Archive for Global Disease Alerts
PRO/AH/EDR> Listeriosis – South Africa (05): fatal, more cases
Listeriosis -- South AfricaThe case count in the South African [listeriosis] outbreak has risen again as the search continues to find the source.An additional 53 cases and 1 death have been recorded by the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD). 13 cases occurred during 2017 and were retrospectively reported.Outcome data is available for 29 percent (238/820) of cases, of which 82 died. A total of 820 laboratory-confirmed listeriosis cases have now been reported to NICD since January 2017.Most Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Rift Valley fever – South Sudan (02): (EL)
Rift Valley Fever -- South SudanWith the addition of 7 suspected Rift Valley fever (RVF) cases reported from Yirol East County, South Sudan, 20 suspect cases have been reported in the past month.Of the cases, 3 are confirmed and 3 probable cases who died and had epidemiological links to the confirmed cases.On 28 Dec 2017, the Ministry of Health of South Sudan reported a cluster of 3 severe hemorrhagic cases, which were epidemiologically linked by place (all occurred in Thonabutkok village, Yirol Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Hantavirus – Americas (07): Uruguay (CA) fatal, susp.
Hantavirus -- UruguayPersonnel of the Ministry of Public Health are investigating the death of a young --28-years old -- agronomist caused by [a] hantavirus [infection]. After completion of the specific studies, which could take 48 hours, they will be able to determine if the young woman died as a consequence of the virus [infection].The disease is contracted by the inhalation of excretions or secretions of rodents infected by the hantavirus. As a preventive measure, personnel of the Department of Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Undiagnosed hemorrhagic illness – Cameroon: RFI
Undiagnosed -- CameroonBetween 8-22 Jan 2018, the surveillance and health watch mechanism of the Centre Region reported 3 deaths in a family residing in Yaounde, due to acute onset of fever, rashes and bleeding suggestive of viral hemorrhagic fever. One of the members of this family, whose vital prognosis is not [available], is currently receiving medical follow-up in the hospital. Preliminary tests carried out were negative for Ebola, Marburg and Lassa viruses. More investigation is ongoing. Mr. Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Anthrax – Zimbabwe: human
Anthrax -- ZimbabweAnthrax virus [sic] infection is on the rise in Zimbabwe, with the Health Ministry recording 9 (human) cases - 4 in one week - in the first 2 weeks of January this year [2018]; The people are getting infected by the deadly virus, which causes skin, lung and bowel disease- after getting in contact with infected animals.In its weekly surveillance report, the Health Ministry said; "4 new suspected cases of anthrax and no deaths, were reported during week ending [14 Jan 2018]. The Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Hand, foot & mouth disease update (01): Japan, research
Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease -- JapanAfter reporting just under 70 000 cases of the viral infection, hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD) in 2016, cases increased several times in 2017, according to data from the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan via the World Health Organization (WHO).Last year [2017], officials reported 358 764 HFMD cases, the most since 2015, when more than 380 000 cases were reported.HFMD is typically a benign and self-limiting disease. Most common in young children, Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Hantavirus – Americas (06): Panama (LS)
Hantavirus -- PanamaHealth authorities in Los Santos province report the 1st hantavirus victim registered in 2018, a 62-year-old man who resided in El Bebero in Tonosí [district, Los Santos province].His death was registered on Sunday night, [28 Jan 2018] in the Joaquín Pablo Franco Sayas hospital in the city of Las Tablas [Los Santos].The man was one of the tireless fighters against the hantaviruses in Los Santos province.Germán Solís, Regional Director of the Ministry Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Kyasanur Forest disease – India (05): (MH) new cases
Kyasanur Forest Disease -- IndiaThe tick-borne virus that causes Kyasanur Forest disease (KFD), commonly known as monkey fever, has infected 332 people and killed 19 in Sindhudurg district [Maharashtra] since its (the virus) confirmation in Maharashtra in January 2016. The outbreak that was initially confined to a lone village has now spread to other villages in Sindhudurg district. The virus has infected three villagers this month (Jan 2018). "The virus has remained confined to Sindhudurg district Read more [...]
