Archive for Global Disease Alerts
PRO/AH/EDR> Toxic algae – USA: (FL) dog, fatal
Algae -- United StatesFoss, the chemist with Green Water Laboratories, said the 1st sign a dog has ingested toxic algae is typically an upset stomach and vomiting. The microcystin then heads to the liver followed by kidney failure, shock, and internal bleeding."It can be a pretty gruesome death," she said.Because veterinarians so rarely deal with cyanobacteria toxins, it's probably not a top suspect when a sick animal comes in, said El Cid Animal Clinic Medical Director Xavier Garcia. But even if Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Rift Valley fever – Madagascar (03): animal, human
Rift Valley Fever -- MadagascarFrom [26 Apr to 20 May 2021] 109 total, confirmed and suspected human Rift Valley fever (RVF) cases were reported in 4 regions of Madagascar (Vatovavy Fitovinany, Haute Matsiatra, Alaotra Mangoro, and Analamanga), according to the World Health Organization (WHO).A total of 10 cases were laboratory confirmed and 2 deaths were recorded. This followed reports from the Institut Pasteur in Madagascar which confirmed RVF by PCR in animals following alerts of abortion cases Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Powassan virus encephalitis – USA: (CT)
Encephalitis -- United StatesThe Department of Public Health [DPH] said 2 Connecticut residents have tested positive for a tick infection known as the Powassan virus.Officials said these are the 1st 2 cases identified this year [2021]. DPH officials said the 2 individuals are between the ages of 50 and 79 and are from Fairfield and New Haven counties. They became infected during the 3rd week of April [2021]. Lab testing in Colorado [CDC] confirmed the presence of virus antibodies.From 2016 to 2020, Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Foot & mouth disease – India (02): (KL) cattle, RFI
Foot and Mouth -- IndiaThe Animal Husbandry Department has ramped up measures to tackle the spread of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in Alappuzha.Around 3000 head of cattle have been affected by the outbreak in the district in the last 1.5 months. At least 193 cattle died of the disease during the period. Around 550 head of cattle have contracted the disease, and 100 perished in the worst-affected Ambalapuzha South and Ambalapuzha North grama panchayats [for Kerala's decentralised administrative structure Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Foodborne illness – Japan (TY): students, susp. milk vehicle
Foodborne Illness -- JapanNumerous students and preschoolers in the central Japan city of Toyama have developed symptoms such as stomachache in what appears to be a case of mass food poisoning, the city government said [Thu 17 Jun 2021].Milk served with school lunches is believed to be responsible for the ailments of those affected, sources at a local public health center said. The city government conducted an on-site inspection of the company that produced the milk in question to determine the cause Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> COVID-19 update (210): mucormycosis, Delta var US, quarantine transmission, WHO
COVID-19 -- Worldwide/UnknownThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) yesterday [Tue 15 Jun 2021] said that Delta, a highly transmissible COVID-19 variant first identified in India and currently sweeping through the United Kingdom, now makes up at least 10% of all US cases. On [22 May 2021], the variant had made up only 2.7% of cases.The CDC also now designated Delta as a variant of concern, which means the agency officially recognizes that the variant may carry a risk of more severe Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> E. coli EHEC – USA (09): (WA, AZ) O157, children, yogurt, recall
E. coli -- United StatesAnother child has been added to the list of patients in an _E. coli_ [O157] outbreak linked to local, organic yogurt. Some production at the implicated dairy, Pure Eire, remains shut down.The Washington Department of Health reported to Food Safety News that the state has confirmed 16 people are sick. As many as 10 have had such severe symptoms that they had to be admitted to hospitals. A total of 4 of the patients have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Salmonellosis, st Weltevreden – USA (02): (NV, AZ) cooked shrimp
