Archive for Global Disease Alerts
PRO/AH/EDR> Equine encephalosis – India: (MH) equine, 2008, 1st case
Other Animal Disease -- IndiaTen years ago [2008] when 14 horses fell ill -- one of which died -- at a Pune farm, scientists at the National Institute of Virology (NIV) conducted a series of tests to rule out Bluetongue virus, African horse sickness and other diseases that affect equines. Now, a decade later [2018], they have been able to identify the cause of death: the horse had been infected with the equine encephalosis virus (EEV).The presence of the virus in India has also fuelled concern among Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Malaria, P. cynomolgi – Malaysia: (SK)
Malaria -- MalaysiaSeveral people in Malaysia have become infected with a species of monkey malaria parasite that, until recently, had been recorded in just one person outside of the lab.Although only a few cases have been detected, researchers are worried that the ongoing destruction of monkeys' forest habitat is increasing the amount of contact between people and primates, providing more opportunities for infections to jump to people.In January [2018], researchers identified the parasite _Plasmodium Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Hantavirus – Americas (29): Panama (LS)
Hantavirus -- PanamaCarlos Muñoz, from the provincial Department of Epidemiology, stated that this weekend a 64 year old patient from the El Bebedero area in the Tonosí district, was admitted to the Joaquín Pablo Franco Hospital in Las Tablas [with a hantavirus infection]. Also, a 26 year old patient from El Cacao is [hospitalized and] currently on assisted ventilation.According to health authorities, so far in 2018, 23 cases have been registered; 14 from Los Santo [province]. Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update (17): Africa, Asia
Cholera -- Worldwide/UnknownHighlights:-------------Congo: at W12, 32 suspected cases were reported from Plateaux and Likouala Departments, which share borders with affected districts in D. R. Congo.D. R. Congo: cholera is still active in the Eastern endemic Provinces, some outbreaks persist in the Western part. Yet, the overall situation is slightly improving at W12 as no provinces recorded more than 100 cases.Liberia: 9 suspected case were reported between week 11 and week 12.Nigeria: 175 suspected Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Meningitis, meningococcal – Fiji (03): fatal, children, sg.C, more cases
Meningitis - Neisseria -- FijiFiji has recorded 4 deaths caused by the meningococcal disease so far this year [2018]. This was revealed by the Minister for Health and Medical Services Rosy Akbar in Parliament yesterday [Tue 17 Apr 2018].Ms. Akbar said the ministry declared a national outbreak of meningococcal C on [20 Mar 2018], after a review was made on the evidence and recommendations by health experts on the National Meningococcal Taskforce.She added that there have been 46 cases from [1 Jan Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> MERS-CoV (13): Saudi Arabia, new cases, superspreader
MERS -- Saudi ArabiaDifficulty distinguishing pneumonia from volume overload in a patient with renal failure delayed a MERS-CoV diagnosis at a Riyadh hospital last year [2017], which led to a superspreading event that sickened 44 people at 3 health facilities, Saudi researchers reported in the American Journal of Infection Control.In their detailed report on the outbreak and its spread, the group said the lessons they learned could help fine-tune protocols for screening for the MERS-CoV (Middle East Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Cryptosporidiosis – USA: (RI) petting farm
Cryptosporidium -- United StatesAnimals at a Middletown farm are being quarantined after 3 people got sick, Rhode Island health officials announced [Mon 16 Apr 2018].The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management [DEM] said one child and 2 adults came down with cryptosporidiosis after having contact with goats during "pet and cuddle" events at Simmons Farm on West Main Road on [25 and 31 Mar 2018]."Cryptosporidiosis lives in the gut of infected humans or animals. It is spread through contact Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Rabies – Americas (20): USA (TX) bat, human exp
Rabies -- United StatesHundreds of parents received a recorded voicemail from the high school principal. The call came after students came face-to-face with bats, twice in one week.[SC] was one of the many parents that packed into the Brennan High School [in San Antonio, Texas] parking lot to pick up her daughter. She played the school voicemail that was left on her phone. "The result of the 1st bat tested positive for rabies," the recording said. The school also released a letter to parents to inform Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Varicella update (08): UK (England) necrotizing retinitis