PRO/PL> Liberibacter, carrot – Portugal: 1st rep
Other Plant Disease -- PortugalThe Portuguese Directorate-General for Food and Veterinary (DGAV) has officially announced the first detection of _Candidatus_ Liberibacter solanacearum (CaLsol) in Portugal. The haplotype E of the bacterium was found in carrot fields in West Lisbon and Tagus [Tejo river] Valley [central Portugal].DGAV has pointed out that producers of carrots and potatoes, stockists and packing plants should be on alert for the presence of symptoms and in case of suspicion they should Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Yellow fever – Americas (09): Brazil, monkeys
Yellow Fever -- BrazilA least 131 monkeys died since the beginning of the year [2018] in Rio de Janeiro, the majority (69 percent) because of humans, an official source said this Saturday [27 Jan 2018], who connect the bad luck of these animals with the unfounded fear that they could aggravate the yellow fever outbreak which has been registered in this Brazilian state.The 69 percent of the animals collected in Rio had signs of human attacks through clubbing or poisoning, said the Subsecretariat of Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Foot & mouth disease – China (02): (NX) st. O, livestock, OIE
Foot and Mouth -- ChinaInformation received on 29 Jan 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: 10 Jan 2018Date of confirmation of the event: 25 Jan 2018Reason for notification: recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: March 2012Manifestation of disease: clinical diseaseCausal agent: Foot and Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> African swine fever – Europe (03): Ukraine, wild boar, domestic swine, OIE
African Swine Fever -- UkraineInformation received on [and dated] 19 Jan 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: 17 Jan 2018Date of confirmation of the event: 18 Jan 2018Reason for notification: recurrence Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Hantavirus – Americas (05): Chile (LR)
Hantavirus -- ChileAuthorities are currently inquiring about a possible case of a hantavirus infection in Corral, in the Los Ríos region, after the death of a worker from Aysén who was in the area.This occurred after an alert issued by the Aysén SEREMI [Secretaría Regional Ministerial de Salud; local health ministerial unit], that through a public statement, indicated that the case is a 35-year-old man who apparently died from the virus [infection], which must be confirmed Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Avian cholera – USA: (IN) wild fowl
Avian Cholera -- United StatesWildlife officials have confirmed the presence of avian cholera in geese from western Gibson County. Diagnostic testing was conducted at the US Geological Survey's National Wildlife Health Center.Avian cholera is common among North American waterfowl, although the Gibson County detection is the 1st time the disease has been documented in wild birds in Indiana.In total about 350 birds -- mostly snow geese -- have been found dead since the beginning of December [2017]. Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (21): Netherlands, wild bird, HPAI H5N6, OIE
Avian Influenza H5N6 -- NetherlandsInformation received on [and dated] 24 Jan 2018 from Dr Christianne Bruschke, chief veterinary officer, Ministry of Economic Affairs, The Hague, NetherlandsSummaryReport type: follow-up report no 2Date of start of the event: 9 Dec 2017Date of confirmation of the event: 13 Dec 2017Reason for notification: recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: 16 May 2017Manifestation of disease: clinical diseaseCausal agent: Highly pathogenic avian influenza Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update (05): Asia (Yemen) WHO
Cholera -- YemenHighlights----------Cumulative figures- The cumulative total from 27 Apr 2017 to 21 Jan 2018 is 1 046 674 suspected cholera cases and 2248 associated deaths, (CFR 0.21 percent), 1102 have been confirmed by culture.- 59.3 percent of deaths were severe cases at admission- The total proportion of severe cases among the suspected cases is 16.8 percent- The national attack rate is 379 per 10 000. The 5 governorates with the highest cumulative attack rates per 10 000 remain Amran (886), Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Hepatitis A – USA (05): (MI, UT, CA)
