Archive for Global Disease Alerts
PRO/EDR> Botulism – Brazil: (RO) susp. canned corn
Botulism -- BrazilBotulism is a rare and potentially lethal illness caused by _Clostridium botulinum_ neurotoxin. We describe the findings of a laboratorial investigation of 117 suspected cases of botulism reported to the surveillance system in Brazil from January 2000 to October 2008. Data on the number and type of samples analyzed, type of toxins identified, reporting of the number of botulism cases, and transmission sources are discussed. A total of 193 clinical samples and 81 food samples were Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> African swine fever – Asia (11): Viet Nam (HY,TB) domestic, 1st rep
African Swine Fever -- VietnamAfrican swine fever [ASF] has been detected on 3 farms in Viet Nam, authorities said on [Tue 19 Feb 2019], the 1st confirmed cases of the highly contagious disease in the Southeast Asia country.All pigs on the farms located in Hung Yen and Thai Binh provinces, southeast of the capital Hanoi, were culled, the Animal Health Department said in a statement.The disease, which is incurable in pigs but harmless for humans, has spread rapidly across neighboring China since August Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Poliomyelitis update (15): Afghanistan (KD)
Polio -- AfghanistanOne new polio case is just confirmed in southern Kandahar province, days after nationwide campaign against the crippling disease kicked off on [Mon 18 Feb 2019].A 60-month-old boy from Ghorak district is infected by the poliovirus. This is the 2nd case reported in 2019, highlighting the ongoing risks of polio and the need for continued immunization, health officials said."From today [18 Feb 2019], polio vaccination teams will visit 5.8 million children under 5 years old in 195 Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> MERS-CoV (21): Saudi Arabia (RI)
MERS -- Saudi ArabiaIn the past 24 hours since the last update [19 Feb 2019] there have been 4 newly confirmed cases of MERS-CoV infection, 1 fatality of a previously reported case, and 2 recoveries reported from Saudi Arabia.Information on newly confirmed cases (4):[1]Date of confirmation report: 19 Feb 2019Case No: 19-1842MERS in Wadi Aldwasir city: 35-year-old female in Wadi Aldwasir city, Riyadh regionContact with camels: NoCase classification: Secondary, healthcare acquiredCurrent Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Mycetoma: WHO conference, call for action
Other Human Disease -- Worldwide/UnknownRef 1. Also termed "skin NTDs," this proposed WHO approach focuses on diseases that present changes in the skin (through lumps or swelling, ulcers, swollen limbs and patches on the face or body). An integrated approach can offer opportunities for early detection of many of these conditions through active screening in communities and schools, including mycetoma, leprosy, scabies, cutaneous leishmaniasis, etc.Ref 2. Currently used antifungals for eumycetoma such Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Anthrax – Tanzania (03): (SO) bovine, human
Anthrax -- TanzaniaAn outbreak of anthrax in Tanzania's southern highlands region of Songwe that killed 4 people in January 2019 is now under control, a senior official said on Monday [18 Feb 2019]. Songwe Regional Administrative Secretary David Kafulila said since the outbreak of the disease in the region on 10 Dec 2018 that regional authorities have taken measures aimed at ending the spread of the disease that left 81 people falling ill after they ate infected meat. "Since 7 Jan this year [2019], Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Coccidioidomycosis – USA: (CA) increase cases, 2018
Valley Fever -- United StatesA life-threatening fungal illness is rapidly spreading throughout central California, health officials say. The number of valley fever [coccidioidomycosis] cases rose 8 percent in 2018 from the previous year [2017], up to more than 8100 from more than 7500, according to a report released by the California Department of Public Health last week. The increase from 2016, when cases totaled around 5700, was even more shocking, a sharp spike of 42 percent.Kern County, which Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Meningitis, meningococcal – Ireland: emergence of serogroups W & Y
Meningitis - Neisseria -- IrelandA rare form of deadly meningitis is on the rise in Ireland following a pattern seen in other countries, disease specialists have revealed.The number of cases of the [_Neisseria meningitidis_ serogroup] W strain has increased from one in the year 2014 to 12 last year [2018]. There has also been an increase in [meningococcal] meningitis [serogroup] Y over the same period, up from 3 to 8 (See: ).Neither strain is currently included in the vaccines to protect against Read more [...]
