2019 World News
World News of 2019 is archived here. To see the latest world news, please go to the World News main page.
December 20, 2019
Indonesia: African Swine Fever
The Minister of Agriculture announced the confirmation of African swine fever (ASF) outbreak in North Sumatra Province on Dec. 12. Since late September, increased pig mortality has been reported in North Sumatra and some other provinces. FAO is liaising with the Directorate General of Livestock and Animal Health Services. The Director of Animal Health requested FAO to provide recommendations on containment and control of ASF in the event that the disease is confirmed as present in the country. The FAO team is drafting recommendations on ASF control, appropriate to conditions in Indonesia.
ASF has been reported as suspected in North Sumatra since early November 2019 -- initially in local media reports, later by local and international media sources, and currently by the FAO, citing official sources. At the time this posting is being drafted, the due official notification of this listed disease to the OIE, with epidemiological information and mode of diagnosis, has not yet become available.
Canada: Legionnaire’s Disease
The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU) is currently investigating an increase in Legionnaires' disease cases in Barrie. Four cases of Legionnaires' disease have been confirmed recently in individuals who reside in the city; in the past 6 years the health unit has seen on average 2 cases annually in Barrie residents.
"It's not uncommon to see cases of Legionnaires' disease in Simcoe Muskoka; however seeing this number at an unusual time of year for the bacteria warrants further investigation," said Dr. Charles Gardner, medical officer of health for SMDHU. “We have notified health care providers in the community to watch and test for potential cases, and we are looking for a possible source of the bacteria. Despite this, we believe the risk to residents and visitors is very low."
Legionnaires' disease is a lung disease caused by Legionella bacteria, which is commonly found in natural freshwater environments. However, it can become a health concern in water systems, such as cooling towers, plumbing systems in large buildings and certain medical devices, when conditions allow the bacteria to multiply.
People can develop Legionnaires' disease when they inhale aerosolized water droplets containing the bacteria. People cannot get Legionnaires' disease by drinking water, and it cannot be passed from person to person. Most people exposed to the bacteria do not become ill.
Legionnaires' disease is a type of pneumonia (lung infection) caused by the bacteria. People over the age of 50, smokers, or those with certain medical conditions, including weakened immune systems, chronic lung disease or other chronic health conditions, are at increased risk for Legionnaires' disease.
United States: Chronic Wasting Disease
Montana recorded its first suspected case of chronic wasting disease [CWD] in wild elk Nov. 25. The cow elk was harvested by a landowner on private land northeast of Red Lodge in November, and samples were extracted from the carcass in Billings on Nov. 6. Test results confirming the suspected presence of the disease were returned to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) and the hunter on Nov. 25.
CWD was found in a herd of captive game-farm elk near Philipsburg in 1999, and the herd was depopulated. Until this week, however, the disease had not been found in wild elk in Montana.
In addition to the elk, Monday's test results confirmed the presence of CWD in 3 more deer in Southcentral Montana. They included a mule deer harvested on national forest land near Crooked Creek in the Pryor Mountains, a white-tailed deer northwest of Worden, and a white-tailed deer on private land northeast of Silesia.
Tissue samples from the suspected CWD-positive animals will undergo additional testing for confirmation. Hunters who harvested the animals have been informed of the test results.
CWD first was confirmed in the wild in Montana in a mule deer in Carbon County in 2017 as a result of scheduled searches on harvested game. In November, tests showed a moose in northwest Montana was suspected to have CWD. All other cases since the disease was discovered in Montana in 2017 have been in white-tailed deer and mule deer.
Nigeria: Lassa Fever
In the reporting week, 8 new confirmed cases were reported from Ondo (6) and Edo (2) states, with 2 new deaths from Ondo state.
Through 2019, a total of 4,771 suspected cases have been reported from 23 states. Of these, 793 were confirmed positive, 19 were probable, and 3959 were negative (not a case).
Since the onset of the 2019 outbreak, there have been 162 deaths in confirmed cases. Case fatality ratio [CFR] in confirmed cases is 20.4 percent.
Twenty-three states (Edo, Ondo, Bauchi, Nasarawa, Ebonyi, Plateau, Taraba, Adamawa, Gombe, Kaduna, Kwara, Benue, Rivers, Kogi, Enugu, Imo, Delta, Oyo, Kebbi, Cross River, Zamfara, Lagos, and Abia) have recorded at least one confirmed case across 86 local government areas.
China: African Swine Fever
Chinese criminals have been exploiting the country's African swine fever [ASF] crisis by intentionally spreading the disease to force farmers to sell their pigs for a low price before smuggling the meat and selling it on as healthy stock, state media has reported.
Sometimes the gangs spread rumors about the virus, which is fatal to pigs, but in more extreme cases, they are using drones to drop infected items into farms, according to an investigation by the magazine China Comment, which is affiliated to state news agency Xinhua.
The disease has reduced the country's pig herds by over 40 per cent due to mass culls designed to stop it spreading further.
The resulting shortages have seen pork prices more than double, providing opportunities for the criminals to exploit. The magazine's report said that the gangs tried to spread panic among farmers to force them to sell their livestock at a discount rate.
Sometimes they spread rumors about the disease spreading in the locality and may even leave dead pigs on the side of a road to make farmers believe the infection is spreading.
In some extreme cases, the gangs even placed infected feed inside local pigsties, the report said.
"One of our branches once spotted drones air dropping unknown objects into our piggery, and later inspection found the virus in those things," a farmer manager told the reporters.
Nigeria: Yellow Fever
Nigeria is responding to successive yellow fever outbreaks, with nearly a 3-fold increase in number of confirmed cases in 2019 compared to 2018, suggesting intensification of yellow fever virus transmission. Additionally, there have been cases reported in parts of the country that have confirmed cases for the first time since the outbreak started in September 2017. Through 2019, a total of 4,189 suspected yellow fever cases were reported from 604 of 774 Local Government Area (LGAs) across all the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory in Nigeria.
Of the 3,547 samples taken, 207 tested positive for yellow fever by Immunoglobulin M (IgM) in Nigerian network laboratories. In addition, 197 samples from 19 states were confirmed positive using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The case fatality rate for all cases (including suspected, probable and confirmed) is 5.1%, and 12.2% for confirmed cases.
Of the total 197 confirmed cases, 68% (134 cases) were reported from 4 states, including Bauchi, Katsina, Edo and Ebonyi. Cases in Edo state have declined after a reactive vaccination campaign in late 2018. In 2019, a total of 115 confirmed cases and 23 deaths were reported from Bauchi (62 cases), Katsina (38 cases) and Benue (15 cases).
Kenya: Leishmaniasis
Health officials continue to report cases of the parasitic disease, leishmaniasis, in Kenya. During the week ending Dec. 8, officials saw 34 additional cases.
This brings the leishmaniasis outbreak tally this year to 2,822, including 34 deaths.
Most cases of leishmaniasis have been reported from Mandera, Marsabit, Wajir, and Garissa counties.
Leishmaniasis is not a single disease, but a group due to a variety of species of this parasite. They affect different populations and are related to a characteristic vector, the sandfly.
The disease can range from asymptomatic infections to those causing significant illness and death. Disease can appear on a spectrum from a single skin ulcer to destructive lesions of the face to terminal organ disease.
The vector for this parasite is a phlebotomine sandfly. There are a few different species implicated depending on the part of the world. Sandflies are very small (about 1/3 the size of a mosquito) and make no noise when flying. Their bites can sometimes be painless; because of these reasons, many people have no idea they were bitten. Even one bite of a sandfly can transmit disease, so travelers on short trips can still get infected.
December 6, 2019
United States: Equine Herpesvirus
The Maryland Department of Agriculture's Animal Health Program confirmed this week that a horse in Baltimore County had tested positive for equine herpesvirus (EHV-1). Samples from the symptomatic horse were sent to the Frederick Animal Health Laboratory, where the non-neurotropic strain of EHV-1 was confirmed. The horse was euthanized on Nov. 28 due to complications.
The Baltimore County farm, which has not been identified, has been placed on a hold order by the department, prohibiting movement on or off the farm until any exposed horses have been cleared for release. The horse was previously housed in an isolated barn with 3 other horses. The farm stables a total of 25 horses, none of which are showing clinical signs of EHV-1 or fever at this time. The veterinary practitioner and stable are providing follow-up care to the asymptomatic horses on the farm. Possible links to the positive EHV-1 equine are actively being investigated.
Equine herpesviruses are viruses that are found in most horses all over the world. Almost all horses have been infected with the virus and have no serious side effects. It is currently unknown what causes some infected horses to develop the serious neurological forms that may be fatal.
Sierra Leone: Lassa Fever
Sierra Leone health officials, supported by WHO, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and other partners, are responding to an outbreak of Lassa Fever. On Nov. 20, WHO was informed by the Netherlands' International Health Regulations (IHR) National Focal Point of one imported case of Lassa Fever from Sierra Leone. The patient was a male doctor, a Dutch national who worked in a rural Masanga hospital in Tonkolili district, Northern province in Sierra Leone.
The probable route of transmission is believed to be through exposures during a surgical procedure he performed on 2 patients in Masanga hospital. Both patients died following surgical interventions, and one is believed to be the index case for this outbreak.
The doctor's symptoms started on Nov. 11, a week after performing the surgery, and included malaise and headache, followed by fever, diarrhea, vomiting, and cough. While symptomatic, he attended a surgical training event in Freetown, Sierra Leone. This event was also attended by several international participants from the Netherlands and United Kingdom in addition to 35 local participants..
South Africa: Foot and Mouth Disease
The FMD outbreaks have caused the country to lose its FMD-free status, meaning South African farmers cannot export animals or animal products. This significantly impacts our economy. To local consumers, the FMD outbreak means meat prices, especially red meat, will likely increase. As consumers prepare for the festive season, expect meat prices to be high as markets struggle to find animals for meat. Provinces that are already banned from selling their animals in markets are Limpopo, Gauteng, North West, and Mpumalanga.
For the second time since the beginning of 2019, South Africa has experienced positive testing of FMD.
Readers may recall that on Jan. 9, the national department of agriculture also reported an outbreak of FMD in Vhembe district in the Limpopo province. This immediately prompted the World Organization for Animal Heath (OIE) to suspend South Africa's FMD-free status. This resulted in a devastating effect on the trade of cloven-hoofed animals and their products from South Africa to its trading partners. Some countries instituted official bans, and trade was further disrupted as a result of the inability to certify for any exports where FMD-free zone attestation is required.
Poland: African Swine Fever
According to the information of the Main Veterinary Inspectorate in the Lubuskie Voivodeship, 8 new cases of ASF have been confirmed. The extent of the disease has shifted westward, currently, the virus is located about 25 miles from the German border.
On the map published by the Chief Veterinary Inspectorate, information appeared Dec. 2 about the recent ASF cases in the Lubuskie Voivodeship. However, the situation is more serious than previously expected. In addition to one case confirmed in the city itself, the disease also occurred in the municipalities of Zielona Gora, Sulechow, Swidnica, and Nowogrod Bobrzanski. 2 cases of the disease were also confirmed in the Nowa Sol commune in the Nowosolski poviat.
Thus, the distance separating the range of ASF from the border with Germany has significantly decreased.
A reminder: the occurrence of African swine fever in western Poland was confirmed less than 3 weeks ago. Since then, about 20 cases of the disease have been detected in this part of the country in Lubuskie Province, and one case in Dolnoslaskie Province.
Spain: Q Fever
A total of 9 people have been treated in Health Centers of La Rioja for an outbreak of Q fever, and 3 of them have been admitted, according to various local media. This disease is a zoonosis that is transmitted by inhalation of the bacteria present in infected animals.
In addition, 3 citizens of the Basque Country, specifically from Biscay, are also admitted with Q fever, and a 4th person is waiting for bacteriological results. The patients would have acquired the disease after a visit to La Rioja, where they would have been infected by having contact with infected animals. They spent a weekend in La Rioja, and all of them, during a rural stay, maintained direct contact with newborn goats.
The spread of Q fever does not occur from person to person but only occurs through direct contact with sick animals. Therefore, the disease has implications for animal health, especially for livestock, and infections can also be caused by the inhalation of bacterial spores that can be transported long distances by dust and wind.
Acute cases of Q fever are often mild, with symptoms similar to those of the flu, and can be treated with antimicrobials. However, chronic cases can cause dangerous infections in the heart and blood vessels and have a poor prognosis.
United States: Eastern Equine Encephalitis
A mystery illness left a little girl in the hospital for a month. Now, the family has answers, but no cure. Doctors pinpointed it to a mosquito borne virus.
Eastern equine encephalitis [EEE or triple E] is a [virus] disease spread by mosquito bites. "It's very rare," said Pediatric Director Stephen Thacker. "Only about 7 reported cased on average [each year] in the US."
The girl was admitted to the Children's Ward at Memorial on Nov. 4.
"Despite our best efforts to understand this virus there is no vaccine and there is no treatment," said Thacker.
The disease impacts humans in 2 ways, either as a full body flu-like illness or as encephalitis -- swelling of the brain.
Syria: Leishmaniasis
Leishmaniasis is spreading widely among residents of Deir ez-Zor, and especially children. Some of the areas affected are controlled by the Kurdish self-administration while others are under the control of the Syrian regime. Medical sources counted hundreds of infected civilians and confirmed the disease's rapid spread.
According to Atef al-Tawil, a manager of the Leishmania & Environmental Health Programme at the Syrian regime's Ministry of Health, most infections in eastern Deir ez-Zor are spread among school children.
In a Facebook comment on a post by Twasol agency, al-Tawil claimed that cases of leishmaniasis were detected, at the end of November, in primary schools in eastern Deir ez-Zor and its surrounding villages (al-Jalaa, al-Salihiyah, al-Tawtha, al-Abbas, al-Mujawdeh, al-Hasarat, al-Saial, al-Ghabrah).
According to al-Tawil, 455 infections of children were detected. A treatment team of 10 members was formed in the affected locations, to help control the disease to aid in early detection.
The Syrian Ministry of Health acted after several appeals by civilians residing in the area as they noticed the disease spreading among their children. Al-Tawil said that this rapid spread was due to the fact that all the infected people have lately returned to their original areas which lack medical centers.
November 29, 2019
United States: Equine Influenza
On Oct. 11, an attending veterinarian confirmed 2 Ventura County, California horses tested positive for equine influenza. The first, a 2-year-old Warmblood gelding, experienced onset of clinical signs, including coughing, fever, and nasal discharge, on Oct. 8.
The second, a yearling filly, first showed clinical signs of coughing, enlarged submandibular (under the jaw) lymph nodes, fever, and nasal discharge on Oct. 9.
The vaccination status of both horses is reported as unknown, and both are recovering.
Equine influenza is a highly contagious respiratory disease affecting horses, ponies, and other equids, such as donkeys, mules, and zebras. The virus is spread via saliva and respiratory secretions from infected horses. Horses are commonly exposed via horse-to-horse contact; humans picking up the virus on their hands, shoes, or clothes; tack, buckets, or other equipment; and aerosol transmission from coughing and sneezing.
Clinical signs of equine influenza infection can include a high fever; a dry, hacking cough; depression; weakness; anorexia; serous (watery) nasal discharge; and slightly enlarged lymph nodes. Consider monitoring your horse's health at shows by taking his temperature daily, which can help you pick up on signs of infection early and take appropriate measures to reduce disease spread.
United States: Eastern Equine Encephalitis
An old disease transmitted by mosquitoes called eastern equine encephalitis [EEE] has reared its head in 8 U.S. states so far in 2019, but health officials emphasize there's no need to bug out.
In a commentary published in the New England Journal of Medicine, officials from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases noted that, as of Nov. 12, there have been 36 confirmed cases of eastern equine encephalitis, or EEE, this year. In all, 14 of these cases were fatal.
"Although EEE isn't a major threat at this time, the public needs to be aware that it's out there," NIAID Director Anthony S Fauci, MD, told UPI.
To date, cases of EEE have been confirmed in Connecticut, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, North Carolina, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Tennessee. Massachusetts and Michigan lead the way with 12 and 10 cases, respectively.
The fact that many of these states, and other regions in the country, are moving into the colder winter months likely means few if any new cases of EEE will emerge before the end of the year because mosquitoes won't be as common, Fauci said. However, that could change come springtime, he added.
South Africa: Foot and Mouth Disease
Traces of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) have so far linked infected animals to an auction facility in Limpopo, with at least 5 commercial facilities affected as a result.
In a joint statement, the Departments of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development and the National Animal Health Forum (NHF) on FMD said there are more concerns that purchased animals at the same auction could be affected.
"All known infected properties have been placed under quarantine, suspect properties under precautionary quarantine (and) plans to resolve the situation are being implemented," the statement read.
On Nov. 1, veterinary services were alerted to clinical signs of FMD in a herd of cattle on a farm in the Molemole Local Municipality in the Capricorn district, Limpopo.
So far, at least 5 properties have been confirmed affected.
A technical task team has been established, comprising the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries veterinary officials, provincial veterinary officials, as well as industry commodity groups led by the NHF and experts in the specific disease.
FMD is a highly contagious viral disease that affects cattle, pigs (domestic and wild), sheep, goats, and other cloven-hoofed animals.
Venezuela: Yellow Fever
On Nov. 13, the Venezuela International Health Regulations (IHR) National Focal Point (NFP) and the Venezuela PAHO/WHO Country Office shared information about a confirmed case of yellow fever in Bolivar State. The case-patient is a 46-year-old male resident of the municipality of Gran Sabana, Bolivar State. He was in the locality of Uriman municipality of Gran Sabana within the 19 days prior to the onset of symptoms. Symptom onset was Sept. 14, and included fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, epistaxis, petechiae, and diarrhoea. On Sept. 26, he visited a public hospital in the municipality of Heres where his condition deteriorated, with moderate dehydration, bleeding from the gums, jaundice, choluria, abdominal pain, and hepatomegaly. As of Nov. 13, the patient remains hospitalized with chronic renal failure and moderate anemia.
On Sept. 26, the first serum sample was sent to the National Reference Laboratory, the National Institute of Hygiene "Rafael Rangel" per its acronym in Spanish, IHRR, in Caracas. On The sample tested positive for yellow fever by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and negative for dengue by RT-PCR.
Most of the territory of Venezuela is considered as at risk for sylvatic yellow fever, and this case marks the first confirmed autochthonous case of yellow fever diagnosed in Venezuela since 2005.
United States: Chronic Wasting Disease
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) said chronic wasting disease (CWD) is continuing its spread in Tennessee after it was detected in Shelby County.
A 2-year-old buck that had been hunted in the Wolf River Wildlife Management Area tested positive for the disease. The TWRA said the find isn't necessarily surprising given the disease has been prevalent in neighboring Fayette County and had already been detected in Tipton County to the north.
In the latest round of sampling since August 2019, more than 40 other deer have tested positive for CWD in Fayette, Hardeman and Shelby counties so far. When the disease was first detected in Tennessee during the prior hunting season, the TWRA found 185 carcasses between November 2018 and January 2019 had tested positive in Fayette, Hardeman, Tipton and Madison counties.
CWD poses a significant ecological threat nationwide as members of the deer family become infected. The TWRA said the disease is 100% fatal to deer and elk and can be transmitted in a variety of ways, such as contaminated feed or water sources.
The TWRA said there are no known management strategies to lessen the risk of indirect transmission of the disease once the environment has been contaminated, saying that alone makes the eradication of CWD very difficult -- if not impossible.
Anyone who sees deer or elk that look sick, act strangely, or are found dead in the wild are asked to avoid shooting or handling them and report it to their regional office.
Sierra Leone: Lassa Fever
A Dutch doctor who was evacuated from Sierra Leone after contracting Lassa fever has died in hospital. The medic was flown home on Nov. 19 after being infected in the northern town of Masanga, an area not previously known to have been affected.
He reportedly developed symptoms of the viral hemorrhagic illness after operating on a pregnant woman.
A 2nd Dutch doctor who was also evacuated is being treated for the disease.
Described as a cousin of Ebola, Lassa fever is endemic in eastern Sierra Leone, but cases have also been reported in northern and southern parts of the country in the last 5 years. It is also endemic in neighboring Liberia, Guinea and several other West African states.
The doctor died while being treated in "strict isolation" at a hospital in the city of Leiden, Dutch Health Minister Bruno Bruins was quoted by AFP news agency as saying.
The minister confirmed that a 2nd doctor was in an isolation ward in hospital in the central city of Utrecht after being infected with the virus.
The doctors were linked to a medical charity and had been working at a hospital in Masanga.
United States: Strangles
The Rhode Island State Veterinarian has reported equine strangles at a boarding facility in Providence County.
The Equine Disease Communication Center reported that a horse boarding facility in Providence County, Rhode Island, with nearly 50 horses in residence, reported that animals began experiencing mild respiratory disease in mid-September 2019. Signs were mild fever, nasal discharge and cough. There are several attending veterinarians for the stable, and one was consulted. The veterinarian obtained nasopharyngeal samples from 3 horses and submitted them for a respiratory panel, where Equine Rhinovirus-B was discovered in 2 horses and Streptococcus equi zooepidemicus in all 3.
The farm owner separated the sick horses from well ones until the sick ones were clinically normal for greater than a week. Upon reintroducing the horses formerly showing signs, the well horses began showing similar signs, with some also experiencing lymphadenitis and lymphadenopathy.
To date, approximately 26 horses have experienced some respiratory signs, and 21 have not. A second veterinarian examined a single horse with the aforementioned signs. She obtained a nasopharyngeal sample, which was qPCR positive for EHV-4 and Streptococcus equi equi. Upon this diagnosis, the state veterinarian issued an order of quarantine.
The owner had been maintaining strict biosecurity prior to the new diagnosis, but 2 horses left the property to go to another boarding facility in the same town. There was no quarantine in place when the horses were moved.
Belgium: African Swine Fever
The damage caused by African swine fever [ASF] in [Belgium] amounts to 22.5 million euros [about $24.8 million] per month, reports 'Nieuwe Oogst'. The Federation of Belgian Meat (FEBEV) calculated the total losses to be at least 700 million euros [nearly $771.6 million]. "Past crises teach us that it can take up to 10 years for the image to return to the old level," says Michael Gore from FEBEV. "We will still have problems with this in the coming years."
In 2018, wild boar were found infected by ASF in the province of Luxembourg. This was followed by 25 countries deciding to close their borders for Belgian pork. Meanwhile, India, Viet Nam, and Singapore have re-opened their gates. Negotiations are still in full swing with China. Some important steps were taken during the economic mission that took place this week.
Exports to European countries could continue, albeit at lower prices than, say, Dutch or German pork. The frustration among Belgian pig farmers is great. "Less than 2 per cent of the pigs are in the affected province of Luxembourg," Michael Gore tells Nieuwe Oogst. "Nevertheless, the entire Belgian sector is suffering the consequences."
Belgium can resume exports on condition that no new ASF cases of swine fever are found for a year. But at the end of October, another carcass of a boar was discovered that was contaminated. "There is a debate about whether to count from the date this animal died or from the date of its carcass being found," says Gore. "We assume that the last ASF case took place in August. In the best scenario, we can resume exports in August 2020."
Bangladesh: Lumpy Skin Disease
Livestock officials have asked dairy farmers not to panic after lumpy skin disease, which is characterized by nodules on the skin, has spread in cattle farms in Chattogram.. The disease was detected for the first time in Bangladesh at a farm in Karnaphuli Upazila's Shikalbaha in July, according to Mohammad Reazul Haque, Chattogram district livestock officer. Experts believe the disease spread in Bangladesh from India.
There are 1,655 cattle farms in Chattogram. The disease has spread among around 20% of the cows in these farms, according to the government. Cattle raised at homes have also been affected.
November 22, 2019
Poland: African Swine Fever
According to a communiqué released by Poland's Chief Veterinary Officer, the number of ASF-confirmed wild boar in the Lubuskie Voivodeship, western Poland, has risen to 20 this week.
Polish authorities first confirmed that African swine fever (ASF) had been found in a dead wild boar about 53 miles from the border with Germany. The case positive for ASF concerned a wild boar that was found on Nov. 4 after having been killed in a road accident in Lubuskie voivodship. This province borders to Germany in the west.
The Polish Chief Veterinary Inspection broke the news of that first appearance of ASF on Nov. 14. The animal had been tested at the Polish State Veterinary Institute in Puławy.
The news means that the virus has hopped westward by 186 miles all of a sudden. Hitherto it was known that ASF virus was present in wild boar in the area around the capital Warsaw. In addition, it crept slowly westward in northern Poland. Experts agree that when the ASF virus jumps over larger distances, normally it is because of human negligence.
The finding place of the animal is close to the village Tarnow Jezierny.
India: Bluetongue
According to the Chitradurga district Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services, nearly 5% of the total sheep in the district are suffering from the deadly bluetongue disease. Chitradurga is one of the largest sheep-rearing districts in the state with more than 1.4 million sheep.
The disease is caused by the biting of Culicoides midges, and it damages the immune system, resulting in slow death.
Deputy director, Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services, Dr. Krishnappa said, "There is an outbreak of the bluetongue disease in the district owing to the recent heavy rains." He said the mortality rate was 20-30% and can be reduced if the infected animals are properly treated.
Bluetongue is an OIE-listed, infectious, non-contagious, Culicoides-borne viral disease that affects wild and domestic ruminants such as sheep, goats, cattle, buffaloes, deer, most species of African antelope, and various other Artiodactyla as vertebrate hosts. Infection with bluetongue virus (BTV) is inapparent in the vast majority of animals but can cause fatal disease in a proportion of infected sheep, particularly in European breeds, as well as in deer and wild ruminants.
Zimbabwe: Anthrax
At least 5 cattle have died in Gokwe North in the past week due to an outbreak of anthrax, the Veterinary Services Department has said. This comes barely a month after the same area was hit by the same disease which was later contained by the department.
In an interview, Midlands Provincial Veterinary Officer Dr. Martin Sibanda said the department will be moving vaccines to the area to deal with the outbreak. "We have another focal outbreak this week in Gokwe North in areas close to Binga. We are trying to move our vaccines to the place and that has to be done in cold chain so that same temperature is maintained. "The department will also have to dispatch officers to the area to vaccinate affected livestock," he said on Friday.
Dr. Sibanda urged farmers to burn all carcasses. "We would like to urge farmers that they should properly dispose carcasses of cattle that die of anthrax. If proper procedures are not followed, the infected area will increase especially during the rainy season. Also, people are advised that they should never consume such meat as the disease can be transmitted to humans," he said.
Late last month, Gokwe North was hit by another outbreak, which also affected humans who consumed contaminated meat.
Meanwhile, Dr Sibanda also urged livestock farmers to round up their cattle every day and monitor their health, as the department fears another outbreak.
China: Plague
China's Inner Mongolia reported a fresh, confirmed case of bubonic plague on Nov. 17, despite an earlier declaration by the country's health officials that the risk of an outbreak was minimal.
The health commission of the autonomous region said a 55-year-old man was diagnosed with the disease after he ate wild rabbit meat on Nov. 5. Bubonic plague is the most common form of plague globally and can advance and spread to the lungs, which is a more severe type called pneumonic plague, according to the WHO.
The Inner Mongolia case follows 2 that were confirmed earlier in November 2019 in Beijing. In both cases, the 2 patients from Inner Mongolia were quarantined at a facility in the capital after being diagnosed with pneumonic plague, health authorities said at the time.
The Inner Mongolia health commission said it found no evidence so far to link the most recent case to the earlier 2 cases in Beijing.
The patient in Inner Mongolia is now isolated and being treated at a hospital in Ulanqab, the health commission said.
A total of 28 people who had close contact with the patient are now isolated and under observation, and the commission said there have been no abnormal symptoms found in them.
Switzerland: Tick-borne encephalitis
Over 250 cases of the tick-borne early summer meningoencephalitis (ESME) disease have been recorded in Switzerland so far in 2019, the 2nd-highest number since the year 2000.
In its weekly bulletin published Nov. 11, the Federal Office for Public Health (FOPH) wrote that 251 cases of the disease had been reported up to the end of October. The government urged a nationwide vaccination against the disease at the start of the year.
The figure is second only to the record 353 of last year. The third-most cases reported in a single year came in 2017, with 250. Overall, since the year 2000, annual cases have fluctuated, with some years seeing less than 100 incidences, but with a steady rise in the past 5 years.
ESME, which attacks the nervous system and may result in paralysis, permanent sequelae or death, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), is transmitted by tick bites, and most cases are reported in the summer months. In 2019, the peak came in July.
United States: Eastern Equine Encephalitis
A Michigan farmer has died after contracting the mosquito-borne virus eastern equine encephalitis (EEE). The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services confirmed the farmer died following complications with the virus on Nov. 16.
The farmer has since been identified as an Eau Claire resident.
EEE, also known as sleeping sickness, is a rare virus that causes inflammation of the brain. It is spread by the bite of a mosquito infected with the disease [virus], according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
According to a GoFundMe page set up by a family friend, the man became extremely ill on Aug. 19. At first, it appeared as though he was suffering from a fever, but his condition began to worsen quite rapidly. Shortly after, the man was admitted to the hospital in critical condition. He remained in ICU for 4 weeks before being transferred to a long-term care facility, the GoFundMe page reads.
Sudan: Rift Valley Fever
On Oct. 10, the National IHR Focal Point for Sudan notified WHO of 47 suspected [human] cases of Rift Valley fever (RVF), including 2 deaths in Arb'aat Area, Towashan Village, in El Qaneb locality, Red Sea State. The suspected cases presented with high-grade fever, headaches, joint pain, vomiting. There were no hemorrhagic signs or symptoms observed. The first case presented to the health facility on Sept. 19.
On Sept. 28, a total of 14 samples were sent to the National Public Health Laboratory in Khartoum, and 5 tested positive for RVF by immunoglobulin M (IgM) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). These samples were also tested for malaria and were found negative.
On Oct. 13, a total of 10 suspected RVF cases were recorded in Barbar and Abu Hamed localities, of River Nile State. Of the 10 suspected RVF cases, 5 samples were tested and 4 were found positive for RVF.
These human RVF cases are concomitant with abortions and deaths among goats in the areas where the human suspected and confirmed cases have been reported.
Germany: Listeriosis
Authorities in Germany have admitted mistakes were made as part of investigations into a Listeria outbreak that affected 37 people beginning in 2014.
One infection was recorded in 2014, 3 in 2016, and 4 in 2017 but the outbreak was only identified in 2018 by whole genome sequencing when there was an increase with 21 people sick. This year, 8 more patients became ill with the last disease onset date in mid-July. 3 people are reported to have died with listeriosis as a contributing factor.
The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) and the Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL) looked at supply chains and food samples. Investigations compared a Listeria isolate from the Wilke Waldecker Fleisch- und Wurstwaren company near Hesse with patient isolates from the outbreak, finding a close relationship between them.
The United States was one of more than 20 countries that may have received meat from this German company but no illnesses were recorded in other nations.
Issues were raised about the speed of communication between different authorities, scrutiny of Wilke and decision making around the timing of closing the business.
November 15, 2019
Nigeria: Lassa Fever
The National Center for Disease Control on Nov. 6 said 113 suspected cases of Lassa Fever were reported in 12 council areas in 9 states and the Federal Capital Territory. The NCDC said on its website that 13 of the cases were confirmed, with 2 deaths recorded.
The states affected are Edo (72), Ondo (18), Ebonyi (5), Bauchi (11), Nasarawa (1), Plateau (1), the FCT (2), Adamawa (1), Benue (1), and Ogun (1).
The agency said the national Lassa fever multi-partner, multi-sectoral Technical Working Group would continue to coordinate response activities at all levels, while a rapid response team had already been deployed in Benue state.
It added that the center, in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Environment and World Health Organization, had conducted Lassa Fever national environmental response in Edo and Ondo states.
Lassa fever (LF) cases continue to occur in Nigeria in 9 states. The above report does not specify the time period or dates that the report covers nor if any cases were contracted in healthcare centers or in villages. The report appears to be for one week and probably covers the most recent epi week. This is normally the time of year when there are fewer Lassa fever cases.
Nigeria: Yellow Fever
In Bauchi state, 29 people have died so far following the outbreak of yellow fever, an acute viral hemorrhagic disease transmitted by infected mosquitoes. Dr. Rilwanu Mohammed, chairman, Bauchi State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (BSPHDA), gave the death toll on Nov. 7.
"We discovered 224 suspected cases, and 29 were confirmed dead, with 24 in Alkaleri local government, 2 in Bauchi local government, one in Darazo council area, and 2 in Ningi local government," he said.
Mohammed explained that the virus was first detected in Alkaleri council area in September 2019, adding that efforts had since been stepped up to avoid further spread. He said that government was doing everything possible to ensure that the disease did not spread to the state capital.
"That is why the government has made efforts through the vaccination of people living in the prone areas. Already, 500 000 doses of vaccines had been administered in Alkaleri, and we are expecting 600 000 doses of vaccines to be administered in the Ningi community," he said.
According to the BSPHDA chairman, yellow fever is not a communicable disease; it can only be transmitted through mosquitoes. He urged communities to give early information to the authorities, especially when they notice unusual happenings around them. Mohammed also urged the residents of the state not to reject vaccines, saying that this was the only way they could be free from the dreaded disease.
The "yellow" in the name refers to the jaundice that affects some patients. Symptoms of yellow fever include fever, headache, jaundice, muscle pain, nausea, vomiting, and fatigue.
Indonesia: African Swine Fever
Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture officials said that after the authorities conducted laboratory tests on thousands of dead pigs in northern Sumatra this week, the country confirmed the first case of African swine fever [ASF].
A provincial official said on Nov. 8 that more than 4,000 pigs died after the outbreak of pig cholera in North Sumatra. According to reports, in North Sumatra, in September 2019, Da Yinli County first discovered cases of pig cholera.
"The results of clinical trials and laboratory tests have shown that pigs die only from African swine fever, but there are also positive samples of swine cholera," said Faculty of Animal Health, Faculty of Agriculture.
Scotland: Diphtheria
Two cases of diphtheria have been confirmed in the Lothian area. Both individuals, who are believed to be receiving treatment for the disease in an Edinburgh hospital, had recently returned to Scotland after travelling abroad.
Diphtheria was once a major cause of death in the UK but is now extremely rare due to high uptake rates for the childhood vaccine. One of the last major outbreaks in Scotland was in 1968, when 6 members of the same household in Motherwell, Lanarkshire, fell ill. Two died.
A spokeswoman for Health Protection Scotland confirmed they were aware of 2 cases of diphtheria but said NHS Lothian were "dealing with this at a local board level."
NHS Lothian stressed that the likelihood of any additional cases was "very small" due to high immunization rates.
Since 2015, there have only been 5 other cases reported in Scotland.
Alison McCallum, director of public health at NHS Lothian said: "Two related cases of diphtheria have been confirmed in the Lothian area, with both patients having recently returned from abroad. "All close contacts of these patients have been identified, contacted and followed up in line with nationally agreed guidelines. "The likelihood of any additional cases is very small, as most people are protected by immunization given in childhood. "In Lothian, 98% of children are vaccinated against diphtheria by the age of 24 months.
"We encourage people travelling abroad to visit Fit for Travel where they can access information on how to stay safe and healthy abroad, as well as destination specific health advice."
United States: Eastern Equine Encephalitis
A deer had to be euthanized after being infected with the eastern equine encephalitis [EEE] virus, New Jersey officials said on Oct. 31.
The deer, discovered in Winslow, was the first in New Jersey with a confirmed case of EEE, a dangerous mosquito-borne virus that's affected 4 people in the state this year, officials said.
The disease, which is similar to West Nile virus, can infect humans, mammals and birds through the bites of mosquitoes that have fed on infected reservoir hosts, according to a press release from the NJ Department of Environmental Protection's Division of Fish and Wildlife.
Most people infected with the EEE virus show no signs of illness and make a full recovery. However, the disease is serious with 4 to 5 percent of those infected developing flu-like symptoms that advance rapidly, leading to permanent disability or death, the division said.
Severe cases of EEE begin with the sudden onset of headache, high fever, chills and vomiting, according to the NJ Department of Health.
In August 2019, an older man in Somerset County was hospitalized with the virus and later discharged to a rehabilitation center, according to the health department.
Human cases of EEE also have been confirmed in Union and Atlantic counties, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
A pair of deer did not shy away from the spotlight in a Cherry Hill yard. The homeowner learned the deer had visited after watching security footage.
Pakistan: Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever
The deadly Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic virus has 'attacked' Karachi, the largest city of Pakistan, killing at least 20 people so far this year.
Health authorities in Karachi say the latest to die because of the Congo virus on Nov. 11 was a man who had been admitted to a hospital. "It is not an outbreak, but the situation is very alarming," said a health official.
On July 25, a Congo virus alert was issued for the metropolis, stipulating precautionary instructions for all those visiting cattle markets or farms, ARY news reported.
The alert was issued by Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) to hospitals, directing the management to adopt special precautions for a Congo-affected patient. The KMC has also asked hospitals to establish special wards for these patients and run awareness campaigns about the virus.
Congo virus, or Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF), is a tick-borne viral disease that infects wild and domestic animals, including livestock. Humans can contract this disease by getting bitten by an infected tick living on the host animal or coming into contact with the blood, tissues or fresh meat of the infected animal. Human-to-human transmission is also possible in case of close contact with the organs, blood or other bodily fluids of the infected person, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
China: Plague
Two people in China have been diagnosed with plague, the latest cases of a disease more commonly associated with historical catastrophe.
Plague is caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis and can arise in 3 forms -- a lung infection, known as pneumonic plague; a blood infection, known as septicemic plague; and a form that affects the lymph nodes, called bubonic plague. This infection was behind several pandemics including the Black Death of the late middle ages, which is estimated to have killed up to 60% of the European population.
The 2 new cases being treated at a hospital in Beijing are of the pneumonic form, which is even more serious than bubonic plague. According to the CDC, plague typically spreads to humans who have handled an infected animal or who have been bitten by a flea hosted by an infected animal. However, in the case of pneumonic plague, it can be spread when an infected person coughs. Pneumonic plague is highly contagious and is fatal if not treated quickly with [antimicrobials].
The WHO said it understood that close contacts were being screened and managed. "The (Chinese) National Health Commission are implementing efforts to contain and treat the identified cases and increasing surveillance," said Fabio Scano, of WHO China.
It is not the first time in recent history that China has dealt with cases of plague. In 2014 the city of Yumen was sealed off and 151 people were placed in quarantine after a man died from the disease.
According to the CDC, plague -- largely of the bubonic form -- continues to crop up in rural areas of the USA, including northern Arizona, southern Colorado, and southern Oregon. In 2014 there were 16 cases and 4 deaths in the USA, including that of a man from Utah thought to have come into contact with an infected flea or dead animal.
Recent epidemics have been reported in Africa, Asia, and South America, predominately in rural regions. The WHO reported 3,248 cases and 584 deaths from plague worldwide between 2010 and 2015.
In 2017 Madagascar had an outbreak of plague, with 2,348 cases and 202 deaths, of which 1,791 cases were pneumonic plague.
India: Anthrax
Anthrax outbreak has been reported in Dasmantpur block after 2 tribal members of S Dandabad were found to be affected by the disease. Five days back, some tribal members consumed beef in a function, following which abscesses were found among 2 of them.
On Nov. 11, they were taken to Damantpur CHC, where the doctors suspected that the 2 have contracted anthrax. When the duo were sent to Koraput Medical College and Hospital, the doctors there confirmed the disease. Meanwhile, a medical team has been camping in the village, and they have started distributing medicines to check the spread of the disease. Two years back, more than 10 tribal members of the village had been afflicted with anthrax after consuming half-cooked meat.
Canada: Creutzfeldt-Jacob Disease
Moncton is a city of some 85,000 people in southeastern New Brunswick, Canada. In a CBC [Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) report Nov. 12, it is reported that a third Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) case this year -- all 3 cases had cataract surgery at the Moncton Hospital.
In April, Moncton Hospital reported the identification 2 separate cases where a patient with probable Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) had cataract surgery in the facility.
Dr. Gordon Dow, division head of infectious diseases at the Moncton Hospital, said even he was shocked when another case of CJD was discovered.
"I think even though there's the overwhelming weight of evidence suggesting that we've had a cluster of sporadic cases, there is no need for public alarm," Dow said.
"This is not an indication that there's been an outbreak of CJD."
November 8, 2019
Australia: Anthrax
A new outbreak of anthrax in western New South Wales has led to the second call for the state's livestock producers to vaccinate their stock against the disease. The state's second and most recent case of anthrax was located in a mob of rams in the Western Local Land Services region.
NSW Department of Primary Industries said biosecurity measures, including stock movement restrictions and the vaccination of remaining livestock, were immediately imposed. "In both cases this year, the stock that developed anthrax were not vaccinated," DPI senior veterinary officer, Dr. Graham Bailey, said.
In New South Wale's first anthrax outbreak this year, about 350 sheep were confirmed as dying from the disease at a central west New South Wales property in February. Anthrax deaths have also been reported in sheep flocks near Swan Hill in recent years, with one outbreak in 2017 prompting the vaccination of more than 7,000 sheep, cattle, and pigs by Agriculture Victoria.
A case of anthrax in cattle was confirmed in Queensland's Dirranbandi-St George area in early July 2018. This detection was the fourth incident in cattle in the region since 2016.
Drought conditions have created a favorable environment for anthrax infections, and the most recent case occurred further west than would normally be expected.
Dr. Bailey said while there were no general public health risks or trade implications from the detection, in these conditions producers should consider vaccination to protect their livestock. "Ingestion of soil by sheep, cattle, and other ruminants is one of the key risk factors for anthrax, which is why drought conditions are increasing the risk."
Japan: Classical Swine Fever
One wild boar caught in Hokuto city, Yamanashi prefecture has been found to be infected with classical swine fever (CSF). This is the first wild-boar case in Yamanashi prefecture since the start of the event in Japan last year. The prefecture has decided to strengthen its efforts to control the spread of CSF by preventing the invasion of wild boar into domestic pig farms.
Yamanashi prefecture revealed that the wild boar caught in Akeno-cho, Hokuto city, on Oct. 9 was found to be infected with CSF virus. According to the prefecture, there are 3 pig farms within a radius of 10 km from where the wild boar was captured; no abnormalities have been observed in these holdings.
Since last year in Japan, CSF has infected 12 prefectures; in all 12, including Yamanashi, the virus has affected domestic pigs, and in 11 prefectures, it has affected wild boar. Now CSF has also been found in wild boar in Yamanashi.
The prefecture has decided to strengthen its efforts to control the spread of the disease, in particular to prevent wild boar from entering pig farms, and to thoroughly disinfect them. In addition, according to the prefecture, as a result of discussions with the national government, Yamanashi prefecture has been added to the areas in which vaccination of domestic pigs is applied. This will be addressed in November 2019.
Kenya: Malaria
Nakuru County health executive Dr. Gichuki Kariuki has urged Solai residents to visit health facilities in the area for malaria checkups. Addressing the media following reports that 3 people had succumbed to malaria, Dr. Gichuki said regular checkup is the only solution. He termed the deaths unfortunate, adding that had the patients visited health facilities on noting the first symptoms, they could have been saved. "We urge residents of Solai and Nakuru as a whole to ensure they go for checkups in our health facilities whenever they spot symptoms" he said.
He acknowledged that the health docket in Nakuru is facing challenges when it comes to malaria, as the national government has not been providing mosquito nets since malaria prevalence is low. According to Dr. Gichuki, a sensitization campaign on malaria has commenced in Solai to educate residents on the symptoms of the disease. "The other challenge we have is that since our prevalence is low the national government does not distribute mosquito nets in Nakuru. But so far, we have put in place measures," he said.
Earlier this week, panic gripped residents of Arus village in Solai, following the death of 3 people in a week due to malaria.
The symptoms of malaria include; diarrhea, high fever, chills, headaches, nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, and profuse sweating. According to the World Health Organization, the early symptoms; fever, headache, and chills may be mild and difficult to recognize as malaria.
United Arab Emirates: MERS
On Oct. 7, the National IHR Focal Point of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) notified the World Health Organization of one laboratory-confirmed case of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection.
The patient is a 44 year old male non-national farmer from Al Ain city, Abu Dhabi region, UAE. He developed fever, runny nose, headache, vomiting, productive cough and shortness of breath. A nasopharyngeal aspirate tested positive for MERS-CoV by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) at the Shiekh Khalifa Medical Center laboratory.
The patient has underlying comorbidities, including diabetes mellitus, hypertension and hyperlipidemia. He has a history of close contact with dromedary camels and sheep at nearby farms during the 14 days prior to the onset of symptoms. He has no history of recent travel and has not been involved in the slaughtering of animals. As of Oct. 14, the patient is in a stable condition and is currently in an intensive care unit (ICU).
This is the first case of MERS-CoV infection reported from UAE since May 2018. Since 2012, UAE has reported 88 cases (including the patient reported above) of MERS-CoV infection and 12 associated deaths.
Globally since 2012, a total of 2,470 laboratory-confirmed cases of infection with MERS-CoV have been reported to WHO, including 851 associated deaths. The global number reflects the total number of laboratory-confirmed cases reported to WHO under the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005) to date. The total number of deaths includes the deaths reported to WHO and through follow-up with Ministries of Health in affected member states.
India: Malaria
As the Delhi government led by chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and the municipal corporation are trying to prevent spread of mosquito-borne diseases including dengue, malaria, chikungunya, Zika virus among others, the situation doesn't seem to be under control. Around 76 fresh cases of malaria have been reported in the national capital in just one week, taking the total number of malaria cases reported so far this year to 535.
According to a report by India Today, Delhi Municipal Corporation released a report that mentioned the names of affected areas in Delhi, which included Rohini, Keshavpuram, Mukherjee Nagar, Narela and South Delhi. In a mere 19 days, around 362 fresh cases have been reported in the national capital, the report said.
Malaria is transmitted to people through the bite of infected female anopheles mosquitoes. Initial symptoms of malaria include fever, headache and chills. People witnessing any of these symptoms should rush to a nearby hospital and get the necessary tests done. The mosquito-borne diseases are preventable as well as curable, but if not diagnosed in time, it may lead to multi-organ failure in adults. Among children, malaria may result in problems such as severe anemia, respiratory distress, or cerebral malaria if not diagnosed in time.
Korea: African Swine Fever
A wild boar found dead near the border with North Korea has tested positive for African swine fever (ASF), authorities said on Saturday, bringing the total number of such cases to 20 in South Korea. The confirmation came a day after the wild boar carcass was found by soldiers in the central border town of Cheorwon, about 90 km north of Seoul, according to the National Institute of Environmental Research. South Korea has begun to mobilize hundreds of soldiers and civilians to hunt down wild boars near the border to try to contain spread of ASF.
Separately, South Korea has confirmed 14 ASF cases at pig farms since mid-September, when the country's first case of the deadly hog disease was confirmed at a farm near the border with North Korea.
In May 2019, North Korea reported its first outbreak of the disease at a farm near its border with China to the World Organization for Animal Health [OIE].
It is still unclear how the virus traveled into South Korea, but so far, all reported cases here have occurred in areas bordering the North. The animal disease does not affect humans but is deadly to pigs. There is currently no vaccine nor cure for the disease.
India: Lumpy Skin Disease
Lumpy skin disease (LSD), locally known as Go-Basant, has triggered panic among cattle owners in Ganjam district.
The disease has killed 3 cattle, while 2356 have been affected in 409 villages of 22 blocks and 33 wards of Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BeMC), Hinjili Municipality, Chhatrapur, Kabisuryanagar, Kodala, Purushottampur, Ganjam, Belaguntha and Aska Notified Area Council (NAC), said chief district veterinary officer (CDVO), Ganjam Dr Trinath Nayak.
LSD is an infectious disease caused by capripox virus. The onset of fever occurs almost one week after infection. It is transmitted between animals by direct contact, via arthropod vectors. The virus is highly host specific and does not cause disease in humans. Unfortunately, there are no specific antiviral drugs available for treatment of LSD. The only treatment available is supportive care of cattle. This can include treatment of skin lesions using wound care sprays and use of antibiotics to prevent secondary skin infections and pneumonia.
The CDVO said 2 weekly cattle haats [unregulated periodic rural markets] at Hinjili and Belaguntha have been closed to check further spread of the disease. Blood samples of the affected cattle have been sent to laboratories at Bhopal and Phulnakhara. He said that 1981 camps have been held in different parts of Ganjam to spread awareness among people of the disease.
The disease has led to substantial production losses for the cattle farming industry owing to drops in milk yield, decreased fertility among cows and bulls, abortion, damaged skin and hides, decrease or increase in weight, and untimely deaths.
United States: Eastern Equine Encephalitis
A rare mosquito-transmitted virus that can be fatal to humans was recently confirmed in a deer found in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.
On Oct. 9, the Pennsylvania Game Commission received a report of an emaciated deer standing on Swamp Road in Hunlock Township.
According to the agency, the deer -- a doe -- stood with its head down and didn't respond when humans approached. The animal was euthanized by Game Commission officials, and subsequent testing revealed it was infected with eastern equine encephalitis [EEE].
While there have been no reported cases of EEE in humans in the state, there have been several confirmations of the virus appearing in wildlife and livestock during October.
In addition to the deer in Hunlock Twp, EEE has also been found in captive pheasants in Monroe County, horses in Carbon County, and 2 wild turkeys in Erie County.
Kevin Wenner, a biologist with the Game Commission in the Northeast Region Office, said the deer in Hunlock Twp represents the first instance of EEE in wildlife in the area, but it's difficult to predict if more cases will follow.
"We're not experiencing any significant mortality with deer and this happens to be one individual that was tested," he said. "It's possible that we're not aware of every case because a sick animal could die and never be found, but we're not getting an increase in calls regarding sick deer."
Equine encephalitis is transmitted to people, mammals, and birds through the bites of mosquitoes that have fed on infected birds. Most birds with EEE do not show any symptoms and never become ill. However, EEE can cause illness and death in some bird species -- most often pigeons, pheasants, turkeys and quail.
Nigeria: Yellow Fever
A disease outbreak suspected to be yellow fever [YF] has again killed at least 6 people in different communities in Kyata ward of Ningi Local Government Area after killing over 18 people in Yankari Local Government, all in Bauchi State.
The affected communities included Tipchi, Deru, Tudun Wada, Barawo and Sabon Gari, all of which are under Burra District.
A resident of Tipchi, Ilya Muhammed, who confirmed this in a telephone interview with Daily Post, listed the symptoms of the disease to include severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting (most at times with blood) and high fever.
Philippines: African Swine Fever
Pork products from China hidden in 2 containers that were seized at the Manila port in October tested positive for African swine fever [ASF], the Department of Agriculture [DA] said.
The pork products, disguised as tomato paste, were tested by the Bureau of Animal Industry, the DA said in a statement.
The cargo was consigned to Jeniti International Trading in Binondo, Manila, Agriculture Secretary William Dar said earlier.
Fresh frozen meat imported from Canada, USA, and France, meanwhile, tested negative, the DA said.
The Philippines has banned the entry of pork from countries affected with the hog disease including China.
Canada: Legionnaire’s Disease
Four new cases of Legionnaires' disease have been reported since an outbreak of the severe form of pneumonia that sickened 16 people in the Moncton [New Brunswick] area was declared over.
Dr. Yves Leger, regional medical officer of health, said in an email that the cases are unrelated to the recent outbreak, which was declared over on Sept. 10.
"Legionnaires' is a underdiagnosed disease and as I previously stated, we were expecting to find cases after the outbreak was declared over given the heightened awareness in the medical community," Leger said.
Leger said the strains in the 4 newer cases do not match the outbreak strain, and are unrelated to each other. "These 4 cases are what we call sporadic, that is, they are not related to each other, and don't have a common source such as a cooling tower."
Philippines: Polio
The Department of Health (DOH) said that the fourth confirmed polio case in the country was a 3-year-old girl from Sultan Kudarat. Health Undersecretary Rolando Enrique Domingo said that the girl visited the Maguindanao province for a month but is actually a resident of Sultan Kudarat.
"It is uncertain where the virus came from in the 2 areas," said Domingo in an interview. The health official also noted that the girl did not receive an oral polio vaccine.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III confirmed the 4th polio case in the Philippines in a statement Tuesday evening. "The test conducted by our Research Institute for Tropical Medicine and the National Institute of Infectious Disease - Japan confirms the fourth polio case in the country," he said.
Last week, the health department confirmed the third polio case that involved a 4-year-old girl from Datu Piang in Maguindanao. In September, two confirmed cases of polio were also reported -- a 3-year-old girl from Lanao del Sur and a 5-year-old boy from Laguna.
"At present, the DOH is implementing a targeted vaccination campaign for all children aged below 5 years old in the municipalities of the third and fourth cases," said Duque. Moreover, the health chief reminded parents on the 2nd round of polio immunization campaign, which will cover the whole of Mindanao.
"We can defeat polio, but we need the public to trust and actively participate in our immunization programs," said Duque. Duque reiterated that the best way to prevent the polio disease is through vaccination. "Handwashing will also help in the prevention," he added.
Cameroon: Monkeypox
Health officials have reported a confirmed case of monkeypox in the Ekondo-Titi health district in South-west region of Cameroon last week. Supportive measures for case management have been put in place, and community-based surveillance has been stepped up in the region.
Monkeypox is a rare disease that occurs throughout remote parts of Central and West Africa, often near tropical rain forests. Fever, headache, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes, and exhaustion are followed by a rash. Patients are usually ill for 2-4 weeks. Monkeypox is fatal in as many as 10% of people who get it.
United States: Equine Herpesvirus
A Virginia horse has tested positive for equine herpesvirus-1, but state officials say there is no cause for alarm for the general horse population in the Commonwealth.
On Oct. 24, the State Veterinarian's Office of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services confirmed that a horse has tested positive for the virus causing equine herpes myeloencephalopathy.
According to a release, the infected animal was at a boarding stable in Loudoun County, which has now been placed under quarantine.
Two other horses that were exposed to the virus have been traced to a boarding stable in Maryland, and VDACS says the Maryland State Veterinarian has been notified.
Both of those horses are being monitored for fever and other clinical signs. VDACS says no other horses have been exposed to the virus.
Officials say there is no cause for alarm regarding the general horse population in Virginia because EHV-1 is a virus present in the environment and found in most horses around the world.
Animals are usually exposed to it at a young age and suffer no serious side effects. Most will carry the virus with no clinical signs for the entirety of their lives.
However, a horse will sometimes develop the neurologic form of the disease.
November 1, 2019
United States: Leptospirosis
Leptospirosis, a disease that has recently been reported in Oklahoma and Utah, can be spread from animals to humans, particularly if you own a pet dog.
Oklahoma veterinarian Sara Rowland recently treated a 7-month-old puppy showed signs of the disease, according to KOCO-TV. "The pet was not eating well, vomiting, and had a yellow tint that you could tell the liver was affected," said Rowland.
KUTV reported September 2019 at least 13 dogs in Utah had contracted the disease. Those cases are believed to have originated at a boarding kennel, where an infected dog may have been kept.
Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease affecting both animals and humans. Left untreated, the disease can lead to kidney damage, liver failure, meningitis, and death, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
Leptospirosis is most commonly found in cattle and rats. According to the Royal Society of Preventing Accidents, it is one of the most widespread diseases humans can contract from animals, particularly through contact with water contaminated by rat urine.
Dogs often contract the disease while swimming in standing water or drinking from puddles, says the American Kennel Club. There is a vaccination against the disease available for dogs, but it is considered a non-essential vaccine unless the animal is at high risk for exposure.
Canada: Eastern Equine Encephalitis
The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit [WECHU] has detected the eastern equine encephalitis [EEE] virus in a mosquito pool in the community.
The EEE virus has been linked to a number of reported cases of illness and death in southwest Michigan, but there have been no human cases in Windsor-Essex.
"Despite the recent cooler temperature in the region, it might not be cold enough to eliminate the risk posed by mosquitoes. This is a good reminder for everyone to continue to protect themselves against mosquitoes by removing any standing water and to take personal protective measures to avoid mosquito bites," said Dr. Ahmed, medical officer of health at the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit.
According to the health unit, serious health effects caused by EEE are rare. Only 4-5 percent of infected people develop symptoms and less than one percent develop a serious neurologic illness such as encephalitis or meningitis.
Still, the health unit recommends anyone who spends time outdoors to use insect repellent, cover as much exposed skin as possible, and wear light colored clothing to avoid mosquito bites.
The WECHU will continue to monitor for EEE activity and distribute educational materials in the area where the positive mosquito pool was identified.
Nigeria: Monkeypox
Nigeria health officials reported 5 new confirmed monkeypox cases in September, as the country continues to report sporadic cases for the past 2 years.
In September, 15 new suspected monkeypox cases were reported from 6 states -- Lagos (5), Rivers (2), Akwa Ibom (3), Zamfara (1), Delta (1), and Imo (2) -- and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT (1).
Of the 15 suspected cases, 5 were confirmed positive for monkeypox in 3 states: Lagos (3), Rivers (1), and Akwa Ibom (1).
Of the suspected cases, 5 tested positive for chickenpox while others are being further evaluated.
No death was recorded in the reporting month.
Monkeypox is a rare disease that occurs throughout remote parts of Central and West Africa, often near tropical rainforests. It is spread through contact with the monkeypox virus from an animal or human (alive or dead) or with materials contaminated with the virus.
Kenya: Rift Valley Fever
More than 5,000 livestock have been killed by heavy rains in Mandera, but Garissa executive Issa Yarrow says they are prepared for a downpour.
It has not started raining heavily in Garissa county. On Oct. 16, Agriculture executive Issa Yarrow said the livestock department was fully prepared to handle any eventualities when the heavy rains start.
Heavy rains are predicted in parts of Northeastern Kenya, a situation already being witnessed in Wajir and Mandera where downpours have wreaked havoc.
In a report dated Oct. 12, Mandera's chief officer for livestock Shamsi Mohamud said the rains have killed more than 5,000 animals.
On Oct. 16, Yarrow said veterinary officers had already been dispatched to vaccinate animals against Rift Valley fever and contagious caprine pleuropneumonia, which are common during the rainy season.
The aim is to vaccinate one million livestock.
United States: Equine Herpesvirus
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) confirmed a Shasta County horse tested positive for the neurologic form of equine herpesvirus (EHV-1) and that 4 horses were exposed.
The positive horse, a 20-year-old Quarter Horse gelding, was quarantined and isolated along with the other exposed horses on its premises. All are under quarantine with enhanced biosecurity protocols, including twice-daily temperature monitoring.
The affected horse attended an event at the Rolling Hills Casino Equestrian Center from Sept. 27-29]. Subsequent to his positive test, stabling there has been thoroughly cleaned and disinfected, and the event's sponsoring organization is notifying membership of the possible exposure.
The CDFA recommends isolating horses having participated in the event, monitoring and recording their temperatures twice a day, and contacting a veterinarian for possible nasal swab and blood sampling if horses display clinical signs of EHV or have a temperature above 101.5 deg F.
Herpesvirus is highly contagious among horses and can cause a variety of ailments in equids, including rhinopneumonitis (a respiratory disease usually found in young horses), abortion in broodmares, and equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy (EHM; the neurologic form).
Japan: Classical Swine Fever
Shizuoka Prefecture announced Oct. 18 that one wild boar whose dead body was found in Fujieda City was infected with classical swine fever (CSF). This is the first CSF case in the prefecture Shizuoka since the start of the event in September 2018. The prefecture has begun preparations for vaccination of all pig farms in the prefecture.
According to the prefecture, the dead boar was found by a passerby on the road of Nodazawa, Okabe-cho, Fujieda City on Oct. 17. The prefecture's genetic test gave a positive result on the same day, and it was confirmed on Oct. 18 by the national examination. No other infection has been confirmed in 120 pig farms in the prefecture.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries added Shizuoka Prefecture as a "recommended area" for vaccination. The prefecture has also started creating a program to check the procedures for inoculation
Philippines: African Swine Fever
The Cabanatuan City Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) culled a total of 207 pigs following reports of hog deaths in Barangay Dalampang, suspected to have been caused by African swine fever (ASF). "Several pigs have died in our place. Blood samples were taken from some of them, while we buried the others," said Amang Soriano, the head of Barangay Dalampang.
Because of the incident, the PVO advised residents, especially hog raisers in the area, to immediately report cases of pig deaths so that prompt measures can be taken. The PVO added that they are being extra cautious because it is the season for increased incidence of vector-borne diseases among livestock.
