Archive for Global Disease Alerts
PRO/AH/EDR> Salmonellosis, st Agona – Libya: (DA) infant formula
Salmonella -- LibyaAl-Wahdah Hospital in Derna announced the detection of 2 cases of infection by _Salmonella enterica_ serotype Agona in 2 infants.The Assistant Director General of the hospital, Dr. Adel Edwal, called on the Health Services Department in the city to publish a circular that stipulates which milk might become contaminated with _Salmonella_, stressing the need to increase awareness and strengthen the monitoring mechanisms in the city.Earlier, The National Center for Disease Control Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Hepatitis A – Australia (03): (NS) frozen pomegranate
Hepatitis A -- AustraliaA total of 7 people have been diagnosed with hepatitis A after eating frozen pomegranate purchased at Coles supermarkets, prompting NSW Health to warn anyone who bought the product to throw it out immediately. Dr Vicky Sheppeard, director of communicable diseases at NSW Health, said it was working with the state's Food Authority to determine whether the infection could be definitively linked to the Coles frozen pomegranates, despite the fact that each person affected had eaten Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update (16): Asia (Yemen) WHO
Cholera -- YemenCumulative figures------------------ - The cumulative total from 27 Apr 2017 to 25 Mar 2018 is 1 084 191 suspected cholera cases and 2267 associated deaths, (CFR 0.21 percent), 1113 have been confirmed by culture. - The total proportion of severe cases among the suspected cases is 15.4 percent - The national attack rate is 388.1 per 10 000. The 5 governorates with the highest cumulative attack rates per 10 000 remain Amran (902), Al Mahwit (877), Al Dhale'e (639), Sana'a (527) and Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (64): Bulgaria (YA) poultry, HPAI H5N8, spread
Avian Influenza H5N8 -- BulgariaA new outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N8 avian influenza was confirmed at a duck farm in the village of Zimnitsa, Straldzha municipality, Yambol district, Bulgaria's Food Safety Agency said.There were 6000 ducks on the farm and it was expected that the process of destroying them would be completed on [Thu 5 Apr 2018], the agency said.A 3-kilometre [1.86 mi approx.] protection zone and a 10-km [6.21 mi approx.] observation area around the holding were set up, with a Read more [...]
PRO> Influenza (13): WHO global update
Influenza -- Worldwide/UnknownInfluenza activity appeared to decrease in most of the countries in the temperate zone of the northern hemisphere, with exception of Eastern Europe where activity continued to increase. In the temperate zone of the southern hemisphere, influenza activity remained at inter-seasonal levels. Worldwide, influenza A and influenza B accounted for a similar proportion of influenza detections.National Influenza Centres (NICs) and other national influenza laboratories from 107 Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Swine acute diarrhea syndrome coronavirus – China: (GD) porcine, new-emerging
Coronavirus -- ChinaAbstractCross-species transmission of viruses from wildlife animal reservoirs poses a marked threat to human and animal health1. Bats have been recognized as one of the most important reservoirs for emerging viruses and the transmission of a coronavirus that originated in bats to humans via intermediate hosts was responsible for the high-impact emerging zoonosis, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Here we provide virological, epidemiological, evolutionary and experimental Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Hepatitis A – USA (13): (UT, MI)
Hepatitis A -- United StatesCases / Hospitalizations / Deaths797 / 640 (80.3%) / 25 (3.1%)--Communicated by:ProMED-mail[Cumulatively, 14.6 percent of the total males are MSM, 2.8 percent of the total are healthcare workers, and 4.7 percent of the total are food handlers. More cases continue to occur, spreading north and west of the main southeastern Michigan focus of the outbreak. The total cases continue to increase and have altogether in numbers and in fatalities surpassed the numbers of the now Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Equine influenza, equine – Argentina: serotype not typed, OIE
Equine Influenza -- ArgentinaInformation received on [and dated] 5 Apr 2018 from Dr Ricardo Alfredo Maresca, Director Nacional de Sanidad Animal , Sanidad Animal, Servicio Nacional de Sanidad y calidad Agroalimentaria (SENASA), Ciudad Autonoma de Buenos Aires, ArgentinaSummaryReport type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 20 Mar 2018Date of confirmation of the event: 20 Mar 2018Reason for notification: unexpected change in the distribution or increase in morbidity or mortality of Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Foot & mouth disease – Israel: (HZ), bovine