PRO/PL> Septoria blotch, wheat – UK: (DS, WL)
Other Plant Disease -- United KingdomWheat crops in Dorset are starting to show widespread levels of septoria, the crop's biggest yield-robbing disease. Todd Jex of agronomy group Agrii says the wet-loving disease has developed quickly due to the mild winter followed by rain during February [2019] in areas of Dorset and southern Wiltshire."For this time of the year, there is an awful lot of septoria around in crops, even those that were late drilled." Worryingly, those winter wheat varieties with Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Ebola update (19): Congo DR (NK,IT) cases, summaries, news, UNICEF
Ebola -- DR Congo- Since the beginning of vaccination on 8 Aug 2018, 80 491 persons have been vaccinated [total numbers of people vaccinated in North Kivu, Ituri, Tshopo, and Haut-Uele can be seen at the source URL above].--Communicated by:ProMED-mail Rapporteur Mary Marshall******[2] Outbreak summaryDate: Fri 15 Feb 2019Source: CIDRAP (Center for Infectious disease Research and Policy) [abridged, edited]Ebola still claiming lives as DRC cases climb to Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> African swine fever – Europe (11): Belgium (LX) wild boar, spread, zoning
African Swine Fever -- BelgiumAfter the discovery of a new case of African swine fever [ASF] in a wild boar found dead in the surveillance zone, the Walloon government has proceeded to expand the 3 protection zones. This has been announced by the Walloon minister of Nature and Forest, René Collin (CDH).Collin has held emergency consultations in Gembloux on [Sat 16 Feb 2019] afternoon, including representatives from the Cabinet of Federal Minister for Agriculture Denis Ducarme. "The discovery Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Legionellosis – USA: (MN) hotel
Legionnaires' -- United StatesA total of 4 people have been sickened in an outbreak Legionnaires' disease that has been linked to a hotel in northwestern Minnesota. The individuals became ill between [22 Jan and 27 Jan 2019], with all having spent some time at the Crookston Inn and Convention Center prior to falling ill, though none of them stayed the night.The Minnesota Department of Health [MDH] is investigating what the source of the _Legionella_ bacteria might be, but says early evidence and Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Aujeszky's disease – France: (AO) dog
Other Animal Disease -- FranceA young 18-month-old munsterlander was killed by the Aujeszky's disease virus after a hunt in Moselle. The virus, most often fatal, is transmitted from wild boars to domestic carnivores. A vaccination exists for breeding pigs, not for the wild boar. Hunting dogs are therefore particularly vulnerable to Aujeszky's disease, a herpesvirus that is almost always deadly. "We hunted on [Sat 9 Feb 2019] and [Sun 10 Feb 2019] at Troisfontaines, then the next day at Zimming. [Thu Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Equine influenza – UK (05): (England) spread
Equine Influenza -- United KingdomWe are seeing more cases of equine flu than we would normally expect, due to a new strain of flu in circulation. Through our own laboratories, we continue to test samples from horses suspected of having flu. To 17 Feb 2018, we have confirmed 29 flu outbreaks across 17 counties in England and Scotland.Equine flu is endemic in the UK. This means that a number of cases of flu are always expected to be seen, as the virus is constantly circulating within the UK horse Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Anthrax – Kenya (03): (EB) cow, human
Anthrax -- KenyaA nurse in Embu county was arrested after allegedly inspecting a cow and sanctioning it for consumption yet it had anthrax disease. She is currently being held at Itabua Police Station.The incident is said to have occurred in Rukia village and led to 3 people being hospitalized at Embu Level Five Hospital.Embu County Public Health Officer Rosaline Kaugi said the nurse is trained to treat people and works in one of the health facilities but had been engaged by residents to act as a Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Undiagnosed die-off, giant squid – Chile: (AT)
Animal Die-off -- ChileOfficials have launched a probe into the unusual incident and urged the local public to abstain from eating the dead cuttlefish as doing so could lead to food poisoning, Chile's Cooperativa online media outlet reported.Thousands of dead cuttlefish have been washed up on a popular beach in Chile. The incident occurred at the Bahia Inglesa Beach [Atacama], a popular tourist spot, and it is feared that the occurrence could be linked to pollution or global warning.--Communicated Read more [...]
