Archive for Global Disease Alerts
PRO/EDR> Typhoid fever – India: (TN)
Typhoid -- IndiaWoraiyur locality in the city [Trichy] has come under the radar of the health department after typhoid cases soared in the area in the past one month. According to officials from the department, more than 40 cases of typhoid have been reported from Woraiyur since September [2018]. As a result, the department with the help of Trichy City Corporation (TCC), has been conducting inspections at Woraiyur in the past few days."The number of typhoid cases in Woraiyur area alone is pretty Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Powassan virus encephalitis – USA (05): (NY)
Encephalitis -- United StatesA case of a rare virus transmitted by ticks has been detected in Cayuga county for the 1st time, the furthest west the virus has been found in the state, according to health officials [Mon 1 Oct 2018].The Cayuga County Health Department announced that the Powassan virus, spread by the bite of the black-legged tick or deer tick, has been confirmed in an adult patient.Unlike other tick-borne disease such as Lyme disease, the Powassan virus can be transmitted from the bite Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Legionellosis – New Zealand: (CA) compost, potting soil
Legionnaires' -- New ZealandDriving compost around was what likely led to one man being declared the sickest person in New Zealand. [A 41-year-old man] had just started a new job at a gardening supplies company when he was struck down by legionnaires' disease.The Christchurch man became unwell with cold and flu-like symptoms on 16 Sep 2018, but 4 days later, he was put into an induced coma in Christchurch Hospital intensive care unit (ICU). He was moved out of the ICU to a general ward on Friday Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> European foulbrood, apis – Europe (03): Romania (IS) OIE
Other Animal Disease -- RomaniaInformation received on [and dated] 4 Oct 2018 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: 30 Aug 2018Date of confirmation of the event: 12 Sep 2018Reason for notification: recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: 28 Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> African swine fever – Europe (48): Hungary (BZ) wild boar, OIE
African Swine Fever -- HungaryInformation received on [and dated] 5 Oct 2018 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: 27 Sep 2018Date of confirmation of the event: 2 Oct 2018Reason for notification: 1st occurrence of a listed diseaseManifestation of disease: Sub-clinical infectionCausal agent: African swine fever virusNature of Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Murine typhus – USA (05): (CA) Pasadena, RFI
Typhus -- United StatesIn a follow-up to the report of an outbreak of flea-borne typhus in downtown Los Angeles [see ProMED-mail post Murine typhus - USA (04): (CA) homeless; Archive Number: http://promedmail.org/post/20181006.6075346], the Pasadena Public Health Department (PPHD) is reporting epidemic levels of typhus fever this year [2018].In 2018, 20 Pasadena residents have been confirmed to have typhus fever, well above the expected 1-5 cases per year."Typhus fever is a disease that can cause Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Ebola update (106): Congo DR, case update, knowledge attitudes, practices
Ebola -- DR CongoWe rapidly mobilised research teams to survey Ebola-related KAP in purposively sampled groups living in Mangina (epicentre of the epidemic), Beni (30 km [18.6 mi] from the epicentre), Butembo (80 km [49.7 mi] from the epicentre), and the IDP [Internal Displaced Persons] camp of Komanda. We developed a 52-item questionnaire based on past KAP questionnaires used in Guinea and focused on several key constructs: Ebola-specific knowledge and misconceptions, effective response, prevention Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Listeriosis – USA (02): fatal, ham, recall
Listeriosis -- United StatesJohnston County Hams is recalling approximately 89 096 pounds of ready-to-eat ham products that may contain _Listeria monocytogenes_, according to the United States Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). The recall was announced after several people fell ill and one died.The recall includes products that were produced between 3 Apr last year [2017] and 2 Oct this year [2018]. "The epidemiologic investigation identified a total of 4 listeriosis-confirmed Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Salmonellosis, st Enteritidis – UK: (Ireland) liquid egg white, alert, recall
Salmonella -- United KingdomAuthorities in the UK and Ireland are investigating _Salmonella_ illnesses linked to a brand of liquid egg whites. Seven confirmed cases of _Salmonella [enterica_ serotype] Enteritidis have been reported in the UK, and one suspected infection is under investigation in Ireland. One batch of Dr. Zak's Barn Farmed Liquid Egg White 970 mL from France with raw material from Spain was recalled on 17 Sep 2018 followed by other batches on 21 Sep 2018._Salmonella_ was found in Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Murine typhus – USA (04): (CA) homeless
Typhus -- United StatesAn outbreak of flea-borne typhus has hit downtown Los Angeles [CA], the county Department of Public Health said Thursday [4 Oct 2018]. Health officials say they are investigating several cases of flea-borne typhus, a disease that infected fleas can spread to humans.Although the fleas can come from cats, rats, and opossums, pets and animals do not get sick from typhus. In people, however, typhus can cause high fever, chills, headache, and rash. It is not transmitted from person Read more [...]
