Archive for Global Disease Alerts
PRO/AH/EDR> Rift Valley fever – Eastern Africa (07): Kenya, animals, spread
Rift Valley Fever -- KenyaIsiolo veterinary department has closed all slaughterhouses and livestock markets for 2 weeks following an outbreak of Rift Valley fever (RVF).Following the outbreak, panic has gripped Isiolo and Meru counties [Eastern province], with veterinary officers moving with speed to contain the disease. The outbreak is suspected to have spread from the neighbouring Wajir County [North-Eastern province], where it has killed 6 people, with 26 cases reported so far. The disease has Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Ebola update (44): Congo DR, cases, research, course
Ebola -- DR CongoRef.1: Abramowitz SA, Hipgrave DB, Witchard A and Heymann DL. Lessons from the West Africa Ebola epidemic: a systematic review of epidemiological and social and behavioral science research priorities. J Infect Dis. 2018 [See ProMED mail Ebola update (43): Congo DR, cases, vaccine, persistence, lessons http://promedmail.org/post/20180625.5873949 for reporting on this paper]Ref.2: KL Warfield KL, Howell KA, Vu H, et al. Role of Antibodies in Protection Against Ebola Virus in Nonhuman Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Measles update (39): Americas, Europe, Pacific
Measles -- Colombia[1] Colombia ex VenezuelaEurope------[2] England (Wales)[3] England (West Midlands)[4] SerbiaPacific-------[5] Japan[6] Malaysia******[1] Colombia ex VenezuelaDate: Fri 22 Jun 2018, 4:22 PMSource: RCN Radio [in Spanish, machine trans., edited]The National Institute of Health is evaluating 2567 suspected cases of measles and 384 suspected cases of rubella that have infected Colombians and visitors.The Ministry of Health also confirmed that there are Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Tick-borne encephalitis – Germany: tick increase
Pests -- GermanyThe castor bean tick, _Ixodes ricinus_ (L.) (Ixodida: Ixodidae), is the principal vector of pathogens causing tick-borne encephalitis or Lyme borreliosis in Europe. It is therefore of general interest to make an estimate of the density of _I. ricinus_ for the whole year at the beginning of the tick season. There are 2 necessary conditions for making a successful prediction: a long homogeneous time series of observed tick density and a clear biological relationship between environmental Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Foot & mouth disease – Palestinian Auth (02): (WE) bovine, st not typed, OIE
Foot and Mouth -- Palestinian AuthorityInformation received on [and dated] 20 Jun 2018 from Dr Iyad Adra, Director General of Veterinary Services & Animal Health, CVO, Ministry of Agriculture, Ramallah, Palestinian Auton. TerritoriesSummaryReport type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 17 Jun 2018Date of confirmation of the event: 20 Jun 2018Reason for notification: recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: 30 Jan 2018Manifestation of disease: clinical diseaseCausal Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Koi herpesvirus disease – Romania: (GR) OIE
Other Animal Disease -- RomaniaInformation received on [and dated] 22 Jun 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: 24 May 2018Date of confirmation of the event: 8 Jun 2018Reason for notification: recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: 11 Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Peste des petits ruminants – Bulgaria (03): (YA) ovine, caprine, 1st rep, OIE
Peste des petits ruminants -- BulgariaInformation received on [and dated] 24 Jun 2018 from Dr Damyan Iliev, Chief Veterinary Officer & Deputy Executive Director, Bulgarian Food Safety Agency, Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Sofia, BulgariaSummaryReport type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 23 Jun 2018Date of confirmation of the event: 23 Jun 2018Reason for notification: 1st occurrence of a listed disease in the countryCausal agent: Peste des petits ruminants virusNature of Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Rift Valley fever – Eastern Africa (06): Kenya, South Africa
Rift Valley Fever -- KenyaIn the past one month, 7 more people have died of Rift Valley fever, bringing the toll to 26, a report from the Ministry of Health's Disease Surveillance and Response Unit says.A total of 6 people died in Wajir, while one person succumbed in Marsabit. Some 24 cases were reported in Wajir and 2 in Marsabit.Siaya County on Friday [22 Jun 2018] issued an alert after one person died from the mosquito-borne disease, which was confirmed by tests at the Kenya Medical Research Institute Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Poliomyelitis update (23): Papua New Guinea
Polio -- Papua New GuineaA polio outbreak has been confirmed in Papua New Guinea's Morobe province.The World Health Organization says that this is the 1st time polio has been found in the country since 1996, and it comes 18 years after PNG was declared polio-free.The WHO says a 6-year-old Morobe boy went to a health centre with lower limb weakness on 28 Apr 2018, and on [21 May 2018], he was confirmed to have polio.Last week, the United States Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said tests Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Dirofilaria repens – Russia: human
