Archive for Global Disease Alerts
PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (31): Ghana (BA) poultry, HPAI H9N2, new strain, OIE
Avian Influenza -- GhanaInformation received on 14 Feb 2018 from Dr Kenneth M. K. Gbeddy, Chief Veterinary Officer, Veterinary Services Directorate, Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Accra, GhanaSummaryReport type: Immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 3 Jan 2018Date of confirmation of the event: 10 Jan 2018Report date: 14 Feb 2018Date submitted to OIE: 14 Feb 2018Reason for notification: new strain of a listed disease in the countryCausal agent: Highly pathogenic avian influenza Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Chronic wasting disease, cervid – USA (05): (PA, MS)
Chronic Wasting Disease -- United StatesThe state [Pennsylvania] Department of Agriculture Monday [12 Feb 2018] announced that 2 captive deer have tested positive for chronic wasting disease (CWD), bringing the total to 46 positive samples since the disease was discovered in the state in 2012.The disease was confirmed in one white-tailed deer on a hunting preserve in Bedford County and one at a Lancaster County breeding operation.The department said both deer were born and raised on their respective Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Scombroid fish poisoning – Australia: (QL) tuna, alert
Food-related toxin -- Australia"Histamine poisoning results from the consumption of foods, typically certain types of fish and cheeses that contain unusually high levels of histamine. Spoiled fish of the families, Scombridae and Scomberesocidae (e.g. tuna, mackerel, bonito), are commonly implicated in incidents of histamine poisoning, which leads to the common usage of the term, "scombroid fish poisoning", to describe this illness. However, certain non-scombroid fish, most notably mahi-mahi, bluefish, Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Hepatitis – Syria: (RD) students
Hepatitis -- SyriaThe residents of Al-Dimas town in Rif Dimashq governorate [25 km or 15.5 miles northwest of Damascus] have complained of the occurrence more than 70 cases of hepatitis among the residents, mostly among students, over the past 2 weeks. Many family members of the patients have suggested that the spread of the disease in the town is due to contamination of the drinking water network, because the network is older than 40 years. They demanded sterilization of the toilets and the drinking Read more [...]
PRO/PL> Phytoplasma/liberibacter coinfection, citrus – Iran: (KE)
Other Plant Disease -- IranSince 2010, a new emerging citrus decline disease has been observed in Iran. This disease is currently widespread in the Southern part of Kerman province where it is causing the death of approximately 10 per cent of cultivated citrus trees. The disease has been observed on sweet orange (_Citrus sinensis_), grapefruit (_C. paradisi_), and mandarin (_C. reticulata_) plants grafted on Bakraee, a local citrus variety frequently used as a rootstock. Early symptoms include pale Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Salmonellosis – USA (03): (IA) chicken salad, alert, recall
Salmonella -- United StatesIowa regulators Tuesday afternoon, 13 Feb 2018, issued a consumer advisory for chicken salad bought from Fareway stores. The food has been implicated in multiple cases of salmonellosis across the state, according to the Iowa Department of Public Health. A press release states that Fareway voluntarily stopped the sale of the chicken salad and pulled it from store shelves after being contacted by regulators. None of the chicken salad has been sold to the public since Fri Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Legionellosis – USA (3): (IL) vet home, updated water treatment, new cases, RFI
Legionnaires' -- United StatesThe Illinois Department of Public Health reports 2 new, laboratory-confirmed cases of legionnaires' disease at an Illinois Veterans Home in Quincy. After learning of the 2 cases, staff removed faucets from the residents' rooms right away and collected water samples. Both residents are back at the Illinois Veterans Home in Quincy and are doing well.The veterans home just completed an extensive renovation of its plumbing systems last year [2017] after a 2015 legionnaires' Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza, human (07): China (JS) H7N4, 1st report
Avian Influenza -- ChinaThe Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) received today [Wed 14 Feb 2018] a notification from the National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC) that a human case of avian influenza A (H7N4) was confirmed from [10 to 14 Feb 2017], and reminded the public to maintain strict personal, food and environmental hygiene both locally and during travel.According to the NHFPC, this is the 1st case of human infection with avian influenza A (H7N4) Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Human Cattle Eye Helminth – _Thelazia gulosa_, United States