"It's been warm lately so expect that stress level would be higher, which might result in more deaths," explained Dr. Jun Romero, head of Nueva Ecija Provincial Veterinary Office. "We took samples from several pigs because we suspected it was African swine fever. Laboratory tests turned negative," he added.
The provincial veterinary office is waiting for the result of the laboratory tests conducted on the pig blood samples. If the result turns out positive for ASF, Romero assured they will impose the necessary measures to prevent the spread of the deadly pig virus.
Hog raisers assured, likewise, that they will abide by the protocol should the tests return positive. "We really abide by the government regulations, more so if pig virus is present in our barangay," noted hog raiser Miguel Ramos.
Sudan: Rift Valley Fever
Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA) has suspended imports of livestock from Sudan and Djibouti following a bulletin issued by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) showing the emergence of the Rift Valley fever (RVF) in Sudan.
Meanwhile, a consignment from Djibouti was rejected by the quarantine department after testing positive for RVF antibodies.
MEWA, in the interest of protecting the public health, has stepped up quarantine measures against the disease, warned all veterinary teams and raised animal disease alert to the highest level, and upped community awareness about the disease. It reported that there was immediate coordination with OIE, the Ministry of Health, the Saudi Center for Disease Prevention and Control (Saudi CDC), and neighboring countries to assess the current status.
United States: Encephalitis
Mosquitoes collected in Anaheim and Westminster, Calif., have tested positive for St. Louis encephalitis, the first occurrence in those cities in 3 decades, Orange County officials announced Oct. 15.
The mosquitoes were collected late last week along Old Bolsa Chica Road in Westminster and near Dale and Orange avenues in Anaheim, according to Heather Hyland of the Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District.
The last time any St. Louis encephalitis-positive mosquitoes were found in those areas was 1987, according to the district. Mosquitoes testing positive for the virus were found in 2017 near the vector control offices in Garden Grove, the agency said.
Most people bitten by a St. Louis encephalitis-infected mosquito do not become ill, but those who do will experience symptoms such as fever, headache, nausea, vomiting and fatigue. Older adults can experience inflammation of the brain, and, in rare cases, a person can sustain a long-term disability or die.
The last time anyone in Orange County was afflicted with the virus was in the fall of 1984. There were 6 positive samples St. Louis encephalitis in mosquitoes from 1984 through 1987 in the county.
Pakistan: Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever
A man died of Congo fever [CCHF] on Oct. 17, taking the death toll from the disease in the country to 19.
The deceased has been identified as a farmer from Mirpurkhas. He died during treatment at the Liaquat Medical Hospital in Hyderabad. According to the disease surveillance unit in the region, the man had developed high fever and body ache. He was treated at a local practitioner's clinic, but his condition did not improve.
He started bleeding from the mouth and nose and had blood in his stool. His condition worsened, and his blood samples were sent for investigation, which came out positive after his death.
The directorate general of health services has recommended that Congo virus surveillance be improved immediately in the region.
United States: Vesicular Stomatitis Virus
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) issued a new Situation Report on Oct. 10 that confirmed 9 new vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) cases since its previous report on Oct. 3.
Only one county, Clear Creek in Colorado, was confirmed as newly infected. In all, Colorado had 4 new confirmed positive and 3 new suspected premises, and Wyoming had 2 new suspected premises identified that week.
Vesicular stomatitis virus can cause blisters and sores in the mouth and on the tongue, muzzle, teats, or hooves of horses, cattle, swine, sheep, goats, llamas, and a number of other animals. Lesions usually heal in 2 or 3 weeks.
Because of the virus' contagious nature and its resemblance to other diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease, animal health officials urge livestock owners and caretakers to report these symptoms to their veterinarian immediately. Most animals recover with supportive care by a veterinarian.
"Vesicular stomatitis has been confirmed only in the Western Hemisphere," APHIS said on its website. "It is known to be an endemic disease in the warmer regions of North, Central, and South America, and outbreaks of the disease in other temperate geographic parts of the hemisphere occur sporadically. The Southwestern and Western United States have experienced a number of vesicular stomatitis outbreaks, and the most recent and largest VS outbreak occurred in 2015. Outbreaks usually occur during the warmer months, often along waterways."
India: Anthrax
The Assam forest department has initiated urgent measures to check the outbreak of anthrax after one of the 2 feral buffaloes found dead inside the Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary (PWS) tested positive for infection, officials said.
The wildlife sanctuary in Morigaon district is also home to more than 100 endangered one-horned rhinoceros.
Jitendra Kumar, Divisional Forest Officer, Wildlife, Guwahati said veterinarians have confirmed anthrax as the cause of death of the feral buffaloes whose carcasses were found. Parikshit Kakoti, senior program officer veterinary, WWF [World Wildlife Fund] India, said he found dark red, blackish blood oozing out of the nostrils of one of the 2 buffalo carcasses found within a distance of 100 meters from each other when he arrived at the spot on Oct. 17 leading to the suspicion that it could be anthrax. The other carcass was already decomposed, he explained. "The sample was sent to 2 labs including the North Eastern Regional Disease Diagnostic Laboratory and the College of Veterinary Science. Both the reports note anthrax as the provisional diagnosis," Kakoti said adding that the same infection is likely to have caused the death of the second buffalo.
Around 102 rhinos of the PWS, as per the 2018 census, inhabit just a 16 square kilometer area of the 38 square kilometers that forms the wildlife sanctuary. Kumar said the carcasses were found in the area inhabited by the rhinos.
Since anthrax was being suspected as the cause of death, the carcasses were given a deep burial even as officials tried to disinfect with lime and formaldehyde. The area has also been cordoned off. "An electric fence will be erected around the spot to keep other animals away," Kumar said.
South Korea: African Swine Fever
On Oct. 21, South Korea's quarantine authorities confirmed the 11th outbreak of African swine fever [ASF] from wild boars near the border with North Korea, sparking concerns over the further spread of the deadly animal disease in the area.
The latest confirmed case was reported within a civilian control line near the border, according to the Ministry of Environment.
A total of 8 ASF cases in boars have been reported within the civilian control line this month, while 2 cases came from outside of the line. One more case was confirmed from the Demilitarized Zone.
Quarantine officials have been making efforts to hunt down wild boars in the border areas, deploying hunters and installing traps. The authorities have hunted nearly 3,000 wild boars since Oct. 15, when South Korea announced it would deploy hundreds of soldiers and civilian hunters to areas bordering North Korea for operations to shoot and kill wild boars.
In contrast, no additional ASF infections from local pig farms have been reported since the 14th outbreak was confirmed. So far, all confirmed cases from wild and domestic pigs have come from areas bordering North Korea.
In May, Pyongyang reported its first outbreak of the disease at a farm near its border with China to the World Organization for Animal Health [OIE]. Still, it remains unknown how the virus traveled into South Korea. The disease normally spreads through direct contact with infected animals.
United States: Chronic Wasting Disease
Two mule deer taken in September have tested positive for chronic wasting disease, including one taken in McKenzie County, where CWD had not previously been found. The other deer was harvested during the youth season in unit 3A1 in Divide County where CWD was first detected last fall.
North Dakota Game and Fish Department wildlife veterinarian Dr. Charlie Bahnson said the finding marks the 1st detection of CWD in the badlands.
"This is an iconic place to hunt big game where people travel to from across the state," Bahnson said. "By no means does this first detection spell doom for hunting in this area, as long as we are proactive in trying to keep infection rates from climbing. We also need to reduce the chance of CWD spreading to new areas."
Game and Fish will review its CWD management strategy after the deer rifle season and will consider making revisions for next season.
Botswana: Anthrax
More than 100 elephants have died in Botswana in the past 2 months partly because of a suspected anthrax outbreak, the government said. "Preliminary investigations suggest the elephants are dying from anthrax while some died from drought effects," a Department of Wildlife and National Parks statement said. "Due to the severe drought, elephants end up ingesting soil while grazing and get exposed to the anthrax bacteria spore," it said.
Elephants Without Borders said an aerial survey showed fresh elephant carcasses increased by 593% between 2014 to 2018, mostly from poaching and illegal hunting, with drought also a contributing factor. The wildlife authority said the latest deaths were in the Chobe River front and Nantanga areas in northern Botswana, where 14 dead elephants were found this week. It said it would be burning the carcasses to prevent the anthrax infection from spreading to other animals.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States, anthrax is a bacterium found naturally in soil and commonly affects domestic and wild animals when they breathe in or ingest spores in contaminated soil, plants, or water. Anthrax is not contagious and humans can only get infected by ingesting the bacteria. It can be prevented in animals via regular vaccination.
Botswana is home to almost one-third of Africa's elephants, around 130,000. Botswana has lifted a ban on big-game hunting to combat a growing conflict between humans and wildlife. Botswana and its neighbors in southern Africa are experiencing a severe drought because of below-average rainfall since an El Nino weather system struck in 2015.
South Korea: Avian Influenza
A suspected virulent avian influenza (AI) case has been reported in Asan, South Chungcheong Province, authorities announced, as South Korea has been struggling to curb the spread of African swine fever for months.
A case of AI H5 virus has been confirmed in wild bird feces, sampled near a creek Oct. 15, according to the National Institute of Environmental Research, which is affiliated with the environment ministry.
The agency said the case is suspected to be a virulent bird flu virus, adding it's expected to take a day or 2 to confirm whether it's highly pathogenic. Asan is located some 90 kilometers south of Seoul.
The agency has notified the agriculture ministry and local authorities of the findings for swift quarantine measures.
October 25, 2019
United States: Leptospirosis
Leptospirosis, a disease that has recently been reported in Oklahoma and Utah, can be spread from animals to humans, particularly if you own a pet dog.
Oklahoma veterinarian Sara Rowland recently treated a 7-month-old puppy showed signs of the disease, according to KOCO-TV. "The pet was not eating well, vomiting, and had a yellow tint that you could tell the liver was affected," said Rowland.
KUTV reported September 2019 at least 13 dogs in Utah had contracted the disease. Those cases are believed to have originated at a boarding kennel, where an infected dog may have been kept.
Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease affecting both animals and humans. Left untreated, the disease can lead to kidney damage, liver failure, meningitis, and death, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
Leptospirosis is most commonly found in cattle and rats. According to the Royal Society of Preventing Accidents, it is one of the most widespread diseases humans can contract from animals, particularly through contact with water contaminated by rat urine.
Dogs often contract the disease while swimming in standing water or drinking from puddles, says the American Kennel Club. There is a vaccination against the disease available for dogs, but it is considered a non-essential vaccine unless the animal is at high risk for exposure.
Canada: Eastern Equine Encephalitis
The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit [WECHU] has detected the eastern equine encephalitis [EEE] virus in a mosquito pool in the community.
The EEE virus has been linked to a number of reported cases of illness and death in southwest Michigan, but there have been no human cases in Windsor-Essex.
"Despite the recent cooler temperature in the region, it might not be cold enough to eliminate the risk posed by mosquitoes. This is a good reminder for everyone to continue to protect themselves against mosquitoes by removing any standing water and to take personal protective measures to avoid mosquito bites," said Dr. Ahmed, medical officer of health at the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit.
According to the health unit, serious health effects caused by EEE are rare. Only 4-5 percent of infected people develop symptoms and less than one percent develop a serious neurologic illness such as encephalitis or meningitis.
Still, the health unit recommends anyone who spends time outdoors to use insect repellent, cover as much exposed skin as possible, and wear light colored clothing to avoid mosquito bites.
The WECHU will continue to monitor for EEE activity and distribute educational materials in the area where the positive mosquito pool was identified.
Nigeria: Monkeypox
Nigeria health officials reported 5 new confirmed monkeypox cases in September, as the country continues to report sporadic cases for the past 2 years.
In September, 15 new suspected monkeypox cases were reported from 6 states -- Lagos (5), Rivers (2), Akwa Ibom (3), Zamfara (1), Delta (1), and Imo (2) -- and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT (1).
Of the 15 suspected cases, 5 were confirmed positive for monkeypox in 3 states: Lagos (3), Rivers (1), and Akwa Ibom (1).
Of the suspected cases, 5 tested positive for chickenpox while others are being further evaluated.
No death was recorded in the reporting month.
Monkeypox is a rare disease that occurs throughout remote parts of Central and West Africa, often near tropical rainforests. It is spread through contact with the monkeypox virus from an animal or human (alive or dead) or with materials contaminated with the virus.
Kenya: Rift Valley Fever
More than 5,000 livestock have been killed by heavy rains in Mandera, but Garissa executive Issa Yarrow says they are prepared for a downpour.
It has not started raining heavily in Garissa county. On Oct. 16, Agriculture executive Issa Yarrow said the livestock department was fully prepared to handle any eventualities when the heavy rains start.
Heavy rains are predicted in parts of Northeastern Kenya, a situation already being witnessed in Wajir and Mandera where downpours have wreaked havoc.
In a report dated Oct. 12, Mandera's chief officer for livestock Shamsi Mohamud said the rains have killed more than 5,000 animals.
On Oct. 16, Yarrow said veterinary officers had already been dispatched to vaccinate animals against Rift Valley fever and contagious caprine pleuropneumonia, which are common during the rainy season.
The aim is to vaccinate one million livestock.
United States: Equine Herpesvirus
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) confirmed a Shasta County horse tested positive for the neurologic form of equine herpesvirus (EHV-1) and that 4 horses were exposed.
The positive horse, a 20-year-old Quarter Horse gelding, was quarantined and isolated along with the other exposed horses on its premises. All are under quarantine with enhanced biosecurity protocols, including twice-daily temperature monitoring.
The affected horse attended an event at the Rolling Hills Casino Equestrian Center from Sept. 27-29]. Subsequent to his positive test, stabling there has been thoroughly cleaned and disinfected, and the event's sponsoring organization is notifying membership of the possible exposure.
The CDFA recommends isolating horses having participated in the event, monitoring and recording their temperatures twice a day, and contacting a veterinarian for possible nasal swab and blood sampling if horses display clinical signs of EHV or have a temperature above 101.5 deg F.
Herpesvirus is highly contagious among horses and can cause a variety of ailments in equids, including rhinopneumonitis (a respiratory disease usually found in young horses), abortion in broodmares, and equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy (EHM; the neurologic form).
Japan: Classical Swine Fever
Shizuoka Prefecture announced Oct. 18 that one wild boar whose dead body was found in Fujieda City was infected with classical swine fever (CSF). This is the first CSF case in the prefecture Shizuoka since the start of the event in September 2018. The prefecture has begun preparations for vaccination of all pig farms in the prefecture.
According to the prefecture, the dead boar was found by a passerby on the road of Nodazawa, Okabe-cho, Fujieda City on Oct. 17. The prefecture's genetic test gave a positive result on the same day, and it was confirmed on Oct. 18 by the national examination. No other infection has been confirmed in 120 pig farms in the prefecture.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries added Shizuoka Prefecture as a "recommended area" for vaccination. The prefecture has also started creating a program to check the procedures for inoculation
Philippines: African Swine Fever
The Cabanatuan City Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) culled a total of 207 pigs following reports of hog deaths in Barangay Dalampang, suspected to have been caused by African swine fever (ASF). "Several pigs have died in our place. Blood samples were taken from some of them, while we buried the others," said Amang Soriano, the head of Barangay Dalampang.
Because of the incident, the PVO advised residents, especially hog raisers in the area, to immediately report cases of pig deaths so that prompt measures can be taken. The PVO added that they are being extra cautious because it is the season for increased incidence of vector-borne diseases among livestock.
"It's been warm lately so expect that stress level would be higher, which might result in more deaths," explained Dr. Jun Romero, head of Nueva Ecija Provincial Veterinary Office. "We took samples from several pigs because we suspected it was African swine fever. Laboratory tests turned negative," he added.
The provincial veterinary office is waiting for the result of the laboratory tests conducted on the pig blood samples. If the result turns out positive for ASF, Romero assured they will impose the necessary measures to prevent the spread of the deadly pig virus.
Hog raisers assured, likewise, that they will abide by the protocol should the tests return positive. "We really abide by the government regulations, more so if pig virus is present in our barangay," noted hog raiser Miguel Ramos.
Sudan: Rift Valley Fever
Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA) has suspended imports of livestock from Sudan and Djibouti following a bulletin issued by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) showing the emergence of the Rift Valley fever (RVF) in Sudan.
Meanwhile, a consignment from Djibouti was rejected by the quarantine department after testing positive for RVF antibodies.
MEWA, in the interest of protecting the public health, has stepped up quarantine measures against the disease, warned all veterinary teams and raised animal disease alert to the highest level, and upped community awareness about the disease. It reported that there was immediate coordination with OIE, the Ministry of Health, the Saudi Center for Disease Prevention and Control (Saudi CDC), and neighboring countries to assess the current status.
United States: Encephalitis
Mosquitoes collected in Anaheim and Westminster, Calif., have tested positive for St. Louis encephalitis, the first occurrence in those cities in 3 decades, Orange County officials announced Oct. 15.
The mosquitoes were collected late last week along Old Bolsa Chica Road in Westminster and near Dale and Orange avenues in Anaheim, according to Heather Hyland of the Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District.
The last time any St. Louis encephalitis-positive mosquitoes were found in those areas was 1987, according to the district. Mosquitoes testing positive for the virus were found in 2017 near the vector control offices in Garden Grove, the agency said.
Most people bitten by a St. Louis encephalitis-infected mosquito do not become ill, but those who do will experience symptoms such as fever, headache, nausea, vomiting and fatigue. Older adults can experience inflammation of the brain, and, in rare cases, a person can sustain a long-term disability or die.
The last time anyone in Orange County was afflicted with the virus was in the fall of 1984. There were 6 positive samples St. Louis encephalitis in mosquitoes from 1984 through 1987 in the county.
Pakistan: Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever
A man died of Congo fever [CCHF] on Oct. 17, taking the death toll from the disease in the country to 19.
The deceased has been identified as a farmer from Mirpurkhas. He died during treatment at the Liaquat Medical Hospital in Hyderabad. According to the disease surveillance unit in the region, the man had developed high fever and body ache. He was treated at a local practitioner's clinic, but his condition did not improve.
He started bleeding from the mouth and nose and had blood in his stool. His condition worsened, and his blood samples were sent for investigation, which came out positive after his death.
The directorate general of health services has recommended that Congo virus surveillance be improved immediately in the region.
United States: Vesicular Stomatitis Virus
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) issued a new Situation Report on Oct. 10 that confirmed 9 new vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) cases since its previous report on Oct. 3.
Only one county, Clear Creek in Colorado, was confirmed as newly infected. In all, Colorado had 4 new confirmed positive and 3 new suspected premises, and Wyoming had 2 new suspected premises identified that week.
Vesicular stomatitis virus can cause blisters and sores in the mouth and on the tongue, muzzle, teats, or hooves of horses, cattle, swine, sheep, goats, llamas, and a number of other animals. Lesions usually heal in 2 or 3 weeks.
Because of the virus' contagious nature and its resemblance to other diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease, animal health officials urge livestock owners and caretakers to report these symptoms to their veterinarian immediately. Most animals recover with supportive care by a veterinarian.
"Vesicular stomatitis has been confirmed only in the Western Hemisphere," APHIS said on its website. "It is known to be an endemic disease in the warmer regions of North, Central, and South America, and outbreaks of the disease in other temperate geographic parts of the hemisphere occur sporadically. The Southwestern and Western United States have experienced a number of vesicular stomatitis outbreaks, and the most recent and largest VS outbreak occurred in 2015. Outbreaks usually occur during the warmer months, often along waterways."
India: Anthrax
The Assam forest department has initiated urgent measures to check the outbreak of anthrax after one of the 2 feral buffaloes found dead inside the Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary (PWS) tested positive for infection, officials said.
The wildlife sanctuary in Morigaon district is also home to more than 100 endangered one-horned rhinoceros.
Jitendra Kumar, Divisional Forest Officer, Wildlife, Guwahati said veterinarians have confirmed anthrax as the cause of death of the feral buffaloes whose carcasses were found. Parikshit Kakoti, senior program officer veterinary, WWF [World Wildlife Fund] India, said he found dark red, blackish blood oozing out of the nostrils of one of the 2 buffalo carcasses found within a distance of 100 meters from each other when he arrived at the spot on Oct. 17 leading to the suspicion that it could be anthrax. The other carcass was already decomposed, he explained. "The sample was sent to 2 labs including the North Eastern Regional Disease Diagnostic Laboratory and the College of Veterinary Science. Both the reports note anthrax as the provisional diagnosis," Kakoti said adding that the same infection is likely to have caused the death of the second buffalo.
Around 102 rhinos of the PWS, as per the 2018 census, inhabit just a 16 square kilometer area of the 38 square kilometers that forms the wildlife sanctuary. Kumar said the carcasses were found in the area inhabited by the rhinos.
Since anthrax was being suspected as the cause of death, the carcasses were given a deep burial even as officials tried to disinfect with lime and formaldehyde. The area has also been cordoned off. "An electric fence will be erected around the spot to keep other animals away," Kumar said.
South Korea: African Swine Fever
On Oct. 21, South Korea's quarantine authorities confirmed the 11th outbreak of African swine fever [ASF] from wild boars near the border with North Korea, sparking concerns over the further spread of the deadly animal disease in the area.
The latest confirmed case was reported within a civilian control line near the border, according to the Ministry of Environment.
A total of 8 ASF cases in boars have been reported within the civilian control line this month, while 2 cases came from outside of the line. One more case was confirmed from the Demilitarized Zone.
Quarantine officials have been making efforts to hunt down wild boars in the border areas, deploying hunters and installing traps. The authorities have hunted nearly 3,000 wild boars since Oct. 15, when South Korea announced it would deploy hundreds of soldiers and civilian hunters to areas bordering North Korea for operations to shoot and kill wild boars.
In contrast, no additional ASF infections from local pig farms have been reported since the 14th outbreak was confirmed. So far, all confirmed cases from wild and domestic pigs have come from areas bordering North Korea.
In May, Pyongyang reported its first outbreak of the disease at a farm near its border with China to the World Organization for Animal Health [OIE]. Still, it remains unknown how the virus traveled into South Korea. The disease normally spreads through direct contact with infected animals.
United States: Chronic Wasting Disease
Two mule deer taken in September have tested positive for chronic wasting disease, including one taken in McKenzie County, where CWD had not previously been found. The other deer was harvested during the youth season in unit 3A1 in Divide County where CWD was first detected last fall.
North Dakota Game and Fish Department wildlife veterinarian Dr. Charlie Bahnson said the finding marks the 1st detection of CWD in the badlands.
"This is an iconic place to hunt big game where people travel to from across the state," Bahnson said. "By no means does this first detection spell doom for hunting in this area, as long as we are proactive in trying to keep infection rates from climbing. We also need to reduce the chance of CWD spreading to new areas."
Game and Fish will review its CWD management strategy after the deer rifle season and will consider making revisions for next season.
Botswana: Anthrax
More than 100 elephants have died in Botswana in the past 2 months partly because of a suspected anthrax outbreak, the government said. "Preliminary investigations suggest the elephants are dying from anthrax while some died from drought effects," a Department of Wildlife and National Parks statement said. "Due to the severe drought, elephants end up ingesting soil while grazing and get exposed to the anthrax bacteria spore," it said.
Elephants Without Borders said an aerial survey showed fresh elephant carcasses increased by 593% between 2014 to 2018, mostly from poaching and illegal hunting, with drought also a contributing factor. The wildlife authority said the latest deaths were in the Chobe River front and Nantanga areas in northern Botswana, where 14 dead elephants were found this week. It said it would be burning the carcasses to prevent the anthrax infection from spreading to other animals.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States, anthrax is a bacterium found naturally in soil and commonly affects domestic and wild animals when they breathe in or ingest spores in contaminated soil, plants, or water. Anthrax is not contagious and humans can only get infected by ingesting the bacteria. It can be prevented in animals via regular vaccination.
Botswana is home to almost one-third of Africa's elephants, around 130,000. Botswana has lifted a ban on big-game hunting to combat a growing conflict between humans and wildlife. Botswana and its neighbors in southern Africa are experiencing a severe drought because of below-average rainfall since an El Nino weather system struck in 2015.
South Korea: Avian Influenza
A suspected virulent avian influenza (AI) case has been reported in Asan, South Chungcheong Province, authorities announced, as South Korea has been struggling to curb the spread of African swine fever for months.
A case of AI H5 virus has been confirmed in wild bird feces, sampled near a creek Oct. 15, according to the National Institute of Environmental Research, which is affiliated with the environment ministry.
The agency said the case is suspected to be a virulent bird flu virus, adding it's expected to take a day or 2 to confirm whether it's highly pathogenic. Asan is located some 90 kilometers south of Seoul.
The agency has notified the agriculture ministry and local authorities of the findings for swift quarantine measures.
October 18, 2019
Nigeria: Yellow Fever
On Aug. 29, a suspected yellow fever case was reported from Kano state with a travel history to Yankari game reserve, Alkaleri Local Government Area (LGA), Bauchi state, Nigeria.
Nigeria reported an outbreak of yellow fever following with an epicenter in the Yankari game reserve of Alkaleri LGA, Bauchi state. According to Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC), 231 suspected cases have been reported in 4 states including Bauchi (110), Borno (109), Gombe (10), and Kano (2), of which there have been 13 presumptive positive by IgM testing and 24 cases positive by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) at national laboratories.
Of 24 cases confirmed by RT-PCR (20 cases in Bauchi, 3 in Gombe and one in Kano state), 6 deaths were reported, all from Alkaleri LGA, Bauchi state, resulting in a case fatality ratio of 25% among the confirmed cases. The vaccination history for the 231 suspected yellow fever cases is not known, and the results of follow-up testing from regional reference laboratory Institute Pasteur Dakar (IPD) are not yet available.
This is the first time that cases have been reported in relation to this area since the outbreak started in Nigeria in September 2017. This outbreak is unique in the broad geographic distribution of cases, most with linkage through travel, work or residence in, or close to, the Yankari game reserve, which is an ecological zone highly prone to yellow fever virus circulation.
United States: West Nile Virus
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services reported 3 horses have been euthanized in Florida due to disease.
A horse in St. Johns County and in Citrus County have been euthanized due to West Nile virus (WNV). The St. Johns County 13-year-old pony mare had onset of clinical signs on Sept.20 and was euthanized. She was the 2nd WNV case for the county this year.
A 5-year-old mare had onset of clinical signs of West Nile virus on Sept. 24and was euthanized. She was the 1st WNV case for Citrus County and the 7th for the state of Florida this year.
Information for this report was provided by the Equine Disease Communication Center.
United States: Legionnaire’s Disease
Several incidents of Legionnaire’s Disease have been reported.
A child who attends the YMCA Early Learning Academy housed at Chesterton, Ind. Middle School has tested positive for Legionnaires' disease, officials from the Duneland School Corp. [DSC] and the Porter County Health Department said Oct. 11. The health department has asked school officials to track student and staff absences to determine whether anyone else has contracted the illness, according to a release.
The case marks the 2nd from the school corporation within a week after a school employee self-reported a confirmed diagnosis to school officials.
In a statement posted on the school corporation website from the schools and the health department, officials said the parent of a child who attends the academy had symptoms of the illness, and she had her child tested.
On Oct 4, the school corporation closed the middle school, Chesterton Intermediate School and the central administration office because of the employee's confirmed diagnosis. The school corporation took immediate action to test the water at various buildings.
A third person has died from an outbreak of Legionnaires' Disease in North Carolina, state health officials said. None of the victims has been identified by authorities and health officials have not discussed the circumstances of their deaths.
In recent weeks, health officials have confirmed 140 cases among people who attended the NC Mountain State Fair in Fletcher, N.C., last month. The 140 cases involve people from several North Carolina counties and a few other states. 94 people have been hospitalized, health officials said.
The outbreak has been linked to a hot tubs display in one events center and officials said it took place during the last 5 days of the fair, a preliminary report shows.
There were no other significant sources of aerosolized water -- small droplets of water or mist that can be inhaled -- at the event center, and no other ongoing potential sources of exposure identified, the health department has said.
Legionnaires' disease is a lung infection contracted when people breathe in the Legionella bacteria through a mist or by accidentally getting water into their lungs that contains the bacteria.
Canada: Legionnaire’s Disease
Local health officials are working diligently to pinpoint the source of an outbreak of Legionnaires' Disease in Orillia.
Eight cases of Legionnaires' disease have been confirmed in individuals who reside in or have visited Orillia in recent weeks.
According to Dr. Charles Gardner, the medical officer of health for the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU), the focus of the investigation is downtown Orillia. He said based on where the patients lived and had been recently, it was decided to start the investigation "in the center of the city" before moving outward.
"As of yet, we don't" know the source, Gardner told Orillia Matters, stressing the investigation is ongoing. "The issue of greatest concern would be cooling towers in air conditioning units of very large buildings," Gardner explained. He said other similar "community clusters" of the disease have been traced back to such cooling units. When asked if large downtown buildings such as the Opera House, Orillia Soldiers' Memorial Hospital, Orillia City Centre or Orillia Public Library could be sources, he would only say: "That type of structure, yes."
Finding the source is critical, said Gardner. Once the source is identified and remediated, the risk disappears. "It really comes down to excellent maintenance of such systems," he said, noting in addition to cooling towers potential sources of the bacteria can be showers, fountains, spas and plumbing. "Most commonly, it's these (water cooling) units," said Gardner, noting droplets, carrying the harmful bacteria, can easily be inhaled by people in those buildings.
For people over the age of 50, for those who smoke and for those who have pre-existing conditions, that inhalation can lead to pneumonia and to legionnaires' disease.
Gardner confirmed all 8 patients in the Orillia "cluster" are over 50.
Libya: Leishmaniasis
A total of 150 persons with leishmaniasis disease arrived in Tawergha hospital on Oct. 11, and the number of affected people is increasing, the hospital said.
On Facebook, the hospital called on all medical staffers from all across Libya to provide assistance to the hospital in Tawergha to treat the patients with leishmaniasis.
Member of Tawergha local council Abdelnabi Abu Araba said Oct. 12 that 500 leishmaniasis cases have been registered in the city since July. He told reporters that the leishmaniasis cases started after the people of Tawergha returned to their city in July 2018, saying 410 cases were registered since last year and 500 from July to October 2019, adding that sewage water across the city is behind the disease.
Abu Araba called on the residents not to take heed of media reports that urge them to leave the city, saying fighting this disease needs the people to remain in their locations to get treatment.
He indicated that public service companies are removing garbage to terminate the rodents that cause leishmaniasis, calling on the Health Ministry to speed up repairing the hospitals in Tawergha so people can receive medical care.
Last Sunday, the Anti-Disease National Center said it had started distributing medical treatment for leishmaniasis across Libya.
North Korea: African Swine Fever
By official accounts, the pig contagion wreaking havoc across Eastern Asia has virtually skipped over North Korea, with a single outbreak reported there in May. But wayward feral pigs have stoked concern that Kim Jong Un's reclusive state is hiding an African swine fever [ASF] disaster.
Five wild boars were found dead in or near border areas separating North and South Korea this month before being tested positive for the viral hemorrhagic disease, officials in South Korea said. The finding reflects the freedom with which animals roam the 2.5 mile wide buffer zone that divides the nations and creates an involuntary park and refuge for fauna.
It also hints at a spillover of the deadly virus from North Korea, where unofficial reports indicate the disease is spreading out of control. South Korea has deployed helicopters to disinfect parts of the 250-km-long border-barrier, near which more than a dozen outbreaks have occurred on farms since the virus was 1st reported there a month ago.
On Oct. 15, the South Korean government ambushed contagion-carrying pigs near the country's northern borders, using snipers and thermal-imaging drones. The attack was carried out after wayward pigs that had wandered across the buffer region between the Korean neighbors were found to be carrying the ASF virus.
ASF has spread to almost all areas of North Korea, and pigs in the western province of North Pyongan have been "wiped out," said Lee Hye-hoon, who chairs the National Assembly's intelligence committee, citing South Korea's National Intelligence Service.
The virus killed 22 hogs in May [2019] on a cooperative farm about 260 km north of Pyongyang, near the border with China, North Korea's agriculture ministry said in a 30 May 2019 report to the World Organization for Animal Health, or OIE.
The ASF outbreak that has trickled from North to South Korea is akin to an "apocalypse", according to Ahn Chan-il, leader of World Institute for North Korea Studies and a former North Korean service member.
Pork constitutes 80 percent of protein consumption in East Asia. As the epidemic spreads unabatedly, the Korean neighbors are witnessing the worst-ever food crisis in recent times. For North Korea, this is a particularly difficult time as the country is still reeling from the poor harvests of the 1990s in which almost 10% of its population died.
United States: Eastern Equine Encephalitis
The CDC has confirmed a person with eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) in Elkhart County, Ind. has died from the disease.
This is the 1st human case in Indiana since 1998, and only the 4th reported since 1964.\
Typically only 5 to 10 human cases of EEE are reported nationwide each year. But Michigan has had 10 cases this year [2019] alone; 4 of those have been deadly.
Anyone who thinks they may have EEE should see a healthcare provider.
The deadly eastern equine encephalitis [EEE] outbreak in Michigan has claimed a 5th life. A Cass County resident in Southwest Michigan died of the mosquito-borne illness, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services announced Oct. 14..
So far this year, 10 people in Michigan have contracted the virus and 5 have died. EEE also has been confirmed in 40 animals from 16 counties, including Genesee, Lapeer, and Tuscola.
Despite cooler temperatures and a frost advisory for parts of Lower Michigan, health officials are still urging the public to take precautions.
Sudan: Rift Valley Fever
The Ministry of Health in the River Nile State, declared a state of maximum alert after the Federal Ministry of Health announced the presence of Rift Valley fever [RVF] in the region.
The state of alert was aimed at controlling Rift Valley fever (RVF), following its emergence in some localities in Berber, north of Bawqa, Ftouar, Joule, and Sulaimaniya, and in the Artoli region of the East Bank.
A delegation from the Federal Ministry of Health arrived in the Nile Oct. 12, headed by Director of Emergency Management Dr Babiker Al-Maqbool to find out the situation and provide technical assistance to contain the disease under the guidance of the Federal Minister of Health Dr Akram Ali Al-Tom.
The Minister of Health in charge of the state, Dr Abdel Moneim Bellah, held an enlightened enlargement meeting in Atbara in the presence of a large number of medical cadres.
The disease is transmitted from animals to humans through mosquitoes and infects people in contact with animals, as well as eating meat and milk.
Arbaat in El Ganeb locality in Sudan's Red Sea state reported 10 new cases of suspected Rift Valley fever* on Oct. 7-8, bringing the total number of registered cases to 5, and 3 deaths.
Doctor Ahmed Dereir told Radio Dabanga about the spread of the disease in 8 villages in the area of Arbaat, pointing out that the cases were transferred to Port Sudan for treatment.\
He explained that the governor formed an emergency room of 35 people representing various government agencies, medical committees, and members of the Forces for Freedom and Change.
Ali Bayrak, head of the Community Support Committee for the residents of Arbaat called on the government for the explicit announcement of the results of laboratory testing of samples.
According to the UN World Health Organization (WHO) Rift Valley fever (RVF) is a viral zoonosis that primarily affects animals but also has the capacity to infect humans. Infection can cause severe disease in both animals and humans. The disease also results in significant economic losses due to death and abortion among RVF-infected livestock.
Pakistan: Typhoid Fever
The Health Protection Surveillance Center in Ireland reported an increase in typhoid fever notifications in travelers returning from Pakistan. According to the Irish authorities on Oct. 9, there have been 23 cases of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi in 2019. This is the 1st time that cases of XDR typhoid fever have been identified by the national reference laboratory in Ireland.
The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) reported 12 of these cases had a recent travel history to Pakistan. Three of these 12 cases of typhoid fever with travel history in Pakistan were infected with extensively drug-resistant (XDR) strains.
As of August, 10,365 cases of XDR typhoid fever were reported from 23 districts in Sindh province, with the Karachi district being the most affected, having 67 percent of the cases. Pakistan is the world's 6th-most populous country with a population exceeding 210 million people, located in South Asia.
Namibia: Anthrax
A total of 115 cases of anthrax in humans have been reported in the northern regions of the country, after they allegedly came into contact with, or consumed meat of suspected anthrax-infected carcasses.
Only 3 people have however been admitted [to hospital] with regard to the suspected anthrax outbreak, while no deaths were reported.
A joint press statement issued by agriculture ministry executive director Percy Misika and his counterpart in the health ministry, Ben Nangombe, detailed the effects of the suspected anthrax disease breakout in the Kunene and Zambezi regions.
The statement details that 104 suspected cases of human anthrax were reported at the Otjitanga village in the Kunene region after the village community had consumed and had close contact with anthrax-contaminated meat.
In the Zambezi region, the Katima Mulilo district reported suspected cases after 11 people developed lesions on different parts of their bodies after consuming meat from a hippo that died of an unknown cause, according to the statement.
A total of 68 small stock and 39 hippos have been reported dead. "Livestock deaths suspected to be caused by anthrax were detected at Otjitanga village in the Kunene region since Sept. 25," the statement said. "While in the Zambezi region, deaths of hippos at the lake of Liambezi were detected on the Aug. 29.”
Anthrax is a serious infectious disease that affects both animals and humans, and the bacteria can be found naturally in soil.
Kenya: Foot And Mouth Disease
There are fears that farmers may lose hundreds of their dairy cows in the dairy-rich Nyandarua County following an outbreak of foot and mouth disease [FMD] 2 weeks ago, which has already led to the death of 3 cows.
County officials said the disease 1st broke out in Kiriko village, Kanjuiri Ward, where it is estimated that over 200 animals have been infected by the viral disease, which has also hit Kanyiriri village in the same ward.
The disease, which is said to be a transboundary infection from the neighboring Nakuru County, is hitting Nyandarua for the 2nd time in the last 2 months. In August the disease hit Mirangine and Kinangop Sub-Counties but was noticed in time and quickly contained.
Oyolo said vaccination is the main way of preventing FMD, which has affected many parts of the country. But there is a severe shortage of supply from the Kenya Veterinary Vaccine Production Institute [KEVEVAPI], which is the only manufacturer in the country.
Brazil: West Nile Virus
The Teresina Municipal Health Foundation (FMS), through the Neuroinvasive Syndromes Surveillance program, confirmed the 4th case of West Nile fever in the state of Piaui [PI]. This is a female patient who suffered from acute encephalitis, inflammation of the nervous system, in April 2019.
"The FMS is investigating the possibility of a case acquired in Piaui (an indigenous case). This is because the patient was in the municipalities of Cabeceiras, PI and Lagoa Alegre, PI, in the weeks before the illness. She was admitted to the HUT [Teresina Emergency Hospital] and was discharged after treatment, leaving neurological sequelae ", explains FMS neurologist Marcelo Vieira.
West Nile fever virus is transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito, usually of the Culex genus. Natural hosts are some wild birds that act as virus amplifiers and can be a source of infection for mosquitoes. It can also infect humans, horses, primates, and other mammals. There is no person to person transmission.
"Disease prevention is done through measures to minimize the proliferation and contact of mosquitoes with humans. All suspected cases in Teresina are reported and laboratory investigated for West Nile fever, in partnership with the Central Public Health Laboratory of the Piaui and the Evandro Chagas Institute," concludes Marcelo Vieira.
According to Amariles Borba, FMS Health Surveillance Director, the 1st human case was registered in the municipality of Aroeiras do Itaim, PI, in 2014. "Since then, 2 other cases had been confirmed in the municipalities of Picos, PI and Piripiri, PI, both in 2017. Cases in horses have been detected in the states of Ceara, Espirito Santo, and Sao Paulo," she says.
Congo: Plague
In an update on the plague cluster in Ituri Province in the northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), UN officials report a total of 31 cases and 8 deaths since the beginning of 2019.
The 1st 5 cases were reported in the Aungba health zone, which is in an endemic area. Two other cases were reported in the Aru and Aungba health zones. The latest cluster of cases was reported from Aru health zone in Ituri Province.
Plague is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium, Yersinia pestis. It is found in animals throughout the world, most commonly in rats but also in other rodents like ground squirrels, prairie dogs, chipmunks, rabbits and voles. Fleas typically serve as the vector of plague.
People can also get infected through direct contact with an infected animal, through inhalation and, in the case of pneumonic plague, person to person.
There are 3 forms of human plague; bubonic, septicemic and pneumonic.
October 11, 2019
Philippines: African Swine Fever
The sea has not been able to stop the march of African swine fever [ASF] in Asia. In September the virus was also confirmed in the Philippines. What happened on the islands exactly and what are some of the longer-term perspectives?
The total pig population of the Philippines is around 13 million head, including a 1.75 million sow population. Around 40% of this total current population consists of smaller groups of pigs held in numerous backyard farms.
Approximately 40% of the total pig inventory is concentrated in 3 regions: Central Luzon, northern Mindanao and western Visayas, which account for 17%, 13%, and 10% of the total inventory, respectively. Most of the commercial pig farms are located in these 3 areas.
However, the backyard population is spread more thinly across the Philippines, e.g., central Visayas and the Bicol regions both have 10% of the backyard population. Many of the backyard farms across the Philippines purchase weaner age pigs between 5 and 10 kg bodyweight and fatten them prior to sale at 30 kg or at 90 kg. Pigs are housed in simple backyard structures and fed a range of waste food or by-products, often with some commercial feed added.
Most pigs for sale are aggregated by local dealers and taken to local slaughterhouses or lechon processing facilities. On larger backyard farms, a number of sows may also be housed and used in breeding programs and piglet production.
Netherlands: Listeria
A total of 3 people have died and one woman has had a miscarriage after eating cold meat contaminated with Listeria, the public health institute RIVM [Netherlands National Institute for Public Health and the Environment] said on Oct. 4. All are thought to have become ill after eating meat products from the Offerman company over the past 2 years, the agency said.
In total, at least 20 people have become ill after eating Offerman cold cuts. The company issued a health warning Oct. 4, and Jumbo, which stocks 135 different products from Offerman, ordered an immediate recall. Aldi too has recalled its Offerman products, which were also widely sold to company canteens.
The source of the infection was traced by the RIVM and product safety board NVWA [Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety] after an analysis of the different types of Listeria infection this week. "It has only been recently possible to use this technique and without it, we would not have been able to identify the source," the RIVM said.
The factory where the bacteria originated is located in Aalsmeer and has been closed pending a thorough clean-up, the AD reported. According to broadcaster NOS, the NVWA had ordered Offerman to take extra hygiene measures because there were suspicions that something was going wrong. "But this would appear not to have done the job," an NVWA spokesman told the broadcaster.
Listeria is found in meat that has not been properly cooked and in raw foods that have been kept for a long time, the RIVM said. Most people suffer mild flu-like symptoms, but the bacteria can cause serious symptoms in the elderly, newborns and people with weak immune systems. It is particularly dangerous to pregnant women and can cause miscarriages. Every year about 80 cases of listeriosis are reported to the RIVM.
Canada: E. coli
Newfoundland and Labrador's provincial health department is advising residents of an outbreak of E. coli bacteria. There have been 22 cases of E. coli confirmed in the province this week, according to an advisory issued Oct. 4. The statement says provincial public health officials and regional authorities are investigating.
The Department of Health and Community Services advises people experiencing symptoms of E. coli, including severe or bloody diarrhea and abdominal pain, to seek medical attention. The illness spreads mostly through ingestion of contaminated food or water but can also spread through person-to-person contact.
A provincial medical officer of health says most cases are within the province's eastern health authority, including the capital city of St. John's, but others are in the central and western authorities.
Dr. Janice Fitzgerald said some of the cases are connected to an advisory issued by Memorial University earlier this week, saying Eastern Health was investigating reports of students experiencing gastrointestinal illness.
The university said Oct. 2 that test results indicated one student living in residence "may have contracted the E. coli bacteria" and 21 students had reported similar symptoms. Fitzgerald said it's too early in the investigation to determine a cause of the outbreak.
Congo: Plague
On Sept. 25, a rodent and guinea pig die-off was reported to the health authorities of the Aru Health Zone, Ituri Province, DRC, in the village of Omeyi in the Ongoyi health area. Subsequently a family cluster of 4 cases with the clinical symptoms consistent with the definition of bubonic plague was reported. Symptoms were high fever in 3 patients and high fever with a painful inguinal swollen lymph node in the 15-year-old patient. This family was admitted at the health center of Ekanga on Sept. 25; unfortunately, the 15-year-old boy died on Sept. 26. The other 3 patients were treated with doxycycline.
The DRC health zone team arrived on Sept. 27 to spray the houses with deltamethrin, take human and wildlife samples, and raise community awareness of the measures to be taken. In response to this situation, the head of the Health Center of Ekanga alerted the Central Office of the health zone, and 225 villagers were given doxycycline preventively. A plague rapid diagnostic test (RDT) was performed on the 3 other patients but only one was weakly positive, possibly due to antibiotic treatment. Two samples taken on the dying guinea pigs were strongly positive with the same RDT.
In total, 12 suspected plague cases and 3 deaths have been reported since Sept. 27: 7 cases and 3 deaths from Omeyi, 3 cases from Ongoyi, 1 case from Doro and 1 case from Alembele village.
The provincial division of health is closely monitoring the situation and should send a team to the outbreak site on Oct. 7. Rodent samples have been stored in ethanol for PCR diagnostic confirmation of bubonic plague.
The location of the village in proximity with the Ugandan border 12.4 miles and with people seeking treatment in Uganda presents an additional risk of transborder outbreak as earlier this year. In March, a 35-year-old woman died of pneumonic plague in Uganda after spending time in Atungulei village in DRC's Ituri province, and where her 4-year-old child had died days before. Further investigation revealed that finding her sick at her child's burial, her relatives took her to Uganda for treatment.
United States: Chronic Wasting Disease
The Wyoming Game and Fish Department confirmed chronic wasting disease (CWD) in deer hunt area 152, approximately 12 miles west of Bondurant on Willow Creek.
The mule deer buck testing positive was hunter-harvested. This is the first time CWD has been found in deer hunt area 152, part of the Sublette mule deer herd, and is in a hunt area close to wintering elk feed grounds. CWD is a fatal neurological disease of deer, elk, and moose.
"Seeing a deer test positive for CWD west of the continental divide again is concerning," said Scott Edberg, deputy chief of wildlife. "Game and Fish is always concerned about the spread of CWD. We have conducted CWD surveillance for more than 2 decades and have focused efforts on monitoring the disease, and those methods continue this year."
CWD has been previously detected in mule deer nearby hunt area 152: one south of Afton in 2016, one south of Pinedale in 2017, and one north of Jackson in 2019.
CWD has not been detected in elk wintering on any of Wyoming's 22 feed grounds or the National Elk Refuge to date. Game and Fish and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have provided supplemental feed to elk during the winter months for more than 100 years. Feed grounds maintain elk population objectives while also maximizing the separation of elk from cattle to prevent property damage and minimize brucellosis transmission to cattle. However, feed grounds concentrate large numbers of elk in small areas for several months, increasing the potential for the spread of diseases among elk, including CWD. The prevalence rate of CWD is currently less in elk than in deer.
United States: West Nile Virus
The Colorado Department of Agriculture reported on Oct. 3 that 10 equine West Nile virus [WNV] cases have been confirmed in 8 Colorado counties, including one horse in Larimer County.
Three horses were found to have the disease in Weld County, and the others were in Adams, Garfield, Mesa, Montrose, Pueblo and Rio Blanco counties, according to a news release.
"Veterinarians report more of the horses seem to be acutely neurologic with severe symptoms. Four of the horses have been euthanized due to the severity of the clinical signs," the release stated.
The Colorado State Veterinarian's Office recommended vaccinating horses against West Nile, first with a 2-shot series, followed by annual booster shots.
Pakistan: Crimean Congo Hemmorhagic Fever
A local factory worker in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa died of high grade-fever with the family blaming death on Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever.
Another villager also tested positive for CCHF. According to family sources, a 45-year-old resident of Hattar village, had suffered from high grade-fever for around a week, while he was treated at a local private hospital as a dengue patient. The man was later shifted to Islamabad's PIMS hospital, where he died. The family claimed that the PIMS doctors suspected its member suffered from Congo fever.
However, the health department rejected the claim. Also, a 60-year-old resident of Bandi Muneem village, was admitted to Pims, Islamabad, tested positive for CCHF. The doctors said the patient's condition was improving.
When contacted, Dr. Sher Bahadur, head of the dengue program at the Haripur, District Health Office, said a team of doctors had visited the house of the 45-year-old man and found out that he had died of blood cancer and pneumonia and not CCHF.
He said the team also visited the house of the 60-year-old and found him to be a patient of CCHF. Dr. Bahadur said the man was a farmer, who used to have direct contact with farm animals, so he got the infection after tick bite.
United States: Eastern Equine Encephalitis
A laboratory testing has confirmed the 8th horse infected with Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) virus this year, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health said. The horse was stabled in Spencer in Worcester County, a community already considered at high risk for EEE, health officials said.
No change in risk levels is indicated. There are 35 communities now at critical risk, 53 at high risk, and 121 at moderate risk for the EEE virus in Massachusetts.
There have been 12 human cases of EEE this season in Massachusetts and 9 confirmed cases of EEE this year in animals -- 8 horses and a goat. State officials continue to remind residents throughout the commonwealth to take personal precautions to prevent mosquito bites.
EEE is a rare but serious and potentially fatal disease capable of affecting people of all ages. EEE occurs sporadically in Massachusetts, with the most recent outbreak years occurring from 2004 to 2006 and 2010 to 2012. There were 22 human cases of EEE infection during those 2 outbreaks.
United States: Plague
The New Mexico Department of Health's (NMDOH) Scientific Laboratory Division has confirmed a case of plague in a 72-year-old man from Torrance County, the first human case of plague in New Mexico this year.
Plague is a disease caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, which is generally transmitted to humans from the bites of infected fleas that live among rodents and rabbits. Plague can also be transmitted by direct contact with infected animals. Pet dogs and cats can become infected with plague when they eat an infected rodent or when they are bitten by an infected flea.
NMDOH staff have gone door-to-door in the affected area to inform neighbors about plague and provided them with education to reduce their risks.
"No matter where you call home in New Mexico, you can reduce the risk of plague by avoiding contact with rodents or their fleas, or outdoor pets by providing appropriate flea prevention for pets year-round," said Secretary of Health Kathy Kunkel.
Symptoms of plague in humans include sudden onset of a fever, chills, headache, and weakness usually within one to 7 days of becoming infected. There may be a painful swelling of the lymph node in the neck, armpit or groin areas, referred to as bubonic plague. The infection can also spread to the blood, causing septicemic plague, or to the lungs, causing pneumonic plague.
With prompt diagnosis and appropriate antibiotic treatment, the fatality rate in people and pets can be greatly reduced. Physicians who suspect plague should promptly report all cases to the New Mexico Department of Health.
Pakistan: Typhoid Fever
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a level 1 travel alert regarding the ongoing outbreak in Pakistan of extensively drug-resistant (XDR) typhoid fever.
This "practice usual precautions" travel alert published on Sept. 30 is very important since XDR infections do not respond to most antibiotics, such as ampicillin, chloramphenicol, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, ciprofloxacin, and ceftriaxone. And in rare cases typhoid fever can be fatal.
The CDC says people from the USA, Canada, United Kingdom, Denmark, and Australia with a travel history to Pakistan have reported XDR typhoid infections. According to the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation, about 1.75 million tourists visited Pakistan in 2017 alone.
Pakistan is the world's 6th-most populous country with a population exceeding 210 million people, located in South Asia.
Pakistan's current XDR typhoid fever outbreak began in Hyderabad, which is a city of Sindh province, during November 2016.
The CDC says, "If you are going to South Asia, including Pakistan, protect yourself against typhoid infection by getting a typhoid fever vaccination." The CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends 2 typhoid fever vaccines: an oral vaccine, Typhim, and an injectable vaccine, Typbar.
The oral vaccine Typhim is approved for people 6 years old or older, should be taken as directed, at least 1 week before departure. The injectable vaccine is approved for people 2 years old or older. Travelers should receive the injectable vaccine Typbar at least 2 weeks before departure.
Neither vaccine is 100% effective, so travelers should also practice safe eating and drinking while traveling abroad, says the ACIP.
Denmark: Malaria
Denmark has reported a travel-related case of malaria caused by Plasmodium cynomolgi in a Danish traveler returning from a visit to forested areas in peninsular Malaysia and Thailand during August-September 2018.
P. cynomolgi is a parasite causing disease among macaque monkeys across Southeast Asia but rarely infects humans.
The traveler was admitted to hospital with the suspicion of malaria. Routine initial tests for malaria and more in-depth tests were required to diagnose malaria caused by P. cynomolgi. After receiving treatment, symptoms resolved on the 2nd day and the patient recovered fully.
ECDC wants to raise awareness about the possibility of more human cases due to the presence of P. cynomolgi in macaques across Southeast Asia and the volume of tourists visiting these areas, including national parks. Since the diagnosis is challenging, advanced detection and identification techniques should be performed when all other tests show negative results.
Travelers to the region are advised to apply preventive measures against malaria such as taking chemoprophylaxis and using mosquito nets and insect repellents, wearing long sleeved shirts and trousers, and sleeping in air-conditioned rooms.
October 4, 2019
Nigeria: Yellow Fever
On July 16, the Ebonyi State Ministry of Health received information about suspected yellow fever cases in Izzi local government area Nigeria. The cases had symptoms of fever and jaundice, reported with onset since May 2019. As of 30 Aug 2019, a total of 84 suspected yellow fever cases, including 26 deaths (case fatality ratio: 31%), have been reported across 9 LGAs within Ebonyi state.
Of the suspected yellow fever cases, 55% (46/84) are male. The most affected age group is 0-9 years (28 cases, 33%), followed by age groups 20-29 years and above 30 years, each with 20 cases (24%). The 10-19-years age group has the least number of cases (16 cases, 19%). Of the suspected cases, 79% (66/84), including 7 confirmed cases positive by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), are reported from Izzi LGA, which is located in the northeastern part of the state, bordered with Cross River state in the east and Benue state in the north.
The assessment conducted by the LGA rapid response team and national agencies found low vaccination coverage and poor routine immunization documentation. Community surveys were conducted, and yellow fever vaccination coverage was estimated to be 56% (64% for children aged less than 5 years and 48% for those older than 5 years of age). Though Nigeria introduced routine vaccination for yellow fever into the immunization schedule in 2004, most adults remain susceptible, and overall population immunity is low. Although no entomological studies were conducted at the time, the geography and vegetation of the affected state is compatible with the presence of the Aedes mosquitoes, as illustrated by the transmission patterns.
Since September 2017, when the Nigeria Center for Disease Control informed WHO of a confirmed case of yellow fever in Kwara state, Nigeria has been responding to successive yellow fever outbreaks over a wide geographic area.
Germany: West Nile Virus
Germany has seen its first confirmed case of the mosquito-spread West Nile virus in a human.
"The person from Saxony suffered from encephalitis, was treated at the Klinikum St Georg in Leipzig, and has recovered," several institutions, including the Robert Koch Institute in Berlin, announced on Sept. 27.
The virus often does not cause symptoms in humans. Serious and deadly cases are rare and usually involve older people with pre-existing illnesses.
So far in Germany, there had only been cases involving travelers who contracted the disease in affected regions.
The virus, which originally stems from Africa, first occurred in Germany in animals in 2018. It is transmitted by certain breeds of mosquitoes. Owls, birds of prey, and ravens are the virus' most common hosts. However, it can also be transmitted to horses and humans.
Bangladesh: West Nile Virus
A new mosquito-borne virus, West Nile Virus (WNV), has been found in Bangladesh. However, detailed information about the virus has not been available yet as the government's concerned department didn't investigate to know its origin.
According to the experts, West Nile is a potentially life-threatening viral infection which can pass to animals and humans if they are bitten by an infected mosquito.
WNV is a virus of the Flaviviridae family, which includes the viruses responsible for Japanese encephalitis and dengue fever. It mainly affects birds, but it can also infect mammals and reptiles. Between 70-80% of people have no symptoms. Up to 1% of those who become ill have serious and potentially fatal complications, they added.
"We have asked the Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) to investigate the West Nile virus," said Dr. Sanya Tahmina Jhora, Director of the Disease Control unit of Directorate General of Health Services.
The DGHS sources said the West Nile virus infected patient was found in an area near Dhaka city.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the United States, West Nile virus (WNV) is the leading cause of mosquito-borne disease in the continental United States.
Pakistan: Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever
A young woman suffering from Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever [CCHF], commonly referred to as Congo fever, died in Rawalpindi on Sept. 27, Dunya News reported.
According to details, the 32-year-old woman, a resident of Adiala Road, was brought to the emergency ward of a private clinic in critical condition where she died during treatment.
Congo fever is a tick-borne viral disease which is mainly transferred to humans from pets. Its symptoms include fever, flu, bloody urine, vomiting and nose bleeding.
Pakistan has confirmed cases of CCHF in almost every province: Sindh (Karachi), Punjab (Faisalabad, Multan, and Rawalpindi), Balochistan (Quetta) and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Peshawar) as well as Azad Jammu & Kashmir region.
Rapid climate change aroused by industrial, occupational, and agricultural activities to support the ever-growing human population has been considered the single most causative agent for emergence or re-emergence of CCHF in Pakistan, where it has biannual peaks between the months of March-May and August-October.
East Timor: African Swine Fever
On Sept. 27, the OIE, World Organization for Animal Health, confirmed outbreaks of African swine fever had occurred in East Timor.
The report identified 100 outbreaks with 405 deaths reported in the East Timor municipalities of Baucau and Liquica. The first outbreak occurred on Sept. 9.
It should be noted East Timor has a small pig population of close to 400,000 head.
The concern is the closeness of East Timor to Australia -- the distance from the 2 East Timor municipalities and Darwin is only 404 miles.
East Timor is the 10th nation in Asia to have the disease. The other nations include; China, Viet Nam, Laos, Myanmar, North Korea, South Korea, Mongolia, Philippines, and Cambodia.
The recent accelerated rate of contamination in China could see an estimated 70 percent of all pigs gone by the end of 2019 -- if using the same percentage of infection across all of Asia over a similar 16 month period this would equate to 365 million head or 48 percent of global pigs would be gone by mid next year.
United States: Eastern Equine Encephalitis
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health announced the 11th human case of eastern equine encephalitis [EEE] virus infection, a man in his 70s from Worcester County.
As a result, the communities of Auburn, Charlton, Dudley, Leicester, Southbridge, and Spencer have been elevated to high risk.
The Department of Public Health has also been recently notified by a hospital of a death from the virus of an Essex County resident. It marks the 4th death from eastern equine encephalitis virus this year [2019] in Massachusetts.
"Although mosquito populations are declining at this time of year, risk from EEE will continue until the first hard frost," said state epidemiologist Dr. Catherine Brown.
"We continue to emphasize the need for people to protect themselves from mosquito bites."
There are 35 communities now at critical risk, 46 at high risk and 122 at moderate risk for the virus in Massachusetts.
In addition to the 11 human cases of the virus this season in Massachusetts, there have also been 8 confirmed cases of in animals -- 7 horses and a goat.
State officials continue to remind residents to take personal precautions to prevent mosquito bites.
Eastern equine encephalitis is a rare but serious and potentially fatal disease that can affect people of all ages. The virus occurs sporadically in Massachusetts, with the most recent outbreak years occurring from 2004 to 2006 and 2010 to 2012. There were 22 human cases of infection during those 2 outbreak periods, with 14 cases occurring among residents of Bristol and Plymouth counties.
United States: Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease
The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) said 4 cows in Franklin and Walla Walla counties were diagnosed this week with epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD), a potentially deadly virus primarily affecting wild deer, but occasionally crossing over to cattle.
The WSDA advises cattle owners to be on the lookout for EHD signs such as excessive drooling, lethargy, difficulty walking, or oral and nasal lesions with ulceration, which are similar to the much more devastating foot-and-mouth disease. Fever and anorexia due to the oral erosions were seen in the recently diagnosed cattle. Supportive care is the only treatment for infected cows.
Differentiating EHD from other animal diseases requires laboratory testing, so cattle owners should contact veterinarians if the signs are observed.
"Although EHD is seldom prevalent in cattle, we must show an abundance of caution and investigate each case due to the similarity of signs this disease has with the highly contagious and economically disastrous foot-and-mouth disease," Washington State Veterinarian Dr. Brian Joseph said.
