Archive for Global Disease Alerts
PRO/EDR> Diphtheria – Americas (03): PAHO/WHO epidemiological update
Diphtheria -- Worldwide/UnknownBetween epidemiological week (EW) 1 and EW 34 [1 Jan-25 Aug 2018], 3 countries in the Region of the Americas (Colombia, Haiti, and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela) have reported confirmed cases of diphtheria. The following is a summary of the epidemiological situation in these countries.[Colombia]----------In Colombia, between EW 11 and EW 32 of 2018 [11 Mar-11 Aug 2018], 8 cases of diphtheria were confirmed, of which 2 were imported from Venezuela and 6 were locally-acquired Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Measles update (55): Americas, PAHO
Measles -- VenezuelaEndemic transmission of measles has been reestablished in one country in the region, but PAHO's other 34 Member States maintain their elimination status.While 34 Member States of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) maintain their measles elimination status, endemic transmission of the virus has now been reestablished in Venezuela. To stop further spread of measles throughout the region, the Director of PAHO, Carissa F Etienne, has urged all countries to rapidly increase Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Ebola update (80): Congo DR (NK) case update
Ebola -- DR Congo- On Wed 29 Jun 2018, the Minister of Health, Dr Oly Ilunga Kalenga, went to the Provincial Assembly of North Kivu to present the evolution of the response to the Ebola epidemic and address the concerns members of the provincial government, provincial members of parliament, and civil society. During the question-and-answer session, 2 points crystallized the exchanges: the beginning of the school year and the payroll of health professionals. Regarding the start of the school year, Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Newcastle disease – Kazakhstan: (NK) poultry, OIE
Newcastle Disease -- KazakhstanInformation received on [and dated] 29 Aug 2018 from Dr Tursyn Kabduldanov, Deputy Chairman, Committee for Veterinary Control and Supervision, Ministry of Agriculture, ASTANA, KazakhstanSummaryReport type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 15 Jun 2018Date of confirmation of the event: 19 Jun 2018Reason for notification: 1st occurrence of a listed diseaseManifestation of disease: clinical diseaseCausal agent: Newcastle disease virusNature of diagnosis: Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> MERS-CoV (29): UK (England) ex Saudi Arabia, Risk Assessment ECDC
MERS -- United KingdomMain conclusions and options for response1- On [23 Aug 2018], Public Health England (PHE) reported 1 case of MERS, detected in England. The patient is a resident of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) who had travelled from Jeddah (KSA) to Manchester (United Kingdom). The case was transferred to an isolation ward after MERS-CoV was suspected and is currently at a specialised hospital in Liverpool in a stable, ambulatory condition. According to the UK authorities, a limited number Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Rabies (46) – Americas (USA): (DE) human fatality
Rabies -- United StatesState: Kent County woman dies of rabies, first Delawarean since 1941A Kent County woman died last week after being exposed to rabies -- only the 2nd Delawarean to contract and die of the disease, state health officials said Monday night.The woman, who lived west of Felton, was admitted to a Delaware hospital in late July after becoming sick, officials said. Her condition quickly got worse and she was transferred to a Pennsylvania hospital for treatment. Test results did not Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Undiagnosed deaths – Algeria (02): (BU) renal failure, RFI
Undiagnosed -- AlgeriaAt least 9 new cases of food poisoning were recorded at the beginning of the week [week of 20 Aug 2018] by the medical teams at Ain-Bessem Hospital. According to a medical source, the subjects all suffered from vomiting, diarrhea, and acute renal failure, just as the 7 previous cases transferred to the El-Kettar specialized hospital in Algiers. These new victims bring the number of people affected to 16, including 2 fatalities, since Tue 7 Aug 2018. The source stated that the Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Invasive tick – USA (13): (NJ)
Pests -- United StatesThe USDA's National Veterinary Services Laboratory has confirmed that the longhorned tick (_Haemaphysalis longicornis_) has been discovered in Monmouth County, N.J., making it the 6th county in the state where the tick has been found. Earlier findings have confirmed the tick in Bergen, Hunterdon, Union, Middlesex and Mercer counties."It is important for the public to continue to submit tick samples as this will allow us to identify new areas where this tick may be located," Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Plague – USA (03): (WY) feline
