Archive for Global Disease Alerts
PRO/EDR> Scabies – Kuwait: (KU)
Scabies -- KuwaitAlmost 270 cases of scabies disease have been recorded lately in the country. Among them, 200 cases were recorded in Adan Hospital and the remaining 70 were recorded in Jahra Hospital.The recorded cases are within Ahmadi and Jahra governorates, while it is widespread in Khafji and Hafr Al-Baten areas along Saudi border. This revelation coincided with a series of cases recorded in several regions of Saudi Arabia, especially along the border of Kuwait.There are growing concerns that Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Equine infectious anemia – Germany: (MV) OIE
Equine Infectious Anemia -- GermanyInformation received on [and dated] 12 Apr 2018 from Dr Karin Schwabenbauer, ministerial [director] and chief veterinary officer, Directorate of Animal Health, Animal Welfare, [Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture, and Consumer Protection] (BMELV), Bonn, GermanySummaryReport type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 27 Mar 2018Date of confirmation of the event: 3 Apr 2018Reason for notification: recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: Read more [...]
PRO/PL> Potato virus Y – North America: increase
Other Plant Disease -- Worldwide/UnknownMore crops are impacted by Potato virus Y (PVY). PVY has been around a long time but only recently has become a serious problem for potato growers in North America.Visual detection of infected plants is more difficult in new cultivars that show no or only mild symptoms when infected. New PVY strains that only cause minor symptoms in foliage have become more prevalent. These circumstances have allowed the amount of PVY in potato-growing regions to increase. Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Coccidioidomycosis – USA: (AZ) increased cases
Valley Fever -- United StatesAccording to the Arizona Department of Health Services, the recorded number of people who have gotten Valley fever [coccidioidomycosis] through March of this year [2018] is more than 1000 people higher than through March of last year.The biggest increase when comparing this year to last came in January [2018]. There were 1055 recorded cases of Valley fever in January [2018] compared to 529 in January 2017. In February the difference wasn't as large. There were 742 recorded Read more [...]
PRO/PL> Wart disease, potato – Sweden, Germany
Other Plant Disease -- SwedenIn 2017, the NPPO [National Plant Protection Organisation] of Sweden has reported several outbreaks of _Synchytrium endobioticum_ (EPPO A2 List). Phytosanitary measures have been taken to eradicate the disease, and laboratory studies will be conducted to identify the race(s).County of BlekingeIn September 2017 during harvest of potatoes (cv. Quadrigo) grown for starch production, symptoms of potato wart disease were noticed. The infected field (5.5 ha) [13.6 acres] is Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Undiagnosed die-off, magpie – Australia: (WA)
Animal Die-off -- AustraliaKanyana Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre in Lesmurdie reported that "a new or unidentified disease" had besieged magpies. "Our 1st casualty appeared in December [2017] and by the end of March [2018] we received 14 cases," the post read. "Affected magpies have a 50-50 chance of survival."The [clinical signs] included progressive weakness in the legs and wings, clenched feet, inability to stand, neurological deficiency (not defensive, poor response to visual stimuli, poor swallow Read more [...]
PRO/PL> Root knot disease, citrus & guava – India: (TN)
Other Plant Disease -- IndiaTamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) has identified root-knot nematode in citrus plants for the 1st time in Tamil Nadu. A farmer had brought a wilted citrus sapling. TNAU's K Poornima said, "We found that the sapling was infected with root-knot nematodes. In the past few months, we found root-knot in citrus saplings in Coimbatore and Erode districts.""There are also instances where there have been heavy losses in guava," said TNAU's S Subramanian [ProMED-mail post Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Yellow fever – Africa (07): multi-country campaign, WHO
Yellow Fever -- Worldwide/UnknownNearly one billion people will be vaccinated against yellow fever in 27 high-risk African countries by 2026 with support from WHO, Gavi - the Vaccine Alliance, UNICEF and more than 50 health partners.The commitment is part of the Eliminate Yellow fever Epidemics (EYE) an Africa strategy, which was launched by Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, Professor Isaac Folorunso Adewole, Nigeria's Minister of Health and partners at a regional meeting in Abuja, Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Drug abuse – USA (03): (IL) synthetic cannabinoids, bleeding disorder
Poisoning -- United StatesFake marijuana likely contaminated with rat poison has killed 3 people in Illinois and caused severe bleeding in more than 100 others, including a few in 4 other states.The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has alerted doctors nationwide that patients with severe, unexplained bleeding may be additional cases.The CDC is helping Illinois authorities investigate the outbreak in that state, which began in early March 2018. Illinois reported 7 more cases on Tuesday Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Monkeypox – Africa (07): Liberia
