Archive for Global Disease Alerts
PRO/AH> Botulism, equine – Canada (02): (NS) hay
Botulism -- CanadaTwo zonkeys -- crosses between donkeys and zebras -- and a standardbred gelding have been diagnosed with botulism at Integrity's Haven Equine Rescue Centre Society in Chester, [Nova Scotia].The centre already lost 2 horses to the deadly disease in June [2018]. A mare named Koko who was diagnosed around the same time is still fighting to survive. According to the centre's owner [AW], the horses became sick after eating contaminated hay.Botulism is a progressive paralyzing disease Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Equine herpesvirus – North America (24): USA (CA) equine
Equine Herpes Virus -- United StatesVeterinarians confirmed a 15-year-old pony mare displaying neurologic signs of equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy (EHM) on 27 Jun 2018. The mare originated from a San Mateo county facility, and an additional horse originating from the same property -- a 24-year-old Tennessee walking horse mare -- displayed a fever and tested positive for equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1).Authorities have isolated and placed both mares under quarantine, and enhanced biosecurity is Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Strangles, equine – USA (03): (MI)
Strangles -- United StatesThe Equine Disease Communication Center has confirmed 8 cases of a highly contagious disease in the state, including one in St Clair county [Michigan].The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development confirmed the case in an 8-year-old quarter horse mare in St Clair county [Fri 29 Jun 2018]. It also confirmed strangles cases were found in a 10-year-old quarter horse gelding in Clinton county and in a standardbred gelding from Washtenaw county."All horses developed Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> African swine fever – Europe (21): Romania (BR) domestic, OIE
African Swine Fever -- RomaniaInformation received on [and dated] Tue 3 Jul 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: Fri 29 Jun 2018Date of confirmation of the event: Tue 3 Jul 2018Reason for notification: 1st occurrence of a listed diseaseManifestation of disease: Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Yellow fever: vaccine efficacy, reduced doses
Yellow Fever -- AngolaHighlights- Seroconverters to yellow fever (YF) vaccine in reduced doses remained seropositive 8 years later.- This applies equally well to doses from 27 476 IU down to 31 IU.- This study supports the minimum dose required by WHO, 1000 IU.- This information is crucial when use of fractional YF vaccine is considered.AbstractIn 2009, Bio-Manguinhos conducted a dose-response study with the yellow fever vaccine, administering the vaccine in the usual mean dose of 27 476 IU (full Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Measles update (40): Middle East, Europe, Americas
Measles -- IsraelThe Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and Chicago Department of Public Health are conducting an investigation of a Chicago resident who traveled while contagious and may have exposed people in multiple jurisdictions from 24 Jun-2 Jul 2018.The case traveled from O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, Illinois to LaGuardia Airport in New York City, New York on 27 Jun 2018.From 27-30 Jun 2018, the case visited multiple restaurants and tourist attractions in New York City.On Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Listeriosis – South Africa (14): fatal, ST6
Listeriosis -- South AfricaNew information out of South Africa shows that 1053 people have been confirmed with listeria infections in the past 18 months. One in 5 has died in what the World Health Organization has determined to be the largest listeriosis outbreak in recorded history.Infants in their 1st month of life have been harder hit than any other age group in the outbreak. Of the infants who are 28 days or younger, for whom complete information is available, 91 have died. Overall, at least Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> E. coli EHEC – Ireland (02): increased numbers
E. coli -- Ireland1. Schmidt H, Geitz C, Tarr PI, et al. Non-O157:H7 pathogenic Shiga-toxin producing _Escherichia coli_: phenotypic and genetic profiling of virulence traits and evidence for clonality. J Infect Dis 1999; 179(1): 115-23; available at: 2. Bettelheim KA. Role of non-O157 VTEC. Symp Ser Soc Appl Microbiol 2000; (29): 38S-50S; abstract available at: . - Mod.LLHealthMap/ProMED map available at:Ireland: ][See Also:E. coli EHEC - France (02): O26, unpasteurized cheese, more cases Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Botulism – Denmark (02): homemade food
Botulism -- DenmarkAn outbreak of foodborne botulism in Denmark, with 6 confirmed cases, has been linked to a homemade dish served at a private party in June 2018. Fodevarestyrelsen (Danish Veterinary and Food Administration) said a sample from the homemade dish was positive with botulinum toxin type A. The same type was identified in the patients.All 6 confirmed infections and one possible case attended a private party in Danish town Sonderborg in June 2018 and were later hospitalized. DVFA said Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Rabies (36): Americas (USA) bat, alert
