Archive for Global Disease Alerts
PRO/AH/EDR> Leptospirosis – USA (03): (UT) dogs
Leptospirosis -- United StatesMore than a dozen dogs in a Utah city are infected with leptospirosis, a potentially deadly bacterial disease that can spread to humans.There have been at least 13 confirmed cases of leptospirosis in dogs in St. George, KSL reports. Ten of the cases involve dogs being treated at the local veterinary clinic Red Hills Animal Hospital, while the 3 remaining cases are at other veterinary facilities in the area.Veterinarians think an infected dog, possibly from Arizona, that Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Rabies – Americas (44): USA, dog, skunk, raccoon, fox, human exp
Rabies -- United StatesA puppy testing positive for rabies on [Thu 29 Aug 2019] has state health departments in the Dakotas seeking individuals possibly exposed to the fatal virus.On 29 Aug 2019, a puppy tested positive for rabies in South Dakota. While very little is known about the puppy, it last resided in Agency Village, south of Sisseton, [Roberts County], SD. The puppy had at least 3 littermates."Our concern is the littermates have been exposed to rabies and may develop rabies and expose their Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (44): Chile (VS) poultry, LPAI H7, import restrictions
Avian Influenza -- ChileThe importing of Chilean turkey meat has been restricted in Argentina, Peru, and Hong Kong due to an outbreak of bird flu in central Chile. The outbreak, of a low-pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) virus, is under control, the Chilean State Agricultural and Livestock Service (SAG) reported on Wednesday [11 Sep 2019]."Regarding shipments of poultry and its products from Chile to various markets, the SAG has been notified of restrictions only on the part of Argentina, Peru, and Read more [...]
PRO/PL> Panama disease TR4, banana – Australia: (QL) spread
Other Plant Disease -- AustraliaDespite rigid biosecurity measures throughout north Queensland banana farms, the dreaded Panama tropical race 4 is spreading within the infested farms. Since the initial detection [in Queensland; ProMED-mail post http://promedmail.org/post/20150305.3208525] in 2015, there have been 3 farms with confirmed cases of TR4; however, the number of plants infected within those farms has increased to nearly 60, up from the initial 9 cases. On the infected properties, TR4 has Read more [...]
PRO> Tularemia – USA (03): (CO) wild rabbit
Tularemia -- United StatesA rabbit in Lafayette has tested positive for tularemia, public officials announced Friday [13 Sep 2019]. The animal was found along the 4900 block of 95th Street, according to Boulder County health officials.Tularemia is caused by the bacteria _Francisella tularensis_ and is typically found in animals, especially rabbits, rodents, and hares.Symptoms in humans include skin ulcers, swollen and painful lymph glands, inflamed eyes, sore throat, mouth sores, and more. Symptoms Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Anthrax – Italy (03): (PU) cattle, OIE
Anthrax -- ItalyInformation received on [and dated] 16 Sep 2019 from Dr. Silvio Borrello, Chief Veterinary Officer, Food Safety and Collegial Bodies for Health Protection, Ministère de la Santé, Department for Veterinary Public Health, Rome, ItalySummaryReport type: Immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 31 Aug 2019Date of confirmation of the event: 2 Sep 2019Reason for notification: recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: 14 Dec 2018Manifestation of disease: Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Yellow fever – Africa (13): Nigeria (BA)
Yellow Fever -- NigeriaThe Bauchi State Government yesterday [Sat 14 Sep 2019] unveiled anti-yellow fever campaign to immunise 500 000 people in Alkaleri and Tafawa Balewa Local Government Areas to curtail the spread of the acute viral haemorrhagic disease transmitted by infected mosquitoes.The state governor, Senator Bala Mohammed disclosed the plan at the unveiling of aerial spray of Quella birds, mosquitoes and reactive vaccination in response to yellow fever at the Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Eastern equine encephalitis – North America (21): USA (MA) human
Eastern Equine Encephalitis -- United StatesMassachusetts public health officials say laboratory testing has confirmed the state's 8th human case of eastern equine encephalitis [EEE] this season.The state Department of Public Health said on [Fri 13 Sep 2019] that the latest case of the mosquito-borne disease is in a man in his 50s from northeastern Bristol County. Of the previous 7 cases, one was in a 5-year-old girl, and another in adult woman was fatal.In addition to the 8 human cases of EEE, there Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Measles update (62)
Measles -- United StatesA 2nd person with a suspected case of the measles has been confirmed in York County, according to the Pennsylvania Secretary of Health. The state health department [Sat 14 Sep 2019] released a list of new locations, dates and times when individuals may have been exposed to the highly contagious disease. The 1st case was reported 2 weeks ago, and affected sites in York and Hershey."WellSpan Health is in the process of notifying patients, staff and visitors who were in WellSpan Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Rubella – Japan (03): spread, travel alert
Rubella -- JapanA new report from Japan's National Institute of Infectious Disease (NIID) indicates the Rubella virus outbreak continues to spread. As of [4 Sep 2019], there have been 2156 Rubella cases reported by the NIID during 2019.This is an increase of about 260 rubella cases in Japan since July 2019. On a local basis, the city of Tokyo has reported 37% of Japan's 2019 Rubella cases.Since Rubella is very dangerous for a pregnant woman and her developing baby, the US Centers for Disease Control Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> African swine fever – Asia (70): Philippines (RI, ND) spread, prevention
