Archive for Global Disease Alerts
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (462): OP monoclonal antibody, Brazil, age-group NPI, WHO, global
COVID-19 -- Worldwide/UnknownBackground: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which is most frequently mild yet can be severe and life-threatening. Virus-neutralizing monoclonal antibodies are predicted to reduce viral load, ameliorate symptoms, and prevent hospitalization.Methods: In this ongoing phase 2 trial involving outpatients with recently diagnosed mild or moderate COVID-19, we randomly assigned 452 patients to receive a Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Gonococcal disease – South Africa: (GT) MDR, azithromycin resistance
Antimicrobial resistance -- South Africa_Neisseria gonorrhoeae_ antimicrobial drug resistance has emerged worldwide; however, the situation in sub-Saharan Africa is not well documented. We investigated the molecular epidemiology and occurrence of antimicrobial resistance in _N. gonorrhoeae_ infections in 2 core transmission groups of men in Johannesburg, South Africa. We recruited men who have sex with men (MSM) presenting with urethral discharge and men with recurrent episodes of urethral discharge. Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> E. coli EHEC – USA (05): O157
E. coli -- United StatesThe CDC, public health and regulatory officials in several states, and the FDA are investigating a multistate outbreak of _E. coli_ O157:H7 infections.Public health investigators are using the PulseNet system to identify illnesses that may be part of this outbreak. PulseNet is the national subtyping network of public health and food regulatory agency laboratories coordinated by the CDC. DNA fingerprinting is performed on _E. coli_ bacteria isolated from ill people by using Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (461): animal, Sweden, mink, 1st case, RFI
COVID-19 -- SwedenSeveral minks have tested positive for the coronavirus on a mink farm in Solvesborg in Blekinge. People on the farm have also been found infected.The Swedish Veterinary Institute (SVA) is now investigating how the virus spreads among the animals. This is the 1st time that the new coronavirus has been found on a Swedish mink farm."We tested a number of animals today [23 Oct 2020], and all were positive", says Karl Stahl, acting state epizootiologist at the SVA.People working on the Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Schistosomiasis – Germany: ex France (CE)
Schistosomiasis -- Germany1. Gautret P, Mockenhaupt FP, von Sonnenburg F, et al. Local and international implications of schistosomiasis acquired in Corsica, France. Emerg Infect Dis. 2015; 21(10):1865-8. doi: 10.3201/eid2110.150881. PMID: 26401954; PMCID: PMC4593456; .2. Moné H, Holtfreter MC, Allienne JF, et al. Introgressive hybridizations of _Schistosoma haematobium_ by _Schistosoma bovis_ at the origin of the first case report of schistosomiasis in Corsica (France, Europe). Parasitol Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (74): Netherlands (GE) poultry, HPAI H5N8 susp
Avian Influenza H5N8 -- NetherlandsA highly contagious form of bird flu has been diagnosed at a poultry farm with 35 000 animals in Altforst, Gelderland. The sector is alarmed because this year's [2020] contamination is early and has entered a barn where high hygiene standards are maintained."What is still to come?" asks Hennie de Haan, chairman of the Dutch Poultry Farmers' Union (NVP). "The bird migration, with which the virus spreads, has only just started. Moreover, this is a company where very Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (460): variant 20A.EU1, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Yemen WHO, global
COVID-19 -- ThailandAbstract--------A variant of SARS-CoV-2 emerged in early summer 2020, presumably in Spain, and has since spread to multiple European countries. The variant was first observed in Spain in June [2020] and has been at frequencies above 40% since July [2020]. Outside of Spain, the frequency of this variant has increased from very low values prior to [15 Jul 2020] to 40-70% in Switzerland, Ireland, and the United Kingdom in September [2020]. It is also prevalent in Norway, Latvia, Read more [...]
