Archive for Global Disease Alerts
PRO/AH/EDR> Tularemia – USA (02): (KY) sentinel rabbit infected, alert
Tularemia -- United States1. McCoy GW, Chapin CW: _Bacterium tularensis_ the cause of a plague-like disease of rodents. Pub Health Bull 1912; 53.2. Francis E: A disease of man of hitherto unknown etiology. Pub Health Rep 1919; 34: 2061.Mods.LL/MHJ][See Also:Tularemia - USA: (CA) infected ticks http://promedmail.org/post/20180215.56289592017----Tularemia - USA (08): (AZ) human, fatal, canine, 2016 http://promedmail.org/post/20170824.5272785Tularemia - USA (07): (AK) snowshoe hares Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (71): Sweden, wild birds, HPAI H5N6, clarification
Avian Influenza H5N6 -- SwedenA machine translation erroneously translated the names of birds from a news report in Swedish ("en havsörn, en duvhök och en ormvråk") into English ("a sea eagle, a pigeon, and a buzzard"). The correct common and scientific names of the affected wild birds are: white-tailed eagle, _Haliaeetus albicilla_ (havsörn in Swedish); northern goshawk, _Accipiter gentilis_ (duvhök in Swedish); and common buzzard, _Buteo buteo_ (ormvråk in Swedish).--Thijs Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> HTLV-1 – Australia: Indigenous people neglected disease
Other Human Disease -- AustraliaThe Australian Indigenous population is being hit by HTLV-1, the most lethal human-immune virus known thus far, with "no current cure, no treatment, and no coordinated public-health response," according to a report in The Guardian.An acronym for human T-lymphotropic virus type 1, HTLV-1 is related to other diseases like T-cell lymphoma. The disease is transmitted similarly to other human immune retroviruses: through sexual contact, blood transfusion, and via breastfeeding. Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Hand, foot & mouth disease update (03): China
Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease -- ChinaMore than 140 000 people have been infected with hand-foot-mouth disease [HFMD] and 6 died from the disease in China this year [2018], according to China's Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).As of 20 Apr 2018, a total of 141 978 cases had been reported, with 6 deaths and 581 in critical condition. The disease incidence rate was lower than the same period of last year [2017], the CDC said in a statement.Zhang Jing, researcher with the CDC, said HFMD Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Tuberculosis – USA (03): (MD) human, lab macaques
Tuberculosis -- United StatesA monkey at the National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center (NBACC) at Fort Detrick [Maryland, USA] tested positive for the bacteria that cause tuberculosis [_Mycobacterium tuberculosis_], according to a news release from the agency.The animal, a crab-eating macaque, was the same species as 5 other monkeys found with the tuberculosis bacteria at the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID). That agency, also at Fort Detrick, identified Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Foot & mouth disease – Israel (03): (HZ) bovine, spread
Foot and Mouth -- IsraelTypical signs of FMD have been observed in dairy cattle in the kibbutz Neve Ur and reported by the 2 attending practitioners of Hachaklait to the State Veterinary Services. Signs of the disease included salivation, buccal and udder lesions affecting 30 adult cows and about 70 calves. The entire herd was last vaccinated against FMD in November 2017.Samples submitted to the national FMD laboratory, Kimron Veterinary Institute, Beit-Dagan are under examination; final results Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> African swine fever – Europe (09): Moldova, domestic, OIE
African Swine Fever -- MoldovaInformation received on [and dated] 27 Apr 2018 from from Dr Vitalie Caraus, Head, Sanitary and Veterinary Surveillance Division, National Food Safety Agency, Ministry of Agriculture, Regional Development and Environment of the Republic of Moldova, Chisinau, MoldovaSummaryReport type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 23 Apr 2018Date of confirmation of the event: 26 Apr 2018Reason for notification: recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Tuberculosis – China: (SH) neighborhood transmission, residents, migrants
