Archive for Global Disease Alerts
PRO/EDR> Poliomyelitis update (07): Pakistan (KP)
Polio -- PakistanSix more polio cases have surfaced in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, after which the 2019 tally in the province has mounted to 97.The Health Ministry said the new cases, 4 girls and 2 boys, have emerged from Lakki Marwat and Torghar districts. As the samples of the affected children were taken in December 2019, therefore, the tally will be counted in the 2019 cases. The overall 2019 toll in the country stands at 141 after emergence of fresh polio cases. This has made 2019 one of the worst years Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Novel coronavirus (04): China (HU), Thailand ex China, WHO
Coronavirus -- ChinaThe new virus behind recent pneumonia cases in Wuhan is unlikely to cause a widespread, deadly epidemic like SARS [Severe acute respiratory syndrome], scientists say, as revelations that a Chinese tourist in Thailand had not visited the market linked to the outbreak raised fears of a potential spread of the disease.The woman, 61, who was confirmed by Thai authorities to have the new virus, had not visited the now-closed mainland seafood market associated with the outbreak, the Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Dengue/DHF update (01): Americas
Dengue -- Worldwide/UnknownCases by Country / Week updated / Serotype / Total / Conf. / Severe / DeathsNorth AmericaUSA / 52 [w/e 27 Dec 2019] / D? / 1158 / 1158 / 21 / 0Central America and MexicoBelize / 47 [w/e 22 Nov 2019] / D1,2 / 7174 / 2717 / 109 / 0Costa Rica / 50 [w/e 13 Dec Oct 2019] / D1,2 / 9074 / 330 / 11 / 0El Salvador / 52 [w/e 27 Dec 2019] / D2 / 27 470 / 768 / 106/ 14Guatemala / 48 [w/e 29 Nov 2019] / D1,2,3,4 / 48 158 / 1317 / 105 / 61Honduras / 52 [w/e 27 Dec 2019] / D1,2 / 112 Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Classical swine fever – Japan (01): (ON) domestic, long-distance spread, OIE
Classical Swine Fever -- JapanThe agriculture ministry said on Wed [8 Jan 2020] that a classical swine fever [CSF] infection has been confirmed at a pig farm in the prefecture of Okinawa for the 1st time since the autumn of 1986.The Okinawa Prefectural Government plans to cull more than 1800 pigs at the farm in the city of Uruma and at another farm where infection is suspected, in accordance with the law [see OIE's data in the commentary. - Mod.AS].In September 2018, the 1st CSF outbreak in Japan Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Kyasanur Forest disease – India (03): (KA) human, fatal
Hemorrhagic Fever -- IndiaA 58-year-old woman from Seegemakki village in Tumari Gram Panchayat limits in Sagar taluk died due to Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD), also known as monkey fever, at a private hospital in Manipal in Udupi district on [Sat 11 Jan 2020].The deceased, H, who had complained of high fever and aches in joints was admitted to government sub-divisional hospital in Sagar city for treatment on [Tue 7 Jan 2020]. Her blood tested positive for KFD.Rajesh Suragihalli, District Health Officer, Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Human enterovirus 71 – USA: 2018
Enterovirus -- United StatesMessacar K, Spence-Davizon E, Osborne C, et al. Clinical characteristics of enterovirus A71 neurological disease during an outbreak in children in Colorado, USA, in 2018: an observational cohort study. Lancet Infect Dis. 2019; pii: S1473-3099(19)30632-2. doi: 10.1016/S1473-3099(19)30632-2. [Epub ahead of print]; ]--Communicated by:ProMED-mail[Enterovirus 71 (EV71 or EV-A71) is one of a large family of viruses that multiply in the human gastrointestinal tract (gut). EV71 Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Novel coronavirus (03): China (HU) animal reservoir suggested, RFI
Coronavirus -- China1. Monchatre-Leroy E, Boue F, Boucher JM, et al. Identification of alpha and beta coronavirus in wildlife species in France: bats, rodents, rabbits, and hedgehogs. Viruses. 2017; 9(12): 364. doi:10.3390/v9120364; .2. Li W, Shi Z, Yu M, et al. Bats are natural reservoirs of SARS-like coronaviruses. Science. 2005; 310(5748): 676-9. doi: 10.1126/science.1118391; .- Mod.ASThe SARS epidemic (caused by a Co-V) of 2002-2003 started at a Chinese live animal market. The source of the virus Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Bluetongue – Europe (01): Switzerland (BE) cattle, BTV-8, OIE