Rabies -- United StatesThe Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is seeing an uptick in bats testing positive for rabies. As of [Thu 28 Jun 2018], the MDHHS Bureau of Laboratories has identified rabies in 22 bats and 2 skunks. Last year [2017] at this time, MDHHS had identified 9 bats with rabies. Michiganders are reminded to adopt practices that protect their families and animals from rabies.Rabies is a viral disease of mammals that is transmitted through the bite or scratch of Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Rift Valley fever – Eastern Africa (10): Kenya, WHO, livestock vaccination
Rift Valley Fever -- KenyaThe Rift Valley fever (RVF) outbreak in Kenya continues to evolve. Since our last report on 22 Jun 2018 (Weekly Bulletin 25; ), an additional 36 RVF cases (with no new deaths) have been reported. A retrospective epidemiologic investigation has established that the date of onset of illness in the index case was 11 May 2018, marking the beginning of the outbreak. Since then, a cumulative total of 90 cases and 10 deaths (case fatality rate 11 percent) have been reported as Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Poliomyelitis update (26): Papua New Guinea, WHO, Congo DR, cVDPVs
Polio -- Papua New GuineaOn 21 May 2018, the regional polio reference laboratory reported to WHO the isolation of vaccine derived poliovirus type 1 (VDPV1) from a child with acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) in Lae, Morobe province, Papua New Guinea. The onset of the child's paralysis occurred on [24 Apr 2018].In response to this single case of VDPV1, enhanced surveillance and active case finding were implemented, including the collection of stool samples from household and community contacts of the Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Cyclosporiasis – USA (05): (TX)
Other Human Disease -- United StatesTexas health officials say they are investigating 56 cases of illness due to the _Cyclospora_ parasite since the beginning of May [2018].Sixteen of the cases are from Travis County, more than any other county in the state.The Department of State Health Services says it is working with local health departments around the state and country after seeing an outbreak of Cyclosporiasis, which is an intestinal illness caused by consuming food or water contaminated with Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> African swine fever – Europe (20): Romania (TL) domestic swine, spread
African Swine Fever -- RomaniaRomania has reported an outbreak of African swine fever [ASF] at a breeding farm for pigs in the southern county of Tulcea, the national food safety authority ANSVSA said on [Mon 2 Jul 2018].It said all pigs on the holding, or 44 580, would be culled. "Carcasses of pigs are being destroyed under official supervision, with support from the defense ministry which brought 4 mobile incinerators."In June [2018], Romania reported an outbreak of ASF among backyard pigs in the Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Influenza (21): Brazil, viral stability
Influenza -- BrazilKormuth KA, Lin K, Prussin AJ II, et al. Influenza virus infectivity is retained in aerosols and droplets independent of relative humidity. J Infect Dis. 2018 Jun 7. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiy221. [Epub ahead of print]Abstract--------Pandemic and seasonal influenza viruses can be transmitted through aerosols and droplets, in which viruses must remain stable and infectious across a wide range of environmental conditions. Using humidity-controlled chambers, we studied the impact of Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Nipah virus – India (14): (KL)
Nipah/Hendra Virus -- IndiaPutting to rest suspense about the source of the Nipah virus infections in Kerala, scientists from the Indian Council of Medical Research have now found the virus in bats that were caught from the affected areas. At least 17 people died of Nipah infection in Mallapuram and Kozhikode districts of Kerala over April and May [2018].While the 1st batch of bats caught from the well in Kozhikode in the house from where the 1st case was reported, had tested negative; of the 2nd Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Ebola update (48): Congo DR, MSF, susp. deaths, RFI
Ebola -- DR CongoAfter a 2-month emergency intervention in Equateur Province, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) teams have begun handing over Ebola response activities to the Congolese Ministry of Health (MoH) and other nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in Mbandaka, Bikoro, Itipo, and Iboko."This Ebola outbreak is not yet officially over, but we are very pleased with the progress that has been made," said Henry Gray, MSF emergency coordinator Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Botulism, bovine – Ireland: (MH, KE)
Botulism -- IrelandThree cases of suspected botulism have been reported in Meath and Kildare. On one farm, 20 beef animals, worth close to EU 30 000 [USD 35 000], died within a period of hours. It is understood that up to 10 animals died in the other suspected cases.Speaking in the Dail last week, Agriculture Minister Michael Creed said poultry litter containing "residual poultry carcasses" must be disposed of in an incineration plant approved by the Department of Agriculture or the EPA, or in an Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Undiagnosed illness, fatal – Zimbabwe: (MN) methanol susp.