Chicken Pox -- United KingdomA 4-year-old presented to Manchester Royal Eye Hospital with acute visual loss in her left eye after an uneventful episode of chickenpox.Clinicians have described what they believe is only the 4th reported case of retinitis in a child following infection with chickenpox.Writing in BMJ Case Reports [see reference above], Manchester Royal Eye Hospital clinicians highlight that the case of a 4-year-old girl who presented with visual loss and redness in her left eye is a Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Lassa fever – West Africa (23): Liberia, WHO
Lassa Fever -- LiberiaThe Lassa fever outbreak is ongoing in Liberia with 25 new suspected cases, including 5 deaths reported since our last bulletin update (Weekly Bulletin 11, 16 Mar 2018). Of these, 2 new confirmed cases were reported in week 12 and week 13 (week ending 1 Apr 2018).The patient reported in week 12 [week ending 25 Mar 2018] was a 2-year-old female with symptom onset on 22 Mar 2018, who was admitted to hospital in the capital city, Monrovia on 29 Mar 2018 with symptoms of fever, Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Buruli ulcer – Australia (02): (VI) increasing incidence & severity
Mycobacteria, non-TB -- AustraliaUnderstanding risk factors is key to defining the source and transmission route of _Mycobacterium ulcerans_----------------------------------------------------------------------_Mycobacterium ulcerans_ causes an infectious disease known internationally as Buruli ulcer, and also as Bairnsdale ulcer or Daintree ulcer in Australia. It causes severe destructive lesions of skin and soft tissue, resulting in significant morbidity, in attributable mortality, and often in Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Newcastle disease – Czech Republic: (ZL) backyard poultry, OIE
Newcastle Disease -- Czech RepublicInformation received on [and dated] 15 Apr 2018 from Dr Zbyněk Semerád, Director General, State Veterinary Administration, Veterinary Administration, Prague, Czech RepublicSummaryReport type: immediate notification Date of start of the event: 9 Apr 2018Date of confirmation of the event: 13 Apr 2018Reason for notification: 1st occurrence of a listed diseaseManifestation of disease: clinical diseaseCausal agent: paramyxovirus 1Nature of diagnosis: clinical, Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (67): China (Hong Kong) pet birds, HPAI H5N6, OIE
Avian Influenza H5N6 -- ChinaInformation received on [and dated] 16 Apr 2018 from Dr. Thomas Sit, Chief Veterinary Officer/Assistant Director (Inspection & Quarantine), Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, Hong Kong, (SAR-PRC)SummaryReport type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 7 Apr 2018Date of confirmation of the event: 12 Apr 2018Reason for notification: recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Salmonellosis, st. Braenderup – USA: eggs, recall
Salmonella -- United StatesGuard-Petter J. The chicken, the egg and Salmonella enteritidis. Environ Microbiol 2001; 3(7): 421-30; . - Mod.LLHealthMap/ProMED-mail map:United States: ][See Also:Salmonellosis, st I 4,[5],12:b:- - USA (04): kratom, mult. st, FDA mand. recall http://promedmail.org/post/20180406.5729074Salmonellosis, st Typhimurium - USA (04): dried coconut http://promedmail.org/post/20180324.5706748Salmonellosis, st I 4,[5],12:b:- - USA (03): kratom, multiple serotypes Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Anthrax – Namibia (02): (Bwabwata Natl Park) hippopotamus, buffalo, final report
Anthrax -- NamibiaNamibia's Environment Ministry confirmed on [Mon 16 Apr 2018] that the anthrax outbreak in the west part of Bwabwata National Park in the Kavango East Region has been contained. The anthrax outbreak in the country which was detected last year [2017] in October in one of the country's biggest game parks killed around 120 hippopotamuses and 25 buffaloes, amongst others.The Environment Ministry, Public Relations officer, Romeo Muyunda in a statement said the Anthrax Containment Team Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Hepatitis A – Canada: frozen strawberries
Hepatitis A -- CanadaThis recall was triggered by findings during an investigation into a foodborne illness outbreak. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is conducting a food safety investigation, which may lead to the recall of other products. If other high-risk products are recalled, the CFIA will notify the public through updated Food Recall Warnings.The CFIA is verifying that industry is removing recalled product from the marketplace.Illnesses----------There have been reported illnesses Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Severe fever w/ thrombocytopenia synd. – East Asia