PRO/ALL> New in IJID (02): February 2019
Other Human Disease -- Worldwide/UnknownEpidemiological investigation and successful management of a Burkholderia cepacia outbreak in a neurotrauma intensive care unitNeha Rastogi, Surbhi Khurana, Balaji Veeraraghavan, Francis Yesurajan Inbanathan, Suresh Kumar Rajamani Sekar, Deepak Gupta, Keshav Goyal, Ashish Bindra, Navdeep Sokhal, Ashutosh Panda, Rajesh Malhotra, Purva MathurInternational Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 79, February 2019, Pages 4-11Antimicrobial resistance and molecular Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> MERS-CoV (20): Saudi Arabia (RI), Oman (BN) RFI
MERS -- Saudi ArabiaA spokesperson for the WHO said, "For all cases, the investigation of exposure to known risk factors in the 14 days prior to the onset of symptoms is ongoing. Ministry of Health officials in Oman have established a contact list of healthcare workers and familial contacts in North Batinah Governorate. As of [4 Feb 2019], a total of 60 familial contacts were identified, with 26 contacts classified as high-risk.""All household members of the MERS coronavirus (COV) cases have been Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Rabies (06): Asia (Indonesia, Pakistan) human, dog, control
Rabies -- IndonesiaThe [Indonesian] Health Ministry has said that, from January to February [2019], 628 people were infected [see comment] with rabies nationwide, with at least 12 cases that turned fatal.Six deaths were recorded in Dompu in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), 3 in North Sumatra, and 3 in Central and North Sulawesi [see map at ].According to Antara, health officials in Ambon reported one fatality and 101 infected in the Maluku city [Maluku province].The ministry's director for vector-borne Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Crimean-Congo hem. fever – Asia (02): Oman (BN)
Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever -- OmanThe Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MoAF) has announced that it has imposed veterinary quarantine on a farm in the wilayat [district] of Shinas in North Batinah [governorate] after it registered a case of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) in a citizen. MoAF has also confirmed that the citizen infected is undergoing treatment at Sohar Hospital and his condition is stable.Experts took samples of tick insects, a carrier of the disease from the animals Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Newcastle disease, poultry – Mexico: OIE
Newcastle Disease -- MexicoInformation received on 15 Feb 2019 from MVZ Joaquin Braulio Delgadillo Alvarez, Director General de Salud Animal, Servicio Nacional de Sanidad, Inocuidad y Calidad Agroalimentaria (SENASICA) Secretaria de Agricultura, Ganadería, Desarrollo Rural, Pesca y Alimentacion, Ministerio de Agricultura, Ganaderia, Desarrollo Rural, Pesca y Alimentacion, Mexico.SummaryReport type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 1 Jan 2019Date of confirmation of the event: Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Strangles – USA (03): (WA) horses
Strangles -- United StatesThe Washington State Department of Agriculture reported to the Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) 3 confirmed cases of strangles and 10 suspected cases in Chelan County. There is a voluntary quarantine in place.The reporting vet indicated that up to 10 horses on the premises are affected, with 3 having been cultured and confirmed positive for strangles. Additional horses are presumed positive based on clinical signs.The 3 horses confirmed positive for strangles are Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Syphilis – USA: incr. incid., heterosexuals, IDU, methamphetamine use, 2013-17
Syphilis -- United States"What is already known about this topic?"During 2013-2017, the primary and secondary (P&S) syphilis rate increased 72.7% nationally and 155.6% among women."What is added by this report?"During 2013-2017, reported methamphetamine, injection drug, and heroin use increased substantially among women and heterosexual men with P&S syphilis."What are the implications for public health practice?"Heterosexual syphilis transmission and drug use, particularly methamphetamine Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> MERS-CoV (19): Saudi Arabia (RI, TB)
MERS -- Saudi ArabiaIn the past 24 hours since the last update [16 Feb 2018], there have been 2 newly confirmed cases of MERS-CoV infection reported by Saudi Arabia. [Both were reported late 16 Feb 2019 after the previous update was published].Information on newly confirmed cases:[1]Date of confirmation report: 16 Feb 2019 Case No: 19-1839MERS in Wadi Aldwasir city: 65-year-old male in Wadi Aldwasir city, Riyadh regionContact with camels: YesCase classification: PrimaryCurrent status: Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Dengue/DHF update (05): Asia, Pacific, Europe, research