Other Human Disease -- RussiaCitationKartashev V and Simon F. Migrating Dirofilaria repens. N Engl J Med. 2018;378(25):e35. doi: 10.1056/NEJMicm1716138.A 32-year-old woman presented to an ophthalmologist with a 2-week history of nodules that moved around her face. She had first noted a nodule below her left eye (Panel A) [for images see URL]. Five days later, it had moved to above her left eye (Panel B), and 10 days after that to the upper lip (Panel C). She documented these changes by taking photographs Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Sheep pox & goat pox – India: (AR) goral
Sheep/Goat Pox — India
PRO/AH/EDR> Mycoplasma bovis, bovine – New Zealand (11)
Other Animal Disease -- New ZealandA total of 4 new South Island farms have been confirmed as infected with the cattle disease _Mycoplasma bovis_. They are near Tapanui, Waimate, Invercargill and Darfield. That brings the total number of actively infected farms to 42.Meanwhile, eradicating this disease could cost more than was first thought, according to advice provided to the cabinet.The government decided on [28 May 2018] it would try to eradicate the disease over a 10 year period, and said that Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Rift Valley fever – Eastern Africa (05): regional cooperation
Rift Valley Fever -- UgandaThe 11th meeting of the Sectoral Council on Agriculture and Food Security (SCAFS) which has just concluded in Dar es Salaam, has directed the East African Community (EAC) Secretariat to address the issue of Rift Valley fever [RVF] promptly.SCAFS urged the EAC to convene a meeting of the Technical Working Group on Transboundary Animal and Zoonotic Diseases (TADs), to address the issue of RVF outbreak, which has been reported in the region.The meeting of the Sectoral Council Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Botulism – Denmark: RFI
Botulism -- DenmarkThere is an outbreak of clinically confirmed botulism (sausage poisoning) in South Jutland [Sydjylland]. The Food Administration has been involved in the case since Sunday morning [17 Jun 2018]. It is normal for the Board of Patient Safety to involve the Food Administration in cases of suspected food.The Danish Food Agency has taken samples of the leftover food that the individuals ate and they are now being analyzed. The result is expected in about 5 days. The information obtained Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Hard tick-borne relapsing fever – USA: (NY) Borrelia miyamotoi
Tick-borne disease -- United StatesWith tick season well underway, it is important to take proper precautions to avoid tick-borne illness this summer [2018], especially when a tick was found on a child in South Glens Falls [New York] testing positive for _Borrelia miyamotoi_ (_B. miyamotoi_), a tick-borne disease as well as Lyme disease.Patients with _B. miyamotoi_ are most likely to experience a fever, chills, and headache. Other common symptoms include body and joint pain and fatigue. However, Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Diphtheria – Canada (02): (AB) RFI
Diphtheria -- CanadaIs anything known of the child's immunization status or whether or not he [or she] is immunocompromised?--Allen Lenoir, MDMiami, Florida[We were told in the news report referenced above that an elementary school student in Medicine Hat, Alberta had been diagnosed with diphtheria. The student had not travelled outside Canada, was not known to have been in contact with anyone having diphtheria, and did not require hospitalization. We were not told the child's clinical manifestations, Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Ebola update (43): Congo DR, cases, vaccine, persistence, lessons
Ebola -- DR CongoSubissi L, Keita M, Mesfin S, et al. Ebola Virus Transmission Caused by Persistently Infected Survivors of the 2014-2016 Outbreak in West Africa. J Infect Dis. 2018; available at ]--Communicated by:ProMED-mail[Because of the persistence of Ebola virus for up to 18 months in semen, it is important for healthcare workers to be vigilant for occasional cases and counsel patients and contacts when there is any possibility of virus transmission. Education on how the virus is spread and Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Potomac horse fever, equine – USA (02): (TN)
Other Animal Disease -- United StatesThe Tennessee State Veterinarian is alerting horse owners after a case of Potomac horse fever was confirmed in Davidson County.Potomac horse fever is caused by bacteria from freshwater snails which is spread in creeks or rivers where horses might drink. If exposed, the horses can suffer from colic, fever, and diarrhea.State Veterinarian Dr. Charles Hatcher says another potentially deadly disease, strangles, was confirmed in Shelby County last month. While Potomac Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Undiagnosed ovine die-off – India (HP): pesticide poisoning susp, RFI
Undiagnosed -- IndiaCannabis sprayed with insecticides is suspected to have killed 52 sheep in high altitude pastures near Devgarh panchayat of Kullu district, Himachal Pradesh, India.Mysterious death of 52 sheep and goats in high altitude pastures near Devgarh panchayat of Kullu district [Himachal Pradesh] is pointing at active charas [hashish] mafia in the region. Locals allege that charas mafia has cultivated cannabis in this remote area and sprayed it with pesticides to prevent crop from disease Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Ebola update (42): Congo DR, cases, vaccine
Ebola — DR Congo
PRO/EDR> Hepatitis A – USA (25): (OH)