PRO/AH> African swine fever – Asia (15): China (LN) domestic swine, follow-up, OIE
African Swine Fever -- ChinaInformation received on [and dated] 30 Sep 2018 from Dr. Zhang Zhongqui, Director General, China Animal Disease Control Centre, Veterinary Bureau, Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing, China (People's Rep. of)SummaryReport type: Follow-up report no. 5Date of start of the event: 1 Aug 2018Date of confirmation of the event: 3 Aug 2018Report date: 30 Sep 2018Date submitted to OIE: 30 Sep 2018Causal agent: African swine fever virusNature of diagnosis: Clinical, laboratory (basic), Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Bluetongue – Europe (04): Italy (PU, SD) ovine, serotype 3, OIE
Bluetongue -- ItalyInformation received on 5 Oct 2018 from Dr. Silvio Borrello, Chief Veterinary Officer, Food Safety and Collegial Bodies for Health Protection, Ministry of Health, Department for Veterinary Public Health, Rome, ItalySummaryReport type: Immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 19 Sep 2018Date of confirmation of the event: 3 Oct 2018Reason for notification: New strain of a listed diseaseManifestation of disease: Clinical diseaseCausal agent: Bluetongue virus Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> West Nile virus (51): Europe (Germany) ECDC update
West Nile Virus -- GermanyWe have strong evidence for the 1st human case of West Nile fever acquired in Germany -- a male veterinarian from Bavaria (Germany) has been diagnosed after contact with a West Nile virus (WNV)-infected bird. The 31-year-old veterinarian, who works at a birds' clinic, had performed necropsy of a just-deceased owl (great grey owl, _Strix nebulosa_) found in a wildlife park near Poing, Ebersberg, Bavaria. WNV was detected by PCR in tissue samples recovered during the necropsy. Read more [...]
PRO/AH> African swine fever – Europe (47): Belgium (LX) wild, spread, regional impact
African Swine Fever -- BelgiumRene Collin, the Walloon Minister for Agriculture, Nature and Forests, has received from the Wildlife Surveillance Network in Wallonia a new inventory of tests carried out in the framework of the management of African swine fever in the defined territory of 63 000 hectares (630 square km; 243 square miles).To date, 106 wild boars have been collected. A total of 80 of them were found within the perimeter. Of these, there are now 44 viropositive cases. The wild boars collected Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Poliomyelitis update (47): global (Afghanistan, Nigeria)
Polio -- AfghanistanNew wild poliovirus cases reported this week: 1Total number of wild poliovirus cases in 2018: 19Total number of wild poliovirus cases in 2017: 22New cVDPV (circulating vaccine derived poliovirus) cases reported this week: 3Total number of cVDPV cases (all types) in 2018: 53Total number of cVDPV cases (all types) in 2017: 96HeadlinesSummary of newly reported viruses this week:- Afghanistan - one case of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) and 5 WPV1-positive environmental Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Anthrax – Ukraine (03): (OD,ZT) bovine, human, OIE
Anthrax -- UkraineInformation received on [and dated] 5 Oct 2018 from Dr Andrii Zhuk, first deputy head of the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Production, International Cooperation of the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection, UKR Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food, Kiev, UkraineSummaryReport type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 29 Sep 2018Date of confirmation of the event: 3 Oct 2018Reason for notification: recurrence of a listed Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Invasive mosquito – Spain (02): (EX)
Other Human Disease -- SpainThe mosquito that is responsible for transmitting Zika virus and yellow fever is closing in on Portugal, after Spanish authorities announced they found eggs from the mosquito in the border regions.According to newspaper i, authorities from the Spanish province of Extremadura announced that they have detected the presence of the Asian tiger mosquito (_Aedes albopictus_) in Monesterio [in Badajoz province, part] of the Extremadura region, which borders with a thick belt Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Ebola update (105): Congo DR (NK,IT) cases, WHO, airport