Fever -- ChinaInfectious-disease experts in East Asia are preparing for this year's [2018] wave of a lethal tick-borne virus. The virus causes a disease called severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS), which has affected a rapidly growing number of people since it emerged nearly a decade ago.Scientists in the region say they are worried by the rising incidence of the disease and by signs that the virus can spread more easily than previously thought. In March [2018], Japan launched the 1st Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Japanese encephalitis & other – India (02): (UP), typhus
Encephalitis, Typhus -- IndiaManoj Murhekar, Jeromie Wesley, Vivian Thangaraj, Mahima Mittal, Nivedita Gupta. Acute Encephalitis Syndrome in Eastern Uttar Pradesh, India: Changing Etiological Understanding.AbstractSeasonal outbreaks of acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) with high case fatality have been occurring in Gorakhpur division in Eastern Uttar Pradesh, India, for more than 3 decades. Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) accounted for less than 10 percent of AES cases, while the etiology of the Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Echinococcus multilocularis, human, canine – Canada: (ON)
Echinococcosis -- CanadaLast year [2017], experts with the University of Alberta warned of a dangerous tapeworm found in at least 5 people in recent years [there is a relevant taped interview on this at the website. - Mod.MHJ]. The parasite is called _Echinococcus multilocularis_ (EM), and according to the University of Guelph, this same parasite has been reported in 5 dogs in Southern Ontario since 2012.Reports of the disease that EM causes, called alveolar echinococcosis, surprised University of Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Rabies – Americas (19): USA (NC) fox, human exposure
Rabies -- United StatesPolice are warning residents to be alert when they go outside after a coyote attacked a Wake Forest man earlier Wednesday [11 Apr 2018] evening. Wake County Animal Control confirmed that the coyote tested positive for rabies.It happened about 9:30 p.m. along the 3100 block of Lariat Ridge Drive as the homeowner was taking out his trash. The victim defended himself by kicking the animal, but the coyote continued to attack. The homeowner eventually escaped by throwing a trash Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Dengue/DHF update (07): Asia, Pacific, Africa, Australia
Dengue — Worldwide/Unknown
PRO/EDR> Measles update (24): Europe, Mexico, South America, USA, Pacific
Measles -- Spain[3] Mexico (Federal District / Baja California)Date: Fri 16 Mar 2018 13:38 PM CSTSource: Noticeros as reported in ProMED-ESP - Vol 8, Issues 66 - Mar 16 [edited]The Ministry of Health (Ssa), identified at least 3 cases of measles in Mexico City, while the 4th was reported in Baja California, according to local sources.According to the National Epidemiological Surveillance System (Sinave), which belongs to the Ssa, one of the cases reported in the capital is that of a Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Yellow fever – Americas (27): Brazil
Yellow Fever -- BrazilBrazil confirms 1127 cases with 331 deaths during the period 1 Jul 2017-10 Apr 2018. In the states of Rio de Janeiro, Bahia, and São Paulo coverage is below the goal.The Ministry of Health is reinforcing the importance to the population to go to vaccination posts in the new areas of risk in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Bahia. According to the epidemiological bulletin published [Wed 11 Apr 2018] from the information sent by local officials, these 3 states continue Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Typhoid fever – Pakistan (04): multidrug resistance
Typhoid -- PakistanAntibiotic resistance is a major problem in _Salmonella enterica_ serovar Typhi, the causative agent of typhoid. Multidrug-resistant (MDR) isolates are prevalent in parts of Asia and Africa and are often associated with the dominant H58 haplotype. Reduced susceptibility to fluoroquinolones is also widespread, and sporadic cases of resistance to 3rd-generation cephalosporins or azithromycin have also been reported. Here, we report the 1st large-scale emergence and spread of a novel Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Foot & mouth disease – China (04): (GS) st O, livestock, OIE