Foot and Mouth -- Israel1. On [Wed 4 Apr 2018], suspected cases of FMD were reported from the beef-cattle herd of Kibbutz Gazit. Samples were transferred to the Kimron Veterinary Institute [KVI] at Beit-Dagan and today, [Thu 5 Apr 2018], FMD has been confirmed by PCR tests.2. A 10-km [6.21 mi approx.] radius containment zone has been established around the outbreak's location and put under the relevant official restrictions; the names of the localities which include animal establishments, within Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Salmonellosis, st I 4,[5],12:b:- – USA (04): kratom, mult. st, FDA mand. recall
Salmonella -- United StatesCase Count Update:Since the last update on 15 Mar 2018, 45 more ill people from 19 states were added to this investigation. As of 5 Apr 2018, a total of 132 people infected with outbreak strains of _Salmonella [enterica_ serotype] I 4,[5],12:b:- (61), _Salmonella_ Javiana (15), _Salmonella_ Okatie (21), or _Salmonella_ Thompson (35) have been reported from 38 states.States / Case Count--------------------------------Alaska / 1 Alabama / 1 Arizona / 4 California / 9 Colorado Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Scabies – Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: (MK)
Scabies -- Saudi ArabiaThe number of people who were diagnosed with scabies in the province of Mecca rose to 1038.The Directorate of Health Affairs in Mecca said that 394 cases were found at schools. The medical teams have reported 25 other cases over the past 24 hours.The increasing cases of scabies led the authorities to shut 33 schools for boys and girls in Mecca.Closed schools are expected to reopen on [Sun 8 Apr 2018] but students diagnosed with scabies will stay at home for up to 2 Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Measles update (21): WHO, South America, Europe, Asia, Pacific, Africa
Measles -- GreeceWHO has issued a warning regarding the ongoing measles outbreaks in the Americas and Europe stating that health officials should redouble efforts to vaccinate their populations, according to an epidemiological update.Measles was declared eliminated from the Americas in 2016 by the Pan American Health Organization and the World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO).Culminating in a 22-year effort involving mass vaccination against measles, mumps, and rubella, the Americas Region was the Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Undiagnosed respiratory illness – Canada: (AB) fatal, Indigenous children, RFI
Respiratory Illness -- CanadaA child is dead and 14 others were rushed to hospital with flu-like symptoms on [Wed 4 Apr 2018] from a First Nation west of Calgary [Canada].The precise cause of the incident is unclear, but Emergency Medical Services [EMS] said it appears to be "some type of illness" and that the patients exhibited "influenza-like symptoms."Paramedics responded to a residence on Stoney Nakoda First Nation, a community about 60 km [about 37 mi] west of Calgary, just before noon. Inside Read more [...]
PRO/PL> Paecilomyces rot, apple – USA: (NY), new disease
Other Plant Disease -- United StatesA mold found in more than a 3rd of the soil samples from New York State apple orchards is causing a new disease, spoiling apples, even after heat pasteurization. The state is the top producer of processed apple products and they all rely on pasteurization.Cornell's Kathie Hodge and Megan Biango-Daniels investigated the origins of a newly discovered apple disease called Paecilomyces Rot, caused by the common fungus found in 34 per cent of state orchards. Previously, Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Poliomyelitis update (12): global (Afghanistan, Pakistan)
Polio -- AfghanistanNew wild poliovirus cases reported this week: 2Total number of wild poliovirus cases in 2018: 8Total number of wild poliovirus cases in 2017: 22New cVDPV cases reported this week: 0Total number of cVDPV cases in 2018: 3Total number of cVDPV cases in 2017: 96HeadlinesSummary of newly-reported viruses this week: - Afghanistan: 1 new case of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) has been confirmed this week, occurring in Kunar province. - Pakistan: One new case of wild poliovirus Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> E. coli EHEC – Canada (03): (AB) O157, restaurant
E. coli -- CanadaThe number of people sickened with _E. coli_ after eating at a southeast Edmonton restaurant has climbed to 19, including 2 who have developed symptoms serious enough to be admitted to hospital, Alberta Health Services [AHS] said on [Thu 5 Apr 2018]. That is a jump of 13 cases from a week ago, when the health authority announced the discovery of the 1st cluster of infections among people who ate at Mama Nita's Binalot restaurant. It is believed at least some of those new cases are Read more [...]