Hepatitis A -- United StatesPublic health officials and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) are continuing to see an elevated number of hepatitis A cases in the state. Since the beginning of the outbreak in August 2016, public health response has included increased healthcare awareness efforts, public notification and education, and outreach with vaccination clinics for high-risk populations. No common sources of food, beverages, or drugs have been identified as a potential Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Measles update (07): Africa, USA, Caribbean, Canada, Europe
Measles -- South Africa[2] Texas, Ellis County[3] Caribbean (Antigua) ex UKCanada------[4] Nova Scotia, HalifaxEurope------[5] Greece[6] United Kingdom[7] Italy******Africa-----[1] South Africa (Cape Town)Date: Thu 25 Jan 2018From: Prof Sipho Dlamini [edited]Groote Schuur Hospital, Infectious Diseases Unit, Cape Town, South AfricaMeasles was confirmed in a 29-year-old Somali migrant worker in South Africa, who had spent the last 9 months visiting family in Djibouti city, Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Salmonellosis, st. Agona – France (03): infant formula
Salmonella -- France10 more babies have tested positive for salmonella in France after drinking milk produced by the firm Lactalis, a group representing families said on Fri 26 Jan 2018.Lactalis, one of the world's largest dairy groups, has recalled 12 million tins nationwide and from stores around the world after last month, December 2017, discovering salmonella bacteria in some baby milk at a factory in western France.French authorities have said that _Salmonella_ Agona infections were reported Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Equine herpesvirus – North America (05): USA (NY) equine
Equine Herpes Virus -- United StatesThe equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) quarantine at Barn 44 at Belmont Park, in Elmont, New York, has been lifted after a subsequent test has come back negative on one horse that had tested positive 2 weeks ago [week of Sun 7 Jan 2018], the New York Racing Association (NYRA) reported [Fri 26 Jan 2018].Officials at NYRA and New York State Gaming Commission have removed the quarantine, effective immediately. Horses in Barn 44 are now able to run and enter races, as well Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Rabies (08): Asia (Malaysia-SK) human, animal
Rabies -- MalaysiaA 59-year-old man from Jalan Batu Kawa-Matang is the 7th person to be infected by rabies, which has claimed the lives of 5 people in the state.The man was reportedly bitten by a dog at his residential area on [Mon 27 Nov 2017]. He only sought treatment for his injuries at a private clinic here, which did not refer his case to any government health facilities for vaccination.Health Ministry director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the man started developing body aches Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Campylobacteriosis – USA: canine, human, CDC advisory
Campylobacter -- United StatesCDC, several states, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS) are investigating a multistate outbreak of multidrug-resistant _Campylobacter_ infections. Campylobacter bacteria isolated from clinical samples from people sickened in this outbreak are resistant to commonly recommended, 1st-line antimicrobials. This means it may be difficult to treat these infections with the antibiotics usually prescribed for campylobacteriosis.Since Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Mycoplasma bovine, bovine – New Zealand (03): correction
Other Animal Disease — New Zealand
PRO/EDR> Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update (04): Africa
Cholera -- Worldwide/UnknownFrom 15 Aug 2015 through [Sun 7 Jan 2018], 33 421 cases including 542 deaths (case fatality rate = 1.62 percent) have been reported across all 26 regions of the United Republic of Tanzania (Tanzania mainland and Zanzibar). Tanzania mainland has reported 86 percent of the total cases in this outbreak. Children under 5 years old accounted for 11.4 percent of cases. Since the beginning of the outbreak over 7000 specimens have been tested for cholera and 47 percent were positive Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Diphtheria – Australia: (QL)