Salmonella -- United StatesA week after announcing an outbreak, the FDA has determined that cooked shrimp is the likely source of _Salmonella_ [enterica_ serotype] Weltevreden infections in patients in 2 states. The most recent person became sick in late April 2021, according to a 78-word outbreak notation on a weekly data table posted by the Food and Drug Administration. The FDA reports that "it appears that the product lots linked to outbreak illnesses are past its shelf life and are no longer Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Ebola update (35): Mali, seroprevalence
Ebola -- MaliAbstract--------Mali had 2 reported introductions of Ebola virus (EBOV) during the 2013-2016 West Africa epidemic. Previously, no evidence for EBOV circulation was reported in Mali. We performed an EBOV serosurvey study in southern Mali. We found low seroprevalence in the population, indicating local exposure to EBOV or closely related ebolaviruses.ConclusionsGiven the limitations of our study and a conservative approach for interpretation, our results indicate that the population in Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Die-off, fish – Malaysia: shark, RFI
Animal Die-off -- MalaysiaMarine biologists are investigating a mystery skin disease afflicting whitetip reef sharks in Malaysia, with some early reports suggesting rising sea temperatures could be to blame.Named for the distinctive white tips on their fins, whitetip reef sharks are typically found resting in schools around reefs in the day and are a popular attraction for divers. They become active at night to hunt for small fish and other animals.Pictures of one of the sharks with what appeared Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Lumpy skin disease – Asia (07): Cambodia (PH) cattle, 1st rep, OIE
Lumpy Skin Disease -- CambodiaSummaryReport type: immediate notificationStarted: 27 May 2021Confirmed: 4 Jun 2021Reported: 16 Jun 2021Reason for notification: 1st occurrence in the countryCausal agent: lumpy skin disease virusNature of diagnosis: clinical, laboratoryThis event pertains to a defined zone within the country.New outbreaksSummary of outbreaksTotal outbreaks (1)Outbreak location 1: Akphivoath Village, Pal Hal, Tbaeng Mean Chey, Preah VihearStarted: 27 May 2021Epidemiological unit: Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Calendar (01): FAO, OIE webinar: Stop ASF, public/private partnering for success
African Swine Fever — Worldwide/Unknown
PRO/AH/EDR> Salmonellosis, st Enteritidis – USA (02): peaches, possible aerosol spread, 2020
Salmonella -- United StatesIn a new report, the FDA details how airborne contamination can spread pathogens from farms and animal operations to fruit orchards. Over 100 eaters were sickened last summer in a major _Salmonella [enterica_ serotype] Enteritidis outbreak that food safety experts linked to a rather surprising source: peaches. According to national foodborne illness records dating back 50 years, there had been only 3 other peach-associated outbreaks in the USA, and none of them involved Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Salmonellosis, st Enteritidis – New Zealand: possible egg source
Salmonella -- New ZealandOfficials in New Zealand are investigating a _Salmonella_ outbreak that has sickened 35 people so far in 2021. _Salmonella [enterica_ serotype] Enteritidis sequence type 11 (ST 11) was first detected in 2019 in an outbreak traced to a restaurant in the Auckland region. Since May 2019, the number of patients associated with this strain is 101, and from 2019 it has been found in 4 other outbreaks. The majority of people sick from January to April 2021 live in the Auckland region, Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (209): blood clots, missed early cases, food packaging, Israel
COVID-19 -- Worldwide/UnknownMass vaccination has the potential to curb the current COVID-19 pandemic by protecting individuals who have been vaccinated against the disease and possibly lowering the likelihood of transmission to individuals who have not been vaccinated. The high effectiveness of the widely administered BNT162b vaccine from Pfizer-BioNTech in preventing not only the disease but also infection with SARS-CoV-2 suggests a potential for a population-level effect, which is critical for Read more [...]
