Archive for Global Disease Alerts
PRO/AH/EDR> Japanese encephalitis – Philippines: (Luzon)
Japanese Encephalitis -- PhilippinesThe Department of Health (DOH) in the Cordilleras has recorded 8 confirmed cases of Japanese encephalitis in the region this year [2018].DOH-Cordillera Medical Officer Dr. Alexis Marrero said that of the 8; 2 came from Benguet, one from Baguio City while the remaining 5 cases came from outside the Cordillera region and were all admitted in the hospital.Japanese encephalitis is an infection of the brain caused by the Japanese encephalitis virus. While most infections Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Porcine reprod. & resp. syndrome – India: (MZ)
Blue Ear, Classical Swine Fever -- IndiaAt least 1026 pigs and piglets have died and 3639 others [are] affected in Mizoram due to the outbreak of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) and Classical Swine Flu [Fever?] since March this year [2018], officials said on [Sun 6 May 2018]. This is the 3rd time Mizoram is witnessing an outbreak of PRRS. The disease had hit the State in 2013 and 2016.Officials of State Animal Husbandry and Veterinary department said that the PRRS outbreak was Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Typhoid fever – USA: (MA) daycare center, imported
Typhoid -- United States1. Yoon J, Segal-Maurer S and Rahal JJ: An outbreak of domestically acquired typhoid fever in Queens, NY. Arch Intern Med. 2004; 164(5): 565-7; abstract available at.2. Reller ME, Olsen SJ, Kressel AB, et al. Sexual transmission of typhoid fever: a multistate outbreak among men who have sex with men. Clin Infect Dis. 2003; 37(1): 141-4; available at.3. Nguyen TQ, Reddy V, Sahl S, Kornstein L and Balter S. Importance of travel in domestically acquired typhoid fever infections: Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Ebola update (04): Nigeria, Kenya, Congo DR (ET), WHO
Ebola -- NigeriaScientists have theorized that the Makona strain responsible for the massive 2014-2015 Ebola outbreak might have been more virulent -- meaning it might have become more dangerous as it infected more people -- than earlier known strains.The study---------To test that theory, Feldmann's group infected some mice and macaques with the Makona strain and others with the Mayinga strain, from the 1st known Ebola epidemic in 1976.The finding-----------The Makona viruses -- even those Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Crimean-Congo hem. fever – India (02): (RJ) animal serosurvey
Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever -- India[Rajasthan] state is vulnerable to Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF), commonly known as Congo fever, as blood samples drawn from animals in the state tested positive for CCHF virus immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies. Neighbouring state Gujarat has reported CCHF cases sporadically, indicating [to] the health authorities of the state to remain alert on the disease. Now, NIV [National Institute of Virology] officials, including NIV director DT Mourya, have Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (74): Finland (SF), wild bird, HPAI H5N6, OIE
Avian Influenza H5N6 -- FinlandInformation received on [and dated] 9 May 2018 from Dr Taina Aaltonen, Chief Veterinary Officer and Deputy Director General, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Helsinki, FinlandSummaryReport type: immediate notification Date of start of the event: 27 Apr 2018Date of confirmation of the event: 9 May 2018Report date: 9 May 2018Date submitted to OIE: 9 May 2018Reason for notification: recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Salmonellosis – USA (05): (Chicago) jail inmates
Salmonella -- United StatesAt least 5 detainees have gotten sick in an apparent salmonellosis outbreak at a medium-security division of the Cook County Jail. Detainees at the jail's Division 11, 3015 S. California Boulevard, "began experiencing symptoms of a gastrointestinal illness" last week [week of Sun 29 Apr 2018], according to a statement from the Cook County Sheriff's Office. Over the weekend [Sat 5-Sun 6 May 2018], 5 cases of salmonellosis were confirmed among the 54 detainees reporting symptoms.Up Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Anthrax – India (05): (OR) elephant, susp.