EHD is not a threat to human health.
The disease usually occurs in cattle where environmental conditions support large populations of biting midges. Biting midges or Culicoides spp. gnats, commonly known as "no-see-ums" are the main way the disease is spread. Female biting midges can ingest blood from infected animals and then feed on uninfected animals. These midges typically breed near mud, so EHD outbreaks often occur when cattle congregate in wet areas.
September, 27 2019
Japan: Classical Swine Fever
In a major policy shift, agriculture minister Taku Eto announced Sept. 20 that the ministry now plans to vaccinate pigs against classical swine fever [CSF].
The ministry judged that doing so is inevitable if Japan is to stop the unabated spread of the infectious disease after the first outbreak in the country in 26 years was confirmed in September last year. Eto also said the ministry will ask pharmaceutical companies to increase production of [CSF] vaccines.
Currently, Japan has a stock of vaccines against the disease for about one million pigs, but the government believes increased output is necessary and that more areas will need vaccinations. The vaccination program is expected to mainly cover pig farms near areas where outbreaks of the disease have been recorded.
The disease affects only domestic pigs and wild boars, and has a high fatality rate. It does not affect humans even if meat from an infected animal is consumed.
Basic responses to [CSF] outbreaks stipulated under the government's epidemic prevention guidelines for the disease are to cull pigs at affected farms, including uninfected pigs, and at present these guidelines do not allow preventive vaccinations to be administered. The ministry plans to review the guidelines.
But it is believed to be difficult to eradicate the [CSF] virus as long as there are wild boars around, which are said to carry the virus and pass it on to domesticated pigs. Therefore, a vaccination program may have to be carried out over a long period of time, and related costs could be high.
Some experts caution that vaccinations would make it difficult to distinguish between infected and uninfected pigs, possibly leading to a delay in responding to new outbreaks.
Russia: African Swine Fever
A new outbreak of African swine fever [ASF] has been found at a privately held farm in a village in Russia's Primorsk[y] region near the border with China, Russia's agriculture watchdog [Rosselkhoznadzor] said on Sept. 20.
The virus -- which is highly contagious among pigs but not dangerous to humans -- has been detected in several areas in the region in recent months.
China has reported 157 outbreaks of the incurable disease since it was first found in the country in August last year.
Russia's most recent follow-up report addressed 5 new outbreaks; one of them related to a backyard holding including 2 pigs, of which one died and the other one was culled. This holding is located in the village of Zharikovo, Primorskiy Kray, the same province named in the above new report.
Heilongjiang province has been reported as ASF infected since Aug 2018; notably, one of the events in this province, in December 2018, involved farmed wild boars in pasture.
United States: Eastern Equine Encephalitis
Additional developments in the s spread of Eastern Equine Encephalitis were reported in New Jersey and Michigan this week.
The New Jersey Department of Health is encouraging residents to take steps to protect themselves from all mosquito-borne diseases after 2 more human cases of eastern equine encephalitis were confirmed in the state. The new cases were confirmed in Union and Atlantic counties on Sept. 19. The department confirmed the first human case of eastern equine encephalitis in August.
Earlier this week, eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) was found in a mosquito pool in Berkley Heights, New Jersey, authorities said. The mosquito pool was found in the Emerson Lane area of Union County near the border with Warren.
Union County officials said they would continue to aggressively spray in Berkley Heights Township. To date, eastern equine encephalitis has been detected in 65 mosquito samples in 13 New Jersey counties.
In Ohio, health officials are monitoring developments in Michigan, where Eastern Equine Encephalitis has killed three people.
"We've had 3 horses infected that have died from Triple-E," said Dr. Tony Forshey, state veterinarian with the Ohio Department of Agriculture.
Most persons infected with eastern equine encephalitis have no apparent illness; however, some can be very ill. Severe cases of eastern equine encephalitis (involving encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain) begin with the sudden onset of headache, high fever, chills, and vomiting 4-10 days after a mosquito bite. The illness may then progress to disorientation, seizures, or coma.
Eastern equine encephalitis has been diagnosed in 21 people in 6 states, and 5 people have died. The infection is being seen only in certain counties within a small number of states. The US each year has seen 7 illnesses and 3 deaths, on average.
Taiwan: Avian Influenza
More than 3,000 mule, or sterile, ducks have been culled due to an H5N5 subtype infection of the highly pathogenic avian influenza, which is the first reported case in Taiwan.
Tu Wen-chen, deputy director-general of the Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine, said 3,583 ducks from a farm in the Qishan district of Kaohsiung City were confirmed as having the H5N5 virus on Sept. 13 and killed by the authorities. The bureau later also inspected 5 other duck farms within a 3 km distance.
The sampled ducks did not show any symptoms of infection when they were taken for examination. The bureau visited 30 duck farms in 6 cities and counties in southern Taiwan to test if any poultry had contracted seasonal diseases.
According to Chiou Chwei-jang, director-general of the Animal Health Research Institute, the H5N5 virus could have been transmitted through infected wild birds from Europe, Asia, or other parts of the world. China reported H5N5 infections in 2008, and there have been a handful of H5N5 cases found in wild birds or poultry farms in Europe over the past 2 years, he added.
The H5N5 virus does not affect human beings but is highly pathogenic and fatal to poultry. Tu Wen-chen said the bureau will continue carrying out inspections at poultry farms across Taiwan and conduct sample tests in avian flu-affected areas.
Nigeria: Yellow Fever
A health official in Nigeria on Sept. 19 confirmed 6 cases of yellow fever in the northeast state of Gombe. Nuhu Vile, an epidemiologist with the state health authorities, told media the confirmed patients were treated and discharged.
Yellow fever cases have been reported in northeastern Nigeria, including the states of Bauchi and Borno, since Aug. 29.
No death case has been recorded in the state, he said, noting that an investigation conducted by experts showed that the case originated from Yankari, neighboring Bauchi state.
The state government had set up a team to address the problem, the health expert said, while calling on the people to always report cases of fever to health facilities for quick examination and treatment.
According to [Vile], yellow fever was caused by a virus transmitted by mosquitoes and therefore urged people to sanitize their environment.
Vile advised parents to ensure they vaccinated their children from an early age during the routine immunization. He said once a child was immunized before he or she attained 9 months, chances of getting infected would be minimal.
To date, 243 suspected cases have been reported in 42 local government areas in 5 states: Bauchi (84), Borno (82), Gombe (7), Kano (4) and Katsina (66).
India: Japanese Encephalitis
An official has confirmed that 2 children have died after a fresh bout of acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) struck north Bihar again this week.
"Children afflicted with AES are coming to the hospital at regular intervals, but only 2 have died in the past one week," Sunil Kumar Shahi, superintendent of the state-run Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital (SKMCH) in Muzaffarpur, said over the phone on Sept. 20.
SKMCH is the only advanced medical facility equipped to treat encephalitis cases in the district, which has been the center of AES cases earlier this year.
So far, health experts had been primarily blaming litchis that grow abundantly in Muzaffarpur district to be behind the spread of AES. However, its sudden outbreak in September, when the litchi season had been long over, has confused and confounded them.
"Hypoglycemia, excessive heat and malnutrition could be the reasons behind the AES strike, but we can't give the exact reason. Research is on," Shahi said.
He added: "At present, 12 children are admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit of the SKMCH. They suffer from convulsions and sudden bouts of high fever, which are similar to the AES. While tests have confirmed 3 of them are suffering from AES, the pathological tests of other children are being conducted to ascertain the cause."
According to him, 30 cases were reported in July, 18 in August, while at least 12 cases have been reported this month. In all, 647 cases have been reported from this year out of which 161 children died.
Canada: West Nile Virus
This year, 2 cases of the West Nile virus have been reported in BC: one human, one horse.
The B.C. Centre for Disease Control told CTV News the human case was reported on Vancouver Island in August, and is the only instance reported in B.C. so far this year.
The horse-related case was reported in the Princeton area.
Few details were provided for privacy reasons, but the BC CDC said both cases were travel-related. Both were tied to the U.S. It is not known where in the U.S. they travelled, but there was a small outbreak in eastern Oregon this year.
Oregon Public Broadcasting reports there were 5 human cases and 4 horse cases this year in Harney, Deschutes and Malheur counties. Mosquitoes trapped in Ontario earlier this year tested positive, and a man near Toronto was confirmed to have the virus on Sept. 19. Another case was reported in that city in August.
The virus spread by mosquitoes is rare in B.C. Prior to this year, the BC CDC's data show there were 2 human cases in 2017, one in 2016 and none in 2015. There have been more horse cases reported in those years, and 2 ravens, a blue jay and one horse were infected last year.
United States: Typhoid Fever
Hours after Collin County, Tex., Health Care Services released information about a travel-related case of typhoid fever confirmed in August in McKinney, the Frisco ISD said it is currently investigating a possible case at an elementary school.
Collin County health officials said that people who ate at the Hat Creek Burger Co., between Aug. 19-22 may have come in contact with the extremely drug-resistant strain of XDR Salmonella Typhi and could still develop symptoms.
Pam Ritz, a spokesperson for the restaurant, said a worker who contracted the virus had traveled out of the country and only became ill 3 days after returning to work. Ritz said the worker was sent home when he became ill and was later confirmed to be suffering from typhoid fever. No other employees or customers have reported symptoms of the illness in the past month, and strict sanitation procedures have been followed at the restaurant, the spokesperson said.
Friday afternoon, officials with the Frisco Independent School District said a student at Talley Elementary is being investigated for having typhoid fever as well. The district said the student is only suspected of having contracted the virus and that it has not yet been confirmed. Frisco ISD told parents in a letter that the Talley campus is being disinfected. It is not clear whether the cases are related or the strains of the bacterium are the same.
Dr. Jawaid Asghar, chief epidemiologist for Collin County Health Care Services, said the disease could be transmitted by a sick person who did not wash their hands after using a toilet before touching the food of a healthy person. He said the McKinney case is the first confirmation of the XDR Salmonella Typhi strain in Texas. "This is extremely drug resistant," Asghar said. "It is resistant to drugs we can normally give for typhoid." The worker is still receiving care for the illness and has not returned to work but has improved, Asghar said.
Ashgar said the risk of transmission of the disease from that one sick person is very low, but the press was notified to warn people who were in the restaurant during those 3 days to seek medical attention if they become ill.
Bangladesh: Anthrax
Several hundred cattle died of anthrax, and another several hundred were infected with the disease in Meherpur, according to the Department of Livestock.
Livestock department officials said they had already taken preventive measures to contain the disease so that it could not spread to other districts.
The department director general, Hiresh Ranjan Bhowmik, told New Age Sept. 20 that they were aware of sporadic infections of anthrax at Gangni in Meherpur. He said a team of experts comprising veterinary specialists from the livestock department had already been sent to Meherpur to examine the ground situation. Besides, the team would bring samples for further examination in Dhaka, he said, adding that the farmers were advised to vaccinate their cattle against anthrax.
Hiresh also said a few goats died of anthrax, as the farmers did not vaccinate them earlier.
"There are enough vaccines ready to provide," he said, adding that anthrax vaccines were provided to farmers at a nominal price. He said due to lack of awareness, the cattle farmers were not interested in vaccinating their cattle against the disease.
Officials said that anthrax, an infection by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis, was usually transmitted from animals to animals and animals to humans. The deadly disease could affect human health and causes disorders of skin, lung, and bowel, they said.
Nigeria: Lassa Fever
In the reporting Sept. 9-15, 7 new confirmed cases were reported from Edo (3), Ondo (2), Ebonyi (1) and Benue (1) states, 2 new deaths reported from Edo and Benue states.
This year, a total of 3,728 suspected cases have been reported from 23 states. Of these, 694 were confirmed positive, 18 probable and 3,002 negative.
Since the onset of the 2019 outbreak, there have been 149 deaths in confirmed cases. Case fatality ratio in confirmed cases is 21.5%.
September 20, 2019
United States: Eastern Equine Encephalitis
Rhode Island officials said Sept. 11 that Eastern equine encephalitis had been detected in a deer in Richmond, the 2nd such case in Rhode Island during the current outbreak of the mosquito-borne virus. The state Department of Environmental Management (DEM) reported the first deer infection a day earlier in Coventry.
With deer season opening, DEM said it was emailing about 1,200 hunters who have recently purchased 2019 deer licenses to offer personal precautionary information when field dressing animals. EEE is not considered to be a threat to the state's deer populations. Deer, like horses, cannot transmit EEE to humans, but the transmission of EEE to deer reinforces that 2019 is a higher-than-average risk year for mosquito-borne disease, DEM spokesman Michael J. Healey said.
Massachusetts public health officials say laboratory testing has confirmed the state's 8th human case of eastern equine encephalitis [EEE] this season.
The state Department of Public Health said Sept. 13 that the latest case of the mosquito-borne disease is in a man in his 50s from northeastern Bristol County. Of the previous 7 cases, one was in a 5-year-old girl, and another in an adult woman was fatal.
In addition to the 8 human cases of EEE, there have also been 8 confirmed cases of EEE in animals and one human case of West Nile virus.
There are 35 communities in the state now at critical risk for EEE, 38 at high risk, and 120 at moderate risk.
Health officials urge residents to use insect repellent when mosquitoes are at their most active.
In Connecticut, the state Department of Public Health is warning that an adult resident of East Lyme has tested positive for eastern equine encephalitis (EEE). This is the first human case of EEE identified in Connecticut this season.
The patient became ill during the last week of August with encephalitis and remains hospitalized. Laboratory tests, which were completed today at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Laboratory in Ft. Collins, Colorado, confirmed the presence of antibodies to the virus that causes EEE.
The EEE virus has been identified in mosquitoes in 12 towns and in horses in 2 other towns.
EEE is a rare but serious illness that spreads when people are bitten by infected mosquitoes.
Nigeria: Yellow Fever
The Bauchi State Government Sept. 14 unveiled an anti-yellow fever campaign to immunize 500,000 people in Alkaleri and Tafawa Balewa Local Government Areas to curtail the spread of the acute viral hemorrhagic disease transmitted by infected mosquitoes.
The state governor, Senator Bala Mohammed disclosed the plan at the unveiling of aerial spray of Quella birds, mosquitoes and reactive vaccination in response to yellow fever at the Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa International Airport, Bauchi.
Mohammed explained that the exercise, which involved spray of affected areas and vaccination against yellow fever, was a testimony of the commitment of the administration to health issues and response to emergency.
The governor stated that the vaccination would be conducted for people in high risks areas of Alkaleri and Tafawa Balewa LGAs, thereby urging people living there to come forward for the vaccination.
India: Japanese Encephalitis
Japanese encephalitis has killed 154 people in Assam in 2019, the highest in 5 years officials said even as they claimed that the outbreak, which peaked in July and August, was subsiding and only a few fresh cases were reported in September.
A top state government official also said a state-wide adult vaccination campaign will begin in November covering all districts after the Centre agreed to provide around 5.7 million vaccines.
"From Nov. 15, we plan to start an intensive adult vaccination campaign covering the whole state. We plan to conclude it by March 15," Samir Sinha, Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare Department said. The campaign is likely to be announced in a week.
On Thursday Sept. 12, while no fresh JE cases were reported, one person from Kamrup (Rural) succumbed to the disease that is spread by Culex mosquitoes, according to the daily bulletin from the office of JVN Subramanyam, Director, National Health Mission, Assam.
The state recorded 614 JE positive cases in 2015, 427 in 2016, 605 in 2017 and 509 in 2018. In 2015, the number of deaths due to JE stood at 135; in 2016 the number came down to 92 and further decreased to 87 in 2017. In 2018, the state saw 94 deaths due to the vector-borne disease. In 2014, the state recorded 165 deaths due to JE.
The bulletin from NHM said through Sept. 12, the total number of persons who have been affected by JE stood at 630, out of which 154 people have died. While 13 persons who died belonged to Goalpara, 11 came from Kamrup (Rural), the 2 neighboring districts in lower Assam where maximum fatalities have been recorded this year. Kokrajhar, in Bodo Territorial Administrative District, has not reported any JE positive case for the 1st time in the last 6 years, even as the rest of the state has been affected in the 2019 outbreak.
Japan: Classical Swine Fever
Japan's agriculture ministry said Sept. 13 that classical swine fever infections have occurred at a pig farm in the city of Chichibu, Saitama Prefecture, part of the country's Kanto eastern region, which also includes Tokyo.
It is the first time that a CSF fever case has been confirmed in Kanto since the first outbreak of the infectious disease in the country in 26 years was detected in September 2018, in the central prefecture of Gifu.
The latest outbreak marked the 41st case of swine fever since the confirmation of the Gifu case.
Pakistan: Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever
A Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) patient died in a private hospital of Karachi. The death toll from the tick-born viral disease has climbed to 17 in the megacity this year. Sindh Health Department confirmed the death of a 52-year old man, a resident of Lyari area of Karachi who died in a private hospital of the city due to CCHF. The patient was brought to the hospital a few days ago with fever where he was diagnosed.
The tick-born viral disease had infected 36 people this year, of which 17 died. Currently, a 62 year old man is under treatment in a private hospital. CCHF is a fatal viral disease that spreads through a tick bite. The CCHF is mainly contracted by people who deal with cattle and livestock. The symptoms include backache, joints pain, pain in the abdomen, high grade fever and bleeding from any part of the body.
Greece: West Nile Virus
The death toll from the West Nile virus since June this year has risen to 20, according to this week's report by the National Health Organization (EODY).
Through Sept. 12, authorities had diagnosed a total of 176 cases of the mosquito-borne virus. Of these, 109 developed illnesses affecting the central nervous system such as encephalitis or meningitis.
EODY is urging the public to spray insect repellent on bare skin and clothing, to install mosquito nets and screens, to remove stagnant water from basins, vases and gutters, to regularly mow lawns and to water plants in the morning.
Philippines: African Swine Fever
More cases of African swine fever [ASF] have been confirmed, this time in Quezon City.
Speaking to CNN Philippines Sept. 14, Quezon City mayor Joy Belmonte verified 13 mortalities already in Barangay Bagong Silangan, and they have been tested positive for African swine fever.
Belmonte added she also received reports of dead pigs in Barangay Payatas, but did not know how many there were.
The mayor clarified piggeries are not allowed in Quezon City, as zoning laws do not provide for agricultural zones. She said she has already given orders to close these down; however, given these are backyard industries and she did not want families to suffer from loss of income, she gave them a "few months" to comply.
Belmonte said given the developments, they will have to act "more swiftly." "If there are validated cases, within a one-kilometer [0.62 mi] radius, all pigs within that radius must be culled," she said, adding around 2,500 pigs will be affected.
United States: Tularemia
A rabbit in Lafayette has tested positive for tularemia, public officials announced Sept. 13.
Tularemia is caused by the bacteria Francisella tularensis and is typically found in animals, especially rabbits, rodents, and hares.
Symptoms in humans include skin ulcers, swollen and painful lymph glands, inflamed eyes, sore throat, mouth sores, and more. Symptoms can also include abrupt onset of fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, joint pain, dry cough, difficulty breathing, and more.
Tularemia can be treated when detected in early stages, officials said.
People can become infected with tularemia through the bite of infected insects, most commonly ticks and deer flies, or through skin contact with infected animal tissue. Bacteria can also be inhaled when an infected animal is broken into small particles and spread through the air, such as when an infected carcass is mowed over.
"It's always important to avoid contact with wild animals because of the risk of many diseases," said Lane Drager, Boulder County Public Health Consumer Protection Program coordinator, in a statement. "Although tularemia is rare, it is still a risk, especially considering the number of wild rabbits in our communities."
Five people in Colorado have been diagnosed with tularemia in 2019. So far, 3 rabbits have been tested positive in the state.
Chile: Avian Influenza
The importing of Chilean turkey meat has been restricted in Argentina, Peru, and Hong Kong due to an outbreak of bird flu in central Chile. The outbreak, of a low-pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) virus, is under control, the Chilean State Agricultural and Livestock Service (SAG) reported Sept. 11.
"Regarding shipments of poultry and its products from Chile to various markets, the SAG has been notified of restrictions only on the part of Argentina, Peru, and Hong Kong," the SAG said in a statement.
The 3 nations made the determination after an outbreak was detected on Aug. 27 in a turkey pen at the Sopraval company, located in the Los Nogales commune, Valparaiso, about 75 miles west of Santiago. Some 65,000 animals were slaughtered as the authorities took control.
"From the point of view of the population's health, this event does not represent a risk, given that the consumption of meat and poultry byproducts does not pose any danger of transmission to humans," added the SAG.
Chilean officials will now conduct an investigation to determine the causes of the occurrence of bird flu in Chile. Surveillance will also be carried out within a radius of 2 km [1.2 mi] from the area where the outbreak occurred.
United States: Leptospirosis
More than a dozen dogs in a Utah city are infected with leptospirosis, a potentially deadly bacterial disease that can spread to humans.
There have been at least 13 confirmed cases of leptospirosis in dogs in St. George, KSL reports. Ten of the cases involve dogs being treated at the local veterinary clinic Red Hills Animal Hospital, while the 3 remaining cases are at other veterinary facilities in the area.
Veterinarians think an infected dog, possibly from Arizona, that stayed at a local boarding center called Red Rock Pet Resort may have spread the illness to other dogs.
"Leptospirosis did not originate at our facility; it can exist everywhere in nature. It's the No. 1 zoonotic disease in the world. It was likely carried into our facility by an infected dog and then passed on to other dogs," Red Rock Pet Resort said in a statement on Facebook.
Officials at the facility suspect the infected dog urinated in a "doggie pool" and subsequently infected other dogs.
"We're unable to determine which dog introduced this disease to our facility," the statement said.
Kazakhstan: Anthrax
A total of 4 shepherds were hospitalized with anthrax in Zhambyl region, Informbureau reports. The diagnosis was confirmed by laboratory examination. Patients came to the hospital with eruptions on their bodies.
"The patients work on one of the farms and have direct contact with animals. All of them were took part in the slaughtering of a cow, and 7-10 days after that they started complaining of these signs," said Gulfaira Mirzabekova, an employee of the Zhambyl regional infectious hospital. According to doctors, those infected sought medical aid in time. Anthrax just started damaging the organs. They will be treated for at least 10 days, they said.
Local authorities are not going to quarantine in the village of Shakpak, where the patients were infected. No anthrax cases were registered among cattle, they claim.
France: Listeriosis
The 7 people in France part of a Listeria outbreak linked to organic dairy products fell ill over a period of 18 months, according to public health authorities. Those infected with the same strain of Listeria were identified by the National Reference Center for Listeria, with an 8th case still under investigation.
Sante Publique France [Public Health France] reported 2 people have died, but the agency does not have any evidence to attribute the deaths to Listeria infection.
People fell ill between February 2018 and August 2019 and are aged between 36 and 93 years old; 5 are women. Four live in Alsace, while Burgundy, Ile-de-France, and Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur all have one case.
Investigations by Sante Publique France found these people had consumed organic dairy products in the weeks before contracting listeriosis. Analysis of food samples from a company, based in Bas-Rhin, Alsace confirmed contamination with Listeria. Raw milk cheeses are the suspected source of the contamination.
Testing by the National Reference Center for Listeria confirmed strains found in products had the same genetic characteristics as those isolated in the patients. Consumption of Ferme Durr products was also confirmed by several patients.
Ferme Durr recalled all dates of Durr brand organic dairy items, including natural yogurt and yogurt with fruit, cream, cottage cheese, and cheese. Products were sold directly at the firm, in markets and stores throughout France. Products were also distributed in Belgium, Germany, and Luxembourg.
September 13 2019
United States: E. coli
The Philadelphia Department of Public Health announced an outbreak of E. coli infections that have sickened 14 people so far. In a statement released Sept. 5, city health officials said their ongoing investigation "has identified a few shared restaurant exposures." They have not named specific restaurants. All 14 affected people, ranging in age from 7 to 90 years old, "presented with signs of acute gastroenteritis with bloody and non-bloody diarrhea," according to the statement.
The health department said the illnesses were due to Shiga-toxin E. coli. Symptoms usually start with non-bloody diarrhea, which can progress to bloody diarrhea after 2 to 3 days. Severe abdominal pain without much fever may also occur. Exposure to the bacteria often occurs through contact with food or water contaminated by human or animal stool or through contact with an infected person. Outbreaks have been associated with consuming undercooked beef, unpasteurized milk, or raw leafy vegetables, as well as exposure at petting zoos.
A significant possible complication of this strain of E. coli exposure is hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS) -- a condition that affects the blood vessels in the kidneys -- which can cause hemolytic anemia, low platelets and acute renal dysfunction. HUS usually develops 7 to 14 days after diarrhea begins and can result in kidney failure, seizures, coma or death. About 6% of the people infected by the E. coli strain will develop HUS, according to the health department. Children ages 1 to 4 are at highest risk for HUS.
Denmark: E. coli
Two children -- one on the island of Funen and another in the Copenhagen area -- died due to a rare complication related to EHEC, a strain of the E. coli bacteria. Both children died of kidney failure, but the 2 cases are not connected. A third child also contracted kidney failure but survived, DPSA said.
A consultant doctor and head of department at Copenhagen infectious disease research institute SSI stressed that the cases were not evidence of an outbreak and that the number of cases was not improbable. "At this time, we have knowledge of 3 cases of kidney failure from August to September 2019. That is not more than we would expect at this time of year. Fortunately there is nothing to suggest they are connected," Tyra Grove Krause said.
"They were not infected with the same bacteria, so there is no common source of infection. So it is not an outbreak, but a chance coincidence," Krause added.
DPSA has confirmed it has consulted parents of children who attend relevant schools or daycare facilities, and that authorities are working to gain a clearer understanding of the circumstances surrounding the cases.
Sweden: Tularemia
In a follow-up on the tularemia, or harpest situation in Sweden, a little over 120 people have become ill with tularemia over the past week, bringing the total to around 690 in 2019.
Compared to the previous weeks, there is a slight slowdown in the number of new cases, while compared to previous years there are still an unusually high number of people who fall sick with the bacterial infection, according to Folkhalsomyndigheten.
Most new cases of illness are reported from the Dalarna and Gavleborg region, which together now have over 400 cases, while the number of new cases from Orebro counties has decreased.
According to the CDC, tularemia is a disease that can infect animals and people. Rabbits, hares, and rodents are especially susceptible and often die in large numbers during outbreaks. People can become infected in several ways, including: tick and deer fly bites, skin contact with infected animals, drinking contaminated water and inhaling contaminated aerosols or agricultural and landscaping dust.
Symptoms vary depending how the person was infected. Tularemia can be life-threatening, but most infections can be treated successfully with antimicrobials.
Philippines: Leptospirosis
Amid flooding incidents due to recent heavy rains, the Department of Health (DOH)-Davao has recorded 44 suspected leptospirosis cases with 4 deaths in Davao Region this year.
DOH-Davao director Dr. Annabelle Yumang said on Sept. 3 that the number of suspected leptospirosis cases is highest in Davao City with 14 patients and 3 who have died; Davao del Norte has 13 cases with no death recorded; Compostela Valley Province with 11 cases and 1 death; Davao del Sur and Davao Oriental recorded 1 case each.
Leptospirosis is an infection spread mainly through contact with water or soil contaminated with the urine of infected animals, particularly rats. Persons can get the disease by swimming or wading in fresh unchlorinated water contaminated with animal urine or by coming into contact with wet soil or plants contaminated with animal urine.
In the past weeks, Davao Region experienced a series of heavy downpour particularly in Davao City that has caused massive flooding. With this, Yumang advised the public and the flood victims to remain vigilant during the rainy season to prevent from acquiring this fatal disease.
DOH has given the flood victims doxycycline, the antibiotic drug used as standard prophylaxis for leptospirosis patients. She further assured that there is no shortage of the antibiotic and they are ready to respond should there is a need for these medicines to prevent the disease from being acquired which is caused by the flood.
The symptoms of the infection include fever, chills and severe headache, which usually appear four to 14 days after being exposed to contaminated floodwaters or mud. Aside from that, an infected individual may manifest red eyes, jaundice, tea-colored urine and difficulty to urinate.
United States: Vaping-related illness
There's something dangerous going on in the lungs of hundreds of vapers, and their vape juice might be to blame. At least 215 cases of serious vaping-related lung issues have been reported to the CDC this summer [2019] alone across 25 US states.
So far, the lung problems have led to several medically induced comas, and at least one death was reported in Illinois in August. Another fatality is now being investigated in Oregon.
"We don't yet know the exact cause of these illnesses -- whether they're caused by contaminants, ingredients in the liquid or something else, such as the device itself," Dr. Ann Thomas, a public health physician with the Oregon Health Authority said.
No specific vaping brands have been called out, but many of the vaping illnesses have involved cannabinoid liquids like THC.
Experts aren't sure yet exactly why this is happening, but they have a hunch the illnesses may be nothing new. Because the vaping industry is largely unregulated, there are hundreds of different chemicals in vape liquids on the market, making it impossible for people to know whether the ones they're using are safe.
"We haven't been able to analyze e-liquid from these people, so we don't know what's in them," Professor Robert Tarran, who studies vaping at the University of North Carolina Marisco Lung Institute, said.
Tarran says despite all the variation in what vapers inhale, there are 2 common ingredients in e-cigarettes: nicotine (dosed in varying concentrations) and propylene glycol/vegetable glycerin (PG-VG). "That kind of narrows it down," he said.
Nicotine isn't always in cannabis-derived e-liquids, suggesting vegetable oils and other liquid solvents -- which are used to deliver drugs in all kinds of vape pens, whether there is nicotine inside them or not -- could be playing a major role in the lung illnesses.
Federal and state health officials are now worried about the presence of vitamin E acetate in many sick patients' vapes, according to a report out from the Washington Post.
Spain: Listeriosis
A third death has been reported in Spain's biggest Listeria outbreak, which has seen 200 cases of infection reported so far. A man has reportedly died after eating tainted meat in Spain. This is the third fatality in the outbreak, which comes on top of the deaths of two elderly women. The outbreak has also seen 5 women lose their babies due to the food-borne bacteria.
The 1st possible case of listeriosis outside of Spain as part of the current outbreak has also been reported. The potential victim is a Briton who may have become infected with the bacteria while in the focal point of the ongoing outbreak, Andalusia, before traveling to France, where he was diagnosed with listeriosis and spent several days in hospital, then returning to his home country.
The source of the outbreak has been traced to a pork product stuffed with garlic and other condiments sold under the commercial name "la Mecha", which is made by the company Magrudis, based in Seville. Its factory has since been closed and its meat recalled from shops.
The company said they are "in a state of shock," and "couldn't explain what happened" in a press release reportedly released by Magrudis. The company also claims to have been in compliance with all sanitary regulations, with recent lab reports proving negative test results from just days before the product in question was packaged.
United States: Hantavirus
Hantavirus infection has claimed the life of a teenager in northwestern New Mexico.
The state Department of Health said the death of a 15-year-old McKinley County boy is the 3rd case of hantavirus in New Mexico this year and the 2nd death.
Hantavirus is a deadly disease transmitted by infected rodents through urine, droppings, or saliva. People can contract the disease when they breathe in the virus that is suspended in the air.
Health Secretary Kathy Kunkel says people need to avoid contact with mice and other rodents and be careful when cleaning up and avoid disturbing rodent droppings and nests, particularly in closed spaces such as sheds.
The department says the deer mouse Peromyscus maniculatus is the main source for the hantavirus strain most commonly found in New Mexico.
Philippines: Japanese encephalitis
A 14-year-old girl from Pangasinan province in the northern Philippines died of the mosquito-borne disease, Japanese encephalitis. It is the 1st such fatality in the province. According to a PhilStar report, the girl was hospitalized for several days for suspected dengue at a Dagupan hospital, before succumbing to it.
Health officials in Pangasinan are working with officials in Tarlac, where the girl studied, to see if other students are infected as well.
Japanese encephalitis is a mosquito-borne viral disease and is the leading cause of viral encephalitis in Asia. Children are more prone to this vector-borne disease.
According to the Philippines Department of Health, one in in every 250 infected with the virus succumbs. The onset is characterized by flu-like symptoms (sudden onset of high fever, chills, headache, and tiredness). Disease may rapidly progress to severe encephalitis (infection of the brain). At this stage, the patient may experience symptoms such as mental disturbances and progressive decline in consciousness to coma.
More than half of those who are diagnosed show serious residual neurologic, psychosocial, intellectual, and/or physical disabilities such as paralysis, recurrent seizures, or inability to speak. The Japanese encephalitis virus is transmitted by Culex mosquitoes that breed in water pools and flooded rice fields. People who live close to rice fields and pig farms are more prone to fall prey to this vector-borne disease.
The Philippines is endemic for Japanese encephalitis, with a number of cases tested positive in every region in the country
Greece: West Nile Virus
Infections with West Nile virus have climbed to 40 in the region of central Macedonia in northern Greece, according to local authorities.
Deputy Regional Governor for Public Health Dimitris Hatzivrettas said the latest data refer to the period stretching from May until Aug. 22. Most of the cases were reported in the region of Imathia and in Thessaloniki.
"Thirty have already left hospital, but we had 2 deaths in Imathia of people aged over 70," said Hatzivrettas.
The official said extensive rainfall in the region has led to an increase in the number of mosquitoes carrying the virus.
Last week, the Center for Disease Prevention and Control said the spread of the West Nile virus in Greece is reaching alarming levels, with 107 reported cases that have resulted in 11 deaths so far this year.
Philippines: African Swine Fever
The Philippines confirmed that African swine fever [ASF] caused the deaths of hundreds of pigs in towns near its capital, becoming the latest Asian country to be affected by the highly contagious viral disease.
"We are still waiting on whether the virus affecting the hog areas in the country is weak or virulent," agriculture secretary William Dar said in a briefing Sept. 9. He said the majority of the 20 blood samples sent to the UK Pirbright tested positive for the virus.
President Rodrigo Duterte approved the formation of a task force that will include the police and the military to prevent an outbreak, Dar said. The virus potentially came from hotels, restaurants, or even overseas Filipino workers bringing pork products from affected countries, he said.
The agriculture department on Aug. 19 opened a probe following increased swine deaths from backyard raisers and ordered that all pigs within a 1 km radius of the infected farms be culled. Economic planning secretary Ernesto Pernia last month said the possible entry of the deadly swine disease that's spreading across Asia is among the risks to inflation this year. The virus isn't known to harm humans.
"We are not in an epidemic stage yet," Dar said, adding that there are new incident areas from initially 3 locations in Rizal and Bulacan provinces. "We have yet to see how fast the virus can spread."
Hog raisers must promptly report unusual animal deaths in their farms, Dar said. The Philippines' $5 billion swine industry provides livelihood to millions of Filipinos as small backyard raisers account for 65% of the industry, the agriculture department said.
Livestock accounts for 17% of Philippine agricultural output. Philippine hog production was more than 2.3 million metric tons based on live weight in 2018, valued at $4.7 billion. As of July, the nation's hog inventory was estimated at 12.7 million head, little changed from a year ago.
Yemen: Cholera
The Ministry of Public Health and Population of Yemen reported 16,308 suspected cases and 14 associated deaths during the week of Aug. 5-12. Twelve percent of the cases were severe. The cumulative total number of suspected cholera cases since Jan. 1, 2018, is 936,822, with 1,313 associated deaths. Children under 5 represent 24.5 % of total suspected cases during 2019.
The outbreak has affected 22 of 23 governorates and 305 of 333 districts in Yemen. From week 8 in 2019, the trend of weekly reported suspected cholera cases started increasing and reached to more than 29,500 cases in week 14. These were the maximum number of cases reported so far. The trend of suspected cases has been fluctuating over the past weeks. Starting from week 23, the number of cases increased with the start of the rainy season. However, since week 27, fewer cases were reported every week.
Norway: E. coli
Norwegian authorities are investigating an outbreak of E. coli where 4 people have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome.
The Norwegian Institute of Public Health (Folkehelseinstituttet) has identified the same type of enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) in 3 people since August 2019, and investigations are ongoing for 2 other cases. The outbreak is caused by Shiga toxin-producing E. coli.
An outbreak investigation has been started with the relevant municipal agencies, the Veterinary Institute, and Norwegian Food Safety Authority (Mattilsynet) as the source is unknown.
The DNA profile of the bacteria in the outbreak has not been seen in Norway before. The Norwegian Institute of Public Health has contacted international partners to see whether other countries have been affected.
In 2018, 494 EHEC infections were reported to the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, but only 8 developed the serious complication of HUS.
Nigeria: Yellow Fever
The federal government, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and partners, is launching a yellow fever (YF) reactive vaccination campaign in 3 states to help control an expanding outbreak in Nigeria.
The 10-day campaign targets vaccination of 1.6 million people (aged 9 months to 44 years old) to contain the outbreak in affected areas. The campaign, supported by Gavi, will use 1,802,044 vaccine doses provided by the International Coordination Group (ICG) on Vaccine Provision, funded by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.
"This vaccination campaign will be a crucial activity to stop the spread of the outbreak and ensure that all people at highest risk are safe," says Dr. Clement Peter, Officer in Charge, WHO Nigeria. "We encourage all eligible persons in the target LGAs to come forward and get vaccinated,"
Since May 2019, more than 55 suspected cases have been reported across 8 LGAs in Ebonyi State, most of which have been reported in recent weeks from Izzi LGA.
A rapid response team under the leadership of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency and Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, composed of Ebonyi State health authorities, WHO and other partners, was deployed to investigate the cases, strengthen efforts to control virus circulation and sensitize health workers and communities on prevention methods against yellow fever.
United States: Eastern Equine Encephalitis
Massachusetts officials confirmed 2 more human cases of eastern equine encephalitis [EEE] Friday, including a 5-year-old Sudbury girl and a Northborough woman in her 60s, and one state scientist said she expects more cases in coming weeks.
According to Sudbury town officials, the child is in critical condition at an area hospital. All outdoor evening town and school activities in Sudbury were cancelled Friday. Outdoor events for Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School were also cancelled.
Northborough's health agent confirmed in a statement that the other new case of EEE was a town resident.
The new cases brought the state's tally to 7 and caused risk levels to be raised in a number of Massachusetts communities. In Framingham, Marlborough, Northborough, and Sudbury, the risk levels were raised to critical, while the levels in Berlin, Boylston, Hudson, Maynard, Stow, and Wayland have been raised to high
EEE is a rare but potentially fatal disease that can cause brain inflammation and is transmitted to humans bitten by infected mosquitoes, according to federal authorities. Those who recover from it often live with severe and devastating neurological complications. There is no treatment.
United States: Newcastle Disease
Virulent Newcastle disease was detected last weekend at a property in central San Diego County, a state veterinarian said Sept. 1. The detection was identified when a private veterinarian submitted dead birds to the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System, according to state veterinarian Dr. Annette Jones.
An ongoing investigation determined that infected birds moved from within the VND quarantine area in Riverside County and are now confirmed in the Ramona area of San Diego County. This bird movement occurred in violation of the quarantine. Any bird movement within a quarantined area is prohibited by law, and violators are subject to fines ranging from $100 to $2,500 if a violator is proven to have moved the virus.
"While we continue our surveillance and testing in the Ramona area, we are hopeful the rapid actions of responsible poultry owners and the CDFA/USDA VND response team have effectively contained the virus to a small area. Bird owners under quarantine are not permitted to move their birds, because exposed birds may appear healthy but could be in the early stages of infection and highly contagious to other birds. We are counting on community cooperation to help us stop the spread of VND and eradicate the disease," said Jones in a statement.
Mandatory euthanasia of infected and exposed poultry in connection with this incident has occurred at properties in San Diego and Riverside counties. The VND response team is conducting mandatory testing in the immediate areas surrounding the new cases, as well as conducting ongoing surveillance and testing within the quarantined areas in Riverside, San Bernardino, and Los Angeles counties.
September 6, 2019
Canada: Anthrax
Saskatchewan's Ministry of Agriculture says 7 farm animals are dead due to anthrax. The province says the case was confirmed in an area about 87 miles southeast of Regina. It says lab results confirmed anthrax caused the sudden death of 7 animals. Dr. Betty Althouse, the ministry's chief veterinary officer, says the animals were farmed livestock.
She says the last cases of animal anthrax that resulted in death occurred in 2015. Althouse says there have been a few other suspected cases of anthrax throughout the summer, but all of them turned out negative. "We do suspect anthrax in the summer on pasture when there's sudden deaths in animals. It is important to get a veterinary diagnosis to confirm whether it is or not, so this is the first case that was confirmed."
Anthrax is caused by a bacterium that can survive for decades as spores in soil. The province is warning farmers to be on the lookout for anthrax as changes in soil moisture from flooding or drying can cause spores to build up on pastures. The ministry say animals are more at risk of being exposed to anthrax in drier years. Althouse says the livestock that died were grazing in a slough on a pasture.
She adds the veterinarian dealing with the herd is considering whether to relocate the rest of the animals off the contaminated pasture. A short-term treatment may also be needed.
The province says animal cases pose little risk to humans, but people can become infected through direct contact with sick animals or their carcasses. Anthrax can be prevented through vaccination, Saskatchewan notes. Althouse couldn't confirm whether the livestock that died were vaccinated.
United States: Vesicular Stomatitis Virus
Vesicular stomatitis has been confirmed in 26 Colorado counties: Adams, Alamosa, Arapahoe, Archuleta, Boulder, Broomfield, Chaffee, Conejos, Delta, Douglas, Fremont, Gilpin, Grand, Gunnison, Jefferson, La Plata, Larimer, Mesa, Mineral, Montezuma, Montrose, Morgan, Ouray, Park, Pueblo, and Weld.
"While we have an overall greater number of premises that have been released from quarantine, we still have a steady number of cases being reported on a daily basis," said State Veterinarian Dr. Keith Roehr. "We are seeing increasing numbers in different areas and new counties across the state. It is important to remain diligent in checking your horses and livestock for VSV [vesicular stomatitis virus] lesions and contacting your veterinarian."
All VSV cases are important for the epidemiology and management of this outbreak and must be reported to the State Veterinarian's Office regardless whether the owner and veterinarian decide to have their livestock tested or choose to manage as positive premises based on the presence of typical clinical signs without testing. The only cases that may be managed as suspect positive are equine cases located in counties that have confirmed cases.
Equine owners and livestock producers across the state are impacted by VSV; all livestock owners should carefully watch the case numbers and affected counties to gauge their level of risk and institute mitigation measures.
Armenia: Anthrax
The Ministry of Health has received information that 2 residents of Getashen rural community of Armavir Province were transferred to the capital city Yerevan infection hospital, and with boil-like wounds (cutaneous anthrax symptoms) on their fingers and wrists, the ministry informed.
The patients reported that a few days earlier, they had taken part in the skinning of the cow of a fellow villager, and the processing of the meat of this cow.
A total of 6 more fellow villagers were found with complaints characteristic of cutaneous anthrax. All were referred to the Yerevan infection hospital for clinical evaluation. The DNA of the causative agent of anthrax was detected in 5 of these patients.
Medical supervision has been set up in this rural community. Work is in progress to prevent the spread of this disease.
United States: Eastern Equine Encephalitis
Several new outbreaks of Eastern Equine Encephalitis have been reported.
Ohio Department of Agriculture state veterinarian Tony Forshey recently confirmed one case in a horse in Ashtabula County and is urging horse owners to contact their veterinarian to ensure their animals' vaccine and boosters are up-to-date.
Public health officials say a Rhode Island man has also tested positive.
And the office of the Indiana state veterinarian reported 2 Elkhart County horses were confirmed.
The virus responsible for the disease is transmitted to horses by mosquitoes and attacks the animal's central nervous system. In horses, onset is abrupt and usually fatal. Signs include unsteadiness, erratic behavior, a marked loss of coordination, and seizures. Horses are particularly susceptible, but the virus can also cause serious illness in people as well as other animals such as poultry and deer.
Because the disease can also be transmitted to humans by the bite of infected mosquitoes, animals sick from the disease are a sign that people should also take steps to guard themselves against mosquitoes by applying repellent and wearing protective clothing. The disease is very rare in humans, and only a few cases are reported in the U.S. each year. There are no confirmed human cases associated with this outbreak in Ohio.
Rhode Island officials said the human case was confirmed in a man over 50 from West Warwick. It's the 1st human case in Rhode Island since 2010.
Eastern equine encephalomyelitis is caused by the eastern equine encephalitis virus, for which wild birds are a natural reservoir. Mosquitoes that feed on EEE-infected birds can transmit the virus to humans, horses, and other birds. Horses do not develop high enough levels of these viruses in their blood to be contagious to other animals or humans. Because of the high mortality rate in horses and humans, EEE is regarded as one of the most serious mosquito-borne diseases in the United States.
Spain: Listeriosis
Three pregnant women have suffered miscarriages, and nearly 200 people have been hospitalized with listeriosis as an outbreak of the infection grips Spain's holiday spots.
A nationwide alert has been sent out after Listeria, bacteria which can cause a type of food poisoning called listeriosis, were suspected in packaged pork. Listeriosis can cause severe illness, including severe sepsis, meningitis and sometimes results in lifelong harm or even death.
Two of the miscarriages happened in Seville and the other in Madrid. Most of the 197 cases have occurred in the southern Spanish region of Andalusia, but people have fallen ill across the country, from Madrid to the island of Tenerife.
Spanish authorities have said that as many as 5 pregnant women may have lost their babies to the outbreak, and 3 people may have died, but stats are yet to be confirmed. At least 67 people have been hospitalized, the majority in Seville. Of these, 23 are pregnant women who are under antibiotic treatment, and 3 are patients admitted to intensive care units.
Authorities are investigating whether a pork product sold by Seville-based Magrudis could be the source of the outbreak after several of those struck down were found to have eaten it. The product under investigation is a pack of meat called "Mecha," of which a batch of 2,000 are thought to be the source of the contamination.
Pregnant women are especially vulnerable to listeria, when bacteria may cross the placenta to infect the baby, who has no immunity. Spain's Health Minister Maria Luisa Carcedo said: "We are monitoring this; alerts have been sent out, and we've ordered that all products (that have come) from this factory since May 2019 be pulled from shelves." She said an investigation is looking into how the meat evaded what she called "strict food safety controls."
India: Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever
Another 2 women have fallen victims to Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF), known as Congo fever, in a week, taking the total toll due to the virus to 3, the state government said Wednesday. New cases also have come to light, it added.
Speaking at a press conference, deputy chief minister Nitin Patel, who also holds the health portfolio, said, "Till Aug. 27, 2 deaths were reported from Surendran-agar district. The latest deceased hailed from Bhavnagar district."
Three new cases have been reported -- one at Jamda village near Limdi and 2 others near Halvad village. Among them, a 55 year old is undergoing treatment at Civil Hospital, Ahmedabad, while 2 others are being treated at SVP Hospital.
According to the state health department, 17 samples were tested at the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, of which 6 tested positive. 3 of them succumbed to CCHF, while 3 others are undergoing treatment. The samples of 11 others, including doctors, staff nurse, lab technicians, and others who came in close contact with the patients, tested negative.
Dr. Bhavin Solanki, medical officer with the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), said, “15 people were treated at the SVP Hospital, of which 10 are paramedical staff and doctors who came in contact with the patients. All 10 are stable. another 3 patients are from Halvad, one a local (Ahmedabad) patient and one who expired." All 15 samples have not been tested yet.
Health commissioner Jayanti Ravi said since cattle-rearers are more susceptible to the CCHF virus, which is responsible for the infection, preventive measures are being taken.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) website, "CCHF spreads to humans either by tick bites or through contact with infected animal tissues during and immediately after slaughter. The majority of cases have occurred in people involved in the livestock industry, such as agricultural workers, slaughterhouse workers, and veterinarians. Human-to-human transmission can occur from close contact with the blood, secretions, organs, or other bodily fluids of infected persons. Hospital-acquired infections can also occur due to improper sterilization of medical equipment, reuse of needles, and contamination of medical supplies."
Liberia: Lassa Fever
Authorities at the Ministry of Health (MoH) have confirmed an outbreak of Lassa fever across the country.
The situation is so serious that Chief Medical Officer Dr. Francis Nah Kateh, has warned Liberians to take the necessary preventive measures, "even though this is what we have been taking care of all the while. For the disease to spread to Grand Kru County, gives health authorities the cause for concern."
A total of 92 suspected cases have been reported since Jan 1, with 21 deaths.
"We are concerned about the sporadic increase of Lassa fever cases outside the Lassa Belt in Liberia," meaning Nimba, Bong, and Grand Gedeh counties.
"For Lassa fever to affect Grand Kru other than those counties it has previously affected, gives us the fear to raise the alert," Dr Kateh told the Daily Observer.
United States: Newcastle Disease
Virulent Newcastle disease was detected this weekend at a property in central San Diego County, a state veterinarian said Sept. 1.
The detection was identified when a private veterinarian submitted dead birds to the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System, according to state veterinarian Dr. Annette Jones.
Newcastle disease is an infection of domestic poultry and other bird species leading to respiratory disease, nervous manifestations, or diarrhea.
Response team members from the California Department of Food and Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Agriculture worked through the Labor Day weekend on control measures, including restriction of bird movement, mandatory euthanasia of infected and exposed birds, and surveillance testing near the property where infection was detected.
"We are moving quickly to investigate the origin of disease as well as any movement of birds or equipment possibly carrying infection," Jones said in a statement.
Detections of virulent Newcastle disease have decreased greatly over the last few months, she said.
Uganda: African Swine Fever
A suspected African Swine Fever [ASF] outbreak has been reported in Rubanda district. The disease has been reported in Nyamweru, Hamurwa and Bubaare sub-counties.
According to Joanita Kobugabe, Rubanda District Information Officer, about 53 pigs have died in Igomanda parish, Nyamwweru Sub County last weekend.
Cosma Twesigwome, Rubanda District Agriculture Officer says that many pigs in the affected sub-counties have been observed with ASF-like symptoms. Twesigwome says that some of the symptoms include: high fever, depression and loss of appetite, reddening of the skin, particularly ears and snout, vomiting and diarrhoea.
She also added that samples from the carcasses and infected pigs have been sent to the animal laboratory Centre in Mbarara branch for investigations and that they have also resolved to impose quarantine against the sale, consumption and movement of pigs.
August 30, 2019
United States: Vesicular Stomatitis Virus
On Aug. 15, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) said 6 states have confirmed cases of vesicular stomatitis: Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, and Wyoming.
Vesicular stomatitis virus can cause blisters and sores in the mouth and on the tongue, muzzle, teats, or hooves of horses, cattle, swine, sheep, goats, llamas, and a number of other animals. Lesions usually heal in 2 or 3 weeks.
Because of the virus' contagious nature and its resemblance to other diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease, animal health officials urge livestock owners and caretakers to report these symptoms to their veterinarian immediately. Most animals recover with supportive care by a veterinarian.
"Vesicular stomatitis has been confirmed only in the Western Hemisphere," APHIS said on its website. "It is known to be an endemic disease in the warmer regions of North, Central, and South America, and outbreaks of the disease in other temperate geographic parts of the hemisphere occur sporadically. The southwestern and western United States have experienced a number of vesicular stomatitis outbreaks, (and) the most recent and largest outbreak occurred in 2015. Outbreaks usually occur during the warmer months, often along waterways."
Some states and other countries might restrict movement of, or impose additional requirements for, susceptible animals from states having known cases.
United States: Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease
A white-tailed deer in west Kentucky is the state's first confirmed case of hemorrhagic disease this year, according to the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. Murray State University's Breathitt Veterinary Center confirmed a deceased deer from Graves County tested positive for epizootic hemorrhagic disease. Fish and wildlife officials are investigating 22 other possible cases in 11 counties and expect the number could grow in the coming weeks.
The disease is caused by a virus transmitted by small biting flies feeding on the deer. Outbreaks typically last from late summer to the first hard frost, which kills the flies.
The disease has been present in the USA for more than 60 years, officials say. It is not the same as chronic wasting disease. Most deer die from hemorrhagic disease within 24 to 36 hours after being bitten. Due to the rapid death, the carcasses can appear otherwise well-fed or normal. EHD cannot be transmitted to people or pets. Officials warn, however, deer with EHD can be susceptible to other diseases and caution against eating sick-looking deer.
Bulgaria: African Swine Fever
A total of 4 new outbreaks of African swine fever have been reported in Ruse, Darik News reports. "There are diseased animals in an industrial farm in the village of Karamanovo in the Municipality of Tsenovo. There are 4,500 animals raised, and their killing and burial began Aug. 21", said Dr Nikolay Nenov of the Regional Food Safety Directorate.
There are also 3 new outbreaks in feral pigs. They are in the villages Prosena, Mechka and Pisanets.
Two experts from Germany are in the area. They are examining all the affected industrial farms in Northern Bulgaria, and will conduct an epizootic study of where, when and how the virus came in.
A total of 70,440 pigs have been killed so far in Ruse.
Canada: Listeriosis
The Public Health Agency of Canada is collaborating with provincial public health partners, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Health Canada to investigate an outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections involving three provinces: British Columbia, Manitoba and Ontario.
Based on the investigation findings to date, Rosemount brand cooked diced chicken has been identified as a likely source of the outbreak. Rosemount cooked diced chicken was supplied to institutions (including cafeterias, hospitals and nursing homes) where many of the individuals who became sick resided or visited before becoming ill.
On Aug. 18, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency issued a food recall warning for Rosemount brand cooked diced chicken meat. During the food safety investigation, the CFIA identified additional affected products, and updated food recall warnings have been issued.
Canadians are advised not to eat any of the recalled products or any foods containing the recalled products. Food service establishments are advised not to sell or serve any recalled products, or any items that may have been prepared or produced using recalled products.
The investigation is ongoing, and it is possible that more products linked to the outbreak investigation will be identified. The CFIA is continuing its food safety investigation, which may lead to the recall of other products. If other products are recalled, the CFIA will notify the public through updated food recall warnings.
United States: West Nile Virus
It's officially an outbreak. There are more West Nile virus infection cases in southern Nevada this year than ever before, and mosquito season is far from over. There's no clear-cut answer as to why it's so bad this year, but out of the nearly 40,000 mosquitoes the Southern Nevada Health District has tested all across the valley, 20% are carrying the virus.
"So think about that: one in every 5 mosquitoes is carrying a virus," said Devin Raman, a senior disease investigation and intervention specialist in the Office of Epidemiology with the Southern Nevada Health District. Raman said the district has confirmed 28 cases so far this season, more than most other states. "There are people at all levels of illness that we know are not reported to us."
West Nile causes flu-like symptoms, which is why Raman said many cases go unconfirmed. But 17 cases in southern Nevada have presented as a more serious neuroinvasive form of the disease. "The virus actually gets up into the brain and the spinal cord, and it causes things like meningitis and encephalitis. It can cause paralysis," Raman said.
So where are the mosquitoes coming from?
"Mosquitoes are terrible fliers. One hundred yards is a long way for them to go, so if you have mosquitoes, they're local," said Allen Gibbs, a UNLV professor who studies insects in the School of Life Sciences. Gibbs said mosquitoes have a lifespan of about a month, and it doesn't take much for them to move in. "Just this much water, and you can grow mosquitoes, so if you overwater your plants and leave standing water, you can be a mosquito farmer," he said.
United States: Eastern Equine Encephalitis
A woman from southern Bristol County has been diagnosed with eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), the Massachusetts Department of Public Health confirmed on Aug. 25. The woman is the 4th confirmed case of EEE in Massachusetts this summer.
The woman was treated at Tuft's Medical Center but died of EEE.
Prior to that incident, the state's Department of Public Health had confirmed a third human case of eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), this one from northern Franklin County. The third victim is a man older than 60.
The risk level in the towns of Heath and Colrain in Franklin County has been raised to critical. A horse in Mendon and a horse in Uxbridge, both towns in Worcester County, have also tested positive for the EEE virus. The risk in those towns has also been raised to critical. The threat caused Mendon to cancel Saturday night's "Mendonfest" because it's scheduled during peak biting hours.
"2019 is really turning out to be not just an active year, but a very active year," said state epidemiologist Dr. Catherine Brown. She said several factors are contributing, including changing temperatures and precipitation, along with the shifting types of mosquito species. "Because we're seeing an increase in the populations of the mammal-biting mosquitoes, we think that might be one of the reasons that the cycle is changing a little bit as well," Dr. Brown said.
DPH and the Department of Agricultural Resources said aerial spraying in specific areas of Worcester and Middlesex counties was to begin on Aug. 25. As a result of the elevated risk in several communities, the spray zone has been expanded.
Across Massachusetts, a total of 23 communities are now at critical risk, 22 at high risk, and 52 at moderate risk for the EEE virus. So far, EEE has been found in 330 mosquito samples this year, many of them from species that can spread the virus to humans.
There are also three suspected cases of the illness in Michigan residents, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services [MDHHS].
The suspected cases are in residents from Kalamazoo and Berrien counties.
As of Aug. 26, six cases of EEE have been confirmed in horses in Barry, Kalamazoo, and St. Joseph counties. None of the horses were vaccinated against EEE and all animals died. An EEE vaccine is available to horses but not people. Additionally, 2 deer in Barry and Cass counties were diagnosed with EEE.
"Mosquito-borne diseases can cause long-term health effects in people and even death," said Dr. Mary Grace Stobierski, MDHHS state public health veterinarian and manager of the Zoonotic and Emerging Infectious Diseases Section. "These cases, along with confirmed cases in horses and deer in the state, stress the importance of taking precautions against mosquito bites."
Spain: Listeriosis
The listeriosis outbreak in Spain is thought to have claimed a second life. A 72 year old man with cancer died on Aug. 22. On Aug. 20, a 90 year old woman passed away. Both victims lived in Sevilla, the center of the outbreak.
At the moment, there is no confirmation that the man had eaten the La Mecha branded "carne mechada" that has been traced as the source of the outbreak that has so far affected 186 people. An investigation is under way to determine whether his death from listeriosis is linked. The outbreak has been traced to utensils used in the preparation of the food products.
Now experts say that the bacteria may be present in other products from the Magrudis factory in Sevilla. All its production has been recalled, with experts saying that at least 2 other products are at high risk of having been infected.
According to the latest data from the Junta de Andalucia regional government, 186 cases of listeriosis have been detected. Of these, 161 have occurred in Andalucia. The bulk (82 per cent) are in the province of Sevilla, with 153 cases. In the last 24 hours, there have been 25 more cases in total.
Of the 99 people in hospital, 18 have been confirmed as having listeriosis, with 4 in intensive care. The rest are suspected cases and are under observation.
Medical authorities say this strain of the bacterium is particularly virulent, taking 3 days to incubate. Normally, the incubation period is up to 70 days.
India: Lumpy Skin Disease
An unidentified disease affecting cattle has emerged as a major cause of concern for farmers of Mayurbhanj district.
The worst hit are the marginal farmers of Khunta block. With a few healthy bullocks left in the area, the farmers have to shell out extra money on tractors to prepare their fields for transplanting paddy saplings. However, the poor farmers, who cannot afford to spend on tractors, have not yet started farming activities on their land.
The farmers said blood blisters appear on cattle's skin that lead to wounds after a few days. These blisters initially appear on joints of front legs of the cattle. Sources said apart from Khunta, cattle in Badasahi, Gopabandhunagar, Dharampur and Nuasahi of the district have been affected by the disease.
Veterinary doctor of Sankerka in Badasahi block Subhrakanta Rath said the disease is caused by virus and is curable.
He said the cattle are possibly affected by Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) or Postular Dermatitis. Rath said the farmers have been asked to take their cattle to the local veterinary hospital for immediate treatment. Additional Veterinary Officer Archana Sarangi said no cattle have yet died due to the disease.
Bulgaria: West Nile Virus
Two cases of the West Nile Virus [WNV] have been confirmed in Bulgaria, with one of the patients said to have lived in Cyprus during a part of the summer.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bulgaria has not issued an update as of Aug. 22, but according to Philenews, the health ministry in Bulgaria had issued a statement regarding a 48-year-old Bulgarian man who was diagnosed with WNV. The man, said to be from Pazardzhik in southern Bulgaria, is a construction worker who had been living for the last two months in Cyprus.
Upon his return to his country, according to Bulgarian officials, the worker started running a fever and generally feeling unwell. He was then immediately admitted to hospital with a known WNV infection.
Other towns were also on alert in Bulgaria, with an official statement saying clinics for infectious diseases in Belgrade and Nis have reported infected people. Most cases were associated with summer flu symptoms while the nervous system was affected in a number of other cases.