Ebola -- DR Congo- On 4 Oct 2018, Dr Oly Ilunga Kalenga, minister of health, traveled to Tchomia in Ituri province with vice provincial governor Pacifique Keta and Congolese and international experts. The purpose of the trip was to assess the status of the Ebola response in the health zone and strengthen community engagement. The delegation visited the mobile laboratory of the National Institute for Biomedical Research (INRB), the new Ebola Treatment Center (ETC) under construction, and the port Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Invasive mosquito – Netherlands: (NB)
Dengue, Yellow Fever, Encephalitis -- NetherlandsAn Asian tiger mosquito has been spotted in Eindhoven [North Brabant province], prompting government safety experts to put up more traps around the city in an effort to see if the mosquitoes are breeding. Locals living in a 500 metre [550 yd] radius of the sighting have been sent a letter by the public-safety body, Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (Nederlandse Voedsel- en Warenautoriteit; NVWA), warning about the presence of the Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> E. coli EHEC – UK: (England) fatal
E. coli -- United KingdomTwo children from the same family have died after contracting the deadly food poisoning bug _Escherichia coli_, health officials have confirmed. The children, whose ages have not yet been released, were from the Charnwood area of Leicestershire and had been treated for the infection in the last 2 weeks. Public Health England confirmed the deaths today, [Thu 4 October 2018], and revealed it is working with environmental health officers after 2 cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Ricin, envelopes – USA (03): (DC)
Poisoning -- United StatesA 3rd envelope was reported by the Secret Service as being intercepted before arriving at the White House. The 1st 2 envelopes were addressed to secretary of defense James Mattis and to chief of naval operations, Admiral John Richardson. "The Secret Service can confirm receipt of a suspicious envelope addressed to the president on [Mon 1 Oct 2018]," the service said in a statement on Tuesday [2 Oct 2018]. "The envelope was not received at the White House, nor did it ever Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Salmonellosis, st Newport – USA (03): ground beef, alert, recall
Salmonella -- United StatesJBS Tolleson, Inc, an establishment in Tolleson, Arizona (United States), is recalling approximately 6 500 966 pounds of various raw, non-intact beef products that may be contaminated with _Salmonella [enterica_ serotype] Newport, the US Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today [Thu 4 Oct 2018].The raw, non-intact beef items, including ground beef, were packaged on various dates from [26 Jul 2018] to [7 Sep 2018]. The following Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> West Nile virus (50): Europe (Czech Republic)
West Nile Virus -- Czech RepublicThe Czech Republic confirmed on [Thu 27 Sept 2018] its 1st case of West Nile fever contracted domestically. It was first reported by local Nova television on [Thu 27 Sept 2018], and confirmed by later the same day by Czech deputy health minister Roman Prymula. The case was a 72 year old woman who also suffered from other serious chronic problems and died after contracting the virus in the Czech Republic.Epidemiologists had already identified the virus in mosquitoes Read more [...]
PRO/AH> African swine fever – Europe (46): Moldova (RZ) wild boar, OIE
African Swine Fever -- MoldovaInformation received on [and dated] 3 Oct 2018 from Dr Vitalie Caraus, head of the Sanitary Veterinary Surveillance Department, Sanitary and Veterinary Surveillance Division, National Food Safety Agency, National Food Safety Agency of the Republic of Moldova, Chisinau, MoldovaSummaryReport type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 29 Aug 2018Date of confirmation of the event: 2 Oct 2018Reason for notification: 1st occurrence of a listed diseaseManifestation Read more [...]