Tuberculosis -- ChinaBackground----------"Massive internal migration from rural to urban areas poses new challenges for tuberculosis control in China. We aimed to combine genomic, spatial, and epidemiological data to describe the dynamics of tuberculosis in an urban setting with large numbers of migrants.Methods-------"We did a population-based study of culture-positive _Mycobacterium tuberculosis_ isolates in Songjiang, Shanghai. We used whole-genome sequencing to discriminate apparent genetic Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Hantavirus – Americas (32): USA (CA)
Hantavirus -- United StatesA Santa Cruz County resident has been diagnosed with an infection caused by [a] hantavirus, prompting public health officials with the county to warn the public and make recommendations on how they can avoid contracting the virus themselves. Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, more frequently known as HPS, is caused by a virus found in urine, droppings or saliva from wild rodents such as deer mice.People typically contract the infection when entering or cleaning buildings and Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Salmonellosis, st Newport – USA: ground beef from dairy cows, 2016-2017
Salmonella -- United StatesIn January 2017, CDC identified a cluster of _Salmonella enterica_ serotype Newport infections with isolates sharing an indistinguishable pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) pattern, JJPX01.0010 (pattern 10), through PulseNet, the national molecular subtyping network for foodborne disease surveillance. This report summarizes the investigation by CDC, state and local health and agriculture departments, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Malaria – Trinidad & Tobago (02): imported cases
Malaria -- Trinidad & TobagoThis media source quotes the Health Minister as saying they're imported cases:"speaking during a news conference at the Ministry of Health in Port of Spain, Deyal Singh, said the cases of malaria in T&T are persons who visited other countries where malaria is present and returned to the country."[Byline: Camille Hunte]--Communicated byViki Hansen-LandisInternational SOS[ProMED thanks Viki Hansen-Landis, International SOS, for informing us about the statement by Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> E. coli EHEC – USA (09): O157, romaine lettuce
E. coli -- United StatesCase Count Update-----------------Since the last update on 25 Apr 2018, 14 more ill people were added to this outbreak.As of 26 Apr 2018, 98 people infected with the outbreak strain of _E. coli_ O157:H7 have been reported from 22 states. Illnesses started on dates ranging from 13 Mar 2018 to 20 Apr 2018. Ill people range in age from 1 to 88 years, with a median age of 31. 65 percent of ill people are female. Of 87 people with information available, 46 (53 percent) have been Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Chronic wasting disease, cervid: research, transmissibility
Chronic Wasting Disease -- Worldwide/UnknownLack of Transmission of Chronic Wasting Disease to Cynomolgus Macaques. Brent Race; Katie Williams; Christina D. Orrú; Andrew G. Hughson; Lori Lubke, and Bruce ChesebroAbstract:Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a fatal prion disease that can infect deer, elk and moose. CWD was 1st recognized in captive deer kept in wildlife facilities in Colorado from 1967-1979. CWD has now been detected in 25 states of the USA, 2 Canadian provinces, South Korea, Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Malaria – Trinidad & Tobago: RFI
Malaria -- Trinidad & TobagoWith the start of the wet season less than 2 months away, former Health Minister Dr Fuad Khan has described the resurgence of the mosquito-borne disease malaria as "worrying" due to flooding, which occurs in central and south Trinidad every year.Khan was commenting on World Malaria Day (WMD) 2018 observances themed: "Ready to Beat Malaria."He observed that while Trinidad and Tobago has been relatively malaria free since 1965, he said the nation was witnessing a "re-emergence Read more [...]
PRO/PL> Panama disease TR4, banana – India: spread
Other Plant Disease -- IndiaTropical Race 4 (TR4) of Fusarium oxysporum cubense that is threatening banana crops globally has hit the plantations in India, the world's top producer of the fruit. The devastating disease surfaced in [the state of] Bihar in 2015 and had spread to Uttar Pradesh last year [2017] and now [2018] to Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat, threatening heavy losses. However, details of total acreage affected were not available.Farm policymakers are expected to discuss control measure Read more [...]
