Archive for Global Disease Alerts
PRO/PL> Blackleg, oilseed rape – UK: alert
Other Plant Disease -- United KingdomOilseed rape growers should be examining their crops for phoma disease as one site in Herefordshire is the first forecast to have hit the threshold level of 10% of the crop infected, which indicates the need to consider a spray treatment.The forecast monitors temperature and rainfall, which simulate the development of _Leptosphaeria maculans_ [and] predicts the date when 10% of oilseed rape plants could potentially show symptoms of phoma leaf spot.Catherine Harries, Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Malaria, P. cynomolgi – Denmark: ex Southeast Asia, 2018
Malaria -- DenmarkDenmark has reported a travel-related case of malaria caused by _Plasmodium cynomolgi_ in a Danish traveller returning from a visit to forested areas in peninsular Malaysia and Thailand during August-September 2018._P. cynomolgi_ is a parasite causing disease among macaque monkeys across Southeast Asia but rarely infects humans.The traveller was admitted to hospital with the suspicion of malaria. Routine initial tests for malaria (rapid diagnostic test and microscopy) and more in-depth Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Ebola update (97): Congo DR (NK,IT,SK) cases, WHO, summaries, response, research
Ebola -- DR CongoThe Lwemba communities who moved to Biakato in Mandima in Ituri reconciled on Sun 6 Oct 2019 with the communities that remained in Lwemba, in the presence of the response team led by the Deputy General Coordinator, Dr Justus Nsio Mbeta, the Chief of the chiefdom and MCZ [and area chief physician] of Mandima, the Coordinator of the Mangina Response Sub-coordination, as well as some partners of the Ministry of Health, including WHO, MSF, UNICEF, and the United Nations.- From this meeting, Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Eastern equine encephalitis – North America (31): USA (FL, NY) horses
Eastern Equine Encephalitis -- United StatesThe Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services reported that 3 horses have been euthanized in Florida due to disease. [Two of those horses had WNV and are discussed in a separate posting. - Mod.TG]The 1st horse was a weanling Quarter Horse colt having an onset of eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) clinical signs on 20 Sep 2019. It was the 1st EEE case for Clay County and the 28th for the state this year [2019].Information for this report was Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Typhoid fever – Pakistan (04): extensively drug-resistant, travel alert CDC
Fever -- PakistanThe US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a level 1 travel alert regarding the ongoing outbreak in Pakistan of extensively drug-resistant (XDR) typhoid fever.This "practice usual precautions" travel alert published on [30 Sep 2019] is very important since XDR infections do not respond to most antibiotics, such as ampicillin, chloramphenicol, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, ciprofloxacin, and ceftriaxone. And in rare cases typhoid fever can be fatal.The CDC says Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Streptococcus zooepidemicus – USA (02): (GA) dogs
Strep — United States
PRO/AH/EDR> Anthrax letters, 2001 – USA: Bruce Ivins, RIP
Anthrax -- United StatesIt was on 9 Oct 2001 that the last of the anthrax letters were mailed to US Senators Tom Daschle and Patrick Leahy. Latterly the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has modified that Bruce Ivins was the perpetrator. They now claim that he was merely the mailer of the spore-filled letters. This is not logical.Absence of proof that Ivins could have mailed the letters:- The FBI has assumed that Bruce, because of his fixation with the Princeton, NJ sorority, had driven there Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Undiagnosed ulcerative disease – Ireland: salmon, trout
Undiagnosed -- IrelandAnglers in the north-east say they are 'terrified' that a mysterious virus could wipe out salmonid stocks across the country.The undetermined disease, which causes bleeding and skin ulceration on salmon and sea trout, has still not been identified despite the best efforts of Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) and scientists internationally.The affected salmon show signs of bleeding ulceration and haemorrhaging mainly along the area on the belly of the fish as well as the head and Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Undiagnosed disease – Sudan: (RS) human, cattle, RFI
Undiagnosed -- SudanA man and more than 20 head of cattle died in Arbaat in Red Sea state on Thursday and Friday [3 & 4 Oct 2019] of an "unknown fever". So far, 3 people and 420 cows have died of the unknown disease that hit the area of Arbaat, north of Port Sudan, over the past weeks, medical doctor Ahmed Dereir told Radio Dabanga on Friday [4 Oct 2019].The symptoms of the disease are high fever among people, and bleeding and abortion among cows, he said. The Preventive Medicine Society advised Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Eastern equine encephalitis – North America (30): USA (MA,MI,PA) horses, humans