Diphtheria -- AustraliaA man has been flown from Cairns to Brisbane in a critical condition after testing positive to the diphtheria. The 27-year-old was flown to Prince Charles Hospital last night [Tue 23 Jan 2018], with Queensland Health confirming he was infected within Australia. The Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service are contacting all people the man was in contact with in an effort to trace the infection and prevent its spread. Health officials are at a loss as to how the man Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Yellow fever – Americas (08): Brazil
Yellow Fever -- BrazilThe Minisry of Health this [Wed 24 Jan 2018]) updated the information issued by the state health secretariats concerning the yellow fever situation in the country. In the monitoring period (Sat 1 Jul 2017 - Tue 23 Jan 2018) there were 130 confirmed cases of yellow fever in the country with 53 deaths. In total, there were 601 reported suspicious cases with 162 still under investigation and 309 discarded during this period.Last year [2017] from July 2016 to January 2017 there Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Q fever – Chile
Q Fever -- Chile1. Lille RD, Perrin TL, Armstrong C: An institutional outbreak of pneumonitis. III. Histopathology in man and rhesus monkeys in the pneumonitis due to the virus of "Q fever." Pub Hlth Rep 1941; 56(4): 149-55; available at 2. Maurin M, Raoult D: Q fever. Clin Microbiol Rev 1999; 12(4): 518-53; available at 3. Norlander L: Q fever epidemiology and pathogenesis. Microbes Infect 2000; 2(4): 417-24.A good recent review on Q fever can be found at:Melgar TA, Bauler TJ, Lutwick LI. Q fever Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Foodborne illness – Argentina: fatalities, pesticide susp.
Foodborne Illness -- ArgentinaA 75-year-old man died in a nursing home in the town of Cordova in Taninga and 8 other people had to be hospitalized by an intoxication that, according to preliminary reports from the Ministry of Health of Cordoba, was caused by the intake of food contaminated with insecticide. The incident occurred in the Posada del Cerro geriatric, in the village behind Taninga, from the Pocho department, which houses 28 elderly people. From the 1st clinical signs, the suspicion pointed Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (20): Taiwan, poultry, HPAI H5N2, spread, OIE
Avian Influenza -- ChinaInformation received on [and dated] 25 Jan 2018 from Dr Tai-Hwa Shih, Chief Veterinary Officer, Deputy Director General, Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine Council of Agriculture Executive Yuan, Ministry of Agriculture, Taipei, Chinese TaipeiSummaryReport type: Follow-up report No. 86Date of start of the event: 07 Jan 2015Date of confirmation of the event: 11 Jan 2015Report date: 23 Jan 2018Date submitted to OIE: 25 Jan 2018Reason for notification: Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Hepatitis A – Spain: (PM) restaurant
Hepatitis A -- SpainThe General Directorate of Public Health has detected an outbreak of hepatitis A that has affected 33 people in a restaurant in the center of Palma and has reported that it is already controlled. Director Maria Ramos has indicated that no case has presented complications although there have been some hospitalizations for a short period of time.Ramos has indicated that the outbreak began in mid-December 2017 when a family doctor reported that he had detected 2 patients infected Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Typhoid fever – Pakistan (02): (SD) multidrug resistance, fatal
Typhoid -- Pakistan_Salmonella_ Typhi have emerged with high-level resistance to ceftriaxone and cefixime but remain sensitive to carbapenems and azithromycin. They have now spread beyond Hyderabad due to population exchange.--Communicated by:EpiCore Surveillance Project memberSadia ShakoorAga Khan University******[2]Date: Thu 25 Jan 2018Source: Epicore Global Surveillance Project [edited]Most of cases reported [are] due to [the] water supply--Communicated by:EpiCore Global Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Mycoplasma bovine, bovine – New Zealand (03)
-- New ZealandAnother South Canterbury farm has tested positive for Mycoplasma bovis. The farm is reported to be in the Waimate district.The cattle disease was 1st confirmed in New Zealand in July last year [2017].This is the 18th positive test. It has been found on 10 farms in South Canterbury, 5 in Southland, 2 in Ashburton and one in Hawke's Bay.--Communicated by:ProMED-mail from HealthMap Alerts[This article does not tell us if these are farms testing positive because they were found Read more [...]