Foot and Mouth -- ChinaInformation received on [and dated] 13 Apr 2018 from Dr Zhang Zhongqui, Director General, China Animal Disease Control Centre, Veterinary Bureau, Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing, China (People's Rep. of)SummaryReport type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 22 Mar 2018Date of confirmation of the event: 11 Apr 2018Report date: 13 Apr 2018Date submitted to OIE: 13 Apr 2018Reason for notification: recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: July Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Equine infectious anemia – Greece: (MH) OIE
Equine Infectious Anemia -- Republic of MacedoniaInformation received on 13 Apr 2018 from Mrs Chrysoula Dile, Head, Animal Health Directorate, Ministry of Rural Development and Food, ATHENS, GreeceSummaryReport type: immediate notification Date of start of the event: 16 Mar 2018Date of confirmation of the event: 21 Mar 2018Report date: 13 Apr 2018Reason for notification: Recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: 9 Mar 2016Manifestation of disease: sub-clinical infectionCausal agent: Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Legionellosis – Australia (02): (NS)
Legionnaires' -- AustraliaNSW [New South Wales] Health is investigating a possible contamination source following confirmation 3 people have developed legionnaires' disease after spending time in the Macquarie Fields area.A total of 2 males, 1 in his 50s and the other in his 60s and a female in her 70s - all South Western Sydney residents - were reported with the disease in the past week [week of Sun 8 Apr 2018].All 3 cases developed the disease - a bacterial infection of the lungs - from breathing Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Prion disease update: Algeria (OG), CPD, camelid, 1st
CJD -- AlgeriaPrions cause fatal and transmissible neurodegenerative diseases, including Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans, scrapie in small ruminants, and bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). After the BSE epidemic, and the associated human infections, began in 1996 in the United Kingdom, general concerns have been raised about animal prions. We detected a prion disease in dromedary camels (_Camelus dromedarius_) in Algeria. Symptoms suggesting prion disease occurred in 3.1 percent of Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Tuberculosis – USA (02): (MD) human, lab animals
Tuberculosis -- United StatesThe U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases -- a tenant agency at Fort Detrick in Frederick, Maryland -- is investigating after 5 laboratory primates tested positive for the bacteria that cause tuberculosis.Tuberculosis -- a bacterial disease that primarily affects the lungs -- can cause chest pain, persistent coughing and coughing up blood. It's rarely fatal among patients in the United States, but does require at least a 6-month treatment regimen Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Leptospirosis – France (02): (Reunion) more cases
Leptospirosis -- Région d'outre-mer de Réunion, FranceSince the beginning of the year [the first 3.5 months of 2018], 65 cases of leptospirosis have already been reported in Reunion (against 50 for the whole of 2017). Nearly half of the cases were identified in the southern communes, and more than one-third in the western ones. Of the people infected with this bacterium, 90 percent were hospitalized and 35 percent were admitted to the intensive care unit.The hurricane / post-cyclone Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Equine Herpesvirus – North America (13): (WA, SD) equine
Equine Herpes Virus -- United StatesThe Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) reported [Fri 6 Apr 2018] the Washington State Department of Agriculture has confirmed a case of neurologic equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) in a King County horse."The horse was moved to an isolation area on the property and the premise has been quarantined," the EDCC's statement said. "There are 2 other premises that will be quarantined due to recent movement of horses from the index property to other equine facilities. Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Alcohol poisoning – Indonesia: methanol susp
Poisoning -- IndonesiaAt least 45 people have died and dozens more are being treated in hospitals in Indonesia after drinking illegally produced alcohol.The death toll is likely to rise, with fatalities recorded in several provinces in recent days, police said.Spirits bought on the black market in the Muslim-majority country can contain lethal amounts of methanol.Police are conducting raids on properties across the country and at least 9 people have been arrested.Some 100 people are believed to have Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Salmonellosis, st Enteritidis – Belgium, France: chilled horse meat, RFI