Undiagnosed -- ZimbabweOne man has died, and up to 70 others have fallen ill in Victoria Falls after consuming what they thought was red wine left over by tourists. It is believed that the tainted drink was found at a local dumpsite in the resort town.The state-run Chronicle says the victim died 2 days after consuming the liquid. He is reported to have shared what he believed to be red wine with his brother and other curio sellers at Victoria Fall's Thokozani Craft Market last week.Local reports Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Anthrax – Kenya (03): (KR) bovine, human cases
Anthrax -- KenyaA middle-aged man died, and 28 others were hospitalized in Kericho after eating the carcass of a cow that died of anthrax. According to Kenegut Location Chief Sammy Koech, residents had been instructed to slaughter the animal and bury the remains but refused.He told journalists that they divided the meat among themselves and took it home. "A team of health officials was dispatched to the area after residents started complaining of ill-health," he said. One of them was rushed to Kericho Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Poliomyelitis update (25): Afghanistan (HM) WPV1
Polio -- AfghanistanA fresh infectious poliomyelitis case was detected in Afghanistan, bringing to 9 the number of confirmed cases of polio virus since January this year [2018], the Afghan Public Health Ministry said [Mon 2 Jul 2018]."A new polio virus case was registered in Pir Mohammad village, Nad Ali district of southern Helmand province recently," the ministry said in a statement.According to the statement, the paralyzed 4-year-old boy had never been vaccinated, as the area his family lives Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Rift Valley fever – Eastern Africa (09): Kenya, animals
Rift Valley Fever -- KenyaAn outbreak of Rift Valley fever [RVF] has hit Mandera county with the disease reported in Elwak Sub county where 2 cases involving a sheep and a goat tested positive for the disease. The disease is believed to have spread from Wajir where at least 6 people have died from the fever following livestock migration.--Communicated by:ProMED-mail[The above news announcer's text was followed by a 2-minute reportage, presenting Mohammed Arai, the deputy Governor of Mandera county, Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Scabies – United States: (CA) migrants
Scabies, Chicken Pox -- United StatesA federal penitentiary in Victorville that recently took in some 1000 immigrant detainees has a 2nd case of chicken pox and the number of people with a highly contagious skin disease has tripled in the past week, prison employees said [Fri 29 Jun 2018].The prison has at least 38 cases of scabies among the new detainees, and staff continues to be concerned for their own safety and the safety of prisoners, said John Kostelnik, a union president who represents about Read more [...]