Plague -- United StatesA cat in Big Horn has been confirmed to have been infected with plague, the state Department of Health announced [Wed 29 Aug 2018].There are no known human cases in that area or in Wyoming as a whole. There hasn't been a confirmed case since 2008, according to a department press release. The cat "is known to wander outdoors," the release said.The case comes a little over a year after the plague was found in prairie dogs in the Thunder Basin National Grassland, the 1st time Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Equine infectious anemia – USA (07): (CO) equine
Equine Infectious Anemia -- United StatesA Weld County, Colorado, horse has tested positive for equine infectious anemia (EIA). The Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) State Veterinarian's Office received the positive result from the USDA's National Veterinary Services Laboratory on [24 Aug 2018]. Results from a confirmatory retest were received on [28 Aug 2018].The CDA has quarantined the Weld County facility until it completes further testing."The affected horse has been isolated from the Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Newcastle disease, poultry – USA (13): (CA) virulent strain
Newcastle Disease -- United StatesThe California Department of Food & Agriculture (CDFA) provided a status update on [29 Aug 2018] on the virulent Newcastle disease (VND) surveillance project in southern California, which is now in its 4th month.CDFA said the disease has been detected at a total of 117 properties in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside and Ventura counties in California.According to CDFA, as of [26 Aug 2018]:- 96 880 properties have been surveyed;- 2679 properties have been Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Potomac horse fever, equine – USA (06): (KY)
Other Animal Disease -- United StatesKentucky's PHF cases are 1st detected later in the year (mid-July), and our thought is the early detection this year [2018] was most probably associated with abundant wet weather in April and record-breaking warm temperatures in May. Horsemen are encouraged to review the environment in which their horses are housed and consult with their veterinarians on strategies they can use to mitigate disease risk. Minimizing opportunity for horses to ingest aquatic insects Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Chronic wasting disease, cervid – USA (13): (WY) new species in area
Chronic Wasting Disease -- United StatesThe Wyoming Game and Fish Department confirmed that a bull elk harvested by a hunter tested positive for chronic wasting disease (CWD) in Elk Hunt Area 66. The elk was killed northeast of Meeteetse and this is the 1st time CWD has been found in this elk hunt area.To ensure that hunters are informed, Game and Fish has the practice of announcing when CWD is found in a new hunt area.Additionally, Game and Fish follows the human health recommendation of the Centers Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> BSE, bovine – USA: (FL) atypical H-type, OIE
BSE -- United StatesInformation received on [and dated] 29 Aug 2018 from Dr John Clifford, Official Delegate, Chief Trade Advisor, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, United States of AmericaSummaryReport type: immediate notification (final report)Date of start of the event: 18 Aug 2018Date of confirmation of the event: 26 Aug 2018Date of event resolved: 29 Aug 2018Reason for notification: recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Onchocerciasis: rapid urine test
River Blindness -- Worldwide/UnknownScientists at Scripps Research have developed a urine diagnostic to detect the parasitic worms that cause river blindness, also called onchocerciasis, a tropical disease that afflicts 18 to 120 million people worldwide.Described in the journal ACS Infectious Diseases, the new, non-invasive test may provide an inexpensive method of determining in real time whether a person has an infection, which would give public health officials and doctors critical information Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Sheep pox & goat pox – Russia (02): (MS) ovine, OIE
Sheep/Goat Pox -- RussiaInformation received on [and dated] 28 Aug 2018 from Dr Nikolay Vlasov, Deputy Head of the Rosselkhoznadzor, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture, Moscow, RussiaSummaryReport type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 21 Aug 2018Date of confirmation of the event: 22 Aug 2018Reason for notification: 1st occurrence of a listed diseaseManifestation of disease: clinical diseaseCausal agent: _Capripoxvirus_Nature of diagnosis: clinical, laboratory Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Tilapia syncytial hepatitis – Mexico: OIE