Based on additional media reports, there were other places besides Cyprus on the radar of Bulgarian officials regarding possible WNV infections.
According to State Medical Services of the Republic of Cyprus, 9 WNV cases have been confirmed in the south this year up. All cases involved the neuroinvasive disease of the virus, with 2 patients remaining critical and 4 others being discharged from hospital.
Philippines: Leptospirosis
The Department of Health (DOH) in Calabarzon urged residents to take precautionary measures as the number of leptospirosis cases in the region has reached 75, with 12 recorded deaths.
DOH Calabarzon regional director Eduardo C. Janairo also directed local health officials and local leaders to take the necessary precautions to prevent the spread of leptospirosis and the current dengue outbreak in the communities due to the rainy season. "Leptospirosis just like dengue is fatal but also preventable. All we need is to clean our surroundings, be sure that our garbage is well-attended and improve flood control measures in the community," Janairo said in his meeting with officials of the province of Cavite.
He also reminded parents of children to avoid playing outside their homes during rainy days to reduce risk of leptospirosis related to flooding. "If we have no business to go outside our homes, it is best to stay inside and be safe," he added.
The DOH Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (RESU) showed a total of 75 leptospirosis cases recorded in the region from [1 Jan to17 Aug] this year [2019]. This, however, is 62% lower compared with last year's [2018] 199 recorded cases during the same period.
The infectious disease caused by leptospira bacteria from urine of rats has already claimed 12 lives in the region, with Rizal province having the highest number of cases at 34 with 7 deaths. Cavite has recorded 18 cases and 2 deaths; Laguna with 14 cases and 1 death; Batangas - 9 cases and 2 deaths, while Quezon has no reported cases.
Congo: Ebola
Since the beginning of the epidemic, the cumulative number of cases is 2,950, of which 2,845 confirmed and 105 probable. In total, there were 1,980 deaths (1,869 confirmed and 105 probable) and 883 people healed.
There are 377 suspected cases under investigation.
There are 8 new confirmed cases, including 6 in North Kivu, including 4 in Beni, 1 in Katwa and 1 in Kalunguta and 2 in Ituri, including 1 in Mambasa, 1 in Lolwa.
There are 3 new confirmed deaths in North Kivu; No community deaths among new confirmed cases; 3 deaths in CTE, including North Kivu, including 2 in Katwa and 1 in Kayna;
United States: Chronic Wasting Disease
Based on test results from the National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL) in Ames, Iowa, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) confirms an elk from a breeding farm in Burnett County has tested positive for chronic wasting disease (CWD). The 6-year old male was euthanized due to an injury and showed no signs of the disease. As a result of the positive finding, DATCP has quarantined the farm and the remaining 5 elk in the herd. A quarantine means no animals may move in or out of the property and restricts movement of carcasses. No elk have left the farm since the herd was formed in 2014.
The owner will continue to test all elk that die, in order to monitor if the disease has spread to other animals in the herd. DATCP's Division of Animal Health will investigate the animal's health history and the premises to determine if any other herds may have been exposed to the CWD-positive elk.
India: Glanders
Four horses have tested positive for glanders -- a highly contagious and often fatal zoonotic disease -- in Chhattisgarh's Durg and Rajnandgaon, and the state administration has imposed restrictions on the movement of equines in and out of the 2 areas. One horse tested positive for glanders in Durg, and 3 horses tested positive in Rajnandgaon.
In response to an urgent letter from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India regarding a report that the deadly zoonotic disease was detected in horses in the state, the animal husbandry department of Chhattisgarh issued a circular notifying the municipal corporation areas of Durg and Rajnandgaon as "controlled areas" and imposing restrictions on movement of equines in and out.
The circular directed that all disease-hit equines in the controlled area of a minimum 5 km [3.1 mi] radius be euthanized. It also directed that all equines in the controlled area and 25% of the equines beyond the controlled area, up to 25 km, be screened.
Taiwan: Hantavirus
A migrant worker in Taiwan has been diagnosed with a hantavirus infection, the first case in the country this year.
The afflicted individual, a male in his 20s, is a fisherman living in northern Taiwan. He has not traveled abroad recently, and his life is mostly spent at sea, said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The male started exhibiting symptoms of the disease on Aug. 3, including vomiting, diarrhea, and fatigue. He later developed liver and renal conditions before receiving a confirmed diagnosis of hantavirus infection.
Hantavirus is contracted through contact with rodent urine and feces or rodent bites. Signs and symptoms include fever, muscle pain, headache, abdomen pain, and flushing. Some patients may fall ill with symptoms like renal failure, hemorrhaging, and shock.
CDC noted that the individual has been discharged from hospital, and the health authorities have conducted sterilization and rodent control around locations he visited.
August 23, 2019
United States: Eastern Equine Encephalitis
New Jersey's Health Department has confirmed its first case of Eastern equine encephalitis in a human this summer. The department says an elderly Somerset County man was hospitalized, but has since been discharged for continued rehabilitation care.
Most people infected by the mosquito-borne illness have no apparent signs. But health officials say severe cases involving an inflammation of the brain begin with the sudden onset of headaches, high fevers, chills and vomiting. The illness may lead to disorientation, seizures or coma.
Eastern equine encephalitis has been detected in 22 mosquito samples and in 3 horses in the southern and eastern sections of New Jersey.
Kenya: Leishmaniasis
Kenya is reporting a large outbreak of the parasitic disease, visceral leishmaniasis (Kala Azar). From January through the first week of August, a total of 1,986 cases of leishmaniasis have been reported from Marsabit, Wajir and Garissa counties. Marsabit County has been hit the hardest, reporting 1,716 suspected cases with 19 deaths. Overall in Kenya, 27 deaths have been recorded.
Leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease found in parts of the tropics, subtropics, and southern Europe. Leishmaniasis has several different forms.
Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is the most serious manifestation, which affects some of the internal organs of the body (such as the spleen, liver, and bone marrow). VL is predominantly transmitted through the bite of an infected female phlebotomine sand fly, although congenital and parenteral transmissions (through blood transfusions and needle sharing) have been reported.
Spain: Listeriosis
Spanish authorities have linked an outbreak of Listeria that has affected more than 40 people to a brand of meat. The Ministry of Health and Families of Andalucia reported those ill lived in Seville and Huelva and became sick in the past 3 weeks.
The agency connected illnesses to the product by interviewing patients. It has a commercial name of "La Mecha" and is made by the company Magrudis, based in Seville. The item has been withdrawn from sale.
Local media reported that 44 people were affected. Half of them needed hospital treatment.
Previously, 16 Listeria infections were noted in 2 weeks in the 2 areas of Spain. Health authorities reported 12 listeriosis cases in Seville and 4 in Huelva with 4 people needing hospital treatment.
It can take up to 70 days after exposure to Listeria for symptoms of listeriosis to develop. Symptoms of infection can include vomiting, nausea, persistent fever, muscle aches, severe headache and neck stiffness.
Pregnant women, the elderly, young children, and people who have weakened immune systems are particularly at risk of serious illnesses, life-threatening infections and other complications. Although infected pregnant women may experience only mild, flulike symptoms, their infections can lead to premature delivery, infection of the newborn or even stillbirth.
United States: Vesicular Stomatitis Virus
Grand County, Colorado has its first case of the vesicular stomatitis virus, a viral disease affecting numerous horses along the Front Range and in other states.
The Grand County Colorado State University extension office warned of a suspected case of the virus in a horse last week when it sent an email blast to its members asking them to take precautions against the spread of the virus. The email detailed how the horse, which had recently attended an equine event in Fraser, showed signs of the virus, and a veterinarian had sent off blood samples to be tested.
Now, Colorado Department of Agriculture has Grand County listed on its website naming the affected counties with one active quarantine related to the virus, commonly known as VSV.
As of Aug. 8, there were 254 active quarantines across Colorado due to the virus. With 61, Larimer County had by far the most. It was followed by Boulder (28), Jefferson (25), Weld (25), Montezuma (23), La Platta (22), and Mesa (21) counties.
Boulder County had one confirmed bovine case; all others in Colorado were equine, though VSV can affect sheep, goats, llamas, and alpacas.
The virus causes blisters in an infected animal's mouth and on its lips, nostrils, tongue, hooves, and teats. The blisters are painful enough the infected animals often lose weight and show signs of lameness.
The virus can be transmitted through direct contact and indirect contact, including flies and other insects. For preventative measures, the extension office recommended horse and livestock owners use their fly spray liberally and refrain from sharing equipment like water buckets, hay bags, or bits.
United States: Newcastle Disease
California Department of Food & Agriculture (CDFA) state veterinarian Dr. Annette Jones disclosed on Aug. 15 that ongoing surveillance and testing in the virulent Newcastle disease (VND) outbreak in Southern California resulted in the detection of a new case at a retail feed store in western San Bernardino County.
Jones said this is the first detection of VND since 4 Jun 2019. She noted staff members from CDFA and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) discovered the infected birds during a routine biosecurity check at the feed store, which has been closed temporarily while an investigation is conducted. The exposed birds have been euthanized.
"We are moving quickly to determine the origin of disease and working with the store to identify any customers who may have purchased infected birds and products like feed, equipment, or anything else possibly carrying the infection," Jones said
United States: Eastern Equine Encephalitis
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health confirmed a second human case of eastern equine encephalitis [EEE] in the state on Aug. 16. Officials also raised the risk level for EEE to "critical" in 10 more towns in central and eastern Massachusetts.
The department said the new EEE case is in a man between the ages of 19-30 in Grafton. As a result, Grafton, Hopkinton, Northbridge, Shrewsbury, Southboro, Upton, and Westboro are all at "critical risk" for EEE.
The wife of the Grafton man diagnosed with EEE says he is in his late 20s and lives near a farm..
A goat in Bristol County has also tested positive for EEE, leading officials to put Easton, Norton and Raynham at critical risk as well. A total of 19 communities across the state are at critical risk now, and 18 are at high risk.
The department said it is working with local boards of health and mosquito control experts to work on "appropriate public health response activities."
"The most intense level of EEE activity is still being seen in Bristol and Plymouth Counties," said Public Health Commissioner Monica Bharel in a statement. "However, in active EEE years, the virus may move outside of southeastern Massachusetts. This is evidence of that movement, and residents in the area of increased risk should use mosquito repellent and avoid outdoor activities at night."
Less than a week ago, the department confirmed the first human case of EEE in Massachusetts since 2013. The infected man is over 60 and lives in southern Plymouth County.
So far, EEE has been found in 288 mosquito samples.
Germany: Spotted Fever
The University of Hohenheim and the Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology [IMB] have detected spotted fever in a hyalomma tick, the first time such a tick is suspected to have caused disease in a human in Germany.
This tick feeds on humans and can transmit a form of spotted fever in Germany.
It was probably no coincidence that this first case was in a horse owner. Tropical ticks of the genus Hyalomma feed on large mammals. For several years, these ticks have been on the rise in Germany. Now tick researchers report the first suspected case of spotted fever transmitted in Germany. "Not only do we now know for sure that the hyalomma tick is also targeting humans," says Prof. Dr. Med Ute Mackenstedt, a parasitologist at the University of Hohenheim, "but also that there is the urgent suspicion that the transmission of spotted fever by these ticks is actually possible here in Germany."
Kazakhstan: Anthrax
A total of 4 anthrax cases have been confirmed in the Akmola region, reports the health care department. "Up to [now] 5 [suspected cases of] anthrax have been recorded; lab tests have confirmed 4. The cause of contamination was cow butchering without a veterinary certificate in a private yard," said the interlocutor.
"Epidemiological situation in the Akmola region and Nur-Sultan is stable," said the department. "The situation is being constantly monitored by the committee," said Ludmila Burabekova, chairfigure of the committee of quality control and goods safety. "Anti-epidemic and anti-epizootic arrangements have been organized in the area," she added.
Philippines: African Swine Fever
The Philippines Department of Agriculture (DA) has ordered the culling of hogs in an unidentified area to contain what could be the entry of the African swine fever (ASF) virus in the country. In a press conference on Aug. 19, agriculture secretary William Dar neither confirmed nor denied reports that the ASF virus has infected hogs raised in Rizal, but noted that the agency received an incident report on Aug. 16 "on an increased mortality of pigs raised by farmers in their backyards".
An industry source told the Inquirer that the infected area was Barangay San Isidro in Rizal, wherein agency officials have already commenced quarantine and security practices. According to the Bureau of Animal Industry veterinarian Dr. Joy Lagayan -- who is also a member of the ASF task force -- the usual mortality rate for pigs is between 3% and 5%. In this case, however, the mortality rate in the area has spiked to as much as 20%.
Dar said he has already directed BAI to conduct further confirmatory laboratory tests, including sending blood samples to foreign laboratories to ascertain the cause of the animals' deaths. The test results are expected in 2 to 3 weeks, although Dar said some confirmatory tests could take as much as 3 months.
Following this development, BAI has already put the area under a "quarantine zone", which means the automatic depopulation of all hogs within 1 km from the virus' ground zero and the further surveillance of areas within 10 km. Agriculture undersecretary Ariel Cayanan said the agency will be strictly monitoring the entry and exit of agricultural commodities in the area, while disinfection of the quarantine zone is currently under way. Dar, however, assured consumers that the incident would not affect the supply and prices of pork in the market, and stressed that the ASF virus does not pose any health concerns to humans.
Nonetheless, the epidemic has no cure yet and given the government's lack of resources to address the problem and ensure against its contamination, its entry in the country may destroy the local livestock industry at a time when the latter has just secured trade agreements to supply pork to China and Singapore. "We have further upgraded our monitoring and vigilance, including the imposition of stricter quarantine measures all over the country's ports of entry, airports, and seaports," Dar said.
Mayotte Rift Valley Fever
Since the beginning of the circulation of the Rift Valley fever [RVF] virus in Mayotte, at the end of November 2018, 143 human cases have been reported to the regional health agency by the Mayotte hospital center laboratory, and 126 animal foci have been reported. As soon as the first cases arrived, preventive measures and vector control measures had been put in place on the island in order to limit the spread of the disease on the territory.
Although the number of cases has stabilized for several weeks, the Rift Valley fever virus still circulates in some communes of the island. Therefore, the health authorities reiterate the importance of continuing to respect preventive measures to prevent infection and prevent an epidemic recovery when the rainy season returns.
Armenia: Anthrax
A total of 5 people from Armenia's Gegharkunik Province have been diagnosed with anthrax, the Ministry of Healthcare said in a news release.
According to the healthcare ministry two villagers from Geghhovit sought medical treatment in the local hospital for what appeared to be the skin form of anthrax. The patients told the medics that a few days earlier they had slaughtered cattle in the village.
Experts from the Healthcare Ministry's National Center for Disease Control and Prevention were dispatched to the village to find out how and where the disease was contracted. During the visit another 6 people were suspected in having contracted the disease. A total of 5 were sent to the Nork Infectious Diseases Hospital in Yerevan for a confirmation. All were confirmed to have anthrax. According to the ministry all patients were treated and a medical supervision has been set for the village.
The Food Safety Inspection was immediately notified. Medics and food safety agents are working in the village.
Bulgaria: African Swine Fever
A second outbreak of African swine fever [ASF] has been registered in Alabak State Enterprise, Pazardzhik regional governor Stefan Mirev said after a meeting of the Regional Epizootic Commission.
Mirev said a sample of a second dead pig found in the Velingrad region on the territory of Alabak State Enterprise tested positive. "It is the second outbreak of ASF in the region of Velingrad. At the meeting, we made a thorough analysis and discussed all measures taken by the competent institutions. They are the same as those with the first outbreak."
"Today, an order will be issued by the director of the regional forestry department, which will ban access to the infected area. It will prohibit logging, mushroom picking, hiking, and any activities that could spread the infection," Stefan Mirev explained.
Australia: Hepatitis
Australian Capital Territory health officials are investigating a cluster of hepatitis A cases in Canberra's South Korean community. There have been 8 cases of the virus in the ACT and Sydney since June 2019. The cluster of cases comes as South Korea experiences a large outbreak of the virus, with more than 11,000 cases reported in the country in 2019.
ACT Health said it was working with its counterparts in New South Wales to investigate the cause of the outbreak. An ACT Health spokesman said most of the people affected by hepatitis A in recent weeks in Canberra had not reported travelling overseas recently. "Australia has a low incidence of hepatitis A, and when outbreaks occur, they are linked to consumption of contaminated food products or person-to-person spread," the spokesperson said. "However, at this stage of the investigation, no specific food has been connected to the outbreak."
Symptoms of the virus may include nausea, vomiting, fever and yellowing of the skin, dark urine and pale stools.
Pakistan: Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever
One more case of Congo virus has been reported in Karachi as a young boy was diagnosed with the disease after being admitted at a hospital in Nazimabad area, ARY News reported on Aug. 18]. Doctors confirmed that the 17 year old boy, who is a resident of Sohrab Goth and worked at a dairy farm, was diagnosed with Congo virus during the initial medical examination tests.
The first case of Congo virus was reported on Feb. 11 in the metropolis.
In 2018, at least 16 deaths were reported in Karachi from the life-threatening virus, and 41 patients -- mainly from Quetta, Balochistan -- were diagnosed with it.
Earlier, a Congo virus alert had been issued for the metropolis, stipulating precautionary instructions for all those people who visit cattle farms.
The disease is caused when a tick attaches itself to the skin of cattle, and when that infected tick or animal comes in contact with people, the highly contagious virus is transmitted into the human body and the person falls ill. This disease has a 40% to 50% mortality rate. The initial symptoms of Congo fever include headache, high fever, rashes, back pain, joint pain, stomach pain and vomiting.
Canada: Eastern Equine Encephalitis
On Aug. 10, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs was notified of a confirmed case of eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) in a horse located in the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville. The unvaccinated mare was euthanized following the sudden onset and progression of neurological signs. Laboratory diagnostic testing confirmed infection with the EEE virus.
EEE is not transmissible from horses to people. Effective equine vaccines for EEE are available, and veterinarians should encourage clients to keep their horse's vaccinations current. Once clinical infection develops, treatment options are limited to supportive care. The mortality rate in unvaccinated horses is high.
Veterinarians in Ontario should consider EEE as a differential diagnosis in horses exhibiting neurological signs and can identify positive cases through appropriate testing. IgM antibodies to the EEEv can be detected in serum from horses with neurological signs.
Clinical signs of EEE, including circling, head-pressing, ataxia and depression, can mimic a variety of encephalitides, including rabies, West Nile virus (WNV), botulism, hepatic encephalopathy, equine protozoal myeloencephalitis, and equine herpes myeloencephalopathy. Most equine cases of EEE in Ontario occur between the months of August and October and end with the onset of frost.
EEEv affects mainly equine species in eastern North America but can rarely cause severe disease in humans. EEEv has also caused fatal infections in pheasants, quail, emus, alpacas, llamas and dogs. EEEv has been reported in horses in Ontario since 1938.
Spain: Listeriosis
Health authorities in Spain are on high alert after a 90 year old woman died amid a listeria outbreak in the southern region of Andalusia that has affected more than 110 people.
Jose Miguel Cisneros, director of the infectious disease department at Seville's Virgen del Rocio Hospital, on Aug. 20 announced the 1st casualty since the outbreak was declared on Aug. 15. Authorities have closed the pork meat supplier's plant and recalled all of its products. Cisneros said roughly half of the 114 people affected by the bacteria remain hospitalized.
Health minister Maria Luisa Carcedo said an investigation is looking into how the meat evaded what she called "strict food safety controls".
Listeria is a bacteria that usually causes mild illness in healthy people but can be dangerous to pregnant women and those with weakened immune systems.
August 16, 2019
Bulgaria: African Swine Fever
Bulgaria's Food Safety Agency (BFSA) said it has confirmed 3 new cases of African swine fever [ASF] in wild boar in the provinces of Smolyan, Shumen, and Veliko Tarnovo.
These are the first confirmed cases of ASF in wild boar in Smolyan and Shumen, the agency said in a statement Aug. 8.
Earlier this week, Bulgaria's agriculture ministry said that the country will receive 2.9 million Euros ($3.2 million) from the European Commission to finance the prevention of ASF spreading further.
Bulgaria's current event, which reportedly started uly 3, has already caused 43 outbreaks, affecting both domestic pigs as well as wild boars. The disease spread from the Romania border.
Bulgaria's first ASF event took place September 2018 - June 2019.
Australia: Leptospirosis
The University of Sydney has reported 6 confirmed cases of leptospirosis in dogs in the inner west. All the dogs died or were euthanized.
The specific suburbs where leptospirosis has been reported are Surry Hills, Glebe and Darlinghurst.
While it is thought the recent outbreak could be due to major construction occurring in Sydney and therefore increased exposure to rats and contamination of subterranean water, the current source of infection and the strain of bacteria involved are unknown.
The current recommendation is for all dog owners in inner Sydney and the inner west to have their dog vaccinated at their local vet.
The City of Sydney is doubling the number of rat bait stations. Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the City of Sydney is taking action to tackle the problem.
"We have been very concerned by the recent cases of leptospirosis in Sydney, affecting dogs in our local area so have decided to double the number of rat bait stations in public areas and increase inspections to monitor rat activity," the Lord Mayor said.
"We can't fight the rat problem on our own, because we can only install rat baits on our own land. The City has written to Sydney Trains, Property NSW, Sydney Water and NSW Land and Housing Corporation to urge them to increase baiting and monitoring of rats on their land.
Canada: West Nile Virus
A horse in Princeton, in B.C.'s South Okanagan, has tested positive for West Nile virus.
The Cascade Veterinary Clinic, operated by Dr. Ryan Ridgway and Dr. Lynn Smart, shared the information in a post on social media, along with a warning for horse owners to get their animals vaccinated.
"Thankfully it [the horse] was vaccinated, so it was not fatal. Had it not been vaccinated, it most likely would not have survived, or if it had, it would have had severe neurological issues. This is spread by mosquitoes, and all horses are at risk of contracting this often fatal disease," the post stated.
West Nile virus is a disease spreading from infected corvid birds (crows, ravens, magpies, and jays) to humans through mosquito bites.
Pakistan: Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever
A teenage boy succumbed to Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) in the metropolis on Aug. 9.
The teenager, who was admitted 4 days ago in the Jinnah Hospital, was identified as a resident of Orangi Town.
United States: Tularemia
The Larimer County, Colo. Department of Health and Environment reported Aug. 9 that tularemia, also known as "rabbit fever," has been found in a rabbit in northern Larimer County.
Tularemia-causing bacteria from the droppings or urine of sick animals, usually rabbits, can contaminate soil and spread the disease, according to a news release from the health department.
A recent die-off of rabbits suggested a possible tularemia outbreak among the animals in that area, the agency said.
"Because tularemia is naturally occurring in Larimer County, precautions should always be taken to prevent infection, public health director Tom Gonzales said in the release. "It is important to keep children and pets away from wild animals."
In recent years, most human tularemia cases along the Front Range have been attributed to activities involving soil and vegetation, the health department said. The county has seen 18 human cases since 2009; 35 animals have tested positive for the disease since 2009.
Italy: Tularemia
An 18 month old girl suffered swollen lymph nodes and fever after being bitten by a tick. The child had always been previously in good health.
A tick bit her at the left shoulder, during a trip to a Dutch island was reported in June 2019. The tick was completely removed the following day, but she developed fever and rash 2 days later. No other signs or symptoms followed until approximately 30 days after the tick bite a supraclavicular swelling appeared. This initially showed intact skin, but progressive increased in size and the overlying skin developed hyperemia. Three days latter a left axillary swelling occurred as well. Since the child was temporarily in Italy, she was admitted at the Meyer Children's University Hospital in Florence.
Serology test for tularemia carried out at Meyer Children's Hospital and at Careggi Hospital in Florence were both positive. The molecular test carried out at the Microbiology Laboratory of the National Institute for Infectious Diseases "L. Spallanzani" in Rome detected the presence of Francisella tularensis in surgical drainage. Further microbiological and molecular investigations are ongoing.
United States: Anthrax
North Dakota agriculture officials say anthrax has been confirmed in a group of cows in a pasture in eastern Billings County. The case was confirmed Aug. 9. It is North Dakota's first reported case of anthrax this year.
North Dakota state veterinarian Susan Keller says producers in Billings County and surrounding areas should check with their veterinarians to see if they should start vaccinating their cattle for anthrax. Anthrax vaccines are readily available, but it takes about a week to establish immunity, and the vaccine must be administered annually.
Anthrax is caused by bacterial spores that can lie dormant in the ground until they are activated by heavy rains, flooding or drought. Scattered heavy rains may have triggered the recent case. No anthrax cases were reported in North Dakota last year.
Spain: Tularemia
The detection of 3 new cases of tularemia in Villarramiel, Osorno and Palencia, brings to 23 the number of people affected by this disease associated with the overpopulation of voles in the province of Palencia, where they are studying 32 other possible cases.
The Epidemiology Surveillance Network of the Junta de Castilla y León confirmed on Aug. 12 3 new cases of tularemia in the province of Palencia, where 23 people have been affected since July 3, as reported by the territorial delegation of the Board in Palencia. The last confirmed cases have been detected in the Palencia towns of; Villarramiel, where there are already 4 people affected by tularemia; the basic health area of rural Palencia where the 2nd case has been detected; and Osorno, which recorded the 1st confirmed case of this sickness.
In total, the Epidemiology Surveillance Network has confirmed 12 cases of tularemia so far in August were added to the 11 confirmed throughout the month of July. The most affected localities are Paredes de Nava, with 11 confirmed cases, and Villarramiel with 4, while the basic areas of Saldaña, Palencia and Cervera de Pisuerga have confirmed 2 cases each and Villada and Osorno a single case in each locality. Only one of the people affected, in Cervera de Pisuerga, has needed hospital admission but has already been discharged.
In addition there are 32 other suspicious cases that are being studied while an active search for this disease, associated with overpopulation of voles, continues.
The Health Service does not expressly cite the overpopulation of voles that are currently in the province of Palencia, mainly in the region of Tierra de Campos, as a cause of this disease and points out that "environmental exposure could be the main factor."
India: Scrub Typhus
Scrub typhus has killed 4 people in Himachal Pradesh while 241 others have tested positive. Scrub typhus is an acute illness caused by a bacterium Orientia tsutsugamushi, which is transmitted by the bite of an infected mite larva [chigger] present in the soil having scrub vegetation. Himachal Pradesh is an endemic region as it has a large scrub vegetation.
Of the total deaths reported this year so far, 1 death has been reported from Mandi district, while 3 deaths have been reported from Shimla district. An 8-year-girl from Lakkar Bazar in Shimla died on Aug. 5. She was admitted to the hospital on Aug. 4 with the complaint of high fever and was in serious condition.
Of the total cases that have so far tested positive, 91 cases have been reported from Bilaspur district, followed by 47 cases from Hamirpur district and 43 cases from Kangra district. Mandi district has reported 31 positive cases while Shimla and Solan districts have reported 10 positive cases each. Chamba district has reported 6 positive cases while Kullu, Kinnaur, and Sirmaur districts have reported 1 positive case each.
Senior medical superintendent of Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital, Shimla, Dr. Janak Raj said that people should observe some precautions while going to the fields including wearing full-sleeved clothes as scrub typhus spreads during monsoon. He added that people should also cut grass around the houses and in case of fever, they should go for medical examination to the nearest health institute.
Nepal: Anthrax
Anthrax spores have been detected in Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, a sanctuary to a huge population of protected species of wild buffaloes, raising alarm among conservationists. The finding came following the test of blood samples collected from dead cattle found in the reserve. Some 44 cattle were found dead in the grassland here on Aug. 8.
Dr. Sanjaya Kumar Yadav of Livestock Disease Research Laboratory, Biratnagar, confirmed the bacteria in the dead animals. "Anthrax is an infectious disease and can spread from cattle to cattle and even to humans. As the disease can kill the patient if timely treatment is not provided, we must be cautious," said Dr. Yadav.
According to Dr. Manoj Kumar Mahato of Veterinary Hospital and Livestock Expert Center, Inaruwa, his office is all set to launch a campaign to stop the bacteria from spreading further. "The bacteria can easily spread from one place to another through wind, soil or water. To stop the disease from spreading further, it is necessary to inoculate all the livestock found in the wildlife reserve," he said. Mahato added that hardly any symptoms are seen before the infected cattle dies from bleeding from all orifices.
Ireland: Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease
Rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHD) a disease which is fatal to rabbits and hares but of no risk to humans, has been confirmed in the wild in Ireland for the first time.
RHD causes death within a few days of infection, with sick animals having swollen eyelids, partial paralysis and bleeding from the eyes and mouth. In the latter states close to death, animals exhibit unusual behavior such as emerging from cover into the open and convulsing or fitting before dying.
Irish domestic rabbits were first reported to have the disease in 2018, but it has now been confirmed in the wild from a rabbit in Co Wicklow and another in Co Clare. On Aug. 9, a hare in Co Wexford was also found to be infected by the virus.
In all cases individual animals were tested at Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine laboratories where RHD2 was subsequently confirmed. The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is asking the public to report any suspected cases to them.
While all 3 locations continue to support apparently healthy wild populations, NPWS conservation rangers continue to monitor the situation.
The disease is highly contagious and can be spread directly between animals and in the feces and urine of infected animals, as well as by insects and on human clothing. In addition, the incubation period may last several days and seemingly uninfected animals may in fact be carriers.
Zambia: Foot and Mouth Disease
Foot and mouth disease [FMD] has broken out in Shamabele area in Chikankata district of Southern province. And Ministry of Livestock officials in Southern province have with immediate effect closed the famous Turn Pike Bata Co-operative Society Abattoir following the outbreak of disease.
This has been confirmed by Bata Co-operative Society Chairperson for Hides and Beef Traders Association, Daniel Bweupe in an interview with the Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) in Chikankata district in Southern province over the weekend.
Mr. Bweupe said cattle farmers are currently battling to contain FMDE using salt to treat their animals.
He revealed that the disease is suspected to have manifested from the abattoir and spread to Shamabele and the surrounding areas.
United States: Eastern Equine Encephalitis
A man in Massachusetts has been infected with a mosquito-borne virus called eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), health officials confirmed Aug. 10. It's the first human case reported in the state since 2013.
At least 9 towns are at "critical risk" of exposure to the rare but potentially fatal virus, which can cause brain swelling, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.
It's the latest in a series of warnings from state officials about the virus, which has been detected in 227 samples of mosquitoes in 2019, the health department said.
Florida and Delaware issued similar advisories after the virus was detected in sentinel chickens, though neither state has seen any cases reported in humans.
Any virus transmitted from an insect bite is a big deal, but what is EEE, and what risk does it pose?
The virus isn't common, but it is serious. Every year on average, 7 cases are reported but about 30% of all cases are fatal, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
EEE causes inflammation of the brain, which is often preceded by a high fever, chills, and vomiting. As the illness progresses, patients might experience seizures or a coma that can cause varying degrees of brain damage, the CDC said.
Sweden: Tularemia
Swedish health authorities have warned an outbreak of rabbit fever (tularemia) is expected to grow, with hundreds of people affected so far.
A total of 212 confirmed cases have been reported to The Public Health Agency of Sweden so far in 2019, sharply increasing from late July 2019. That is twice as many as in a normal year.
But Sweden has not yet seen the end of it, the authority warned on Aug. 12. "Since the number of cases (of rabbit fever) is usually at its highest in September, the outbreak is expected to grow further in the coming weeks," it wrote in a statement.
Most cases have been reported in Dalarna, Gavleborg, and Orebro counties in central Sweden, but in the past week Vasterbotten and Norrbotten have also seen an increase, often limited to a specific area.
Many of those affected by the disease have been infected via mosquito bites.
Nigeria: Yellow Fever
The Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) is aware of a suspected outbreak of yellow fever in Ebonyi state and has had a rapid response team supporting Ebonyi state's response in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO).
Following a report of cases and deaths from fever of unknown origin in Izzi local government area (LGA) in Ebonyi state, the state public health team commenced an investigation. As of July 31, three cases had tested positive for yellow fever at NCDC's national reference laboratory, which triggered an immediate response.
The Ebonyi State Epidemiology Team is leading the response with support from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), and the World Health Organization (WHO). In the course of investigation, it was discovered that between May 1 and Aug. 7, there had been cases that fit into the case definition for yellow fever and 20 deaths in Izzi LGA, Ebonyi state, indicating that the outbreak may have been going on for a few months, undetected by local health authorities. It was too late to collect samples for confirmation from these cases.
Yellow fever virus is spread through bites of an infected mosquito. There is no human-to-human transmission of the virus. Yellow fever is a completely vaccine-preventable disease, and a single shot provides immunity for a lifetime
Madagascar: Plague
In Madagascar, the plague season has started. The first 3 cases of bubonic plague have just been recorded 50 km west of the capital. No deaths have occurred for the moment, but the Ministry of Health is watching. As every year, awareness campaigns have started. The goal: to prevent the spread of epidemics like that of 2017, the black year, which had more than 200 victims and 2,400 people infected by the bacterium throughout the Malagasy territory.
"Do not repeat the mistakes of the past" is the stated ambition of the Ministry of Health. Contacted by telephone, the Director General of Preventive Medicine, Dr. Fidiniaina Randriatsarafara, said that "information and awareness activities have started. Radio clips are being broadcast on local radio stations to remind the public that the appearance of swelling, sudden fever, or chest pains require an immediate visit to the nearest health center. Clinics are sometimes several hours walking distance away, and patients more easily consult traditional healers.
At present, health centers in plague-endemic areas are all expected to be provided with drugs, since treatment exists to treat both forms of plague on the island. However, some clinics are still awaiting them, according to a ministry official.
Another important preventive measure is the requirement for road transport companies to register the name and telephone number of all passengers during the plague season. In 2017, it was a sick traveler who transmitted the pneumonic plague to other passengers, extending the epidemic to Tamatave. However, according to a regional carrier, many companies do not register passengers and are not sanctioned.
August 9, 2019
Greece: West Nile Virus
Two people over 80 were the first victims of West Nile virus in Greece this year, according to the weekly epidemiological surveillance report published by the National Public Health Organization.
From the beginning of epidemiological surveillance, 25 cases of West Nile virus infection have been diagnosed and studied in Greece. In 17 of the patients reported, the central nervous system was affected (encephalitis and/or meningitis/acute flaccid paralysis), while 8 had mild symptoms, such as fever.
The median age of patients with CNS symptoms is 77 years old. Of the 25 patients, 10 are hospitalized.
The areas where virus cases have been recorded in the country are Pieria, Katerini, Pella, Xanthi, Kavala, Larissa, Karditsa as well as East Attica and Mesogia.
West Nile virus is spread mainly through the bites of infected mosquitoes, experts say.
The implementation of mosquito control and personal protection programs is most appropriate for controlling the disease.
Uganda: Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever
One person has been confirmed dead and 49 others currently are isolated following an outbreak of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) in Lyantonde District.
According to the Lyantonde District Health Officer, Dr Moses Nkanika, a businessman dealing in cattle succumbed to the deadly disease on July 31.
"The blood samples we got from the deceased in Kasagama Sub County have tested positive for CCHF, not Ebola as earlier suspected," Dr Nkanika told Daily Monitor.
He said 49 residents who got in close contact with the deceased are currently isolated to avoid contacts with other people as health workers continue to monitor their health conditions.
"These people are expected to remain in isolation for 40 days until they are cleared by ministry of health," he said. He advised residents to be on alert and report any emergencies to the nearby health centers.
Emmanuel Ainebyoona, the Ministry of Health spokesperson, said he was not aware of the outbreak, but promised to crosscheck with other responsible authorities to confirm.
United States: Vesicular Stomatitis Virus
More than 250 animals have been quarantined after a viral disease was discovered in 14 counties, the Colorado Department of Agriculture said. Vesicular stomatitis [VSV], which primarily affects horses, spreads through insect bites.
Cases of the disease have been found in Adams, Archuleta, Boulder, Broomfield, Conejos, Delta, Jefferson, La Plata, Larimer, Mesa, Montezuma, Montrose, Morgan and Weld counties. A total of 93 cases were confirmed in Larimer County as of 1 Aug 2019, and 48 cases were found in Boulder County, officials said. Weld and La Plata counties had 43 and 42 cases, respectively.
Vesicular stomatitis primarily affects horses and cattle but can spread to goats, sheep and other livestock. The only bovine case was found in Boulder County. It's rare for humans to contract the disease. Symptoms of the disease include excessive salivation and blisters around the ears, tongue, muzzle, teats and coronary bands. The disease can cause the animals to refuse to drink and eat.
Vietnam: Avian Influenza
Vietnam's southern Ba Ria Vung Tau province has seen its first outbreaks of A/H5N6 bird flu, which have led to the culling of 10,500 chickens, local media reported Aug. 6.
The outbreaks were spotted in 2 communes in Xuyen Moc district, and then tests confirmed that some chickens were infected with the bird flu virus, Vietnam News Agency quoted the provincial Department of Livestock and Animal Health as reporting.
Relevant local agencies have culled 10,500 chickens raised by 2 households in the 2 communes, disinfected surrounding areas, and intensified vaccination among fowl in the district.
In late July 2019, the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said that the outbreaks of A/H5N6 and A/H5N1 bird flu had been reported in 13 communes of 11 localities from the start of 2019, leading to the culling of more than 23,000 poultry.
The bird flu is forecast to widely spread in the remaining months of this year due to changing weather and surging poultry transportation in time ahead of the lunar new year holiday.
Pakistan: Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever
A suspected Congo virus [Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever] patient brought to Quetta's Fatima Jinnah Chest Hospital passed away on Aug. 3, while another believed to be suffering from the disease was admitted.
The patient belonging to Loralai district was admitted to the hospital on Aug. 1 bleeding from mouth and nose and with high fever. A blood sample of the patient had been dispatched to Karachi for diagnosis but he did not survive and died before the results were concluded.
Another patient from Pishin district suffering from the same symptoms was brought to Fatima Jinnah Chest Hospital and had been diagnosed with Congo virus, the Head of the Congo ward said.
In the last 4 months, 25 patients suspected of having Congo fever have been brought to the hospital from different areas of the province and 12 of them have been confirmed as suffering from the disease after diagnosis.
In recent years, the Congo virus has hit Balochistan on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha [Festival of the Sacrifice], as most of the affected patients had been engaged in the business of herding.
Although the current Balochistan government has yet to take any serious measures to counter the disease, governments in the past have been taking preemptive measures to stop the spread of the virus including spraying in cattle markets.
United States: Eastern Equine Encephalitis
A horse in Cumberland County, N.C. was euthanized after contracting a mosquito-borne disease, the state's Department of Agriculture said. The horse, a 4-year-old mare, was not vaccinated against eastern equine encephalomyelitis (EEE). It was the first case of the disease in North Carolina this year, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services said.
The disease causes inflammation of the brain and is usually fatal. It can take between 3 and 10 days for signs to show after a horse has been bitten by an infected mosquito. Signs include impaired vision, aimless wandering, inability to swallow, irregular gait, paralysis, convulsions and death.
State Veterinarian Dr. Doug Meckes said in a statement any horses with such signs to contact a veterinarian immediately. "It is imperative horse owners keep their vaccines current, talk to your veterinarian about vaccinating them as soon as possible against EEE and West Nile virus," Meckes said. He recommended a booster shot every 6 months.
Because mosquitos breed in puddles, removing standing water can reduce the chance of exposure to the disease. While people, horses and birds can become ill from an infected mosquito, there is no evidence horses can transmit the virus to other horses, birds or people through direct contact.
Japan: African Swine Fever
A Vietnamese exchange student has been arrested by police in Japan for illegally carrying fermented pork rolls containing the African swine fever [ASF] virus into the country. Hac Thi Phuong Linh, 23, is being held at a police station in Tokyo for violating the quarantine law, her family said.
Vietnamese newspaper VnExpress reported that she was caught at Haneda International Airport on trying to bring in 10 kg of the pork rolls and 360 fetal duck eggs into Japan without declaring them. Both items require quarantining before entry into Japan.
After testing, Japanese authorities revealed that the pork rolls contained the virus that causes ASF. This is the first case of pork containing the virus caught in Japan.
Tokyo Broadcasting System Television has reported that Ms. Linh told the police that the pork rolls were made by her mother for personal use, but the police suspected they were for selling to others. During the interrogation, she admitted that she was planning to sell the rolls online.
After ASF broke out in Vietnam last February, several countries, including Japan, imposed a ban on pork products from the country.
Passengers carrying raw or processed foods to Japan from Vietnam must have a certificate of safety, failing which they face 3 years imprisonment or a fine of one million yen ($9,413).
Congo: Ebola
The deadly Ebola virus has taken the lives of more than 500 children in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Save the Children said Aug. 6, with the number of deaths accelerating over the past 6 months. In total, around 737 children have been infected with the disease since Ebola surfaced in the DRC.
Today's figures show how the spread of the disease has accelerated: in the first 6 months after Aug. 1, 2018, just under 100 children died of Ebola. In the 6 months that followed, over 4 times as many children lost their lives.
Heather Kerr, Save the Children's Country Director in DRC, said: "This is another grim milestone in a crisis that is devastating children in its path, especially the youngest. Some 40% of children who have contracted the disease are under the age of 5, and many of them have died.
"The spread of Ebola is having a wider impact on children as well; because of the high fatality rate in this outbreak, thousands of children have lost at least one of their parents to the disease or were separated from their parents.
"The virus puts children at risk of being stigmatized, isolated or abandoned, in addition to suffering the unbearable trauma of losing a loved one. Children who are on their own face the very real danger of all kinds of abuse and exploitation, or of being recruited by armed groups.
Children aren't going to school because their parents have died and those taking care of them can't afford the school fees, or schools are closing due to insecurity.
August 2, 2019
Uganda: Elephantiasis
The Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga has directed the Health Minister Jane Aceng to dispatch a team to Kamwenge and Kitagwenda districts to respond to increasing cases of elephantiasis in the area.
Elephantiasis, also known as lymphatic filariasis, is one of the neglected tropical diseases caused by parasitic worms such as Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi, and Brugia timori, all of which are transmitted by mosquitoes. It causes the affected area, mostly the limbs or parts of the head, to swell abnormally.
During the plenary session on July 24, Kamwenge Woman MP Dorothy Azairwe Nshaija said that despite the matter being brought to the attention of the Ministry of Health, nothing has been done. Nshaija says that 12 people are reported to have died in the past few weeks.
Nshaija appealed for government's intervention in the affected areas of Busiriba Sub-County in Kamwenge District and Sub-Counties of Ntara and Buhanda in the new district of Kitagwenda. Kadaga directed Aceng to travel to Kamwenge and Kitagwenda districts to establish the causes of the disease and report back to Parliament on July 31.
Reports indicate that several farmers in the affected areas have abandoned their gardens due to the disease. Contrary to reports that elephantiasis was being caused by mosquitoes and worms, a 2015 study by the Ministry of Health indicated that volcanic minerals in soils were causing elephantiasis in Kamwenge. The study described the disease as a result of chronic exposure of skin to irritant minerals in volcanic soils causing itching and pain.
The Health Ministry then reported that 52 cases of people with elephantiasis had been identified and that these had the disease since 1980 since it takes longer for someone to realize it due to lack of awareness and its risk increases with older age. The report said that women were 5 times more affected than men since they move barefooted and spend more time in the farms touching the volcanic soils with minerals that cause this disease.
Venezuela: Malaria
More than 10 cases of malaria have been reported in the Boyaca III sector of Barcelona (Anzoategui, Venezuela) in the past 2 weeks. Of these cases, 2 are young children aged 1 and 2 years old, infected after the bite of the Aedes aegypti mosquito.
Maria Febres, a nurse and resident of the community, states that the malaria outbreak is due to the lack of weeding and cleaning in the channel that crosses the Boyaca III sector, where more than 500 families reside.
"We have 12 cases of malaria in the sector. We need them to come clean the canal, which has not received adequate maintenance for 2 years, putting many families at risk of contracting malaria due to the proliferation of mosquitoes," she said.
The nurse told the city correspondent] of El Pitazo, Eduardo Mora, that the sector has not been fumigated since 2018, and called on Public Health and Malariology officials to visit the area and verify what is happening.
"The most affected area is Boyaca III sector II, because we have a Simoncito [children's center -- so-called in honor of Simon Bolivar] there and the children who go every day are the ones most at risk of being bitten by an infected mosquito and, thus, getting malaria," said Maria.
Pakistan: Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever
The number of deaths caused due to the Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, CCHF has increased to 5 in Sindh. With Eid ul Azha drawing closer, a rise is observed in the number of Congo virus cases, which is mainly caused by ticks that inhabit the skin of different animals.
According to a report released by the Sindh health department, 8 cases of Congo virus have been reported in the province this year. Of these, 3 were brought to the Aga Khan University Hospital [AKUH] for treatment, 2 to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), 2 to Dr. Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital and 1 to Dr. Ziauddin Hospital. All the patients who were being treated at the AKUH and JPMC succumbed to the disease.
The first death caused by Congo virus was reported in early June.
The 2nd death reported was of 36-year-old who hailed from Quetta. Complaining of high fever and bleeding from the mouth and nose, he had come to Karachi for treatment and was diagnosed with Congo virus.
He died on June 6, during treatment at the AKUH. About a week later, a third death was reported. The 20-year-old youth was a resident of Taiser Town and died during treatment at the AKUH on June 12.
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, commonly known as the Congo virus, causes bleeding in the human body. In case of excessive bleeding, death of an individual is likely to occur.
Greece: West Nile Virus
The number of people infected by the West Nile virus in Greece has risen to 10, the National Public Health Organization (NPHO) announced on July 25.
According to NPHO, 5 cases were recorded in only the past 5 days, while the first confirmed case was in late June. There have been no deaths linked to the virus so far.
It noted that the patients were all over 50 years old. The cases were reported in areas of northern Greece, while the Attika region was just added to the list.
The virus is reported to use wild birds as a main reservoir and was passed to humans via mosquito, rather than from or between infected humans.
Greek experts advised the public to take precautions against mosquitoes. The higher risk group that may exhibit more symptoms [includes] elderly people, patients with a suppressed immune system, and those with chronic illness.
In 2018, a record of 316 people were infected by the virus in the country, resulting in 50 fatal cases.
Singapore: Leptospirosis
It was supposed to be a fun school camp. Instead, the outdoor adventure turned into a harrowing ordeal for a 14-year-old student in Singapore when he contracted an unusual infection, likely from camp activities.
Weeks following his contact with murky water, the boy showed up at KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH) with fever, stomach pain, nausea and jaundice. Tests also showed a swollen liver and spleen. On the second day, his condition worsened and he was transferred to the intensive care unit. The infection causing his misery? Leptospirosis, a disease more commonly seen in rodents, livestock, dogs and cats but can also spread to humans.
As families spend time bonding on holidays overseas and adrenaline-seekers head outdoors and go on off-the-beaten tracks, health experts raised the possibility that they could expose themselves to less commonly seen infections such as leptospirosis.
In the last two years, 96 human cases of leptospirosis were notified in Singapore, based on data published by the Ministry of Health. It was added to the list of notifiable infectious diseases in September 2016.
The Leptospira bacteria, which is commonly found in tropical countries, can enter the body through cuts on the skin, the eye, or mucous membranes that line body parts such as the mouth, nose and windpipe. Associate Professor Chong Chia Yin, senior consultant at KKH's infectious disease service, said that besides exposure to urine or bodily fluids from infected animals, people may also get the disease if they are exposed to contaminated water during recreational activities such as swimming, water sports and rafting in contaminated lakes and rivers.
Dr. Chan Si Min, head and consultant at the division of pediatric infectious diseases at National University Hospital, said that leptospirosis can range in severity, from mild or asymptomatic (no symptoms) to severe and life-threatening, resulting in jaundice, kidney failure and bleeding in the lungs. It can also affect other organs such as the liver and heart. Assoc. Prof. Chong said that about 5% to 15% of cases will have life-threatening consequences. Death rate is the highest among people above 60 years old.
United States: Eastern Equine Encephalitis
South Carolina's state veterinarian announced July 22 that the state's first case this year 2019 of eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) has been confirmed in Chesterfield County. The infected horse, a year-old Appaloosa colt, had not been vaccinated and did not survive.
"This is a clarion call for vaccinations against diseases like EEE and West Nile virus (WNV)," said Boyd Parr, South Carolina state veterinarian and director of Clemson University Livestock Poultry Health, a state agency responsible for protecting the health of animals and consumers through control of disease and inspection of meat and poultry products. "Horse owners should check with their veterinarian to be sure their horses' vaccinations are up-to-date."
The EEE and WNV viruses are mosquito-borne and fast acting. Symptoms of EEE in horses usually develop from 2-5 days after exposure. The signs include stumbling, circling, head pressing, depression or apprehension, weakness of legs, partial paralysis, the inability to stand, muscle twitching, or death.
"These diseases have a very high mortality rate in infected, unvaccinated horses: between 30% and 40% for West Nile and 90% for EEE," said Sean Eastman, veterinarian and director of field services for the Livestock Poultry Health Animal Health Programs. "Although not directly communicable from horses to people, both EEE and WNV have a human health significance, and cases can be prevented through effective vaccination and mosquito management strategies."
United States; Vesicular Stomatitis Virus
A virus making horses ill in Colorado has been found in 11 counties; Larimer County is the hardest-hit area, with 70 confirmed cases of vesicular stomatitis [VSV].
Other counties are Adams, Archuleta, Boulder, Broomfield, Delta, La Plata, Mesa, Montezuma, Morgan and Weld, according to a Colorado Department of Agriculture news release.
Vesicular stomatitis can make eating and drinking painful for the horses, and they and other affected animals are quarantined. One bovine case in Boulder County has been confirmed.
"We understand that the VSV outbreak and quarantines are impacting the ability for people to bring their horses and livestock to fairs and shows," said Dr. Keith Roehr, Colorado State veterinarian, in the release. "The quarantines and hold orders must be followed, however, for the health and protection of all equine and livestock in Colorado."
Boulder County has logged 40 confirmed cases, and Weld County 29 cases, state officials said. The other counties had lower numbers as of July 26.
The first case of vesicular stomatitis in Colorado this year was reported July 3 in Weld County. There are no USDA-approved vaccines for the virus, which likely is spread by insects.
India: Melioidosis
The cause of the death of 2 children at Badiyadka here a few days ago is suspected to be melioidosis, an infectious disease caused by a gram-negative bacterium, Burkholderia pseudomallei, found in soil and water, according to an official press release here.
An 8-month-old child and a 4-and-a-half-year-old boy, siblings, died on July 23 and 24, respectively, after they had been admitted to a hospital in Mangaluru following fever.
Health Department officials here said their preliminary assumption, based on the test results done at Father Mueller Hospital in Mangaluru, was that the deaths were caused by melioidosis, not by any viral infection. However, the disease would be confirmed only after the test results from the National Institute of Virology in Pune. The District Medical Office here said there was no need for panic as viral infection was not confirmed in the tests done in Mangaluru. Melioidosis could be treated if patients seek treatment in the early stages. People with compromised immunity, especially children, pregnant women, aged people and others with chronic diseases, are vulnerable to contracting melioidosis. The disease could be treated with antimicrobial drugs in normal patients.
The release said health workers, led by epidemiologists, examined the house of the deceased children and nearby areas to find the source of the bacterium. Animal Husbandry officials collected samples from domestic animals and soil samples for testing. Parents and relatives of the deceased children were being monitored at the Kannur Government Medical College Hospital at Pariyaram. At present, they had no health issues, they added.
Zimbabwe: Typhoid Fever
Officials in the capital city of Zimbabwe, Harare, report seeing 858 new typhoid cases in the last 6 months, with the suburbs of Glen View and Budiriro hit the hardest according to a report in The Herald. No deaths have been recorded.
The reason for the outbreak is failure to constantly supply clean water and delays in attending to sewer bursts or leakages, local authorities state. Harare Town Clerk Engineer Hosiah Chisango said: "The drivers for water-borne diseases (cholera and typhoid) have been water cuts or availability of municipal water, contaminated water, sewer bursts or leakages, use of shallow wells, illegal vending of cooked food, attending gatherings during an outbreak, poor hygiene practices, and household contact to a case."
Typhoid fever is a potentially life-threatening illness caused by the bacterium Salmonella Typhi. Salmonella Typhi lives only in humans. Persons with typhoid fever carry the bacteria in their bloodstream and intestinal tract. In addition, a small number of persons, called carriers, recover from typhoid fever but continue to carry the bacteria. Both ill persons and carriers shed S. Typhi in their feces.
China: African Swine Fever
China's pig herd could halve by the end of 2019 from a year earlier as an epidemic of African swine fever [ASF] sweeps through the world's top pork producer, analysts at Dutch bank Rabobank forecast July 30.
The bank said China's herd, by far the world's biggest, was already estimated to have shrunk by 40% from a year ago, well above official estimates which have ranged from 15% to 26%.
The forecast comes amid industry speculation that the decline has been much worse than confirmed by agriculture officials, who this month launched an investigation of local authorities' efforts to contain the disease.
Rabobank said China's pork production in 2019 was expected to fall by 25% from the previous year, a smaller drop than pig herd loss due to the large number of animals slaughtered in 1st half of 2019.
Output of pork, China's favorite meat, will likely drop by a further 10% to 15% in 2020, it said in a report.
India: Malaria
Over 80 cases of malaria have been reported in Delhi this year so far, and about 39 of them have been recorded in July.
Doctors have advised people to take precautions and urged them to wear long sleeves and use mosquito nets. Water coolers should be dried up when not in use, as mosquitoes that carry the malaria parasite and transmit malaria between people usually breed there, a doctor said. Civic bodies had also organized a workshop recently on prevention of vector-borne diseases.
Mosquito-breeding has been reported in at least 48,039 households, and 46,580 legal notices have been issued this year.
India: Anthrax
Anthrax is suspected to be spreading its tentacles in the tribal areas of Koraput district, and 199 persons have become victims of the dreaded disease in the last 4 years. According to reports, the disease has assumed endemic proportions in spite of several awareness programs being undertaken in the district.
In the past couple of days, at least 20 persons have been reportedly affected by anthrax at Rupuguda in Mathapada panchayat of Boipariguda block. The affected villagers have developed swellings and blisters on their limbs, with pus oozing out of the sores. The affected persons include children and elderly persons.
According to health officials, the bacterium lies in the soil and affects cattle that consume it along with grass while grazing. The tribals collect beef from the carcass of the cattle and dry it under the sun for consumption throughout the year. The food habit of the tribals leads to the spread of the diseases among them.
Reports from the chief district medical officer’s office indicate that in 2016, the disease affected 67 persons, and one died from it. Similarly, in 2017, 75 persons were affected, and one person died of the disease. There were no deaths in 2018 and 2019, but 24 and 33 persons have been afflicted by the disease in 2018 and 2019, respectively. However, a private estimate said the actual number of affected persons and toll could be more than the stated government figures.
Ivory Coast: Yellow Fever
In recent weeks, 89 people have contracted yellow fever, and one person has died during an outbreak in Ivory Coast, the health ministry said July 30.
Most of the confirmed cases were in the West African country's economic capital Abidjan, the ministry said in a statement. It recommended that any unvaccinated people be vaccinated against yellow fever.
"The outbreak occurs in the context of a dengue outbreak," the ministry said, adding that dengue and yellow fever are viral diseases transmitted by the same mosquito.
"The vector control measures that have been implemented to deal with dengue also work for the yellow fever outbreak."
In early June, 130 cases of dengue were reported, including 2 deaths, with the authorities launching a major mosquito-control campaign.
Abidjan is going through the end of its rainy season, which spurs mosquito breeding.
United States: Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease
The Washington State Department of Agriculture has confirmed rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus 2 in 3 feral domestic rabbits found dead on Orcas Island. The findings are part of the ongoing investigation into a case of the disease confirmed on the island earlier this month in a pet rabbit that died suddenly.
RHD is a viral disease that causes sudden death in rabbits and can be spread through contact with infected rabbits, their meat or their fur, or materials coming in contact with them. It poses no human health risk.
The Orcas Island outbreak response began on July 9 when the state vet's office received a report of a dead domestic pet rabbit from a veterinarian clinic on Orcas Island
Congo: Ebola
The epidemiological situation of the Ebola virus disease in the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri dated July 30:
Since the beginning of the epidemic, the cumulative number of cases is 2,701, of which 2,607 are confirmed and 94 are probable. In total, there were 1,813 deaths (1,719 confirmed and 94 probable) and 776 people cured.
There are 293 suspected cases under investigation.
There have been 11 new confirmed cases, including 3 in Vuhovi [North Kivu], 1 in Mandima [Ituri], 1 in Mambasa [Ituri], 1 in Kalunguta [North Kivu] and 1 in Nyiragongo (Goma, [North Kivu].
There are 10 new deaths of confirmed cases, including 2 community deaths: -- 1 in Beni [North Kivu] and 1 in Mandima; 6 ETC deaths -- 3 in Beni, 2 in Mabalako and 1 in Butembo; 2 deaths at the CT of Beni.
July 26, 2019
United States: E. coli
Three people have been confirmed to have E. coli in Westminster, Col.; all ate at the same Westminster Red Robin. Two of them were hospitalized.
According to a news release from the Tri-County Health Department, the restaurant closed voluntarily for cleaning and sanitizing, food safety training for employees, and testing for employees who handle the food.
One adult and 2 children tested positive for the bacteria E. coli O157:H7, and all 3 had eaten at the restaurant, according to the release. The Tri-County Health Department says none of the individuals are related to each other, and all visited the restaurant on different nights in late June 2019.
A food safety inspection showed improper employee hand washing, improper cleaning and sanitizing of food preparation surfaces, and cross-contamination between raw meat and other prepared food, according to the release. The restaurant was cited with 5 critical health violations.
Ashley Richter, communicable disease epidemiology manager at the Tri-County Health Department, said the source of the E. coli has not been determined, but the Tri-County Health Department and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment are investigating the outbreak.
The departments ask people to contact their doctors or healthcare providers if they ate at that Red Robin since June 1 and developed an illness within 10 days of eating at the restaurant.
Northern Ireland: African Swine Fever
Traces of African swine fever (ASF) virus have been found in meat that was brought into Northern Ireland illegally by passengers in the month of June [2019].
In total, airport authorities seized over 300 kg [661 lb] of illegal meat in June. The Northern Irish Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) said a sample of these seizures was tested at the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), resulting in the detection of ASF virus DNA fragments. A DAERA spokesman confirmed: "DNA fragments of ASF were detected in a sausage from Asia."
DAERA said that while this type of discovery in itself does not pose a significant threat to the animal health status of Northern Ireland, nor does it affect the disease-free status from ASF, it does reinforce the importance of the controls on personal imports of meat and dairy products enforced by DAERA officials.
DAERA chief veterinary officer Dr. Robert Huey warned that it is illegal to bring certain food and plant products back into the country to avoid the risks of importing animal or plant disease. "I make no excuses for repeating this message," he said. "The greatest risk is to our agri-food industry and our environment, as any introduction of pests, diseases, and non-native species can have a potentially devastating impact."
DAERA warnings are clear at points of entry into Northern Ireland. They emphasize that meat and dairy products should not be brought into Northern Ireland in passenger's luggage, as such items may be seized by portal inspection branch staff at local ports and airports.
Kenya: Anthrax
One person has died of suspected anthrax and another is hospitalized in Kisumu, officials say. The disease was reported in Mowlem, Kisumu County government said in a statement released July 12.
"We have cases of suspected anthrax in the county. Two people were admitted to the hospital Thursday, and one has since died," Dr. Jonathan Billis, health officer in Kisumu Central Sub-county, said.
Dr. Billis called on all health workers in the county to be on high alert for patients exhibiting symptoms such as sores, swellings, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pains. He urged locals to watch out for signs and symptoms, including face inflammation, breathing problems, and unexplained wounds.
Anthrax is caused by Bacillus anthracis bacterium. It affects livestock, wild animals, and humans and can kill within 24 hours.
Ireland: E. coli
A total of 16 children have been diagnosed with the bacterial infection, and concerns have been raised that tourists may spread it further, RUV [the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service] reports. The outbreak is purported to have originated in Efstadal 2, a farm and restaurant near Laugarvatn, after a group of schoolchildren visited the place, with some of them contracting Escherichia coli infection. To be clear: none of the food nor any of the employees tested positive for E. coli. Rather, it is all but certain the bacteria originated from the fecal matter of calves on the farm.