PRO/AH> Bluetongue – Europe (03): Italy (SD) ovine, st 3
Bluetongue -- ItalyThe presence of the bluetongue virus [BTV] of serotype 3 (BTV-3) in Sardinia was confirmed by the national reference center of Teramo on samples of organs taken from a sheep. It was suggested that this BTV serotype presumably arrived from North Africa by BTV-3 infected vector arthropods (culicoides), as already happened in the past for other BTV serotypes. The vectors are assumed to have been transported by the wind to south western Sardinia. This hypothesis will be checked in Read more [...]
PRO/PL> Bacterial canker, kiwifruit – Australia: (VI) susp
Other Plant Disease -- AustraliaSeeka, New Zealand's biggest kiwifruit grower, says it may have found PSA [bacterial canker] in an orchard it is developing in Australia. It has notified Agriculture Victoria of unusual bacterial symptoms and is removing suspicious plant material pending further test results. The symptoms are consistent with PSA. The affected plants are in a non-producing part of the orchard on 2 year old vines.PSA in New Zealand is estimated to have infected 80 per cent of the country's Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Ebola update (104): Congo DR (NK,IT) cases, strife, context
Ebola -- DR Congo- The case confirmed in Komanda [Ituri] was finally transferred to Beni's [North Kivu] Ebola treatment center (ETC) for better management. His wife and child were vaccinated and isolated in the same ETC.Vaccination------------ The 2 vaccination belts in Bunia [Ituri] have been closed. Vaccination continues in 6 belts distributed in the Beni, Tchomia, Komanda, and Mabalako health zones.- Since the start of vaccination on 8 Aug 2018, 13 750 people have been vaccinated, including 4375 Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Measles update (60): Europe, Middle East, Africa
Measles -- UkraineMeasles in Chad---------------2734 suspected cases / 78 deaths / 2.9% case fatality rateEvent description-----------------The measles outbreak in Chad which started at the beginning of 2018 continues to evolve. Since our last situation report on 5 Aug 2018 (Weekly Bulletin 33), 845 new suspected cases and 6 deaths were reported. Of these, 136 were tested and 90 new confirmed and 2 clinically compatible cases have been reported. In week 36 (week ending 9 Sep 2018), 155 suspected Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Monkeypox – UK (05): ex Nigeria
Monkeypox -- United KingdomPatients who visited their GP the same day as a woman later diagnosed with monkeypox have been offered the smallpox vaccine. The health care worker, reportedly from Fleetwood, is understood to have visited her doctor at Mountview Practice in Dock Street in the port town before being moved to the north east and quarantined.She was the 3rd person to be diagnosed with the tropical disease in the UK, after treating the 2nd, who had recently visited Nigeria, at Blackpool Victoria Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> MERS-CoV (40): Saudi Arabia (RI) WHO
MERS -- Saudi ArabiaDate of report: 3 Oct 2018Case No. 18 - 1756MERS in Afeef city: 22 year old male in Afeef city, Riyadh regionContact with camels: noCase classification: secondary, household contactCurrent status: home-isolated--communicated by:ProMED-mail[This is the 1st MERS-CoV laboratory confirmed infection reported since the last ProMED-mail update on 29 Sep 2018. One suspects that this individual either had a mild infection or was asymptomatic and detected during testing of known Read more [...]
