Archive for Global Disease Alerts
PRO/AH/EDR> Heartland virus – USA (02): (IL)
Tick-borne disease -- United StatesResearchers have confirmed that Heartland virus, an emerging pathogen with potentially dire consequences for those infected, is present in Lone Star ticks in 2 Illinois counties hundreds of miles apart. Lone Star ticks were first detected in Illinois in 1999 but had not been found to be infected with Heartland virus in the state.The findings are reported in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases [see reference below].In July 2018, a resident of Kankakee County Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Salmonellosis, st Newport – USA (02): CDC, unidentified source
Salmonella -- United StatesSince the last update on 21 Jul 2020, an additional 87 ill people have been reported in this outbreak, including 38 from 8 new states: Arizona, Florida, Idaho, Maine, North Dakota, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Virginia.As of 23 Jul 2020, a total of 212 people infected with the outbreak strain of _Salmonella [enterica_ serotype] Newport have been reported from 23 states.State / Ill people----------------Arizona / 13California / 10Florida / 1Idaho / 5Illinois / 9Iowa / Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (331): Southern hemisphere influenza, WHO, global
COVID-19 -- Worldwide/Unknown- Dr. Tedros, in his media briefing yesterday [23 Jul 2020], reminded people not to let their guard down "we will not be going back to the 'old normal'. The pandemic has already changed the way we live our lives. Part of adjusting to the 'new normal' is finding ways to live our lives safely."- As the possibility of a protracted pandemic becomes increasingly likely, countries are encouraged to conduct periodic reviews of their national and subnational COVID-19 response. Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (330): China (Hong Kong) animal, cat, OIE
COVID-19 -- ChinaInformation received on [and dated] 24 Jul 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: 21 Jul 2020Date of confirmation of the event: 23 Jul 2020Report date: 24 Jul 2020Date submitted to OIE: 24 Jul 2020Reason for Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Rabbit hemorrhagic disease – USA (08): (UT) domestic, wild
Other Animal Disease -- United StatesRabbit hemorrhagic disease, previously found in domestic rabbits at a private Utah farm, has now been found in wild rabbit populations in the state.Not related to the COVID-19 virus that infects humans, the disease is highly contagious and causes rapid rabbit death, killing one to five days after exposure according to Utah's Division of Wildlife Resources [DWR]. Officials there want Utahn's to contact them if they see multiple dead wild rabbits in an area. The Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Hepatitis C – Australia: (QL) correctional centers
Hepatitis C -- AustraliaPressure is mounting on the Queensland Government to implement needle and syringe programs (NSPs) in the state's correctional centers amid an outbreak of hepatitis C at a Far North Queensland prison. Darren Russell from the Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service said most of those cases were linked to the Lotus Glen Correctional Centre. "What we are seeing is increasing amounts of injecting drug use [at the prison], and that is occurring particularly in a group Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Ebola update (34): Congo DR (EQ)
Ebola -- DR CongoAs the coronavirus spread in January [2020], Fallah met with the Liberian president George Weah to form a coronavirus task force that included many of the same doctors and public health experts that led the Ebola response. The group resurrected the main pillars of outbreak response. This included acquiring coronavirus tests from the World Health Organization (WHO), coordinating teams of people to trace contacts, and communicating health messages to the public. In operation centres Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (329): China seafood plant, ACEIs & ARBs, WHO, global
COVID-19 -- ChinaIn this 2nd monthly update of our living review (1), we searched MEDLINE (Ovid) weekly from [9 Jun 2020] to [6 Jul 2020] using the same search strategy as described in the original review. We did not limit by language. This search update yielded 91 results (de-duplicated). After an independent dual-review process, we identified 3 new meta-analyses, 5 new observational studies, and one in-progress trial for inclusion.New evidence------------Results of 3 new meta-analyses (2-4) Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> COVID-19 update (328): vaccine, scaling up testing, WHO, global