African Swine Fever -- PhilippinesMore cases of African swine fever [ASF] have been confirmed, this time in Quezon City.Speaking to CNN Philippines Saturday [14 Sep 2019], Quezon City mayor Joy Belmonte said, "I wanted to call (a meeting) today because I wanted to make decisions right away pertaining to this issue, but it's a weekend. But having said that, I did get to communicate with our city [veterinarian] ... I have been able to verify ... there are 3 pigs that have been found in a creek in Barangay* Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> West Nile Virus (33): Europe (Greece), ECDC update
West Nile Virus -- GreeceThe death toll from the West Nile virus since June this year has risen to 20, according to this week's report by the National Health Organization (EODY).Up until [12 Sep 2019], authorities had diagnosed a total of 176 cases of the mosquito-borne virus. Of these, 109 developed illnesses affecting the central nervous system such as encephalitis or meningitis.EODY is urging the public to spray insect repellent on bare skin and clothing, to install mosquito nets and screens, Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Amebic meningoencephalitis, primary – Pakistan (04) : (SD)
Amoeba -- PakistanOfficials with the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) report another fatality due to primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) from infection with the brain-eating amoeba, _Naegleria fowleri_. The 20-year-old, Malir man is the thirteenth death due to this parasite in Karachi to date this year [2019].According to the Pakistani news source, The News, Director General Health Sindh Dr. Masood Solangi said their teams of experts had started investigating the case and visited the Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Crimean-Congo hem. fever – Asia (20): Pakistan (SD), India (RJ)
Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever -- PakistanA Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) patient died in a private hospital of Karachi. The death toll from the tick-born viral disease has climbed to 17 in the megacity this year (2019). Sindh Health Department confirmed the death of a 52-year old man, [HK], a resident of Lyari area of Karachi who died in private hospital of the city due to CCHF. The patient was brought to hospital a few days ago with fever where he was diagnosed.The tick-born viral disease Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Classical swine fever – Japan (09): (ST, YN) domestic, spread
Classical Swine Fever -- JapanJapan's agriculture ministry said Friday [13 Sep 2019] that [classical] swine fever [CSF] infections have occurred at a pig farm in the city of Chichibu, Saitama Prefecture, part of the country's Kanto eastern region, which also includes Tokyo.It is the 1st time that a CSF fever case has been confirmed in Kanto since the 1st outbreak of the infectious disease in the country in 26 years was detected in September [2018], in the central prefecture of Gifu.The latest outbreak Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Antibiotic resistance (06): Italy (TC) fatal, NDM-1, nosocomial
Hospital-Related Infection -- ItalyA superbug outbreak has been reported in the Italian region of Tuscany. Authorities in Tuscany, home to some of Italy's most visited tourist attractions, have stepped up hospital controls after a deadly outbreak of the New Delhi superbug.The antibiotic-resistant killer has shown "significant diffusion in the northwestern area of Tuscany" since November 2018, infecting at least 75 people, local health authority ARS said. The bacterial disease is believed to have Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Japanese encephalitis & other – India (27): (AS)
Japanese Encephalitis -- IndiaJapanese encephalitis (JE) has killed 154 people in Assam in 2019, the highest in 5 years officials said even as they claimed that the outbreak, which peaked in July and August, was subsiding and only a few fresh cases were reported in September.A top state government official also said a state-wide adult vaccination campaign will begin in November [2019] covering all districts after the Centre agreed to provide around 57 lakh [5.7 million] vaccines."From [15 Nov 2019], Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Ebola update (89): Congo (NK,IT) Tanzania case update, NOT Ebola
Ebola -- TanzaniaThe World Health Organization (WHO) said on [12 Sep 2019] that it had deployed a technical team to the country to cooperate with the health ministry [see Archive Undiagnosed illness - Tanzania: fatal, WHO team deployment, RFI http://promedmail.org/post/20190913.6672971].The government of Tanzania said on Saturday [14 Sep 2019] that there has been no confirmed case of Ebola in the country. This comes [2 days] after WHO said it was investigating "as a matter of urgency" a "rumor" of Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Eastern equine encephalitis – North America (20): USA (RI) deer
Eastern Equine Encephalitis -- United StatesState officials said Wednesday [11 Sep 2019] that Eastern equine encephalitis had been detected in a deer in Richmond, the 2nd such case in Rhode Island during the current outbreak of the mosquito-borne virus. The state Department of Environmental Management (DEM) reported the 1st deer infection a day earlier [10 Sep 2019] in Coventry.With deer season opening [15 Sep 2019], DEM said it was emailing about 1200 hunters who have recently purchased 2019 deer Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Ebola update (88): Congo DR (NK,IT) cases, summaries, front line, response
Ebola — DR Congo
PRO/AH/EDR> Undiagnosed illness – Tanzania: fatal, WHO team deployment, RFI
Undiagnosed -- TanzaniaThe World Health Organization (WHO) is aware of a rumour related to the death of a person due to an unknown illness in Tanzania. We have reached out to Ministry of Health officials for further details and have offered our support.In line with our responsibility under the International Health Regulations, WHO regularly receives and investigates numerous rumours of public health events.In this regard, WHO is working with national health authorities and is deploying a technical Read more [...]