PRO/AH> Anthrax – Tanzania: hippopotamus movements & outbreaks
Anthrax -- TanzaniaAbstract--------Globally, anthrax outbreaks pose a serious threat to people, livestock, and wildlife. Furthermore, environmental change can exacerbate these outbreak dynamics by altering the host-pathogen relationship. However, little is known about how the quantitative spatial dynamics of host movement and environmental change may affect the spread of _Bacillus anthracis_, the causative agent of anthrax. Here, we use real-time observations and high-resolution tracking data from Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Campylobacteriosis – USA (02): (ID) unpasteurized milk
Campylobacter -- United States"In the context of the prevailing trend toward more natural products, there seems to be an increasing preference for raw milk consumption as raw milk is associated with several perceived health benefits that are believed to be destroyed upon heating. However, many human pathogens can be isolated from raw cow milk. The prevalence of foodborne pathogens in raw cow milk varies, but their presence has been demonstrated in many surveys and foodborne infections have been repeatedly Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> African swine fever – Asia (17): Myanmar (SH) domestic, OIE
African Swine Fever -- MyanmarGeneral informationReport type: immediate notificationStarted on: 1 Jun 2021Confirmed on: 7 Jun 2021Reported on: 9 Jun 2021Reason for notification: recurrenceLast occurrence: 9 Oct 2020Causal agent: African swine fever virusNature of diagnosis: necropsy, clinical, laboratoryThis event pertains to a defined zone within the country.Outbreak location: Keng Tung, Kengtung, ShanDate of start of the outbreak: 1 Jun 2021Epidemiological unit: farmAffected animalsSpecies / Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (208): USA, physician mortality, healthcare workers, Novavax, WHO
COVID-19 -- United StatesAt least 8 states are recording rising 7-day averages for infection rates over the past 2 weeks, including Alabama, Arkansas, Hawaii, Missouri, Nevada, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming. Of those states, only Hawaii has a vaccination rate of 43% or more, which matches the average across the country.The slight increase in virus activity comes as most states are reopening fully, and many states are now choosing to report new cases less frequently than they did 1 year ago.At least 24 Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update (12): Africa (Nigeria)
Cholera -- NigeriaThe number of lives lost to the recent cholera outbreak in Bauchi State has risen to 37. The immediate-past Commissioner for Health in the state, Dr. Aliyu Maigoro, had on [Tue 25 May 2021], announced the outbreak in the state, with a 37-year-old housewife who reportedly had the disease at the Burra General Hospital on [Sat 24 Apr 2021]. Maigoro disclosed then that 20 people had died from the disease, while 322 people affected were being managed.Meanwhile, the Bauchi State Primary Read more [...]
PRO/AH> African swine fever – Asia (16): India (MZ) domestic, spread
African Swine Fever -- IndiaIt seems that Northeast India's tussle with African swine fever [ASF] is not over yet. After killing thousands of pigs in 2020 in Assam, it has turned towards Mizoram. The National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD) of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research in Bhopal has confirmed the recent deaths of pigs in Mizoram to be caused by ASF.ASF was 1st detected in Mizoram on 21 Mar 2021 at Lungsen village, prompting the creation of Rapid Response Teams Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Plague – USA (04): (CO) cat
Plague -- United StatesA cat living near North Foothills Highway and Plateau Road in Boulder County was examined by a veterinarian on [Wed 2 Jun 2021], tested positive for plague. The cat's owner was concerned when the cat became ill 2-3 weeks after being found with a baby rabbit.This is the 1st time plague activity has been confirmed in Boulder County this season and public health officials want to remind residents of how to protect themselves against plague. Boulder County Parks and Open Space Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Anthemosoma garnhami – South Africa: rodent piroplasm, HIV-infected patient
Other Human Disease -- South AfricaAbstract--------An HIV-positive man from Zimbabwe living in South Africa sought treatment for multiple clinical signs, including fever, weight loss, anemia, and splenomegaly. We identified in his blood an African rodent piroplasm, _Anthemosoma garnhami_, related to _Babesia_ species. This finding extends the known geographic and host range of _A. garnhami_.A 24-year-old man from Zimbabwe complaining of a 3-month period of generalized body pains, drenching night Read more [...]