PRO> E. coli EHEC – USA (02): (NJ) poss. restaurant chain link, RFI
E. coli -- United StatesThe NJ State Department of Health is investigating 6 _E. coli_ cases in 4 counties that may be connected to the same restaurant chain. The cases were reported in Hunterdon, Middlesex, Somerset and Warren counties with the 1st being reported by a hospital on [28 Mar 2018], State Epidemiologist Dr. Tina Tan told New Jersey 101.5. Tan said the state is working with both the FDA and CDC in their investigation.The cases may be connected to different locations of a restaurant chain, Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Canine distemper, wildlife – USA (02): (OH) raccoon, alert, susp.
Canine distemper -- United StatesRacoons caused quite a racket in the city of Youngstown, Ohio, over the weekend [31 Mar - 1 Apr 2018] forcing residents to call the police to deal with their unusual, almost "zombie-like" behavior.While the police have ruled out the possibility of the raccoons acting abnormally due to rabies, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources said that the animals probably have distemper, reports ABC affiliated WYTV."It's mostly spread through inhalation, but any contact with Read more [...]
PRO/PL> Panama disease TR4, banana – Myanmar: 1st rep
Other Plant Disease -- MyanmarThe feared Tropical race 4 [TR4] of the _Fusarium_ fungus, which causes the so-called Panama disease in Cavendish bananas, has now also been found in Myanmar. It was previously found in Viet Nam and Laos [ProMED-mail post http://promedmail.org/post/20171108.5432554].Genome research has [also] found connections between TR4 in various countries. Even more important is that it could be confirmed that there is a connection between the appearance of TR4 in Pakistan and the Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Yellow fever – Americas (26): Brazil (SP)
Yellow Fever -- BrazilYellow fever has reached the Northern coast of São Paulo [state], Brazil, where 2 dead monkeys were infected with the disease. One of the monkeys was found in a forest area in Ubatuba, and the other in a gated community in Juquehy, São Sebastião. The 2 cities have intensified their vaccination campaign.There is also one human case under investigation in Ubatuba, a patient who died on [Mon 2 Apr 2018] with symptoms of the disease, in Ubatumirim, Northern Read more [...]