Hepatitis -- MexicoInformation received on [and dated] 25 Aug 2018 from MVZ Joaquín Braulio Delgadillo Alvarez, [Director General of Animal Health, National Agro-Alimentary Health, Safety and Quality Service (SENASICA) Secretariat/Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries, and Food] Mexico, MexicoSummaryReport type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 4 Jul 2018Date of confirmation of the event: 31 Jul 2018Report date: 25 Aug 2018Reason for notification: Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Cannabis overdoses – Canada: dramatic rise
Poisoning -- CanadaIt was early evening at a popular downtown Toronto jazz bar, the band playing for an older crowd more into Ella Fitzgerald than Rihanna's "Umbrella". Part way through the set, a man in his late 50s stood and then promptly collapsed, face-first, onto the floor.The bar's supervisor [NM], watched in horror from behind the bar. "You see this scene and you're like, 'Oh God. OK, instantly 911,'" he said.[NM] assumed it was a stroke or a heart attack, but as paramedics arrived, he learned Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Yellow fever – Africa (12): Republic of Congo
Yellow Fever -- Republic of CongoCongo Republic has confirmed a case of yellow fever near the border with an Angolan enclave, the health ministry said on Tuesday [28 Aug 2018], and has warned of "an emerging event of epidemic proportions."In all, 186 suspected cases have been detected this year [2018], many of which were in the western commercial hub of Pointe Noire, the head of the government's epidemics unit, Lambert Kitembo told Reuters.He said 8 blood samples were sent to Democratic Republic Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Anthrax – Turkey (02): (AN) bovine
Anthrax -- TurkeyA farm near the Turkish capital of Ankara has been placed under quarantine following an outbreak of anthrax, Turkish news website Haberturk said on [Mon 27 Aug 2018]. The alarm was raised after 50 cattle at a farm in Ankara's Gölbaşı district showed symptoms consistent with anthrax infection. The animals were amongst a group of 4000 imported from Brazil in the run up to last week's Eid al-Adha, the Muslim Feast of the Sacrifice. Following an examination of the farm Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Ebola update (79): Congo DR (NK) case update, response, vacc, support, research
Ebola -- DR Congo- Following the community's latest protests against the Ebola response, the coordination organized a meeting with the mayor, notables, customary chiefs, district leaders, cell leaders, youth movements, and civil society from the city of Beni [North Kivu]. More than 350 people attended an exclusive information session on Ebola with the coordinators of the response. During this session that lasted nearly 4.5 hours, those present were able to ask all the questions and share their concerns. Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Yellow fever – Americas (35): Brazil
Yellow Fever -- BrazilAbstract--------The yellow fever virus (YFV) epidemic in Brazil is the largest in decades. The recent discovery of YFV in Brazilian _Aedes_ species mosquitos highlights a need to monitor the risk of reestablishment of urban YFV transmission in the Americas. We use a suite of epidemiological, spatial, and genomic approaches to characterize YFV transmission. We show that the age and sex distribution of human cases is characteristic of sylvatic transmission. Analysis of YFV cases Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Salmonellosis, st I 4,[5],12:i:- – USA: kosher chicken, alert
Salmonella -- United StatesThe US Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) and Empire Kosher Poultry, Inc. are issuing a public health alert out of an abundance of caution due to concerns about _Salmonella_ illnesses reported in the northeastern and mid-Atlantic USA that may be associated with raw chicken products. The Empire Kosher brand raw chicken items, which may include raw whole chicken, raw chicken parts, were produced and sold to consumers from September 2017 Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> African swine fever – Europe (34): Romania (BR) domestic swine, spread
African Swine Fever -- RomaniaThe owner of the biggest pig farm in Romania, which is also the 2nd largest in Europe, called for an assessment of damages resulting from the planned culling of 141 000 pigs located in an outbreak site of African swine fever [ASF].The manager of SC TEBU Consult Braila delayed the euthanasia of the pigs because he needs a clear picture of the damages that will be incurred by the company, said Gicu Dragan, the director of veterinary health department.The ASF infection Read more [...]