PRO/PL> Leaf rust, coffee – USA: (HI) susp
Other Plant Disease -- United StatesCoffee leaf rust (CLR) has been tentatively identified on Maui. The Hawaii Department of Agriculture (HDOA) has received preliminary results from the University of Hawaii identifying the fungus on plants collected from managed and wild coffee. Samples have also been sent to the US Department of Agriculture on the mainland for official confirmation of this federally regulated pathogen.CLR is one of the most devastating pests of coffee plants and is established in Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> COVID-19 update (459): aerosol transmission, lockdowns, masking, WHO, global
COVID-19 -- Worldwide/UnknownTo aerosol scientists like Morawska who are more focused on the physics, an aerosol is any particle, wet or dry, that can be suspended in the air for minutes to hours. Aerosols are usually less than 100 micrometers in size, or about the width of a human hair. The human respiratory tract produces a wide variety of aerosols, from tiny droplets only a few micrometers across to globules around 100 micrometers, and even gobs bigger than aerosols that are visible with the naked Read more [...]
PRO/PL> Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus, zucchini – France: 1st rep (LP, PR)
Other Plant Disease -- FranceIn France, another tomato virus previously not yet recorded in the country has been detected. The Ministry of Agriculture announced that the "Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus" (ToLCNDV) was identified for the 1st time in the country in the regions of Occitanie and Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur.Zucchini plants were found to be infected in nurseries for production of seed and seedlings, both for commercial use and sale to the public. Precautionary measures have been Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (73): Russia (KT) HPAI H5N8, poultry, spread, OIE
Avian Influenza H5N8 -- RussiaInformation received on [and dated] 27 Oct 2020 from Dr Nikolay Vlasov, Deputy Head, Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance, Ministry of Agriculture, Moscou, RussiaSummaryReport type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 10 Oct 2020Date of confirmation of the event: 12 Oct 2020Reason for notification: recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: 12 Nov 2018Manifestation of disease: clinical diseaseCausal agent: highly Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Influenza (11): South Korea, Taiwan
Influenza, Vaccine Complication -- South KoreaThe Ministry of Health (MOH) has advised that the use of 2 influenza vaccines in Singapore be "temporarily ceased" as a precautionary measure after deaths were reported in South Korea following vaccinations.South Korean health authorities said they have found no direct link between the deaths and the flu shots."This is a precautionary measure following reported deaths after influenza vaccination in South Korea," the MOH said in a press release on Sunday Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Bluetongue – Algeria: (TB, SA) sheep, BTV-4, OIE
Bluetongue -- AlgeriaInformation received on [and dated] 26 Oct 2020 from Dr. Ahmed Chawki El Karim Boughalem, Director of Veterinary Services, Directorate of Veterinary Services, Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries, Alger, AlgeriaSummaryReport type: Immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 27 Sep 2020Date of confirmation of the event: 30 Sep 2020Reason for notification: Recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: 15 Mar 2020Manifestation of disease: Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (457): animal, Italy, mink, RFI
COVID-19 -- ItalyAt least 2 samples collected in August 2020 from minks in a single farm were found positive for SARS-CoV-2; this has been was revealed by LAV [Lega Anti Vivisezione/Antivivisection League]. Reportedly, this information was obtained after numerous appeals and requests to access the relevant documents, addressed by LAV to the Ministry of Health, to the Scientific Technical Committee, to the Regions, and to the IZS [Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale/Experimental Zooprophylactic Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> African swine fever – Europe (30): Germany (BB) wild boar, spread
African Swine Fever -- GermanyThe National Reference Laboratory for African Swine Fever (ASF) -- the Friedrich Loeffler Institute (FLI) -- today [27 Oct 2020] confirmed the official suspicion of ASF in 3 additional wild boars. 2 of these come from the 1st core area in the Oder-Spree district and one from the 2nd core area in the Maerkisch-Oderland district.There are now a total of 94 confirmed ASF cases in wild boar in the state of Brandenburg:Spree-Neisse district (13), Oder-Spree district (74), Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (457): air pollution, antibiotic use, WHO, global
COVID-19 -- ChinaAbstract--------There is increasing concern that ambient air pollution could exacerbate COVID-19 transmission. However, estimating the relationship is challenging because it requires one to account for epidemiological characteristics, to isolate the impact of air pollution from potential confounders, and to capture the dynamic impact. We propose a new econometric framework to address these challenges: we rely on the epidemiological Susceptible-Infectious-Recovered-Deceased (SIRD) Read more [...]