Health authorities have pointed out that there are many rural restaurants in Iceland that are located near farms, prompting a more thorough investigation into stopping the infection's spread. Further, these locations are visited by many tourists, which could potentially increase the risk of spreading E. coli. As it stands now, Efstadal 2 is [said to be] safe to visit; the cow sties have been quarantined and the restaurant is clean.
India: Japanese Encephalitis
With the death of 5 more patients on July 14, the toll in Japanese encephalitis (JE) cases in Assam rose to 76, a National Health Mission (NHM) bulletin stated. The registered positive JE cases across the state also increased to 348 from 334 on July 12. The 5 deaths were reported from Darrang, Nalbari, Tinsukia, Kamrup and Udalguri districts, the bulletin said.
Giving the cumulative figures for JE/AES (acute encephalitis syndrome), the bulletin said there [had been] 1,350 such cases since January, with 177 deaths.
Measures to control the mosquito-borne disease that affects the brain continued to be taken across the state, which is currently undergoing a transmission season for JE, NHM sources said. Health minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma has said the emergency measures taken to combat the JE/AES situation would exist till Sept. 30. Union health minister Harsh Vardhan had dispatched a central team to review the situation in the state. The health minister also said that his ministry is providing all logistical and technical support to the state government in terms of surveillance and diagnostic kits to strengthen their efforts in addressing JE.
Noting that community participation and empowerment are the most crucial in JE prevention, Vardhan urged all the stakeholders to start rigorous awareness campaigns regarding the preventive steps to be taken by the communities. For rehabilitation of JE-disabled patients, the central government has provided funds for the strengthening of 2 physical medicine and rehabilitation departments at Dibrugarh Medical College and Guwahati Medical College.
Congo: Ebola
The epidemiological situation of the Ebola virus disease in the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri dated July 14:
Since the beginning of the epidemic, the number of accumulated cases is 2,501, including 2,407 confirmed and 94 probable. In total, there have been 1,668 deaths (1,574 in confirmed and 94 in probable cases) and 700 cases have recovered.
There are 292 suspected cases under investigation.
United States: Vesicular Stomatitis
The Colorado Department of Agriculture [CDA] has confirmed more cases of vesicular stomatitis (VSV) in La Plata, Larimer, and Weld counties. The Colorado State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory in Fort Collins has been activated through the National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN) to receive and test samples for VSV suspect horses.
The total count of premises under quarantine for VSV by county is 2 in La Plata County, 5 in Larimer County, and 8 in Weld County. None of the animals in quarantine have yet been released.
"Horse and livestock owners should check with their veterinarian prior to traveling to another state," said Colorado state veterinarian Dr. Keith Roehr. "Many states have imposed import requirements for animals coming from VSV-affected states."
The first case of VSV in Colorado was reported on July 3 in Weld County by a field veterinarian from the State Veterinarian's Office at the Colorado Department of Agriculture. An incursion of VSV-infected insect vectors is the likely source of infection. There are no USDA-approved vaccines for VSV.
Iran: Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever
The Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) virus has been the cause of 100-plus human infections in Iran annually since it was first reported about a decade ago. Sine March, the Ministry of Health has reported 54 CCHF cases, including 5 deaths, The Tehran Times reports.
Behzad Amiri, head of zoonotic diseases department at the Ministry of Health noted the disease incidence is especially high over warm seasons because the ticks become more active. According to WHO, CCHF is a widespread disease caused by a tickborne virus Nairovirus of the Bunyaviridae family. The CCHF virus causes severe viral hemorrhagic fever outbreaks, with a case fatality rate of 10-40%.
July 19, 2019
United States: E. coli
Three people have been confirmed to have E. coli in Westminster, Col.; all ate at the same Westminster Red Robin. Two of them were hospitalized.
According to a news release from the Tri-County Health Department, the restaurant closed voluntarily for cleaning and sanitizing, food safety training for employees, and testing for employees who handle the food.
One adult and 2 children tested positive for the bacteria E. coli O157:H7, and all 3 had eaten at the restaurant, according to the release. The Tri-County Health Department says none of the individuals are related to each other, and all visited the restaurant on different nights in late June 2019.
A food safety inspection showed improper employee hand washing, improper cleaning and sanitizing of food preparation surfaces, and cross-contamination between raw meat and other prepared food, according to the release. The restaurant was cited with 5 critical health violations.
Ashley Richter, communicable disease epidemiology manager at the Tri-County Health Department, said the source of the E. coli has not been determined, but the Tri-County Health Department and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment are investigating the outbreak.
The departments ask people to contact their doctors or healthcare providers if they ate at that Red Robin since June 1 and developed an illness within 10 days of eating at the restaurant.
Northern Ireland: African Swine Fever
Traces of African swine fever (ASF) virus have been found in meat that was brought into Northern Ireland illegally by passengers in the month of June [2019].
In total, airport authorities seized over 300 kg [661 lb] of illegal meat in June. The Northern Irish Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) said a sample of these seizures was tested at the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), resulting in the detection of ASF virus DNA fragments. A DAERA spokesman confirmed: "DNA fragments of ASF were detected in a sausage from Asia."
DAERA said that while this type of discovery in itself does not pose a significant threat to the animal health status of Northern Ireland, nor does it affect the disease-free status from ASF, it does reinforce the importance of the controls on personal imports of meat and dairy products enforced by DAERA officials.
DAERA chief veterinary officer Dr. Robert Huey warned that it is illegal to bring certain food and plant products back into the country to avoid the risks of importing animal or plant disease. "I make no excuses for repeating this message," he said. "The greatest risk is to our agri-food industry and our environment, as any introduction of pests, diseases, and non-native species can have a potentially devastating impact."
DAERA warnings are clear at points of entry into Northern Ireland. They emphasize that meat and dairy products should not be brought into Northern Ireland in passenger's luggage, as such items may be seized by portal inspection branch staff at local ports and airports.
Kenya: Anthrax
One person has died of suspected anthrax and another is hospitalized in Kisumu, officials say. The disease was reported in Mowlem, Kisumu County government said in a statement released July 12.
"We have cases of suspected anthrax in the county. Two people were admitted to the hospital Thursday, and one has since died," Dr. Jonathan Billis, health officer in Kisumu Central Sub-county, said.
Dr. Billis called on all health workers in the county to be on high alert for patients exhibiting symptoms such as sores, swellings, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pains. He urged locals to watch out for signs and symptoms, including face inflammation, breathing problems, and unexplained wounds.
Anthrax is caused by Bacillus anthracis bacterium. It affects livestock, wild animals, and humans and can kill within 24 hours.
Ireland: E. coli
A total of 16 children have been diagnosed with the bacterial infection, and concerns have been raised that tourists may spread it further, RUV [the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service] reports. The outbreak is purported to have originated in Efstadal 2, a farm and restaurant near Laugarvatn, after a group of schoolchildren visited the place, with some of them contracting Escherichia coli infection. To be clear: none of the food nor any of the employees tested positive for E. coli. Rather, it is all but certain the bacteria originated from the fecal matter of calves on the farm.
Health authorities have pointed out that there are many rural restaurants in Iceland that are located near farms, prompting a more thorough investigation into stopping the infection's spread. Further, these locations are visited by many tourists, which could potentially increase the risk of spreading E. coli. As it stands now, Efstadal 2 is [said to be] safe to visit; the cow sties have been quarantined and the restaurant is clean.
India: Japanese Encephalitis
With the death of 5 more patients on July 14, the toll in Japanese encephalitis (JE) cases in Assam rose to 76, a National Health Mission (NHM) bulletin stated. The registered positive JE cases across the state also increased to 348 from 334 on July 12. The 5 deaths were reported from Darrang, Nalbari, Tinsukia, Kamrup and Udalguri districts, the bulletin said.
Giving the cumulative figures for JE/AES (acute encephalitis syndrome), the bulletin said there [had been] 1,350 such cases since January, with 177 deaths.
Measures to control the mosquito-borne disease that affects the brain continued to be taken across the state, which is currently undergoing a transmission season for JE, NHM sources said. Health minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma has said the emergency measures taken to combat the JE/AES situation would exist till Sept. 30. Union health minister Harsh Vardhan had dispatched a central team to review the situation in the state. The health minister also said that his ministry is providing all logistical and technical support to the state government in terms of surveillance and diagnostic kits to strengthen their efforts in addressing JE.
Noting that community participation and empowerment are the most crucial in JE prevention, Vardhan urged all the stakeholders to start rigorous awareness campaigns regarding the preventive steps to be taken by the communities. For rehabilitation of JE-disabled patients, the central government has provided funds for the strengthening of 2 physical medicine and rehabilitation departments at Dibrugarh Medical College and Guwahati Medical College.
Congo: Ebola
The epidemiological situation of the Ebola virus disease in the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri dated July 14:
Since the beginning of the epidemic, the number of accumulated cases is 2,501, including 2,407 confirmed and 94 probable. In total, there have been 1,668 deaths (1,574 in confirmed and 94 in probable cases) and 700 cases have recovered.
There are 292 suspected cases under investigation.
United States: Vesicular Stomatitis
The Colorado Department of Agriculture [CDA] has confirmed more cases of vesicular stomatitis (VSV) in La Plata, Larimer, and Weld counties. The Colorado State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory in Fort Collins has been activated through the National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN) to receive and test samples for VSV suspect horses.
The total count of premises under quarantine for VSV by county is 2 in La Plata County, 5 in Larimer County, and 8 in Weld County. None of the animals in quarantine have yet been released.
"Horse and livestock owners should check with their veterinarian prior to traveling to another state," said Colorado state veterinarian Dr. Keith Roehr. "Many states have imposed import requirements for animals coming from VSV-affected states."
The first case of VSV in Colorado was reported on July 3 in Weld County by a field veterinarian from the State Veterinarian's Office at the Colorado Department of Agriculture. An incursion of VSV-infected insect vectors is the likely source of infection. There are no USDA-approved vaccines for VSV.
Iran: Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever
The Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) virus has been the cause of 100-plus human infections in Iran annually since it was first reported about a decade ago. Sine March, the Ministry of Health has reported 54 CCHF cases, including 5 deaths, The Tehran Times reports.
Behzad Amiri, head of zoonotic diseases department at the Ministry of Health noted the disease incidence is especially high over warm seasons because the ticks become more active. According to WHO, CCHF is a widespread disease caused by a tickborne virus Nairovirus of the Bunyaviridae family. The CCHF virus causes severe viral hemorrhagic fever outbreaks, with a case fatality rate of 10-40%.
July 5, 2019
India: Japanese Encephalitis
The National Health Mission said 45 people have died since the outbreak of Japanese encephalitis in Assam.
Most of upper Assam districts, including Jorhat, Golaghat, Dibrugarh, Lakhimpur, and the lower Assam district of Kamrup have been affected by the mosquito-borne disease.
"Assam is undergoing the transmission season for Japanese encephalitis cases. A total number of 45 Japanese encephalitis deaths have been reported, in the state," the National Health Mission (NHM) said in a statement.
It, however, said the situation in the state is under close watch and all preventive measures are being taken to combat the situation.
Diagnostic services for Japanese encephalitis with ELISA kits have been made available in all district hospitals and government medical college hospitals, awareness programs intensified, and fogging operations stepped up in areas from where Japanese encephalitis cases have been reported.
The NHM also said that free transportation is being provided to patients with suspected JE fever through 'Mrintunjoy 108 Ambulances'.
The Assam government is ensuring that treatment and diagnostic cost at medical colleges and district hospitals are borne by the state while a certain number of beds there have been reserved for Japanese encephalitis patients.
A round-the-clock central control room has been opened to deal with and monitor the situation and all deputy commissioners have been directed to step up surveillance activities.
Bolivia: Bolivian Hemorrhagic Fever
In 2019, a small outbreak of Bolivian hemorrhagic fever was reported at a hospital in La Paz. The following background data on Bolivian hemorrhagic fever are abstracted from Gideon www.GideonOnline.com and the Gideon e-book.
Bolivian hemorrhagic fever (BHF) is caused by Machupo virus (Arenaviridae, Tacaribe complex, Mammarenavirus). The disease was initially described in 1959 as a sporadic hemorrhagic illness in rural areas of Beni department, eastern Bolivia, and the virus itself was first identified in 1963. BHF is most common during April to July in the upper savanna region of Beni. Principal exposure occurs through rodents ([the large vesper mouse] Calomys callosus), which enter homes in endemic areas.
BHF is one of several human Arenavirus diseases reported in the Americas: Argentine hemorrhagic fever (Junin virus), Brazilian hemorrhagic fever (Sabia virus), lymphocytic choriomeningitis, Venezuelan hemorrhagic fever (Guanarito virus) and Whitewater Arroyo virus infection.
Infection of C. callosus results in asymptomatic viral shedding in saliva, urine, and feces; 50% of experimentally infected C. callosus are chronically viremic and shed virus in their bodily excretions or secretions. C. callosus acquires the virus after birth, and start shedding it through their urine and saliva while suckling. When mice acquire the virus as adults, they may develop immunity and no longer shed the virus.
Although the infectious dose of Machupo virus in humans is unknown, exposed persons may become infected by inhaling virus in aerosolized secretions or excretions of infected rodents, ingestion of food contaminated with rodent excreta, or by direct contact of excreta with abraded skin or oropharyngeal mucous membranes. Nosocomial and human-to-human spread have been documented. Hospital contact with a patient has resulted in person-to-person spread of Machupo virus to nursing and pathology laboratory staff.
Canada: Equine Infectious Anemia
An equine infectious anemia (EIA)-affected premises has been identified in the province of Alberta. On June 28, a positive EIA result was confirmed by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) national reference laboratory for a horse located on a premises in the County of St. Paul, in the province of Alberta.
The horse had been sampled by an accredited veterinarian because it was exhibiting clinical signs compatible with EIA infection. A CFIA investigation is underway and as per program policy, a quarantine has been placed on the infected horse and its on-premises contact animals. Initial reports indicate there are several equines on the affected premises.
The quarantine will remain until all disease response activities have been completed, including follow-up testing and ordering the destruction of positive cases. Trace-out activities may require the CFIA to undertake actions at additional premises as outlined in the current policy.
Zambia: Trypanosomiasis
A 19-year-old German woman was diagnosed with East African trypanosomiasis during a stay in Zambia.
The patient had been working since August 2018 in a school project close to Kabwe. From May 29 to June 4 she visited South Luangwa National Park. On May 31, she received a mildly painful insect bite on her calf during an afternoon game-viewing drive from Kafunta River Lodge.
She recalled seeing numerous tsetse flies during this drive but was told there had not been any cases of trypanosomiasis for years in this area. The bite initially healed well and she returned to Kabwe.
On the evening of June 11, she developed high fever, rigors, and severe headache. The site of the insect bite on her calf was swollen and showed livid discoloration. Several point-of-care tests for malaria were negative.
Antibiotic treatment at a local hospital led to no improvement of her symptoms. On June 16 she was admitted to Lusaka Coptic Hospital where African trypanosomiasis was diagnosed by blood microscopy. Central nervous system involvement was ruled out by spinal tap, and treatment with suramin was started on June 17. The patient returned in stable condition to Germany on July 2 where she sought further treatment and follow-up.
Bulgaria: African Swine Fever
The Bulgarian Food Safety Agency on July 5 confirmed a second outbreak of African swine fever [ASF] in domestic pigs in 3 days, and the third since 2018.
The disease was located in a backyard pig farm in the village of Novachene near the Danube River, only 16 km southeast of the village of Zhernov, where the previous case was confirmed, the agency said in a statement.
The BFSA took the necessary measures for the control and eradication of the disease according to the European and national legislation, the statement said.
Earlier on July 5, at a meeting of the Management Board of the State Fund Agriculture, the country's Minister of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, Desislava Taneva, called for rigorous implementation of prevention and control measures.
According to Taneva, this is a very dangerous disease that spreads quickly and easily; "there is no cure and vaccine for it, and the economic losses are enormous.''
The first outbreak of African swine fever in domestic pigs in Bulgaria was confirmed last August in the village of Tutrakantsi, some 250 km southeast of Novachene.
United States: Vesicular Stomatitis Virus
The Colorado Department of Agriculture reported that on July 3 the National Veterinary Services Laboratory reported positive test results for vesicular stomatitis virus on samples submitted from 2 horses in Weld County.
The 2 horses reside on separate locations in Weld County, and they both have been placed under quarantine. Both premises are private residences with horses as the only livestock species present.
The initial Colorado disease investigation was completed by a field veterinarian from the State Veterinarian's Office at the Colorado Department of Agriculture.
The index premises has one horse presenting with lesions on his sheath and no history of recent movements on or off the premises.
The subsequent positive premises has one of 3 horses presenting with lip and tongue lesions, and the only history of movement off the property was pleasure riding near the home premises 2 weeks prior to onset.
There are no additional animals at either location currently showing clinical signs of vesicular stomatitis.
Both premises are under state quarantine and will remain so until at least 14 days from the onset of lesions in the last affected animal on the premises.
Bolivia: Hantavirus
The Villa Montes municipal health technician, Samuel Quintasi, stated that a person from a rural area contracted a hantavirus infection and was sent to a third level hospital, although he did not specify whether it was in Tarija or in Santa Cruz del la Sierra.
Due to timely medical attention for the patient, this individual is in stable condition and has been released from the hospital with recommendations to avoid new infection on returning home.
"Health personnel have visited the area, where we are carrying out epidemiological surveillance," the municipal official explained.
Hantavirus infection causes an emerging zoonotic disease that is transmitted by rodents, including mice and rats. The disease is characterized by presentation of fever, muscle pain, and gastrointestinal disturbance, followed by the beginning of respiratory difficulty and hypotension.
Cases of hantavirus infection in humans in general occur in rural areas where one can encounter rodents that have the virus, but transmission is also possible in urban areas.
United States: White Nose Syndrome
For the first time, an invasive fungus that causes a deadly bat disease has been detected in California.
White-nose syndrome, one of the most consequential wildlife diseases of modern times, has killed more than 6 million bats in North America since it was first discovered in New York in 2006.
The disease, which has devastated bat populations in Pennsylvania, New York, and elsewhere in the Northeast, is caused by the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans. It is not known to be harmful to people or common house pets.
Environmental officials discovered low levels of the fungus in samples collected from little brown bats, a common hibernating species, in the Plumas County town of Chester, about 65 miles northeast of Chico. Four bats have been found with traces of the fungus, one in 2018 and 3 this year.
"We decided, 2 years in a row, even though they are low-level detection, we ought to call it. The fungus is here," said Scott Osborn, a senior environmental scientist with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
White-nose syndrome is a fungal infection that grows on the skin of bats while they hibernate. Osborn describes it as an "all-body case of athlete's foot." The infection irritates the bats, waking them from what should be a deep slumber.
They then use up their stored energy by grooming themselves. Because it's winter, most of the bugs and insects that make up their food supply aren't available, and the bats can't replenish themselves. They die of starvation.
Latvia: African Swine Fever
This year's first African swine fever infection for domestic pigs has been registered in Latvia. The illness was uncovered in an enclosure in Durbe Parish, Vecpils County. A total of 49 pigs have been killed to halt the spread of the disease, as reported by Food and Veterinary Service.
The affected farm has been put under quarantine - a protection zone in a 3 km radius and an observation zone in a 10 km radius around it. All other enclosures in this area will be put under intense supervision for compliance with bio-security measures. Transportation of pigs and pork to and from this area will be put under increased control as well.
United States: Anthrax
Since June 19, the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) has received confirmation of 3 additional anthrax cases in the area of Texas where anthrax is historically found. The first anthrax case of the year was confirmed in one captive antelope on a premises in Uvalde County on June 19. Since that time, anthrax was confirmed in goats on a new Uvalde County premises on June 24, one Sutton County horse was confirmed to have anthrax on July 3, and cattle were confirmed to have anthrax on a separate Sutton County premises on July 4.
All of the premises have been placed under quarantine, and producers were advised on vaccinating exposed animals and the proper disposal of affected carcasses, as outlined by TAHC's rules. Typically, quarantines are lifted 10 days from vaccination or the last death loss.
"It is common to see an increase in anthrax cases after periods of wet, cool weather, followed by hot, dry conditions," said Dr. Andy Schwartz, TAHC Executive Director. "During these conditions, animals ingest the anthrax bacteria when they consume contaminated grass and hay, or inhale the spores. Outbreaks usually end when cooler weather arrives."
Australia: Leptospirosis
At least 50 people have contracted a highly-contagious and potentially life-threatening disease spread through rat urine.
Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease having already claimed the lives of 7 dogs in the last year in inner-Sydney, New South Wales [NSW], but experts said it's now infecting people, Daily Telegraph reported.
University of Sydney professor of veterinary microbiology and infectious diseases Jacqueline Norris said the disease is 'shed out in the urine' and spreads easily from animals to humans.
'We haven't seen this disease in New South Wales in decades so it's a high likelihood there's a common environmental source,' she said.
'You can get direct contact, so directly splashed urine into a mucosal surface like your eye, mouth, or skin. But most frequently it's accessing the same external indirect surface, so out in the environment.'
Symptoms in humans vary, and can range from mild headaches to blood in the urine and skin hemorrhages.
Data from the National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System showed there have been 50 cases of leptospirosis this year and 144 last year, with most cases originating in Queensland, as the bacteria thrives in warm and humid climates.
A NSW Health spokeswoman said most cases reported are from regional areas 'often in association with floods or mouse plagues'.
'The most effective way to prevent any transmission from infected pets or another source of the infection to humans is for people to wash their hands with soap after touching animals,' she said.
'Keep cuts and scratches covered when there is a chance they could come in contact with animal urine.'
United States: West Nile Virus
Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship State Veterinarian Jeff Kaisand has confirmed 2 cases of West Nile virus (WNV) have been detected in horses living in the southern part of the state. These are the first confirmed cases of WNV in Iowa horses this year [2019].
The Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) reported last week that cases were confirmed in Davis and Union counties.
In Davis county, a 15-year-old thoroughbred mare began displaying clinical signs, including hind-limb ataxia and muscle fasciculations on June 24, the EDCC said. Diagnostic testing confirmed WNV on June 28.
"The horse is being treated and reported (to be) recovering," the EDCC said. "The mare was not vaccinated for WNV this year but has a history of vaccination 2 years ago."
In Union county, a 2-year old quarter horse gelding in Union county tested positive for WNV on June 19. The gelding was displaying mild clinical signs and had no history of vaccination against WNV.
Vietnam: African Swine Fever
African swine fever (ASF) has hit Vietnam's southern Tay Ninh province, Vietnam News Agency reported on July 7.
A herd of 16 pigs raised by a household in Tay Ninh's Chau Thanh district have been tested positive to ASF virus, and then culled to prevent the disease from spreading.
ASF has spread to almost all cities and provinces across Viet Nam, leading to the culling of over 2.84 million pigs or 10.3 percent of the country's total pig population.
Vietnam will focus on developing cattle, poultry, and aquatic breeding to compensate for a shortage of pork which is expected to hit the country this year due to ASF, its Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said late last month.
Vietnam reported the first ASF outbreak in February in northern Hung Yen province.
ASF is a severe viral disease affecting domestic pigs and boars which can be spread by live or dead pigs and pork products. The ASF virus is harmless to humans, but causes hemorrhagic fever in pigs and wild boars that is almost fatal.
Belgium: African Swine Fever
For the first time, Belgium has reported a week without new cases of African swine fever (ASF) in its wild boar population. That was shown in the latest report to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE).
Ever since mid-May the total number of infected animals had been relatively low. Over the whole of June, only 8 infected wild boar were found in Belgium's province of Luxembourg -- the lowest monthly score since the virus was discovered in September 2018. The total number of infected wild boar therefore remains 824. In total, 799 were found dead in the forest; an additional 25 were shot dead.
About 2 weeks ago, there also was a moment when there was no news about ASF from Belgium. That was caused by the fact that there was no update on the situation in Belgium reported to the OIE. Due to the presence of the virus, however, Belgium has to give updates, irrespective of new cases being found or not. There was an update about last week -- and that one, for the 1st time, was "empty."
Belgium recently announced it started shooting the remaining wild boar in the inner zone of the infected area. In doing so, Belgium follows EU policy to keep the virus concentrated in one zone as much as possible.
A similar approach proved to be successful in the Czech Republic, where the virus, just like in Belgium, was found only in the wild boar population. In total, in the Czech Republic, 230 wild boar died of ASF in Zlin province between June 2017 and April 2018. In February, the European Commission declared the Czech Republic to be free from ASF again. In doing so, the Czechs have been the only country in recent years to have done so.
June 28, 2019
South Africa: African Horse Sickness
Across Gauteng, a total of 236 cases of African horse sickness (AHS) have been reported between between Jan. 1 and June 18, according to the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development -- and the illness has also hit closer to home.
The historic and internationally recognized horses of the South African Lipizzaners non-profit organisation (NPO), located in Kyalami, have been affected by the virus. So far, 4 Lipizzaners have died and one has managed to survive with treatment.
The NPO is appealing to the public for donations so they can buy medication and insect repellent needed to prevent further deaths at both the venue in Kyalami and at the organization's stud farm, where females and foals are kept.
"We've lost young and old horses so far," explained Dr. Karen Bohme, who is the head rider and veterinarian for the South African Lipizzaners. "We lost 2 brood mares. We also lost 2 colts within a day of each other in late April," she added.
AHS is caused by a virus that appears seasonally in warmer weather and is transferred by biting midges, according to a statement by Steve Galane of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, which receives official reports of the disease. Galane added that AHS was particularly present in the country this year due to climatic factors such as rainfall and temperature.
"In most of South Africa, except for a part of the Western Cape province, AHS is endemic and the area is known as an AHS-infected zone. Unfortunately, outbreaks of AHS are expected to occur in the AHS-infected zone from November to May, often with a peak from February to April," the statement read in part.
United States: Anthrax
The Texas Department of State Health Services is reminding Texans to avoid sick or dead wildlife after 18 recent animal deaths in Uvalde County, including 2 which were confirmed anthrax-related cases.
The first anthrax case of the year in Texas was confirmed in a captive antelope on a premises in Uvalde County on June 19 -- in a triangular area of southwest Texas where anthrax is historically found in the soil. Since then, another anthrax-related case has been confirmed, and officials reported 18 recent animal deaths.
Uganda: Ebola
The epidemiological situation of the Ebola virus disease (EVD) in the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri dated June 27:
Since the beginning of the epidemic, the cumulative number of cases is 2,297, of which 2,203 are confirmed and 94 are probable. In total, there were 1,553 deaths (1,459 confirmed and 94 probable) and 641 people recovered.
A total of 364 suspected cases are under investigation.
There have been 13 new confirmed cases, including 7 in Beni, 3 in Masereka, 1 in Mabalako, 1 in Biena and 1 in Kulunguta.
There are 13 new confirmed case deaths: 4 community deaths, including 3 in Beni and 1 in Biena; 9 deaths in Ebola treatment centers (ETCs), including 3 in Beni, 2 in Mabalako, 2 in Butembo and 2 in Katwa.
Four people recovered from ETCs, including 3 in Beni and 1 in Butembo.
India: Japanese Encephalitis
A man died on June 28 at Guwahati's Nemcare hospital where he had been undergoing treatment for Japanese encephalitis for the past 8 days. He was a resident of Guwahati's Birkuchi area.
It should be noted that this is the first death reported in the city due to the brain infection this year. However, across Assam, 10 people have died because of the disease so far, and 35 more are infected with it.
Although most of the recent cases of Japanese encephalitis (JE) and acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) have been reported from Bijar state so far this year, Assam state is also endemic for JE.
United States: E. coli
The connections between the death of a 2-year-old boy and the violent illness suffered by 3 other children earlier this month weren't at first apparent. But on June 28, public health officials zeroed in on the common denominator: all 4 tested positive for E.coli bacteria and all 4 had visited animals at the San Diego County Fair.
The discovery prompted the closure of all animal exhibits, a safety measure that will remain in effect through the remainder of the fair's 2019 run set to end July 4. While the cluster of cases has not yet been definitively linked to fair animals, in part because testing is not yet complete, the decision to shut down the public livestock exhibits, including the popular petting zoo, seemed prudent. The livestock auction, which took place in a different area and does not allow the public to have direct contact with animals, went forward as scheduled.
"We have taken this step to restrict access to animals at the fair in an abundance of caution," Dr. Eric McDonald, a county public health official, said at a news conference. "We may find, as the investigation develops, as we develop genetic fingerprints of these organisms, that these cases are not related, that these just happened to be cases that occurred during the summer when it's more common for these types of cases to occur."
Brazil: Yellow Fever
The origin of the virus responsible for the ongoing yellow fever epidemic in Brazil, the worst for 40 years, has just been identified by scientists affiliated with 2 Brazilian institutions: Adolfo Lutz Institute (IAL) and the University of Sao Paulo (USP).
By means of a molecular study of yellow fever viruses found in dead monkeys and in mosquitoes, the group discovered that the strain behind the current epidemic originated in Para state in North Brazil in 1980.
The virus infected monkeys in Para and spread from there throughout the Amazon region until it reached Venezuela and Suriname. From 2000 on, always via infection of monkeys, the disease migrated to the Center-West and Southeast of Brazil, finally reaching Sao Paulo state in 2013. The first deaths of humans in Sao Paulo occurred in 2016.
Findings of the study, which was supported by Sao Paulo Research Foundation.
The investigation was led by Mariana Sequetin Cunha, a researcher in IAL's Vector-Borne Disease Group. Scientists at the University of Sao Paulo's Tropical Medicine Institute, the Federal University of Para and the Federal University of Sao Paulo also took part. The project was also funded by Brazil's National Council for Scientific and Technological Development.
Germany: Tuberculosis
Since the beginning of 2018, the health authorities in 2 districts of Lower Saxony (LK) have frequently registered cases of tuberculosis (TB) illness among slaughterhouse workers, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) reports
Thirteen employees had become infected and one person had died as a result of the disease. The persons infected are predominantly Romanian workers.
During 2018 and up to Feb. 28, 7 slaughterhouse workers who slaughtered and processed pigs were diagnosed with active pulmonary TB, 3 of them in September and October 2018. One of the patients died in November 2018 as a result of TB.
In the neighboring district, 6 slaughterhouse workers with active pulmonary TB who were employed in slaughterhouse B were reported since the beginning of 2018. Slaughterhouse A and B are about 40 km apart.
After the infection became public, extensive investigations by health authorities followed. Of the 96 contact persons tested at slaughterhouse A, 59 (61%) showed a positive test result. At slaughterhouse B no additional case of TB requiring treatment were detected.
United States: White Nose Syndrome
The National Park Service says the fungus that causes a deadly disease in bats has been discovered in North Dakota.
The Bismarck Tribune reports the fungus was discovered after swab testing of a bat that was captured at Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site near Stanton.
The fungus causes white-nose syndrome, which can lead to dehydration or other conditions that kill bats.
To date, 33 states have confirmed the disease since it was found in 2006 in New York. US Fish and Wildlife Service wildlife refuge specialist Catherine Hibbard says 4 states, including North Dakota, have discovered only the fungus.
South Dakota identified the fungus and disease for the 1st time last year.
Humans can transmit the fungus but aren't affected by it. It is spread easily among bats.
June 21, 2019
Canada: Diphtheria
An Edmonton elementary school student with a compromised immune system has been diagnosed with a rare and potentially deadly diphtheria infection yet again. Edmonton Public Schools sent home a letter to families of Evansdale School students, alerting them to a confirmed case of diphtheria. This is the same north Edmonton school where, in 2017, a student was confirmed to have the disease.
The 11-year-old boy was the student who had diphtheria last school year, and on June 10, his mother confirmed he had become infected again. The mother said her son is up to date on all of his vaccinations. She doesn't know how her son contracted the disease again but says he has battled severe eczema since he was 5 months old, and that makes him more susceptible to certain illnesses.
In both cases, she said the infection was diagnosed after he developed open sores that were not healing. The boy was swabbed and the infection was confirmed. His mother said he is now on antibiotics and in quarantine. She said the rest of the family is also under restrictions until their swabs come back.
About one in 10 people who get diphtheria die, according to Alberta Health Services (AHS). Diphtheria can be easily spread through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes, and also through direct skin-to-skin contact with an infected person.
The letter sent home from the school said the affected student had cutaneous diphtheria, which AHS says primarily causes skin infection. According to the Mayo Clinic, skin (cutaneous) diphtheria causes the typical pain, redness and swelling associated with other bacterial skin infections. Ulcers covered by a gray membrane also may develop in cutaneous diphtheria.
United States: Brucellosis
Delaware state health officials are reminding the public to avoid consuming raw dairy products as it announced a confirmed case of brucellosis caused by Brucella melitensis in a 46-year-old Sussex County woman.
The illness is a bacterial infection that primarily affects those consuming, or coming into contact with, contaminated animals or animal products. The most common source of infection is through the consumption of raw, unpasteurized dairy products. Prior to becoming ill, the patient in this case had consumed unpasteurized homemade dairy products from Mexico. No other risk factors have been identified.
The individual was hospitalized and is recovering after being treated for the illness. A 2nd, related case of brucellosis is also pending confirmation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
"Cases such as this one can serve as an unfortunate reminder that we are vulnerable to certain bacteria and should take precautions to protect ourselves," said Department of Public Health (DPH) Medical Director Dr. Rick Hong. "Delawareans are encouraged to avoid purchasing and consuming unpasteurized dairy products. Consuming questionable food items is not worth the risk to your health."
Brucellosis infection is most frequently transmitted by eating or drinking raw/unpasteurized dairy products such as milk and cheese, yet can also be contracted through inhalation or physical contact with infected animals or animal products. When sheep, goats, cows or camels are infected, their milk becomes contaminated with the bacteria. If the milk from infected animals is not pasteurized, the infection will be transmitted to people who consume the milk and/or cheese products. Brucellosis is not common in the USA. Nationally, the average is fewer than 200 human cases each year. Person-to-person transmission is rare. Prior to this case, the DPH has confirmed 3 cases since 2010; those cases occurred in 2010, 2017 and 2018. The case in 2010 was associated with consumption of unpasteurized milk while the nature of exposure in the 2017 and 2018 cases is unknown.
Nigeria: Polio
With Nigeria almost at the last stage of being declared a polio-free country, the Lagos state government has confirmed the environmental strand of polio virus in Makoko, Itire and Maracana canals in the state.
Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Titilayo Goncalves, who disclosed this at a day media/stakeholders sensitization workshop in Lagos on June 13, said the state government, with support from the United Nations Children's Funds (UNICEF) and other agencies, is gearing up for another polio vaccination campaign in this regard.
Goncalves said the campaign is aimed at eliminating the polio virus found in the state, adding that the State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, is very passionate in ensuring that no child in Lagos suffers disability or dies as a result of vaccine-preventable diseases.
"The 2nd phase of the polio vaccination campaign is in furtherance of the noble goal that all our children in Lagos State be covered by the present immunization campaign which is being done house to house so that the 100% status of polio immunization will be attained, maintained and sustained.
"We have made good progress in this bid with the cooperation and support of other agencies and development partners, but we are still pursuing this goal with great determination and focus so that no single child between 0 and 59 months should remain unimmunized or unprotected from the polio virus," she added.
Canada: Equine Herpesvirus
On June 11 the Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) reported Canadian animal health officials have reported multiple cases of equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) on a single farm in southern Saskatchewan. So far, 5 horses diagnosed with equine herpes myeloencephalopathy (EHM, the neurologic form of EHV-1) have been euthanized.
"The first signs noted were sporadic abortions in a group of 70 late-term brood mares, followed by severe neurological signs in 5 horses, which were subsequently euthanized," the EDCC said. "Equine herpesvirus-1 was confirmed by PCR on 4 Jun 2019."
"The premises has self-quarantined, under supervision of the herd veterinarian; it is anticipated all animals currently on the premises will not be moved for a period of several months," the EDCC continued. "No animals were moved off the premises in the weeks prior to the outbreak. Animal movements onto the farm in the weeks prior to the outbreak are being investigated to try to identify a potential source of introduction of the virus."
In many horses, the first or only sign of EHV-1 infection is fever, which can go undetected. In addition to fever, other common signs of EHV-1 infection in young horses include cough, decreased appetite, depression, and a nasal discharge. Pregnant mares typically show no signs of infection before they abort, and abortions usually occur late in gestation (around 8 months) but can be earlier. Abortions can occur anywhere from 2 weeks to several months following infection with EHV-1.
India: Glanders
The Gorakhpur district administration euthanized 3 horses after a report by Hisar-based National Research Centre on Equines (NRCE) confirmed that they tested positive for Glanders disease. The 3 animals were euthanized to prevent the spread of the disease.
The administration was sending blood samples of 10 equines every month, which includes horses, ponies, mules and donkeys, to the Hisar laboratory for tests as part of routine checkup.
The samples of the 3 horses that were euthanized were sent along those samples of other animals in April.
"The NRCE sent its report last month, saying that 3 animals tested positive for Glanders disease. The 3 horses belong to Rajesh Kumar, a resident of Campierganj in Gorakhpur. A team of doctors went to Kumar's residence to make arrangements for safe disposal, because the bacteria can infest both animals and humans," said chief veterinary officer of Gorakhpur, Dr. D K Sharma.
After deliberations with Kumar for around 2 days, he agreed to hand over the animals for euthanization.
Belgium: African Swine Fever
The pig world is on fire with African Swine Fever affecting many countries in Eastern Europe and Eastern Asia. Especially in countries where biosecurity or information levels are relatively low, the virus manages to travel fast and ravage domestic swine herds.
Nevertheless, quite a lot of attention was paid to Belgium, a country where ASF virus has been occurring in the wild boar population only since September 2018. As of mid-June, the virus took 821 victims in Belgium's wild boar population, according to figures supplied by the OIE. In recent weeks only a few contaminated carcasses are found every week. In addition, so far, Belgium has managed to keep the virus out of its domestic pig population. All in all, Belgium's approach appears to be moderately successful so far.
At the European Symposium for Porcine Health Management (ESPHM), held in Utrecht, the Netherlands, Dr. Philippe Houdart of the Belgian Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain gave some detailed insights into the situation in Belgium's southern province Luxembourg. He explained that it requires coordination to take a proper ASF approach on various authority levels. In Belgium, responsibility for wild boar management lies at regional level, whereas the federal FASFC is responsible for health issues in pigs. On top of that, a network between all stakeholders needed to be made.
India: Nipah Virus
After one positive case and over 300 suspects, the scare of the second attack of Nipah virus in Kerala is over, state Health Minister K.K. Shailaja told the media June 15.
"Even though the Nipah scare is over, and there is no need for complete surveillance, the situation will be under observation till the middle of next month," Shailaja said.
On June 3, a 23-year-old college student, admitted to a private hospital in Ernakulam, tested positive for Nipah virus. Since then, the health authorities in the state have been on their toes to prevent the virus from spreading. And after almost 2 weeks, Shailaja finally gave the signal that the scare was over.
After 12 deaths were reported last year in Kozhikode and Malappuram districts following a Nipah outbreak, experts had collected samples from bats. Now, fruit bats have been identified as the carriers of the deadly virus.
The health department is now conducting studies to find out the reasons behind the 2nd Nipah outbreak.
A Nipah virus scare has also gripped the Guna district of Madhya Pradesh as hundreds of bats have been found dead in the campus of National Fertilizers Limited (NFL) in the past few days. Initially, the district authorities reported deaths of around 2,500 bats, but the district administration claimed that the death toll is around 250.
Veterinary physician of Guna, Dr. BS Dhakrey claimed that bodies of hundreds of bats have fallen in the last week or so at NFL premises. "We have collected the samples from the spot and have sent them to [a] veterinary laboratory in Bhopal," Dr. Dhakrey added.
Prima facie it seems that high temperature or heat stroke could have brought about the demise of the bats, said the physician. Chief Medical and Health Officer of Guna, Dr. PS Bunkar claimed there is no evidence of Nipah virus locally, but on a precautionary note, an alert has been sounded in the area, taking a cue from the Nipah outbreak in Kerala.
Libya: Foot and Mouth Disease
The National Animal Health Center has confirmed the infection of some animals in Libya with the foot-and-mouth [FMD] virus.
In a circular published June 15 the center said that it had taken samples from animals from several cities including, Tripoli, Benghazi, Tajoura, Misurata, and Gharyan.
"The samples were transferred to the reference laboratory in the Italian city of Brescia at the end of last month [May 2019], where the initial diagnosis confirmed the existence of this disease", the center stated.
It also pointed out that it is in the process of providing the FMD vaccine, in liaison with the regional and international organizations during the coming period.
Congo: Ebola
The epidemiological situation of the Ebola virus disease in the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri dated 16 Jun 2019:
Since the beginning of the epidemic, the cumulative number of cases is 2,168, 2,074 confirmed and 94 probable. In total, there were 1,449 deaths (1,355 confirmed and 94 probable) and 596 people cured.
A total of 297 suspected cases are under investigation.
There are 20 new confirmed cases, including 14 in Mabalako [North Kivu], 1 in Musienene [North Kivu], 1 in Beni [North Kivu], 1 in Bunia [Ituri], 1 in Rwampara [Ituri], 1 in Kalunguta [North Kivu], and 1 in Kyondo [North Kivu].
There are 9 new deaths of confirmed cases, including 4 community deaths -- 3 in Mabalako and 1 in Kalunguta; 5 ETC/TC deaths -- 3 in Mabalako, 1 in Katwa [North Kivu], and 1 in Bunia.
June 14, 2019
India: Nipah Virus
Concerns related to the spread of Nipah in Kerala were allayed further, with Kerala Health Minister KK Shailaja saying samples of one more person suspected to be infected with the potentially deadly virus have tested negative.
The government had previously announced that samples of 6 people, including 3 nursing staff who had initially attended to a college student infected with Nipah virus, had tested negative.
The health of the college student diagnosed with Nipah virus has improved, government said here. He is being treated at a private hospital in Kochi. "He is taking food. He spoke to his family members through intercom. Fever has subsided," a government bulletin said.
Shailaja, who is in Delhi to meet Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, said the state will continue to remain alert until July 15. "There is no need for any concern. Result of the sample of the 7th person is also negative," she said.
They [the 7] are currently being treated at the isolation ward of the Government Medical College Hospital in Kochi. The minister said she will seek more funds from the central government to set up a virology institute at least of Level 3 standard in Kerala.
Nigeria: Lassa Fever
In the May 20-26 reporting week, 3 new confirmed cases were reported from 2 states -- Edo and Ondo -- with no new deaths recorded.
Since Jan. 1, a total of 2,582 suspected cases have been reported from 21 states. Of these, 578 were confirmed positive, 15 probable and 1,989 negative.
Since the onset of the 2019 outbreak, there have been 129 deaths in confirmed cases. Case fatality ratio in confirmed cases is 22.3%.
Twenty-one states (Edo, Ondo, Bauchi, Nasarawa, Ebonyi, Plateau, Taraba, FCT, Adamawa, Gombe, Kaduna, Kwara, Benue, Rivers, Kogi, Enugu, Imo, Delta, Oyo, Kebbi and Cross River) have recorded at least one confirmed case across 82 Local Government Areas.
Ninety-three percent of all confirmed cases are from Edo (36%), Ondo (29%), Ebonyi (8%), Bauchi (7%), Taraba (7%) and Plateau (6%) states.
Congo: Ebola
The epidemiological situation of the Ebola Virus Disease dated June 7:
Since the beginning of the epidemic, the cumulative number of cases is 2,047, of which 1,953 are confirmed and 94 are probable. In total, there were 1,381 deaths (1,287 confirmed and 94 probable) and 556 people healed.
A total of 273 suspected cases are under investigation.
Bangladesh: Avian Influenza
Scientists have identified a novel strain of avian influenza that contained several genetic mutations.
A team of researchers at Bangladesh Agricultural University examined 15 dead or sick birds from 13 clinical outbreaks of avian influenza in Bangladesh. The birds in their sample included ducks, geese, chickens and turkeys. Researchers used RT-PCR [reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction] (a laboratory method used to detect genetic material and specific proteins) to detect the virus that affected the birds in their sample. Results indicated that the birds were infected with a new variety of H5N1 influenza.
The new iteration of the virus combined various genetic markers from other low pathogenic influenza types that were found in the region since 2013. Researchers hypothesized that this newer version of the virus will supplant the current strain that is infecting poultry and wild birds in Southern Asia.
The researchers also concluded that the mutations, detected in the H5N1 samples, could be associated with increases in the virus' ability to infect mammals and reductions in its susceptibility to antiviral agents.
Algeria: Brucellosis
A total of 3 cases of brucellosis, known as "Malta fever", a disease that affects farm animals, were recorded at Ksar-Chellala, in the far east of the Tiaret wilaya (province). These are 3 women who consumed curd in the last days of Ramadan, according to doctors at the local hospital. In all, more than 150 cases of brucellosis in humans have been recorded since the beginning of 2019.
According to the Department of Health and Population (DSP), the wilaya of Tiaret has recorded 154 cases of brucellosis in humans in 25 municipalities since the beginning of 2019. Due mainly to the consumption of dairy products and unpasteurized derivatives, cases of brucellosis have been recurrent in the wilaya of Tiaret for several years. Blood samples from cattle and goats were collected as part of an epidemiological survey, in collaboration with the Mostaganem Regional Veterinary Laboratory, which has already confirmed cases of brucellosis in localities in the eastern part of the country in wilayat such as Zmalet Emir Aek and Ksar Chellala.
However, the services concerned, starting with the veterinary inspection of wilaya, have always warned against the consumption of natural raw milk without boiling or direct contact with the infected animal.
Uganda: Ebola
The Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization (WHO) have confirmed a case of Ebola virus disease in Uganda. Although there have been numerous previous alerts, this is the 1st confirmed case in Uganda during the Ebola outbreak on-going in neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The confirmed case is a 5-year-old child from the Democratic Republic of the Congo who travelled with his family on June 9. The child and his family entered the country through Bwera Border post and sought medical care at Kagando hospital where health workers identified Ebola as a possible cause of illness.
The child was transferred to Bwera Ebola Treatment Unit [ETU] for management. The confirmation was made June 11 by the Uganda Virus Institute (UVRI). The child is under care and receiving supportive treatment at Bwera ETU, and contacts are being monitored.
The Ministry of Health and WHO have dispatched a Rapid Response Team to Kasese to identify other people who may be at risk, and ensure they are monitored and provided with care if they also become ill. Uganda has previous experience managing Ebola outbreaks. In preparation for a possible imported case during the current outbreak in DRC, Uganda has vaccinated nearly 4,700 health workers in 165 health facilities (including in the facility where the child is being cared for); disease monitoring has been intensified; and health workers trained on recognizing symptoms of the disease. Ebola Treatment Units are in place.
In response to this case, the Ministry is intensifying community education, psychosocial support and will undertake vaccination for those who have come into contact with the patient and at-risk health workers who were not previously vaccinated.
Peru: Guillain-Barre Syndrome
More than 100 cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome have been reported in Lima and several other regions of the country, prompting the Health Ministry to issue a 90-day emergency health warning and increase the health services budget to cover treatment.
There are 3 fatal cases, 2 in Piura and one in Trujillo on the north coast. The National Institute of Neurological Sciences reported that the current cases show unusual and atypical features that require rapid and immediate treatment.
According to the minister of health, Zulema Tomas, the report of cases is usual at this time of year when cases of influenza and bronchial infections increase. In 2018, the Health Ministry reported 205 cases. Tomas said up to 300 cases may be expected this year.
Guillain-Barre syndrome, GBS, is a rare but serious autoimmune disorder that attacks the peripheral nervous system and leads to weakness, tingling, and numbness, initially in the limbs and expanding to the rest of the body, and can eventually cause paralysis.
Although the precise cause of the disease is unknown, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people who develop GBS do so several days or weeks after they have been sick with diarrhea or a respiratory illness. Although rare, some may develop the symptoms days or weeks after getting a vaccination.
Belgium: African Swine Fever
Almost a month before the start of the hunting season, the Walloon government took a new decision to curb African swine fever [ASF] in the province of Luxemburg. The measures are intended to ensure a total depopulation of wild boar in the different zones defined within the perimeter infected by ASF, says Minister of Nature and Forest Rene Collin.
In the core and buffer zones the destruction of wild boar will be carried out by the agents of the government as well as by the holders of hunting rights benefiting from a derogation to the prohibition of hunting. In areas of enhanced observation and vigilance, the holders of hunting rights will have the obligation to organize on their territory as many destruction beats as necessary for each part of their territory. If the authorities record, as of Nov. 1, unsatisfactory (low) results in a given territory, the local administrations could organize wild boar destruction by their own means.
Safety zones have been defined around the Etalle region in the province of Luxemburg since September 2018 following ASF introduction. Recreationalists were banned from the forests for months to avoid spreading the highly infectious and harmful virus in wild boars and domestic pigs. The forests were reopened on April 6, causing concern on the Flemish side. The peak of the epidemic may be over, but new cases are still being found.
People who want to walk or mountain bike in the 16,000-hectare area in the Gaume region can do so with a number of precautions. For example, they must adhere to the paths, they may not bring meat products for picnics, and are required to disinfect footwear and their mountain-bike tires at the termination of walks or bike ride.
June 7, 2019
United States: Tularemia
New Mexico state health officials are reporting 2 confirmed cases of tularemia in 2019 among 2 residents of Santa Fe County: a 57 year old man and a 72 year old woman.
"Tularemia can cause serious illness in both people and pets, so I would encourage people in Santa Fe County to follow precautions to avoid getting infected," said Department of Health cabinet secretary, Kathy Kunkel. "People can get tularemia if they handle infected animals such as rabbits or rodents or are bitten by infected ticks or deer flies. Provide your own protection against insect bites and improve your pet's safety by not letting them roam loose or scavenge rodents."
Tularemia is a rare infection caused by the bacteria Francisella tularensis that can spread through insect bites, with deer flies and ticks being the primary vectors in New Mexico. It can also be spread through handling infected animal tissues in situations such as hunting, trapping and skinning of rabbits or other rodents or during the clean-up of rodent carcasses while gardening.
Dogs and cats can be infected if they are allowed to roam and scavenge dead animals or are not protected from tick bites. Tularemia can also make dogs and cats sick: If they are not diagnosed and treated by their veterinarian, they can give the disease to people. Direct inoculation from an animal bite is very rare but can occur if the animal is infected.
Tularemia symptoms in people may include sudden fever, chills, headaches, diarrhea, muscles aches and joint pain. Other symptoms may include swollen and painful lymph glands especially in the anatomical region where the bacteria 1st gained entry into the body.
United States: Chronic Wasting Disease
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) was recently found in a white-tailed doe that was killed within the city limits of Libby, Montana. Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) officials collected the doe after residents reported seeing a very emaciated and sick-looking deer. This week, initial test results came back positive for CWD. Results of a second confirmation test are expected early next week. This is the first time CWD has been detected in the wild, west of the Continental Divide in Montana.
"...This detection west of the Continental Divide is extremely troubling," said Nick Gevock, conservation director for the Montana Wildlife Federation, in a statement. "This speaks to the need for rapid response to do everything we can to limit the spread of the disease, and also for Congress to act on Sen. Tester's bill to secure federal funding to help Montana FWP do the work needed to address the disease."
In accordance with FWP's CWD response plan, an incident command team has been assembled to respond to the detection. The incident command team will define an Initial Response Area (IRA) around where the infected animal was collected. This will include an area within a roughly 10-mile [16km] radius of the collection site. The IRA defines the area within which the disease prevalence and distribution will be determined. In addition, FWP will collect samples from road-killed deer in Hunting Districts 100, 101, 103 and 104.
CWD is a progressive fatal disease affecting the nervous system of mule deer, white-tailed deer, elk and moose. It is part of a group of diseases called transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs). TSEs are caused by infectious, mis-folded prion proteins, which cause normal prion proteins throughout a healthy animal's body to mis-fold, resulting in organ damage and eventual death.
CWD is a slow-moving disease. However, left unmanaged, it could result in long-term population declines within affected herds. All the states and provinces bordering Montana, other than Idaho and British Columbia, have found CWD in their wild cervids.
Nigeria: Lassa Fever
In the reporting week 20 (13-19 May 2019) 6 new confirmed cases were reported from 3 states: Edo (2), Ebonyi (2), and Ondo (2) states, with one new death from Edo state;
From 1 Jan-19 May 2019, a total of 2,504 suspected cases have been reported from 21 states. Of these, 575 were confirmed positive, 15 were probable, and 1914 were negative.
Since the onset of the 2019 outbreak, there have been 129 deaths in confirmed cases. Case fatality ratio in confirmed cases is 22.4%;
Twenty-one states (Edo, Ondo, Bauchi, Nasarawa, Ebonyi, Plateau, Taraba, FCT, Adamawa, Gombe, Kaduna, Kwara, Benue, Rivers, Kogi, Enugu, Imo, Delta, Oyo, Kebbi, and Cross River) have recorded at least one confirmed case across 82 local government areas.
Brazil: Mad Cow Disease
The Brazilian government reported a case of atypical mad cow disease [Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE)] in an animal in Mato Grosso state, according to a statement from the country's Agriculture Ministry. The ministry said the case was detected in a 17-year-old cow. It said it collected the necessary material for tests and incinerated all other parts of the cow. "No part of the animal entered the food chain; there are no risks for the population," the statement said.
The case was considered "atypical" as the animal contracted the BSE protein spontaneously, rather than through the feed supply. Classical cases of mad cow [BSE] are caused when cattle are fed brain or spinal tissue of other ruminants, which is now forbidden in nearly all beef producing countries, including Brazil.
In 2012 in Brazil, tests showed that a cow that had died 2 years earlier in Parana state had developed the protein that causes mad cow disease [BSE], though the animal never developed the disease and died of natural causes.
The World Organization for Animal Health maintained Brazil's status as a country with an insignificant risk of BSE at that time, after it confirmed the atypical Parana case. Even so, several countries including South Korea, China and Egypt banned some or all beef imports from Brazil, the world's top exporter. That trade was later reopened.
Brazil's Agriculture Ministry said it had informed all importers about the case, as well as the World Organization for Animal Health.
United States: Anaplasmosis
America's cattle herds are now threatened by a tick-borne epidemic of bovine "yellow fever" that kills huge numbers of adult cattle and can spread to humans if not treated.
The floods have devastated agricultural interests across the America's Midwest this year [2019]. But a few days of sun last week allowed corn farmers to plant 19 percent more acres, bringing their total to 68 percent of plan; and soybeans farmers planted 11 percent more acres, bring their total to 30 percent of plan. But the good news was submarined by reports from the Center for Disease Control of a widespread epidemic of bovine anaplasmosis, commonly referred to as "yellow fever".
According to the Hindawi Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases, bovine anaplasmosis is endemic in Mexico, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean Islands. But it has now been reported in every state within the United States.
Caused by parasitic tick bites and unsterilized vaccinations needles, "yellow fever" caused major losses for US beef producers in the 1960s and 1970s. Cattle losses over the last decade have averaged $100 million a year due to anemia, fever, weight loss, jaundice, uncoordinated movements, spontaneous abortion, and death in adult cattle.
Kansas State University professor Dr. Hans Coetzee advised that a 2010 study of newly infected dairy herds in Kansas found 34 percent of the lactating cows died, and milk production fell by 44 percent. But he warned that infections accelerated after 2015. A new statewide study by Kansas State veterinarian Mark Spare, covering 925 herds and 9,250 head of cattle, found infection in about 83 percent of the herds in eastern counties, 47 percent of herds in central counties and 22 percent in the western counties. Spare advised that the research results indicate that Kansas has a prevalence of anaplasmosis infection at the cow herd level in every region of the state, and infection concentrations are multiplied by commonly used animal management practices.
Oklahoma State University veterinarian Dana Zook told VitaFirm that in his state: "Cattle 1 to 3 years of age may exhibit severe clinical signs, but their ability to recover from the disease is more likely than older animals. Data indicate that 30 percent to 50 percent of infected cattle more than 3 years of age will die without early treatment."
Algeria: Foot and Mouth Disease
More than 50 cases of foot-and-mouth disease have been reported since the beginning of the current year in the wilaya of Tindouf, and all the necessary preventive measures have been taken, it was learned Sun 2 Jun 2019 from the Wilaya's Veterinary Inspectorate.
This number of cases was recorded following the veterinary control operations targeting the livestock of the Tindouf wilaya. The affected livestock (goats), in the commune of Oum-Laassel (170 km north of Tindouf), had been infected by other sick animals acquired from neighboring wilayas as part of the support of small farmers, said veterinary inspector Youssef Mekbal.
To circumscribe this and to avoid the infection of the livestock, the services concerned instructed the farmers to proceed to the slaughter of the infected animals. However, the latter rejected the decision in spite of the sensitization campaign, he explained.
All the necessary human and material resources were mobilized by the inspectorate to circumscribe the foci of the disease, particularly in the enclave and border areas, according to this official, calling for the necessary involvement of the authorities and associations in order to ensure effective control of animal health in the region.
Coordination meetings with livestock keepers were held to discuss the susceptibility and location of herds, ways of organizing vaccination campaigns, preventive measures required in the border area for the protection of animal health, and the needed mobilization of a mixed brigade in coordination with Saharawi refugees for the vaccination of the valuable animals.
Congo: Ebola
The epidemiological situation of the Ebola virus disease dated 1 Jun 2019.
Since the beginning of the epidemic, the cumulative number of cases is 1994, 1900 confirmed and 94 probable.
In total, there were 1,339 deaths (1,245 confirmed and 94 probable) and 533 people healed.
There are 325 suspected cases under investigation.
Twelve new cases have been confirmed, including 5 in Mabalako, 3 in Katwa, 2 in Beni and 2 in Butembo;
There are 7 new confirmed case deaths: 5 community deaths, including 2 in Mabalako, 1 in Beni, 1 in Katwa and 1 in Butembo; 2 deaths at CTE, including 1 in Butembo and 1 in Mabalako.
Switzerland: Q Fever
Several cases of pneumonia have occurred in the Ticino Maggia Valley in recent weeks. Those affected have been infected with Q fever. The situation is, however, under the control of the health authorities.
Q fever is transmitted by a bacterium found in goats. The Ticino health authorities have therefore ordered the vaccination of exposed animals. In addition, the transport of the animals from one farm to another was prohibited.
Infection with goat milk is considered very unlikely. Even from person to person, the disease is not transmitted. Q fever manifests itself with flu-like illnesses, but without a cold or sore throat. In 1-2 percent of cases there are complications
Q fever is a notifiable disease in Switzerland. Since the beginning of the year around 50 cases have been reported, 20 of them from Ticino, said Daniel Koch of the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH).
Therefore, there will be an increase this year compared to the approximately 40 cases that have occurred on average per year since 2012. In 2012, the disease was again declared as notifiable after 17 cases of illness occurred in the canton of Vaud.
According to Koch, the situation is under control, despite the increased occurrence of illnesses in Ticino. The established monitoring system proved its effectiveness. The last time a major epidemic of Q fever occurred in 1983. At that time, more than 400 people fell ill in Valais.
United States; Anthrax
South Dakota cattle producers are encouraged to include anthrax vaccine in their vaccination program when they turn out cattle to summer pastures. Recent flooding may increase the risk of cattle encountering anthrax this season, according to Dr Dustin Oedekoven, South Dakota State Veterinarian.
Anthrax is caused by bacteria that can develop into an environmentally resistant spore form when in the soil. Under the right conditions, these spores can become available for cows to graze. Once ingested by cattle, the spores become activated and produce toxins that cause rapid death. Anthrax can be prevented in cattle by administering a vaccine which is widely available, inexpensive, and very effective.
While the anthrax risk has been well-documented in many parts of South Dakota, and anthrax vaccination of cattle is routine in those areas, it is not always possible to predict where cases may occur. Flooding is an environmental factor which may aid in making anthrax spores available to livestock. Cattle going onto pastures that have previously experienced flooding or into areas where anthrax has been documented in the past, should be considered prime candidates for vaccination.
If anthrax is suspected contact your local veterinarian or the animal industry board.
"During the summer, producers should take time to check all cattle frequently," says Oedekoven. "Cattle producers need to promptly investigate any unexpected deaths on pasture, whether in cows, bulls, or calves," continues Oedekoven. "With anthrax and many other diseases, treatments and preventive measures are available, and prompt action can help prevent excessive losses."