Anthrax -- IndiaA female elephant was found dead at Pitanau in Hadagada sanctuary in Keonjhar district [Tue 8 May 2018]. The animal, aged bout 20 years, was suspected to have died of anthrax. Some forest officials while patrolling in Pitanau area found the carcass. [The] Anandapur divisional forest officer (DFO) was informed about the incident.A team of veterinary doctors collected samples of the carcass. After the test report arrives, the exact cause of its death will be known, said the DFO.The Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Lassa fever – West Africa (27): Liberia (MG)
Lassa Fever -- LiberiaThe Margibi County Health Team has declared a health emergency following 2 confirmed cases of Lassa fever deaths in less than a week.The newly assigned county health officer, Dr. Myers Pajibo, told a press briefing on [Tue 8 May 2018] that the 2 cases involve a 56-year-old male and a 35-year-old female, who showed signs of the fever by profusely vomiting with blood on [3 May 2018] and subsequently dying on [5 May 2018], at the C. H. Rennie Hospital in Kakata.Pajibo noted that Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> E. coli EHEC – USA (12): O157, romaine lettuce, increasing cases, fatality
E. coli -- United StatesCase count update-----------------Since the last update on 2 May 2018, 28 more ill people were added to this outbreak.As of 8 May 2018, 149 people infected with the outbreak strain of _E. coli_ O157:H7 have been reported from 29 states. Illnesses started on dates ranging from 13 Mar 2018 to 25 Apr 2018. Ill people range in age from 1 to 88 years, with a median age of 30. 65 percent of ill people are female. Of 129 people with information available, 64 (50 percent) have been Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Foot & mouth disease – Kenya: st O, bovine, OIE
Foot and Mouth -- KenyaInformation received on 9 May 2018 from Dr Obadiah Nyaga Njagi, Director of Veterinary Services, Directorate of Veterinary Services, State Department of Livestock, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Nairobi, KenyaSummaryReport type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 23 Aug 2017Date of confirmation of the event: 26 Jan 2018Report date: 9 May 2018Reason for notification: new strain of a listed disease in the countryManifestation of disease: clinical Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Infectious hematopoietic necrosis, trout – Macedonia: (ET) 1st rep, OIE
Other Animal Disease -- Republic of MacedoniaInformation received on [and dated] 7 May 2018 from Dr Zoran Atasanov, Director Food and Veterinary Agency, Food and Veterinary Agency, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy Former Yug. Rep. Of Macedonia, Skopje, Former Yug. Rep. of MacedoniaSummaryReport type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 20 Mar 2018Date of confirmation of the event: 4 Apr 2018Reason for notification: 1st occurrence of a listed disease in the countryCausal Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Equine rhinopneumonitis – France: (eastern) EHV-1, EHV-4
Equine Herpes Virus -- FranceIn acute cases of respiratory or neurological disease, nasal swab sampling can be undertaken. The sample is analysed by a test kit that can detect the virus.The FEI said prevention measures on competition sites were applicable to all:- check and record the body temperature of the horse twice daily. Any temperature over 38.5 [deg C/101.3 deg F] should immediately be reported to the veterinary delegate/veterinary service manager;- assess your horse's general condition: Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Hepatitis A – USA (17)
Hepatitis A -- United StatesIn recent months, these headlines popped up in a Google search for "Hepatitis A outbreak" -- "KY hepatitis A outbreak kills 3 people, hospitalizes hundreds," "20th death reported in San Diego's hepatitis A outbreak," "Michigan posts 25th hepatitis A death."And on 4 May 2018, the Indiana State Department of Health posted an outbreak update reporting 91 confirmed cases, with a 48 percent hospitalization rate. States with outbreak cases are using different starting dates Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Ebola update (03): Congo DR (ET), WHO