PRO/AH> Anthrax – Lesotho: mapping outbreaks
Anthrax -- LesothoThis article was originally published here Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Oct 19;17(20):E7584. doi:10.3390/ijerph17207584.ABSTRACTBACKGROUND: Although anthrax occurs globally, the burden of the disease remains particularly high in Africa. Furthermore, the disease anthrax has significant public health and economic implications. However, sufficient attention has not been given to the geographic distribution of anthrax outbreaks and cases in Lesotho. Therefore, this study Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (456): pre-pandemic serology, airline flight, WHO, global
COVID-19 -- IrelandAbstract--------Cross-reactive immune responses elicited by seasonal coronaviruses might impact SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility and disease outcomes. We measured neutralizing activity against SARS-CoV-2 in pre-pandemic sera from patients with prior PCR-confirmed seasonal coronavirus infection. While neutralizing activity against seasonal coronaviruses was detected in nearly all sera, cross-reactive neutralizing activity against SARS-CoV-2 was undetectable.Introduction------------Since Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Listeriosis – USA (03): fatal, deli-sliced meats susp.
Listeriosis -- United StatesCDC, public health and regulatory officials in several states, and the US Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) are investigating a multistate outbreak of _Listeria monocytogenes_ infections linked to deli meats.Latest outbreak information---------------------------At a glanceReported cases: 10States: 3Hospitalizations: 10Deaths: 1"10 people infected with the outbreak strain of _Listeria_ have been reported from Florida, Massachusetts, Read more [...]
PRO/PL> Anthracnose, onion – India: (MH)
Other Plant Disease -- India[For] the onion farmers of Maharashtra, the monsoon season has brought disease. Much of the crop has been destroyed after being infected with a fungal disease called Anthracnose, which tends to attack plants in the spring when the weather is cool and wet. According to [farmers], the condition has worsened over the last 2 years. This year [2020], rainfall was over 200 mm, which is double [the average].Dr Anand Kumar Singh, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (72): Kazakhstan (NK) poultry, wild, HPAI H5N8, epidemiology
Avian Influenza H5N8 — Kazakhstan
PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (70): Netherlands (UT) wild bird, HPAI H5N8, OIE
Avian Influenza H5N8 -- NetherlandsInformation received on [and dated] 23 Oct 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: 17 Oct 2020Date of confirmation of the event: 20 Oct 2020Reason for notification: recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: 28 Sep 2018Manifestation of disease: clinical Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (71): South Korea (HN) H5N8, wild bird
Avian Influenza H5N8 -- South KoreaA highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI) case was reported in South Korea on [Sun 25 Oct 2020], marking the 1st virulent bird flu case in the country in 32 months. The virulent avian influenza strain of H5N8 was discovered from a fecal sample collected from wild birds on [Wed 21 Oct 2020] in Cheonan, 92 km [approx. 57 mi] south of Seoul, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.The discovery marked the 1st highly pathogenic AI case confirmed Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Mayaro virus – French Guiana: WHO
Other Human Disease -- Région d'outre-mer de French Guiana, FrancePublic health measures that are planned or ongoing include the following:- Entomological investigation and entomological expertise from the IPG;- convening an expert committee to discuss the implementation of a strategy for entomological and virological surveillance of arboviruses, and vector competence of areas not yet affected;- vector prevention: Public health measures to minimize exposure of persons to mosquitoes are imperative Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (455): convalescent plasma, Europe, China, WHO, global
COVID-19 -- ChinaAgarwal A, Mukherjee A, Kumar G, et al; PLACID Trial Collaborators. Convalescent plasma in the management of moderate COVID-19 in adults in India: open label phase II multicentre randomised controlled trial (PLACID Trial). BMJ. 2020; 371: m3939. doi: 10.1136/bmj.m3939. PMID: 33093056; PMCID: PMC7578662; --Communicated by:Mary Marshall[Also seeandKai Kupferschmidt retweet of Martin Landary reporting on a trial with 2000 patients evaluating convalescent plasma as a treatment Read more [...]