Monkeypox -- LiberiaLiberian health authorities on Tuesday [10 Apr 2018] issued an alert on the possible outbreak of monkeypox, an infectious disease found mostly in central and western Africa.Liberia's chief medical officer Francis Kateh said the disease, caused by the monkeypox virus, has already been discovered in the southern county of River Cess.Kateh said there are currently 4 confirmed cases of the disease. A couple of suspected cases have also been sent for testing.According to the health Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (66): China (HK) HPAI H5N6, wild bird
Avian Influenza H5N6 -- ChinaA spokesman for the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) said today [9 Apr 2018] that the carcass of a crested myna found in Fanling had been confirmed as positive for the H5N6 avian influenza virus after laboratory testing.The bird's carcass was found and collected at Kun Lung Wai, Fanling. It was suspected to be positive for the H5 virus after initial laboratory testing on [6 Apr 2018]. The crested myna is a common resident species.The spokesman Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> White nose syndrome, bats – North America (03): (TX)
White nose syndrome -- United StatesThe fungus that causes white-nose syndrome [WNS] in bats -- first detected in Texas last year [2017] along the Panhandle -- has now spread into Central Texas, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department [TPWD] said.In a press advisory, officials said this is the 1st time the potentially lethal fungus has been detected in the area after being found at 2 sites in Blanco county, located southeast of Austin. The fungus also has been spotted in Foard county, twice in Kendall Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Q fever – Spain: (PV) waste treatment facility
Q Fever -- SpainThe workers of the Mechanical Biological Treatment Plant (TMB) of Monte Arraiz [Biscay, Basque Country] have relived the experience of 2014, when an outbreak of Q fever made 49 people sick. 5 years later, at least 2 employees, are infected with the bacterium _Coxiella burnetti_, which usually spreads through the placental or fetal tissues of dead animals such as cows, sheep, goats ...In addition to the 2 confirmed cases, 3 other workers of the waste treatment plant are awaiting the Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Chikungunya (03): Asia (Pakistan)
Chikungunya -- PakistanDue to the poor sanitary conditions, mosquito-borne vector diseases are on the rise, and 10 more chikungunya suspected cases have been reported throughout Karachi in a week. According to the weekly report issued by the Sindh Health Department, a total of 4868 chikungunya suspected cases have been reported throughout the Sindh province last year [2017], of which 4138 were from Karachi and 730 from other districts of the province. In Karachi, a total of 73 cases had been reported Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> E. coli EHEC – USA (03): O157, expansion of NJ outbreak
E. coli -- United StatesCDC, several states, the US Food and Drug Administration, and the US Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service are investigating a multistate outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing _E. coli_ O157:H7 infections. This investigation includes _E. coli_ O157:H7 infections recently reported by the New Jersey Department of Health.Public health investigators are using the PulseNet system to identify illnesses that may be part of this outbreak. PulseNet is the national Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Lassa fever – West Africa (22): Nigeria
Lassa Fever -- Nigeria- In the reporting week 14 (2-8 Apr 2018) 8 new confirmed cases were recorded from 5 States - Edo (3 cases), Ondo (2), Ebonyi (1), Plateau (1), and Taraba (1) with 3 new deaths in confirmed cases from Ondo (1), Ebonyi (1) Taraba (1) and a backlog of an old death in a confirmed case from Kogi state.- From 1 Jan - 8 Apr 2018, a total of 1781 suspected cases have been reported from 20 states. Of these, 408 were confirmed positive, 9 are probable, 1351 are negative (not a case) Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Foot & mouth disease – Israel (02): (HZ) bovine, st. O, OIE
Foot and Mouth -- IsraelInformation received on 9 Apr 2018 from Dr Shlomo Garazi, Chief Officer for Import and Export of the Veterinary Services, Veterinary Services and Animal Health, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, BET DAGAN, IsraelSummaryReport type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 2 Apr 2018Date of confirmation of the event: 8 Apr 2018Reason for notification: recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: June 2017Manifestation of disease: clinical Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Red tide – USA (FL): fish kill
Algae -- United StatesAn outbreak of red tide is killing fish off the southwest Florida coast.The Naples Daily News reports that fish kills have been reported off Lee County and in Florida Bay. The paper says numerous dead fish were spotted Sunday [8 Apr 2018] off a North Naples beach.Red tide organisms grow naturally in the Gulf of Mexico. But high concentrations are harmful to wildlife and can cause respiratory problems in humans.Typically, red tide season is from late summer to early fall. Not Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> White spot syndrome, prawn – Australia: (QL)