PRO/PL> Lethal yellowing, coconut palm – Mexico: (VE)
Other Plant Disease -- MexicoCarmen Belen Lihaut Sequera, Coordinator of the National Council of Producers in [Veracruz] State, said, "Coconut production has fallen by 99 per cent, due to the lethal yellowing disease and a complete lack of replanting. [In] 2008 we started to see the disease, but since 2010 production began to disappear completely. We need to take care of the problems in Veracruz."During 2013-2014, producers had planted 1700 hectares of coconut tolerant to lethal yellowing. More than Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Mumps update (03): Mexico, USA (DE, VA)
Mumps -- MexicoA new announcement from Wells and Ambler said more cases of mumps have been reported on campus. The students who contracted the virus have been isolated, as with the 1st case.While Hill said Peninsula Health could not release the exact number of students who contracted mumps, there were several cases reported.[Byline: Amelia Heymann]--Communicated by:ProMED-mail[HealthMap/ProMED-mail map:Virginia, United States: ][See Also:Mumps update (02): USA (VA,DE) resurgence Read more [...]
PRO/PL> Bunchy top, banana – India: (TN)
Other Plant Disease -- IndiaBunchy Top banana disease has hit Hill banana growers in the Dindigul district of Tamil Nadu. The crop is the livelihood of farmers in the region.Veera Arasu, Tamil Nadu Hill Banana Growers Federation, said, "We have successfully controlled the disease in the early 2000 with the help of Tamil Nadu Agriculture University [TNAU]. As the virus started attacking the plants again, we have approached the National Research Centre for Banana, along with TNAU for remedial measures."[Byline: Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update (18): Asia (Yemen)
Cholera, Diarrhea, Dysentery -- Yemen- In week 15, there are 1942 suspected cases and 2 associated deaths. - The cumulative total of suspected cholera cases reported since April 2017 to [Sat 14 Apr 2018] is 1 089 507 with 2274 associated deaths across the country. At governorate level, the trend from W12-W14 decreased in all governorates except Amran (+22 percent) and Ibb (+17 percent). - The overall case fatality ratio is 0.21 percent and the national attack rate is 389 per 10 000 people. Children Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Anthrax – Uganda (03): (AX) bovine, human, significant spread
Anthrax -- UgandaA total of 19 people have so far been infected following the outbreak of the deadly anthrax in Arua District. The disease was 1st reported in Rhino Camp refugee settlement and one has so far died since the outbreak was confirmed by the Uganda Virus Research Institute last month [March 2018].The district veterinary officer, Dr Willy Nguma, said: "It is unfortunate that the ministry and other partners have been silent on this outbreak. The farmers do not have the drugs for vaccinating Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> E. coli EHEC – Canada (06): (AB) O157, restaurant, pork source
E. coli -- Canada"During July-October 2014, an outbreak of 119 _Escherichia coli_ O157:H7 infections in Alberta, Canada was identified through notifiable disease surveillance and investigated by local, provincial, and federal public health and food regulatory agencies. A total of 23 (19 percent) patients were hospitalized, 6 of whom developed hemolytic uremic syndrome; no deaths were reported. Informed by case interviews, 7 potential food sources were identified and investigated. The majority of Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Foodborne illness – Peru: (PI) poss. fish source, fatality, RFI
Foodborne Illness -- PeruA 50-year-old man died after a presumed intoxication occurred yesterday, [Tue 24 Apr 2018], in the province of Huancabamba (Piura region). He and 23 other people allegedly consumed contaminated food in a restaurant in the Salalá sector.According to Radio Cutivalú de Piura, a total of 24 people from the company JJC - Mayo arrived at the health center of Huancabamba with vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain. The doctor Félix Raymundo Ruiz Valera indicated Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Black spot disease, fish – India: (JK)
Other Animal Disease -- IndiaThe ecological systems are continuously being subjected to turmoil by anthropogenic acts. The alteration in the environment also stimulates changes in the distribution and behavior of parasite and vectors. Animal health is deeply related to the changing pattern of environmental condition. For example, environmental biologists are convinced that global climate change could harm fish health. In a recent study, it has been confirmed that some parasitic worms are using enhanced Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Legionellosis – USA (06): (NYC) fatal, apartment complex
Legionnaires' -- United StatesA cluster of Legionnaires' disease centered on a single apartment building [CO-OP City] in the Bronx has sickened 3 people over the past year, leading to 1 death.The New York Department of Health stresses that this is not considered an outbreak. The affected building, in CO-OP City, does not have a cooling tower, so they're looking at internal plumbing to see if the bacterium is there.The water is safe to drink, but they're advising residents of the building who are Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (69): Finland, wild bird, HPAI H5N6, OIE