PRO/PL> Undiagnosed stem rot, gourd – Bangladesh: (RS)
Undiagnosed -- BangladeshThe stem rot disease has affected the pointed gourd cultivation in some areas of Naogaon district [Rajshahi Division]. Agriculture officers said the disease is caused by a fungus infection in the stem. It infects the plants that are in their vegetative or flowering stages.[A farmer] of the area said most of the green pointed gourd plants on his land have turned yellow as a result of stem rot disease. "I cannot recoup the production cost from the cultivation", he added. "We Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Influenza (10): South Korea
Influenza -- South KoreaThe number of South Koreans who have died after getting flu shots has risen to 48, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said on Saturday [24 Oct 2020], adding that the vaccines would continue to reduce the chance of having simultaneous epidemics.The health authorities said they found no direct link between the deaths and the shots. They plan to carry on with the state-run vaccination programme to try to avoid having to fight both the flu and the coronavirus Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (454): vaccine trials, immunity, reinfections, 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): 703 240 (4249) / 15 134 (157)European Region (61): 9 052 417 (221 898) / 265 998 (2049)South East Asia Region (10): 8 811 018 (66 084) / 138 771 (832)Eastern Mediterranean Region (22): 2 884 897 (24 624) / 73 266 (604)Region of the Americas (54): 19 317 767 (143 313) / 619 339 (2839)African Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Fowl typhoid – Honduras: (CM) poultry, OIE
Typhoid -- HondurasInformation received on 22 Oct 2020 from Dr Rafael Enrique Rodriguez Alvarado, [Head of the Animal Health Epidemiology Department, Animal Health Technical Sub directorate, National Service for Agriculture and Livestock (SENASA), Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock], Tegucigalpa, HondurasSummaryReport type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 24 Sep 2020Date of confirmation of the event: 1 Oct 2020Report date: 20 Oct 2020Date submitted to OIE: 22 Oct 2020Reason Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Salmonellosis, st. Typhimurium – Europe, Canada (02): 2nd st import. Brazil nuts
Salmonella -- CanadaMore than 120 people are part of a multi-country _Salmonella_ outbreak linked to Brazil nuts. Since August 2019, the outbreak, caused by _Salmonella_ Typhimurium and _Salmonella_ Anatum, has affected 3 European Union countries, the United Kingdom and Canada. The United States was one of more than 30 countries that received Brazil nuts from Bolivia contaminated with _Salmonella_.In total, 123 cases of _Salmonella_ Typhimurium have been reported, of which 105 were in the UK, 14 Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Gonococcal disease – Spain: (CT) ceftriaxone/azithromycin resistance, 2013-2017
Gonorrhea, Antimicrobial resistance -- SpainCitation: Salmeron P, Vinado B, El Ouazzani R, et al.: Antimicrobial susceptibility of _Neisseria gonorrhoeae_ in Barcelona during a 5-year period, 2013 to 2017. Euro Surveill. 2020; 25(42):1900576; doi: .Introduction. Gonorrhoea is the 2nd most reported bacterial sexually transmitted infection (STI), after chlamydia. Untreated gonorrhoea can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility in women and epididymitis and orchitis in men. In the European Read more [...]