PRO/ALL> New in IJID (07): July 2018
-- Worldwide/UnknownPerspectivesEnhancing preparation for large nipah outbreaks beyond Bangladesh: preventing a tragedy like ebola in West AfricaInternational Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 72, July 2018, Pages 69-72Halsie Donaldson, Daniel LuceyA novel view on the pathogenesis of complications after intravesical BCG for bladder cancerInternational Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 72, July 2018, Pages 63-68Manu P. Bilsen, Krista E. van Meijgaarden, Hanna K. de Jong, Simone A. Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> White nose syndrome, bats – North America (06): (TN)
White nose syndrome -- United StatesA fatal disease is plaguing Tennessee's bats, which in turn is putting agriculture at risk. White Nose Syndrome is a growing concern for Tennessee's wildlife officials. Finding ways to control the fungus is a top priority, as agriculture plays a vital role in Tennessee's economy. When accounting for multiplier effects, the agri-forestry industrial complex added USD 81.8 billion to Tennessee's economy in 2015. "Bats provide the ecosystem services. They save the Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Crimean-Congo hem. fever – Iraq: (AR) conf, MOH, RFI
Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever -- IraqThe spokesman of the Directorate of Health of Erbil [Arbil] announced that the results of the laboratory tests of the patient that was referred yesterday [Sat 30 Jun 2018] from Soran district to Erbil hospital for treatment revealed infection with Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, and this is the 1st case of this disease in the [Iraqi Kurdistan] region.Fakher Herki said in statement to Xendan today [1 Jul 2018] that the results of the laboratory tests revealed Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Hepatitis A – USA (27): (WV,UT,MI)
Hepatitis A -- United States850 / 686 (80.7 percent) / 27 (3.2 percent)Table does not include all reported hepatitis A cases in the outbreak region; only those cases that are identified as outbreak-related. More descriptive data on the current outbreak can be found within the Comprehensive Summary. Data are provisional and subject to change.--Communicated by:ProMED-mail[Cumulatively, 14.8 percent of total males are MSM (men who have sex with men); 3.0 percent of the total are healthcare workers, Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> E. coli EHEC – USA (20): O157, romaine lettuce, water source
E. coli -- United StatesCDC, public health and regulatory officials in several states, and the FDA investigated a multistate outbreak of _E. coli_ O157:H7 infections.Public health investigators used the PulseNet system to identify illnesses that were part of this outbreak. PulseNet is the national subtyping network of public health and food regulatory agency laboratories coordinated by CDC. DNA fingerprinting is performed on _E. coli_ bacteria isolated from ill people by using techniques called pulsed-field Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Rift Valley fever – Eastern Africa (08): Kenya, Uganda, human, animals, spread
Rift Valley Fever -- KenyaRift Valley fever [RVF] cases have hit 80 in Wajir county since the outbreak on 7 Jun this year [2018].In an interview with the Nation, Wajir health minister Abdihakim Billow said that the death toll remains at 6. New cases have been reported in Wajir East and Tarbaj, but the hotspots are in Eldas and Wajir West.Four patients are currently receiving treatment at Wajir Referral Hospital and Eldas dispensary. Mr Billow said hundreds of camels, sheep, and goats have died since Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Ebola update (47): DR Congo, epidemiology, response, Libya RFI
Ebola -- DR CongoWe classified cases as suspected, probable, or confirmed using national case definitions of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Ministère de la Santé Publique. We investigated all cases to obtain demographic characteristics, determine possible exposures, describe signs and symptoms, and identify contacts to be followed up for 21 days. We also estimated the reproduction number and projected number of cases for the 4-week period from 25 May - 21 Jun 2018....The ongoing Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Rabies – Americas (34): USA
Rabies -- United StatesA river otter that bit a woman in Rockland, Maine, Wed 27 Jun 2018, has tested positive for rabies, according to the Village Soup. We're told the animal ran onto South End Beach.Authorities spent hours looking for the otter, which made its way around the area before returning to the busy beach.Officials euthanized the animal before sending it to a state lab.The woman has already begun treatment for rabies.--Communicated by:ProMED-mail[HealthMap/ProMED-mail Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> West Nile virus (07): Americas (USA)