Avian Influenza H5N6 -- FinlandInformation received on [and dated] 25 Apr 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 (final report)Date of start of the event: 18 Apr 2018Date of confirmation of the event: 24 Apr 2018Report date: 25 Apr 2018Date submitted to OIE: 25 Apr 2018Date event resolved: 24 Apr 2018Reason for notification: Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Varicella update (09): Canada, shingles increase
Shingles -- CanadaFor a woman in Canada, it all started with a feeling of weakness in her left leg and then in her lower back. Later, a rash on her skin made her feel like small needles were stabbing her.[She] works for CTV News and she has experienced the pain caused by shingles. She said that she couldn't walk for a few days from the nerve pain: "It was in my back and then traveled down my leg as well, so sitting all day was extremely uncomfortable and I had some trouble sleeping at night."When Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> E. coli EHEC – USA (08): (CA) military outbreak, undercooked beef, 2017
E. coli -- United StatesAn outbreak of _Escherichia coli_ that sickened hundreds of Marine Corps recruits in San Diego in late 2017 was significantly associated with undercooked beef prepared by a civilian contractor, according to the results of an investigation.The outbreak occurred in October and November 2017 among newly enlisted men at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, and Camp Pendleton, a nearby base where recruits conduct weapons and field training, according to Amelia A. Keaton, MD, Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> E. coli EHEC – USA (07): O157, romaine lettuce
E. coli -- United StatesTotal / 84 Illnesses that occurred after 5 Apr 2018 might not yet be reported due to the time it takes between when a person becomes ill with _E. coli_ and when the illness is reported. This takes an average of 2 to 3 weeks.Investigation Update--------------State and local health officials continue to interview ill people to ask about the foods they ate and other exposures before they became ill. 64 (96%) of 67 people interviewed reported eating romaine lettuce in the week Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Hepatitis A – USA (15): (OH, MI)
Hepatitis A -- United StatesThe number of hepatitis A cases in Ohio and neighboring states has spiked since January [2018], the Ohio Department of Health is reporting.There are currently 31 cases in the state, the highest since 2015, Greene County Public Health said in a release Tuesday [24 Apr 2018]. In comparison, there were 4 cases during the same period in 2017, 2 in 2016, and 5 in 2015, according to the release.Hepatitis A is a vaccine-preventable, communicable disease of the liver caused by Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Equine Herpesvirus – North America (15): USA (GA, CA, ND) equine
Equine Herpes Virus -- United StatesThe Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) reported on [Fri 20 Apr 2018] that the Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) confirmed a case of equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) in a Miniature mule residing in Cherokee County.The positive test result came in on [Tue 17 Apr 2018]. The mule exhibited mild respiratory clinical signs and ultimately died due to pneumonia complications, the EDCC said. "(The) GDA has placed the facility under quarantine," the EDCC's statement Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Candida auris – Europe: 2013-2017
Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE) -- Worldwide/UnknownMain conclusions and options for response-----------------------------------------_Candida auris_ poses a risk for patients in healthcare facilities across Europe due to its propensity to cause outbreaks and its antifungal resistance. Difficulties with laboratory identification and lack of awareness of this _Candida_ species may delay early detection increasing the potential for horizontal transmission. _C. auris_ was first identified in Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Measles update (27): South America, Asia, Europe, Africa, USA
Measles -- ColombiaThe World Health Organization (WHO) is on alert due to the reported regional spread of measles from Venezuela, where a major outbreak is underway, throughout the Americas. The region had been declared measles-free in 2016 but the disease has made a resurgence in Venezuela (notably the state of Bolívar), where the medical infrastructure has been severely degraded due to an ongoing politico-economic crisis. There are fears that the hundreds of thousands of Venezuelan refugees Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Anthrax, human, livestock – Argentina (02): 2017
Anthrax -- ArgentinaSummary-------The annual assessment of bovine anthrax outbreaks and the isolation of its causing agent, _Bacillus anthracis_, are confirmed by comparing epidemiological data from several current scenarios, some of them permanently monitored in the last 40 years.1. Assessment area of rural anthrax in the province of Buenos Aires (1977-2017): (Over the surveillance period of 40 years) this is the 1st time there were no anthrax outbreaks (in this anthrax control and surveillance Read more [...]