PRO/AH> Acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease – Japan: (ON) shrimp, 1st rep, OIE
Other Animal Disease -- JapanInformation received on [and dated] 21 Oct 2020 from Dr. Norio Kumagai, Director, Chief Veterinary Officer, Animal Health Division, Food Safety and Consumer Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Tokyo, JapanSummaryReport type: Immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 8 Oct 2020Date of confirmation of the event: 18 Oct 2020Reason for notification: 1st occurrence of a listed disease in the countryCausal agent: _Vibrio parahaemolyticus_Nature Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (453): rapid breath test, excess mortality, masks, WHO, global
COVID-19 -- Worldwide/UnknownFirst, many thanks for providing everyone with all the highly accurate and up-to-date information each day.However, to me, there seems to be an error in the moderator's comments concerning the point "[2] USA: excess mortality." There, in the 1st sentence [the moderator] makes the rough calculation, "If you add the almost 200 000 deaths to the most recent mortality figures of slightly over 225 000 deaths, the estimated mortality directly attributable to the SARS-CoV-2 Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Bluetongue – Europe (11): Serbia (RS, RN) sheep, serotype 4, OIE
Bluetongue -- SerbiaInformation received on [and dated] 21 Oct 2020 from Dr Emina Milakara, DVM, Veterinary Services, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management, Belgrade, SerbiaSummaryReport type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 7 Oct 2020Date of confirmation of the event: 19 Oct 2020Reason for notification: recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: 14 Jun 2017Manifestation of disease: clinical diseaseCausal agent: bluetongue virusSerotype: Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Insecticide resistance in Aedes mosquitoes – USA: (Texas)
Pests -- United StatesEvery summer, vector control teams throughout the country work to minimize the mosquito population in their areas. After all, mosquitoes aren't just the uninvited guests at your backyard barbecue that leave you with itchy, red bumps; they can spread diseases [viruses] including Zika, West Nile, St. Louis encephalitis, dengue fever, yellow fever, and chikungunya.So, what happens when those control methods become less effective? That's a question the state of Texas is facing now."Recent Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (452): Chile (RM) animal, cat, OIE
COVID-19 -- ChileInformation received on [and dated] 22 Oct 2020 from Dr. Oscar Eduardo Videla Perez, Head of the Livestock Protection Division, Agricultural and Livestock Service, Ministry of Agriculture, Santiago, ChileSummaryReport type: Immediate notification (final report)Date of start of the event: 1 May 2020Date of confirmation of the event: 1 Oct 2020Report date: 22 Oct 2020Date submitted to OIE: 22 Oct 2020Reason for notification: Emerging diseaseMorbidity: 5 (scale 0 to Read more [...]
PRO/ALL> New in IJID (10): October 2020
COVID-19, Not Yet Classified, Dengue, Japanese Encephalitis, Hepatitis, HIV/AIDS, Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease, Tuberculosis, Schistosomiasis, Influenza, Carbapenem-resistant enterobacteriaceae (CRE) -- Worldwide/UnknownITP following vaccinationPaula David, Yehuda ShoenfeldInt J Infect Dis. 2020; 99(Oct): 243-244A call for strengthened evidence on targeted, non-pharmaceutical interventions against COVID-19 for the protection of vulnerable individuals in sub-Saharan AfricaRobert Colebunders, Joseph Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> St. Louis encephalitis – USA (03): (CA)
St. Louis Encephalitis -- United StatesFor the 1st time in nearly a half-century, San Joaquin County health officials say they have confirmed a human case of St. Louis encephalitis virus (SLEV).Back in August [2020], county public health officials say they found SLEV in mosquitoes collected near Lodi. It was the 1st time since 1973 that officials had detected the virus in the county.Then, on Thursday [22 Oct 2020], public health officials announced that a Stockton resident had a confirmed case of Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (450): animal, cattle, research, experimental infection
COVID-19 -- Worldwide/UnknownWe inoculated 6 cattle with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 [SARS-CoV-2] and kept them together with 3 uninoculated cattle. We observed viral replication and specific seroreactivity in 2 inoculated animals, despite high levels of preexisting antibody titers against a bovine betacoronavirus. The in-contact animals did not become infected.--Communicated by:Mary Marshall[Coronaviruses are known to cause a variety of diseases affecting mammals and birds. In Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Salmonellosis, st Enteritidis – USA (02): peaches, Canada cases
Salmonella -- United StatesCDC, public health and regulatory officials in several states, FDA, and the Public Health Agency of Canada investigated a multistate outbreak of _Salmonella_ Enteritidis infections.Public health investigators used the PulseNet system to identify illnesses that were part of this outbreak. PulseNet is the national subtyping network of public health and food regulatory agency laboratories coordinated by CDC. DNA fingerprinting is performed on _Salmonella_ bacteria isolated Read more [...]