Bluetongue -- SwitzerlandInformation received on [and dated] 10 Jan 2020 from Mr Hans Wyss, Chief Veterinary Officer, Schwarzenburgstrasse 161, Swiss Federal Veterinary Office, Liebefeld Berne, SwitzerlandSummaryReport type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 7 Jan 2020Date of confirmation of the event: 8 Jan 2020Report date: 10 Jan 2020Date submitted to OIE: 10 Jan 2020Reason for notification: recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: 13 Dec 2019Manifestation of Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Salmonellosis – Argentina: (SA)
Salmonella -- ArgentinaAn emergency committee to control the sale of food has been created in a city in northwest Argentina after a spike in _Salmonella_ cases in early 2020. There have been 51 confirmed cases of salmonellosis in Salta so far in 2020. At least 5 people have been hospitalized but recovered after treatment.The committee will be responsible for controlling food sold on public roads at street stalls and at commercial premises. It includes experts from the National University of Salta Read more [...]
PRO/PL> Cucurbit aphid-borne yellows virus – Germany, Indonesia
Other Plant Disease -- GermanySince its initial description, _Cucurbit aphid-borne yellows virus_ (CABYV) has been reported to infect cucurbits in progressively more countries, and it was recently reported to infect faba bean in Turkey.Chlorosis and yellowing with green-vein banding on older leaves were observed in surveys of cultivated cucumber fields in 2016 in Java, Indonesia. Initial dot immuno-binding assays detected 7 different viruses varying in frequency among over 500 samples from 27 locations. Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Rubella – Asia: Japan
Rubella -- JapanRubella reports in week 51 of 2019 [16 Dec - 22 Dec 2019], 6 cases were diagnosed with rubella and reported. Rubella in weeks 1-51---------------------The cumulative number of reported cases was 2294, an increase of 6288 from 2288 in week 50 (Figures 1, 2-1, and 2-2). Even if diagnosed in the 51st week, reports reported late on or after [26 Dec 2019] are not included, so care must be taken in interpreting the number of reports.Number of reported cases of congenital rubella Read more [...]
PRO/PL> Late blight, potato – India: (PB)
Other Plant Disease -- IndiaThe extreme cold of the past few weeks has adversely affected crops in the state of Punjab. After it detected signs of late blight in potato in Jalandhar and Hoshiarpur [districts], the agriculture department has issued an advisory to farmers in the region to save the remaining crop. The crop would have been ready in February [2020], but farmers say that about 20% of the crop is affected by the disease in the region.Late blight was noticed in those fields where farmers Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Undiagnosed illness – South Africa: (WC) poisoning susp., RFI
Poisoning -- South AfricaSix people collapsed and were taken to hospital -- 5 of them in a critical condition -- after apparently ingesting an unknown substance in the Cape Town suburb of Wetton on Monday [13 Jan 2020].ER24 spokesperson Russell Meiring said the ambulance service was initially alerted to several people in desperate need of help."It is believed to have been some sort of poisoning incident. All those affected had ingested some sort of substance which is not yet known," he told TimesLIVE.It Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (07): Hungary (KE) poultry, H5N8, OIE
Avian Influenza H5N8 -- HungaryThe H5N8 bird flu virus has been detected at a farm outside Acs, in Komarom-Esztergom county, national food safety authority Nebih said on Monday [12 Jan 2020].The chief public health officer has ordered that the entire stock of the farm, over 53 000 turkeys, should be culled and that poultry be kept indoors across the country, Nebih said.Nebih also said that the H5N8 strain has not spread to humans in Europe, and poultry products are safe to eat.Nebih has started monitoring Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Anthrax – Zimbabwe (04): (MV) cattle, humans
