Archive for Global Disease Alerts
PRO/AH/EDR> Anthrax – Bangladesh: (ME) cattle
Anthrax -- BangladeshSeveral hundred cattle died of anthrax, and another several hundred were infected with the disease in Meherpur, according to the Department of Livestock.Livestock department officials said they had already taken preventive measures to contain the disease so that it could not spread to other districts.The department director general, Hiresh Ranjan Bhowmik, told New Age on Friday [20 Sep 2019] that they were aware of sporadic infections of anthrax at Gangni in Meherpur. He said Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Typhoid fever – USA (05): (TX) imported XDR case, possible secondary case
Typhoid -- United StatesHours after Collin County Health Care Services released information on Fri 20 Sep 2019 about a travel-related case of typhoid fever confirmed in August 2019 in McKinney, the Frisco ISD said it is currently investigating a possible case at an elementary school.Collin County health officials said on Fri 20 Sep 2019 that people who ate at the Hat Creek Burger Co., 3321 South Custer Road, between 19 Aug 2019 and 22 Aug 2019 may have come in contact with the extremely drug-resistant Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Herpes simplex, type 1, genital – USA: (NY) circumcision
Herpes -- United States13. Preuss J. Julius Preuss' Biblical and Talmudic Medicine. Rosner F, trans-ed. New York, NY: Ktav Publishers; 1971: 375.14. Rosner F. Hemophilia in the Talmud and rabbinic writings. Ann Intern Med. 1969; 70(4): 833-7; abstract available at .15. Semmelweis I, Carter K. The etiology, concept, and prophylaxis of childbed fever. In: Wisconsin Publications in the History of Science and Medicine No. 2. Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin Press; 1983: 263.16. Katz J. Controversy Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> West Nile virus (35): Americas (Canada, BC, susp. ex USA) human, horse
West Nile Virus -- United StatesThis year [2019], 2 cases of the West Nile virus have been reported in BC: one human, one horse.The B.C. Centre for Disease Control told CTV News the human case was reported on Vancouver Island last month [August 2019] and is the only instance reported in B.C. so far this year.The horse-related case was reported in the Princeton area.Few details were provided for privacy reasons, but the BC CDC said both cases were travel-related. Both were tied to the U.S. It is not Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Japanese encephalitis & other – India (29): (BR)
Japanese Encephalitis -- IndiaAn official has confirmed that 2 children have died after a fresh bout of acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) struck north Bihar again this week."Children afflicted with AES are coming to the hospital at regular intervals, but only 2 have died in the past one week," Sunil Kumar Shahi, superintendent of the state-run Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital (SKMCH) in Muzaffarpur, said over the phone on 20 Sep 2019.SKMCH is the only advanced medical facility equipped to Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Salmonellosis, st Typhimurium – Congo DR: multidrug resistance, invasiveness
Salmonella -- DR CongoThe 1st extensively drug-resistant (XDR) strains of _Salmonella_ Typhimurium, a pathogen which is responsible for millions of bloodstream infections per year in sub-Saharan Africa, have been identified in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Drug-resistance has increased in successive groups of _S._ Typhimurium over time. These new strains are resistant to all but one of the commonly available drugs in the DRC, with one sample showing reduced susceptibility to this final Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Melioidosis – USA: (US Virgin Islands) post-hurricane, 2017
Melioidosis -- United StatesCitation:Guendel I, Ekpo LL, Hinkle MK, Harrison CJ, Blaney DD, et al.: Melioidosis after Hurricanes Irma and Maria, St. Thomas/St. John District, US Virgin Islands, October 2017. Emerg Infect Dis. 2019; 25(10): 1952-1955. doi: 10.3201/eid2510.180959.Melioidosis is caused by _Burkholderia pseudomallei_, a saprophytic, gram-negative bacillus endemic to tropical regions worldwide (1). Diagnosis is difficult because of wide-ranging clinical manifestations (2), and this bacterium Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Yellow fever – Africa (14): Nigeria (GO), vaccination-booster research
Yellow Fever -- NigeriaA health official in Nigeria on Thursday [19 Sep 2019] confirmed 6 cases of yellow fever in the northeast state of Gombe. Nuhu Vile, an epidemiologist with the state health authorities, told media the confirmed patients were treated and discharged.Yellow fever cases have been reported in northeastern Nigeria, including the states of Bauchi and Borno, since 29 Aug [2019].No death case has been recorded in the state, he said, noting that an investigation conducted by experts Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Classical swine fever – Russia (03): (AM) wild boar, OIE