PRO/PL> Peanut stunt virus, bean – Bulgaria: 1st rep
Other Plant Disease -- BulgariaCommon bean (_Phaseolus vulgaris_) in Bulgaria [was] grown on 708 ha [about 1750 acres] in 2016. During the summer of 2013, leaf samples (n=76) with virus-like symptoms were collected from bean plants in fields and private gardens. Disease incidence varied from 10 to 50 per cent. Symptoms consisted of green or yellow mosaic, blisters, and leaf distortion. In some locations the disease was associated with severe stunting.DAS/TAS-ELISA tests revealed the presence of _Bean Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Hantavirus – Americas (51): USA (ND)
Hantavirus -- United StatesA northeast North Dakota woman has died after falling ill to a rare disease that's spread by infected rodent droppings, urine and saliva, the state Department of Health said Monday, 27 Aug [2018].The unidentified adult woman fell ill to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome [HPS]. People can develop [an infection leading to] HPS by breathing air that's contaminated with the virus when fresh rodent droppings, urine or nesting materials are disturbed, but it's not transmitted from Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Japanese encephalitis & other – India (19): (MP)
Japanese Encephalitis -- IndiaState Vector-borne Disease Control Officer Dr Himanshu Jaiswar, while speaking to The Hitavada, said that to date [26 Aug 2018], a total of 8 Japanese encephalitis- (JE) positive cases have been registered across the state.A few days back, a 3-year-old child died from JE. Health officials have already started investigations around the localities of positive patients. Concerned authorities have confirmed the presence of JE virus in the areas.The department is taking all Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Glanders, equine – China: (CQ) 1st report OIE
Glanders -- ChinaInformation received on 26 Aug 2018 from Dr Zhang Zhongqui, Director General, China Animal Disease Control Centre, Veterinary Bureau, Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing, China (People's Rep. of)Summary:Report type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 10 Aug 2018Date of confirmation of the event: 23 Aug 2018Reason for notification: 1st occurrence of a listed disease in the countryCausal agent: _Burkholderia mallei_Nature of diagnosis: clinical, laboratory (basic and Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Yellow fever – Africa (11): Republic of Congo
Yellow Fever -- Republic of CongoAs many as 70 suspected cases of yellow fever have been reported in southern Congo, the Congolese Ministry of Health and Population announced Monday [27 Aug 2018] in a statement.Among the prevention measures is vaccination against yellow fever for all travellers entering or leaving the country, the statement added."These 70 cases of yellow fever were reported in the health districts of Mongo-Pokou, Lumumba, Mvou-Mvou, Ngoyo and Tsama-Dzassi, a border district with Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Leptospirosis – Israel (06): (HZ) recreation, streams, bovine vaccination
Leptospirosis -- Israel[subscription required]The regional veterinary office [in Rosh-Pinna, a unit of Israel's State Veterinary Field Services] has begun sampling of sera from cattle herds on the Golan Heights, for serological surveillance addressing leptospirosis. Preliminary results are indicative of high infection rate in the Yehudiya beef herd. Vaccination against leptospirosis in this herd has commenced.--Communicated by:ProMED-mail[Since 2011, vaccination of Israel's beef cattle herds Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update (30): Africa (Algeria)
Cholera -- AlgeriaAlgerian authorities have announced the death of a 2nd person in a recent cholera outbreak that has left dozens hospitalized. The latest fatality, like the 1st one, was a resident of Boufarik, a town in Blida province some 30 km [18.6 mi] south of the capital, Algiers, according to a health ministry statement carried by the official Algerie Press Service on Sat 26 Aug 2018. Another Boufarik resident was reported dead on 23 Aug 2018. Overall, 139 people have been hospitalised across Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Hepatitis A – USA (38): (WV)
Hepatitis A -- United StatesNumber of cases / 1031DemographicsAge Range / 12-82Median Age / 37Male / 617 (59.8%)Hospitalizations / 562 (54.5%)Deaths / 2Risk factorsCo-infection with hepatitis C(Information available for 886 cases) / 542 (61.7%)Co-infection with hepatitis B(Information available for 886 cases) / 98 (11.1%)Reports illicit drug use(Information available for 858 cases) / 666 (77.6%)Homeless / 126 (12.2%)--Communicated by:ProMED-mail[Date / Cases / New cases per Read more [...]