Helminths, miscellaneous -- United StatesAn Oregon woman has become the 1st person worldwide known to have had an eye infestation by a tiny worm species previously seen only in cattle that is spread by flies that feed on eyeball lubrication, U.S. government researchers said on [Mon 12 Feb 2018].U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention scientists said 14 translucent parasitic worms of the species _Thelazia gulosa_, all less than half an inch (1.27 cm) long, were extracted from the 26-year-old Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> MERS-CoV (08): Saudi Arabia, RFI
MERS -- Saudi Arabia[Due to personal internet difficulties, the above posting was incomplete, pending more information and translation assistance]. In the 36 hours since its initial preparation, the below additional information became available:On 9 Feb 2018, there was a report of a newly confirmed case in a 68-year-old Saudi male, non-healthcare worker from Riyadh who was noted to be in stable condition and was classified as a primary case with high risk exposure history still under investigation.In Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Legionellosis – Australia: (NS)
Legionnaires' -- AustraliaNSW [New South Wales] Health is investigating the possible contamination source after 3 people have now been confirmed with Legionnaires' disease after spending time in Castle Hill. All 3 cases developed the type of Legionnaires' disease caused by _Legionella pneumophila_ bacteria, a bacterial infection of the lungs, which can develop after a person breathes in contaminated water droplets. Legionnaires' disease cannot be spread person to person.In a statement, NSW Health Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Measles update (11): Pacific, Europe, USA
Measles -- New ZealandCanterbury Public Health officials are urging the community to get vaccinated after a 3rd case of measles is confirmed in Canterbury.An 18-year-old woman is the 3rd case in a fortnight to be diagnosed with the highly contagious virus.The woman visited Christchurch hospital's emergency department on Sat [10 Feb] and Sun [11 Feb] so anyone who was in the waiting room at the weekend is urged to contact their GP's for vaccination.--Communicated by:ProMED-mail from HealthMap Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Brucellosis – Nigeria: (BA) butchers, serosurvey
Brucellosis -- NigeriaThe Bauchi State Government has said that 95 butchers in the state have been infected with an animal-related disease known as brucellosis. The Deputy Director, Veterinary Services, Bauchi State Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Dr Istifanus Irimiya, who disclosed this in Bauchi [Fri 9 Feb 2018] in an interview with journalists, added that the figure was out of the 224 butchers from Bauchi, Misau, and Katagum Local Government Areas where they tested positive in a Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Hepatitis E – Namibia (04): (KH) fatal
Hepatitis E -- Namibia"Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is severe during pregnancy, with a pregnant case fatality rate around 30 percent. In Bangladesh, plasma samples from 1100 women during the 1st trimester (TM) and 3rd TM of pregnancy and 3 months postpartum (PP) were tested for anti-HEV IgG. During this time, 40 women developed antibody responses to HEV. These seroconverters are classified as the cases (incidence = 46 infections per 1000 person-years). All except one seroconversion occurred Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (30): China (Hong Kong) wild bird, HPAI H5N6, OIE
Avian Influenza H5N6 -- ChinaInformation received on [and dated] 10 Feb 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: 7 Feb 2018Date of confirmation of the event: 9 Feb 2018Reason for notification: recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (29): Ireland (TY) HPAI H5N6, new strain, OIE
Avian Influenza H5N6 -- IrelandInformation received on [and dated] 9 Feb 2018 from Dr Martin Blake, Chief Veterinary Officer, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Agriculture House, Dublin, IrelandSummaryReport type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 31 Jan 2018Date of confirmation of the event: 8 Feb 2018Reason for notification: new strain of a listed disease in the countryCausal agent: Highly pathogenic avian influenza [AI] virusSerotype: H5N6Nature of diagnosis: laboratory Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Hantavirus – Americas (11): USA, Canada
Hantavirus -- United StatesIn December 2016, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (WDHS) notified CDC of a patient hospitalized with fever, leukopenia, elevated transaminases, and proteinuria. The patient owned and operated an in-home rattery, or rat-breeding facility, with approximately 100 Norway rats [_Rattus norvegicus_], primarily bred as pets. A family member developed similar symptoms 4 weeks later, but was not hospitalized. Because both patients were known to have rodent contact, they Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza, human (06): China (GD) H7N9
