Archive for Global Disease Alerts
PRO/AH/EDR> Cyclosporiasis – USA (07): imported basil, Mexico, outbreak over
-- United StatesAn outbreak of _Cyclospora_ illnesses linked to fresh basil appears to be over, according to the Food and Drug Administration [FDA] and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.The FDA reported 241 illnesses were involved in the outbreak, including 6 cases that required hospitalization. No deaths were reported in connection to the outbreak.The FDA first reported the outbreak on [25 Jul 2019], the day after Siga Logistics de RL de CV, a Morelos, Mexico, company, recalled fresh Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Epizootic hemorrhagic disease – USA (04): (WI) deer
Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease -- United StatesOver 100 deer are suspected dead in Crawford County, and about 7 were confirmed dead, as of 26 Sep 2019, from a sporadic virus transmitted by biting flies, also referred to as midges, according to Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources [DNR] officials. Local hunters and the DNR believe this is by no means the final count either.Hemorrhagic disease (HD) is an infectious, often fatal, condition affecting white-tailed deer, caused by either bluetongue Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Ebola update (94): Congo DR (NK, IT, SK) cases, summary, TZ response, JP vaccine
Ebola — DR Congo
PRO/AH/EDR> African swine fever – Asia (76): East Timor, Australia concern
African Swine Fever -- Timor LesteAustralia's Agricultural Department issued this bulletin on 14 Sep 2018 - one month after the first outbreak in China -- it reads as follows:Keeping Australia ASF free--------------------------Australia maintains an ASF-free status and greatly reduces the risk of incursion through the enforcement of strict biosecurity policies. Australia's focus is on ensuring the level of risk in products arriving at its borders are already managed to levels that are acceptable. Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Rotavirus – New Zealand: (SO) calf
Rotavirus -- New ZealandWhat is usually a daily 2-person, 2-hour job on [JMR] farm became a huge task for twice as many people when her calves were hit with rotavirus.Instead of feeding twice a day, [JMR] was working around the clock tube-feeding electrolytes in a fight against the dehydration which can kill calves infected with the gastrointestinal bug."It was heart-wrenching really, you had all these calves so unwell the only option was to tube-feed them," [she] said.Her Southland property had Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> African swine fever – Europe (45): Moldova (GA) domestic, spread, OIE
African Swine Fever -- MoldovaInformation received on [and dated] 28 Sep 2019 from Dr Vitalie Caraus, Head of the Animal Health and Welfare Department, Animal Health and Welfare Department, National Food Safety Agency of the Republic of Moldova, Chisinau, MoldovaSummaryReport type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 25 Sep 2019Date of confirmation of the event: 26 Sep 2019Reason for notification: recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: May 2019Manifestation of disease: Read more [...]
PRO/PL> Cyst nematode, soybean – Canada: (MN)
Other Plant Disease -- CanadaFarmers are being urged to keep equipment clean after the unfortunate news that soybean cyst nematodes (SCN) have been confirmed [in Manitoba]. The nematode, which can spread through water, has been present in North Dakota [USA, neighbouring Manitoba] for years and has been expected to spread north through the Red River. This year [2019] is the first that researchers noted both symptoms and molecular confirmation of SCN.Mario Tenuta, University of Manitoba, said the pest Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> White nose syndrome, bats – North America (06): Canada (MB)
White nose syndrome -- CanadaThe fatal bat disease known as white-nose syndrome has been found in Manitoba's Riding Mountain National Park, the westernmost location where the infection has been found in Canada. A total of 6 bats were found dead or dying from white-nose syndrome this spring and summer in Riding Mountain, located about 250 km [approx. 155 mi] northwest of Winnipeg, Parks Canada disclosed on its website in July [2019]. The infected bats were found near the park's east gate as well as Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> African swine fever – Europe (44): Hungary (PT) wild boar, OIE
African Swine Fever -- HungaryInformation received on [and dated] 30 Sep 2019 from Dr. Lajos Bognar, deputy state secretary chief veterinary officer, Food Chain Safety Department, Ministry of Agriculture, Budapest, HungarySummaryReport type: Immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 25 Sep 2019Date of confirmation of the event: 28 Sep 2019Reason for notification: 1st occurrence of a listed diseaseManifestation of disease: Clinical diseaseCausal agent: African swine fever virusNature of diagnosis: Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Poliomyelitis update (77): Pakistan (SD, PB, KP)