Hepatitis A -- United StatesThe Ohio Department of Health has declared a statewide community outbreak of hepatitis A after an increase in cases linked to certain risk factors. Ohio is reporting 79 hepatitis A cases associated with the outbreak so far in 2018, almost double the number of cases reported during all of 2017..Hepatitis A is a liver disease that usually spreads when a person ingests fecal matter -- even in microscopic amounts -- from contact with objects, food, or drinks contaminated by Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Diphtheria – Ukraine: (LH)
Diphtheria -- UkraineUkraine in 2018-2019 is threatened by an outbreak of diphtheria. [The 1st diphtheria case in Ukraine in 2018 was reported in January 2018 from Luhansk, . - Mod.ML].Secretary of the National Medical Chamber Sergey Kravchenko said: "Only one case creates an alert. Ukraine has already recorded 2 cases of diphtheria in the Luhansk region. We must pay tribute to the professionalism of doctors, as not in all cases were the cultures confirmed as diphtheria. This requires a serological Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Leptospirosis – India: (KL)
Leptospirosis -- IndiaDr. Sheeja said the increasing number of leptospirosis cases in the district was another major public health concern. She said a total of 69 leptospirosis cases had been reported from the district as on Thursday [21 Jun 2018].Dr. Sheeja said most of the leptospirosis cases had been found in workers attached to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme and Kudumbasree Mission, who work in waterlogged areas.Callous dumping of waste in public places and clogged Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Diphtheria – Canada: (AB)
Diphtheria -- CanadaAn elementary school student in Medicine Hat, Alberta has been diagnosed with a rare, potentially fatal bacterial disease called diphtheria.Health officials say the Elm Street School student had not been travelling outside Canada and is not known to have been in contact with anyone else diagnosed with the disease.Officials say diphtheria is treatable with antibiotics and preventable through immunization. Alberta Health Services says the child has not required hospitalization.The Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Measles update (38): Americas, Europe, Pacific
Measles -- United StatesA 2nd case of measles has been confirmed in Michigan for 2018, and if you traveled lately, you may have been exposed.The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) said this case is unrelated to Michigan's 1st, which occurred in March 2018. Both are the result of exposure outside of the country and may have exposed other travelers.The ill individual arrived on 12 Jun 2018 at around 3:45 p.m. at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) at the international Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Besnoitiosis, equids – Spain: Besnoitia bennetti, 1st serological evidence
Other Animal Disease -- SpainSpanish researchers have found subclinical (not causing signs of disease) besnoitiosis, a chronic and debilitating illness caused by a protozoan parasite mostly found in the Americas, in a "surprising" number of randomly screened equids in southern Spain. And while the animals aren't yet showing signs of disease, scientists believe clinical cases could soon occur in Europe."In the near future, new clinical cases could be expected to be reported (in Europe)," said Gema Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update (23): Saudi Arabia
Cholera — Saudi Arabia
PRO/AH/EDR> Hantavirus – Americas (42): USA (NY) susp
Hantavirus -- United StatesA worker at Belmont Park racetrack has died in what health officials believe may be a rare case of [a] hantavirus [infection] in New York State.The worker, whose name has not been released, was found earlier this month [June 2018] collapsed outside the ramshackle employee barracks, tucked between the horse barns and exercise pens where he and scores of other grooms, hot walkers and riders live, state health officials said. He was hospitalized and died on [6 Jun 2018] of Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Zika virus (07): Americas (USA) mosquito vector competence
Zika virus -- United StatesAbstract--------Zika virus (ZIKV) has emerged since 2013 as a significant global human health threat following outbreaks in the Pacific Islands and rapid spread throughout South and Central America. Severe congenital and neurological sequelae have been linked to ZIKV infections. Assessing the ability of common mosquito species to transmit ZIKV and characterizing variation in mosquito transmission of different ZIKV strains is important for estimating regional outbreak potential Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Cyclosporiasis – USA (04): (WI, MN) vegetable tray, recall
Other Human Disease -- United StatesThe number of cyclospora infections reported in Wisconsin, believed to be tied to vegetable trays sold at Kwik Trip stores, has risen more than 10-fold in less than 2 weeks.As of [Wed 20 Jun 2018], there were 123 laboratory-confirmed cases in the state, with at least 84 of the individuals sickened telling state health officials they had consumed a Del Monte Fresh Produce vegetable tray sold at a Kwik Trip.Dozens of similar cases have been reported in Minnesota.Kwik Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Ebola update (41): Congo DR, cases, WHO, contacts