Other Animal Disease -- AustraliaThe white spot virus that devastated Queensland prawn farms last year [2017], has been detected in the Brisbane area.The positive results were reportedly found in crab and prawn samples from the northern Moreton Bay region near the Redcliffe Peninsula.Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries Mark Furner said the results for Logan and Brisbane rivers were still being processed but should be completed within 2 weeks."This is the same area that positive Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Varicella update (07): Mexico (YU) vaccination sequelae
Chicken Pox -- MexicoA case series published in the journal Pediatric Dermatology [see citation above] describes the occurrence of herpes zoster at the site of varicella-zoster vaccination in 7 healthy children without a history of primary varicella.Each of the 7 children received varicella-zoster vaccination between 12 and 14 months of age; the children were between the ages of 1.5 and 6 years old when they presented with symptoms. Viral exanthem, eczema herpeticum, atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Hantavirus – Asia: Taiwan
Hantavirus -- ChinaOn 3 Apr 2018, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) announced this year's [2018] 1st case of hantavirus hemorrhagic fever in a 44-year-old male who resides in northern Taiwan and works in the food and beverage industry. The case's primary areas of daily activities include places around his work place, residence, and the nearby mountain. He had not recently traveled domestically and internationally. On [9 Mar 2018], he developed symptoms, including fever and dizziness. Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Listeriosis – Australia (04): fatal, cantaloupe, international distribution, WHO
Listeriosis -- AustraliaEpidemiological investigations suggested that the source of the outbreak was rockmelon (cantaloupe melons) from a single grower in Australia. Epidemiological and environmental investigations were undertaken, which led to the recall of rockmelons produced by the single grower on 27 Feb 2018.On 1 Mar 2018, the Australian NFP was notified that international distribution of the affected product had occurred. Australian authorities received information from trace forward investigations Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Trypanosomiasis (Chagas desease) – Venezuela: (TA)
Chagas -- VenezuelaA total of 5 people died in the city of Puerto Nuevo in Táchira state, west of Venezuela, from a suspected outbreak of acute Chagas disease, informed the regional governor Laidy Gómez. "Official information: Epidemiologic outbreak of acute Chagas was detected in Puerto Nuevo, Libertador municipality, leaving 5 dead" wrote the governor on Twitter.The fatalities were an 11 month old baby, a 79 year-old woman and 3 men of 31, 42 and 51 years old respectively. Gómez Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Rift Valley fever – South Sudan (09): (EL) human, animal, WHO
Rift Valley Fever -- South SudanReport from World Health Organization, Government of the Republic of South Sudan. Published on [25 Mar 2018]. Rift Valley Fever outbreak - Yirol East with 43 suspect human cases including 6 confirmed; 3 probable; 19 non-cases; and 15 pending classification. A total of 9 confirmed animal cases (cattle).--Communicated by:ProMED-mail[On 3 Apr 2018, South Sudan's Veterinary Services (Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Tourism, Animal Resources, Fisheries, Cooperatives, Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Meningitis, meningococcal – Taiwan: sg.B, ciprofloxacin-resistant, military, 2017
Meningitis - Neisseria -- ChinaHsueh-Mei Chiang, Chien-Shun Chiou, Chuen-Sheue Chiang, Shu-Man Yao,Hao-Hsin Wu, Yu-Ning Fan, Hsin-Yi Wei On 23 Jul 2017, a hospital in Taoyuan reported a suspected case of meningococcal disease, who was a soldier in a military base, to Taoyuan Department of Health. After investigation, another 2 soldiers who served in the same base with the index case developed symptoms of meningitis and were reported subsequently. Blood cultures from all 3 cases yielded serogroup Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (65): China (Hong Kong) wild bird, HPAI H5N6, OIE
Avian Influenza H5N6 -- ChinaInformation received on [and dated] 9 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, Hong Kong (SAR-PRC)SummaryReport type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 4 Apr 2018Date of confirmation of the event: 9 Apr 2018Reason for notification: recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Foot & mouth disease – Zambia (02): (CE) bovine, serotype pending, OIE
Foot and Mouth -- ZambiaInformation received on [and dated] 6 Apr 2018 Dr Yona Sinkala, Director, Department of Veterinary Services, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, Lusaka, ZambiaSummaryReport type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 23 Mar 2018Date of confirmation of the event: 24 Mar 2018Reason for notification: recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: Dec 2017Manifestation of disease: clinical diseaseCausal agent: foot-and-mouth disease virusSerotype: Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Anthrax – Uganda: (AX) bovine, human, refugee camp, RFI
Anthrax -- UgandaAnthrax has broken out at a refugee camp in the northwestern Ugandan district of Arua, killing one person and leaving 2 others hospitalized, a local official said [Fri 30 Mar 2018]. Willy Nguma, the veterinary officer in Arua district, told Xinhua that blood samples taken from 3 people at a refugee settlement camp in Arua have tested positive for anthrax. "2 other victims are still undergoing treatment as more people are at the risk of contracting this deadly disease because many Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Meningitis, meningococcal – Fiji (02): fatal, children