Dengue -- Sri LankaRef. Kasai S, Caputo B, Tsunoda T, Cuong TC, et al.: 1st detection of a _Vssc_ allele V1016G conferring a high level of insecticide resistance in _Aedes albopictus_ collected from Europe (Italy) and Asia (Viet Nam), 2016: a new emerging threat to controlling arboviral diseases. Euro Surveill. 2019; 24(5): 1700847. doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2019.24.5.1700847.AbstractIntroduction. _Aedes albopictus_ (Skuse) is an important vector of arboviral diseases, including dengue, chikungunya, Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Equine influenza – UK (04): (England, Scotland) horse, spread
Equine Influenza -- United KingdomThe Animal Health Trust has reported at least 5 horses have confirmed flu on a premises in Hertfordshire, where 15 others are showing signs of the virus. The yard, on which 30 non-thoroughbred horses live, most unvaccinated, has placed restrictions on movement.Elsewhere, 2 other diagnosed cases, in Buckinghamshire and central Scotland, involve recently arrived unvaccinated horses that have been in contact with 8 vaccinated equines. In addition, 2 horses have been Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Foot & mouth disease – Palestinian Auth: (WE) sheep, 2018, st O, tt EA-3
Foot and Mouth -- Palestinian Authority[1] Foot and mouth disease [FMD] detection and serotyping results reportDate received: 15 Jan 2019Country of origin: Palestinian Autonomous TerritoriesDate test completed: 31 Jan 2019WRL reference PAT 1/2018Description of sample: Sheep, fluid/cell culture, collected 29 Jul 2018PCR result: FMDV GDSerotyping result by cell culture/ELISA: O[2] Genotyping reportFMDV serotype: OCountry: Palestinian Autonomous TerritoriesYear: 2018Batch: WRLFMD/2019/00006No. of sequences: Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> MERS-CoV (18): Saudi Arabia (RI) WHO
MERS -- Saudi ArabiaIn the 2 days since the last update [14 Feb 2019] there has been one newly confirmed case of MERS-CoV infection and 3 recoveries of previously confirmed cases reported by Saudi Arabia (as of 12:15 GMT-4).Information on the newly confirmed case:Date of confirmation report: 15 Feb 2019Case no.: 19-1838MERS in Wadi Aldawasir city: 49-year-old male in Wadi Aldawasir city, Riyadh regionContact with camels: NoCase classification: Secondary, healthcare acquiredCurrent status: Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Leishmaniasis, cutaneous – Pakistan (03): (TA)
Leishmaniasis -- PakistanHealth Minister Dr. Hisham Inamullah Khan has said that government is making efforts on war footing for prevention of cutaneous leishmaniasis in the province and a special cell has been set up to cope with the outbreak of the skin disease.According to a handout issued here [Peshawar] on Wednesday [13 Feb 2019], so far 21 258 cases of leishmaniasis have been reported throughout the province, including 19 072 from tribal districts.In his message, Dr. Hisham said that there Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Mycoplasma bovis, bovine – New Zealand (02): cattle, update
Other Animal Disease -- New ZealandOfficials now concede the cattle disease _Mycoplasma bovis_ may have been present in New Zealand as early as 2004.Late last year [2018], Ministry for Primary Industries principal scientist Dr John Roche dismissed what he described as persistent "myths" surrounding the disease. One of those was that _M bovis_ 1st arrived in New Zealand around 2004. Roche rejected the possibility, saying that by using a molecular clock and culturing the bacteria, scientists were able Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Equine infectious anemia & equine piroplasmosis – USA: (TX) horse
Equine Infectious Anemia, Other Animal Disease -- United StatesTexas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) confirmed equine infectious anemia (EIA) in 9 racing Quarter Horses located on a Smith County premises on [Thu 31 Jan 2019].Through subsequent testing, 7 of the EIA-positive horses and one additional horse on the property were confirmed positive for a secondary infectious disease, equine piroplasmosis (EP).The Smith County premises remains in compliance with TAHC rules, which require owners to maintain Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Equine influenza – USA (02): (OH) horse
Equine Influenza -- United StatesThree horses at the World Equestrian Center (WEC) in Wilmington, Ohio, have tested positive for equine influenza, the site's management said in a [Tue 12 Feb 2019] statement.Show veterinarian Holly Helbig, DVM, informed management of the positive tests. All 3 horses have tested negative for _Streptococcus equi_ (which causes strangles) and for equine herpesvirus-1 and -4.When the affected horses exhibited signs of equine influenza, Helbig isolated them at the WEC Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Anthrax – Zambia: (MU) hippopotamus cull proposed