Anthrax -- Zimbabwe/ An outbreak of anthrax has hit Bikita District in Masvingo with 28 people reportedly diagnosed with the disease at different clinics so far. Masvingo Department of Veterinary Services provincial officer Dr. Ernest Dzimwasha confirmed.Bikita District Development Coordinator Mr. Bernard Hadzirambwi said most parts of Bikita East constituency were badly affected. "We are battling an anthrax outbreak in Bikita District, which until [Sat 11 Jan 2020] has killed 24 cattle in Ward 19 Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (06): China (XJ) wild bird, HPAI H5N6, OIE
Avian Influenza H5N6 -- ChinaInformation received on [and dated] 10 Jan 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: 29 Dec 2019Date of confirmation of the event: 8 Jan 2020Report date: 10 Jan 2020Date submitted to OIE: 10 Jan 2020Reason for notification: recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Novel coronavirus (02): Thailand ex China (HU) WHO
Coronavirus -- ChinaThe World Health Organization (WHO) is working with officials in Thailand and China following reports of confirmation of the novel coronavirus in a person in Thailand.The person was a traveler from Wuhan [Hubei], China, and was identified by Thai officials on [8 Jan 2020], and hospitalized that day. The person is recovering from the illness according to Thai officials.The possibility of cases being identified in other countries was not unexpected and reinforces why WHO calls for Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Novel coronavirus – China (01): (HU) WHO
Coronavirus -- ChinaOn [11 and 12 Jan 2020], WHO received further detailed information from the National Health Commission about the outbreak.WHO is reassured of the quality of the ongoing investigations and the response measures implemented in Wuhan and the commitment to share information regularly.The evidence is highly suggestive that the outbreak is associated with exposures in one seafood market in Wuhan. The market was closed on [1 Jan 2020]. At this stage, there is no infection among healthcare Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Ebola update (02): cases, South Sudan, WHO, Germany. RFI
Ebola — Worldwide/Unknown
PRO/EDR> Poliomyelitis update (06): Pakistan (SD)
Polio -- PakistanA 3-year-old boy in Thatta's Mirpur Sakhro has been diagnosed with polio in Sindh, bringing the total for 2019 to 25 cases and Pakistan's tally to 135. The Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) for polio in Sindh confirmed the case.This is not a case from 2020, as the 34-month boy was affected by polio with weakness in the left upper and lower limbs on [26 Dec 2019]. According to his parents, he had received 7 doses of the oral polio vaccine and 3 routine doses plus the IPV were verified Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (05): Slovakia (NI) backyard poultry, H5N8, OIE
Avian Influenza H5N8 -- SlovakiaInformation received on [and dated] 10 Jan 2020 from Dr. Jozef Bires, Director & Chief Veterinary Officer, State Veterinary and Food Administration, Ministry of Agriculture, Bratislava, SlovakiaSummaryReport type: Immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 9 Jan 2020Date of confirmation of the event: 9 Jan 2020Report date: 10 Jan 2020Date submitted to OIE: 10 Jan 2020Reason for notification: Recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: 22 May Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Tremorgenic toxin – Canada: (NS) dogs, susp.
Poisoning -- CanadaAn Amherst veterinarian is urging pet owners to always be aware of their animal's surroundings. This after 3 dogs in 5 days came down with a sudden illness having brought about seizures."The 1st case involved a dog walking with its owner at the golf club and on the way home in the car began to seize. It was put in a drug-induced coma and just got well enough to go home," Carolyn Hollis said. "It was a long process and it was a close call."Just as the 1st dog was recovering, someone Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Hantavirus – Americas (01): Argentina (BA)
Hantavirus -- ArgentinaA pregnant woman from an area in Buenos Aires [province] was admitted to hospital with [a] hantavirus [infection], so the local health authorities are investigating how she was infected in order to predict if there are possibilities of more cases.The patient is (currently) 28 weeks pregnant and was taken into the health system this past [5 Jan 2020] for a physical illness that later was recognized by the physicians attending her as [a] hantavirus [infection]; currently she Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Undiagnosed pneumonia – China (HU) (10): genome available, Hong Kong surveill.
