than 20 _E. coli_ infections are being investigated in a German municipality. 4 day care centers in the Luetzow-Luebstorf district are affected by the outbreak of _E. coli_ O26, an enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) strain. Luetzow-Luebstorf is in [Northwestern Mecklenburg, in Mecklenburg-West Pomerania], Germany. EHEC is often referred to as Shiga toxin-producing _E. coli_ (STEC).Authorities initially reported 18 patients but that had risen to 25 by the end of this past week. Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Methanol poisoning – Russia: (SK)
Poisoning -- RussiaEight people who drank hand sanitizer at a house party in Russia after the alcohol ran out have now died, including the parents of 5 children who are now orphaned.A 48-year-old woman, the children's mother, became the latest to have died on Thursday [3 Dec 2020] after succumbing to internal injuries caused by the industrial-grade alcohol.Her husband was among 5 men aged between 27 and 69 who were the 1st to die, along with a woman, 41, and another person, whose gender and age were Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (103): Poland (MZ) turkey, H5N8, OIE
Avian Influenza H5N8 -- PolandInformation received on [and dated] 3 Dec 2020 from Dr Bogdan Konopka, chief veterinary officer, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, General Veterinary Inspectorate, Warszaw, PolandSummaryReport type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 1 Dec 2020Date of confirmation of the event: 2 Dec 2020Reason for notification: recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: 13 May 2020Manifestation of disease: clinical diseaseCausal agent: highly Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Botulism – USA (08): (CO)
Botulism -- United StatesColorado Department of Public Health and Environment has investigated several cases of confirmed or suspected foodborne botulism in the state since September 2020.Testing from CDC confirmed 4 of the cases. One is still under investigation and test results are pending. All 5 cases occurred along the Front Range. The individuals are either hospitalized or recovering. 3 of the cases appear to be unrelated as no common food item was identified. The last 2 confirmed cases were Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> West Nile virus (31): Americas, USA (FL)
West Nile Virus -- United StatesThe Florida Department of Health [FDOH] confirmed a positive human case of West Nile virus in Martin County on Monday [30 Nov 2020] -- the 1st in 2 decades, FDOH data shows.It is unknown when the last time a Martin County resident would have tested positive for the illness, as readily available information only dated back to 2000. St Lucie and Indian River counties also haven't seen a human case since at least 2003."It's unusual in that aspect," Martin County health Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (517): medicines, vaccines, FDA, WHO, global
COVID-19 -- Worldwide/UnknownAbstract--------BackgroundWorld Health Organization expert groups recommended mortality trials of 4 repurposed antiviral drugs -- remdesivir, hydroxychloroquine, lopinavir, and interferon beta-1a -- in patients hospitalized with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).MethodsWe randomly assigned inpatients with COVID-19 equally between one of the trial drug regimens that was locally available and open control (up to 5 options, 4 active and the local standard of care). The Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (516): China (Hong Kong) animal, dog, Lithuania, mink, OIE
COVID-19 -- ChinaInformation received on [and dated] 27 Nov 2020 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: 23 Nov 2020Date of confirmation of the event: 25 Nov 2020Reason for notification: emerging diseaseMorbidity: 1 (scale 0 to 5)Mortality: Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (102): Europe, wild bird, poultry, H5N8, H5N5, H5N1, spread
Avian Influenza H5N1 -- Worldwide/UnknownA total of 582 detections of HPAI H5 have been reported in Europe between 27 Oct 2020 and 28 Nov 2020. This new H5N8 2.3.4.4b clade variant was originally detected in poultry in Iraq in May 2020 with subsequent detections in Russia and Kazakhstan. It seems likely that migratory waterfowl played a key role in the incursion of this virus into Europe with over 500 detections in wild birds and spillover events into commercial poultry and captive birds.This situation Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Undiagnosed skin disease – Senegal (04): chickenpox susp. comment, RFI
Chicken Pox — Senegal