PRO/PL> Panicle blight, rice – Venezuela
Other Plant Disease -- VenezuelaA devastating panicle blight disease affecting the major rice growing regions of Venezuela is expected to contribute to the lowest output of milled rice in that country since 1972, according to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).Production of rice in the 2018-19 marketing year is forecast down 49 per cent from 2017-18. The disease also is forecast to have an impact on area harvested to rice for 2018-19 at 70 000 hectares [about 173 000 acres], down from 135 000 Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> African swine fever – Europe (08): Hungary, wild boar, 1st rep, OIE
African Swine Fever -- HungaryInformation received on [and dated] 23 Apr 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: 20 Apr 2018Date of confirmation of the event: 21 Apr 2018Reason for notification: 1st occurrence of a listed disease in the countryCausal agent: African swine fever virusNature of diagnosis: laboratory (advanced)This Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Angiostrongylus vasorum, canine – UK: (ENGLAND) spread
Other Animal Disease -- United KingdomWhile most dog owners are well aware of the rising cases of Alabama Rot, a Midlands vet has urged people to be aware of another canine condition on the rise. Dog owners need to know the signs of lungworm - as it can prove fatal if not treated.The parasite has been on the rise across in Staffordshire, where cases were previously rare. According to the website Act Against Lungworm there have now been 11 registered cases in the ST postcode area.Will Jeffels, clinical Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Coral reef kills – USA: (FL)
Other Animal Disease -- United StatesA mysterious disease hammering Florida's dwindling reefs was found for the 1st time this week [week 15 - 20 Apr 2018] in the Lower Keys, alarming scientists who've used epoxy band-aids, amputated sick coral and even set up underwater "fire breaks" in a 4-year battle to contain the outbreak.Florida Keys Community College researchers working with state and federal investigators discovered the infected coral during a routine dive to collect samples, said Mote Marine Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Candida auris – UK: (England) ICU, shared axillary thermometers
Other Human Disease -- United Kingdom1. Livornese LL Jr, Dias S, Samel C, Romanowski B, Taylor S, May P, Pitsakis P, Woods G, Kaye D, Levison ME, et al. Hospital-acquired infection with vancomycin-resistant _Enterococcus faecium_ transmitted by electronic thermometers. Ann Intern Med. 1992; 117(2): 112-6; abstract available at _Candida auris_ is a globally emerging, nosocomial, multidrug resistant pathogen associated with a high mortality. Epidemiologic investigations in the U.S. revealed most cases Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Tularemia – Switzerland (3): bird of prey attack
Tularemia -- SwitzerlandThe following publication illustrates an unusual source of tularemia reported in Switzerland:Ehrensperger F, Riederer L and Friedl A:Tularemia after attack of one buzzard on a jogger: A "One Health" case report. Schweiz Arch Tierheilkd 2018; 160:185-188, [in German, abstract in English]Summary:A female jogger was attacked by a common buzzard (_Buteo buteo_) and was scratched lightly at the back of the head. One week later she was taken ill with high fever and headache which Read more [...]