Anthrax -- ZambiaThe Zambian government will allow trophy hunters to kill 2000 hippos in a 5-year cull. In 2016, the government announced a plan to kill 400 of the animals per year, claiming there was a risk of an anthrax outbreak. They then backed down from this original plan, but animal rights campaigners claim they have restarted the cull under the guise of a wildlife management tool.However, charity Born Free says there is no scientific evidence to support a cull, reports The Daily Mail. They Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Anthrax – Australia (03): (QL) cattle, NOT
Anthrax -- AustraliaThe Queensland Government's Department of Agriculture and Fisheries has ruled out anthrax as the cause of recent cattle deaths at Eukey. Initial testing and autopsies did not show signs of the bacterium _Bacillus anthrax_, but further tests are underway to identify the exact cause of death.[Byline: Matthew Purcell]--Communicated by:ProMED-mail[We know what it is not. The actual cause for these multiple deaths has yet to be decided. - Mod.MHJHealthMap/ProMED-mail Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Ebola update (18): Congo DR (NK, IT) cases, summaries, vaccine RFI, research
Ebola, Vaccine Complication -- DR CongoSince the start of vaccination on 8 Aug 2018, 79 146 people have been vaccinated.--Communicated by:ProMED-mail Rapporteur Mary Marshall[Sad to see a 6-month-old baby infected when the mother could have been treated together with the baby earlier at an ETC. How early can the vaccine be given? - Mod.LK]******[2] Summaries- Thu 14 Feb 2019. Ebola outbreak expands[CIDRAP (Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy) news scan for 14 Feb 2019, abridged, Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Poliomyelitis update (14): Pakistan, Indonesia
Polio -- PakistanNew wild poliovirus cases reported this week: 1Total number of wild poliovirus cases in 2019: 3Total number of wild poliovirus cases in 2018: 33New cVDPV cases reported this week: 1Total number of cVDPV cases (all types) in 2019: 0Total number of cVDPV cases (all types) in 2018: 104Headlines- In Indonesia, a circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 1 (cVDPV1) outbreak is confirmed.Summary of new viruses this week:- Pakistan: 1 case of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Anthrax – Romania: (VS) cattle, OIE
Anthrax -- RomaniaInformation received on 15 Feb 2019 from Dr. Geronimo Raducu Branescu, President Secretary of State Chief Veterinary Officer, National Sanitary Veterinary and Food Safety, National Sanitary Veterinary and Food Safety Authority, Bucharest, RomaniaSummaryReport type: Immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 8 Feb 2019Date of confirmation of the event: 12 Feb 2019Report date: 15 Feb 2019Date submitted to OIE: 15 Feb 2019Reason for notification: Recurrence of a listed Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Foot & mouth disease – Israel: (HZ) cattle, st O, spread, OIE
Foot and Mouth -- IsraelInformation received on [and dated] 13 Feb 2019 from Dr. Tamir Goshen, Acting Director, Veterinary Services and Animal Health, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Beit Dagan, IsraelSummaryReport type: Follow-up report no. 8Date of start of the event: 5 Sep 2018Date of confirmation of the event: 9 Sep 2018Report date: 13 Feb 2019Date submitted to OIE: 13 Feb 2019Reason for notification: Recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: 16 Jul Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Salmonellosis, st Poona – EU: infants, Spanish powdered milk
Salmonella -- Worldwide/UnknownFrench authorities are investigating more than a dozen cases of _Salmonella_ infection in babies less than 19 months old. The illnesses are linked to a rice milk formula made in Spain. Of the 14 babies involved in the investigation, the French National Public Health Agency (Santé publique France) reports 5 have been confirmed and 9 are under investigation. 7 of the babies were hospitalized for salmonellosis but have since recovered. Luxembourg and Belgium have Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Leptospirosis – USA: (HI)
Leptospirosis -- United StatesA rare (and deadly) form of leptospirosis has infected 2 Oahu [Hawaii] men this year [2019]. Local doctors are alarmed after 2 men were diagnosed with a deadly form of leptospirosis known as Weil's disease. The bacteria attack the organs causing them to rapidly shut down.Looking at [the patient on Wed 13 Feb 2019] you'd never know the rare disease nearly claimed his life a few weeks ago. The 44-year-old was hospitalized in January [2019] with kidney and liver failure Read more [...]