Eastern Equine Encephalitis -- United StatesA laboratory testing has confirmed the 8th horse infected with Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) virus this year [2019], the Massachusetts Department of Public Health said. The horse was stabled in Spencer in Worcester County, a community already considered at high risk for EEE, health officials said.No change in risk levels is indicated. There are 35 communities now at critical risk, 53 at high risk, and 121 at moderate risk for the EEE virus in Massachusetts.There Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Crimean-Congo hem. fever – Asia (22): Pakistan (NW)
Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever -- PakistanA local factory worker [in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa] died of high grade-fever with the family blaming death on Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever.Another villager also tested positive for CCHF. According to family sources, a 45-year-old resident of Hattar village, had suffered from high grade-fever for around a week, while he was treated at a local private hospital as a dengue patient. The man was later shifted to Islamabad's PIMS hospital, where he died. The family Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Hepatitis A – USA (35): (LA,OH)
Hepatitis A -- United StatesHealth experts say there are more cases of hepatitis A in the state. The Louisiana Department of Health now has the count at 575. Livingston Parish has the most cases ranging from 121 to 240. One death has been reported so far in Louisiana.Hepatitis A is a contagious viral liver infection easily spread through close contact with an infected person.There are vaccines to combat the infection. You can get one at your doctor's office or parish health unit. The Louisiana Department Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Scrub typhus – India (05): (HP) fatal
Scrub Typhus -- IndiaScrub typhus in Himachal Pradesh continues to be the disease that is claiming maximum lives in the state.According to the data available with the department of health and family welfare, this year till 5 Oct 2019, the death toll in the state has been 12, while 9477 were tested, of which 1148 tested positive. Of these 1148, as many as 320 cases were reported from the Bilaspur district.On Saturday [5 Oct 2019], 2 women tested positive for the disease out of a total 28 tested, while Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> West Nile virus (40): Americas, USA (CO) horses
West Nile Virus -- United StatesThe Colorado Department of Agriculture reported on Thu 3 Oct 2019 that 10 equine West Nile virus [WNV] cases have been confirmed in 8 Colorado counties, including one horse in Larimer County.Three horses were found to have the disease in Weld County, and the others were in Adams, Garfield, Mesa, Montrose, Pueblo and Rio Blanco counties, according to a news release."Veterinarians report more of the horses seem to be acutely neurologic with severe symptoms. Four of the Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Chronic wasting disease – USA (16): (WY) mule deer
Chronic Wasting Disease -- United StatesThe Wyoming Game and Fish Department confirmed chronic wasting disease (CWD) in deer hunt area 152, approximately 12 miles west of Bondurant on Willow Creek.The mule deer buck testing positive was hunter-harvested. This is the 1st time CWD has been found in deer hunt area 152, part of the Sublette mule deer herd, and is in a hunt area close to wintering elk feed grounds. CWD is a fatal neurological disease of deer, elk, and moose."Seeing a deer test positive Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Plague – Congo DR: (IT) fatal, human, rodent
Plague — DR Congo
PRO/EDR> Legionellosis – USA (22): (NC) fatal, agricultural fair, hot tub displays susp.
Legionnaires' -- United StatesThe Davis Event Center at WNC Ag Center [Western North Carolina Agricultural Center] has been taken out of rental as a precaution after state health officials said they think the recent outbreak of Legionnaires' may be linked to the building.While no one's 100% certain, state health experts suspect the Legionnaires' disease outbreak may be linked to a single building at the WNC Ag Center.In a conference call with the media, state health officials said 124 cases have Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> MERS-CoV (63): Saudi Arabia (SH, AS, RI)
MERS -- Saudi ArabiaDuring the period since the last update [MERS-CoV (62): Saudi Arabia (QS, RI) WHO http://promedmail.org/post/20190927.6698219] there have been a total of 3 newly confirmed cases of MERS-CoV reported from Saudi Arabia plus 4 outcome reports (3 recoveries and 1 fatality).Information on newly confirmed cases (3):[1]Date of confirmation report: 30 Sep 2019Case no.: 19-1952MERS in Hufoof city: 39-year-old male in Hufoof city, Al Hassa [Ash Sharqiyah, Eastern] regionContact with Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> E. coli EHEC – Canada: (NF) students, RFI
E. coli -- CanadaNewfoundland and Labrador's provincial health department is advising residents of an outbreak of _E. coli_ bacteria. There have been 22 cases of _E. coli_ confirmed in the province this week, according to an advisory issued Friday afternoon [4 Oct 2019]. The statement says provincial public health officials and regional authorities are investigating.The Department of Health and Community Services advises people experiencing symptoms of _E. coli_, including severe or bloody diarrhea Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Listeriosis – Europe (15): (Netherlands) fatal, WGS, cold cuts