West Nile Virus -- United StatesNew York City health officials have reported the 1st human West Nile virus (WNV) case of the year [2018] in a Manhattan resident. The patient, who is over 50 years of age, was hospitalized earlier this month [June 2018] with encephalitis and has since been discharged.The Health Department notes that this is the earliest identification of a human case of WNV in New York City since surveillance began in 1999. Human cases of West Nile virus occur each year in New York Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Japanese encephalitis & other – India (12): (AS)
Japanese Encephalitis, Encephalitis -- IndiaMedical authorities have sounded a health warning in Dibrugarh district following the death of 18 persons from Japanese encephalitis (JE) and acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) this year.Confirming the death toll, joint director of health services (Dibrugarh) Udayan Kumar Baruah on [Fri 29 Jun 2018] said so far 13 persons have died of AES while 5 persons have succumbed to Japanese encephalitis. It has been confirmed that another 105 persons are suffering Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Varicella update (11): India (Jamshedpur, JH)
Chicken Pox -- IndiaChickenpox in the city [Jamshedpur] is spreading like a pandemic. Up to 39 suspected patients have been found in 48 hours. Among them, 27 are students of Skill Development Center located at Dimna Resort Complex and 12 Golmuri Police Lines personnel. Given the growing number of chickenpox patients, the health department has issued a public instruction that if a large number of people suffer from red spots, fever etc. in any area, then inform the department.Confirmation of 7 in Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Brucellosis, bovine – Austria: (OO)
Brucellosis -- Austria[in German, trans. submitter SZ, edited]On [Fri 22 Jun 2018] AGES confirmed brucellosis in a dairy herd in the Rohrbach district in Upper Austria.Since January [2018], increased number of abortions in cows and calf deaths have occurred on the affected farm. The farm's veterinarian investigated and collected blood samples. AGES confirmed brucellosis on [Fri 22 Jun 2018].The competent authority acted without delay and has already taken all relevant measures. The dairy farm Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Foot & mouth disease – Algeria (08): (TO) bovine, st O, OIE
Foot and Mouth -- AlgeriaInformation received on [and dated] on 28 Jun 2018 from Dr Hachimi Karim Kaddour, Directeur des Services Veterinaires (CVO), Direction des Services Veterinaires, Ministere de l'Agriculture, du Developpement Rural et de la Peche, Alger, AlgeriaSummaryReport type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 20 Jun 2018Date of confirmation of the event: 22 Jun 2018Reason for notification: Recurrence of a listed disease Date of previous occurrence: 3 May 2015Manifestation Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (84): Ghana (AH, EP) poultry, HPAI H5, OIE
Avian Influenza -- GhanaInformation received on [and dated] 29 Jun 2018 from Dr Kingsley Mickey Aryee, Ag. Chief Veterinary Officer, Veterinary Services Directorate, Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Accra, GhanaSummaryReport type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 6 Jun 2018Date of confirmation of the event: 21 Jun 2018Reason for notification: recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: 4 Nov 2016Manifestation of disease: clinical diseaseCausal agent: Highly Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Japanese encephalitis – Malaysia (02): (SK)
Japanese Encephalitis -- MalaysiaThe Sarawak Health Department has urged the public to be cautious after confirming that Japanese encephalitis (JE) is endemic in the state, with 2 new cases discovered in the last 2 months.The Borneo Post Online reported Sarawak health director Dr Jamilah Hashim as saying that one case was recorded each in May and this month [June], bringing the number of JE cases in Sarawak to 5 since January this year [2018].Throughout last year [2017], 10 cases were recorded.With Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Foot & mouth disease – Zimbabwe (02): (MC) bovine, st not typed, OIE
Foot and Mouth -- ZimbabweInformation received on [and dated] 28 Jun 2018 from Dr Unesu Hildah Ushewokunze-Obatolu, principal director, Department of Livestock and Veterinary Services, Harare, ZimbabweSummaryReport type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 28 Jun 2018Date of confirmation of the event: 28 Jun 2018Reason for notification: 1st occurrence of a listed diseaseManifestation of disease: clinical diseaseCausal agent: Foot and mouth disease virusSerotype: not typedNature of Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Ebola update (49): Congo DR, suspect deaths comment