Ebola -- DR CongoThe Ministry of Health and WHO continue to closely monitor the outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Over 1 month into the response, further spread of EVD has largely been contained. However, in spite of the progress made, there should be no room for laxity and complacency until the outbreak is controlled. The focus of the response remains on intensive surveillance, including active case finding, investigation of suspected cases and alerts Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Newcastle disease, poultry – USA (05): (CA) virulent strain
Newcastle Disease -- United StatesThe United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service confirmed an additional case of virulent Newcastle disease in backyard exhibition chickens in San Bernardino county, California.A complete list of confirmed cases is available on our website at .Virulent Newcastle disease has not been found in commercial poultry in the United States since 2003.No human cases of Newcastle disease have ever occurred from eating poultry products. Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Poliomyelitis update (22): Global (Papua New Guinea, Congo DR, Somalia), cVDPVs
Polio -- Papua New GuineaNew wild poliovirus cases reported this week: 0New cVDPV cases reported this week: 0Headlines- Advance notification of cVDPV1 in Papua New Guinea: Following identification last month [May 2018] of an AFP case from which VDPV type 1 had been isolated, genetic sequencing of 2 VDPV1s from 2 non-household contacts of the AFP case has now confirmed that VDPV1 is circulating and will be officially classified as a "circulating" VDPV type 1 (cVDPV1). The National Department of Health Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Crimean-Congo hem. fever – India (03): (GJ) fatal, susp.
Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever -- IndiaA 32-year-old man who was admitted to Rajkot Civil Hospital with a suspected Congo fever on Saturday [16 Jun 2018] died on Monday [18 Jun 2018]. The hospital officials said that the patient had been suffering from high fever for the past 3 days."We have taken samples of his cough and blood, and they have been sent to the laboratory in Puna for examination. It is yet to be confirmed whether the deceased was suffering from Congo fever," said an official from Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Rift Valley fever – Eastern Africa (04): Kenya
Rift Valley Fever -- KenyaKenya has been advised to establish an animal health surveillance system for early detection and control of Rift Valley fever [RVF].Since the outbreak was first reported in Wajir on [3 Jun 2018], 17 counties are on high alert. At least 10 people have been killed in Wajir and Siaya [counties].The outbreak is suspected to be a result of heavy rains that caused flooding in semi-arid areas.The World Health Organisation yesterday [21 Jun 2018] said Kitui, Wajir, Kajiado, and Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Legionellosis – France: RFI
Legionnaires' -- FranceLegionellosis is a lung infection caused by _Legionella_ bacteria. Infection is mainly by inhalation of contaminated water spray. After an incubation period of 2-10 days, the patient feels as if infected by influenza, with a cough, initially unproductive, which then gives way to severe pneumonia requiring hospitalization.The Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region is one of the most affected regions with the highest incidence at national level: 2.7 cases per 100 000 inhabitants in Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Pneumonia ovine – USA (02): (AK) wild ungulates, alert
Pneumonia -- United StatesA harmful bacterium previously thought to live only in sheep and goats has been found in additional animals, including Alaska caribou and moose, according to a new study announced last week [week of 11 Jun 2018] by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.The study was also the first to link the _Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae_ bacteria (_M. ovi_) to respiratory disease in Alaska wildlife. A caribou from the Fortymile Herd east of Fairbanks that carried the bacteria died from pneumonia Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Rift Valley fever – South Africa (02): animal, preventive vaccination
Rift Valley Fever -- South AfricaFollowing a warning issued by Kenya authorities of a possible Rift Valley fever (RVF), animal health company, Afrivet has urged the South African agricultural sector to sound a clarion to deliver vaccination to agriculture livestock. According to Peter Oberem, Afrivet CEO, 250 sheep died in May [2018] of Rift Valley fever on a farm in Jacobsdal in the Free State [see http://promedmail.org/post/20180517.5799859]."Reported cases so late in the season -- it is already Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Rocky Mountain spotted fever – USA: (IN)
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever -- United States[A man] of St Joseph county came down with Rocky Mountain spotted fever after he was bit by a tick in Illinois. Doctors say you can catch it in Indiana as well. [He] man is recovering after picking up one of the deadliest tick-borne diseases in the world.He was diagnosed with Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Early treatment of this disease can prevent death or serious illness. The problem with this type -- and other types of tick-borne diseases -- is they Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Peste des petits ruminants – Bulgaria (02): (YA) 1st rep, comment