PRO/PL> Stemphylium blight, onion – New Zealand
Other Plant Disease -- New ZealandThe country's onion crop has been slashed by at least 20 per cent because of humid weather which resulted in a disease. Onions New Zealand's Michael Ahern said the main problem was a leaf blight called 'Stemphylium' which has damaged the plants."We've had some difficulties in a number of the growing areas. We ran a crop forecast recently and we could be down by around 20 per cent on yield, even that could be increased by quality issues at packing time. No one can Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Meningitis, undiagnosed illness – Nigeria (03): fatal, schoolchildren
Meningitis -- NigeriaThere were 166 suspected cases of cerebrospinal meningitis (CSM) reported from 59 LGAs in 16 states (Adamawa - 2, Borno - 6, Cross River - 2, Ebonyi - 2, Gombe - 4, Jigawa - 5, Kaduna - 2, Kano - 4, Katsina - 58, Kebbi - 13, Niger - 1, Oyo - 2, Sokoto - 11, Taraba - 1, Yobe - 5 & Zamfara - 48). Of these, 7 were laboratory confirmed, and 13 deaths were recorded.Ongoing surveillance for CSM has been intensified in all the 26 states in the Nigeria meningitis belt, and case-based Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> White nose syndrome, bats – North America (02): (KS) 1st report
White nose syndrome -- Worldwide/UnknownWhite-nose syndrome (WNS), a fungal disease that affects hibernating bats, has recently been confirmed in Kansas - the 32nd state to confirm the presence of the disease. Several dead bats, collected during cave surveys in Cherokee County in southeast Kansas and Barber County in south-central Kansas, tested positive for the disease. Surveys were conducted between [14 Feb and 1 Mar 2018], and samples were tested by the U.S. Geological Survey National Wildlife Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Anthrax – Hungary: (Csongrad) ovine, OIE
Anthrax -- HungaryInformation received on [and dated] 4 Apr 2018 from Dr Lajos Bognár, Deputy State Secretary Chief Veterinary Officer, Food Chain Safety Department, Ministry of Agriculture, Budapest, HungarySummaryReport type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 28 Mar 2018Date of confirmation of the event: 3 Apr 2018Reason for notification: recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: September 2016Manifestation of disease: clinical diseaseCausal agent: _Bacillus Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Antibiotic resistance (02): USA, CDC coordinated containment strategy
Antimicrobial resistance -- United StatesThe findings are part of a larger surveillance study that also analyzed infection data from the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) over a 10-year period, from 2006 through 2015. The investigators were looking at these data to determine the percentage of Enterobacteriaceae carrying carbapenemase or extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) genes that were reported to NHSN by US healthcare facilities, including acute care hospitals and nursing homes. ESBLs, Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Diphtheria – Yemen (04): fatal, more cases
Diphtheria -- YemenA diphtheria outbreak has killed 84 people in war-torn Yemen since late October [2017], according to the World Health Organization (WHO) on [Tue 3 Apr 2018]. In a statement, the UN agency said some 1516 suspected cases of diphtheria have been registered in 20 of Yemen's 23 provinces. It listed Ibb and al-Hodeidah provinces in central and western Yemen as the hardest-hit by the disease.Yemeni health authorities have recently launched a major vaccination campaign across the country Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Listeriosis – USA: fatal, unpast soft cheese, aged 60 days
Listeriosis -- United StatesA federal court permanently enjoined a Walton, New York, creamery and its owner from manufacturing and distributing adulterated food, the Department of Justice announced today.In a complaint filed March 19 [2018] at the request of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the United States alleged that Vulto Creamery LLC and its owner, Johannes H Vulto, violated the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act by manufacturing and distributing ready-to-eat cheeses contaminated Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (63): Saudi Arabia (RI) poultry, HPAI H5N8, spread
Avian Influenza H5N8 -- Saudi ArabiaThe Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture on [Sun 1 Apr 2018] announced the detection of 2 cases of H5N8 avian flu in Al-Kharj governorate, reported the Saudi Press Agency.Saudi authorities are actively taking measures to contain the virus. In its daily briefing, the ministry affirmed that the number of samples collected from different parts of the Kingdom since the 1st case was reported reached 12 829. Out of the samples, only 171 tested positive for Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Monkeypox – Africa (05):Central African Republic (HK)
Monkeypox -- Central African RepublicIn a follow-up on the monkeypox outbreak in Bambari district, Central African Republic (CAR), a total of 8 cases with no deaths have been reported as of [25 Mar 2018] since the start of the outbreak.CAR Ministry of Health declared an outbreak on [17 Mar 2018] in the sub-district of Ippy. Of these cases, 4 of 8 (50 percent) were male; all cases were over 5 years of age. As of [25 Mar 2018], 3 patients were hospitalized.Laboratory samples were collected from all Read more [...]
PRO/AH> Anthrax island – UK: (Scotland) Gruinard Island, possible purchase, NOT, corr.
Anthrax — United Kingdom
PRO/AH/EDR> Rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus – New Zealand (02): (SO) RHDV1 K5, rabbit cont.