PRO/PL> Stolbur leaf scorch, pistachio – Turkey: (KI)
Other Plant Disease -- TurkeyPhytoplasma disease in pistachios in Kilis province was high this year [2021] due to low seasonal precipitation and temperature. Samples were taken from orchards and sent to Adana Agricultural Protection and Pistachio Research Institute for analysis. The disease is increasing in pistachio orchards in Kilis, an important area for pistachio production in Turkey, and is devastating producers.The Provincial Director of Agriculture and Forestry said, "The disease was characterized Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Contagious equine metritis – UK: (England) horse, OIE
Other Animal Disease -- United KingdomReport type: immediate notificationStarted: 9 Jun 2021Confirmed: 9 Jun 2021Reported: 10 Jun 2021Reason for notification: recurrence of a listed diseaseLast occurrence: 6 Apr 2020Causal agent: _Taylorella equigenitalis_Nature of diagnosis: clinical, laboratoryThis event pertains to the whole country.New outbreaks (1)Outbreak location 1: West Devon, Devon, EnglandStarted: 9 Jun 2021Ended: ongoingEpidemiological unit: otherAffected animals:Species / Susceptible Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> COVID-19 update (207): animal, Spain (GA) mink, OIE
COVID-19 -- SpainSummaryReport type: immediate notificationStart on: 26 May 2021Confirmed on: 8 Jun 2021Reported on: 10 Jun 2021Event status: ongoingReason for notification: emerging diseaseEvent morbidity (%): 0.01Event mortality: -Zoonotic potential: yesDiagnostic details: laboratory testCausal agent: SARS-CoV-2This event pertains to a defined zone within the country.New outbreaks (1)Outbreak location 1: Carral, A Coruña, GaliciaStarted on: 26 May 2020Ended on: Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Rabbit hemorrhagic disease – Luxembourg: (LU) domestic, RHDV2, OIE
Hemorrhagic Fever -- LuxembourgSummaryReport type: immediate notificationStarted: 3 Jun 2021Confirmed: 7 Jun 2021Reported: 10 Jun 2021Reason for notification: recurrenceLast occurrence: 31 Dec 2008Causal agent: rabbit hemorrhagic disease virusGenotype: RHDV2Nature of diagnosis: clinical, laboratoryThis event pertains to the whole country.New outbreaks:Summary of outbreaksTotal outbreaks (1)Outbreak location 1: Eischen, Hobscheid, Capellen, LuxembourgStarted: 3 Jun 2021Ended: 7 Jun Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Influenza (09): Germany, swine origin, H1N1v
Influenza -- GermanyThe World Health Organization (WHO) reports on a a human case of infection with an influenza A(H1N1)v virus in Germany recently. The individual infected is a 17-year-old boy from Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania who developed an influenza-like illness onset on [18 Apr 2021].The virus was confirmed with genome sequencing conducted at the National Influenza Centre (NIC) at the Robert Koch Institute in a sample collected as part of routine sentinel surveillance. Sequencing indicated Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Anthrax – Iran: (IL) livestock, susp, RFI
Anthrax -- IranThe Director General of Veterinary Medicine of Ilam said: the province is suspected to have anthrax in a village located in the Majin section of Darhshahr city and that all animals of this village were quarantined. In an interview with IRNA on [Sun 13 Jun 2021], Dr. Ramin Poranjef said: "according to the report of unusual losses of a number of cattle in a rural rancher, groups of veterinarians were sent to the site and began to investigate the current situation."He added: "This rural Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Poliomyelitis update (10): Senegal, cVDPV2
Polio -- SenegalThe EPI announced on Wednesday [9 Jun 2021] a polio national vaccination campaign for 17-19 Jun 2021 using the inactivated poliovirus vaccine [IPV] "to capture all children up through 5 years of age who were never vaccinated." "Since 2016, we have been conducting environmental surveillance. The poliovirus was identified through environmental surveillance in the wastewater treatment station in Khourounar (Pikine) and has been circulating in the sub-region [West Africa] and in neighboring Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Equine herpesvirus – North America (10): USA (PA) horses, new variant