Pneumonia -- ChinaFurther to our letter dated [9 Jan 2020], we would like to update you with the latest situation of the reported cluster of pneumonia cases in Wuhan, Hubei Province.After the preliminary determination that the pathogen of "viral pneumonia with unknown cause" is a novel coronavirus, the expert groups have immediately revised and improved the protocols on diagnosis, treatment and surveillance of viral pneumonia with unknown cause. The Wuhan Municipal Health Commission has arranged Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Poliomyelitis update (05): Malaysia (SA) RFI
Polio -- MalaysiaTwo more children have been confirmed infected with polio virus in Sabah after a 3-month baby boy was recorded having the disease in Tuaran in December last year [2019].Health director-general Datuk Dr. Noor Hisham Abdullah said the 2 boys, aged 8 and 11 were foreigners. "The 8-year-old boy who is from Sandakan was found not vaccinated against polio. On [Thu 9 Dec 2019], he had fever and 3 days later, he could not walk."Another boy in Kinabatangan who was also not vaccinated, had Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Undiagnosed pneumonia – China (HU) (09): novel coronavirus, more info, fatality
Coronavirus -- ChinaOn Twitter and other forums, pressure is growing on China to share genetic sequences and other details about the new coronavirus implicated this week in an unexplained pneumonia outbreak in Wuhan.So far, the only official announcements on cases came from Wuhan's health commission, which hasn't released any updates since [Sun 5 Jan 2020]. The announcements of preliminary identification of a new coronavirus have come mainly from tightly controlled Chinese media reports quoting Chinese Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Anthrax – Zimbabwe (03): (ME) cattle, human cases hospitalized
Anthrax -- ZimbabweThree people are battling for their lives after consuming meat from animals that died of anthrax in Mahusekwa, Marondera district. The 3 cases were picked at Chimbwanda Clinic last week and were confirmed at Mahusekwa Hospital on Monday [6 Jan 2020].Marondera District Veterinary Officer Dr. Kramer Manyetu said, on investigation, it was established that the affected 3 people consumed meat from 2 cattle that died on [30 Dec 2019]. "No meat was still available when the affected property Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Poliomyelitis update (04): Ghana (BO, BE, AF) RFI
Polio -- GhanaA total of 3 cases of poliomyelitis with 2 deaths have been recorded in the Bono, Bono East and Ahafo regions.The 1st case reported, in the Bono Region, was a 24-month-old girl from Asiri in Goka, a subdistrict in the Jaman North District. The 2nd case was a 33-month-old girl resident in Sissala line in the Techiman West submunicipality in the Bono East Region, and the 3rd case was a 37-month-old boy from Kwasuso in the Asutifi South District of the Ahafo Region.Poliomyelitis is highly Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Kyasanur Forest disease – India (02): (KA)
Hemorrhagic Fever -- IndiaA year after a major outbreak of the disease in the region, 2 confirmed cases of Kyasanur Forest disease (KFD) popularly known as 'monkey fever' have been reported in Shivamogga district of Karnataka in the past one week, [N] (55) from Hemmakki village in Theerthahalli was diagnosed with KFD on [2 Jan 2020] and [B] (18) from Sagar was diagnosed on [Tue 7 Jan 2020]. The diagnosis was confirmed after tests conducted at the Virus Diagnostic Laboratory (VDL) in Shivamogga.Both Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Parainfluenza – Canada: (BC) extended care facility
Other Human Disease -- CanadaHealth officials are asking visitors to stay away from Talarico Place [extended care home in Castlegar, British Columbia] as they are trying to contain a respiratory infection outbreak at the facility.Interior Health declared the outbreak at the extended care home on [27 Dec 2019] and expects it to be a bit longer before the status changes. 2 incubation periods of 4 to 14 days (depending on the infection's cause) must pass with no new cases before the outbreak can be Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Borna disease – Germany: (BY)
Other Human Disease -- GermanySummary-------BackgroundIn 2018-19, Borna disease virus 1 (BoDV-1), the causative agent of Borna disease in horses, sheep, and other domestic mammals, was reported in 5 human patients with severe to fatal encephalitis in Germany. However, information on case frequencies, clinical courses, and detailed epidemiological analyses are still lacking. We report the occurrence of BoDV-1-associated encephalitis in cases submitted to the Institute of Clinical Microbiology and Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Undiagnosed pneumonia – China (HU) (08): novel coronavirus, WHO