Ebola -- DR CongoThe Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo declared a new outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in Bikoro in Equateur Province [Tue 8 May 2018; see ProMED Ebola update (02): Congo DR (ET) http://promedmail.org/post/20180508.5789723].The Ministry of Health of Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) informed WHO that 2 out of 5 samples collected from 5 patients tested positive for EVD at the Institut National de Recherche Biomedicale (INRB) in Kinshasa. More specimens are Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Rabies (23): Europe (Norway) fox, OIE
Rabies -- NorwayInformation received on [and dated] 4 May 2018 from Dre Kristina Landsverk, Chief Veterinary Officer, Norwegian Food Safety Authority, Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Brumunddal, NorwaySummaryReport type: immediate notification Start date: 26 Apr 2018Date of confirmation of the event: 3 May 2018Reason for notification: recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: January 2012Manifestation of disease: clinical diseaseCausal agent: Rabies virusSerotype: Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Crimean-Congo hem. fever – Pakistan (05): (PB) update
Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever -- PakistanCrimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, commonly referred to as Congo fever has claimed another life in Multan district of Punjab.The Congo fever had claimed 2 lives in Multan, earlier this month [May 2018]. According to media reports, 6 patients affected by the dangerous virus were brought to Nishtar Hospital, one of them is dead and 2 others are under treatment.All patients carrying Congo virus were kept in an isolated ward of Nishtar Hospital and their blood Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (73): Denmark (MJ) poultry, LPAI H5, OIE
Avian Influenza -- DenmarkInformation received on [and dated] 7 May 2018 from Dr Per Starcke Henriksen, Chief Veterinary Officer, Danish Veterinary and Food Administration, Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, Glostrup, DenmarkSummaryReport type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 2 May 2018Date of confirmation of the event: 5 May 2018Reason for notification: recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: August 2016Manifestation of disease: sub-clinical Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Ebola update (02): Congo DR (ET)
Ebola -- DR CongoDemocratic Republic of Congo has confirmed 2 cases of Ebola in the northwestern town of Bikoro [Equateur province] and at least 10 more cases are suspected, the head of the national institute for biological research, Jean Jack Muyembe, said on [Tue 8 May 2018].A source at the ministry of health also said 2 cases had been confirmed and added that there would be an official announcement about it later in the day.It is the 9th time Ebola has been recorded in the DRC, whose eastern Ebola Read more [...]
PRO/PL> Fatal yellowing, oil palm – South America: etiology
Other Plant Disease -- Worldwide/UnknownThere is still no consensus on the true origin of fatal yellowing [FY], one of the most important diseases affecting oil palms (_Elaeis guineensis_). This study involved 2-dimensional liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (2D-UPLC-MSE) analyses to identify changes in protein profiles of oil palms affected by FY disease.Oil palm roots were sampled from 2 growing areas. Differential accumulation of proteins was assessed by comparing plants Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (72): Taiwan (YL) poultry, HPAI H5, spread
Avian Influenza -- ChinaA goose farm in southern Taiwan's Yunlin county was found to have been contaminated by a subtype of H5 bird flu virus and 2279 birds on the farm were culled, the 68th case of poultry farm infection this year [2018], according to the Council of Agriculture (COA) on [Sun 6 May 2018].Several geese on the farm in Yunlin's Sihu Township were confirmed as having contracted the virus, the council's Bureau of Animal and Plant Inspection and Quarantine said in a press release.The bureau Read more [...]