Avian Influenza H7N9 -- ChinaThe Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today [12 Feb 2018] received notification of an additional human case of avian influenza A(H7N9) from the Health and Family Planning Commission of Guangdong Province, and reminded the public to maintain strict personal, food and environmental hygiene both locally and during travel especially in the upcoming Lunar New Year [Fri 16 Feb 2018] holidays.The case occurred in Zhongshan and this is the 1st Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Foot & mouth disease – Russia: (ZB) bovine, st O, OIE
Foot and Mouth -- RussiaInformation received on [and dated] 12 Feb 2018 from Dr Evgeny Nepoklonov, Vice-minister, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture, Moscow, RussiaSummaryReport type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 1 Feb 2018Date of confirmation of the event: 9 Feb 2018Reason for notification: recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: 7 Nov 2017Manifestation of disease: clinical diseaseCausal agent: foot and mouth disease virusSerotype: ONature Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Foot & mouth disease – Nepal: (GA) livestock, st. Asia 1, OIE
Foot and Mouth -- NepalInformation received on 9 Feb 2018 from Dr Bimal Kumar Nirmal, Department of Livestock Services, Ministry of Livestock Development, NepalSummaryReport type: immediate notification (final report)Date of start of the event: 9 Dec 2017Date of confirmation of the event: 8 Feb 2018Report date: 9 Feb 2018Date event resolved: 23 Jan 2018Reason for notification: Recurrence of listed disease Date of previous occurrence: 2013Causal agent: foot and mouth disease virusSerotype: Asia Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Bovine tuberculosis – Ireland (04): (KY) probable badger source
Bovine TB -- IrelandThe Department of Agriculture has ruled out any link between the increasing numbers of wild deer in south Kerry and the biggest outbreak of bovine TB in living memory in the area. Dozens of farms are in lockdown and 360 cattle have been removed from slaughter, in an area between Kells and Caherdaniel, on the Iveragh peninsula.Deer and badgers are suspected. At a recent Kerry County Council meeting in Killorglin, questions about the role of deer in the outbreak were raised and Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Anthrax – Turkey: (Trabzon) bovine, human
Anthrax -- TurkeyOne person was killed and 73 people were taken to hospital over suspicions they were infected with anthrax in the Black Sea province of Trabzon on [10 Feb 2018]. The incident occurred in Trabzon's Akçabat district.A cow had been diagnosed with anthrax in Akçabat last week [week of 11 Feb 2018] during a [veterinary] check-up and samples were sent to Ankara for a detailed examination. But the cow's owner reportedly butchered the infected cow and distributed its meat to Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Salmonellosis – USA (02): (CO) restaurant, fatal
Salmonella -- United StatesOne person died and more than 30 were infected in November 2017 in a salmonellosis outbreak among customers of a Colorado restaurant, but the public wasn't notified at the time and the restaurant remains open for business. A 27 Nov 2017 inspection report for the implicated restaurant, La California on Peoria Street in Aurora, Colorado, shows the Tri-County [Adams, Arapahoe, and Douglas counties] Health Department did not find any violations at that time. However, reports Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Lassa fever – West Africa (10): Nigeria
Lassa Fever -- NigeriaTo support the government's response, an emergency team from ALIMA, including an epidemiologist, medical doctors, logisticians, and a coordinator, are on the ground at the Owo Federal Medical Center in Ondo State and the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital in Edo State. Our teams are supporting case management, active case detection, patient triage, public awareness campaigns, and reinforcing Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) measures.ALIMA is supporting the rehabilitation Read more [...]
PRO/AH> Microbiological laboratory mishaps – UK: 2015-2017
Hospital-Related Infection -- United KingdomPeople who work in microbiology laboratories and related disciplines are at risk from exposure to biological agents. Some will work with biological agents themselves, for example, by culturing them. Others will work with material, which is likely to contain microorganisms although the microorganisms are not actually being grown, for example, blood typing in a haematology laboratory.In addition to the general duties of COSHH [Control of Substances Hazardous Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Equine herpesvirus, equine: EHV-8, poss association with abortion in mares
Equine Herpes Virus -- AustraliaThe little-studied equine herpesvirus 8 (EHV-8) -- until now only associated with respiratory disease in donkeys in Australia and horses in China -- may well cause abortion in horses, according to researchers.A total of 9 herpesviruses have been identified that affect the Equidae family, which includes horses, ponies, donkeys, and zebras.It is understood that the horse is the natural host of 5 of these viruses (EHV-1, EHV-2, EHV-3, EHV-4, and EHV-5), and the donkey Read more [...]