Polio -- Pakistan- Polio eradication has faced difficulties in 2019 with the total case count now standing at 69, with 52 cases from KP and KPTD, 7 cases from Sindh, 5 cases each from Balochsitan and Punjab.- "We will ensure we turn the tide" said the spokesperson for the EoC in Sindh.- This was said to be possible if only parents and caretakers take their children to any government EPI centre where these vaccines are available free of cost.The Emergency Operation Centre for Polio in Sindh here on Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Legionellosis – USA (21): (NC) fatal, agricultural fair
Legionnaires' -- United States- On 23 Sep 2019, the NC Division of Public Health was notified about an increase in the number of Legionnaire's disease cases in Buncombe and Henderson counties.- The source of the outbreak is under investigation.- Many of the cases reported attending the NC Mountain State Fair, held 6-15 Sep 2019 in Fletcher, NC.- As a precaution, anyone who attended the NC Mountain State Fair and who is experiencing cough, fever or shortness of breath is advised to call their healthcare Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Crimean-Congo hem. fever – Pakistan (21): (PB) fatal
Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever -- PakistanA young woman suffering from Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever [CCHF], commonly referred to as Congo fever, died in Rawalpindi on Friday [27 Sep 2019], Dunya News reported.According to details, the 32-year-old woman, a resident of Adiala Road, was brought to the emergency ward of a private clinic in critical condition where she died during treatment.Congo fever is a tick-borne viral disease which is mainly transferred to humans from pets. Its symptoms include Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> West Nile virus (39): Asia (Bangladesh) 1st human case
West Nile Virus -- BangladeshA new mosquito-borne virus, West Nile Virus (WNV), has been found in Bangladesh. However, detailed information about the virus has not been available yet as the government's concerned department didn't investigate to know its origin.According to the experts, West Nile is a potentially life-threatening viral infection which can pass to animals and humans if they are bitten by an infected mosquito.WNV is a virus of the _Flaviviridae_ family, which includes the viruses responsible Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> West Nile virus (38): Europe (Germany, Greece) ECDC update
West Nile Virus -- GermanyGermany has seen its 1st confirmed case of the mosquito-spread West Nile virus in a human."The person from [the eastern state of] Saxony suffered from encephalitis, was treated at the Klinikum St Georg in Leipzig, and has recovered," several institutions, including the Robert Koch Institute in Berlin, announced on Friday [27 Sep 2019].The virus often does not cause symptoms in humans. Serious and deadly cases are rare and usually involve older people with pre-existing illnesses.So Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Measles update (64)
Measles -- Worldwide/UnknownThe World Health Organisation (WHO) has alerted to [a] major and ongoing outbreak of measles in Angola, Cameroon, Chad, Kazakhstan, Nigeria, Philippines, South Sudan, Sudan and Thailand. The latest preliminary reports, published yesterday [23 Sep 2019] by the WHO, warned that [the] measles outbreak continues to spread rapidly around the world with millions of people globally at risk of the disease.According to the health body, in the first 6 months of 2019, reported measles Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> West Nile virus (37): Europe (Germany) animals, spread, OIE
West Nile Virus -- Germany1. OIE WAHIS interface Report Archive, Ref 31948, 25 Sep 2019, Germanyand2. OIE WAHIS interface Report Archive, Ref 31946, 25 Sep 2019, Germany[both abridged, edited]1. Ref 31948 (Sachsen-Anhalt-other)[This report presents follow-up report no. 5 of a West Nile fever event in Germany's province Sachsen-Anhalt-other that started 3 Jul 2019. It includes the following outbreak summary as of 25 Sep 2019, and a map presenting the 13 outbreaks (with 16 cases).]Total outbreaks = Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Salmonellosis – Netherlands: Spanish eggs
Salmonella -- NetherlandsAbout 30 people are part of a _Salmonella_ outbreak in the Netherlands linked to eggs from Spain. The Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) in August 2019 advised people not to eat eggs stamped with the code 3-ES-4624944A because of _Salmonella_ contamination. The agency added it was important to wash hands after touching them, as the _Salmonella_ can be found on the outside of the eggs. The eggs were supplied to neighborhood supermarkets, market stalls Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Undiagnosed lethal disease – Norway (05): dog, peaked
Undiagnosed -- NorwayThe Norwegian Food Safety Authority cancels the general advice to limit close contact between dogs. The Norwegian Food Safety Authority and the Veterinary Institute now receive few reports of dogs with bloody diarrhea from veterinarians. It is also clear that not all cases of illness can be linked to each other.Many of the reported cases are from some counties in Eastern Norway, where the density of dogs is also high. The Veterinary Institute and the Norwegian Food Safety Authority Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Lead poisoning – USA (02): (NY) cattle, human
Poisoning — United States
PRO/EDR> Legionellosis – Europe (06): UK (England) cooling tower confirmed, corr.