PRO/PL> Undiagnosed blights, grapevine & pomegranate – India: (KA)
Undiagnosed -- IndiaIn Bijapur district (state of Karnataka), long dry spells, unseasonal rains, and hailstorms coupled with blight, a bacterial disease, have made tending to grapes a nightmarish experience. The farmers have [turned] to the lucrative pomegranate, which again had its share of blight attack last year [2017].The resultant drop in yield and also frequent crashes in prices of the 2 main fruits cultivated in the district have forced farmers to look to the government for support.--Communicated Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Anthrax – Uganda (04): (QW) bovine, human, significant spread
Anthrax -- UgandaOn [20 Apr 2018], 7 people were admitted to Ngenge HCIII [Health Center III], after skinning, carrying, and eating a dead cow at Kaplopwotwo village, Kween district. They all presented with blisters, oedema, and red to brown, raised spots that are typical of an anthrax infection. Additionally, 4 cows were reported to have died within the same kraal [an enclosure for cattle or sheep] in Kaplopwotwo village. Locals reportedly skinned and ate the meat from the 4 cows. Ministry of Health Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Horse deaths, drought – USA: (AZ)
Other Animal Disease -- United StatesApproximately 191 feral horses have been found dead in a stock pond on Navajo land in northern Arizona, according to Navajo leaders, who attributed the death to ongoing drought and famine."These animals were searching for water to stay alive. In the process, they unfortunately burrowed themselves into the mud and couldn't escape because they were so weak," Navajo Nation Vice President Jonathan Nez said in a statement on [Thu 3 May 2018].Some of the horses were Read more [...]
PRO/PL> Purple blotch, spring onion – Jamaica: (MA, SE)
Other Plant Disease -- JamaicaThe Ministry of Agriculture will be taking steps to counter the purple blotch disease wreaking havoc on scallion [spring onion] production in sections of Manchester and St Elizabeth [parishes].Some farmers say they have lost some crops due to the disease. Agriculture Minister Audley Shaw said his Ministry will quickly deal with the situation so it does not worsen.--Communicated by:ProMED-mail[Purple blotch of onions (_Allium cepa_) and related crops, such as leek (_A. Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Undiagnosed illness – Kenya: (BA) fatalities, RFI
Undiagnosed -- KenyaAn unknown disease has claimed the lives of 5 people in Tiaty, Baringo county, over the past one week. More than 13 people are currently admitted to the facility with the same infection. According to Clara Lotum, nurse in charge at AIC Lodengo Health Centre, those affected experience severe bouts of vomiting and diarrhea.She revealed that they had conducted tests on the patients and ruled out cholera which has similar symptoms. Ms Lotum however lamented that the facility lacks Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Equine herpesvirus – North America (18): USA (WY, SD) equine
Equine Herpes Virus -- United StatesHorses that attended high school rodeo events at Laramie, Rock Springs, or Big Piney should be monitored.On 27 Apr 2018, the Wyoming Livestock Board received negative laboratory results for equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) in a blood sample from a horse in Carbon county. The horse had been showing hind limb neurologic signs. Nasal swabs had not been taken.Still concerned about equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy (EHM), the owners were advised to impose a self-quarantine Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Anthrax – China (02): (NX) livestock, human, travel alert
Anthrax -- ChinaRussia recently issued a travel alert for citizens planning to visit China: there has been an outbreak of anthrax in central China. Russia's daily newspaper Kommersant reported on [2 May 2018] that the country's Consumer Protection and Public Welfare Supervision Bureau warned travelers to exercise caution if they are visiting areas of central China.China's state-run China News Service reported on [17 Apr 2018] that 3 Chinese farmers in Haiyuan county, in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Dengue/DHF update (10): Asia (Reunion Island)
Dengue -- Région d'outre-mer de Réunion, FranceIn a follow-up on the dengue epidemic on the Indian Ocean island of Reunion, French health officials report an additional 298 biologically confirmed and probable cases in the past week, bringing the total to 2119 cases for the year [2018].To date, 59 people have required hospitalization for their illness. This compares with 12 hospitalizations for all of 2017.The following actions have been implemented in Reunion by public authorities:- Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Varicella update (10): India (Hyderabad), Nepal (Kathmandu)