India: Nipah Virus
A 23-year-old college student in Kochi, Kerala has been confirmed to be infected with the Nipah virus while 86 others are under medical observation, Kerala Health Minister KK Shailaja said.
The results of blood samples of the student, which were tested at the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune, have confirmed Nipah [virus], she said. The result came June 4, she added. Earlier, blood samples examined at 2 virology institutes -- Manipal Institute of Virology and Kerala Institute of Virology and Infectious Diseases -- had indicated Nipah [virus].
Shailaja said the condition of the student, who is being treated at a private hospital in Kochi, is stable and he was not put under any support system like a ventilator. "Good care is being given to the patient. The patient sometimes become restless due to fever...We expect a good result," she said.
The minister further said a list of 86 people who have interacted with the student has been prepared and they were under medical observation. Out of the 86, 2 are suffering from fever and one has been shifted to the isolation ward set up at the Kalamassery Medical College Hospital [in Kochi], she added. Also under observation of the health department are 2 nurses who had initially attended to the patient, complained of sore throat and fever. The Minister urged people not to panic and take precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the disease.
"We have confidence that we can face it. We have faced it in Kozhikode last year [2018] and contained it," she said trying to instill confidence among people. Appealing to social media users not to spread panic among the public, she said stringent action would be taken against those indulging in such acts.
Iran: Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever
Since the beginning of the current Iranian calendar year March 21, 12 people have been diagnosed with Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever and 2 of them lost their lives, said Mohammad Mahdi Guya, the Director of Communicable Diseases Department at the Ministry of Health.
The prevalence of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever in the country has decreased to half in comparison to the same period during the last year, however the disease happens more in hot weather hence more precise statistics will be revealed in late summer, he explained.
The disease was spotted in the cities of Iranshahr, Zabol, Kermanshah, and Bandar Abbas as well as Gilan province, he said.
Those who work in slaughterhouses or keep livestock at their home and those who live in rural places are more endangered, he said.
The virus is primarily transmitted to people from ticks and livestock animals. Human-to-human transmission can occur resulting from close contact with the blood, secretions, organs, or other bodily fluids of infected persons.
The contact with meat which is frozen for more than 24 hours does not transmit the virus, he explained.
He also warned about nurses and medical staff who may care for a patient with Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, he said.
May 31, 2019
United States: Hantavirus
The first confirmed Colorado case of hantavirus in 2019 has recently been reported, according to Northeast Colorado Health Department Public Information Officer Alicea Einspahr.
Einspahr said in a press release this serves as a good reminder that the virus is found throughout the state, including in Northeast Colorado.
Human cases infrequently occur however, the illness is severe and potentially life-threatening if not identified early.
Hantavirus is a respiratory disease carried by mice and rats. The rodents shed the virus in their urine, droppings, and saliva.
In Colorado, the virus is mainly transmitted to people when they breathe in air or dust contaminated with deer mouse urine and feces, especially when cleaning out rodent-infested structures in and around their residences.
Not all rodents carry hantavirus[es], and there is usually no way to tell when a rodent has the virus. So, it is wise to avoid all contact with rodents when possible.
Symptoms of hantavirus [infection], which can begin from 1-6 weeks after exposure, include fever, body aches, headache, and vomiting.
Germany: Hantavirus
The number of cases of hantavirus -- a potentially deadly disease carried by mice and other rodents -- has dramatically increased in Germany this year. A particularly high number of infections have been recorded in the German city of Stuttgart, which is now considered an "epicenter" for the virus.
More and more people are catching the harmful hantavirus. There have already been more than 200 registered cases in Baden-Wurttemberg in 2019, compared with only a dozen or so in the same period last year. Those infected experience flu-like symptoms, which in more severe cases can lead to kidney failure and lung disease.
The number of cases in Stuttgart has risen particularly sharply. The regional council announced on May 15 that so far this year 211 cases have already been reported.
Lebanon: Leishmaniosis
Cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis have been confirmed among Syrian refugees in northern Lebanon, highlighting the need for preventive strategies.
There are approximately 1.5 million Syrian refugees in Lebanon, placing tremendous political and socio-economic strain on the country. Few cutaneous leishmaniasis cases had been recorded in Lebanon before 2012. But the disease is endemic in Syria and clinicians have reported suspected cases among refugees.
Cutaneous leishmaniasis causes skin lesions on exposed parts of the body, leaving disfiguring scars. The parasite that causes the disease is transmitted by sandflies, which have been found in high altitude mountains in Lebanon, increasing disease risk.
Researchers in Lebanon and the UK tested 48 suspected cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis among Syrian refugees in northern Lebanon and confirmed their disease status.
Namibia: Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever
The Ministry of Health and Social Services of Namibia officially declared an outbreak of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) on May 6 after reporting a number of cases from different regions of the country.
As of May 15, 7 suspected cases of CCHF were reported from 5 regions, including one laboratory confirmed case out of 7 samples tested and one death.
The World Health Organization says CCHF outbreaks have been recurrent in Namibia in the past 2 years, with cases reported from Omaheke, Omusati, and Kharas regions. The last recorded outbreak occurred in March 2018 in Kharas region, where one fatal confirmed case was reported.
The current outbreak arises in the context of a national drought emergency that can intensify the risk of transmission and geographical spread of the disease, with livestock movements from arid to less dry areas, if mitigating measures are not implemented in a timely manner.
Israel: Foot and Mouth Disease
The VP1 sequencing results of the recent foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) virus isolate from Daliyat Al-Karmel presents a higher than 99% similarity to the isolate from cattle in Tamra. The causative agent is O/ME-SA/PanAsia-2(QOM-15).
The above information was circulated to district veterinary officers and shareholders on May 15.
Most likely, the recent FMD event in free-ranging cattle in Daliyat-Al-Karmel/Isfia, reported to the OIE on May 10, is not a new introduction of the virus but presents the continuation of the event that had started in northern Israel in 2018. Tamra, mentioned in the above notification, is situated some 18 km from the current outbreak. The Tamra outbreak, involving calves in a free-ranging cattle herd, reportedly started Jan. 26 and was resolved March 17. It was the 21st outbreak of the event. The current outbreak has become, in fact, the 22nd.
Israel's VSAH has recently reactivated the P3 laboratory of the Kimron Veterinary Institute at Beit-Dagan for the production of a limited quantity of a homologous vaccine against the circulating virus strain.
Czech Republic: Tick-borne encephalitis
The Czech Republic recorded the highest number of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) cases in the EU last year. In the whole of Europe, only Russia recorded more cases of the potentially deadly disease.
There were 712 recorded TBE cases in the country last year, the highest number since 2011, a Czech member of the International Scientific Working Group on TBE said in a press release on Thursday.
Only about one-quarter of inhabitants of the Czech Republic are vaccinated against TBE, a low percentage compared to other EU countries. Within the bloc, the 2nd-highest number of TBE cases was recorded in Germany, which has a population 8 times larger.
Encephalitis patients suffer from fever, headache, aching joints, and muscles. It can develop into meningitis.
Sweden: Chronic Wasting Disease
A 2nd case of chronic wasting disease (CWD) has now been detected in Sweden. As in the first case, it was a 16-year-old female free-ranging moose in Norrbotten County. The moose was euthanized after being observed emaciated and with behavioral changes. The distance between the places where the 2 cases were found is around 70 km.
Samples from the moose were analyzed at the National Veterinary Institute (SVA) within the ongoing CWD surveillance program. Brainstem and retropharyngeal lymph nodes were screened with a TSE rapid test. Samples from brainstem were positive in the screening test and were confirmed positive for transmissible spongiform encephalopathy with Western blot. Samples from lymph nodes were negative in the screening test.
Just like the first Swedish case detected in March 2019, this new case shows similar features to cases of atypical CWD previously detected in Norwegian moose in that it was an old moose, and only brain was positive. However, further analyses (e.g., discriminatory Western blot and immunohistochemistry) are needed to determine the type of CWD. Such investigations will be done in collaboration with international reference laboratories for CWD.
United States: Strangles
In January of this year, there were confirmed cases of equine strangles in Snohomish County, Washington. The Washington Department of Agriculture has confirmed 2 horses on a property in the county were positive for strangles. Eight other horses were exposed on the property.
A 4-year-old Arab gelding and a 4-year-old Arab mare on that property began showing clinical signs of strangles on May 11. Those signs included fever, nasal discharge and swollen lymph nodes. Both horses were confirmed positive on May 15, and both were recovering; neither was vaccinated for strangles.
Information for this report was provided by the Equine Disease Communication Center.
Strangles is a contagious infectious disease of Equidae characterized by abscessation of the lymphoid tissue of the upper respiratory tract. The causative organism, Streptococcus equi equi, is highly host-adapted and produces clinical disease only in horses, donkeys, and mules. It is a gram-positive, capsulated beta-hemolytic Lancefield group C coccus, which is an obligate parasite and a primary pathogen.
Congo: Ebola
The epidemiological situation of the Ebola virus disease in the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri dated May 23.
Since the beginning of the epidemic, the cumulative number of cases is 1,888, of which 1,800 are confirmed and 88 are probable. In total, there were 1,254 deaths (1,166 confirmed and 88 probable) and 492 people cured.
Three-hundred forty-three suspected cases under investigation.
Eleven new confirmed cases and six new confirmed deaths have been reported.
Kenya: Anthrax
An anthrax outbreak that affected Kenya's Lake Nakuru National Park is over, and the last buffalo death was recorded on May 10, the country's wildlife conservation agency said. John Waweru, director general of Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), said in a statement that the total mortalities to date are 145 buffaloes representing 3.54% of the estimated population of 4,100 buffaloes in Lake Nakuru National Park.
"Our partnership with the local administration and department of Public Health as well as directorate of Veterinary Services to educate the local communities about anthrax and our surveillance and monitoring efforts have paid off," Waweru said.
Lake Nakuru National Park which is about 160 km northwest of Kenya's capital city, Nairobi, covers an area of 188 sq km and is an important ecosystem supporting high diversity of waterfowl, large mammal, and floral species. "It was set up as the first rhino sanctuary in Kenya and has been a successful breeding habitat. The park hosts a number of threatened mammal species, including lion, leopard, and the Rothschild giraffe. Five globally threatened bird species are also found in the park," he added.
He noted that the park management would continue with the monitoring and will report any suspicious deaths for urgent action by veterinary authorities.
United States: Hantavirus
The New Mexico Department of Health confirms the state's first hantavirus [infection] case of 2019. A 50-year old woman from McKinley County was hospitalized and is now resting at home.
Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) is a severe respiratory illness caused by the Sin Nombre virus and can be deadly. HPS results in flu-like symptoms such as fever and muscle aches, which may be accompanied by chills, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and cough. HPS can be transmitted by breathing in the virus which can occur when urine or droppings containing the virus [from infected deer mice] are emitted into the air as mist or dust.
Hantavirus can also be transmitted by touching the eyes, nose or mouth after someone touches urine or droppings that contain the virus. The virus cannot be transmitted from person-to-person.
Deer mice are the main carriers of [Sin Nombre] hantavirus, and symptoms in infected humans can develop within 1-6 weeks after exposure to mice droppings and urine. To prevent the virus, NMDOH suggests avoiding contact with mice and other rodents.
India: Anthrax
Three sheep died in Kattangoor mandal headquarters on May 25. On receiving the information, animal husbandry officials rushed to spot and confirmed that the sheep died of anthrax disease.
District Animal Husbandry joint director Ch Ramesh told the Express that the department has sent 4 special teams to vaccinate livestock within a radius of 5 km from Kattangoor mandal headquarters. It would take 3 days for the vaccination, he said.
It also came to light that some people ate the meat of the dead sheep. The officer warned the people to avoid eating sheep meat for few days to avoid any such incidents.
Anthrax is a rare but serious illness caused by a spore-forming bacterium, Bacillus anthracis. Anthrax mainly affects livestock. Humans can also get infected through direct or indirect contact with sick animals. According to the officials, there's no evidence that anthrax is transmitted from person to person, but it's possible that anthrax skin lesions may be contagious through direct contact. It has been noted that, usually, anthrax bacteria enter the body through a wound in the skin. One can also become infected by eating contaminated meat or inhaling the spores, added the officials.
Canada: West Nile Virus
West Nile virus is becoming a more serious issue in horses; rates are rising in Alberta, and one-third of the horses which become infected will die.
But there is a way to protect your horses, said veterinarian Melissa Smith of West Wind Veterinary Hospital in Sherwood Park.
"There are vaccines available for West Nile," she said. "It is one we consider a core vaccination for horses. We know any horse can be exposed, and it is a disease seen in our area, and it can have severe consequences such as death."
West Nile is mosquito borne, and horses can contract the virus from just one mosquito bite. Every horse is at risk of equal exposure, said Smith. "It is Canada-wide, and Alberta has the highest number of cases," she said.
In 2017, there were only 54 cases in Canada, with 11 cases in Alberta. But last year, the number of confirmed cases nationally jumped to 123 with 72 cases -- nearly 3/5ths -- in Alberta. Saskatchewan had 32 cases, and Ontario was a distant 3rd at 11, with Manitoba, B.C., and Quebec accounting for the remaining handful.
"There will be some unreported cases as well, since some don't get diagnosed, and some die. It's likely higher. That's something to consider as well," said Smith, who so far, hasn't seen a case of West Nile at her clinic.
Iran: Peste des Petits Ruminants
According to the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) ovine rinderpest, commonly known as peste des petits ruminants (PPR) or sheep and goat plague, is a highly contagious animal disease affecting small ruminants. Once introduced, the virus can infect up to 90 per cent of an animal herd, and the disease kills anywhere from 30 to 70 per cent of infected animals. The PPR virus does not infect humans.
Following the spread of the infection in a forest park in province of Gilan, some 6 carcasses of red deer have been found, attempts were made to carry out investigation on the carcasses for precise determination. Provincial department of environment took measures to reduce the spread of infections by vaccinating the rest of the species in the park as well as disinfecting the lands and watering troughs, the report added.
The disease was first spotted in Iran in the last years of the 20th century, following the smuggling of domestic livestock to the country, the most recent one was in July 2018, that has led to death of 70 heads of rams and wild goats in the Rochon area in Khabr national park in Kerman province.
PPR was first described in 1942 in Cote d'Ivoire. Since then the disease has spread to large regions in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Today, more than 70 countries have confirmed PPR within their borders, and many countries are at risk of the disease being introduced. These regions are home to approximately 1.7 billion head -- roughly 80 per cent -- of the global population of sheep and goats.
Viet Nam: African Swine Fever
Viet Nam culled a further 500,000 pigs over the past 2 weeks to tackle an outbreak of African swine fever, taking the total killed so far to 1.7 million, or 5 per cent of the country's herd, the agriculture ministry said. Pork accounts for three quarters of the total meat consumption in Viet Nam, a country of 95 million people where most of its 30 million farm-raised pigs are consumed by the domestic market.
The virus, first detected in the South East Asian country in February, has spread to 42 of the country's 63 provinces, the agriculture ministry's Livestock Production Department said in a statement on its website. "The African swine fever outbreak is the most dangerous and costly of its kind in the husbandry industry of Viet Nam," agriculture minister Nguyen Xuan Cuong said in the statement. "Though the virus first appeared nearly 100 years ago, there has been no vaccine and no medicine for treating the disease."
China, the world's largest pork producer, which has also been hit by the virus, said on it will start work on clinical trials of a vaccine for African swine fever.
Cuong said it is difficult to contain the outbreak given that the virus remains dormant in the environment for a long time and can spread through complex and varied means. Earlier this month Viet Nam said it would mobilize its military and police forces to help combat the outbreak. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in March advised Viet Nam to declare the swine fever outbreak a national emergency.
Lesotho: Anthrax
Over 50 people were taken ill this week after they ate meat from cattle that died of anthrax in Qeme May 18. About 55 were rushed to nearby clinics while 18 of them were given prophylaxis and treated as outpatients. Most of the victims developed blisters and had swollen limbs while others suffered from severe stomach-aches and diarrhea. So far more than 20 cattle have died from anthrax.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security this week declared that there had been an anthrax outbreak in Qeme area. The disease was first noticed in the villages of Ha-Tseka and Ha-Au in Qeme last Saturday after the villagers informed the ministry that their cattle were dying. The minister of agriculture, Mahala Molapo, told the post that they ensured that the carcasses were buried and those who ate meat of dead cattle were rushed to health centers for treatment.
A rapid response team comprising the Ministries of Agriculture and Health has since responded to the outbreak in the district. The team is comprised of experts from the Disease Control Unit, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the epidemiologists who swiftly moved to contain the disease. "Our main focus is treating those who ate the infected animals and how to properly bury the carcasses," Molapo said. "We are also testing water sources in the area." He said they are also going to hold public gatherings where they are going to sensitize the communities about the disease. Molapo said they have also banned the movement of animals in and out of the Qeme area, and next week they are going to embark on vaccination campaigns.
United States: Hantavirus
A deer mouse trapped in routine monitoring in the Fallbrook area has tested positive for the potentially deadly hantavirus, prompting San Diego County officials to remind people to never sweep or vacuum up after rodents if they find them in homes, garages, sheds or cabins. County environmental health officials said hantavirus is not uncommon in San Diego, but people are unlikely to be exposed to it if they keep wild rodents out of their living spaces.
However, especially with the spring-cleaning season coming, officials urged people to protect themselves if they find wild rodents living in their homes, sheds and garages. If they do, officials said, people should never sweep up or vacuum, because people can be exposed to hantavirus by stirring the virus up into the air where they can breathe it in.
Instead, people should always use "wet cleaning" methods, ventilating, using bleach and water solutions or disinfectants, rubber gloves and plastic bags to clean. Wild rodents, particularly mice, are the main carriers of hantavirus. They shed the virus through their urine, feces and saliva. When that matter dries, it can be stirred into the air; people can inhale the virus and get sick. Hantavirus can cause deadly infections in people, and there is no vaccine or cure.
Mayotte: Rift Valley Fever
To limit the spread of cases of Rift Valley fever, the prefecture of Mayotte, in collaboration with the ARS Indian Ocean and the Directorate of Food, Agriculture and Forestry of Mayotte (DAAF) reminds all of the importance of prevention measures for protect from the disease.
In total, since the beginning of the epidemic, amples taken by veterinarians on sick animals or during abortions have identified 121 outbreaks of sick animals (including 97 cattle and 24 small ruminants.
The CHM laboratory reported 134 human cases of RVF at the monitoring and health emergencies platform of the ARS OI (CVAGS) of Mayotte.
Although the vast majority of human cases of RVF do not show signs of severity, 2 serious forms have been reported.
Guinea: Anthrax
On May 9, the Prefectural Health Directorate of Koubia, Guinea was informed of the admission of 4 suspected anthrax cases at the Prefectural Hospital located in Labé region in the northern part of the country. Three of the case-patients presented to the hospital with skin lesions typical of a cutaneous anthrax infection (black crusts on either face, hands, head, or neck with swelling around the affected parts). The 4th case-patient, a 2 year old boy, son to one of the 3 case-patients who presented with skin lesions, was admitted with fever, fatigue and body aches.
The 4 suspected cases, coming from the same family in the same community, reportedly developed symptoms 5 to 12 days after consuming meat from a sick goat that was slaughtered April 28. Half of the goat meat was sent to a neighboring village, located 9 km from that of the case-patients. No case has been reported from the 2nd village to date. Blood specimens and/or swab samples from the skin lesions were collected from the 4 case-patients and tested at Conakry National Institute of Public Health.
One of the 4 suspected cases was confirmed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Retrospective investigation established that the index case was a 13 year old boy from the same family who developed clinical features of gastrointestinal anthrax (abdominal pain and bloating, body aches, headache, and fever) after consuming meat from the sick goat, and who died in the community on May 5. No biological specimen was collected.
Australia: Tick Fever
Five cows have died from tick fever in recent weeks in the Northern Rivers region, leaving veterinarians pleading with producers to practice good farming biosecurity. District veterinarian Dr. Phillip Kemsley confirmed that 3 cows have died from the disease on a property in the Tweed and 2 on a holding in the Lismore area.
If the disease spreads, Dr. Kemsley said tick fever and cattle tick can cause the biggest economic impact on cattle production in northern Australia, because it can create the potential of large losses of animals, production losses, restrictions on trade and, a large cost of treatment. "Tick fever can move quickly, and prompt action on both properties involved in our region has prevented further losses. It's important to contact your District Vet early," he said. "Tick fever in cattle is a devastating condition causing fever, jaundice, anemia, miscarriage, red urine, and a range of nervous signs including change in temperament, lethargy, muscle tremors, and difficulty walking. Effective treatments and prevention are available."
But Dr. Kemsley added that producers needed to be aware that once cattle are affected by tick fever, "they often die soon after the onset of signs, so it is not unusual to discover cattle already dead. Tick fever is only spread between cattle by cattle ticks. The infection cannot spread from beast to beast without ticks," he said.
India: Diphtheria
Diphtheria has surfaced again in the district, with a 10 year old boy from Parassala who was admitted to SAT Hospital with suspected diphtheria or tonsillitis and tested positive for diphtheria. This is the 2nd case of diphtheria in the district this year, after a 21 year old college student from Kattakada tested positive for the disease in January. The boy, who was admitted to SAT on May 22, has recovered well without any complications and is due for discharge in a day or 2.
SAT Hospital superintendent A Santhoshkumar said that the child appeared to have completed the primary immunization but had not been given the booster dose of DT (diphtheria tetanus) vaccine at 5 years [of age]. "The child did not develop any complications, probably because of the protection afforded by the primary immunization. However, this case just goes to show that a booster vaccination at appropriate ages is equally important for complete protection against the disease. The primary immunity can wane over time," Dr. Santhoshkumar said.
In the case of diphtheria, apart from the booster dose at 5 years [of age], the TT (tetanus toxoid) vaccination at 10 years has now been replaced by Td (Tetanus diphtheria) vaccine as part of the national policy, as diphtheria seemed to be surfacing in older adults in recent years following an epidemiological age shift.
The boy has been administered the diphtheria anti-toxin, while all family members or contacts would be administered erythromycin for 10 days as well as the Td vaccine as prophylaxis, as diphtheria is a highly contagious airborne infection. Health officials said that preventive and control measures had been initiated in the locality and that local epidemiological investigations would be carried out.
Uganda: Yellow Fever
The Ugandan Ministry of Health declared a yellow fever outbreak earlier this month after laboratory confirmed cases were reported from Koboko [Northern region] and Masaka [Central region] districts 600km apart. The patients are an 80 year old woman and a 10 year old girl. Neither had a history of yellow fever vaccination, nor exhibited symptoms of jaundice, however the older woman had hemorrhagic signs.
A district rapid response team was sent to the affected localities to conduct further investigation. The team sampled several households and found a substantial population of unvaccinated individuals due to immigration and missing the yellow fever reactive vaccination campaign, which was conducted in 2016. There were 7 suspected cases who met the case definition for yellow fever from whom additional samples were collected.
Yellow fever is a viral disease that is transmitted by mosquitoes belonging to the Aedes species. Yellow fever can lead to serious illness and even death. Yellow fever vaccine is the best protection against yellow fever disease, which can be fatal.
May 17, 2019
United States: African Swine Fever
American pork producers are using feed from China for their pigs, raising concerns about bringing a contagious disease to the US.
At least 129 cases of the African swine fever in China have been reported since August, and the incurable viral disease has spread to other parts of Asia, including Vietnam and Mongolia. The fear is it could reach the U.S., where it could devastate the more than $20 billion pork industry.
"Feedstuffs can carry it, and one of our concerns is we bring in vitamins and trace minerals for our pork industry from manufacturers in China," said Steve Meyer, an industry expert with Kerns & Associates in Iowa. "If you get the virus in those things, they can survive for a while."
For example, Meyer said the so-called organic soybean meal -- known for its high protein content -- is shipped from China and typically fed to organic livestock, including to hogs. So far, the US and Canada haven't banned imports of plant-based food from China, but some experts have recommended a quarantine on imported feed of at least 20 before using it.
"They are still bringing it in, but it can be done in a responsible manner," said Meyer. "We're still concerned somebody won't be responsible, and I'd [be a] whole lot happier if we had regulations and stuff that allowed all that to happen on our shores."
China accounted for about 12% of all soybean meal the US imported from abroad in 2018 although India was another significant source of the animal meal, according to WISERTrade, a Massachusetts-based trade research organization.
"Animal feed ingredients and fomites have the potential to be pathways associated with a moderate likelihood of ASF [African swine fever virus] entry, but there is high uncertainty because of the lack of data on transmission from these sources," a recently published report from the US Department of Agriculture assessing the likelihood of swine fever entry to the US.
A meeting was held in Canada where US, Canadian, and Mexican pork industry and government officials met to coordinate efforts to prevent the spread of the highly contagious swine fever into North America.
"We've never had this disease here in the United States, we don't ever want to have this disease," said Dr Dave Pyburn, a veterinarian and vice president of science and technology at the industry trade group National Pork Board. "If we were to get it, it would be devastating for our pigs."
Singapore: Monkeypox
The Ministry of Health (MOH) has confirmed one imported case of monkeypox infection in Singapore, involving a Nigerian national who arrived last month for a workshop. The 38-year-old man tested positive for the rare viral disease, which is primarily transmitted to humans from animals, on May 8, said the MOH. It is the first case of monkeypox reported here.
He is currently in an isolation ward at the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID), and is in stable condition.
Meanwhile, 22 of 23 individuals who have been identified as close contacts of the patient are also under quarantine as a precautionary measure. One of the close contacts, a workshop participant, had left Singapore before the patient was diagnosed. He has reported to the MOH that he remains well with no symptoms.
"Nonetheless, as a precaution, MOH has informed the public health authority in his home country," said the ministry. The MOH added that while it is possible for the disease to be transmitted between humans, the risk of spread is low.
South Africa: Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever
A case of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) has been confirmed in a 54-year-old man in North West, the provincial health department said. It said the man was in a stable condition, conscious, communicating and responding well to treatment at the Klerksdorp Tshepong hospital complex.
The man was admitted in the Klerksorp Hospital HID (highly infectious disease) unit with the history of Crimean-Congo fever, hospital CEO Polaki Mokatsane said.
The statement said the man had visited a neighboring farm and later found a tick on his head, which he crushed with his fingers. Two days later, he experienced headache that recurred continuously despite taking painkillers.
He saw some redness on his skin and consulted a private hospital in Potchefstroom, where he was admitted and discharged after blood tests were done.
Later the same day the man was recalled to the hospital, as his blood levels were said to be low. He was admitted and transferred to the ICU isolation unit in the same facility.
The National Institute for Communicable Diseases confirmed he had CCHF, a viral disease with symptoms that may include fever, muscle pains, headache, vomiting, diarrhea and bleeding into the skin.
Hong Kong: African Swine Fever
Hong Kong will cull 6,000 pigs after African swine fever [ASF] was detected in an animal at a slaughterhouse close to the border with China, the first case of the disease in the densely populated financial hub.
"In order to minimize the risk of ASF virus spreading from the slaughterhouse, all pigs in Sheung Shui Slaughterhouse will be culled so that thorough cleansing and also disinfection could be conducted," Sophia Chan, Secretary of the city's Food and Health Department, said May 10.
She added that the pig detected with ASF was imported from a farm in the southern mainland Chinese province of Guangdong.
Pork is a staple of Chinese cuisine. Every day, Hong Kong imports around 4,000 live pigs from China with only around 200 pigs coming from local farms in the crowded city. After ASF spread across more than half of China's provinces last year, Hong Kong imposed import bans from any Chinese farms where the virus were detected.
With some of the world's most densely populated streets, Hong Kong remains on high alert to diseases. In 2003, some 300 people died during an outbreak of severe acute respiratory disease (SARS).
Chinese officials have said hundreds of thousands of pigs were culled in a bid to stop its spread -- an effort that has also seen restrictions placed on moving pigs from affected areas.
Congo: Ebola
The epidemiological situation of the Ebola virus disease in the provinces of North Kivu and Iturid dated May 10:
Since the beginning of the epidemic, the cumulative number of cases is 1,662, of which are 1,574 confirmed and 88 probable. In total, there were 1,112 deaths (1,024 confirmed and 88 probable) and 446 people healed.
There are 325 suspected cases under investigation.
There are 13 new confirmed cases, including 5 in Butembo, 2 in Kalunguta, 2 in Mandima, 1 in Musienene, 1 in Mabalako, 1 in Katwa and 1 in Masereka;
Nepal: Avian Influenza
The Epidemiology and Disease Control Division says it is preparing to send specimens collected from the people who came in close contact with the person who died after contracting the H5N1 (bird flu) virus.
The division, under the Department of Health Services, had formed a team of medical doctors and lab technicians to carry out an epidemiological investigation after the death of a 21-year-old from Kavrepalanchok district [Province Three] from the bird flu virus.
"We have collected specimens from doctors, nurses, close family members, relatives, and hospitals -- and also from homes," Dr Bibek Kumar Lal, director at the division, told the Post.
The name of the deceased has not been disclosed yet, but he was said to be residing in Bhaktapur [district, Province Three] in a rented room and worked as a driver.
The Health Ministry, however, announced only that the man had died from H5N1. Throat swabs of the deceased had been sent to the World Health Organization's Collaborating Center for Influenza in Japan, which confirmed that he had contracted influenza A(H5N1), which caused his death.
Following the confirmation of deadly virus responsible for the death, health experts from the WHO's headquarters and its regional office in New Delhi, India arrived in Kathmandu to assist Nepali health officials to carry out an epidemiological investigation.
Namibia: Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever
An elderly man is dead and 4 more people have been isolated in different hospitals as a result of an outbreak of Congo fever [Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever] in Namibia. The 4 new cases have been admitted to hospitals for treatment and observation purposes in different regions across the country.
Selma Robert, National Surveillance Officer on the spread of disease in the Ministry of Health confirmed that a 77-year-old man died as a result of the viral infection on May 7.
Robert said the diseased elderly man was the neighbor of the first confirmed Congo fever case patient, a 54-year-old female from Ontananga village who visited the health facility with complaints of tick-bite, headache, body weakness and blood-stained vomit. She added that the woman is still alive and is under medical treatment and tight observation.
According to Robert of the 4 new incidents of possible infection, 2 patients were admitted and isolated in the Oshikoto region, one in Outapi, and one person in Windhoek.
Robert added that Congo fever has been a seasonal occurrence in Namibia with outbreaks in different towns reported in places such as Gobabis last year.
She stated that infected ticks are almost everywhere in the country and that the situation is worsened by the drought as human to animal contact has increased due to the deteriorating health of livestock.
Nigeria: Yellow Fever
In the departure hall of Nigeria's busiest airport, Murtala Muhammed International in Lagos, passengers get their travel documents ready for check-in. In addition to a passport, ticket, and visa, travelers to many destinations need a yellow fever vaccination card, as Nigeria struggles with an ongoing outbreak. The cards are automatically issued following immunization at a government hospital and are validated with a signature and stamp from the port health authority.
But although 1 in 5 people who contract yellow fever in Nigeria die from it, not everyone gets immunized, and some are finding ways to bypass the travel requirements, increasing the risk of the epidemic-prone disease spreading to other countries.
One way to do it is to buy a falsified vaccination card, readily available at the airport for those who either don't want to be immunized or don't have enough time before they travel.
The Nigerian government told Devex the cards are fake, while evidence at the airport suggests they are authentic but fraudulently obtained. Airport staff and travelers said the cards had been bought at the port health authority's store, duly stamped and signed as a way of generating underhand revenue for staff. Devex was able to buy one for $8.50 with no evidence of immunization.
The port health authority denied the involvement of their staff and said that banners at the airport warn travelers of the dangers of fake cards.
"I don't think we are doing a bad thing," an airport worker told Devex. "Without the card, you might miss your flight and that will be a waste of money over an ordinary card."
Desperate travelers continue to request them. "Some will even call you to get one for them on their way to the airport. We also have friends and relatives that want to travel and know that we have access to the cards," she said
May 10, 2019
Nigeria: Lassa Fever
In the April 22-28 reporting week, 8 new confirmed cases were reported from 4 states -- Ondo (4), Taraba (1), Plateau (1) and Kebbi (2) -- with one new death in Ondo State.
Since Jan. 1, a total of 2,323 suspected cases have been reported from 21 states. Of these, 554 were confirmed positive, 15 probable and 1,754 negative.
Since the onset of the 2019 outbreak, there have been 124 deaths in confirmed cases. The case fatality rate in confirmed cases is 22.4%.
A total of 21 states (Edo, Ondo, Bauchi, Nasarawa, Ebonyi, Plateau, Taraba, FCT, Adamawa, Gombe, Kaduna, Kwara, Benue, Rivers, Kogi, Enugu, Imo, Delta, Oyo, Kebbi and Cross River) have recorded at least one confirmed case across 82 local government areas.
Uganda: Anthrax
Cattle dealers in Kapchorwa District have defied a directive from authorities imposing quarantine on the movement of the animals, slaughter of meat and sale following the outbreak of anthrax in the area. Some cattle dealers are selling meat and its products on the black market.
Mr. Sande Cherop, the district veterinary officer, said the dealers smuggle cattle and meat from neighboring Bulambuli, Kween and Amudat districts. "They take advantage of laxity of our agencies and the fact that we do not have checkpoints to smuggle in meat at night," he said, adding that they are proposing to establish effective checkpoints. Mr. Cherop, however, said they have not received any new cases of anthrax and vaccination is still ongoing. "We are summing up with vaccination of cattle and coverage is now at 75%. We believe we will soon finish with vaccination and the ban will be lifted," he said. Mr. Cherop said samples that were taken to Uganda Virus Research Institute turned out negative, but they had to sustain the ban as a precaution.
Mr. Isaac Cherista, the district health officer, said they are organizing meetings to sensitize the community to prevent further spread of the disease. "We are conducting health education in communities, especially where the suspect died from," he said. Mr. Stephen Batya, the municipality mayor, said people should be alert and desist from consuming meat until the ban is lifted. "We urge people to report any incidents suspected to be anthrax disease," he added.
The World Health Organization says humans acquire the disease directly or indirectly from infected animals or occupational exposure to infected or contaminated animal products.
Mongolia: Plague
A married couple has died, leaving their 4 children orphaned after an outbreak of the bubonic plague, which sparked panic.
The man, 38, and his pregnant wife, 37, are thought to have fallen ill after hunting and eating contaminated marmot, a large species of squirrel, in Mongolia. The man died April 27 and the woman died 3 days later, reports the Siberian Times.
The highly contagious bacterial disease is spread by fleas living on wild rodents. It has sparked fears of an outbreak, and urgent measures and precautions have been put in place to stop the infection spreading. Around 158 people have been put under intensive medical supervision after coming into contact directly or indirectly with the couple.
There were dramatic scenes when a flight from Bayan, Ulgii and Khovd in Mongolia -- the area where the couple fell ill -- was met by workers in white anti-contamination suits as the plane landed in the country's capital of Ulaanbaatar.
Eleven passengers from the west of the country were held at the airport and sent immediately for hospital checks. Others were examined in a special facility at the airport. Paramedics in anti-contamination boarded the flight as soon as it landed.
United States: Lyme Disease
The CDC says there is an accelerating trend of tick-borne diseases in the U.S. as we begin National Lyme Disease Awareness Month.
Scott Moore is a Veterinarian at the Fairmont Veterinary Hospital. He's one of the hundreds of vets in West Virginia and the Northeast who are treating more and more dogs for Lyme disease every year.
"In the last 15 years, we've seen a dramatic rise in Lyme disease cases," Moore said.
According to data from the nonprofit Pets and Parasites, about 1 out of every 20 dogs tested for the disease in West Virginia were positive in 2014. Last year, it was 1 of 10.
Medical professionals aren't quite sure what is causing the increase, which is progressively worse further up the East Coast. But Moore is seeing some trends.
"We're seeing a lot more ticks carrying Lyme disease in our area as opposed to the common wood tick," Moore said.
The CDC also warns that the U.S. isn't fully prepared to control the threat of increasing tick populations.
United States: Tick Fever
According to data from the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC), 2,655 premises, totaling 950,500 acres, are under quarantine in Texas due to fever ticks, and ranchers along the U.S.-Mexico border say the disease they carry has devastated their operations.
Fever ticks can carry a parasite that causes Babesia bovis or B. bigemina, commonly known as cattle fever. The Babesia organism attacks and destroys red blood cells, causing acute anemia, high fever, and enlargement of the spleen and liver, ultimately resulting in death for up to 90 percent of susceptible naive cattle.
TAHC says portions of 8 South Texas counties have established fever tick quarantines. The counties include, Cameron, Live Oak, Kinney, Maverick, Starr, Webb, Willacy and Zapata.
United States: Equine Infectious Anemia
Ten Quarter Horses have been euthanized due to equine infectious anemia, with 30 others exposed in Polk County, Iowa.
The Iowa State Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship notified the Equine Disease Communication Center on 2 May 2019 that 10 horses have been euthanized after testing positive for equine infectious anemia (EIA) in Polk County, Iowa on 8 Apr 2019. 30 other horses have been exposed.
Nepal: Avian Influenza
The H5N1 bird flu virus that has been confirmed as the first cause of death in Nepal, 10 years after it was first detected in birds in 2009, is the world's first H5N1 human infection since February 2017 and has raised issues of public health emergency of international concern as government and WHO officials refuse further information on the case.
"We are taking the help of the UN body to contain the disease," Ministry of Health and Population spokesperson Mahendra Prasad Shrestha told the Post.
As experts from the World Health Organization headquarters and its Delhi office gather in the Capital to take stock of the situation, Shrestha says the government is taking the incident seriously and adhering to the standard protocols of international health regulations that Nepal is obligated to.
The deceased, a 21-year-old from Kavrepalanchok district, who had been residing in Bhaktapur, was first admitted to Nepal Medical College March 24 after showing signs of fever and cough.
India: Kyasanur Forest Disease
A 50-year-old man succumbed to Kyasanur Forest disease (KFD) in Aralagodu gram panchayat limits near Kargal May 1.
The deceased was treated for fever at Aralagodu hospital, and his blood sample was sent to laboratory to screen for KFD. He tested positive, and health workers suggested admitting himself at the Manipal hospital for treatment. However, he refused to go to Manipal, as villagers dissuaded him from doing so. His family sources said he died May 1.
With this, the KFD death toll in Aralagodu and Kargal limits has risen to 22.
United States: Newcastle Disease
An urgent notice to the public from state veterinarian Dr. Annette Jones by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) alerted resident areas of active virulent Newcastle disease virus spread.
Jones said in the public notice: "Due to the progression and duration of a virulent Newcastle disease outbreak in parts of Southern California, the state veterinarian has ordered mandatory euthanasia of poultry in some neighborhoods within or near the communities of Eastvale, Menifee, Mira Loma, Jurupa Valley, Norco, Nuevo, Perris, Riverside (Riverside County); Compton and Whittier (Los Angeles County) and Chino, Fontana, Hesperia, Highland, Muscoy and Ontario (San Bernardino County)."
The notice continued: "Unfortunately, even individual birds and flocks that previously tested negative but now fall within a designated mandatory euthanasia area must be euthanized. USDA/CDFA staff will contact affected bird owners with orders for their individual properties. While this action is difficult for all involved, it must be done to eradicate virulent Newcastle disease. Otherwise, the disease will continue to spread and kill additional flocks."
Hungary: Anthrax
Hungarian health authorities have reported 4 human cutaneous anthrax cases, at least one confirmed, in 2 separate counties in recent weeks. The affected individuals were reported from farms in Bacs-Kiskun and Bekes counties. In addition, an additional 30 people were treated prophylactically with antibiotics due to possible exposure. These are the first human anthrax cases in Hungary in several years.
Animal health officials have reported a confirmed anthrax case in a cow and an additional 4 suspect animal cases on an outbreak in Kotegyan, Bekes.
Anthrax is a serious infectious disease caused by gram-positive, rod-shaped bacteria known as Bacillus anthracis. Anthrax can be found naturally in soil and commonly affects domestic and wild animals around the world. Although it is rare, people can get sick with anthrax if they come in contact with infected animals or contaminated animal products.
China: African Swine Fever
What started with a few dozen dead pigs in northeastern China is sending shock waves through the global food chain.
Last August, a farm with fewer than 400 hogs on the outskirts of Shenyang was found to harbor African swine fever [ASF], the first ever occurrence of the contagious viral disease in the country with half the world's pigs. A total of 47 head had died, triggering emergency measures including mass culling and a blockade to stop the transportation of livestock. Within days, a government notice proclaimed the outbreak "effectively controlled."
It was too late. By then, the disease had literally gone viral, dispersed across hundreds of miles in sickened animals, contaminated food, and in dirt and dust on truck tires and clothing. Nine months later, the contagion has spread nationwide, crossed borders to Mongolia, Vietnam and Cambodia, and bolstered meat markets globally.
While official estimates count 1 million culled hogs, slaughter data suggest 100 times more will be removed from China's 440 million-strong swine herd in 2019, the Chinese zodiac's "year of the pig." The U.S. Department of Agriculture forecast in April a decline of 134 million head -- equivalent to the entire annual output of American pigs -- and the worst slump since the department began counting China's pigs in the mid 1970s.
"This is an unprecedented situation," said Arlan Suderman, chief economist for INTL FCStone Inc., who has been analyzing commodity markets for almost 4 decades. "This will impact food prices globally."
Pakistan: West Nile Virus
Experts studying the West Nile virus (WNV) in Punjab have seen it show up in 3 blood donors, raising worries the infection is going undetected in transfusions.
The WNV is a mosquito-borne virus. It has strains from up to 9 lineages. Of these, lineages 1, 2, and 5 have been linked to encephalitis or brain inflammation outbreaks in humans. Roughly one in 150 infections leads to encephalitis or brain inflammation.
The Pakistani virus was discovered to be lineage 1, along with other highly pathogenic or disease-causing strains from other regions.
Ten experts, including those from the Wuhan Institute of Virology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, captured a total of 4,150 mosquitoes in Punjab during 2016-2017 using carbon dioxide traps. They also studied 1,070 serum samples from humans during the years 2016-2018. The results of their study were published in April in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases.
They found that the Pakistan virus strains were genetically similar to those found in Xinjiang, China and Kerala, India. The virus has already been reported both within Pakistan and in adjacent countries such as Iran, China, and India.
Namibia: Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever
A 54 year old woman from Onethika village in the Oshikoto region was admitted to Onandjokwe Hospital after she was diagnosed with Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF).
A letter written by acting Oshikoto regional health director, Helena Nkandi-Shiimi states that the woman went to the hospital April 21 complaining of a headache, fever, and vomiting blood after she got bitten by a tick.
"The patient was sent home, and again reported at the Ontananga clinic with the same complaints," Nkandi-Shiimi said, adding that the patient was admitted, and tests were done on her blood, which discovered the virus.
The virus is transmitted to people either by tick bites or through contact with infected animal blood or tissues during and immediately after an animal slaughter. The majority of cases have occurred in people involved in the livestock industry, such as agricultural workers, slaughterhouse workers, and veterinarians.
Nkandi-Shiimi further said the patient, who is in a stable condition, is in strict isolation, and infection protocols were enforced. The patient shows no more signs or symptoms of CCHF.
May 3, 2019
Mayotte: Rift Valley Fever
Commencing in November 2018, an epidemic of Rift Valley Fever (RVF) has been ongoing in Mayotte, a French overseas archipelago department in the Indian Ocean. After a steady decline in cases during the last 3 weeks of March 2019, a new increase has been observed since early April. During the past week, 12 new foci of sick animals and 5 new human cases have been reported, for a total of 104 animal foci (including 82 bovines) and 122 human cases since the start of the event.
RVF had been circulating in Mayotte at least since early 2007, probably introduced there by the illegal importation of live infected ruminants from other Comoros islands.
The economic activity of Mayotte is based primarily on the agricultural sector, mainly fishing and livestock raising. Mayotte's livestock sector includes 4,000 farms keeping 20,000 cattle and 15,000 small ruminants. The RVF losses to the livestock industry, caused by death, abortions, decreased production, veterinary treatment costs/medicines, movement restrictions, etc., are yet to be calculated.
The zoonotic impact of RVF is similarly deleterious. Infected humans suffer a serious sickness and complications. During the current event, their number is nearing 50 per 100,000 in Mayotte's general population, mainly in the rural section.
Given that domestic ruminants are involved in the epidemiological cycle and that humans mostly become infected after contact with viremic animals, the vaccination of ruminants, on top of protecting them, is the method of choice to prevent human disease.
Both live and inactivated vaccines are available for livestock. Live attenuated and inactivated vaccines are produced and commercially available in Egypt, South Africa, and Kenya.
United States: Chronic Wasting Disease
The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (DGIF) has confirmed chronic wasting disease (CWD) in a male deer (buck) legally harvested in Culpeper County in November 2018.
A cooperating taxidermist submitted the sample to DGIF in late January. At the time this deer was harvested, the hunter did not notice any outward signs of disease and the buck appeared to be in good condition.
While CWD has been documented in northwest Virginia for over 9 years, this deer was harvested more than 40 miles from the nearest CWD-positive deer in Frederick or Shenandoah counties. Because of the distance from other known positives, DGIF conducted an extensive forensic investigation to confirm the harvest location of this deer, resulting in a delay in releasing the information to the public.
This spring and summer, the DGIF will be working with cooperating partners and members of the CWD Response Team to determine the most appropriate measures moving forward. These measures may include regulation changes, enhanced CWD surveillance, and other methods designed to assess and manage the spread of the disease in Culpeper and surrounding counties.
In Virginia, a total of 68 deer have tested positive since 2009. This incurable disease, found in deer, elk, and moose in North America, is a slow and progressive neurologic disease that ultimately results in the death of the animal.
United States: Equine Herpes Virus
The Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) reported the Idaho Department of Agriculture has confirmed a case of equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy (EHM), the neurologic form of equine herpesvirus-1 in Caribou County.
The 24-year-old pony mare began exhibiting clinical signs of disease on April 5, the EDCC said; she experienced appetite loss, depression, mild nasal discharge, mild ocular discharge, nystagmus (involuntary eyeball movement), recumbency. The mare was euthanized. Veterinarians confirmed she had EHM on April 12 the EDCC said.
The EDCC said 10 horses were exposed to the EHM-positive mare, and the farm on which they reside has been quarantined.
Herpesvirus is highly contagious among horses and can cause a variety of ailments in equids, including rhinopneumonitis (a respiratory disease usually found in young horses), abortion in broodmares, and EHM.
In many horses, the first or only sign of EHV-1 infection is fever, which can go undetected. In addition to fever, other common signs of EHV-1 infection in young horses include cough, decreased appetite, depression, and a nasal discharge. Pregnant mares typically show no signs of infection before they abort, and abortions usually occur late in gestation (around eight months), but can be earlier. Abortions can occur anywhere from 2 weeks to several months following infection with EHV-1.
Bolivia: Hantavirus
According to the Santa Cruz SEDES [Departmental Health Services], 90 soldiers from the Santa Cruz Battalion have been placed under quarantine, and another 54 are hospitalized in the Santa Cruz city Pampa de la Isla Hospital.
With the report of the 2 deaths and the evacuation of 166 soldiers from the Bolivian Condors School (ESCONBOL) in Sanandita, located in the Tarija municipality of Yacuiba, due to the hantavirus outbreak, the authorities of the Departmental Health Services (SEDES) carried out an epidemiological blockade in the locality. The Army regretted what has happened.
The Tarija SEDES Director, Paul Castellanos, stated that the laboratory tests confirmed the cause of death of the first soldier, but indicated that the cause of the second death "is yet to be confirmed, although the symptoms are similar." There is also a third case in intensive care in the Incor Hospital in Santa Cruz.
The Army General Commander in a communique regretted the deaths of the 2 "young soldiers" and explained that when they presented with symptoms, they were carrying out military instruction activities. They were evacuated immediately to Santa Cruz. Now, help is being provided to their families.
Castellanos explained that they carried out the first search in the area where there was evidence of the long-tailed rodents, the main transmitters of the disease [virus].
"Due to this, they have recommended the total evacuation of the place, because there are 9 patients hospitalized and more than 80 who have some symptoms. They are under quarantine," he said.
With these data "the outbreak" of the virus is confirmed in this zone where the disease was never registered. "We have cases almost every year in Bermejo, but this is a new outbreak in Yacuiba," he stated.
The evacuated soldiers were taken to Santa Cruz department where they "are under observation."
Meanwhile in the camp, an epidemiological action was carried out that consists of a cleanup, fumigation, and the elimination of the long-tail mice.
Ethiopia: Anthrax
The deaths of 28 hippos at a game park in Ethiopia are suspected to have been caused by an anthrax outbreak or toxic algae, the director of the Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority has told BBC Afaan Oromoo. Kumera Wakjira added that he had never seen wildlife die on such a huge scale in Ethiopia.
Photos on social media show dead hippos in a river at the Gibe Sheleko National Park, which opened in 2011.
Uganda: Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever
The Ministry of Health has confirmed that all the suspected Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever [CCHF] cases in Jinja district tested negative.
Speaking to Daily Monitor, the ministry's senior public relations officer, Mr. Emmanuel Ainebyoona, confirmed that the results that were tested at Uganda Virus Research Institute in Entebbe were negative.
Last Tuesday, the Jinja District health officer, Dr. Dyogo Nantamu, confirmed that 13 people were admitted to Butagaya Health Centre III, in Butagaya Sub-county in Jinja District after they suspected them of having the disease.
Dr. Dyogo, said these patients, who had signs of CCHF including general body weakness, bloody diarrhea, severe pain in limbs and headache, were being treated in an isolated ward to prevent the disease from spreading to other people.
Dr. Dyogo said the isolation ward that was created has since been left open for any new suspected cases. On Monday, the Ministry of Health, confirmed an outbreak of CCHF in Uganda.
According to World Health Organization, the disease is caused by tick-borne virus. It is transmitted by tick bites and contact with infected animal blood or tissues.
Cambodia: African Swine Fever
The Agriculture Ministry's Animal Health and Production Department said African swine fever [ASF] that was detected in Ratanakkiri's [Rotanokiri] O'Yadav district, has spread to Ou'Chum district.
Tan Phannara, the department's director, said the disease has spread in the province despite efforts to keep it confined to O'Yadav district's Soam Thom commune.
Efforts include spraying disinfectants, culling infected pigs, and banning the movement of pigs out of the area.
"We have not yet completely contained ASF in O'Yadav district and it has now spread to Ou'Chum district," Mr Phannara said. "Our working teams are now conducting a study to check which communes in the district have been hit by the disease."
"We received reports of sick pigs from the authorities in Ou'Chum district and we have banned the transportation of pigs throughout the province," he added.
Kenya: Anthrax
Two people have died in Meru from a suspected anthrax outbreak that has left 9 others fighting for their lives. A statement issued by the Meru County government said the remaining 9 are receiving treatment at the Muthara Level IV Hospital. The [11] patients were admitted with swellings that turned into wounds. Doctors said patients with the swellings on their necks also had difficulty breathing. "Two patients died due to the infection and samples have been sent to Kenya Medical Research Institute (Kemri) in Nairobi for confirmatory tests," said Meru County's Director of Communication Purity Nkirote.
The patients are said to have told doctors they consumed the carcass of a cow that died from an unidentified disease at Muthara. The infected people also blamed the illness on insect bites. Meru County Health Chief Officer Kanana Kimonye said investigations are underway to confirm the strange disease. "We have been getting some cases from Tigania East and our public health officers are on the ground to establish whether it is an insect bite or something else. When we have the correct information, we will inform the public on how to prevent the infection," Dr. Kimonye said.
The county's Public Health Director Mutabari Inanga said they had received reports of the disease outbreak in Muthara and Karama at the onset of the Easter holiday. "We cannot say it is an insect bite or anthrax because it has mainly affected children and a few women. No men are affected. If we say it is anthrax, why are men not affected yet they slaughter animals?"
"We are now looking into insect bites and are engaging entomologists to assist us in identifying the insect that may be causing the problem. Officers are at the affected homes and will find out if there are others unreported cases," Dr. Inanga said.
Doctors have urged locals to watch out for signs and symptoms, including face inflammation, breathing problems and unexplained wounds.
Vietnam: African Swine Fever
African swine fever [ASF] has been successfully controlled in Ngoc Thuy Ward, Long Bien District and Phu Thi Commune, Gia Lam District, according to the Ha Noi Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
So far, the disease has been identified in 895 livestock farming households in 18 districts of Hanoi, including Dong Anh, Soc Son, Gia Lam, Quoc Oai, Hoang Mai, Thach That, Phuc Tho, Thanh Tri, Phu Xuyen, Thuong Tin, Chuong My, Hoai Duc, Dan Phuong, Ha Dong, Me Linh, Ung Hoa, Bac Tu Liem and Ba Vi.
More than 12,940 pigs have been culled in an attempt to stop the outbreak, New Ha Noi newspaper reported.
The agriculture department has required the Animal Husbandry sub-department to closely monitor the disease and continue to take random samples from slaughterhouses for testing.
Local farmers should be given more information on the disease so that they can be aware of the danger, infection and solutions to prevent this disease.
In Nam Dinh Province, the disease struck 9 of 10 districts and cities, with nearly 28,000 pigs culled, vietnamplus.vn reported. Only Y Yen District has not detected this disease.
The provincial government has asked localities to take drastic measures to control the outbreak. People's committees at city and districts set up a mobile quarantine team and 87 quarantine spots on the roads to control the transport of pigs and pork products into and out of the region.
April 26, 2019
Mayotte: Rift Valley Fever
Commencing in November 2018, an epidemic of Rift Valley Fever (RVF) has been ongoing in Mayotte, a French overseas archipelago department in the Indian Ocean. After a steady decline in cases during the last 3 weeks of March 2019, a new increase has been observed since early April. During the past week, 12 new foci of sick animals and 5 new human cases have been reported, for a total of 104 animal foci (including 82 bovines) and 122 human cases since the start of the event.
RVF had been circulating in Mayotte at least since early 2007, probably introduced there by the illegal importation of live infected ruminants from other Comoros islands.
The economic activity of Mayotte is based primarily on the agricultural sector, mainly fishing and livestock raising. Mayotte's livestock sector includes 4,000 farms keeping 20,000 cattle and 15,000 small ruminants. The RVF losses to the livestock industry, caused by death, abortions, decreased production, veterinary treatment costs/medicines, movement restrictions, etc., are yet to be calculated.
The zoonotic impact of RVF is similarly deleterious. Infected humans suffer a serious sickness and complications. During the current event, their number is nearing 50 per 100,000 in Mayotte's general population, mainly in the rural section.
Given that domestic ruminants are involved in the epidemiological cycle and that humans mostly become infected after contact with viremic animals, the vaccination of ruminants, on top of protecting them, is the method of choice to prevent human disease.
Both live and inactivated vaccines are available for livestock. Live attenuated and inactivated vaccines are produced and commercially available in Egypt, South Africa, and Kenya.
United States: Chronic Wasting Disease
The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (DGIF) has confirmed chronic wasting disease (CWD) in a male deer (buck) legally harvested in Culpeper County in November 2018.
A cooperating taxidermist submitted the sample to DGIF in late January. At the time this deer was harvested, the hunter did not notice any outward signs of disease and the buck appeared to be in good condition.
While CWD has been documented in northwest Virginia for over 9 years, this deer was harvested more than 40 miles from the nearest CWD-positive deer in Frederick or Shenandoah counties. Because of the distance from other known positives, DGIF conducted an extensive forensic investigation to confirm the harvest location of this deer, resulting in a delay in releasing the information to the public.
This spring and summer, the DGIF will be working with cooperating partners and members of the CWD Response Team to determine the most appropriate measures moving forward. These measures may include regulation changes, enhanced CWD surveillance, and other methods designed to assess and manage the spread of the disease in Culpeper and surrounding counties.
In Virginia, a total of 68 deer have tested positive since 2009. This incurable disease, found in deer, elk, and moose in North America, is a slow and progressive neurologic disease that ultimately results in the death of the animal.
United States: Equine Herpes Virus
The Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) reported the Idaho Department of Agriculture has confirmed a case of equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy (EHM), the neurologic form of equine herpesvirus-1 in Caribou County.
The 24-year-old pony mare began exhibiting clinical signs of disease on April 5, the EDCC said; she experienced appetite loss, depression, mild nasal discharge, mild ocular discharge, nystagmus (involuntary eyeball movement), recumbency. The mare was euthanized. Veterinarians confirmed she had EHM on April 12 the EDCC said.
The EDCC said 10 horses were exposed to the EHM-positive mare, and the farm on which they reside has been quarantined.
Herpesvirus is highly contagious among horses and can cause a variety of ailments in equids, including rhinopneumonitis (a respiratory disease usually found in young horses), abortion in broodmares, and EHM.
In many horses, the first or only sign of EHV-1 infection is fever, which can go undetected. In addition to fever, other common signs of EHV-1 infection in young horses include cough, decreased appetite, depression, and a nasal discharge. Pregnant mares typically show no signs of infection before they abort, and abortions usually occur late in gestation (around eight months), but can be earlier. Abortions can occur anywhere from 2 weeks to several months following infection with EHV-1.
Bolivia: Hantavirus
According to the Santa Cruz SEDES [Departmental Health Services], 90 soldiers from the Santa Cruz Battalion have been placed under quarantine, and another 54 are hospitalized in the Santa Cruz city Pampa de la Isla Hospital.
With the report of the 2 deaths and the evacuation of 166 soldiers from the Bolivian Condors School (ESCONBOL) in Sanandita, located in the Tarija municipality of Yacuiba, due to the hantavirus outbreak, the authorities of the Departmental Health Services (SEDES) carried out an epidemiological blockade in the locality. The Army regretted what has happened.
The Tarija SEDES Director, Paul Castellanos, stated that the laboratory tests confirmed the cause of death of the first soldier, but indicated that the cause of the second death "is yet to be confirmed, although the symptoms are similar." There is also a third case in intensive care in the Incor Hospital in Santa Cruz.
The Army General Commander in a communique regretted the deaths of the 2 "young soldiers" and explained that when they presented with symptoms, they were carrying out military instruction activities. They were evacuated immediately to Santa Cruz. Now, help is being provided to their families.
Castellanos explained that they carried out the first search in the area where there was evidence of the long-tailed rodents, the main transmitters of the disease [virus].
"Due to this, they have recommended the total evacuation of the place, because there are 9 patients hospitalized and more than 80 who have some symptoms. They are under quarantine," he said.
With these data "the outbreak" of the virus is confirmed in this zone where the disease was never registered. "We have cases almost every year in Bermejo, but this is a new outbreak in Yacuiba," he stated.
The evacuated soldiers were taken to Santa Cruz department where they "are under observation."
Meanwhile in the camp, an epidemiological action was carried out that consists of a cleanup, fumigation, and the elimination of the long-tail mice.
Ethiopia: Anthrax
The deaths of 28 hippos at a game park in Ethiopia are suspected to have been caused by an anthrax outbreak or toxic algae, the director of the Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority has told BBC Afaan Oromoo. Kumera Wakjira added that he had never seen wildlife die on such a huge scale in Ethiopia.
Photos on social media show dead hippos in a river at the Gibe Sheleko National Park, which opened in 2011.
Uganda: Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever
The Ministry of Health has confirmed that all the suspected Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever [CCHF] cases in Jinja district tested negative.
Speaking to Daily Monitor, the ministry's senior public relations officer, Mr. Emmanuel Ainebyoona, confirmed that the results that were tested at Uganda Virus Research Institute in Entebbe were negative.
Last Tuesday, the Jinja District health officer, Dr. Dyogo Nantamu, confirmed that 13 people were admitted to Butagaya Health Centre III, in Butagaya Sub-county in Jinja District after they suspected them of having the disease.
Dr. Dyogo, said these patients, who had signs of CCHF including general body weakness, bloody diarrhea, severe pain in limbs and headache, were being treated in an isolated ward to prevent the disease from spreading to other people.
Dr. Dyogo said the isolation ward that was created has since been left open for any new suspected cases. On Monday, the Ministry of Health, confirmed an outbreak of CCHF in Uganda.
According to World Health Organization, the disease is caused by tick-borne virus. It is transmitted by tick bites and contact with infected animal blood or tissues.
Cambodia: African Swine Fever
The Agriculture Ministry's Animal Health and Production Department said African swine fever [ASF] that was detected in Ratanakkiri's [Rotanokiri] O'Yadav district, has spread to Ou'Chum district.