COVID-19 -- Worldwide/UnknownIn the week leading up to [13 Jul 2020], daily diagnostic testing capacity in the United States was fluctuating between 520 000 and 823 000 tests. Models that provide robust estimates of the number of tests needed per day vary widely. Some experts estimated that 900 000 tests per day would be needed in May [2020]. Others forecasted the need for 5 million tests per day by June [2020], increasing to 20 million tests per day by July [2020].Test performance (the limit of Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Eastern equine encephalitis – North America (02): USA (FL, MA, SC) horse
Eastern Equine Encephalitis -- United StatesEEE/WEE vaccines currently available are formalin-inactivated adjuvanted whole virus products. Early testing of bivalent (EEE/WEE) vaccines was performed by intracranial challenge with either EEE or WEE; the formalin-inactivated preparations were shown to be highly efficacious in protecting against clinical disease.Currently, the only available VEE vaccines are killed products; an MLV would likely be conditionally released in the face of an outbreak."Vaccination Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Japanese encephalitis & other – India (09): (AS)
Japanese Encephalitis -- IndiaAt least 48 persons have lost their lives in Japanese encephalitis (JE) and other such acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) out of 331 cases across Assam this year [2020], the National Health Mission (NHM) said on Wednesday [22 Jul 2020]. The National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP) held a video conference with all districts to review the status of AES and JE in Assam, a joint statement by the health department and the NHM's state unit said."The state currently Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Announcements (02): OIE COVID-19 portal
COVID-19 -- Worldwide/UnknownIn July 2020, the OIE created a portal for COVID-19 information. The site provides useful information on the OIE's COVID-19 activities during the pandemic and includes OIE's response, questions and answers, events in animals, expert groups and guidance, and media resources."In a few months, the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted our communities and ways of life. With devastating effects on society in nearly all countries of the globe, it has also heavily challenged our food Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Rabies (21): Asia (Kazakhstan) cattle, OIE
Rabies -- KazakhstanInformation received on [and dated] Wed 22 Jul 2020 from Dr Tursyn Kabduldanov, Deputy Chairman, Committee for Veterinary Control and Supervision, Ministry of Agriculture, Nur-Sultan, KazakhstanSummaryReport type: immediate notificationStart date: 6 May 2020Date of confirmation of the event: 29 May 2020Reason for notification: 1st occurrence of a listed diseaseManifestation of disease: clinical diseaseCausal agent: rabies virusSerotype: RABVNature of diagnosis: clinical, Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Lumpy skin disease – Nepal: cattle, 1st rep, susp.
Lumpy Skin Disease -- NepalA new virus has been found in cows in Nepal. Symptoms of fainting due to fever and sores on the body of the cow have been seen. According to Dr. Sanjay Yadav, head of the Animal Research Laboratory, Biratnagar, 400 cows have fallen ill in the last one month in Morang alone.He informed that the lesions seen on the body on the previous day would spread all over the body the next day; fever up to 104-105 deg F [40.0-40.6 deg C] was recorded. He said that the problem has been Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Salmonellosis, st. Newport – USA: CDC, unidentified source, RFI
Salmonella -- United StatesCalifornia / 3Illinois / 1Iowa / 3Michigan / 12Minnesota / 3Missouri / 2Montana / 11North Carolina / 3Ohio / 5Oregon / 42Tennessee / 1Utah / 28Washington / 1Wisconsin / 1Wyoming / 9-----------------Total / 125Illnesses started on dates ranging from 19 Jun 2020 to 7 Jul 2020. Ill people range in age from 2 to 92 years, with a median age of 38. Of the ill people, 56% are female. Of 72 ill people with information available, 24 hospitalizations have been Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Dengue/DHF update (08): Asia, Pacific
Dengue -- Sri Lanka- Wallis and Futuna. 22 Jun 2020. DENV-2 identified: The outbreak has been declared over and the alert has been removed from the map. Source: Personal communication from country officials on 22 Jun 2020.[HealthMap/ProMED maps:Marshall Islands: Yap State, Micronesia: Cook Islands: Wallis and Futuna: ]--Communicated by:ProMED-mail[Dengue fever is a major public health problem worldwide. The vector-borne acute febrile viral illness has widespread distribution throughout Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (327): risk activities, USA prevalence studies, WHO, global