PRO/PL> Undiagnosed disease, cocoa – Ghana: (AH)
Undiagnosed -- GhanaCocoa farmers in Ashanti region are in a quandary after a "strange disease" that is yet to be identified has destroyed their crops. They helplessly look on while their cocoa trees keep dying. Some of the farmers stated that they started witnessing the strange calamity about 3 weeks ago.This is the 1st time they are experiencing such an onslaught in the area. [They] claimed that, for apparently no reason, some of their cocoa trees started dying under mysterious circumstances. The Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Chronic wasting disease – USA (14): new research
Chronic Wasting Disease -- United StatesRapid spreading of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in wildlife and captive cervid populations has exposed lack of progress in dealing with the transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE) of humans and animals. Since the TSE transmissible agent was resistant to extremes in environmental and chemical treatments, focus was on an unconventional agent including the prion theory. Recent breakthrough research has revealed consistent isolation of a novel _Spiroplasma_ Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Scombroid fish poisoning – USA (02): (multiple states)
Poisoning -- United StatesThe US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) [reports] 16 people [have been] poisoned by yellowfin tuna steaks, [forcing] Kroger [grocery stores] to recall the tainted product. The scombroid poisoning stemmed from yellowfin tuna steaks sold in Kroger stores, the FDA said in an alert.The improperly stored tuna was sold in Kroger stores in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, Nebraska, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Mercury poisoning – USA: (CA) imported cosmetics, comatose user
Poisoning -- United StatesHealth officials in Northern California issued a warning on Tuesday [10 Sep 2019] after a tainted skin cream imported from Mexico left a Sacramento woman in a semi-comatose state.The Pond's-labeled skin cream was found to have been contaminated with methylmercury, a hazardous substance causing severe illness and is "extremely dangerous to adults and children," according to a news release on Sacramento County's website.The woman obtained the cream -- which is used to lighten Read more [...]
PRO/PL> Lasiodiplodia dieback, blueberry – Europe: 1st rep (Spain)
Other Plant Disease -- SpainHighbush blueberry plants (cultivars 'Ventura' and 'Star') in Huelva [province, Andalusia] showed red-brown canker symptoms, stem dieback, and defoliation, and 30% of the plants were nearly dead. Some of these symptoms in blueberry had been previously attributed in Huelva to _Neofusicoccum parvum_, _N. australe_, and _Pestalotiopsis clavispora_.89 affected plants were sampled. From genome sequencing and morphological characterization [it] resulted that the causal agent Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Undiagnosed lethal disease – Norway (03): dog
Undiagnosed -- NorwayFrom Wednesday [11 Sep 2019] to Thursday [12 Sep 2019], the Norwegian Food Safety Authority has received 8 new reports on isolated cases of dogs with similar symptoms of disease. One of the dogs has died. The cases are from Buskerud, Vestfold, Trondelag, Nordland, Troms, and Finnmark.It is important to remember that, in dogs, these symptoms often undergo a less acute course of disease. Initially, most reported cases were located in the Oslo area.So far, there is no commonality Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Strangles – UK (02): (Isle of Man) horse
Strangles -- United KingdomIsle of Man horse owners have been warned not to be "complacent" amid an outbreak of strangles, an animal charity has said. Two cases of the contagious respiratory disease were confirmed in Glen Maye on the west of the island last week. MSPCA manager Juana Warburton said owners must "remain vigilant" to ensure it does not spread.The government said the outbreak was "under control" but it was "keeping a watching brief" on it.Owners are not obliged to inform the government Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Crayfish plague – UK: (England) white-clawed crayfish, susp.