PRO/EDR> Hepatitis E – Namibia (03): (KH) fatal
Hepatitis E -- NamibiaHepatitis E case in Windhoek's informal sector have risen to 490, Namibia's health ministry said [Thu 25 Jan 2018], while blaming poor sanitation for fueling the spread of diseases. Health Minister Bernard Haufiku told a media conference that to date the outbreak has caused 2 maternal deaths, with majority of the cases coming from Havana and Goreangab settlements. "The outbreak control and disease prevention activities are still ongoing, such as coordination, surveillance, case Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza (19): Iran, HPAI H5N8 susp, poultry, spread, RFI
Avian Influenza H5N8 -- IranAvian flu has infected Iranian chicken farms, posing a challenge to chicken breeders and the country's meat output, Financial Tribune daily reported [Tue 23 Jan 2018].Since the beginning of the current Iranian calendar year [Tue 21 Mar 2017], about 30 percent of egg-laying hens, or 20 million, and 10 percent of broiler chickens, amounting to one million, in the Iranian farms have been culled for the infection with the disease."If the virus spreads further among broiler Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Condor die-off – Argentina: poisoning susp.
Poisoning -- ArgentinaAn unprecedented number of Andean condors were found dead in western Argentina this week [week of Sun 21 Jan 2018], threatening a symbolic bird whose numbers are dwindling in parts of South America.The bodies of 34 condors, 20 males and 14 females, were reported to environmental authorities in Mendoza province, and toxicology tests suggested they had been poisoned, the province said in a statement.Luis Jacome, director of the Andean Condor Conservation Project in Buenos Aires, Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Equine herpesvirus – North America (04): (MD) equine
Equine Herpes Virus -- United StatesBarn 20 at Laurel Park has been placed under quarantine until 30 Jan 2018 by the Maryland Department of Agriculture after a horse stabled there tested positive for the equine herpesvirus (EHV1) on [Fri 19 Jan 2018].The horse in question is a 4-year-old gelding. He has not been ill or displayed any of the neurological symptoms that can be associated with the herpesvirus, according to his trainer, Tony Aguirre. Since testing positive, he has been moved off track Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia – Nigeria: (KT) spread
Bovine Pleuropneumonia -- NigeriaAn outbreak of a cattle disease identified as contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) has struck Katsina state and killed 13 cows.The outbreak was said to have been recorded over the weekend [20-21 Jan 2018] in Hayin Sheka, Sabuwar Kasa in Kafur local government area and Musawa local government with 10 and 3 cattle confirmed dead, respectively.The Director, Veterinary Services in the State's Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Dr Isa Abba, who confirmed Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Yellow fever – Americas (07): Brazil vaccination PAHO/WHO
Yellow Fever -- BrazilAccording to Brazil's Ministry of Health, between 1 Jul 2017 and 23 Jan 2018, 130 cases of yellow fever were confirmed in the country, of which 53 resulted in death.During the same period one year earlier, 381 confirmed cases and 127 deaths were reported. Yellow fever follows a seasonal pattern in Brazil, occurring mainly during the summer months.Since 2017, Brazil's Ministry of Health has provided some 57.4 million doses of yellow fever vaccine to the states.Routine Read more [...]
PRO/AH/EDR> Newcastle disease – Colombia: (CU) avian, alert
Newcastle Disease -- ColombiaCundinamarca alert for an outbreak of avian virus that can be transmitted to humans.The Health Ministry warned that there have been cases of Newcastle disease in the municipalities of Fómeque and Cáqueza. Red eye or eye discharge, itching, or burning are the main symptoms of Newcastle disease in humans. Authorities make recommendations for prevent contagion.On Tue 22 Jan 2018, the country woke up to the news of an outbreak of the little known viral disease, Read more [...]
PRO/AH> Listeriosis – South Africa (04): comment