COVID-19 -- United StatesSummaryWhat is already known about this topic?No state has conducted a random sample study to determine the population prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection at a given point in time.What is added by this report?In a random sample of Indiana residents aged greater than or equal to 12 years, the estimated prevalence of current or previous SARS-CoV-2 infection in late April 2020 was 2.79%. Among persons with active infection, 44% reported no symptoms.What are the implications for Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> African swine fever – Europe (17): Russia (ZB) domestic, OIE
African Swine Fever -- RussiaInformation received on [and dated] 21 Jul 2020 from Dr Nikolay Vlasov, Deputy Head, Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance, Ministry of Agriculture, Moscow, RussiaSummaryReport type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 9 Jul 2020Date of confirmation of the event: 14 Jul 2020Reason for notification: recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: 21 Jul 2020Reason for notification: 1st occurrence of a listed diseaseManifestation Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Lactococcus garvieae – USA: (CA) emerging fish pathogen
Other Animal Disease -- United StatesCalifornia will kill 3.2 million trout to stop the outbreak of a bacterial infection threatening hatcheries, wildlife officials said Monday [20 Jul 2020].The trout, which are used to stock waterways for recreational fishing, are in 2 hatcheries in the Owens Valley in the eastern Sierra and one hatchery in the Mojave Desert city of Victorville, northeast of Los Angeles.Fish at the hatcheries have been infected with _Lactococcus garvieae_, which is similar to streptococcus, Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> West Nile virus: Europe (Germany) crow, zoo, OIE
West Nile Virus -- GermanyInformation received on [and dated] 17 Jul 2020 from Dr Dietrich Rassow, Director for Animal Health and Animal Welfare, Chief Veterinary Officer, Directorate of Animal Health and Animal Welfare, Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Berlin, GermanySummaryReport type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 13 Jul 2020Date of confirmation of the event: 15 Jul 2020Reason for notification: recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: 21 Feb Read more [...]
PRO/PL> High Plains wheat mosaic virus, wheat & maize – Europe: 1st rep (Ukraine)
Other Plant Disease -- UkraineIn 2018, more than 40 wheat (_Triticum aestivum_) samples showing symptoms of leaf streak were collected in the Ukraine and tested for the presence of _Wheat streak mosaic virus_ (_Tritimovirus_, WSMV). Despite the presence of symptoms and of the mite vector (_Aceria tosichella_), WSMV was not found, but transmission electron microscopy revealed the presence of an emaravirus.Further studies confirmed the occurrence [of] _High Plains wheat mosaic virus_ (_Emaravirus_, Read more [...]
PRO/PL> Fireblight, apple – Norway: (RO)
Other Plant Disease -- NorwayFor the 1st time, fireblight has been detected in commercial fruit production in Norway. The infectious plant disease was found on apple trees of Gravenstein [variety].The trees that were discovered in an orchard in Strand in Rogaland [county], were planted in the autumn of 2019 and the spring of 2020 and are from the Netherlands. There are occurrences of fireblight [and] also beehives [see comments below] in the area, but this is the 1st finding in a [commercial planting Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (326): mosquito non-transm, selected countries, WHO, global
COVID-19 -- United StatesAbstract--------This research addresses public speculation that SARS-CoV-2 might be transmitted by mosquitoes. The World Health Organization has stated "To date there has been no information nor evidence to suggest that the new coronavirus could be transmitted by mosquitoes." Here we provide the 1st experimental data to investigate the capacity of SARS-CoV-2 to infect and be transmitted by mosquitoes including tests of 3 widely distributed species of mosquito; _Aedes aegypti_, Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Typhoid fever – Pakistan: (KP)
Typhoid -- PakistanThe ongoing health crisis in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa appears to be compounded by the surge in typhoid fever cases. Already struggling to control the spread of the Covid-19 virus, the province is now dealing with a rapid increase in typhoid fever cases. According to details, in rural areas of the province, a significant number of households are suffering from the [potentially] life-threatening infection caused by the bacterium _Salmonella_ Typhi. The disease spreads through contaminated Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (325): reinfection, child transm, selected countries, WHO, global