Salmonella -- BelgiumIn July 2010, a horse from a rural farm (Farm A) in coastal Northern California was diagnosed with _Salmonella_ Oranienburg infection following referral to a veterinary hospital for colic surgery. Environmental sampling to identify potential sources and persistence of Salmonella on the farm was conducted from August 2010 to March 2011. Salmonella was cultured using standard enrichment and selective plating. Pure colonies were confirmed by biochemical analysis, serotyped and compared Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Hepatitis A – Australia (04): frozen pomegranate
Hepatitis A -- AustraliaA national outbreak of hepatitis A linked to frozen pomegranates grown overseas has spread to Western Australia. It follows 5 cases of the infection in NSW, 1 in the ACT and 1 in Queensland, the WA Health Department says.Anyone who has purchased Creative Gourmet Frozen Pomegranate Aril from Coles is urged to throw it out or seek a refund. Fresh pomegranate and Australian grown frozen pomegranate products remain edible.Symptoms of the virus include fever, nausea, loss of appetite, Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> E. coli EHEC – USA (04): O157, romaine lettuce
E. coli -- United StatesSince the last update on April 10, 2018, 18 more people from 9 states were added to this outbreak.As of April 12, 2018, 35 people infected with the outbreak strain of _E. coli_ O157:H7 have been reported from 11 states. Illnesses started on dates ranging from [Thu 22 Mar 2018 to Sat 31 Mar 2018]. Ill people range in age from 12 to 84 years, with a median age of 29. Up to 69 percent of ill people are female. A total of 22 ill people have been hospitalized, including 3 people Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Measles update (23): Asia, Pacific, Europe, USA, Africa
Measles -- ChinaAdamawa State Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) Nigeria Emergency Response, week 13 2018 (26 Mar-1 Apr) Report from World Health Organization, Government of Nigeria Published on 1 Apr 2018.In epidemiological week 13 2018, a total of 21 out of 21 LGAs (local government areas, including 6 IDP camps) submitted their weekly reports as timeliness and completeness of reporting were 100 percent and 100 percent respectively at LGA level (target 80 percent timeliness, 90 Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Rabies – Americas (18): USA (AZ) fox, human exposure
Rabies -- Worldwide/UnknownA gray fox that bit a child [Wed 28 Mar 2018] at the Chiricahua National Monument has tested positive for rabies.The victim, a 9-year-old boy, was treated for rabies the same day and released from Tucson Medical Center, Arizona Game and Fish Department Public Information Officer Mark A. Hart said.Spokeswoman Libby Schaaf, with the National Park Service, said that the Arizona Department of Health Services Office of Infectious Disease Services confirmed that the fox, euthanized Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Leishmaniasis, cutaneous – Libya: (MR)
Leishmaniasis -- LibyaThe Director of the Environmental Health Office in Zliten, Mohammed Abu Qamiza, confirmed on [Mon 9 Apr 2018] that the recorded cases of leishmaniasis this year [2018] has increased to 51 persons in the city [Zliten].In a press statement, Abu Qamiza explained that there is no cure at the current time for the disease in Libya, noting that the cost of treatment for this disease is prohibitively expensive and could amount to 10 000 Libyan dinars per person [approx. 7547 USD].He Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Anthrax – Uganda (02): (AX) bovine, human, refugee camp, confirmation
Anthrax -- UgandaOn [Tue 27 Mar 2018] a young boy at this refugee camp in Arua, demonstrated skin lesions. Blood and swab samples were taken and sent to the appropriate diagnostic laboratory. On [Mon 9 Apr 2018] the samples tested PCR positive for _Bacillus anthracis_. Other patients sampled were an adult male with a characteristic charbon lesion on his right forearm, and his samples tested PCR positive. A boy with a week old lesion tested PCR negative.During May through August, 2017, a total of Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> E. coli EHEC – Canada (04): (ON) deer meat
E. coli -- Worldwide/Unknown1. Rice DH, Hancock DD: Verocytotoxigenic _E. coli_ O157 colonization of wild deer and range cattle. Vet Res 1995; 137(20): 524.2. Keene WE, Sazie E, Kok J, et al: An outbreak of _Escherichia coli_ O157:H7 infections traced to jerky made from deer meat. JAMA 1997;277(15): 1229-31; abstract available at .3. Olsen SJ, Miller G, Breuer B, et al: A waterborne outbreak of _Escherichia coli_ O157:H7 infections and hemolytic uremic syndrome:Implications for rural water systems. Read more [...]