Tan Phannara, the department's director, said the disease has spread in the province despite efforts to keep it confined to O'Yadav district's Soam Thom commune.
Efforts include spraying disinfectants, culling infected pigs, and banning the movement of pigs out of the area.
"We have not yet completely contained ASF in O'Yadav district and it has now spread to Ou'Chum district," Mr Phannara said. "Our working teams are now conducting a study to check which communes in the district have been hit by the disease."
"We received reports of sick pigs from the authorities in Ou'Chum district and we have banned the transportation of pigs throughout the province," he added.
Kenya: Anthrax
Two people have died in Meru from a suspected anthrax outbreak that has left 9 others fighting for their lives. A statement issued by the Meru County government said the remaining 9 are receiving treatment at the Muthara Level IV Hospital. The [11] patients were admitted with swellings that turned into wounds. Doctors said patients with the swellings on their necks also had difficulty breathing. "Two patients died due to the infection and samples have been sent to Kenya Medical Research Institute (Kemri) in Nairobi for confirmatory tests," said Meru County's Director of Communication Purity Nkirote.
The patients are said to have told doctors they consumed the carcass of a cow that died from an unidentified disease at Muthara. The infected people also blamed the illness on insect bites. Meru County Health Chief Officer Kanana Kimonye said investigations are underway to confirm the strange disease. "We have been getting some cases from Tigania East and our public health officers are on the ground to establish whether it is an insect bite or something else. When we have the correct information, we will inform the public on how to prevent the infection," Dr. Kimonye said.
The county's Public Health Director Mutabari Inanga said they had received reports of the disease outbreak in Muthara and Karama at the onset of the Easter holiday. "We cannot say it is an insect bite or anthrax because it has mainly affected children and a few women. No men are affected. If we say it is anthrax, why are men not affected yet they slaughter animals?"
"We are now looking into insect bites and are engaging entomologists to assist us in identifying the insect that may be causing the problem. Officers are at the affected homes and will find out if there are others unreported cases," Dr. Inanga said.
Doctors have urged locals to watch out for signs and symptoms, including face inflammation, breathing problems and unexplained wounds.
Vietnam: African Swine Fever
African swine fever [ASF] has been successfully controlled in Ngoc Thuy Ward, Long Bien District and Phu Thi Commune, Gia Lam District, according to the Ha Noi Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
So far, the disease has been identified in 895 livestock farming households in 18 districts of Hanoi, including Dong Anh, Soc Son, Gia Lam, Quoc Oai, Hoang Mai, Thach That, Phuc Tho, Thanh Tri, Phu Xuyen, Thuong Tin, Chuong My, Hoai Duc, Dan Phuong, Ha Dong, Me Linh, Ung Hoa, Bac Tu Liem and Ba Vi.
More than 12,940 pigs have been culled in an attempt to stop the outbreak, New Ha Noi newspaper reported.
The agriculture department has required the Animal Husbandry sub-department to closely monitor the disease and continue to take random samples from slaughterhouses for testing.
Local farmers should be given more information on the disease so that they can be aware of the danger, infection and solutions to prevent this disease.
In Nam Dinh Province, the disease struck 9 of 10 districts and cities, with nearly 28,000 pigs culled, vietnamplus.vn reported. Only Y Yen District has not detected this disease.
The provincial government has asked localities to take drastic measures to control the outbreak. People's committees at city and districts set up a mobile quarantine team and 87 quarantine spots on the roads to control the transport of pigs and pork products into and out of the region.
April 19, 2019
Nigeria: Lassa Fever
In the April 1-7 reporting week, 11 new confirmed cases were reported from 5 states -- Ondo (5), Edo (2), Bauchi (2), Ebonyi (1), and Taraba (1) states with one new death in Taraba state.
Since Jan. 1, a total of 2,133 suspected cases have been reported from 21 states. Of these, 537 were confirmed positive, 15 probable and 1,581 negative.
Since the onset of the 2019 outbreak, there have been 122 deaths in confirmed cases. Case fatality ratio in confirmed cases is 22.7%.
Kenya: Anthrax
The State may have ignored recommendations on anthrax outbreaks at Lake Nakuru National Park, exposing animals and humans to grave danger. The disease has killed 14 buffaloes with unconfirmed reports indicating one human infection in Elburgon, Nakuru County.
In August2018, the Kenya Zoonotic Disease Unit of the ministries of agriculture and health had declared the park an anthrax hotspot and directed routine vaccination of all animals at all times. In a study to establish the cause of repeated anthrax outbreaks in the area, since 1973, the unit had blamed kneejerk reactions by government agencies for unnecessary loss of human and animal lives. "Typically, the government responds to these anthrax outbreaks by immediately deep-burying dead livestock and wildlife, ring vaccinating livestock, and treating affected humans," said the report. Anthrax vaccination programs in the area, the report [says], have been irregular and mostly planned as a response to outbreaks; "there is no routine vaccination practiced."
True to the report, on April 9, Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) head of corporate communications Paul Gathitu said they had burned carcasses of the dead buffaloes, disinfected the sites and started vaccinating rhinos. "We will vaccinate 15 white rhinos and 67 black rhinos in a window of 10 days. So far, we have vaccinated 19 rhinos and 63 remaining while vegetation will be disinfected," said Susan Koech, the Principal Secretary for Wildlife. The outbreak of anthrax was first identified on March 29 at the park, which has more than 4,000 buffaloes.
On April 7, Nakuru County Minister for Agriculture Dr. Immaculate Njuthe said one case of suspected human anthrax had been reported in Elburgon. "If not managed well, the outbreak can spiral out of control and find its way into neighboring communities," said Principal Secretary Koech.
Russia: Anthrax
When authorities in Yakutsk invited participants in a youth government initiative to brainstorm ideas for an empty lot in the center last year, it seemed like a smart way to get rid of an eyesore. But the project was held up after residents and officials raised concerns that the site could hold anthrax spores preserved in the permanently frozen soil.
Although specialists eventually said it was safe to build a skate park on the lot, which once held a laboratory making an anthrax serum, the incident raised further questions about the ancient diseases known to be lurking in the permafrost -- and whether they could be unlocked by global warming
"Anthrax spores can stay alive in the permafrost for up to 2,500 years. That's scary given the thawing of animal burial grounds from the 19th century," said Boris Kershengolts, a Yakutsk biologist who studies northern climates. "When they are taken out of the permafrost and put into our temperatures, they revive."
Yakutsk is the coldest city on earth with temperatures that can drop below -76 deg F in the winter. But it's seeing the start of warming that could lead to the destruction of infrastructure and the revival of dormant diseases across the north, even as more people arrive to man new military bases and oil and gas facilities. At an Arctic forum in St. Petersburg April 9, Vladimir Putin called the fact that Russia is warming 2.5 times faster than the rest of the world an "alarming trend." At the same time, he announced a new Arctic development strategy and promised to increase investment with tax breaks and subsidized icebreaker escorts through the northeast passage.
Two-thirds of Russia's territory is permafrost, including almost all of the vast region of Yakutia, where it can be up to hundreds of feet deep. Now these icy bonds are beginning to break. In many places the active layer, the top few feet that thaw and refreeze each year, is thawing earlier and to a greater depth. Permafrost in central Yakutia is shrinking by 1 to 5 cm a year and even more in urban areas, according to the Melnikov Permafrost Institute. Meanwhile, precipitation has increased in 70% of Yakutia since 1966. That thickens the blanket of snow that insulates the ground from the cold air, exacerbating the thaw.
Uganda: Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever
The ministry of Health has confirmed a case of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever and warned of a possible outbreak in the eastern district of Jinja.
"A 32-year-old male, who passed on at Entebbe General Hospital in Wakiso, tested positive with Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever. He was buried in Jinja," said ministry of Health spokesperson Emmanuel Ainebyoona.
The deceased was a builder and was staying in Bendegere village, Kasenyi parish-Katabi sub county in Wakiso district. His body was transported by relatives from Entebbe hospital and buried in Butagaya, Nakakulwe village, in Jinja.
"This is to alert the general public of Jinja that; there is a suspected outbreak of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever disease following a death of the confirmed case with the disease," read a statement issued by Jinja district health officer.
Jinja district chairman Titus Kisambira said that 11 suspected cases have been quarantined in their homes in Nakakulwe village. "We have quarantined 11 people who have shown signs and symptoms of the disease. Some are relatives of the man who died and others participated in his burial," said Kisambira.
Ainebyoona, said medical officers are on the ground are investigating other suspected cases. "But the public should remain calm as we investigate the illness and report any person with symptoms to the nearest health facility."
According to WHO, the disease is caused by a bunyavirus. It is transmitted by tick bites, contact with infected animal blood or tissues, and person-to person transmission via blood, body fluids, and semen.
The symptoms are sudden onset of fever, general body weakness, headache, severe pain in limbs, bloody diarrhea, and bleeding from body openings. In 2017, an outbreak of the fever was confirmed in the districts of Nakaseke and Luwero, and in 2018, an outbreak was confirmed in Kabarole district where it killed one person.
Congo: Ebola
The epidemiological situation of the Ebola virus disease in the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri dated April 15:
Since the beginning of the epidemic, the cumulative number of cases is 1,273, of which 1,207 are confirmed and 66 are probable. In total, there were 821 deaths (755 confirmed and 66 probable) and 374 people cured.
Three-hundred three suspected cases under investigation.
There are nine new confirmed cases, including 3 in Katwa, 3 in Butembo, 1 in Masereka, 1 in Mandima, and 1 in Kyondo.
There are seven new deaths of confirmed cases, including 4 community deaths -- 2 in Butembo, 1 in Katwa, and 1 in Mandima; 3 ETC deaths -- 2 in Butembo and 1 in Katwa.
April 12, 2019
China: Avian Influenza
Officials with the National Health Commission in China have reported the first human case of avian influenza A(H7N9) this year in Gansu. The male patient, age 82 years, from Jiuquan has been hospitalized and is in serious condition.
Since March 2013, there were a total of 1,568 human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) reported globally.
Avian influenza is caused by those influenza viruses that mainly affect birds and poultry, such as chickens or ducks. Clinical presentation of avian influenza in humans may range from flulike symptoms (e.g., fever, cough, sore throat, muscle aches) to severe respiratory illness (e.g., chest infection). Eye infection (conjunctivitis) and gastrointestinal symptoms (e.g., nausea, vomiting and diarrhea) have also been reported.
The incubation period ranges from 7 to 10 days. The more virulent forms can result in respiratory failure, multi-organ failure and even death. People mainly become infected with avian influenza virus through contact with infected birds and poultry (live or dead) or their droppings, or contact with contaminated environments (such as wet markets and live poultry markets). Human-to-human transmission is inefficient. People in close contact with poultry are more susceptible to contracting avian influenza.
The elderly, children and people with chronic illness have a higher risk of developing complications such as bronchitis and chest infection.
England: Leishmaniosis
Veterinary professionals have sounded the alarm in this week's Vet Record after treating the first UK case of a dog with the potentially fatal infection leishmaniosis that is thought to have been passed on by another dog, rather than by travel to an area where the infection is endemic.
Canine leishmaniosis is caused by the parasite Leishmania infantum, carried by the female sand fly and transmitted in its bite. It is zoonotic, so it can be passed on to people.
Dogs have been known to pick up the infection after being bitten or wounded by another infected dog. But up to now, this has not been reported in the UK, where cases to date have been associated with blood transfusion, breeding programs, or overseas travel.
But a 3-year-old neutered male shih tzu cross, which had been with its owner since a puppy and had none of the known risk factors for infection, was nevertheless diagnosed with leishmaniosis in Hertfordshire.
Dog-to-dog transmission is the most likely explanation, suggest the authors, because another dog in the household that had been imported from Spain had to be put down 6 months earlier after developing severe leishmaniosis.
"To the authors' knowledge, this is the first reported case of leishmaniosis in the UK in a dog without a history of travel to an endemic area," they write, adding that extra vigilance is now needed to guard against the spread of the infection.
"In an era of increased foreign travel of dogs and increased importation of dogs to the UK, it is likely that the number of dogs seropositive for L. infantum will continue to increase," they warn.
"Leishmania-infected dogs may present an infection risk to other dogs, even in the absence of natural vectors, as direct transmission between dogs is possible," they add.
Mexico: Western Equine Encephalitis
The Servicio Nacional de Sanidad, Inocuidad y Calidad Agroalimentaria (National Service for Agrifood Health, Safety and Quality, SENASICA) scientists are investigating the virus that is causing equine encephalitis in Nayarit state in order to be able to count on information necessary to combat it.
The experts of the National Producer of Veterinary Biologics (PRONAVE) are currently working on the development of a Western equine encephalitis virus (WEEV) vaccine as an alternative to control.
SENASICA has reinforced its measures to contain the WEEV detected in Nayarit and in order to report its findings to the World Organization of Animal Health (OIE).
The veterinarians of the Secretariat of Agriculture and Rural Development (SADER) continue epidemiological tracking in Nayarit in search of horses with signs of neurological alterations caused by WEEV, a disease that is found exclusively in 5 municipalities in this state: Ixtlan del Rio, Compostela, Ahuacatlan, Bahia de Banderas and Tepic.
As an additional measure, SENASICA delivered a virus from its bank of pathogens to PRONAVE in order to initiate tests that would permit development of an effective vaccine as an alternative to control the disease.
The SENASICA scientists have done 141 investigations in the affected areas and to date have detected 41 equine animals positive for western equine encephalitis and discarded other diseases that could be confounding, such as rabies, Venezuelan equine encephalitis and West Nile virus, among others of those that have effective vaccines in Mexico.
They have located 17 rural properties with affected animals, in which there had been a population of 141 equine animals; 25 were ill, of which 18 died. In the study area, they found animals that apparently were healthy although positive for the virus.
The SENASICA medical entomologists put up different types of traps that would permit constant identification of the vector Culex tarsalis, the principal transmitter of the disease virus.
United States: Newcastle Disease
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced April 5 it has confirmed the presence of virulent Newcastle disease (VND) in a small flock of pet chickens in Coconino County, Arizona. Coconino County includes the Flagstaff area in northern Arizona, including Grand Canyon National Park, but APHIS did not disclose the actual location of the affected flock.
APHIS said this is the first case of VND confirmed in Arizona as part of the current outbreak. The agency said this case is believed to be connected to the current outbreak of VND in California, as tests show the virus is almost identical to the virus causing disease in California. Since May 2018, more than 400 VND cases have been confirmed as part of this Southern California outbreak, primarily in backyard exhibition birds. A single case had also been found in a backyard flock in Utah that had been relocated from Los Angeles, CA.
VND is not a food safety concern. No human cases of Newcastle disease have ever occurred from eating poultry products. Properly cooked poultry products are safe to eat.
APHIS is working with the Arizona Department of Agriculture to respond to the finding. Federal and state partners are also conducting additional surveillance and testing in the area, the announcement said.
Nigeria: Lassa Fever
In the March 25-31 reporting week, 16 new confirmed cases were reported from 5 states - Edo(6), Ondo (4), Bauchi (2), Taraba (2) and Plateau (2) with 2 new deaths in Bauchi (1) and Taraba (1) states.
Since Jan. 1, a total of 2,034 suspected cases have been reported from 21 states. Of these, 526 were confirmed positive, 15 probable and 1,693 negative.
Since the onset of the 2019 outbreak, there have been 121 deaths in confirmed cases. Case fatality ratio in confirmed cases is 23.0%.
- 21 States (Edo, Ondo, Bauchi, Nasarawa, Ebonyi, Plateau, Taraba, FCT, Adamawa, Gombe, Kaduna, Kwara, Benue, Rivers, Kogi, Enugu, Imo, Delta, Oyo, Kebbi and Cross River) have recorded at least one confirmed case across 81 Local Government Areas.
Twenty-nine patients are currently being managed at various treatment centers across the country: Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (ISTH) treatment Centre (10), Federal Medical Centre Owo (9), Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki (3), Bauchi (2), Plateau (3) and Taraba (2).
A total of 6,489 contacts have been identified from 20 States. Of these 1,443 (22.2%) are currently being followed up, 4,983 (76.8%) have completed 21 days follow up, while 8 (0.1%) were lost to follow up. 112 (1.7%) symptomatic contacts have been identified, of which 55 (1.0%) have tested positive.
Congo: Ebola
The epidemiological situation of the Ebola virus disease in the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri dated April 6:
Since the beginning of the epidemic, the cumulative number of cases is 1,146, of which 1,080 are confirmed and 66 are probable. In total, there were 721 deaths (655 confirmed and 66 probable) and 345 people cured.
Three-hundred three suspected cases are under investigation.
Sixteen new cases have been confirmed, including 11 in Katwa, 3 in Vuhovi, 1 in Beni, and 1 in Mandima.
There are seven new deaths of confirmed cases.
Pakistan: Leishmaniosis
After previously ravishing hundreds of people in Mohmand [Peshawar division of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa], a leishmaniasis outbreak has been reported in South Waziristan [Dera Ismail Khan division of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa] with hundreds of patients registered at the district headquarters hospital while others have sought treatment at the Bannu district [Bannu division of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa] Headquarters Hospital.
Afraid of any adverse health impacts of the parasitic infection caused by the bite of infected sandflies, many residents have opted to shift to other parts of the tribal belt to 'escape' the disease.
Locals say that dozens of residents from the worst affected areas of South Waziristan including Kotkai, Badar, Makeen, Kanigurm, Shawal, and Sara Rugha have relocated to Bannu or even to the provincial capital of Peshawar.
The district administration, though, has yet to adequately respond to the outbreak even as the district health officials struggle to cope with the situation. A local claimed that the DHQ [District Headquarter Hospital] in Wana [South Waziristan district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa] did not have any remedy to treat the disease.
Meanwhile, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa health ministry told The Express Tribune on contact that they had dispatched some 300 anti-leishmaniasis injections to the tribal district and that they were working on arranging further doses to treat the affected there.
Locals have summoned a grand Jirga [traditional assembly of leaders that make decisions by consensus and according to the teachings of Pashtunwali] to decide on a future course of action.
Kenya: Anthrax
More than 22 people from Tegat Village in Molo were admitted at the Nyayo hospital in Elburgon, with residents fearing they may have contracted anthrax after consuming milk from a sick cow. According to Emily Sang, the Nyumba Kumi chairperson of the area, the 22 include the owner of the cow, his wife and 2 children.
Elburgon assistant commissioner Naftali Korir says 18 people have been treated and discharged. Korir has further cautioned residents against eating or drinking un-inspected meat or milk.
A veterinary officer is reported to have confirmed that the meat was found to have anthrax and advised all those who had consumed to seek treatment immediately.
In an unrelated development, vaccination of southern white rhinos at Lake Nakuru National Park has started following an anthrax outbreak that has killed 10 buffaloes.
The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) confirmed that the dead buffaloes tested positive for anthrax. Four more buffalo carcasses were found after the dead 10.
Susan Koech, the Principal Secretary for wildlife, said the 4 carcasses were found by KWS patrolling teams, although it has not been confirmed that they died of anthrax.
While commenting on the rhino vaccinations, Dr Koech said: "Currently, 14 of the 15 white rhinos have been vaccinated and so have 4 of the 63 black rhinos."
United States: West Nile Virus
There's not a lot that's positive to report right now when it comes to ruffed grouse. Populations of the forest-dwelling bird appear to be on the decline throughout the Northeast and Midwest, according to reports from wildlife management agencies from Maryland to Michigan and all points between.
The Ruffed Grouse Society, for example, holds a "national grouse and woodcock hunt" each fall in Minnesota. This year [2019], the expectation was that grouse numbers were up, at or near the peak of a multi-year cycle.
Yet, the Society reported, the total grouse harvest was down over 2017. Worse still, the proportion of immature birds to older ones, an indication of recruitment and survival, was the lowest in 37 years.
Sightings of grouse in West Virginia, meanwhile, were pretty dismal in 2017. They were even worse going into last fall's hunting seasons, according to media interviews given by Mike Peters, a game bird biologist with the state's Division of Natural Resources. He blamed the admittedly "depressing" situation on 2 things.
The first is lack of habitat. Though the state is heavily wooded, too little of it is the young-forest stage grouse need.
The second is disease, namely West Nile Virus.
Ongoing research by the Pennsylvania Game Commission shows a relationship between high rates of West Nile and falling grouse numbers.
Argentina: Hantavirus
The confirmation of the [hantavirus infection] case in Las Golondrinas [Chubut province] was issued by Dr. Jorge Elias on air to Radio 3 and he remarked the "this is the first case of the year not related to the outbreak in Epuyen, which is absolutely closed."
The infected person is a craftsman who was in contact with the natural environment of the endemic disease [virus]. "The man has a history of having been camping in a wild environment and, in fact lives, in a semi-wild place that is the natural niche of the hantavirus."
The Associate Director of the Esquel programmatic area said that the 47-year-old patient "is clinically stable, hospitalized in the Bariloche hospital and it is timely to clarify that this is the first case that was addressed with all the protocols that have been implemented since the outbreak of hantavirus infections in Epuyen."
Before consulting about the characteristics of the [virus] strain he said, "we cannot know if it is exactly the same as the [virus of] the previous one (from Epuyen) until the Malbran institute has carried out the procedures that take a few months to identify the genome of this virus, but without a doubt the approach [now] has a different protocol."
Kenya: Leishmaniosis
Some 27 people have been admitted at Laisamis Level 4 Hospital following an outbreak of kala-azar [visceral leishmaniasis] in Laisamis sub county in Marsabit.
The facility's Chief Executive Officer, Abshiro Hapicha however, said the patients, were responding well to treatment. A majority of the patients, he added are from Logo.
"A total of 27 patients who tested positive to kala-azar have been admitted in this hospital and are currently undergoing medication. I can say that their response is good," Hapicha said.
Consequently the CEO made an appeal for concerted efforts among the national and county governments and other agencies in eradicating the sand flies that transmits the disease. "There is need for massive awareness campaign to control the spread of the disease and if possible to eliminate it," he said.
He said pastoralist communities sleep on sand outside their houses during dry seasons which expose them to sand flies. "High levels of poverty and illiteracy among residents have also been established to be other factors that expose them to kala-azar," he added.
Kala-azar has an incubation period of between 2 weeks to 6 months with symptoms being fever, weight loss, anemia, and swelling of the spleen and liver.
Meanwhile, Kargi Member of the County Assembly Asunta Galgithelle has asked the government to consider establishing kala-azar control centers fully equipped with diagnostic facilities and testing kits in parts of the county that are prone to the disease. Galgithele urged partners in the health sector to join hands in bringing the menace under control.
April 5, 2019
South Africa: Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever
A Kimberley man is being treated for Congo fever in the isolation unit at the Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Hospital. He is the second patient to be diagnosed with Congo fever in South Africa this year. The other case is in the Free State.
According to his wife, the 58-year-old started feeling ill on Mar 24. She said her husband went to work at the Kareevlei Mine in the Koopmansfontein area on Monday still feeling unwell.
The diagnosis of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever was confirmed March 27. He had a bite mark on his shoulder and he found a tick in his groin area last week.
As Congo fever is contagious and is transmitted from one infected human to another by contact with infected blood or body fluids, the spouse will have to monitor herself for the next few days.
Belgium: Bluetongue
Following a detection of bluetongue in a cattle farm near Paliseul (Luxembourg province), the FASFC has organized an increased monitoring plan for this outbreak. The first results of this increased surveillance have confirmed the presence of the disease in Belgium. The country is now classified as a "restricted zone." This disease, which already occurs in various European countries is not contagious to humans and is not transmitted to humans. It also does not pose any risk to public health. Finally, it is not necessary to slaughter animals due to their infection with the virus.
During the winter screening by the FASFC, the agency determined the presence of the bluetongue serotype-8 virus in some animals from a farm in Paliseul. The FASFC has therefore introduced a stricter monitoring plan in all cattle and sheep farms within a radius of 5 km [3.1 mi] around the infected farm to check whether the virus has actually circulated. Initial results have revealed additional infected animals at 4 other livestock farms around Paliseul for the time being. The whole of Belgium is now a "restricted zone."
Japan: Classical Swine Fever
Japan's central government has disclosed its decision to cull about 2,400 pigs following confirmation of 2 more outbreaks of classical swine fever [CSF] at the farms in the region. "It is extremely difficult to foresee when the outbreak will wind down," Farm Minister Takamori Yoshikawa told a news conference, referring to the epidemic.
Concise News learned that the Aichi prefectural government reported the 15th and 16th outbreaks of CSF, also known as hog cholera, in pigs in the cities of Seto and Tahara since September 2018. Authorities detected the virus at one farm in Seto during their inspection, following the outbreak at nearby facilities earlier this week.
Another outbreak was confirmed at the Tahara farm after one pig was found dead there.
The local government has suspended shipments of pigs and the transportation of feed crop and droppings from facilities located within 10 km [6.2 mi] of each of the 2 farms. The government says the disease poses no risk to humans, but a series of outbreaks has hurt local farmers' livelihoods.
In September 2018, Japan's first swine fever outbreak in 16 years was confirmed at a farm in neighboring Gifu, and 2 months later, the second case was reported at a Gifu public livestock park.
Mayotte: Rift Valley Fever
The circulation of Rift Valley fever (RVF) continues in Mayotte. There have been 114 human RVF cases and 84 animal outbreaks. This past week, 7 new human cases and 9 in animals were reported to the LRA. Human cases remain concentrated in the center and northwest of the island.
An animal disease of viral origin, Rift Valley fever mainly affects domestic ruminants (cattle, sheep, goats), causing abortions and high mortality in young animals. It can be transmitted from the sick animal to humans.
During the past week, 9 new animal foci and 7 new human cases have been reported, for a total of 84 animal foci and 114 human cases since the first cases occurred at the end of November 2018.
In this epidemic context, the prefecture of Mayotte, in collaboration with the ARS Indian Ocean and the Directorate of Food, Agriculture and Forestry of Mayotte (DAAF) reminds people of the importance of prevention measures to protect themselves from disease.
Nigeria: Lassa Fever
In the reporting March 18-24, 15 new confirmed cases were reported from 6 states - Edo (4), Ondo (3), Plateau (2), Bauchi (3), Taraba (2) and Ebonyi (1) with 5 new deaths in Edo (2), Ondo (2) and Bauchi (1) states.
Since Jan. 1, a total of 1,924 suspected cases have been reported from 21 states. Of these, 510 were confirmed positive, 15 probable and 1,511 negative (not a case).
Since the onset of the 2019 outbreak, there have been 117 deaths in confirmed cases. Case fatality ratio in confirmed cases is 22.9%.
United States: Eastern Equine Encephalitis
Mosquito season has officially arrived in Louisiana and along with it 2 potentially fatal diseases. West Nile virus (WNV) and eastern equine encephalomyelitis (EEE) are prevalent in Louisiana and can cause death in horses.
So far, 5 horses have died from EEE across Louisiana, the majority of which could have been prevented with vaccination. WNV and EEE are both viral diseases that cause encephalitis and meningitis (infection of the brain and spinal cord or their protective covering). While each disease is caused by a different specific virus, they are both transmitted to horses by being bitten by an infected mosquito.
There are vaccines currently available to help prevent WNV and EEE. A minimum yearly booster is required, while stressed horses and/or those traveling frequently due to show schedules, or that live in warm, humid climates such as Louisiana, should be vaccinated twice a year. Vaccinating your horses against mosquito borne viruses is an inexpensive way to help reduce the possibility of infection. However, vaccination alone is not 100-percent effective.
Pakistan: Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever
Deadly Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) has claimed the life of a youngster at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), after which the death toll due to the fever mounted to 3 this year.
Executive Director, JPMC, Dr Seemi Jamali, while talking to PPI [Pakistan Press International], confirmed the death of a 19-year-old patient from Congo fever who was brought to the health facility 2 days ago with high grade-fever and bleeding from nose and mouth.
The deceased from Sehwan Shareef [Sindh] died during treatment March 31. Lab reports confirmed that the patient was suffering from Congo fever.
A total of 3 people including 2 women have died from the deadly Congo fever so far at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre this year [2019].
CCHF is a tick-borne viral disease that is mainly contracted by people who deal with cattle and livestock. The symptoms of Congo virus include backache, joint pain, pain in the abdomen, high fever, and bleeding from any part of the body.
India: Avian Influenza
A team of veterinary doctors and experts culled more than 600 ducks and 66 chickens following confirmation of bird flu (H5N1) in the city of Cuttack.
An outbreak of bird flu was suspected after the death of ducks in the Duck Breeding Center and Dairy Farm at Khapuria. On March 23, as many as 13 ducks died on the day in the farm. District veterinary office investigated into the incident and sent blood samples to the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD) in Bhopal. "The samples tested positive for the H5N1 or avian influenza virus," informed chief district veterinary officer Premananda Rout.
"Following the test report, we culled ducks and chickens. Moreover, 3.6 quintal [360 kg] of foodgrains were destroyed as well.
Carcasses of culled birds were buried in 10-foot deep pits. Bleaching powder and other disinfectants were sprinkled while filling up the pits to prevent spread of H5N1 virus, added Rout.
All the poultry farms in a 1-km radius of the breeding center have been banned for the time being. The farms will remain closed for the next 6 months according to guidelines, added Rout.
Ebola: Congo
The epidemiological situation of the Ebola virus disease in the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri dated 31 Mar 2019:
Since the beginning of the epidemic, the cumulative number of cases is 1,089, of which 1,023 are confirmed and 66 are probable
In total, there were 679 deaths (613 confirmed and 66 probable) and 331 people cured. One-hundred eighty suspected cases are under investigation.
There have been seven new confirmed cases, including 2 in Katwa, 2 in Vuhovi, 1 in Mandima, 1 in Beni and 1 in Oicha.
Three new deaths are reported, including 2 community deaths, 1 in Katwa and 1 in Vuhovi; 1 death at the CTE of Butembo.
Japan: African Swine Fever
The African swine fever virus [ASFV] has been detected in a contagious state on Japanese soil for the first time, the government said April 2. The government has in the past detected genes of the ASFV in food brought from overseas, but never before has the virus been confirmed as being at an infectious stage.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said the discovery of an infectious form of the virus has prompted a decision to strengthen measures against illegal imports of livestock products.
The virus was discovered in sausages brought into the country from China in January, the farm ministry said.
The virus only affects domesticated and wild pigs and boars, not humans, but there is no vaccine or effective treatment for the highly lethal virus, the ministry said.
The sausages were brought into Japan, apparently as souvenirs, by two passengers arriving separately at Chubu airport near Nagoya on planes from Shanghai and Qingdao.
So far, no ASF infections have been reported in Japan, and it is unlikely that food infected with the virus would cause an outbreak unless pigs were fed with the infected food.
Under the law on infectious disease control for domestic animals, people who bring unauthorized animal products into the country could face a fine of up to one million Japanese Yen [$9,000] or imprisonment for up to 3 years.
To date, authorities have only penalized serious violations, such as when unauthorized products were imported for sale, but the government now plans to tighten controls and take action against those who repeatedly import unauthorized livestock products.
ASF is more lethal than conventional swine fever, also known as hog cholera, with a number of outbreaks having been reported in parts of Japan since September 2018, the first time the virus had been detected in the country for 26 years.
El Salvador: Typhoid Fever
According to MINSAL [El Salvador's Ministry of Public Health], the number of cases of typhoid fever remains high. They have reported 517 cases in 2019, compared to 313 cases in 2018, which is equivalent to an increase of 65%.
The head of health surveillance of the ISSS [El Salvador's Social Security Institute], Jose Adan Martinez, said that the figures themselves reflect an increase of 44%. It is worth mentioning that the MINSAL presents the data at the national level, which include those of the ISSS, FOSALUD [El Salvador Solidarity Fund for Health], and other institutions.
"We have been experiencing this upward trend in the disease since the beginning of 2019, and it has increased in the last week," Martinez said.
He also recalled that this is a disease transmitted by water or food contamination. "Given the scarcity of water that has been in some sectors of San Salvador, which is the most affected department, [the increase] could be due to the lack of hygiene measures that the population is taking, both for the preparation of food and for water consumption," he added.
March 29,2019
England: Equine Influenza
The first outbreak of equine flu in England has been confirmed by animal health officials. The Animal Health Trust says the horse affected was an unvaccinated non-Thoroughbred that had recently arrived on a private yard in the county following post-purchase movement from another part of the UK.
A report on the AHT website said the horse had shown signs of mild fever, coughing, and nasal discharge shortly after arriving and tested positive for equine influenza by PCR on a nasopharyngeal swab. The only other horse on the property, says AHT, was vaccinated and had so far shown no clinical signs of the disease.
Paragon Veterinary Practice, based in Dalston, near Carlisle, posted a message on their Facebook page confirming the equine flu outbreak in the county. Leading Paragon equine vet Paul May said they would advise limiting horse travel if possible for the next few days until the scale of the outbreak in Cumbria can be determined.
"If your horse is going to or returning home from events, it is sensible to take its temperature daily," said Mr May. "Horse owners should not panic; just be vigilant. The majority of outbreaks in recent weeks have been in unvaccinated horses; however, minor signs of infection have been seen in vaccinated horses. We recommend that all horses are vaccinated, as this is the best protection against flu and will reduce the length and severity of the disease."
Nigeria: Lassa Fever
In the reporting Week, 23 new confirmed cases were reported from 9 states - Edo (8), Ondo 4), Ebonyi (3), Bauchi (3), Taraba (1), Imo (1), Enugu (1), Benue (1) and Kebbi (1) with 4 new deaths in Edo (2), Benue (1) and Bauchi (1) States.
Since Jan. 1, a total of 1,801 suspected cases have been reported from states. Of these, 495 were confirmed positive, 15 probable and 1,277 negative.
Since the onset of the 2019 outbreak, there have been 114 deaths in confirmed cases.
Twenty-one states (Edo, Ondo, Bauchi, Nasarawa, Ebonyi, Plateau, Taraba, FCT, Adamawa, Gombe, Kaduna, Kwara, Benue, Rivers, Kogi, Enugu, Imo, Delta, Oyo, Kebbi and Cross River) have recorded at least one confirmed case across 73 Local Government Areas.
In the reporting week 11, one new health care worker was affected in Ebonyi state. A total of 16 health care workers have been infected since the onset of the outbreak in 7 States - Edo (7), Ondo (3), Ebonyi (2), Enugu (1), Rivers (1), Bauchi (1) and Benue (1) with 2 deaths in Enugu and Edo States
Brazil: Yellow Fever
The weekly epidemiological bulletin released by the State Department of Health reports that the number of cases of yellow fever rose in Parana. Last week there were 8 confirmed cases and now there are 12 in the updated bulletin.
According to the Secretary of State for Health, Beto Preto, the 22 regional health centers of Parana are involved with the intensification of vaccination. "We reaffirm the guidance that being immunized is the only way to protect against the disease. Everyone aged 9 months to 59 years should receive the vaccine," he said.
He adds that the Health Department is actively pursuing people who have not yet been immunized and live in areas of difficult access, as well as reinforcing guidelines on the importance of vaccination at community events. He also promoted the training of teams for vaccination at the Hospital do Trabalhador, in Curitiba, and in the Third Health Regional of Ponta Grossa.
The 12 confirmed cases of the disease are in Antonina, Morretes, Adrianopolis, Campina Grande do Sul, Curitiba, Piraquara, and Sao Jose dos Pinhais. Of the patients, 92% are males, with a mean age of 36 years; 3 of them are rural workers. There is one confirmed yellow fever death in Parana in the 1st week of March, with residence and probable place of infection in the municipality of Morretes.
The municipalities with the highest incidence of notifications are Paranagua (55), Curitiba (33), and Sao Jose dos Pinhais (30). The Capital reported 8 more notifications than the bulletin of the previous week and Sao Jose dos Pinhais 7 new cases. In total, there are 224 notifications and 61 cases under investigation, in addition to the 12 confirmations.
India: Kyasanur Forest Disease
Kyasanur Forest disease (KFD) or monkey fever has claimed one life in Wayanad, marking it the 1st KFD death in the state since 2015.
The 27-year-old resident of the Begur tribal hamlet died at the Kozhikode Medical College Hospital March 23. He was admitted to the Mananthavady district hospital on March 10 with symptoms of the disease and was later referred to the medical college.
"The deceased had gone for work in a timber yard near Begur where monkey deaths were reported recently. It is not confirmed whether he contacted the disease from there. We had collected samples from the ticks collected from the area to find out the source of infection," said Wayanad district medical officer R Renuka.
Renuka said that there have been 5 confirmed cases of KFD in Wayanad so far this year. Two are currently under treatment at the hospital, while 2 others have been discharged after treatment. "We had stepped up disease surveillance and preventive measures after KFD resurfaced in Wayanad after a gap of 2 years in January 2019. People should take adequate precautions before venturing into forests," she added.
Also, people have been asked not to go near dead monkeys and immediately inform forest and health department authorities if they come across monkey deaths.
United States: Chronic Wasting Disease
South Dakota's state veterinarian says chronic wasting disease has been confirmed in a captive elk in Clark County.
State Veterinarian Dr. Dustin Oedekoven said Wednesday that the owner of the 21-month-old female elk noticed the animal was sick and contacted his veterinarian. The USDA's National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa later confirmed that samples tested positive for the disease.
Chronic wasting disease is endemic in free-ranging deer and elk in and around the Black Hills. The disease was last diagnosed in captive elk in South Dakota in 2001.
CWD is a fatal disease that strikes the nervous system in deer, elk and moose. Oedekoven says state and federal animal health officials are working with the owner of the affected herd to investigate the disease and mitigate further infection.
United States: Canine Distemper
A young dog imported from South Korea into western Canada last October brought along a dangerous hitchhiker: the Asia-1 strain of canine distemper virus (CDV), which until then had not been reported in North America.
Scientists at Cornell's Animal Health Diagnostic Center (AHDC) identified the virus in samples from the dog, which they suspect was part of a shipment of animals rescued from a Korean meat market by an animal welfare organization. Dogs that are already immunized against CDV likely are not at risk from the Asian strain, but if the virus comes into contact with wildlife, it may take a serious toll on wild carnivore populations.
"Well-meaning people are trying to save animals, but when you move animals, you move their infectious disease," said Edward Dubovi, director of the virology laboratory at the AHDC and a professor of population medicine and diagnostic sciences. "If this particular Asia-1 strain got out into the wildlife population, then it's here forever, because you can't get rid of it once it hits wildlife."
About 2 weeks after the sick dog's arrival in Canada, it developed a cough and was lethargic. Ten days later, it developed muscle twitches, then seizures and ultimately was euthanized. The AHDC tested samples collected from the animal; they were negative for canine influenza virus but gave strong positive results for CDV. Genetic analysis by Randall Renshaw, Ph.D. '92, a research associate at the AHDC, indicated the virus was nearly identical to the Asia-1 strain of CDV circulating throughout East Asia.
Canine distemper virus is highly contagious and commonly travels between hosts through the aerosols emitted when dogs bark and cough and through urine and feces. The disease starts with respiratory signs, such as coughing and pneumonia, and progresses into gastrointestinal illness and neurological problems. Most dogs in the United States receive vaccines for CDV to protect against native North American strains.
Though CDV outbreaks occasionally pop up in animal shelters, the virus persists primarily in wildlife populations, particularly in the Northeast where canine cases of CDV are extremely rare. It circulates among numerous carnivore species, causing die-offs of raccoons, grey foxes, skunks, coyotes, wolves, and other animals.
Sweden: Chronic Wasting Disease
The first case of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in Sweden has been detected in a moose Alces alces in Norrbotten county. The 16-year-old moose was euthanized after being observed emaciated, staggering, walking in circles, and apparently blind.
Samples from the moose were analyzed at the National Veterinary Institute (SVA) within the ongoing CWD surveillance program. Brainstem and retropharyngeal lymph nodes were screened with a TSE rapid test. Samples from brainstem were positive in the screening test and confirmed positive for transmissible spongiform encephalopathy with Western Blot. Samples from lymph nodes were negative in the screening test.
The case shows similar features with cases of atypical CWD previously detected in Norwegian moose and described by Prisinu et al 2018. But further analyses are needed to determine the type of CWD and will be done in collaboration with international reference laboratories for CWD.
United States: Newcastle Disease
Poultry show cancellations continue to be announced in response to the outbreak of virulent Newcastle disease (VND).
Since May 2018, a VND outbreak has had a devastating impact on poultry populations in Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Ventura counties. A recent case of VND was also discovered in Redwood City in Alameda County. Officials from the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) have been working with the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) to continue to investigate the area; however, no other cases have been reported so far in Northern California.
Dozens of poultry shows and exhibitions have already been canceled after being advised by California State Veterinarian Dr. Annette Jones that VND poses a serious threat to the industry. Some of the most recent poultry show cancellations come from the Stanislaus County Fair, the Big Fresno Fair, the Salinas Valley Fair, the Nevada County Fair, and the San Mateo County State Fair. Some fair organizers are still weighing their options, with managers of both the Santa Cruz County Fair and the San Benito County Fair indicating they will hold off on making any decisions for a few more months.
More than one million birds in commercial operations and backyards have been euthanized in relation to the outbreak. All of Los Angeles County and large areas of San Bernardino and Riverside counties remain under a poultry quarantine. The highly contagious respiratory virus is nearly always fatal as there is currently no known cure. VND has also shown up in Utah as a result of birds being moved and contaminating others, as birds can appear to be healthy even when infected. The virus does not pose any risk to human beings; however, it can be transmitted by individuals who have VND on their clothes or shoes.
Zambia: Foot and Mouth Disease
Foot-and-mouth disease [FMD] has broken out in Lundazi and Vubwi districts of Eastern Province. Eastern Permanent Secretary Buleti Nsemukila says that over 1,000 animals have been infected with the highly contagious viral disease, which affects livestock with split hooves.
Dr. Nsemukila told journalists in Chipata that government has since restricted the movement of animals in the region. He said that a total of 600 animals have been affected in Lundazi while 412 have been infected with the deadly virus in Vubwi.
The Permanent Secretary has also directed law enforcement agencies who mount roadblocks to demand livestock movement permits from all vehicles carrying animals. Dr. Nsemukila said that vehicles should be impounded where the drivers fail to produce the required documents.
He stated that there is need for farmers to be alert and report suspicious cases to the nearest veterinary offices in an effort to contain the situation.
The Permanent secretary has since advised farmers and game ranch operators to be alert and report any suspicious looking animals to the nearest veterinary offices.
Denmark: Listeroiosis
ECDC has identified a microbiological link between an outbreak of 9 Listeria monocytogenes ST1247 cases in Denmark and 9 additional cases reported between 2014 and 2018 in Estonia (2 cases) Finland (2), France (1) and Sweden (4).
In Denmark, the outbreak investigation is led by Statens Serum Institut (SSI), the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration and the DTU Food Institute.
Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) analysis performed at the national level and by ECDC found all isolates from the 18 cases within 2 allelic differences from each other (core genome MLST using Moura scheme, 1540 of 1748 loci detected in all 18 isolates). The latest case was reported in Denmark in February.
A large-scale study led by ECDC on whole genome sequencing shows that most listeriosis outbreaks such as this one remain undetected. The study, published in 2018, suggests that more than half of the severe listeriosis cases in the European Union belong to clusters, many of which are not being picked up fast enough by the current surveillance system.
Listeria monocytogenes causes listeriosis, which primarily affects pregnant women, newborns, and adults with a weakened immune system. Listeriosis is a relatively rare but potentially severe food-borne disease that has been reported in increasing numbers in the EU/EEA countries since 2008. In 2016, 2536 cases were reported, including 247 deaths.
March 22, 2019
Uruguay: Hantavirus
The departmental health director, Dr Jorge Mota, confirmed for Carmelo Portal the death of a young girl from a hantavirus infection. "In Colonia department, there are on average 3 cases per year. The evolution of the disease is in thirds. One-third of the infected people do not have notable symptoms; another third have serious symptoms, especially respiratory symptoms and ones in all the systems, but with adequate treatment, [the infected people] survive, sometimes with sequelae. There is another third that die. It is those few with the virus that die with an evolution so drastic, such as is the case of this girl, sadly," Dr Mota stated.
The department health director said that hantaviruses are not contagious person-to-person. "It is transmitted from an intermediate animal, the field mouse. Only 3% of these mice have hantavirus. To become infected, one must be in contact with an [infected] mouse's secretions that have dried, are mixed with dust, and are in a closed space, away from sunlight and ventilation. A spa, a shed, or a wood pile [are examples of such a space]. The person had to have been moving around there and inhaled the dust," he explained.
Dr Mota spoke about the epidemiological surveillance that is carried out. "We tracked places where the person was, even those that could be identified 2 months before contracting the virus; sometimes we found the place, but sometimes not." As a preventive measure, Mota stated that in these cases, ventilate these closed spaces for at least half an hour. Wet down floors and shelves with water [with 10% bleach].
Mayotte: Rift Valley Fever
The circulation of Rift Valley fever (RVF) continues in Mayotte. An animal disease of viral origin, Rift Valley fever mainly affects domestic ruminants (cattle, sheep, goats), causing abortions and high mortality in young animals. It can be transmitted from the infected animal to humans.
In total, since the beginning of the epidemic (end of November [2018]).
Samples taken by veterinarians from sick animals or during abortions led to the identification of 8 new outbreaks this week, for a total of 60 cases in animals (including 49 cattle). Animal foci are located mainly in the center and north west of the island;
A total of 101 human cases of RVF have been reported to the platform/cell watch and health emergencies of the ARS OI (CVAGS) of Mayotte by the CHM laboratory. Of those who could be interviewed, almost 80% report having been in contact with animals;
Since the beginning of the health alert, human cases have been located mainly in the center and north west of the island, with nearly 60% of cases in Chiconi and Tsingoni.
Since 25 Feb 2019, the weekly number of new human cases has been on the decrease.
Bangladesh: Nipah Virus
The 3 members of a family from Baliadangi upazila's Ujarmoni village in Thakurgaon district are suspected to have been infected with the deadly Nipah virus, reports United News of Bangladesh.
The victims include a 28 year old mother; her son, aged 8; and her daughter, aged 4. They were taken to Rangpur Medical College Hospital on March 14, said ABM Maniruzzaman, the resident medical officer of Baliadangi Upazila Health Complex. He said the victims had been suffering from fever for the last 3 days. They also reported headache and vomiting. The trio was first taken to Thakurgaon Modern Sadar Hospital and later shifted to RMCH.
Nipah virus is transmitted from animals to humans and can also be transmitted through contaminated food or directly between people, according to the World Health Organization. There is no vaccine for the virus, which is spread through body fluids and can cause inflammation of the brain.
The mother's husband said his wife and children fell sick after eating jujube.
Thakurgaon civil surgeon Abu Mohammad Khairul Kabir said their blood samples had been collected for testing. A medical team from the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research is scheduled to visit RMCH.
In February, 5 members of a family died mysteriously in Baliadanga upazila. It is unclear what caused their deaths [Nipah virus is suspected]. In 2001, Nipah virus was identified as the causative agent in an outbreak of human disease occurring in Bangladesh. Genetic sequencing confirmed this virus as Nipah virus, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
United States: Newcastle Disease
The live poultry show has been canceled at this spring's San Mateo County Fair. A major Peninsula veterinary hospital is postponing all chicken appointments. And worried Bay Area backyard bird hobbyists are taking special steps to protect their flocks. News of a highly contagious and deadly bird virus detected at a veterinary clinic in Redwood City has alarmed the Bay Area's poultry community, since it indicates the dreaded Virulent Newcastle Disease has moved north from Southern California.
The disease, first reported in Riverside County, has led to the euthanasia of over 1 million backyard and commercial birds in Southern California.
"The really big concern is the spread into commercial flocks," said Richard Blatchford, a poultry specialist at UC Davis Department of Animal Science. It has already been found in 3 commercial facilities in Riverside County. "It can wipe out an entire farm very quickly," he said.
The disease causes only mild symptoms in humans who have very close contact with infected birds, but it can kill chickens, turkeys, cockatoos, cockatiels - and occasionally wild birds such as cormorants, pelicans and gulls.
"I am extremely worried about this news," said Los Gatos resident Michelle Strachan, who owns 9 chickens at her home in the Santa Cruz Mountains. "It made me gasp and got my heart racing immediately, as I understand the severity of it." She is taking rigorous steps to protect her flock: hand washing, keeping her birds confined to their pen, wearing disposable shoe covers at the feed store, not visiting friends who have poultry, not allowing friends with poultry to visit her birds and keeping a "closed" flock - not adding any birds this year," she said, "as tempting as those fluffy chicks may be!"
"The most important thing people can do is to not move their birds," she said.
United States: Chronic Wasting Disease
The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks says 3 more cases of chronic wasting disease have been confirmed. The executive director of the agency's Wildlife Bureau, Russ Walsh, tells The Hattiesburg American the cases were confirmed this week in Benton and Marshall Counties. The fatal neurological disease affects deer, elk and moose.
So far, a total of 19 cases have been confirmed in Benton, Issaquena, Marshall, Panola, Pontotoc and Tallahatchie counties. Walsh says the recent cases in Panola and Tallahatchie counties were outside the current northern wasting disease management zone.
The zones prohibit supplemental feeding and the transportation of carcasses to outside zone boundaries to limit the spread of the disease. Walsh says the agency is now considering how to update the northern zone.
Nigeria: Lassa Fever
In the March 4-10 reporting week, 52 new confirmed cases were reported from 8 states - Edo (23), Ondo (11), Ebonyi (9), Bauchi (1), Nasarawa (2), Plateau (1), Taraba (4) and Delta (1) with 11 new deaths in Edo (3), Ondo (3), Ebonyi (4) and Nasarawa (1) states.
From 1 Jan-10 Mar 2019, a total of 1,752 suspected cases have been reported. Of these, 472 were confirmed positive, 15 probable and 1,265 negative (not a case).
Since the onset of the 2019 outbreak, there have been 110 deaths in confirmed cases. Case fatality ratio in confirmed cases is 23.3%.
Belgium: African Swine Fever
The discovery of a dead wild boar infected with African swine fever [ASF] in zone I north, between Les Fossés and Mellier (Léglise), required adjustment of the limits of the restricted areas. The change was applied in cooperation with the European Commission. Zone I (buffer zone) and zone II (contaminated zone) were expanded to the north.
To date, 687 cases of ASF have been detected in wild boar. As a reminder, the first cases of ASF were discovered in September in wild boar found dead in the Etalle region, in the province of Luxembourg. An infected zone was defined around the infections by the AFSCA and the Walloon region. Measures were taken in this zone, both for wild boar and kept pigs. All domestic pigs were culled as a result of a decision by the Federal Minister of Agriculture. The repopulation of the holdings in this zone is prohibited until further notice.
Chile: Hantavirus
The third hantavirus pulmonary syndrome was confirmed, with positive PCR and ELISA tests, in the Bio Bio region. The case is a 57 year old man, resident of the Arauco province, according to indications by the Bio Bio Health SEREMI [Regional Health Ministerial Secretariat].
"The patient was first seen in the SAPU Eleuterio Ramírez, later taken to the Curanilahue Hospital, and on then taken to the Guillermo Grant Benavente Hospital. There he was connected to mechanical ventilation and extracorporeal oxygenation as well as given hyperimmune human serum; he is in stable condition," said the Bio Bio Health SEREMI Hector Munoz.
Health authorities, by means of a team composed by professionals of Occupational Health, Zoonoses and Epidemiology of the Arauco government, carried out an environmental investigation to determine risk factors. They concluded that there was high risk of acquiring the infectious virus in a load of wood that took place in January and February in properties of the Pocuno sector of the Canete community. The place met the characteristics of shelter, food and access to water for the rodent [reservoir host]. Given this, public health education was delivered to the property owner and workers, which is also planned to be delivered to other properties in the sector to increase awareness.
The first case of hantavirus [infection] in the region was to a 28 year old man, resident of the Araucanía region, but who became infected while working in the Quilaco community in the Bio Bio province. The 2nd case was a 24 year old man, resident of Los Alamos, but had been infected in a rural sector of the Santa Juana community of the Concepcion province.
In 2018, considering Nuble as part of the Bio Bio region, there were 8 cases of hantavirus [infection] with (4 in Nuble, 1 in Arauco and 4 in the Bio Bio province), which is less than the 12 cases of the median of 5 year period (2014-2018) and than the 18 cases registered in the region during 2017.
India: West Nile Virus
As a 6-year-old boy undergoing treatment for West Nile fever died in Kerala's Mallapuram, the government reviewed the current situation, preparedness, and action taken to deal with the disease.
According to a Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry official, this could be the first fatality due to the vector-borne disease reported from the country.
The ministry, along with officials from the National Center for Disease Control (NCDC), reviewed the state preparedness and action taken to deal with WNF in Mallapuram district, the official said.
A multi-disciplinary central team is already deputed in Mallapuram to investigate various epidemiological aspects of West Nile virus there and also help the district administration in its prevention and management.
Kerala has been advised to follow the National Vector Borne Disease Control Program guidelines of personal protective measures to prevent mosquito bites, while it also been recommended that vector surveillance and control be carried out.
"It has been advised that all cases of JE/AES are to be investigated as per guidelines of JE/AES (Japanese encephalitis/acute encephalitis syndrome) and also tested for West Nile virus. Further, the community is to be sensitized through IEC campaigns on the use of personal protective measures to prevent mosquito bites as per NVBDCP Guidelines," the official added.
The boy from Malappuram district was admitted to the intensive care unit of the Kozhikode Medical College Hospital last week after he tested positive for the virus. He died on March 18.
West Nile fever is a mosquito-borne zoonotic disease caused by flavivirus WNV and is related to viruses that cause Japanese encephalitis, yellow fever and St. Louis encephalitis.
United States: Eastern Equine Encephalitis
A horse in Lowndes County, Ga. has tested positive for eastern equine encephalitis (EEE).
Public Health officials urge South Georgians to always wear mosquito spray whenever outdoors to guard against mosquito-borne illnesses no matter how early in the season it may seem.
"It is crucial to remember that it is never too early for mosquito bite prevention," says Kenneth Lowery, district epidemiologist. "While we generally see EEE beginning in late spring, it would not be unreasonable to see cases earlier than expected given warmer temperatures and higher mosquito activity."
Most mosquito-borne illnesses are transmitted to humans and animals through the bite of an infected mosquito.
United States: Leptospirosis
A rare bacterial disease that every pet owner should know about has surfaced in a California pet. Leptospirosis is spread from wild animals to pets and humans.
The disease is found in standing water and with all the rain lately, veterinarians are reminding people to vaccinate pets. All it takes is a puddle of water or an infected blade of grass to infect an animal, but Leptospirosis is preventable through vaccination.
Alarm bells are sounding after a Citrus Heights woman admitted her dog to the vet after it came down with leptospirosis.
Dr. Kelly Byam with Abel Pet Clinic said the disease is spread in the urine of infected animals. "The disease is usually found in standing water could be a reservoir or lake that could be a puddle or drop of urine on a blade of grass," Byam said.
Pet owners around Folsom Lake Tuesday were taking extra precautions. Byam said rats, mice, and raccoons can spread the disease. She said to look out for kidney disease symptoms in dogs. "Dogs will have a fever, they're going to drink a lot, pee a lot, and won't feel like eating," Byam said.
Leptospirosis is preventable, so it is a good idea to get your dog vaccinated. Humans can get it as well through cuts or abrasions.
China: African Swine Fever
When pigs on the Xinda Husbandry Co. Ltd breeding farm in northern China began dying in growing numbers in early January, it looked increasingly likely that the farm had been struck by the much feared African swine fever [ASF], an incurable disease that has spread rapidly across the country since last year.
But after taking samples from some pigs, local officials in the Xushui district of Baoding city, about an hour's drive from Beijing, said their tests came back negative, said Sun Dawu, chairman of Hebei Dawu Agriculture Group, the farm owner.
As hundreds of pigs began dying daily on the 20,000-head farm, the company obtained a test kit that showed some positive results for the virus. But after further lobbying by Xinda, officials just offered the company subsidies for farm buildings and other investments, said Sun.
Sun's account of events and pictures taken by farm staff of dead pigs lying in rows and a pile outside the farm could not be independently verified.
Xushui district said in a faxed response to Reuters on Tuesday that it was opening an investigation into the case, adding that it had found some "discrepancies" with the reported version of events.
"If there is illegal behavior, relevant departments will handle it according to the law," added the statement from the local government's investigative committee.
Farmers and other industry insiders told Reuters that China's ASF epidemic is far more extensive than official reports suggest, making the disease harder to contain, potentially causing pork shortages and increasing the likelihood that it will spread beyond China's borders.
"Our full expectation is that the number of cases is under-reported," said Paul Sundberg, executive director at the Swine Health Information Center in Ames, Iowa, which is funded by American pork producers.
"And if there's so much of that virus in the environment in China, then we are at increased risk of importing it."
China does not permit the commercial sale of ASF test kits, though many are now available. Official confirmation must come from a state-approved laboratory.
"Public confirmation of disease is the government's job," Sun told Reuters at his company headquarters in Xushui in late February 2019.
Congo: Ebola
The epidemiological situation of the Ebola virus disease in the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri dated March 19.
Since the beginning of the epidemic, the cumulative number of cases is 980, of which 915 are confirmed and 65 are probable. In total, there were 610 deaths (545 confirmed and 65 probable) and 317 people cured.
Two-hundred thirty-six suspected cases are under investigation.
There are 12 new confirmed cases, including 4 in Masereka, 3 in Mandima, 2 in Katwa, 1 in Kayina, 1 in Butembo, and 1 in Bunia; the new confirmed case in Bunia is a 6-month-old infant whose parents are in apparent good health. In-depth investigations are underway and will include, among other things, the analysis of breast milk to identify the source of contamination.
There are four new confirmed case deaths, including 2 community deaths: 1 in Katwa and 1 in Bunia; 2 deaths at Butembo CTE.
United States: West Nile Virus
A dead Cooper's hawk found in California has tested positive for West Nile virus [WNV], making it the first sign this year of the potentially deadly disease in San Diego County.
Officials said the dead hawk had relatively low levels of WNV in its tissues, suggesting that it was an old infection. However, they said it was a good reminder that WNV, which first arrived in San Diego County in 2003, is established here and that people need to protect themselves from mosquitoes.
Last year was a relatively mild one for WNV in San Diego County. One county resident tested positive for the disease and survived. However, as recently as 2015, 44 county residents tested positive and 6 people died. Across California in 2018, 215 people became infected with West Nile virus and 10 people died.
WNV is mainly a bird disease, but it can be transmitted to humans by a number of species of mosquitoes -- including Culex mosquitoes native to San Diego and, less effectively, by invasive Aedes aegypti mosquitoes -- if they feed off an infected animal, mainly birds, and then bite people.
If people who become infected suffer symptoms, they are typically mild, including headache, fever, nausea, fatigue, skin rash or swollen glands. But in rare cases, WNV can make people extremely ill and even kill them.
March 8, 2019
Nigeria: Lassa Fever
Between January and February 2019, 15 people died of Lassa fever in Ondo state, southwest Nigeria, while 102 persons are infected, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) said. "As at Thursday, 102 people have tested positive for Lassa fever this year," chairman of the medical association in Ondo, Dr Wale Oke, told NAN in Akure.
"Eighty-two people in January, and 20 people so far in February have tested positive, apart from 15 deaths recorded in January as a result of the fever; no death has been recorded so far in February. Most people that died either reported late or were already subjected to alternative treatment and doing self-medication before they eventually came to the hospital. Their kidneys and livers were affected as a result of the delay."
Oke, who is also a staff member at the Federal Medical Center, Owo, urged residents of the state to report early to the medical center if they experience an upsurge of temperature in their bodies. "We have a contact tracing mechanism whereby we can place on surveillance for 21 days those who may have had contact with the infected persons," Oke said. "We continue to monitor their temperature; if it is above 37.8 deg C [100 deg F], we direct them for quick treatment."
India: Kyasanur Forest Disease
Sagar taluk is reeling under a fresh outbreak of Kyasanur Forest disease (KFD), also known as monkey fever, as 3 persons hailing from here have died because of this tick-borne viral infection in just 3 days. On Sunday a resident of Nandodi from Aralagod gram panchayat [GP] in Sagar taluk, died at a private hospital in Manipal. With this, the KFD death toll in the district since December has touched 12. According to sources in the Department of Health and Family Welfare, 6 persons suffering from symptoms of KFD in Aralagod GP limits have been admitted in various private hospitals since March 2; two of them are said to be in serious condition.