COVID-19 -- Israel"We analyzed reports for 59 073 contacts of 5706 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) index patients reported in South Korea during [20 Jan 2020-27 Mar 2020]. Of 10 592 household contacts, 11.8% had COVID-19. Of 48 481 non-household contacts, 1.9% had COVID-19. Use of personal protective measures and social distancing reduces the likelihood of transmission."In the discussion section, the authors mention they found the highest COVID-19 rate (18.6% [95% CI 14.0%-24.0%]) for household contacts Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Plague – Mongolia (05): (HD) bubonic, marmot exposure
Plague -- MongoliaA 6-year-old child in Uyench soum (administrative subdivision) of Khovd [Hovd] Province in Mongolia was reported to be infected with bubonic plague in Western Mongolia, according to the country's National Center for Zoonotic Diseases (NCZD).The child is now under isolation at a local hospital, said Nyamdorj Tsogbadrakh, director of the NCZD on Fri 17 Jul 2020. The child showed symptoms of high-grade fever and skin rashes after playing with a dead marmot, the official added.A total Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Anthrax – Azerbaijan (03): (SA, ZR) sheep, cattle, OIE
Anthrax -- AzerbaijanInformation received on Thu 16 Jul 2020 from Dr Galib Abdulaliyev, Head, CVO, Animal Health Department, Azerbaijan Food Safety Agency, Baku, AzerbaijanSummary:Report type: Immediate notification Date of start of the event: 10 Jul 2020Date of confirmation of the event: 14 Jul 2020Report date: 16 Jul 2020Date submitted to OIE: 16 Jul 2020Reason for notification: Recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: 9 May 2020Manifestation of disease Clinical Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (324): Netherlands (NB) animal, farmed mink, spread
COVID-19 -- NetherlandsCoronavirus has been detected on another mink farm in the Netherlands, bringing the total to 25.The agriculture ministry confirmed that cubs being prepared for transport on the farm in Westerbeek, Noord-Brabant (North Brabant), tested positive for the virus. All 1100 adult females and their young will be put down. The government tightened transport restrictions for mink on 10 Jul 2020 in the light of previous outbreaks. So far, more than one million animals have been destroyed Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Ebola update (33): Congo DR (EQ)
Ebola -- DR CongoThe number of reported Ebola cases in western Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has surpassed the African nation's 2018 outbreak numbers in the same region, World Health Organization officials said on Thu 16 Jul 2020."There are now 56 cases, and this is of great concern, particularly as it is now surpassing the previous (2018) outbreak in this area, which was closed off and controlled at a total of 54 cases," said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO regional director for Africa, referring Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Haemophilus influenzae, type a – USA: (AK) invasive, Indigenous children
H. influenzae -- United States"Background. _Haemophilus influenzae_ serotype a (Hia) can cause invasive disease similar to serotype b; no Hia vaccine is available. We describe the epidemiology of invasive Hia disease in the United States overall and specifically in Alaska during 2008-2017."Methods. Active population- and laboratory-based surveillance for invasive Hia disease was conducted through Active Bacterial Core surveillance sites and from Alaska statewide invasive bacterial disease surveillance. Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (323): serial infection, Japan, selected countries, WHO, global
COVID-19 -- Japan- This genomic analysis of 34 412 SARS-CoV2 sequences deposited in the GISAID database found 2 dominant subclades of the virus co-circulating in Europe and the United States derived from the Wuhan HU-1 strain isolated in China in December 2019.- The dominant subclades were significantly associated with some of the high cumulative CFR [case fatality rate] regions in Western Europe, the United States, and in California, even after controlling for differences in the initiation of social Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Trypanosomiasis (Chagas disease) – USA: (TX) Triatoma gerstaeckeri
Chagas -- United StatesTexas A&M AgriLife Research entomologists have seen an increase in "kissing bugs" collected in multiple regions of the state this year [2020]. The insects carry a parasite that can cause potentially fatal Chagas disease in humans and animals. "We have already collected over 300 adult kissing bug specimens [_Triatoma gerstaeckeri_] in a location where we only collected 6 individuals in 2019," said Gabriel Hamer, PhD, AgriLife Research entomologist, College Station. He is Read more [...]