Classical Swine Fever -- RussiaClassical swine fever, RussiaInformation received on [and dated] 20 Sep 2019 from Dr Nikolay Vlasov, deputy head, Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance, Ministry of Agriculture, Moscou, RussiaSummaryReport type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 15 Aug 2019Date of confirmation of the event: 17 Sep 2019Report date: 20 Sep 2019Date submitted to OIE: 20 Sep 2019Reason for notification: recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Crimean-Congo hem. fever – Africa (06): Sudan (Kassala) susp., tick vector, RFI
Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever -- SudanThe Ministry of Health has reported 22 suspected cases of haemorrhagic fever in Kassala in eastern Sudan.In a press statement, the director of emergencies and epidemics, Emtiaz Ata, told reporters that the ministry is examining suspected cases to make sure of the suspicion and to find out more about the disease.The director-general of the Ministry of Health, Nureldin Hussein, said that the health situation in Kassala is not reassuring, and there must be measures Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (45): Taiwan (KH) duck, HPAI H5N5, 1st rep
Avian Influenza -- ChinaMore than 3000 mule, or sterile, ducks have been culled due to an H5N5 subtype infection of the highly pathogenic avian influenza, which is the 1st reported case in Taiwan.Tu Wen-chen, deputy director-general of the Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine, said 3583 ducks from a farm in the Qishan district of Kaohsiung City were confirmed as having the H5N5 virus on 13 Sep 2019 and killed by the authorities. The bureau later also inspected 5 other duck Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Infectious bursal disease – Iceland: (SL) poultry, OIE
Other Animal Disease -- IcelandInfectious bursal disease (Gumboro disease), IcelandInformation received on 20 Sep 2019 from Dr Sigurborg Daoadottir, chief veterinary officer, Icelandic Food and Veterinary Authority, Ministry of Industries and Innovation, Selfoss, IcelandSummaryReport type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 19 Jul 2019Date of confirmation of the event: 9 Sep 2019Report date: 19 Sep 2019Date submitted to OIE: 20 Sep 2019Reason for notification: recurrence of a listed Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Eastern equine encephalitis – North America (24): USA (NJ) human
Eastern Equine Encephalitis -- United StatesThe New Jersey Department of Health is encouraging residents to take steps to protect themselves from all mosquito-borne diseases after 2 more human cases of eastern equine encephalitis were confirmed in the state. The new cases were confirmed in Union and Atlantic counties on Thursday [19 Sep 2019]. The department confirmed the 1st human case of eastern equine encephalitis in August [2019].Earlier this week, eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) was found Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Poliomyelitis update (73): Philippines, Pakistan, global (Angola)
Polio -- PhilippinesWHO and UNICEF official media releaseDate: Thu 19 Sep 2019Source: WHO and UNICEF joint news release [edited]The Philippine Department of Health (DOH) today [Thu 19 Sep 2019] announced an outbreak of polio in the country. A poliovirus case was confirmed on [16 Sep 2019] in a 3-year-old girl from Lanao del Sur. In addition, environmental samples from sewage in Manila and waterways in Davao were confirmed to contain the virus."We are very concerned that polioviruses are now Read more [...]
PRO/AH> African swine fever – Asia (72): Russia (PR) domestic, Far East spread
African Swine Fever -- RussiaA new outbreak of African swine fever [ASF] has been found at a privately held farm in a village in Russia's Primorsk[y] region near the border with China, Russia's agriculture watchdog [Rosselkhoznadzor] said on Friday [20 Sep 2019].The virus -- which is highly contagious among pigs but not dangerous to humans -- has been detected in several areas in the region in recent months [see comment].China has reported [157] outbreaks of the incurable disease since it was 1st Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Classical swine fever – Japan (11): domestic, spread, vaccination policy revised
Classical Swine Fever -- JapanIn a major policy shift, agriculture minister Taku Eto announced Friday [20 Sep 2019] that the ministry now plans to vaccinate pigs against [classical] swine fever [CSF].The ministry judged that doing so is inevitable if Japan is to stop the unabated spread of the infectious disease after the 1st outbreak in the country in 26 years was confirmed in September last year [2018]. Eto also said the ministry will ask pharmaceutical companies to increase production of [CSF] Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Bluetongue – Europe (09): Switzerland (BE) cattle, BTV-8, OIE
Bluetongue -- SwitzerlandInformation received on [and dated] 17 Sep 2019 from Mr. Hans Wyss, Chief Veterinary Officer, Schwarzenburgstrasse 161, Swiss Federal Veterinary Office, LIEBEFELD BERNE, SwitzerlandSummaryReport type: Immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 13 Sep 2019Date of confirmation of the event: 16 Sep 2019Report date: 16 Sep 2019Date submitted to OIE: 17 Sep 2019Reason for notification Recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: 31 Dec 2018Manifestation of Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Ebola update (91): Congo DR (NK,IT,SK) cases, summaries, response, Uganda