PRO/AH> Die-off, seal – USA (03): (ME,NH,MA) multifactorial
Animal Die-off -- United StatesLast month [September 2018], the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) declared an Unusual Mortality Event (UME) for pinnipeds. Pinnipeds are a group of aquatic mammals that include seals, which are the species affected by this recent UME.Under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, a UME is defined as a "stranding event that is unexpected, involves a significant die-off of any marine mammal population and demands immediate response". Over the last few months, Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Salmonellosis, st. Enteritidis – USA (02): egg, alert, recall
Salmonella -- United StatesSince the last update on [10 Sep 2018], 24 ill people have been added to this investigation.As of 1 Oct 2018, 38 people infected with the outbreak strain of _Salmonella [enterica_ serotype] Enteritidis have been reported from 7 states. State / Ill people------------------Alabama / 7Colorado / 1Iowa / 1Kentucky / 1Ohio / 4Montana / 1Tennessee / 23Total / 38Illnesses started on dates ranging from [17 Jun 2018] to [16 Aug 2018]. Ill people range in age from 1 year to Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Anthrax – Ukraine (02): (OD) bovine, human
Anthrax -- Ukrainehttps://www.unian.info/society/10284192-anthrax-outbreak-village-in-odesa-region-put-in-two-week-quarantine-video.htmlA 2 week quarantine [has been] announced in the village of Minyalivka in Odessa region's Saratskyi district, where an outbreak of anthrax has been recorded. The State Emergencies Service and the police set up 6 checkpoints there. Sanitary services are carrying out disinfection in the village. Anthrax infection has been confirmed in one person among 5 local residents Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Hepatitis A – Chile (02): (BI,NB)
Hepatitis A -- ChileA 140% increase has occurred in 2018 in cases of hepatitis A, in the area that includes the regions of Bio Bio and Nuble, compared to the same date of 2017. In fact, in 2018, 779 cases have been reported, worrying figures for the authorities due to the increase registered since the start of the outbreak of the disease in 2013. According to the health secretary in Bio Bio, Erick Jimenez, the causes could be associated with the consumption of non-potable water, incorrect handwashing, Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Rabies (51): Asia (Viet Nam) Africa (Morocco) human, canine
Rabies -- VietnamHuman rabies deaths have been directly linked to involvement in the slaughtering, butchery, handling, and even consumption of meat from infected dogs. More than 80 animal charities from across Asia and the rest of the world have signed an open letter to global governments to take action to end the dog meat trade as a way to tackle the deadly disease.Professor Louis Nel of Global Alliance for Rabies Control says: "We may not be able to easily change culture or habit, but we should Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Ebola update (103): Congo DR (NK,IT) cases, risk, response, research
Ebola -- DR CongoContrary to what has been reported in some media, the 2 Congolese nationals who arrived in Uganda where they are being followed by the national health authorities did not participate in the burial of a confirmed case of Ebola in Kasenyi [Ituri]. The response teams investigated the funeral in which the 2 Congolese nationals had participated. There was no connection to the Ebola outbreak and the clinical picture of the deceased person did not match that of Ebola virus disease. Thus, Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza, human (18): China (GD) H5N6
Avian Influenza H5N6 -- ChinaThe Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (30 Sep 2018) received notification of an additional human case of avian influenza A(H5N6) in Guangdong from the National Health Commission, and again urged the public to maintain strict personal, food and environmental hygiene both locally and during travel.The case involved a 22 year old man from Guangzhou in Guangdong. He developed symptoms on 25 Sep 2018 and was hospitalised on the next Read more [...]
PRO/AH> Foot & mouth disease – Colombia: (BY) bovine, st O, OIE
Foot and Mouth -- ColombiaInformation received on 1 Oct 2018 from Dra Deyanira Barrero Leon, gerente general, Instituto Colombiano Agropecuario (ICA), Ministerio de Agricultura y Desarrollo Rural, BOGOTA, ColombiaSummaryReport type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 17 Sep 2018Date of confirmation of the event: 29 Sep 2018Reason for notification: reoccurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: August 2017Manifestation of disease: clinical diseaseCausal agent: foot and Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> West Nile virus (49): Americas, USA (NY) equine
West Nile Virus -- United StatesThe New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets has 3 more equine cases of West Nile virus (WNV) [infection], according to the Equine Disease Communications Center (EDCC), which says this brings the total to 12 cases in 2018 in New York.On 18 Sep 2018 a 17 year old mare from Mayville, New York (Chautauqua county) was unsteady on her feet, which progressed over a few days' time. The mare was unvaccinated and was euthanized on 20 Sep 2018.On 19 Sep 2018, a 25 Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Ricin, envelopes – USA: (DC)
Poisoning -- United StatesTwo pieces of mail delivered to the Pentagon mail facility on Monday [1 Oct 2018] have initially tested positive for ricin, according to a US defense official. The 2 suspicious envelopes were addressed to secretary of defense James Mattis and to chief of naval operations, Admiral John Richardson, the official told CNN.The mail facility is in a separate building on the grounds of the Pentagon, and the piece of mail which tested positive never entered the Pentagon building. Read more [...]