Listeriosis -- NetherlandsA total of 3 people have died and one woman has had a miscarriage after eating cold meat contaminated with _Listeria_, the public health institute RIVM [Netherlands National Institute for Public Health and the Environment] said on Friday [4 Oct 2019]. All are thought to have become ill after eating meat products from the Offerman company over the past 2 years, the agency said.In total, at least 20 people have become ill after eating Offerman cold cuts. The company issued Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Poliomyelitis update (78): global (Pakistan, Congo DR, Ghana, Philippines)
Polio -- PakistanNew wild poliovirus cases isolates reported this week:AFP cases: 3Environment: 13Total number of wild poliovirus cases in 2019: [85]Total number of wild poliovirus cases in 2018: 33New cVDPV isolates reported this week:AFP cases: 3Environment: 11Others: 2Total number of cVDPV cases (all types) in 2019: [88]Total number of cVDPV cases (all types) in 2018: 104HeadlinesSummary of new viruses (AFP cases and positive environmental samples) this week:- Pakistan - 3 Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Streptococcus zooepidemicus – USA: (GA) dogs
Strep -- United StatesAn infectious disease has claimed the lives of at least 4 dogs in Cobb's care, and one other dog death is being investigated in relation to the bacterial outbreak at the county shelter, staff say.The Cobb County Animal Services shelter by Jim Miller Park was closed Wednesday [2 Oct 2019] for at least 2 weeks for deep cleaning and to vaccinate the remaining 350 animals inside. Initially the county confirmed 2 dogs had died from _Streptococcus zooepidemicus_, a bacterial infection Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> African swine fever – Asia (78): Philippines, East Timor, spread, concern
African Swine Fever -- PhilippinesIn early September 2019, 3 backyard farms in Rizal province, just north of Manila in central Luzon, reported high mortality losses. One of the affected farmers transported some diseased pigs to the neighbouring Bulacan province. On [9 Sep 2019], confirmation of the diagnosis of ASF led to restrictions on pig movements across central Luzon, in the affected provinces of Rizal, Bulacan and Pampanga. Current reports suggest the spread of the ASF zones north to Pangasinan Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> African swine fever – Asia (77): S. Korea, domestic, wild, spread, epidemiology
African Swine Fever -- South KoreaThe number of African swine fever [ASF] cases here in Korea keeps going up with 13 [outbreaks] confirmed so far. Following the traces of the virus being found in a dead wild boar near the demilitarized zone [DMZ], the military has ordered the troops guarding the border to shoot any wild pigs they see in the area.A suspected new case of ASF has been reported on Incheon's Baekryeong-do Island on Friday [4 Oct 2019]. This comes after the 13th [outbreak] of the disease Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> African swine fever – Africa (01): Cote d'Ivoire, Kenya, domestic, OIE
African Swine Fever -- Cote d'IvoireInformation received on [and dated] 1 Oct 2019 from Dr. Adaman Kouadio, [Director, Veterinary Services, Ministry of Animal Resources and Fisheries], Abidjan, Cote d'IvoireSummaryReport type: Immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 13 Jul 2017Date of confirmation of the event: 19 Jul 2017Report date: 1 Oct 2019Date submitted to OIE: 1 Oct 2019Reason for notification: Recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: 8 Aug 2018Manifestation of Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Eastern equine encephalitis – North America (29): USA (MI,IN,CT) horse, human
Eastern Equine Encephalitis -- United StatesThe Livingston County Health Department said that they have confirmed the 17th case of eastern equine encephalitis in a horse from Hamburg Township.The horse, an unvaccinated 3-year-old Paint gelding, had a sudden onset of neurological signs on [23 Sep 2019] and was euthanized. According to the health department, there have been no human cases of EEE reported in Livingston County.According to the state, there have been 9 cases of EEE confirmed in residents Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Influenza (26): WHO global update, vaccine
Influenza -- Worldwide/UnknownInformation in this report is categorized by influenza transmission zones, which are geographical groups of countries, areas or territories with similar influenza transmission patterns. For more information on influenza transmission zones, see the link below:Summary-------- In the temperate zones of the southern hemisphere, influenza activity was low in most countries, except Chile where a 2nd wave of influenza activity of predominately B viruses was reported.- In the Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Mycoplasma pneumoniae – Taiwan: macrolide resistance