Ebola — DR Congo
PRO/AH/EDR> Japanese encephalitis & other – India (28): (UP)
Japanese Encephalitis -- IndiaAcute encephalitis syndrome (AES) is a viral infection that predominantly affects children. Uttar Pradesh reported a total of 2871 cases of AES in 2019, out of which 83% (2389 cases) were from districts in the Gorakhpur region. The regional ecosystem in Gorakhpur comprises rivers, lakes, irrigation canals, reservoirs and rice fields and the flood-prone region is endemic for AES.The Tata Trusts' initiative to combat AES, named Project Prayaas, aims to effectively prevent Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Eastern equine encephalitis – North America (23): USA (CT, MI) horses, deer
Eastern Equine Encephalitis -- United StatesA horse previously believed to have contracted Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) in Granby [Massachusetts], which prompted state health officials to raise the town's EEE risk level to critical, actually died in Connecticut, where the horse had lived for over a year, according to the horse's owner.Dan Dali Haber, owner of Mountain View Training Center in Granby, said his horse, an 18-month-old filly named Gabrielle, was stabled in Salem, Connecticut, when Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Hepatitis A – South Korea, Australia: clam
Hepatitis A -- South KoreaThe Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said it has confirmed that contaminated fermented shellfish was the main culprit behind the hepatitis A outbreak this summer. The KCDC came to the conclusions after conducting an in-depth epidemiological investigation.The agency randomly sampled 270 of the 2178 hepatitis A patients, diagnosed between 28 Jul and 24 Aug 2019, and surveyed whether they consumed fermented shellfish this summer. It found that 42% of Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Classical swine fever – Japan (10): domestic, vaccination
Classical Swine Fever -- JapanThe Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has established a policy to vaccinate pigs raised in pig farms against classical swine fever [CSF] following the spread of this epidemic livestock disease. It is thought that the inoculation will be limited to areas where CSF outbreaks have been confirmed, mainly on domestic pig farms.CSF returned to Japan in September 2018, when confirmed after its absence for the previous 26 years. The virus was initially spreading Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> E. coli EHEC – USA (20) : (MN) O157, state fair, livestock exposure
E. coli -- United States- Become familiar with and implement the recommendations in this compendium.- Consult with veterinarians, state and local agencies, and cooperative extension personnel on implementation of the recommendations.- Become knowledgeable about the risks for disease and injury associated with animals and be able to explain risk-reduction measures to staff members and visitors.- Be aware that direct contact with some animals is inappropriate in public settings, and this should be Read more [...]
PRO/AH> Zoonoses: SpillOver – new web tool to assess spillover risk of wildlife viruses
Environmental -- Worldwide/UnknownIt is estimated that there are up to 827 000 undiscovered viruses in animals. Of this large pool, which viruses pose the greatest threat to humans? Conventional approaches to understanding the risk of viral spillovers from wildlife, such as relying on the genetic relatedness of viruses, have proven insufficient. We developed an interactive web tool called SpillOver to assess whether a wildlife virus is more or less likely to spillover and cause a new epidemic in Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Eastern equine encephalitis – North America (22): USA (CT, MI, RI) human
Eastern Equine Encephalitis -- United StatesThe state Department of Public Health is warning that an adult resident of East Lyme has tested positive for eastern equine encephalitis (EEE). This is the 1st human case of EEE identified in Connecticut this season [2019].The patient became ill during the last week of August [2019] with encephalitis and remains hospitalized. Laboratory tests, which were completed today at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Laboratory in Ft. Collins, Colorado, Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Ebola update (90): Congo DR (NK, IT, SK) cases, summaries, response, Tanzania, story
Ebola -- DR CongoAs of late August [2019], 28 out of a total of 47 health zones across Ituri and North Kivu provinces have reported cases of Ebola. Of these 28, 18 are considered active transmission zones, meaning that they have notified new confirmed cases in the past 21 days (the maximum incubation period for Ebola). South Kivu has recently recorded cases in Mwenga health zone, becoming the 3rd province in DRC to be affected in the current outbreak.Five new health zones, Goma (North Kivu), Nyiragongo Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Foodborne illness – Burkina Faso: fatal, pesticides susp.