Other Animal Disease -- New ZealandAn initial release of the RHDV1 (K5) rabbit virus on 3 sites in Southland will be made from next week [2-7 April 2018], if the weather permits.Environment Southland senior biosecurity officer Dave Burgess said rabbits were less of an issue in Southland than in other areas of New Zealand, which was why a smaller scale release was planned, but further releases could be made later.K5 is a virus that could reduce the rabbit population significantly. It is a variant Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Cat scratch disease – Japan: utilitiy of B. henselae PCR
Cat Scratch Fever -- JapanCat-scratch disease (CSD) is a worldwide zoonosis caused by _Bartonella henselae_(1). Its clinical manifestations vary from typical CSD with regional lymphadenopathy to atypical or systemic CSD, including prolonged fever without lymphadenopathy. Because isolation of _B. henselae_by culture is difficult (2), detection of _B. henselae_ DNA in lymph nodes by PCR and serologic testing using indirect fluorescence antibody (IFA) assay is widely used for laboratory diagnosis of Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> MERS-CoV (12): Saudi Arabia
MERS -- Saudi ArabiaAccording to the spreadsheet data I have been keeping, the most recent information available is current as of [1 Apr 2018]:There have been a total of: 1821 newly confirmed cases of MERS-CoV infection, including735 reported fatalities [reported case fatality rate of 40.4 per cent]1067 recoveries, and 18 currently active cases [those who have not been reflected in reports of fatalities or recoveries]Since the last update (through 21 Mar 2018) there have been:7 newly confirmed Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> African swine fever – Europe (07): Ukraine, wild boar, domestic, OIE
African Swine Fever -- UkraineInformation received on [and dated] 1 Mar 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: 28 Feb 2018Date of confirmation of the event: 28 Feb 2018Reason for notification: recurrence Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Meningitis – Sudan: Darfur region
Meningitis -- SudanTests have confirmed 14 cases of meningitis in Central Darfur, with reports of other cases in South, North, and East Darfur. Medical sources told Radio Dabanga that 14 meningitis (cerebro-spinal fever) cases have been confirmed through lab tests in Central Darfur.The sources pointed to the presence of cases in South Darfur, denied by the Ministry of Health and the state government.On Wednesday [28 Mar 2018], Nyala witnessed the overcrowding of large numbers of patients in the private Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Crimean-Congo hem. fever – India: (GJ) susp.
Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever -- IndiaA 45-year-old woman suspected of suffering from Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF), commonly known as Congo fever, was shifted to an isolation ward in Rajkot Civil Hospital on [Fri 30 Mar 2018]. Her blood samples have been sent to the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, for testing. The report is expected in the next 5 days.According to civil hospital sources, the woman belongs to Khijadia village in Rajkot district. Rajkot's chief district health Read more [...]
PRO/AH> Anthrax island – UK: (Scotland) Gruinard Island, possible purchase
Anthrax -- United KingdomA group of Russian oligarchs is bidding to buy Gruinard Island off the north west coast of Scotland. Gruinard is known as Anthrax Island after being used for testing biological weapons during the Second World War. It is uninhabited today due to fears of ongoing contamination. Little is known about the group of Russian oligarchs bidding to buy the island, except for their second names: Kulagin, Glebov, and Baratynsky. Kulagin is believed to have made his fortune in the removals Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Foot & mouth disease – Mongolia: multiple species, st O, spread
Foot and Mouth -- MongoliaInformation received on 29 Mar 2018 from Dr Battsengel Dambadarjaa, Chief Veterinary Officer, Veterinary and Animal Breeding Service, Ministry for Food and Agriculture, Ulaanbaatar, MongoliaSummaryReport type: follow-up report no. 7Date of start of the event: 24 Jan 2017Date of confirmation of the event: 28 Jan 2017Report date: 27 Mar 2018Date submitted to OIE: 29 Mar 2018Reason for notification: recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: 29 Aug Read more [...]
PRO/AH> Alkhurma virus – Saudi Arabia (02): comment