PRO/PL> Undiagnosed diseases, maize & cassava – Uganda: (SX)
Undiagnosed -- UgandaOver 500 acres of maize and 14 of cassava in Serere district [Eastern Region] have been affected by a strange disease. Affected farmers said the disease eats the crops' tubers making them rot and unsuitable for human consumption. The disease has affected their only source of income.The area parish councillor asked authorities to dispatch a team of agricultural experts to ascertain the disease which has caused havoc on their crops. "We are going to engage the agriculture officers Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Yellow fever – Americas (12): Brazil monkeys
Yellow Fever -- BrazilFears of spreading yellow fever are behind the illegal killing of scores of monkeys in Rio de Janeiro, complicating efforts to fight the virus, authorities say.Locals, mistakenly believing that the animals can spread yellow fever to humans, are blamed for the surge in killings. Just this year [2018], 238 monkeys have been found dead in Rio state, compared to 602 in all of 2017, said the city sanitation service, launching a campaign against the killings. Of those, 69 percent Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Equine herpesvirus – North America (08): USA (OH): equine
Equine Herpes Virus -- United StatesAbout 450 horses stabled at the Warren County Fairgrounds are under a quarantine declared on Thursday [8 Feb 2018] by the Ohio Department of Agriculture.The quarantine is one of a handful around the state declared because horses have tested positive for equine herpesvirus (EHV).Still, Miami Valley Gaming in Warren County is expected to hold racing, beginning tonight [9 Feb 2018], using horses from other locations in the region not under quarantine."You're not going Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Norovirus – Canada (Montreal) raspberries ex China
Norovirus -- CanadaFrozen raspberries imported from China made hundreds of people sick in Quebec [Canada] last summer [2017] and probably resulted in multiple deaths, according to a recent public health report.The infected fruits led to a wave of recalls in August 2017 by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency because they had been used by a variety of food processors such as brewers, pastry chefs and ice cream makers and had been cooked in hospital cafeterias and residences for seniors.The raspberries Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Salmonellosis, st. Reading – USA: (MN) children, raw pet food, alert, recall
Salmonella -- United StatesMinnesota health officials say 2 children in the Twin Cities area got sick from salmonellosis after coming in contact with tainted pet food. The Minnesota Department of Health said Fri 9 Feb 2018 that testing found the same salmonella DNA patterns in the siblings. One of the children was hospitalized in January 2018 with a painful bone condition.An investigation found the children's home contained Raws for Paws Ground Turkey Food and that the pet food was contaminated. Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Norovirus – South Korea (02): (KW) Winter Olympics
Norovirus -- South KoreaKorean officials announced Sun [11 Feb 2018] that 20 additional cases of norovirus have been confirmed, bringing the total to 159 confirmed cases at the Olympics.The 20 new cases come a day after Olympic organizers expressed confidence the outbreak appeared to be under control. Between Wed 7-Fri 9 Feb 2018, 11 additional norovirus cases were confirmed.Still, Sung Baik You, spokesman for the Pyeongchang organizing committee (POCOG), expressed confidence that the worst is behind Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Chronic wasting disease, cervid – USA (04): (MS)
Chronic Wasting Disease -- United StatesChronic wasting disease, or CWD, has been found in a Mississippi animal for the 1st time, officials said. A 4.5-year-old white-tailed deer in Issaquena county was found [25 Jan 2018] has tested positive for the disease, officials said.The buck died of natural causes and was reported to the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks (MDWFP).MDWFP immediately implemented the CWD Response Plan under the auspices of the Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Meningitis – Spain (03): listeriosis, raw soft ewe cheese, Portugal, recall, RFI
Listeriosis -- SpainOn [5 Feb 2018] the Spanish Agency for Consumer Affairs, Food Safety and Nutrition, through the Coordinated System of Rapid Information Exchange (SCIRI), learned of the existence of [a 39-year-old man; see http://promedmail.org/post/20180209.5618781] in the Community of Madrid affected by meningitis as a result of food intoxication by _Listeria monocytogenes_, presumably associated with the consumption of soft milk sheep cheese made by the company Ohian Txiki Koop located in the Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Epizootic ulcerative syndrome, fish – UK: (England), 1st rep, OIE
Other Animal Disease -- United KingdomInformation received on [and dated] 7 Feb 2018 from Dr Nigel Gibbens, Chief Veterinary Officer, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, LONDON, United KingdomSummaryReport type: immediate notification (final report)Date of start of the event: 30 Jan 2018Date of confirmation of the event: 6 Feb 2018Report date: 7 Feb 2018Date submitted to OIE: 7 Feb 2018Date event resolved: 30 Jan 2018Reason for notification: Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Measles update (10): Europe, Pacific, South America, US
Measles -- LatviaSummary of the situation------------------------Between November 2016 and December 2017, countries of the WHO European Region reported 17 584 measles cases; 91 percent (n=15 978) of these cases were reported in 2017. In this period, the highest cumulative incidence rate was reported in Romania (291.5 cases per one million population), followed by Italy (83.2 cases per one million population), and Tajikistan (77.2 cases per one million population). The WHO European Region monthly Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Lassa fever – West Africa (09): Liberia ex Guinea
Lassa Fever -- LiberiaLassa Fever SituationThe Health Authorities of the Ministry of Health have been informed by the Office of the WHO of the report of a case of Lassa fever in the Préfecture of Ganta (Liberia).They had been informed that a woman from Guinea had been received by the Methodist Clinic in Ganta on [Tue 9 Jan 2018], had died on [Thu 11 Jan 2018] and had been buried in a dignified and secure mannerin the same Préfecture of Ganta (Liberia).The results of the blood tests Read more [...]
PRO> Meningitis – Spain (02): (MD) foodborne, raw cheese, recall, comment