Other Animal Disease -- United KingdomA suspected outbreak of a deadly disease has killed dozens of endangered crustaceans in a waterway that runs through Herefordshire. Large numbers white-clawed crayfish have been found dead in the Cwm y Caddo, a tributary near the Welsh border leading into the River Monnow.The Environment Agency said it believed the cause was crayfish plague and has sent specimens for testing. Anglers and waterway visitors are being advised to disinfect their equipment.Chris Bainger, Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> African swine fever – South Africa (03): (NC) domestic, OIE
African Swine Fever -- South AfricaInformation received on [and dated] 11 Sep 2019 from Dr. Bothle Michael Modisane, chief director, Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Animal Production and Health, Pretoria, South AfricaSummaryReport type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 3 Sep 2019Date of confirmation of the event: 11 Sep 2019Report date: 11 Sep 2019Date submitted to OIE: 11 Sep 2019Reason for notification: recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Foot & mouth disease – South Africa: (LP) bovine, serotype SAT 1, OIE
Foot and Mouth -- South AfricaInformation received on [and dated] 10 Sep 2019 from Dr. Bothle Michael Modisane, chief director, Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Animal Production and Health, Pretoria, South AfricaSummaryReport type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 2 Sep 2019Date of confirmation of the event: 6 Sep 2019Reason for notification: recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: 30 Apr 2019Manifestation of disease: clinical diseaseCausal agent: Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Melioidosis – Viet Nam: fatal
Melioidosis -- VietnamThe Hanoi-based Bach Mai Hospital yesterday [Tue 10 Sep 2019] warned of a high possibility of death from rare Whitmore's disease [melioidosis], as the disease re-occurred and killed 4 people in August [2019]. Moreover, the fatal disease infected 12 patients including a woman suffering from a severe abscess on her nose. The case was very rare, and the hospital treated such cases for the 1st time, said Director of the hospitals' Tropical Disease Center Dr. Do Duy Cuong. The patient Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Invasive mosquitoes – USA (05): (NE, UT)
Other Human Disease -- United StatesA species of mosquito that can carry the Zika virus, dengue, yellow fever and chikungunya [viruses] has been identified in Nebraska for the 1st time, according to state health officials.On Tuesday [10 Sep 2019], the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) said it had documented _Aedes aegypti_ mosquitoes -- which are mainly found in tropical climates -- in York County, to the state's southeast.The mosquitoes were captured during an annual research Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Listeriosis – Europe (11): (Spain) meat, fatal, miscarriages, Mallorca
Listeriosis -- SpainAn outbreak of the deadly [infection due to the bacterium] _Listeria_ has been confirmed in Mallorca.A patient is recovering in a private clinic in Palma as samples of the bacterium are being tested in Madrid to confirm if it is the same strain as the recent outbreak in Andalucia. It seems likely to have originated from the same lethal strain since the patient affected [in Mallorca] had come from Granada.So far 3 people have died and 7 women have aborted babies out of the 200 Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Streptococcus grp A, scarlet fever & invasive disease – UK: emm1, unique genotype
Scarlet Fever -- United KingdomSince 2014, England has seen increased scarlet fever activity unprecedented in modern times. In 2016, England's scarlet fever seasonal rise coincided with an unexpected elevation in invasive _Streptococcus pyogenes_ infections. We describe the molecular epidemiological investigation of these events."Methods-----------We analysed changes in _S. pyogenes_ emm genotypes, and notifications of scarlet fever and invasive disease in 2014-2016 using regional (northwest London) Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Epizootic hemorrhagic disease – USA (02): (WV, MN) deer
Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease -- United StatesEpizootic hemorrhagic disease has been confirmed in Harrison County after a deer collected from the Brushy Fork area tested positive for the virus. Another sample from a deer collected along US [route] 50 near Salem was sent Thursday [5 Sep 2019] for testing, a state Division of Natural Resources (DNR) biologist has confirmed.Samples collected from dead deer in Marion and Monongalia counties also were sent for testing, and results are expected in about Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Mumps update (12): USA (NE, NM) EU (UK)
Mumps -- United StatesThe Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has seen a significant increase in mumps cases related to 2 recent outbreaks.At least 30 cases have been identified, mainly among attendees of a wedding in Northeast Nebraska Public Health Department's jurisdiction (Cedar, Dixon, Thurston and Wayne counties) and a workplace in Four Corners Health Department's jurisdiction (Butler, Polk, York and Seward counties).DHHS is working with local health departments to investigate Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Die-off, bird – USA (02): (AK) seabirds, continuing
Animal Die-off -- United StatesFederal wildlife officials said Monday [9 Sep 2019] that the deaths of thousands of seabirds in western Alaska this summer was because of starvation, as they investigate a 5th straight year of unusually high numbers of seabird fatalities amid warm sea surface temperatures.Thousands of short-tailed shearwaters were reported dead and washing onto beaches in the Bristol Bay region starting in late June [2019], the National Park Service said in a statement on Monday [9 Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Chronic wasting disease – USA (15): new research, comments