Equine Herpes Virus -- United StatesAn outbreak of equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) at a Pennsylvania horse barn in March [2021] was caused by a new variant of the H752 genotype, researchers report.The H752 genotype has the potential to cause neurological disease. This new variant has a particular mutation in the ORF 30 gene, similar to that reported in a recent outbreak from France, the study team reported.The mutation is at a pivotal nucleotide position which has previously been shown to discriminate Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> COVID-19 update (206): Long COVID, Russia, China, T cell cytotoxicity, WHO
COVID-19 -- RussiaAt Yale School of Medicine, Connecticut, immunologist Prof Akiko Iwasaki has spent much of the past year trying to tease apart the differences between how men and women respond to the Sars-CoV-2 virus. One of her early findings was that T cells - a group of cells important to the immune system which seek out and destroy virus-infected cells - are much more active in women than men in the early stages of infection. One component of this is thought to be due to genetics."Women have Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (83): Iraq (WA) poultry, HPAI H5N8 susp, spread, RFI
Avian Influenza H5N8 -- Iraq[The following report, based upon the above and 4 additional Iraqi media sources in Arabic, has been translated and submitted by a reliable source who preferred to remain unnamed. ProMED-mail is very grateful to the submitter]. Media news articles [in Arabic, translated, edited] reported in [13-14 Jun 2021] that Wasit (Governorate's) Agriculture Directorate clarified that the avian influenza infection (most likely HPAI H5N8) that has been reported, was in one of the unauthorized Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Plague – Congo DR (03): (IT) pneumonic, fatal
Plague -- DR CongoIn a follow-up to a report on a plague outbreak in Ituri province in northeast Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), officials say they are investigating a cluster of deaths due to suspected pneumonic plague were recorded in the health zone of Fataki, Ituri province. The cluster, which began on 22 Apr 2021, has resulted in 19 suspected pneumonic plague cases, including 11 deaths were recorded in 2 health areas (Bu-Kachele and Bule) of the Fataki health zone.The patients presented Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Salmonellosis – USA (03): increase in antimicrobial resistance
Antimicrobial resistance -- United StatesThe annual incidence of resistant nontyphoidal _Salmonella_ infections was 40% higher in 2015 and 2016 compared with the years 2004 to 2008, according to a study published in Emerging Infectious Diseases [see reference below]."_Salmonella_ is a major cause of foodborne illness in the USA. Antimicrobial-resistant infections pose a particular threat to public health because they are linked to more severe illness," Felicita Medalla, MD, MS, an epidemiologist Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> E. coli EHEC – Ireland (03): children, outdoor play
E. coli -- Ireland1. Hussein HS, Omaye ST. Introduction to the food safety concerns of verotoxin-producing _Escherichia coli_. Exp Biol Med (Maywood). 2003; 228(4): 331-2; abstract available at .2. Blanco J, Blanco M, Blanco JE, et al. Verotoxin-producing _Escherichia coli_ in Spain: prevalence, serotypes, and virulence genes of O157:H7 and non-O157 VTEC in ruminants, raw beef products, and humans. Exp Biol Med. 2003; 228(4): 345-51; abstract available at .3. Law D, Kelly J. Use of heme and hemoglobin Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (82): Europe (Germany, Estonia) wild bird, HPAI H5N1, OIE
Avian Influenza H5N1 -- GermanySummaryReport type: immediate notificationStarted: 20 Apr 2021Confirmed: 26 Apr 2021Reported: 8 Jun 2021Reason for notification: new strain in a zone or a compartmentCausal agent: Highly pathogenic avian influenza virusSerotype: H5N1Nature of diagnosis: laboratoryThis event pertains to a defined zone within the country.New outbreaks (1)Summary of outbreaksTotal outbreaks (1)Outbreak location 1: HamburgStarted: 20 Apr 2021Epidemiological unit: not Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Bovine congestive heart failure – USA
Other Animal Disease -- United StatesInstances of bovine congestive heart failure (BCHF) in feedlot cattle have been increasing. This disease is essentially untreatable -- and usually fatal -- involving right ventricular failure, though it may begin with left-heart dysfunction in many cases. This makes it different from right-heart failure (brisket disease) at high altitudes because BCHF affects both sides of the heart.Congestive heart failure itself can occur with other conditions such as hardware Read more [...]
PRO/AH> Anthrax – Tanzania (02): hippopotamus outbreaks, comment
Anthrax — Tanzania