PRO/PL> Ergot, wheat – USA
Other Plant Disease -- United StatesWheat farmers in parts of the Upper Midwest, especially south-central North Dakota, are reporting above-average incidence of ergot this [2018] harvest. That, in turn, has led some grain elevators to impose discounts on, or even reject, some newly harvested wheat infected with the disease.It's too early to say how widespread the problem [is]. Ergot-infected grain can be cleaned by grain elevators or farmers with the proper equipment. Because of its health risks, Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Die-off, seal – USA (02): (ME,NH) influenza & distemper
Influenza, Canine distemper -- United StatesMany of the dead seals that washed ashore in northern New England in the past few weeks tested positive for either avian influenza or phocine distemper virus, but it is still too soon to say if those viruses are the primary causes of the unusual die-off, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [NOAA] said.Researchers have been looking for the reasons behind a surge in seal deaths that began around [12 Aug 2018], when an unusually high number Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Influenza (25): WHO global update, ECDC, 2017-18 review
Influenza -- Worldwide/UnknownInformation in this report is categorized by influenza transmission zones, which are geographical groups of countries, areas, or territories with similar influenza transmission patterns.Summary-------In the temperate zones of the southern hemisphere, influenza activity remained elevated in South America and continued to decrease in Southern Africa. Influenza activity remained below seasonal threshold in Australia and New Zealand and at inter-seasonal levels in most of Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Crimean-Congo hem. fever – Afghanistan (03): update
Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever -- AfghanistanAt least 18 cases of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) infection have recently been detected in Afghanistan, taking this year's [2018] total cases to 267 compared to 244 cases last year.The Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is caused by infection with a tick-borne virus (_Nairovirus_) in the family Bunyaviridae. The disease was first characterized in Crimea in 1944 and given the name Crimean hemorrhagic fever.The onset of CCHF is sudden, with Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Japanese encephalitis – Cambodia: pig reservoirs
Japanese Encephalitis -- CambodiaDi Francesco J, Choeung R, Peng B, et al. Comparison of the dynamics of Japanese encephalitis virus circulation in sentinel pigs between a rural and a peri-urban setting in Cambodia. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2018 Aug 23;12(8):e0006644.Abstract--------Japanese encephalitis is mainly considered a rural disease, but there is growing evidence of a peri-urban and urban transmission in several countries, including Cambodia. We, therefore, compared the epidemiologic dynamic of Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Strangles, equine – USA (06): (MI)
Strangles -- United StatesAn unvaccinated 10-year-old quarter horse mare developed a fever and lack of appetite while attending the Montcalm County Fair this past June [2018]. The horse was isolated and placed under veterinary care. The horse developed nasal discharge and draining submandibular lymph nodes (glands) after the fair.Melanie Rodenhouse, a Montcalm County 4-H horse leader, said the local horse is now fine. The barns, grounds, fences, gates and all horse-related equipment were disinfected Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> West Nile virus (23): USA (CA, MA, MT) equine, human
West Nile Virus -- United StatesFour California horses have tested positive for West Nile virus (WNV), the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) reported. These bring the total number of confirmed equine WNV cases in California to 5 for 2018."On 16 Aug 2018, 4 horses displaying neurologic signs were confirmed positive for West Nile virus," the CDFA said.Those cases include:*A 9-year-old vaccinated Quarter Horse mare in Sacramento County;*A 3-year-old unvaccinated Andalusian mare in Read more [...]