Legionnaires' -- CanadaThis report [of an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease] is identified as a UK incident. The text confirms that this cluster of _Legionella_ infections occurred in London, Ontario, Canada -- so not really the UK. Please could you update.--Dr. Tony EllamConsultant in Communicable Disease Control (Retired)UK Public Health (Retired)[ProMED-mail thanks Dr. Ellam for correcting the record that the location of this outbreak of Legionnaires' disease is London, Ontario, Canada, not London, Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Obituary: Stuart B. Levy
Antimicrobial resistance -- Worldwide/UnknownStuart B. Levy, the emeritus professor of molecular biology and microbiology at the Tufts University School of Medicine whose pioneering research and impassioned advocacy raised awareness of the danger of antibiotic resistance, died on [4 Sep 2019]. Levy, who had battled Parkinson's disease and related conditions for several years, was 80.Colleagues, friends, and family remember the scientist, who retired in 2018 after 47 years at Tufts, as a gifted researcher Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Capnocytophaga canimorsus – USA: (WI) fulminant sepsis, genetic predisposition
Sepsis -- United StatesGravely ill, [the patient] lost parts of his arms and legs, as well as the skin of his nose and part of his upper lip. The cause was _Capnocytophaga_, a germ from [his dog] Ellie's mouth or from another dog he encountered._Capnocytophaga_ is commonly found in the saliva of cats and dogs and almost never leads to people getting sick, unless the person has a compromised immune system. But [the patient] was perfectly healthy. In fact, he doesn't think he'd ever used his health Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Rabies (46): Asia (Myanmar) dog, OIE
Rabies -- MyanmarInformation received on [and dated] 27 Sep 2019 from Dr Ye Tun Win, chief veterinary officer director general, Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department, Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, Nay Pyi Taw, MyanmarSummaryReport type: immediate notificationStart date: 9 Sep 2019Date of confirmation of the event: 12 Sep 2019Reason for notification: 1st occurrence of a listed diseaseManifestation of disease: clinical diseaseCausal agent: rabies virusSerotype: not typedNature Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Monkeypox, smallpox vaccine
Smallpox-Related, Monkeypox -- Worldwide/UnknownBavarian Nordic announced that the FDA has approved Jynneos, a live, nonreplicating vaccine for the prevention of smallpox and monkeypox disease in adults aged 18 years or older who are at a high risk for smallpox or monkeypox infection. The new vaccine from Bavarian Nordic marks the only FDA-approved vaccine for the prevention of monkeypox."The licensure of this vaccine not only enhances domestic biodefense and global health security but also demonstrates Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> African swine fever – Asia: Timor-Leste (DL) domestic, 1st report, OIE
African Swine Fever -- Timor LesteInformation received on [and dated] 27 Sep 2019 from Dr Da Costa Jong Joanita Bendita, national director of Veterinary Directorate, Veterinary Directorate, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Dili, Timor-LesteSummaryReport type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 9 Sep 2019Date of confirmation of the event: 26 Sep 2019Reason for notification: 1st occurrence of a listed disease in the countryCausal agent: African swine fever virusNature of diagnosis: Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Invasive mosquito – Canada (ON)
Other Human Disease -- CanadaThe Windsor Essex County Health Unit [WECHU] said that recently collected data has identified a single mosquito capable of transmitting the Zika virus. The routine mosquito surveillance program, conducted by WECHU in the summer and fall, tested the adult _Aedes aegypti_ mosquito found, and it has tested negative for any vector-borne diseases.That type of mosquito is capable of transmitting Zika, dengue, chikungunya, and yellow fever. The 1st mosquito capable of transmitting Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Yellow fever – Africa (16): Nigeria
Yellow Fever -- NigeriaOn 16 Jul 2019, the Ebonyi State Ministry of Health received information about suspected yellow fever cases in Ndingele ward, Izzi local government area (LGA), Nigeria. The cases had symptoms of fever and jaundice, reported with onset since May 2019. As of 30 Aug 2019, a total of 84 suspected yellow fever cases, including 26 deaths (case fatality ratio: 31%), have been reported across 9 LGAs within Ebonyi state. Of the suspected yellow fever cases, 55% (46/84) are male. The Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Legionellosis – Europe (06): UK (England) cooling tower confirmed
Legionnaires' -- United KingdomAn air conditioning cooling tower is to blame for an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease that landed 6 people in the hospital in a single south-central London neighbourhood, public health officials announced Thursday [26 Sep 2019].Middlesex-London Health Unit inspectors collected samples from different areas in the neighbourhood to test for the presence of _Legionella_ bacteria, the germ that causes Legionnaires' disease. Laboratory testing confirmed samples from a cooling Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Ebola update (93): Congo DR (NK, IT, SK) cases, summaries, response
Ebola -- DR Congo- Ring vaccination expanded around 2 confirmed cases in Mataba health area in Kalunguta, North Kivu. Two more vaccination rings, in the same health zone, are waiting to be opened in Lisasa and Kabasha health zones;- Since the start of vaccination on [8 Aug 2018], 228 430 people have been vaccinated;- The only vaccine to be used in this epidemic is the rVSV-ZEBOV vaccine, manufactured by the pharmaceutical company Merck, after approval by the Ethics Committee in its decision of 20 Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Legionellosis – USA (20): (NC) fatal, agricultural fair susp.