Chicken Pox -- IndiaCases of chicken pox are on the rise in the city, say doctors with an average of 5 -- 6 new cases being reported at private hospitals every week. At government facilities, the number is higher with the per-week count of patients often touching 15. According to authorities, while the 1st cases of chicken pox, this year [2018], started to surface almost 2 months ago, the numbers are now rising steadily."Though we do get cases throughout the year, the rate of occurrence is maximum Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Measles update (29): Europe, US, Pacific and Asia
Measles -- United StatesOver 12 000 people have been infected with measles in Ukraine so far this year [2018]. Of those affected, 9158 have required hospitalization and 9 have died, according to information provided by national health authorities as of [Fri 27 Apr 2018]. Large-scale outbreak response measures have been undertaken since the start of the outbreak in 2017 to curb further spread of the disease and restore high routine immunization coverage."Ukrainian health authorities, with WHO and Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> MERS-CoV (14): Israel, animal reservoir, camelids
MERS -- IsraelWe present the 1st serological and molecular survey for MERS-CoV infection among Israeli camelids, from 2012 to 2017. Camels showed an average MERS-CoV seroprevalence of 60.6 percent between 2012-2017 by VNT and an average seroprevalence of 62.9 percent by ELISA between 2015-2017, without any detection of viral RNA in the nasal swabs of the 540 camels. The presence of virus-specific neutralizing antibodies suggests that Israeli camels were exposed to MERS-CoV in the past. The VNT assay Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Yellow fever – Americas (30): Brazil
Yellow Fever -- BrazilIn recent decades, yellow fever (YF) has been recorded beyond the limits of the area considered endemic (Amazon region). At the same time, the observation of a seasonal pattern of occurrence of human cases, based on the analysis of the historical series, supported the adoption of surveillance based on a pattern of seasonality. Thus, the YF monitoring period begins in July and ends in June of the following year. Human cases and epizootics in non-human primates (NHP) have recently Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Crimean-Congo hem. fever – Iran: update
Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever -- IranCrimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever [CCHF] has caused the death of one man in Iran in recent days, Bashir Khaleghi, an Iranian MP, said.Kaleghi, who is a member of the Parliament's Health Commission, said that at least 4 people have so far caught the disease in the recent days, ILNA [Iranian Labour News Agency] news agency reported.The cases have been reported in Iran's south eastern province of Kerman (3 cases) and southern province of Fars (one case), he added.Crimean-Congo Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Crimean-Congo hem. fever – Pakistan (04): (SD)
Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever -- Pakistan[Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever] (CCHF) claimed the 1st life of the year [2018] in Karachi on [Thu 3 May 2018], when a 36-year-old resident of Lyari [Karachi] died at Liaquat National Hospital (LNH) due to complications of the lethal tick-borne disease."My brother , who had been diagnosed with Congo virus expired at Liaquat National Hospital on Thursday night [3 May 2018]. Doctors said he was having problems with breathing and could not survive the complications Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Rabies (22): Asia (Malaysia, Israel), Europe (UK), WHO (global), human, animal
Rabies -- MalaysiaAn 11-year-old boy infected with rabies was pronounced dead at the Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) here [Kuching] at about noon today [Thu 3 May 2018].The boy's death brings the number of fatalities from an outbreak of rabies which began in Serian in June last year [2017] to 8.In a statement, Health Ministry director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the victim, who was from Kampung Sebangkoi Baru, Simunjan, succumbed to rabies encephalitis (acute inflammation of the Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> African swine fever – Europe (10): Ukraine, domestic, OIE
African Swine Fever -- UkraineInformation received on [and dated] 11 Apr 2018 from Dr Andrii Zhuk, 1st 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: 6 Apr 2018Date of confirmation of the event: 6 Apr 2018Reason for notification: recurrence Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Legionellosis – Australia (03): (VI)
Legionnaires' -- AustraliaA total of 2 men are in intensive care fighting legionnaires' disease while a 3rd is also in hospital connected to a Gladstone Park outbreak. The Department of Health issued a warning over the outbreak today after all 3 men became ill following visits to the Airport West and Gladstone Park Shopping Centres between [Fri 20 and Thu 26 Apr 2018].Health officers are now investigating cooling towers in the northern suburb area to determine the cause of the outbreak. Victoria's Read more [...]
PRO/AH> Vectorborne diseases – USA (02): increasing incidence, 2004-2016, comment