Coronavirus -- ChinaChinese authorities have made a preliminary determination of a novel (or new) coronavirus, identified in a hospitalized person with pneumonia in Wuhan. Chinese investigators conducted gene sequencing of the virus, using an isolate from one positive patient sample. Preliminary identification of a novel virus in a short period of time is a notable achievement and demonstrates China's increased capacity to manage new outbreaks.Initial information about the cases of pneumonia in Wuhan Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Poliomyelitis update (03): global (WPV1 Afghan., Pak., cVDPV2 Zambia), Pakistan
Polio -- AfghanistanNew wild poliovirus isolates reported this week:AFP cases: 13Environment: 15Others: 3New cVDPV isolates reported this week:AFP cases: 1Environment: 4Others: 0Summary of new viruses this week (AFP cases and ES positives):- Afghanistan: 2 WPV1 cases and 2 WPV1-positive environmental samples;- Pakistan: 11 WPV1 cases, 13 WPV1-positive environmental samples, and 2 cVDPV2-positive environmental samples;- Malaysia: 1 cVDPV1 and 1 cVDPV2-positive environmental samples;- Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Staph. aureus – UK: (Scotland) bacteremia, nosocomial, 2019 RFI
Hospital-Related Infection, Staph -- United KingdomCases of a potentially deadly bloodstream infection spiked in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde [NHS GGC] last summer [2019], months after a rare strain of the bacteria claimed 3 babies' lives.Health Protection Scotland said the above average rate of _Staphylococcus aureus_ bacteraemia (SAB) which affected patients treated in hospital between July and September last year [2019] "needs to be looked at further". A total of 93 healthcare-associated cases Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Malaria – Burundi: national epidemic
Malaria -- BurundiIn a follow-up on the malaria situation in Burundi in 2019, the World Health Organization reports a progressive increase in cases in the past year across all 46 districts of Burundi.Since the beginning of the year [2019], 8 392 921 malaria cases, including 3113 deaths have been reported. The population in the landlocked country in Southeast Africa is estimated at 11.53 million in 2019.Malaria has been a scourge in Burundi in recent years. In fact, World Vision International reports Read more [...]
PRO/AH> Amebic meningoencephalitis, primary – Costa Rica
Amoeba -- Costa RicaThe Costa Rica Ministry of Health reported [Tue 7 Jan 2019] (computer translated) on the 2nd ever _Naegleria fowleri_, or "brain-eating amoeba" infection in their history.The case is a 15-year-old who is presenting with a clinical picture of primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) remains in a serious state at the Liberia Hospital. The investigation into the case shows the young man acquired the amoeba by inhaling water in the thermal springs of Guayabo de Bagaces.The 1st case Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Yellow fever – Americas (01): Brazil (PE) monkey, fatal, susp
Yellow Fever -- BrazilThe deaths of at least 14 marmosets are under investigation by the Health Secretary of Pernambuco, who was notified of this mortality in Camaragibe [Pernambuco], Recife region, at the end of December [2019]. Professionals of the State Program for Arbovirosis Control went to Camaragibe to collect the corpses and conduct tests to find out the cause of death. Among the hypotheses is infection by yellow fever virus. Other viruses considered are herpesvirus and dengue virus. Samples Read more [...]
PRO/PL> Stemphylium blight, onion – USA: (NY)
Other Plant Disease -- United StatesCornell University scientists have discovered that the long-dormant stemphylium leaf blight [SLB] disease is the cause of an increase in dieback of onion crops in New York [state]. Until recently, SLB has been considered a minor foliar disease as it has not done much damage in New York since the early 1990s.Most of the onions are said to be grown on high organic matter soils, where foliar disease management is considered crucial to productivity. [SLB] may affect Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> MERS-CoV (02): Saudi Arabia (RI, MD), UAE (AZ), WHO
MERS -- Saudi ArabiaOn [29 Dec 2019], the National IHR Focal Point of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) reported one laboratory-confirmed case of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) to WHO.The case is a 74-year-old male national who owns a camel farm located in Al Ain City, Abu Dhabi region, in UAE, where he is living. He developed fever, cough, and sore throat on [8 Dec 2019] and was admitted to hospital on [10 Dec 2019], then transferred to ICU on [16 Dec 2019]. A nasopharyngeal Read more [...]