Foodborne Illness -- Burkina FasoAt least 18 people died in 10 days after eating pesticide-contaminated food in 2 localities in Burkina Faso. A dozen still remain under observation in hospitals, according to the Minister of Health.The 1st cases were reported on [1 Sep 2019] in the town of Didyr in the center-west of the country, said Professor Claudine Lougue, Minister of Health.About 15 members of the same families felt unwell after eating local dishes made from bean leaves and small millet seeds, Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Hepatitis A – South Korea: salted clams
Hepatitis A -- South KoreaThe Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said that it has confirmed that contaminated fermented shellfish was the main culprit behind the hepatitis A outbreak this summer of 2019. The KCDC came to the conclusions after conducting an in-depth epidemiological investigation. The agency randomly sampled 270 of the 2178 hepatitis A patients, diagnosed between [28 Jul 2019] and [24 Aug 2019], and surveyed whether they consumed fermented shellfish this summer. Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Typhoid fever – Australia: ex Pakistan, multidrug resistance
Typhoid -- AustraliaDoctors have reported the 1st case of extensively drug-resistant typhoid in Australia, warning the country is not immune to the "emerging threat". A 20-month-old Australian-born girl is the 1st patient to develop the highly resistant form of the superbug after returning from a 3-month trip to Pakistan. Dr. Philip Britton and his colleagues from the Children's Hospital at Westmead and the University of Sydney published the findings in the Medical Journal of Australia letter on Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Botulism – France: outdated soup
Botulism -- FranceIn Essonne, a woman was infected by the botulism bacterium after ingesting old soup.A serious neurological disease, botulism develops in the absence of oxygen and most often through vacuum-sealed foods and canned foods. Botulinum toxin is a poison still "more powerful than cyanide", but this type of case is very rare in France.According to our Parisian colleagues, the consumer had ingested an old vegetable soup. At the end of August 2019, this resident of Essonne felt unwell. Her Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Listeriosis – Europe (12): (France) fatal, raw milk cheeses, recall
Foodborne Illness -- FranceThe 7 people in France part of a _Listeria_ outbreak linked to organic dairy products fell ill over a period of 18 months, according to public health authorities. Those infected with the same strain of _Listeria_ were identified by the National Reference Center for Listeria, with an 8th case still under investigation.Sante Publique France [Public Health France] reported 2 people have died, but the agency does not have any evidence to attribute the deaths to _Listeria_ infection.People Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Pertussis update (10): Americas (USA)
Whooping Cough -- United StatesA few months [ago] parts of Western Montana were dealing with a whooping cough outbreak. The Missoula City-County Health Department even had to hire extra nurses to handle the rising number of cases. The outbreak is continuing with local health officials saying that the numbers are still rising.Local health officials said back in the spring [2019] that they expected the pertussis cases to slow down during summer break. But now, they say that even more cases are coming Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Legionellosis – USA (19): (IL) retirement community
Legionnaires' -- United StatesPublic health officials are worried an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease at a suburban Chicago retirement home appears to be spreading with 2 new cases in the nearby community.Legionnaire's is a flu-like illness contracted when infected water vapor is inhaled. The elderly and people with weakened immune systems can be particularly susceptible.The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 12 cases at Covenant Assisted Living in Batavia through August [2019]. The 2 Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Viral research laboratory accident – Russia: (NS) Vector Institute, explosion & fire
Ebola, Anthrax, Smallpox-Related -- RussiaOne of the world's largest virus research centers, located in Siberia, was reportedly engulfed in flames after a sudden explosion rocked the secretive compound, known for its stores of Ebola, HIV, anthrax, and other strains. Firefighters and rescue services scrambled on [Mon 16 Sep 2019] to respond to a fire that broke out in Koltsovo, a scientific hub several kilometers from Novosibirsk. The situation was quickly upgraded from an ordinary emergency to a Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Anthrax – Kazakhstan (05): (ZM) cattle, human
Anthrax -- KazakhstanA total of 4 shepherds were hospitalized with anthrax in Zhambyl region, Informbureau reports. The diagnosis was confirmed by laboratory examination. Patients came to the hospital with eruptions on their bodies."The patients work on one of the farms and have direct contact with animals. All of them were took part in the slaughtering of a cow, and 7-10 days after that they started complaining of these signs," said Gulfaira Mirzabekova, an employee of the Zhambyl regional infectious Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Tularemia – Sweden (06): outbreak, hares
Tularemia — Sweden
PRO/AH/EDR> African swine fever – Asia (71): South Korea (KG) domestic, 1st report, OIE
African Swine Fever -- South KoreaAfrican swine fever, Korea (Rep. of)Information received on [and dated] 17 Sep 2019 from Dr Oh Soon-Min, director general - chief veterinary officer, Animal Health Policy Bureau, Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA), Sejong-Si, Korea (Rep. of)SummaryReport type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 16 Sep 2019Date of confirmation of the event: 17 Sep 2019Report date: 17 Sep 2019Date submitted to OIE: 17 Sep 2019Reason for notification: Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Rabbit hemorrhagic disease – Ireland (02): wild rabbit
Other Animal Disease -- IrelandA new case of a deadly disease found in rabbits and hares has been confirmed in Cork, bringing the number of counties in which the virus has been detected to 5.Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease (RHD) killed millions of animals in China when it was 1st identified in 1984. It subsequently spread to continental Europe and was 1st detected in the wild in Ireland last July [2019]. The virus, which poses no risk to humans, causes death within a few days of infection. Diseased animals Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Undiagnosed illness – Tanzania (02): fatal, not Ebola, comments, RFI
Undiagnosed — Tanzania