Pneumonia -- China_Mycoplasma_ infections are becoming more drug resistant, doctors say, adding that there could be a major outbreak this year. _Mycoplasma_ can spread through contact with the saliva or mucus of an infected person, with the typical age of onset being 5 to 15 years. Infections are more prevalent during the transition period from spring to summer or in the fall, and common symptoms include respiratory tract infection, pneumonia and persistent coughing with phlegm.Former minister of Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Listeriosis – Europe (14): (Austria) WGS, liver pate, fatal, 2018
Listeriosis -- AustriaIn late December 2018, the local health authority of Styria and the NRL confirmed an outbreak of febrile gastroenteritis, including one case of culture-confirmed _Listeria monocytogenes_ bacteremia, among 32 people at a tavern in mid-December [2018] as part of a celebration. They had consumed mixed platters with several meat products and pâtés originating from an unnamed local production facility.At the end of January this year [2019], the Austrian Ministry of Health Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Crithidia – Brazil: new Leishmania-like parasite in humans
Leishmaniasis -- BrazilThe 63-year-old patient initially sought treatment for the symptoms of visceral leishmaniasis, including weight loss, fever, anemia, and an enlarged liver and spleen. However, after 8 months of standard leishmaniasis treatment, the patient's symptoms had not improved. The patient developed widespread skin lesions with poorly defined edges (unlike the small lesions with well-defined edges that sometimes appear after treatment for visceral leishmaniasis) and ultimately died.To Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Ebola update (95): Congo DR (NK,IT,SK) cases, WHO, survivors, vaccine
Ebola -- DR Congo- Beni's Ebola virus disease Sub-Coordinator, Dr Pierre-Celeste Adike, announced on Tue 1 Oct 2019 that 9 high-risk contacts of a confirmed cases of #Ebola Virus Disease from Lwemba, a health area of Mandima health zone in Ituri Province with inter-ethnic conflict and insecurity, were intercepted Tue 1 Oct 2019 by the community in the Ngongolyo health area in North Kivu;- they were intercepted by a neighborhood chief, who automatically alerted the rebel teams at Beni level. A rapid Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Ebola update (94): Congo DR (NK,IT,SK) TZ response, corr.
Ebola -- DR Congo[1]Date: Wed 2 Oct 2019From: a subscriber whose identity is known to ProMED-mail, but who prefers to remain unnamed [edited]Tanganyika is a province of DRC (not Tanzania).--Communicated by:ProMED-mail******[2]Date: Wed 2 Oct 2019From: Katharina Kopp [edited]While there have been Ebola awareness campaigns in the region of Tanzania bordering the South Kivu and the Tanganyika provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), this report from the Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Salmonellosis, st. Reading – Canada: raw turkey and chicken
Salmonella -- CanadaThis update reflects 14 illnesses that have been added to the outbreak investigation. There are now 110 illnesses under investigation. The Public Health Agency of Canada continues to remind Canadians to always handle raw turkey and raw chicken carefully, and to cook it thoroughly to prevent food-related illnesses like _Salmonella_ infection. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has not issued any food recall warnings related to this outbreak.The Public Health Agency of Canada is Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Epizootic hemorrhagic disease – USA (05): (WA) cattle
Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease -- United StatesThe Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) said 4 cows in Franklin and Walla Walla counties were diagnosed this week with epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD), a potentially deadly virus primarily affecting wild deer, but occasionally crossing over to cattle.The WSDA advises cattle owners to be on the lookout for EHD signs such as excessive drooling, lethargy, difficulty walking, or oral and nasal lesions with ulceration, which are similar to Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Trypanosomiasis, African – South Africa: ex Uganda
African Trypanosomiasis — South Africa
PRO/EDR> Hepatitis C – USA (03): (WV) injection drug use, 2018
Hepatitis C -- United StatesWest Virginia Health Department data reveals hepatitis C cases in the state's largest county have soared to the highest numbers in years, months after a program offering clean needles was suspended.The Charleston Gazette-Mail reported [Mon 30 Sep 2019] that more than 1100 new chronic cases of the disease were recorded in Kanawha County in 2018.Local clinic director Letitia Tierney says the area is nearing a hepatitis C outbreak and a potential HIV outbreak due to needle Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Eastern equine encephalitis – North America (28): USA (MA) human
Eastern Equine Encephalitis -- United StatesThe Massachusetts Department of Public Health announced the 11th human case of eastern equine encephalitis [EEE] virus infection, a man in his 70s from Worcester County.As a result, the communities of Auburn, Charlton, Dudley, Leicester, Southbridge, and Spencer have been elevated to high risk.The Department of Public Health has also been recently notified by a hospital of a death from the virus of an Essex County resident. It marks the 4th death from eastern Read more [...]