Meningitis - Neisseria -- FijiOverview--------The Fiji Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MoHMS) declared an outbreak of meningococcal [serogroup] C on [Tue 20 Mar 2018]. The Ministry, through the National Meningococcal Disease Taskforce, continues to coordinate the response to the outbreak, including strengthening surveillance, laboratory diagnostics, clinical management, public health interventions, and risk communications.Surveillance------------National surveillance is coordinated by the Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Rabbit hemorrhagic disease – New Zealand (03): (OT) RHDV1 K5, rabbit, OIE
Other Animal Disease -- New ZealandInformation received on [and dated] 4 Apr 2018 from Dr Tony Zohrab, Policy and Trade Branch, Ministry for Primary Industries, Wellington, New ZealandSummaryReport type: immediate notification (final report)Date of start of the event: 16 Mar 2018Date of confirmation of the event: 3 Apr 2018Reason for notification: new strain of a listed disease in the countryCausal agent: Rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus 1 strain K5Serotype: RHDVaNature of diagnosis: clinical, laboratory Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Measles update (22): USA, South America, Europe, Pacific, epi update, comment
Measles -- United States[5] Venezuela (Delta Amacuro state): indigenous children, fatalEurope---[6] Romania[7] UK (England: Birmingham, West Midlands)Pacific---[8] Philippines[9] New Zealand (South Island)[10] Australia (Brisbane, Queensland)Summaries---[11] PAHO epidemiological update[12] Comment******USA---[1] California (San Francisco Bay area) ex EuropeDate: Thu 6 Apr 2018Source: Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) [edited]The San Read more [...]
PRO/PL> Swollen shoot, cocoa – West Africa, Sri Lanka: new viruses
Other Plant Disease -- Sri Lanka_Cacao swollen shoot virus_ (CSSV) populations in West Africa are highly variable and genetically structured into several different groups. To unravel the extent of isolate diversity and address the problems of low titer and mixed viral sequences in samples, we used Next Generation Sequencing technology.We were able to reconstruct de novo 20 new complete genomes from cacao samples in the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG) Museum and from field samples collected Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Undiagnosed deaths, bovine – India (02): (MN) RFI
Undiagnosed -- IndiaMany cattle have been killed by an unknown disease at K Leihaoram village located within Ukhrul district but close to Nongpok Sekmai of Thoubal district. The matter came to light when a team of the United Naga Council (UNC) visited Kasom Khullen block.More than 60 cattle have been killed during the past 3 weeks. With the villagers unable to bury all the carcasses, many of them were disposed of on road sides and other vacant places. As the carcasses have started decomposing, a Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Gonococcal disease – Sweden: increasing cases, MSM, Stockholm
Gonorrhea -- SwedenSwedish cases of the sexually transmitted disease gonorrhea saw a record-breaking rise in 2017, continuing the reverse of a trend, which saw the disease being almost totally eradicated just a decade ago. There were some 2550 new cases in 2015. Earlier reports stated the number of people who sought treatment for gonorrhea in the early part of 2017 was already 3 times higher than the same period in 2016.While rates of infection with the disease were traditionally broadly similar Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Pertussis (05): USA, China
Whooping Cough -- United StatesThe resurgence of pertussis over the past decades has resulted in incidence levels not witnessed in the United States since the 1950s. The underlying causes have been the subject of much speculation, with particular attention paid to the shortcomings of the latest generation of vaccines. We formulated transmission models comprising competing hypotheses regarding vaccine failure and challenged them to explain 16 years of highly resolved incidence data from Massachusetts, Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Black flies – USA (AR): livestock deaths
Other Animal Disease -- United StatesLivestock producers in the Arkansas delta are working to protect their animals after a population explosion of bloodsucking black flies is being blamed for the deaths of a bull and cow in Arkansas County and the recent closure of a nature center.Black flies are part of the Simuliidae family and are also known as buffalo gnats or turkey gnats.Between heavy rain and temperatures bouncing between the 40s and 70s in the last few weeks, "we're seeing a bumper crop Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Drug abuse – USA (02): (IL ) synthetic cannabinoids, bleeding disorder
Poisoning -- United StatesSynthetic pot for years was sold under the guise of a cheaper alternative that allows users to dodge drug screenings.And while there have been rashes of hospitalizations nationwide involving those who've ingested fake weed, experts say they've never seen the severe side effects -- internal bleeding in particular -- that have killed at least 2 and sickened dozens in the Chicago area and central Illinois in the past month [March 2018]. Investigators say while users have been Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Undiagnosed respiratory illness – Canada (02): (AB) fatal, Ind.children, comment