PRO/AH> Strangles – North America (02): USA (MI) horse
Strangles -- United StatesHistorically, strangles got its name as affected horses were sometimes suffocated from large, infected lymph nodes that obstructed their upper airway or trachea. The hallmark clinical signs of infection are fever (temperature higher than 101.5 deg F/38.6 deg C), nasal discharge, and enlarged submandibular lymph nodes (in the space between the lower jawbones), which ultimately abscess. Purulent nasal discharge is typically present, although it may initially be clear. The Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (322): USA (SC) animal, dog
COVID-19 -- United StatesA dog in Charleston County (South Carolina) was confirmed to test positive for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 in humans. This is the first confirmed animal detection of SARS-CoV-2 in South Carolina.A private veterinarian decided to test the dog, an 8- or 9-year-old shepherd mix, after one of its owners was confirmed to have COVID-19, according to Clemson Livestock Poultry Health director and state veterinarian Dr Boyd Parr. Veterinary findings indicated the dog Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Vesicular stomatitis – USA (10): (MO,KS) horse, cattle
Vesicular Stomatitis -- United StatesMissouri now has its first confirmed case of a virus that affects hooved livestock, including horses and cattle. The Missouri Department of Agriculture says that Missouri state veterinarian Dr Steve Strubberg announced the state's first case of vesicular stomatitis in a horse in Newton County on Tuesday [14 Jul 2020]. Missouri is the 7th state to confirm the virus this year [2020].The Missouri Department of Agriculture is urging horse owners to monitor their livestock Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (321): airborne transmission & air conditioning, WHO, global
COVID-19 -- Worldwide/Unknown- WHO director-general Dr Tedros joined the leaders of Spain to pay tribute to those who lost their lives to COVID-19, and stated that "Spain has shown that with political leadership and action, backed by community support, COVID-19 can be controlled, no matter at what stage virus transmission is at in a country".- The WHO regional director for the Western Pacific, Dr Takeshi Kasai, praised New Zealand's success in controlling COVID-19, adding that it has been a concerted Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Bluetongue – Europe (04): North Macedonia, sheep, goat, st 4, spread, OIE
Bluetongue -- Republic of Macedonia (FYROM)Information received on [and dated] Fri 17 Jul 2020 from Dr Zoran Atanasov, director Food and Veterinary Agency, [Skopje, North Macedonia]Report type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 12 Jul 2020Date of confirmation of the event: 17 Jul 2020Reason for notification: recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: 27 Feb 2015Manifestation of disease: clinical diseaseCausal agent: bluetongue virusSerotype: 4Nature of diagnosis: clinical, Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Plague – USA: (CO) septicemic
Plague -- United StatesA Colorado resident was infected with the plague after a squirrel in the state tested positive for the bubonic plague, the first human case in the state since 2015, according to a report. The unnamed person, who lives in the south west section of the state, contracted septicemic plague earlier this summer and has since recovered, officials confirmed to the Denver Post. The person had had contact with sick squirrels.Septicemic plague is one of the 3 main forms of plague, the Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (320): Africa, selected countries, WHO, global
COVID-19 -- Worldwide/Unknown- 75 countries have submitted expressions of interest to protect their populations and those of other nations through joining the COVAX Facility, a mechanism designed to guarantee rapid, fair and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines worldwide. The goal of COVAX is to deliver 2 billion doses of safe, effective vaccines that have passed regulatory approval and/or WHO prequalification.- WHO and UNICEF have warned of a decline in vaccinations, due to disruptions in delivery Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (319): Spain (AR) animal, farmed mink, 1st rep
COVID-19 -- SpainHealth authorities have ordered the culling of all 93 000 mink at a farm in eastern Spain to prevent human contagion after discovering that most of the animals there had been infected with the coronavirus. The farm in the village of La Puebla de Valverde in the region of Aragon, 200 km (125 miles) east of Madrid, came to the attention of the authorities after the wife of one of its workers tested positive in May [2020]. Joaquin Olona, head of the Aragon agriculture department, told Read more [...]