Legionnaires' -- United StatesOne person has died in Buncombe County from an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease, as health officials investigate the disease's possible link to the Mountain State Fair.The NC Department of Health and Human Services is working with health departments in Buncombe and Henderson counties to investigate several reported cases of Legionnaires' disease among attendees of the NC [North Carolina] Mountain State Fair earlier this month [September 2019].Kim Horton, spokeswoman Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Aujeszky's disease – Finland: (NK) wild boar, OIE, correction
Other Animal Disease — Finland
PRO/AH/EDR> MERS-CoV (62): Saudi Arabia (QS, RI) WHO
MERS -- Saudi ArabiaFrom [1-31 Aug 2019], the National IHR Focal Point of Saudi Arabia reported 6 additional laboratory-confirmed cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS-CoV) infection and one associated death. The cases were reported from Riyadh (3 cases), Taif (1 case), Quriyat (1 case), and Najran (1 case) regions. One of the cases reported (Case 4) is a household contact identified during the contact tracing investigation of Case 2.MERS-CoV cases reported between 1 and 31 Aug 2019*Please Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> West Nile virus (36): Americas (USA)
West Nile Virus -- United StatesAbstract--------The introduction of West Nile virus (WNV) to North America in 1999 and its subsequent rapid spread across the Americas demonstrated the potential impact of arboviral introductions to new regions, and this was reinforced by the subsequent introductions of chikungunya and Zika viruses. Extensive studies of host-pathogen-vector-environment interactions over the past two decades have illuminated many aspects of the ecology and evolution of WNV and other Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Lead poisoning – USA: (NY) cattle, human
Poisoning -- United StatesCattle raised for milk and meat can consume lead through their environments or feed. Some of the lead can contaminate products of those animals, especially milk and organ meats.Dr Karyn Bischoff is a veterinary diagnostic toxicologist for the New York State Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory, and she teaches toxicology at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. In a session at AVMA Convention 2019 this August in Washington, DC, she described the possible Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Bovine tuberculosis – USA (06): (MI) transmission from deer to humans, 2017
Bovine TB -- United States1. Sunstrum J, Shoyinka A, Power LE, et al. Notes from the Field: Zoonotic _Mycobacterium bovis_ disease in deer hunters -- Michigan, 2002. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2019; 68(37): 807-8. doi: 10.15585/mmwr.mm6837a3_M. bovis_ and _M. tuberculosis_ are closely related genetically, and the standard nucleic acid amplification assay will only identify _M. bovis_ as a member of the "_M. tuberculosis_ complex," which includes _M. tuberculosis_, _M. bovis_, _M. africanum_, the Read more [...]
PRO/ALL> Announcements (06): ProMED-mail anniversary award 2019
Not Yet Classified -- Worldwide/UnknownEach year, ProMED presents an award in honor of the anniversary of its founding in August 1994. We are pleased to announce the winners of this annual award.This year's award goes to Steve Morse and Barbara Hatch Rosenberg, who, along with the late Jack Woodall, founded ProMED in 1994. Their foresight and imagination began the use of informal (or event-based) surveillance to serve as an early warning for emerging disease outbreaks. (Jack Woodall was the 2004 Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Tuberculosis – USA: (WA) latent, zoo elephant handlers, RFI
Tuberculosis -- United StatesPoint Defiance Zoo & Aquarium [Tacoma, Washington] officials said they are taking extra steps to ensure the health and safety of their staff, visitors, and animals after some staff members who work with and around elephants tested positive for latent tuberculosis (TB) infection. Tuberculosis spreads only in the active stage. Currently, tests show no active cases of the disease in people.Those with latent tuberculosis are not sick and cannot infect anyone, according Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Listeriosis – Europe (13): WGS, smoked fish, ex Estonia, fatal, 2014-19
Listeriosis -- Estonia_Listeria_ bacteria that have been traced back to the M.V.Wool fish plant in Estonia have been contracted by 9 people in Estonia, 2 of whom died as a result.Several countries' studies have suggested that a mutated and very aggressive form of the _Listeria_ bacteria is raging in an M.V.Wool fish plant located near Harku, just outside of Tallinn. According to the latest info, 26 people across Europe have already contracted the bacteria, 6 of whom have died -- among them 9 people Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Chronic wasting disease – Sweden (03): (NB) moose
Chronic Wasting Disease — Sweden