Of the recent 3 victims, two, including one who died, had been administered primary as well as a booster dose of vaccine against KFD. An officer serving with the department told The Hindu on the condition of anonymity that the deaths of vaccinated persons has created apprehension about the potency of the vaccine. The issue will be brought to the notice of the authorities at the Institute of Animal Health and Veterinary Biologicals, Bengaluru, where the vaccine is produced, the officer said. So far, more than 90,000 persons from affected areas spread over Sagar, Tirthahalli, Hosanagar, Sorab, Shikaripur, and Bhadravati taluks have been administered primary and booster dose of the vaccine. The booster dose will offer around 65 percent immunity against the disease. The immunity level in the vaccinated person will be enhance to 83 percent after a third round of vaccination, usually administered nine months after the booster dose.
Following the fresh outbreak, vigilance has been stepped up in Aralagod and surrounding areas. Staff from the Forest and Health and Family Welfare departments are combing forests to find dead monkeys. Dimethyl phthalate (DMP), a tick-repellent oil, is also being provided for the residents in Aralagod through Accredited Social Health Activists.
Libya: Leishmaniasis
At least 5,000 cases of a potentially deadly tropical disease have been registered in Libya in the past 6 months, the country's health ministry said. Leishmaniasis, which is caused by a microscopic parasite spread by sandflies, creates ulcers and disfiguring scars, and one variety can attack internal organs. It is often associated with poverty and poor urban sanitation.
"There are currently 5,000 patients who are being treated," said Ahmad al-Qarari, who heads the center for disease control at the health ministry of Libya's UN-backed unity government. But he told AFP that these were only cases that have been registered by the authorities, noting that the extent of the problem remains unknown because some patients do not seek treatment.
Qarari said the World Health Organization was providing Libya with treatment from India and that a new batch of medication was due next week. Most of the cases were registered along the North African country's Mediterranean coast west of the capital, Tripoli. Qarari said leishmaniasis first appeared in Libya a century ago and more recently in 2006. "The government must organize awareness campaigns continuously because this disease has become endemic," Qarari said.
Libya has been rocked by deadly conflict and its economy thrown into turmoil since a 2011 NATO-backed uprising that toppled and killed longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi.
Mayotte: Rift Valley Fever
The circulation of Rift Valley fever (RVF) continues in Mayotte as of March 1, the prefecture has reported. Raw milk should not be consumed if it is not treated. A viral animal disease, Rift Valley fever mainly affects domestic ruminants (cattle, sheep, goats), causing abortions and high mortality in young animals.
The virus can be transmitted from sick animals to humans. Since the first cases occurred in late November 2018, 39 animal outbreaks have been identified, and 82 human cases have been reported.
The prefecture of Mayotte, in collaboration with the ARS Indian Ocean and the Directorate of Food, Agriculture and Forestry of Mayotte (DAAF) stresses the importance of prevention measures to protect yourself from the disease.
Paraguay: Hantavirus
Patients who present with febrile symptoms and who reside in the area where the first positive case was reported positive request tests for hantavirus. Until now there are 5 cases, 3 were positive in initial laboratory tests and 2 are suspect cases that will be tested outside the country because the Central Laboratory does not do confirmatory tests.
The febrile cases of residents in Capiata [Central department], the area where the first cases of hantavirus occurred, are adding up and now Health Surveillance has reported 2 more suspected cases, all children between 2 and 7 years old living in the same city; community intervention continues in search of possible cases.
The first cases confirmed in a private laboratory remain hospitalized in intensive care and the others who have improved are now receiving ambulatory treatment, stated Dr. Sandra Irala of Health Surveillance.
"The clinical picture of hantavirus infection is that of a patient with a temperature above 38 deg C and respiratory difficulty is another characteristic in the endemic area such as that of Chaco. In the non-endemic area hantavirus infection is suspected if the patient presents with fever and other possible causes are eliminated," the doctor indicated in a press conference.
The rodents that transmit the hantavirus do not inhabit urban areas and the way in which the disease virus is acquired is through contact with excreta and other secretions such as saliva and urine of these infected rodents.
United States: Newcastle Disease
California State Veterinarian Dr. Annette Jones has modified Southern California's quarantine area to further restrict bird movement as work continues to eradicate virulent Newcastle disease (vND). The quarantine mandates the reporting of sick birds and prohibits poultry owners from moving birds in all of Los Angeles County, and in large areas of San Bernardino and Riverside counties.
The modified quarantine extends from the northern and southern borders of western Riverside County to the Salton Sea--including the Coachella Valley--and as far east as Yucca Valley in San Bernardino County, with a northern boundary of State Route 58 at the Kern County line. The quarantine language and a map may be found at CDFA's VND Web site.
The quarantine requires bird owners to allow diagnostic testing, to isolate poultry from other species, to cease exhibitions, to stop the shipping and receiving of birds, and to enhance biosecurity.
"By modifying the quarantine area in Southern California, we are building upon an ongoing effort to eradicate virulent Newcastle disease," said Dr. Jones. "The primary way that VND spreads is by people moving sick birds. Extending the prohibition of bird movement across a larger area is the next logical step in being able to stop the spread of the virus and to eradicate the disease."
VND is a nearly-always fatal respiratory infection in poultry. Birds may seem healthy but will die within days of being infected. There is no cure. The virus is also transmitted by people who have VND on their clothes or shoes, and by equipment or vehicles that can transport the disease from place to place.
There are no human health concerns provided any meat or eggs are cooked properly. People who come in direct contact with the virus may develop conjunctivitis-like symptoms or run a mild fever.
Bangladesh: Nipah Virus
The Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) has found the presence of Nipah virus in one of the 5 family members who died in Baliadangi upazila of Thakurgaon early in February.
"Samples of one of the deceased were collected, and investigators detected presence of Nipah virus there," said IEDCR Director Meerjady Sabrina Flora.
IEDCR formed 2 committees, which conducted investigations at Baliadangi Upazila Health Complex, Thakurgaon Sadar Hospital, Rangpur Medical College Hospital and various places of Baliadangi upazila.
During the time, investigators also collected samples of hospital doctors, nurses, health workers and family members of the victims, neighbors, and villagers. The investigation found that those who died had fever, headache, vomiting, and infection. Nipah virus was not found in samples of living persons of the family.
"In the investigation, it was not known if the deceased had a history of drinking raw date palm sap (a popular drink), but the investigators think 4 of the victims were infected by Nipah virus from the other," said the IEDCR statement.
Nipah virus generally transmits through drinking date palm sap infected by bats carrying the virus. Meerjady has advised all not to drink raw date sap.
If anyone is infected by Nipah virus, health personnel and family members should use masks and gloves when they take care of the patients, and wash hands with soap afterwards. The patients should be kept in isolated environment, she said.
Congo: Ebola
The epidemiological situation of the Ebola virus disease in the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri dated 3 Mar 2019:
Since the beginning of the epidemic, the cumulative number of cases is 897, of which 832* confirmed and 65 probable. In total, there were 563 deaths (498 confirmed and 65 probable) and 304 people healed.
A confirmed non-classified case has been added to Butembp.
One-hundred seventy-one suspected cases are under investigation.
Two new confirmed cases in Butembo.
Two new deaths of confirmed cases from Butembo: 1 community death in Butembo; 1 death of in the Katwa TC [transit center].
Two new recoveries released from Butembo ETC [Ebola treatment center].
Australia: Anthrax
Victoria agricultural officials are responding to a confirmed incident of anthrax in sheep on a single property near Swan Hill. Victorian Acting Chief Veterinary Officer Dr. Cameron Bell said quarantine notices had been put in place until the necessary biosecurity requirements, including carcass disposal and site disinfection, were completed. He said the case was on a farm which has had a history of anthrax and at-risk stock on the property are vaccinated.
"Anthrax detections in livestock occur in Victoria from time to time. They commonly occur during the warmer months when it is drier and cattle and sheep forage deeper into the soil when grazing. Quarantine controls will not affect the movement of local people or vehicles, including school bus routes."
Local farmers, veterinarians, and Agriculture Victoria are well prepared to handle these incidents. This isolated case was detected as part of ongoing surveillance for anthrax and other livestock diseases. "We are taking the necessary steps to reduce the chance of more livestock being affected," Dr. Bell said.
Anthrax is a bacterial pathogen in livestock and wild animals. Some of the more common herbivores are cattle, sheep, goats, horses, camels, and deer. Anthrax is a very serious disease of livestock because it can potentially cause the rapid loss of a large number of animals in a very short time. Affected animals are often found dead with no illness detected. Strict enforcement of quarantines and proper burning and burying of carcasses from livestock suspected to have died from anthrax is important to prevent further soil contamination with the bacterial spores.
March 1, 2019
United States: Chronic Wasting Disease
In a continuing effort to monitor the prevalence and spread of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in Kansas deer, the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) has collected and tested samples from 360 deer so far this year. Thirty-seven of those samples were confirmed positive.
The 37 confirmed positives came from deer taken in Cheyenne, Rawlins, Decatur, Norton, Phillips, Smith, Thomas, Sheridan, Gove, Rooks, Osborne, Scott, Lane, Hamilton, Haskell, Hodgeman, Ford, Edwards, Stafford, Reno, and Pratt counties. While most positives are still coming from northwest Kansas, new counties were added to the list this year, including several that show the disease's spread to the south and east: Haskell, Edwards, Pratt, Osborne, and Reno.
CWD infects members of the deer family, including whitetail and mule deer, elk and moose. CWD testing in Kansas began in 1996 to help track the occurrence of the disease in the state's wild deer, and more than 28 000 tissue samples have undergone lab analysis since. The 1st CWD occurrence documented in a wild Kansas deer was a whitetail doe killed by a hunter in 2005 in Cheyenne County. To date, 216 deer have tested positive, and most have occurred in a region that includes Decatur, Rawlins, Sheridan and Norton counties.
Additionally, state authorities in Mississippi have received confirmation that a female white-tailed deer from Panola County and a female white-tailed deer from Tallahatchie County tested positive for CWD.
The Panola County deer was a diseased deer report and the Tallahatchie County deer was hunter-harvested. To date, Mississippi has 15 confirmed CWD-positive cases and 4 suspected CWD-positive cases awaiting confirmation.
The contagious and always fatal neurological disease is caused by a contagious fatal prion, or abnormal protein, that affects cervids such as white-tailed deer, elk and mule deer. For some animals, it may be a year or more before signs develop, which can include drastic weight loss, stumbling, listlessness and other neurological symptoms.
Infected animals shed prions through saliva, feces, blood, and urine. Other animals can become infected through direct contact with an infected animal and through indirect contact from an infected environment. Once the disease occurs in an area, the evidence demonstrates eradication is unlikely. There is no cure and no vaccine for the disease.
United States: Strangles
More than a dozen cases of strangles and one horse death have been reported on the same premises in Clark County, Nevada. On Feb. 20, the Nevada Department of Agriculture reported 2 cases of strangles and more than 12 other presumptive cases.
Clinical signs were first seen by a local veterinarian on Feb. 4. On Feb. 19, one horse was reported to have died after exhibiting clinical signs, although no confirmatory testing on its cause of death was completed.
Strict biosecurity is being encouraged, and the Nevada State Veterinarian has asked the facility to impose a voluntary hold on the movement of animals into and out of the premise.
Nigeria: Lassa Fever
A popular and deadly disease caused by a virus in rodents, Lassa fever, has killed 10 persons and infected 28 others in Plateau state, Nigeria.
Naija News reports that Plateau State commissioner for health Dr Kunden Deyin, while confirming the cases of the fever, said that 64 cases were taken to the laboratory for confirmation; of these, 28 were confirmed to be Lassa fever. According to Deyin, the state has recorded 28 new cases of Lassa fever with 10 deaths.
Deyin confirmed that the cases were imported from Kaduna state, adding that some patients of the fever are already responding to treatment.
"Lassa fever presents like any other fever, with symptoms such as headache, body pain, and a general feeling of being unwell. Therefore, anyone who is feeling feverish should visit the hospital immediately. Prompt presentation is the key to reducing the mortality rate associated with the disease, but most times, patients do come to the hospitals late.
"However, all health workers should make referrals to other health facilities such as the tertiary health facilities, when they cannot handle cases like Lassa fever that require prompt medical attention," he added.
Belgium: African Swine Fever
The African Swine Fever virus is closer than ever to the Luxemburg border. The "viropositive" carcass of an infected wild boar was discovered just 3 km from the country.
The animal was found a few days ago in the village of Differt, located in the municipality of Messancy in Belgium. The location is just 10 minutes from Clemency, a Luxembourg town. Wild boars taken by fever usually seek water points: Differt is a village bordered by the river Messancy, which inevitably attracts mammals.
Swine fever has already killed more than 550 animals in Belgium. On Feb. 15, minister of agriculture Romain Schneider and environment minister Carole Dieschbourg said they were optimistic that the virus could avoid Luxembourg.
A surveillance zone has been set up in the southwest of the country close to the Belgian and French borders.
African swine fever causes the death of infected animals in a few days. In humans, however, the virus is harmless.
Mayotte: Rift Valley fever
Rift Valley fever continues to circulate in Mayotte among the herds of ruminants, and the number of human cases is increasing.
The epidemiological situation as of Feb. 22:
Samples taken by veterinarians from sick animals or during abortions have identified 33 animal FVR outbreaks.
Since late November, 63 human cases of RVF have been reported to the monitoring and health emergencies platform of the ARS OI (CVAGS) of Mayotte by the CHM laboratory.
Rift Valley fever is an infectious disease that can be transmitted from animals to humans of viral origin, which mainly affects domestic ruminants (cattle, sheep, goats), causing abortions and high mortality in young animals.
China: African Swine Fever
China on Feb. 24 confirmed 2 new outbreaks of African swine fever, one in the northern province of Hebei and the other in the northern region of Inner Mongolia, as the highly contagious disease spreads through the world's largest hog herd.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said the first outbreak is on a farm in the Xushui district of Baoding city, which has 5,600 hogs, some of which died because of the swine fever, though it did not give a death toll. The farm has been quarantined and the herd slaughtered, it added.
The second outbreak is in the remote Greater Khingan Mountains in Inner Mongolia, where 210 of the 222 wild boar raised on the farm died, the ministry said in a separate statement. The rest have been slaughtered, it said.
China has reported more than 100 outbreaks of the disease in 27 provinces and regions since August. The disease is deadly for pigs but does not harm humans.
India: Anthrax
Following up with the reports of veterinary experts, wildlife authority in Tripura has suspended the entry of tourists in Sepahijala zoo in West Tripura for a week apprehending the presence of anthrax infection among the animals residing there.
According to report, a deer died in the zoo on Feb. 19 and the carcass was sent to the laboratory of veterinary College. The necropsy report of the dead animal has been suspected of being contaminated with anthrax virus in the zoo, which prompted the authority to close the zoo down for public entry.
"The necessary sanitization work has been going on to prevent any further spread of the infection," said a zoo official adding that there is no health hazard inside and in the surrounding localities of the zoo due to the spread of infection.
Anthrax is an infectious bacterial disease of animals, caused by the spore-forming bacteria Bacillus anthracis. It can affect humans and a wide range of animals.
Congo: Ebola
The epidemiological situation of the Ebola virus disease in the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri dated Feb. 24:
Since the beginning of the epidemic, the cumulative number of cases is 872, 807 confirmed and 65 probable. In total, there have been 548 deaths (483 confirmed and 65 probable).
One hundred seventy-six suspected cases are under investigation.
Three new confirmed cases are in Katwa; 2 new deaths of confirmed cases in Katwa.
African Swine Fever: Viet Nam
Hai Phong city has become the third locality in Viet Nam to detect African swine fever [ASF]. The outbreak in Hai Phong was detected after a farmer in Chinh My commune, Thuy Nguyen district, reported that 35 of his pigs had died from the disease.
Out of the 5 serum and viscera samples collected from the dead pigs, 3 tested positive for ASF with the same pathogens as the outbreaks previously detected in the northern provinces of Thai Binh and Hung Yen, according to the Animal Health Department under the agriculture ministry. Local authorities have disinfected the area and buried the dead pigs.
According to Pawin Padungtod, senior technical coordinator of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations' Emergency Center for Transboundary Animal Disease in Viet Nam, ASF cannot be transmitted from pigs to humans, so the public should not be too worried and boycott pork. Padungtod also highly appreciated Viet Nam's epidemic prevention efforts and thanked the Vietnamese government for preparing, responding to the ASF outbreak and informing the public of the outbreak in a swift manner. "This is a very important condition for international organizations, including FAO, to mobilize resources and experts to help Viet Nam control the disease soon," he said.
Last week, the Animal Health Department announced that it had discovered 2 separate outbreaks of African swine fever that affected 130 pigs in Hung Yen province and another affecting 123 pigs in Thai Binh province. Local authorities have disposed of all the infected pigs, blocked all transportation and sales of live pigs and pig products, and sanitized farms and markets in the 2 provinces.
Paraguay: Hantavirus
A seven year old boy is currently hospitalized in Capiatá in the intensive care unit in the IPS Central Hospital, for a presumed hantavirus infection. The hospital director, Gabriel Aguilera, said this is the first known case in the city. The boy was seen, along with his mother, in the local hospital last week for fever and was taken to the Previsión Social Institute.
The result from a private laboratory was positive for the disease, which is transmitted by rats. However, in order to officially report that this is a hantavirus infection, Dr Aguilera stated that they are awaiting results from the Central Laboratory of the Ministry of Health. He added that health personnel inspected the house and surrounding area, but did not find any resident with fever or other symptoms. He also stated that neither the boy nor his family traveled to Boquerón department, the endemic area in the country.
Dr Aguilera added that contact with rodent excrement and urine can cause the disease. He stressed that any produce that one acquires from storehouses, supermarkets and similar establishments must be cleaned, because it is known that rodents frequently circulate in these places.
February 22, 2019
Pakistan: Leishmaniasis
Health Minister Dr. Hisham Inamullah Khan has said that government is making efforts on war footing for prevention of cutaneous leishmaniasis in the province and a special cell has been set up to cope with the outbreak of the skin disease.
According to a handout issued in Peshawar on Feb. 13, so far 21,258 cases of leishmaniasis have been reported throughout the province, including 19,072 from tribal districts.
In his message, Dr. Hisham said that there was no need to worry about that type of disease, as it was curable. He said that government would ensure that each patient suffering from leishmaniasis was given proper treatment besides taking practical measures for prevention of the disease in the affected areas.
The minister said that WHO also provided 9,500 vials of injections for treatment of the patients. He said that special centers were established at sentinel sites where patients were being treated under the guidelines of WHO in the affected districts.
United States: Strangles
The Washington State Department of Agriculture reported to the Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) 3 confirmed cases of strangles and 10 suspected cases in Chelan County. There is a voluntary quarantine in place.
The reporting vet indicated that up to 10 horses on the premises are affected, with 3 having been cultured and confirmed positive for strangles. Additional horses are presumed positive based on clinical signs.
The 3 horses confirmed positive for strangles are a 12-year-old Arabian, which is recovering; a 4-year-old warmblood; and a 5-year-old Arabian. The 4-year-old had the 1st onset of clinical signs on 23 Dec 2018, and the younger Arabian had onset of clinical signs on 10 Feb 2019.
Oman: Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever
The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries has announced that it has imposed veterinary quarantine on a farm in the wilayat district of Shinas in North Batinah after it registered a case of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) in a citizen. It also confirmed that the citizen infected is undergoing treatment at Sohar Hospital and his condition is stable.
Experts took samples of tick insects, a carrier of the disease from the animals at the citizen's farm and other animals in the area and sent them to the laboratory for examination. MoAF elaborated that experts are guiding the citizen's family on how to handle animals. CCHF is caused by a virus carried by ticks.
Animals like sheep, goats, and cows become carriers after they are bitten by the infected ticks. Humans get infected either by tick-bites or through direct contact with the infected animal's blood and tissues during or after slaughtering. Human-to-human transmission can occur resulting from close contact with blood, secretions, organs, or other bodily fluids from infected persons, the ministry said.
Kenya: Anthrax
A nurse in Embu county was arrested after allegedly inspecting a cow and sanctioning it for consumption even though it had anthrax disease. She is currently being held at Itabua Police Station.
The incident is said to have occurred in Rukia village and led to 3 people being hospitalized at Embu Level Five Hospital.
Embu County Public Health Officer Rosaline Kaugi said the nurse is trained to treat people and works in one of the health facilities but had been engaged by residents to act as a veterinary officer. Kaugi said the nurse will be arraigned in court on after investigations are concluded. She further warned the residents against slaughtering and disposing animals suspected to have anthrax.
Nigeria: Lassa Fever
In the reporting Feb. 4-10, 37 new confirmed cases were reported from Edo (10), Ondo (12), Ebonyi (4), Plateau (4), Taraba (3), Benue (1), Gombe (1), Rivers (1) and Kebbi (1) states with 10 new deaths in Edo (2), Ondo (2), Ebonyi (4) and Plateau (2).
In 2019 to date, a total of 947 suspected cases have been reported from 20 states and FCT. Of these, 324 were confirmed positive, 3 probable and 620 negative.
Since the onset of the 2019 outbreak, there have been 69 deaths in confirmed cases. Case fatality ratio in confirmed cases is 21.3%.
Twenty states (Edo, Ondo, Bauchi, Nasarawa, Ebonyi, Plateau, Taraba, FCT, Adamawa, Gombe, Kaduna, Kwara, Benue, Rivers, Kogi, Enugu, Imo, Delta, Oyo and Kebbi) have recorded at least one confirmed case across 54 local government areas.
Belgium: African Swine Fever
After the discovery of a new case of African swine fever [ASF] in a wild boar found dead in the surveillance zone, the Walloon government has proceeded to expand the 3 protection zones. This has been announced by the Walloon minister of Nature and Forest, René Collin.
Collin has held emergency consultations in Gembloux on Feb. 16, including representatives from the Cabinet of Federal Minister for Agriculture Denis Ducarme. "The discovery leads to an extension of the buffer zone, the observation zone and the surveillance zone", says Collin. In concrete terms, the buffer zone to the north will be expanded by 2900 ha, the observation zone will be expanded east and west of the buffer zone.
In addition, the council chamber of Arlon extended the detention of a second suspect in the judicial investigation concerning ASF by one month. That has been communicated to the public prosecutor of the province of Luxembourg. The detention of the first suspected person had previously been extended.
So far, the judicial authorities have been very reluctant to make information available. At the request of the investigating judge in charge of the case, the public prosecutor's office still did not inform the parties on which grounds the two were arrested. Also the identity of both suspects is officially not yet known. Both were placed under detention mandate last week. Several house searches were carried out during that week. In the Gaume region, the ASF virus was discovered in wild boar in September 2018.
Ireland: Meningitis
A rare form of deadly meningitis is on the rise in Ireland following a pattern seen in other countries, disease specialists have revealed.
The number of cases of the Neisseria meningitis serogroup W strain has increased from one in the year 2014 to 12 last year. There has also been an increase in meningococcal meningitis serogroup Y over the same period.
Neither strain is currently included in the vaccines to protect against meningitis that are commonly given to children.
The increase follows a similar trend in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, which has in turn led to the vaccine now being offered by health services to teenagers and college and university students.
No such vaccination program has been introduced here yet, but the rise in cases will have to be examined by the group of experts which advises the Health Service Executive.
Like other forms of the disease, it can be very serious if not treated quickly with antibiotics. Without emergency treatment, it can lead to life-threatening blood poisoning, and result in permanent brain or nerve damage.
The report from the Health Protection Surveillance Center, the country's disease watchdog, said that during January there were 17 cases of different forms of meningitis. Four of these involved the W and Y strains. Two people died from meningitis during January. Overall, the incidence of meningitis in Ireland has fallen in the past 2 decades.
Tanzania: Anthrax
An outbreak of anthrax in Tanzania's southern highlands region of Songwe that killed 4 people in January 2019 is now under control, a senior official said on Feb. 18. Songwe Regional Administrative Secretary David Kafulila said since the outbreak of the disease in the region on Dec. 10 that regional authorities have taken measures aimed at ending the spread of the disease that left 81 people falling ill after they ate infected meat. "Since Jan. 7 this year, we haven't recorded any new cases of anthrax in Songwe region," Kafulila told Xinhua in an interview.
Kafulila said measures taken by Songwe regional authorities to control the outbreak of the disease included vaccinating all livestock in the region. He said by a total of 20,181 head of cattle, 292 goats and 29 sheep were vaccinated.
"Our target is to vaccinate the region's population of 123,219 head of cattle, 78,000 goats and 40,000 sheep," he said, adding that the region has bought 50,500 doses of vaccine, and more will be purchased through a revolving fund.
Last month, the Ministry of Health confirmed that the 4 people died after they ate meat suspected to have been contaminated with the bacteria that cause anthrax.
Viet Nam: African Swine Fever
African swine fever [ASF] has been detected on 3 farms in Viet Nam, authorities said, the first confirmed cases of the highly contagious disease in the Southeast Asia country.
All pigs on the farms located in Hung Yen and Thai Binh provinces, southeast of the capital Hanoi, were culled, the Animal Health Department said in a statement.
The disease, which is incurable in pigs but harmless for humans, has spread rapidly across neighboring China since August, affecting 25 provinces and regions.
"The disease is not infectious for humans, so people and farmers shouldn't panic," Pham Van Dong, head of the department, told a press conference in Hanoi.
Pork accounts for three-quarters of total meat consumption in Viet Nam, a country of 95 million people where most of its 30 million farm-raised pigs are consumed domestically.
With pork such a popular meat in many Asian countries, UN experts said last September the spread of the virus to China's neighbors was a near certainty, and likely through movements of products containing infected pork.
Nguyen Van Long, the department's chief of epidemiology, said smuggling of animals across borders and tourism made it difficult to control the spread of the disease.
Taiwan's official Central News Agency reported that the country's Council of Agriculture had found the virus in a sandwich carried from Viet Nam to Taiwan on Feb. 5.
Authorities in Taiwan and Viet Nam are working to determine the origin of the pork found in the sandwich, Viet Nam's animal health department said.
Pakistan: Typhoid Fever
The Sindh Health Department on Feb. 19 admitted its failure to formulate an action plan to prevent the spread of the extensively drug-resistant (XDR) strain of typhoid fever in the province. The provincial minister for health, Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho, sighed that the health department still awaited vaccines for XDR typhoid from the federal government as the province battles the outbreak caused by a bacterial strain resistant to most known antimicrobials. She added that the strain had claimed 4 lives since its outbreak from Hyderabad [Sindh] in November 2016, which later spread to Karachi and other cities and towns of the province.
Dr. Pechuho said that the Sindh Health Department had asked the local governments to improve the chlorination in water supplies, noting that the disease had spread due to the lack of sanitation and the presence of open garbage dumps in Karachi and other places. More than 5,000 children have been affected by this typhoid strain, she continued. XDR typhoid is caused by antimicrobial resistant strains of Salmonella enterica serotype Typhi and has been declared by WHO as a notable public health concern.
A report by the Provincial Disease Surveillance and Response Unit reported 5,274 cases of XDR typhoid out of 8,188 typhoid fever cases in Sindh from Nov. 1, 2016 through Dec. 9, 2018.
The WHO recommended typhoid vaccination in response to confirmed outbreaks of typhoid fever. These vaccinations should be implemented in combination with other efforts to control the disease. At present, azithromycin remains the only affordable first-line oral therapeutic option to manage patients with XDR typhoid in low-resource settings.
China: African Swine Fever
In the week that Viet Nam reported its first outbreaks of African swine fever [ASF], the news broke as well that the virus had reached two of the last non-infected provinces on the Chinese east coast: Shandong province and Guangxi autonomous region.
This means that all coastal provinces from north to south now at least reported one outbreak of the virus ever since ASF was first detected in China in August.
In total, on the basis of figures shared by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), the total number of pigs on farms found with ASF is 460,000. According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, already 950,000 pigs had to be culled in an attempt to hold the spread. According to recent official figures, China is home to 461 million pigs.
The outbreak in Shandong province does not come unexpected, as there had been rumors for some while about allegedly infected meat packages coming from this province. The Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs reported that the virus had been found on a farm in Laiwu district of Jinan city. The facility had 4,504 pigs, of which 17 had contracted the virus and 3 had died.
With regard to the outbreak in Guangxi autonomous region, reported on Feb. 19, MARA shared that it had found the virus on 2 farming communities with a total of 23,555 pigs. In total 924 animals had been killed by the virus.
The distance between the Guangxi outbreak and the affected Vietnamese provinces near Hanoi is between 300 and 350 km, measured in a straight line.
News agency Reuters also reported that major Chinese frozen food producer Sanquan Food recently informed that it had recalled products that might have been contaminated with ASF. This happened after media reports about some of its dumplings testing positive for the virus.
Congo: Ebola
The epidemiological situation of the Ebola virus disease in the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri dated 19 Feb 2019:
Since the beginning of the epidemic, the cumulative number of cases is 848, 783 confirmed and 65 probable.
In total, there were 529 deaths (464 confirmed and 65 probable) and 257 people cured.
Two-hundred thirteen suspected cases are under investigation.
One new death of a confirmed case at Katwa ETC.
Zimbabwe: Anthrax
There has been an anthrax outbreak in Mutare and Vumba with confirmed cases at Leopard Rock and Zimbabwe Prisons & Correctional Service’s Mutare Prison Farm which has been forced to temporarily close its abattoir. SPCA's Lynne James confirmed that all the animals at the ZPCS farm have been vaccinated band their horses are under quarantine until March 10.
Leopard Rock also has a suspected case of this disease.
"We also have plenty cattle wander all over Vumba roads currently as well as a large number of baboons and I am sure that all of this makes management of the disease all the more difficult and urgent," Sue Fenwick, a Vumba resident, said.
It is uncertain what has been affected where, but it would seem that there have been 3 outbreaks (Mutare & Mutare Prison Farm, Vumba) and maybe a wildlife case at Leopard Rock which is a wildlife park area with many tourist hotels.
February 15, 2019
Brazil: Yellow Fever
A 21-year-old man who had never been vaccinated is the first confirmed case of yellow fever in Parana. This case was identified on Jan. 26, when a task force of the State Secretariat of Health went to the Litoral in order to organize, together with the Antonina municipality, strategies to deal with the disease. The young man is hospitalized in the Litoral Regional Hospital and is doing well, with a mild form of the disease.
With the formation of the Center of Emergency Health Operations (COES) by the state Secretariat, a team went again to the Litoral Jan. 29 and created a Paranagua First Regional Health COES in order to monitor the disease.
The COES also prepared a document with the so-called clinical management flow in order to orient the health professionals with the identification and treatment of yellow fever, since the last case of the disease occurred in 2015, when the disease was contracted outside the state.
Various measures and strategies to deal with the disease are now in progress by the State Secretariat for Health, especially directed at the 7 municipalities of the first region and municipalities of the second region, due to their proximity to Sao Paulo state where several cases now have been confirmed.
A reinforcement team sent by the State Secretariat is visiting each of the cities of these 2 regions in order to identify the difficulties and actively search in communities more isolated to urge the population to take the vaccination. Through Feb. 5, a person by person search will be carried out in the entire area where the virus is suspected to circulate.
The alert is also extended to strategic groups in the areas of risk, such as truck drivers who descend to the Port of Paranagua, public security officials, and workers of companies that circulate in the Atlantic Forest. Up to now, no more dead monkeys have been found.
Brazil: West Nile Virus
The State Health Secretariat of Piaui (SESAPI) confirmed Feb. 8 the occurrence of another human case of neurological disease in the state caused by West Nile virus. (WNV). The case is a young man resident of the rural zone of Picos, who suffered from acute flaccid muscle paralysis in 2017. The patient was admitted to the University Hospital of the UFPI in Piaui, where the standard protocol for the diagnosis of neuroinvasive diseases issued by SESAPI was applied; he received treatment and recovered completely. The tests were conducted at the time, but the Ministry of Health released the results only in early 2019, indicating the presence of neutralizing antibodies against the virus in the patient's blood.
The first and, until then, only case of West Nile fever in Piaui had occurred in August 2014, corresponding to a cowboy from the city of Aroeiras do Itaim, Piaui. In fact, it was the first case of the disease in the country. At the time, tests on birds and equines of the region indicated that these animals also had contact with the virus. To date, examinations of 32 other suspected human cases in the state have resulted as "undetermined." In April 2018, WNV was detected in the brain of sick and dead horses with neurological symptoms in the state of Espirito Santo, but without confirmation of human cases in that state.
West Nile fever can be transmitted to humans through the bite of mosquitoes infected with the virus acquired from infected (wild) migrating birds. There is no transmission through interhuman contact or through contact with horses. Most infected individuals have no symptoms, and cases of neurological impairment are exceptional. Preventive measures are similar to those against dengue, Zika, and chikungunya viruses. Since 2014, the state of Piaui has intensively monitored cases of neurological disease and tests all suspected cases reported for the disease, both in the public and private hospital network.
Pakistan: West Nile Virus
Researchers who detected the West Nile virus (WNV) in Pakistan for the first time are calling for urgent coordinated surveillance to assess its distribution in the country of the virus known to cause deadly neurological disease.
Spread by mosquitoes, WNV infection is generally asymptomatic. But in about 20% of cases, fever, headache and vomiting develop; less than 1% of these cases lead to potentially fatal neurological complications. The virus causes inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) or inflammation of the tissue that surrounds the brain and spinal cord (meningitis), studies show.
The researchers published their findings online last month in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases. They found samples of the virus after analyzing 1,070 serum samples drawn from blood donors in the Punjab province from 2016 to 2018. But when they screened 4,500 mosquito specimens collected from 2016 to 2017 from 5 selected districts of Punjab province, the samples tested negative for WNV -- suggesting that the virus is circulating via a different route.
Muhammad Saqib, assistant professor at the University of Faisalabad, Pakistan and one of the authors of the study, tells SciDev.Net that while traditionally the mosquito bite is the primary cause of WNV infection, blood transfusion is an important mode of transmission in Pakistan. "Transmission through human blood transfusion poses grave risks," he said.
Saqib and his fellow researchers from Pakistan and China warn that Pakistanis will be increasingly vulnerable to WNV infection unless surveillance, screening and reporting facilities are immediately put in place.
Since the 1990s, WNV infections and related outbreaks of neurological disease have grown to become increasingly serious public health problems. Genetic analyses have identified multiple lineages, but most studies have focused on Lineage 1. This particular lineage 1st emerged in 1999 in New York (USA) and has a propensity to cause neuroinvasive disease.
Nigeria: Lassa Fever
In the Jan. 28-Feb. 3 reporting week, 68 new confirmed cases were reported from Edo (20), Ondo 22), Ebonyi (7), Bauchi (4), Plateau (4), Nasarawa (1), Taraba (3), Benue (1), Kaduna (1), Kwara (1), Oyo (2), Delta (1), and Rivers (1) states, with 14 new deaths in Edo (2), Ondo (1), Rivers (1) Plateau (2), Oyo (1), Ebonyi (4 ), Enugu (1), Taraba (1), and Nasarawa (1).
From Feb. 1-3, a total of 731 suspected cases have been reported from 19 states. Of these, 275 were confirmed positive, 3 probable, and 453 negative.
Since the onset of the 2019 outbreak, there have been 57 deaths in confirmed cases. Case fatality rate in confirmed cases is 20.7%.
Nineteen states (Edo, Ondo, Bauchi, Nasarawa, Ebonyi, Plateau, Taraba, FCT [Federal Capital Territory], Adamawa, Gombe, Kaduna, Kwara, Benue, Rivers, Kogi, Enugu, Imo, Delta, and Oyo) have recorded at least one confirmed case.
In the reporting week 5, 4 new healthcare workers were affected in Edo state. A total of 9 health care workers have been affected since the onset of the outbreak in 4 states -- Ebonyi (1), Ondo (2), Enugu (1), and Edo (5), with one death in Enugu.
Ninety-eight patients are currently being managed at Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (ISTH) treatment Centre (42), Federal Medical Centre Owo (25), Federal Teaching Hospital Abakiliki (8), Bauchi (5), Plateau (7), and other (11) states.
A total of 2,791 contacts have been identified from 9 states. Of these 2,080 (74.5%) are currently being followed up, 647 (23.2%) have completed 21 days follow up. 23 (0.8.1%) symptomatic contacts have been identified, of which 13 (0.4%) have tested positive.
Congo: Ebola
The epidemiological situation of the Ebola virus disease in the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri dated February 9:
Since the beginning of the epidemic, the cumulative number of cases is 811, of which 750 are confirmed and 61 are probable
In total, there were 510 deaths (449 confirmed and 61 probable) and 276 people cured.
One hundred forty-eight suspected cases are under investigation.
Australia: Anthrax
At least 350 sheep have died from anthrax poisoning on a property near Nyngan. NSW [New South Wales] Department of Primary Industries confirmed biosecurity measures had been put in place on a Central West property after a large number of livestock deaths. These included restricted animal movements, vaccination of stock, carcass disposal and decontamination.
This comes after a number of major outbreaks in southern Queensland recently, with 120 head of cattle killed from a soil disturbance in March 2017 and another 30 sporadic deaths from October 2017 to January 2018. In 2013, dozens of cattle were killed on two properties near Moree.
Anthrax is an acute infectious disease caused by the disturbance of soil-borne bacteria and can kill sheep, cattle, horses, pigs and other livestock instantly.
Recent research identified the 'anthrax belt', previously from Moree and Walgett to the Victorian border from Corowa to Deniliquin, had expanded further north into central southern Queensland.
A NSW DPI spokesperson said there was an increased risk of anthrax when feed was short and animals were grazing close to the ground.
Mayotte: Rift Valley Fever
Since the discovery of a first case in November 2018, Rift Valley fever (RVF) continues to circulate in the department of Mayotte. To date, 31 human cases of RVF have been reported by the CHM laboratory to the ARS Indian Ocean.
RVF mainly affects domestic ruminants (cattle, sheep, goats), but can occasionally infect humans. The Prefecture of Mayotte, in collaboration with the ARS Indian Ocean and the Directorate of Food, Agriculture and Forestry of Mayotte (DAAF) reminds the population of the importance of implementing recommendations and actions of prevention to protect against the disease.
As of Feb. 6, 31 human cases of RVF were reported to the monitoring and health emergency platform of the ARS OI (CVAGS) of Mayotte by the CHM laboratory.
Samples taken by the veterinary services in sick animals or during abortions have also made it possible to identify 23 outbreaks of infected animals (comprising from 1-6 animals) including 7 in sheep/goats, mainly located in the center of the island.
Pakistan: Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever
Karachi’s first case in 2019 of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF), commonly known as Congo virus, was reported Feb. 10 as a woman tested positive for the disease at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC).
The patient is currently under treatment at an isolated ward of the JPMC.
She is the first CCHF patient brought to any hospital in Karachi in 2019, health officials said. They added that CCHF cases are mostly reported during Eid-ul-Azha [Festival of Sacrifice] days as people come in contact with cattle and sacrificial animals, which carry the tick that spreads the deadly disease to human beings.
CCHF is a tick-borne viral disease, which is acquired when a person comes in contact with an animal infected with the Congo virus due to the presence of the parasite on its skin. Mostly butchers, sheep and animal herders, and those who are associated with cattle-farming become victims of the CCHF, which has a 40 to 50 percent mortality rate.
"Many people have contracted this disease in Karachi during their interaction with cattle. People should take precautionary measures while dealing with the cattle and livestock," Dr Jamali said, adding that red spots on body, high fever, and blood coming from mouth and nose were the symptoms of Congo virus, and any patient exhibiting such symptoms should immediately be rushed to a major hospital.
India: Avian Influenza
Authorities in Bokaro are rushing quick response teams to 9 blocks in the district in the wake of bird flu confirmation in Gomia.
The state animal husbandry department had on Feb. 9 said samples of dead crows sent to the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD), Bhopal, had tested positive for the H5N1 virus that is responsible for the highly infectious scourge in avian species.
Besides Gomia, where crows began dropping dead in the last week of January, Bermo, Chandrapura, Kasmar, Chas, Nawadih, Chandankyari, Jaridih, and Petarwar blocks have been put on high alert, said Bokaro animal husbandry officer Arun Kumar Sinha.
"We have sent special teams to these areas. But, there is no need to panic, as bird flu has not been reported in poultry yet. No poultry death has taken place so far. Besides, we have sent poultry samples to the Bhopal lab as a precautionary measure," he said, adding that reports were expected in a couple of days.
The animal husbandry officer nonetheless advised poultry farmers to isolate and cull sick birds, restrict access to healthy ones, clean cages and equipment regularly, disinfect footwear/gloves of workers, and stop borrowing supplies from other farms.
Belgium: African Swine Fever
Between Jan. 29 and Feb. 7, 52 carcasses were found positive for African swine fever (ASF). Most animals, which were all found within the kernel zone in the southern Belgian province Luxembourg, had died of the virus according to the latest report to the OIE.
Worryingly, however, 2 cases of ASF were found in wild boar that were shot close to the village of Orsinfaing. These animals were killed about 3.5 km north of the latest known ASF location, and close to the border of the kernel zone.
In addition, local media report a positive case of ASF found in wild boar near Mussy-la-Ville, which is at 2 km of the French border, more toward Longwy. This case, however, has not been shared by the OIE yet.
The first outbreak of ASF was reported in September 2018 near the village of Etalle. So far, the virus has not been found in domestic pigs.
Meanwhile, the Belgian authorities in Luxembourg province have arrested 2 men in the context of the African swine fever outbreaks in Belgium. The arrest followed the interviewing of four of them last week. In the context of the investigating authorities, officially no further statements have been made about the arrests.
It has been confirmed that 1 of these 4 persons interviewed is a forestry ranger, employed by the Public Service of Wallonia. According to Belgian press agency Belga, that person was working for the Walloon Department of Nature and Forests (DNF).
February 8, 2019
Mayotte: Rift Valley Fever
In the Indian Ocean, between Madagascar and the coast of Mozambique, sits the archipelago of Mayotte, a Department of France.
Health officials have reported an increase in autochthonous Rift Valley fever (RVF) cases in the past 6 weeks. Since the first human case was detected in December, health officials have reported 19 human cases. Most of the cases were located in the western part of the island.
Samples made on ruminants present around human cases were analyzed at CIRAD in Reunion for the search for the RVF virus. The results identified several positive animals in different villages located in west and center of the island.
In addition, an IgM-positive cattle has been reported in Mamoudzou. This 2-year-old cattle belongs to a breeding herd of 8 cattle, including 4 adults and 4 2-month-old calves. Biological control and investigations are underway.
ECDC reports that the detection of autochthonous Rift Valley fever cases on Mayotte is not unexpected, but the occurrence of 19 cases within a short time period is of concern, as current weather conditions (rainy season from November to March) are favorable for the vectors.
Rift Valley fever (RVF) is an illness that is primarily spread by direct contact with blood, fluids, or tissues of infected animals such as cattle, buffalo, sheep, goats, and camels. Less commonly, it can also be spread through mosquito bites.
Guinea: Lassa Fever
Guinea's government has reported one case of a 35-year-old man with Lassa fever in the central town of Mamou, some 260-kilometers from the country's capital of Conakry.
An investigative mission will be deployed to the region to support health authorities, the government said in a statement posted on the website of the National Health Security Agency. No other Lassa fever cases were reported.
Lassa fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic illness, transmitted to humans through contact with food or household items contaminated by infected rodents.
Nigeria: Lassa Fever
The Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Owo, Ondo State, is said to have run out of bed spaces to accommodate victims of the Lassa fever outbreak in the state.
Investigation carried out by SaharaReporters showed that the disease which has been ravaging the state for almost 2 weeks, has found its way into Akure, the state capital. Although the outbreak had been reported in border cities of the northern senatorial district of the state, such as Edo and Kogi, sources at the FMC in Owo area told our correspondent that many victims are hospitalized in the center.
One of the sources revealed that the current situation at FMC was getting out of control, adding that isolation wards of the hospital could no longer contain the patients due to lack of bed spaces to quarantine them.
Another source at the state Ministry of Health also confirmed that the current situation in Ondo State was "very terrible", and called for the declaration of a state of emergency in the state.
Dr. Stephen Fagbemi, the Ondo State Epidemiologist, had said at a forum that the state should prepare for war against Lassa fever. He said about 27 states were affected with Lassa fever last year and Ondo and Edo topped the list as they accounted for about 80% of those affected.
Belgium: African Swine Fever
The count of wild boar in Belgium that contracted African Swine Fever (ASF) has risen to 405. So far, no infected boars have been found outside the inner zones in southern Belgium.
The latest count by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) shows that in the last week of January, 13 new ASF-infected boar were found; 11 carcasses, and 2 infected boar got shot by hunters.
So far, all outbreaks have been confirmed in wild boar inside the kernel and buffer zones in southern Belgium. Until now, 113 positive animals have been found in January, making it the month with the most positive cases after October 2018. In that month, 139 ASF infected wild boar were reported to the OIE from southern Belgium.
In the meantime, at the French side of the border, there is a lot going on to prevent the virus crossing the border. In January, a so-called 'white zone' was created on the French side of the border in which any wild boar is supposed to be shot, in order to preventively eradicate the wild boar so the virus will not be able to hop from one boar on the Belgian side to one on the French side.
According to Didier Guillaume, the French minister of agriculture, there were between 500 and 600 wild boar to be culled in this area and it would take about 2-3 weeks to cull them all. The idea is to create a completely boar free zone which will be surrounded by a 1.5m high fence. In addition, a total of about 100km in fences will be set up at the border, costing several million Euros.
In this undertaking, even 40 soldiers of the French army have been given a task: to provide logistical support for the hunters.
Switzerland: Tick-borne encephalitis
Only 2 Swiss cantons are not considered "at-risk" zones for tick-borne diseases, the Federal Office of Public Health has announced. Vaccination is recommended.
Following a recent government call for mass vaccinations against the debilitating tick-borne encephalitis [TBE] disease, the health office said it considered the entire country -- except cantons Geneva and Ticino -- to be at risk.
The optimum time for vaccination is in winter, the office wrote, so that walkers and hikers are protected once the good weather and riskiest period (from April to October) rolls around.
Last year 380 cases of tick-borne encephalitis, a debilitating disease that attacks the central nervous system and can be fatal, were reported in Switzerland, compared with 100 per year in previous years.
Japan: Classical Swine Fever
Japanese authorities were battling to contain swine flu after the virus was detected at multiple sites in central Japan.
Japanese soldiers and local government officials began slaughtering around 6,600 pigs at a farm in Toyota City in Aichi prefecture following the confirmation of an outbreak of swine fever, also known as hog cholera, there.
Since January, the farm has shipped pigs to 6 facilities in Nagano, Gifu, Aichi, Shiga, Mie, and Osaka prefectures, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. It said it had found the virus at all the above places except Mie.
The Nagano prefectural government also started the slaughtering of 2,400 pigs at a farm in the village of Miyada.
The government could end up killing a total of 15,000 pigs, Kyodo News agency reported.
United States: Chronic Wasting Disease
Deer contaminated by chronic wasting disease (CWD) have made their way into Stone and Taney counties in Missouri. CWD is a deadly illness spread from deer to deer through direct contact with soil, food and water contaminated through feces, urine, saliva or carcasses of infected deer.
During the summer and fall deer hunting season of 2018, the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) tested more than 28,000 deer for CWD. From those thousands of collected tissue samples, 28 deer, from 11 counties across Missouri, tested positive for CWD.
Hundreds of CWD cases have been identified in northwest Arkansas counties bordering southwest Missouri, but for the first time ever, positively tested deer were harvested in Stone and Taney counties. MDC Wildlife Health Specialist Keith Cordell said the deer were found in northeast Stone County, near Reeds Spring, and southern Taney County, in the Drury-Mincy Conservation area.
"Not entirely surprising," said Cordell. "I mean, seeing as what we're observing just south of the border in Arkansas, and we've really ramped up and increased our surveillance efforts on those southern border counties, I was actually kind of surprised last year when we did not detect any.
"So it was pretty much inevitable we knew we were going to find it down there eventually. That's why it was so important to find it early, so we've got something we can actually do about it before it gets too widespread."
Congo: Ebola
The epidemiological situation of the Ebola virus disease in the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri dated Feb. 4:
Since the beginning of the epidemic, the cumulative number of cases is 788, 734 confirmed and 54 probable. In total, there were 486 deaths (432 confirmed and 54 probable) and 267 people cured.
One-hundred ninety-one suspected cases are under investigation.
February 1, 2019
Nigeria: Lassa Fever
In the reporting week ending Jan. 13, 35 new confirmed cases were reported from Edo (12), Ondo (12), Bauchi (3), FCT (1), Ebonyi (5), Plateau (1) and Taraba (1) States with 8 new deaths in Ondo (3), Edo (1), Ebonyi (1), Plateau (1) FCT (1) and Taraba (1).
Through Jan. 13, a total of 172 suspected cases have been reported. Of these, 60 were confirmed positive and 112 negative (not a case).
Case fatality rate in confirmed cases is 26.7%.
Eight states (Edo, Ondo, Bauchi, Nasarawa Ebonyi, Plateau, Taraba and FCT) have recorded at least one confirmed case across 17 Local Government Areas.
Forty-six patients are currently being managed at Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (ISTH) treatment Centre (20), Federal Medical Centre Owo (18), Bauchi (3) and Ebonyi (5) States.
A total of 593 contacts have been identified from 8 states while 590 are currently under follow up and 3 are symptomatic positive contacts.
Pakistan: Leishmaniasis
More than 400 people affected by leishmaniasis in Pandiali administrative division of Mohmand tribal district, have been hospitalized. Local people told media persons here Jan. 22 that the affected areas included Danish Kool, Darra, Garai and Ismail Sher Kallay in Pandiali tehsil, in addition to some localities of Haleemzai tehsil.
A resident, said that his daughter was among the more than 400 affected people. Another, whose son is also suffering from the disease, said the people had shifted their children to hospitals in Peshawar and Charsadda districts because treatment of leishmaniasis was not available in Mohmand hospitals.
In Karak, local officials told Director General of Health Services, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Dr. Arshad Khan that the district health department had been facing difficulties coping with the spread of leishmaniasis and other diseases because of a shortage of doctors and facilities in the local hospitals. Earlier, the Director General of Health Services, District Nazim Umer Daraz, MPA Nisar Gul, and Deputy Commissioner Mian Abidullah visited the areas affected by the disease, including Bahadarkhel and Nari Panos, and got information about the latest situation.
In response to the complaints, the Director General of Health Services assured participants of the meeting that the deficiency of staff and equipment in hospitals would be corrected. All hospitals of the province have been facing a shortage of doctors, Dr. Arshad Khan said, adding that a new policy was afoot to overcome the deficiency of doctors.
Noted skin specialist and Karachi Institute of Skin Diseases Director Dr. Iqbal Nabi Soomro said leishmaniasis is rising to an epidemic level in the Sindh-Balochistan border areas while no vaccine is available for the treatment of patients.
Talking to PPI, Dr. Iqbal Nabi Soomro said leishmaniasis cases have been reported from Dadu, Larkana, Winder and other hilly areas of Sindh and Balochistan provinces for the past several weeks. He said leishmaniasis is transmitted by a sandfly that bites and injects the germs into the body of victims.
He explained that the sandfly stings exposed parts of the human body. These flies are more active during the morning and evening, and a small leishmaniasis skin infection or wound can become lethal if not properly managed.
Dr. Soomro said that all kind of diagnostic and consultation facilities are available at the Institute of Skin Diseases, Karachi, free of cost, but vaccines are not available in Pakistan for leishmaniasis patients nor are they being imported from other countries for the management of skin diseases.
Taiwan: African Swine Fever
Another 4 cases of pork products originating in China have tested positive for African swine fever (ASF), including the first courier package found to contain meat products that tested positive for the virus, a Council of Agriculture (COA) official said Jan. 24.
During a press conference organized by the government's ASF disaster response center, COA deputy chief Huang Chin-Cheng said the 4 new cases brought the total to 18.
According to the Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine (BAPHIQ), the 15th case was found on 14 Jan 2018 in a courier package containing ham sausages produced in China's Shandong province.
It was the first time pork products in a courier package tested positive for ASF, the BAPHIQ said, adding that this shows the virus could enter Taiwan through multiple channels, including the postal system.
The 16th case, which was dried pork jerky produced in China's Jiangsu province, was sent anonymously to inspection officials in Hsinchu.
Meanwhile, the 17th and 18th cases were found in 2 different type of sausages brought by passengers from the Chinese city of Tianjin, for which separate fines were issued.
Malaysia: Hand, foot and mouth Disease
The Sarawak Health Department has recorded a marked increase in the number of cases of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) compared to the same period last year.
State Health Director Dr. Jamilah Hashim, in a press release, said 615 HFMD cases were recorded in the first 19 days of this year, a marked increase over the 112 cases recorded during the same period last year.
"As many as 77 per cent of these cases this year [2019] involved children under the age of 3 years. 42 of them were warded because of dehydration caused by sores in the mouth, making it difficult for them to eat and drink," she said, but added that there had been no reports of fatalities.
Three divisions in Sarawak recorded more than 100 cases each: Miri (143), Kuching (111) and Sibu (102).
For the 1st 3 weeks of this year [2019], a total of 44 clusters of HFMD were reported, with 31 cases occurring at private homes; 9 clusters involved pre-schoolers, and 4 at nurseries, which have been ordered to close under the relevant law.
HFMD is caused by various types of enterovirus including the dreaded Coxsackie A16 (CA16) and Enterovirus71 (EV71).
The symptoms include fever and visible ulcers in the mouth and on the hands and feet. EV71 can cause complications leading to meningitis, encephalitis, cardiorespiratory and heart failures, and also death. So far, there is no vaccine to prevent HFMD.
United States: Avian Cholera
More than a thousand birds were found dead at a lake in Southern California. But the cause of death is quite normal for this time of year.
The outbreak of avian cholera is affecting hundreds of water birds in the Salton Sea.
"Some of the species that have been affected by this bird cholera, we have the northern shovelers, ruddy ducks, seagulls, (and) black-headed stilts," said Frank Ruiz, Salton Sea program director.
From Jan 8-17, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife [CDFW] collected about 1,200 bird carcasses in the south end of the Salton Sea.
The outbreak was caused by bacteria spread among bird flocks, according to the CDFW. The disease also affects mice and rabbits but no other mammals.
Zambia: Foot and Mouth Disease
Foot and Mouth disease has broken out in Chisamba District - Central Province affecting over 180 cattle.
District Veterinary Officer Allan Lianzambi says his team has since moved in to vaccinate the cattle and that 300 have since been vaccinated. He says 11,000 animals are earmarked for vaccination.
Dr. Lianzambi who says no animal has died so far, revealed to the media that the disease has affected mainly dairy animals.
South Korea: Foot And Mouth Disease
South Korea has identified a case of foot-and-mouth disease [FMD] at a dairy cow farm, the first discovery of the disease in the country since March last year [2018], its agriculture ministry said.
The outbreak occurred at the farm of 120 cows in Anseong city, southeast of Seoul, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said in a statement.
The ministry said it will cull the cows at the affected farm and step up quarantine and disinfection measures including a temporary transport ban on livestock to contain the wider spread of the virus.
The most recent case was reported last March when the outbreak was discovered at a hog farm.
Afghanistan: Q Fever
At least 90 British military personnel have been diagnosed with confirmed cases of Q fever after serving in Helmand, Afghanistan. According to a UK military news outlet, Forces Network, a consultant in infectious diseases and tropical medicine told to the Central London Country Court that 90 confirmed cases of Q fever had been recorded among British soldiers who had served in Helmand.
Lieutenant Colonel Mark Bailey's testimony was heard in the case of a private with 2nd Battalion, the Mercian Regiment, who said his life has been ruined after he contracted the disease while in Helmand in 2011/2012. During his tour, his lawyers said the private was in contact with goats and sheep and "was often required to take cover and jump through ditches and crawl along the ground -- coming into contact with animal products and excrement." The soldier was medically discharged from the Army in 2014 because of his Q fever and chronic fatigue symptoms.
Humans can catch Q fever by breathing in dust from the secretions of infected farm animals such as sheep, cattle, and goats.
Bailey, who specializes in infectious diseases and tropical medicine, and a national expert in Q fever said he has 90 military and 10 civilian cases in his care after they were referred to him. He confirmed the 90 had served in Helmand and said the number of military cases "built up from 2008", Forces Network reported. Bailey told the court: "We have seen no new cases since 2014 from Afghanistan. Occasionally we get other military cases from other locations. Cyprus most recently."
Saudi Arabia: MERS
Four new cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) coronavirus have been detected in Oman, according to the Ministry of Health. "This brings the total number of recorded cases from various governorates in the Sultanate to 18 since 2013," the ministry said in a statement. The new cases are receiving necessary medical care at one of the hospitals.
"The ministry affirms its continued effort to monitor and control the disease through the effective Epidemiological Surveillance System," the ministry added. "All hospitals are capable of dealing with such cases," the ministry said, "We urge all citizens and residents to comply with preventative measures to control infection and to maintain hygiene when sneezing and coughing."
MERS is a viral respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus (Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus, or MERS-CoV) that was first identified in Saudi Arabia in 2012. Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that can cause diseases ranging from the common cold to severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).
Although most human cases of MERS-CoV infections have been attributed to human-to-human contact in health care settings, current scientific evidence suggests that dromedary camels are a major reservoir host for MERS-CoV and an animal source of MERS infection in humans. However, the exact role of dromedaries in the transmission of the virus and the exact route(s) of transmission are unknown
"The virus does not seem to pass easily from person to person unless there is close contact, such as when providing unprotected care to a patient. Health care associated outbreaks have occurred in several countries, with the largest outbreaks seen in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and the Republic of Korea," the WHO added.
United States: Chronic Wasting Disease
Three more cases of chronic wasting disease [CWD] have been found in Mississippi deer, bringing the total to 9.
The Clarion Ledger reports the state Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks Wildlife Bureau says one confirmed case was in Benton County, and 2 were in Marshall County. Department executive director Russ Walsh says this is Benton County's first case. The fatal neurological disease is contagious and causes deer to lose weight and have movement problems.
It is present in 25 other states, including Tennessee. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency announced Jan. 23 that the total number of confirmed disease cases in Fayette and Hardeman counties, which border Mississippi, has risen to 91. Those counties had confirmed 24 cases by mid-January 2019.
Congo: Ebola
The epidemiological situation of the Ebola virus disease in the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri dated 26 Jan 2019:
Since the beginning of the epidemic, the cumulative number of cases is 733, of which 679 confirmed and 54 probable. In total, there were 459 deaths (405 confirmed and 54 probable) and 256 recoveries.
One hundred sixty-five suspected cases under investigation.
Four new confirmed cases, including 2 in Oicha, 1 in Beni, and 1 in Katwa.
Three new confirmed case deaths, including 1 community death in Oicha and 2 deaths at Butembo ETC.
Five new probable cases in Komanda
January 25, 2019
Poland: African Swine Fever
Poland's battle to control highly contagious African swine fever (ASF) is turning into a political problem for the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party. Since Jan. 12, hunters have been out in force across the country hunting for wild boars -- many of which are carriers of the deadly disease that the Polish government wants to stamp out in order to protect domestic pigs.
It's the scale of the cull that's causing the trouble. A total of some 20,000 wild boars will be killed over the next few weekends -- bringing this season's overall cull to about 190,000. The government estimates the total wild population is about 214,000.
The plan has angered a coalition of environmental groups, scientists and the political opposition. The next few days will see protests in several Polish cities and an anti-hunt petition sent to the government has gathered more than 300,000 signatures. Defenders of the cull argue that there were also large hunts in previous years, but that they didn't raise protests then.
The outrage echos protests a few years ago over the government's earlier policy of cutting down trees in the protected Bialowieza forest -- arguing it was needed to control an outbreak of beetles. That policy got Warsaw in trouble with the European Commission.
In response, the government is slightly curtailing the scale of the hunt, and Environment Minister Henryk Kowalczyk clarified that hunters should spare pregnant sows and those caring for piglets.
But the bigger issue is whether the cull will do much to rein in ASF. The disease is lethal to pigs but does not affect humans; there is no known treatment or vaccination. Pork accounts for half of the EU's meat production and is one of the bloc's largest agricultural exports, so both the Commission and member countries are keen to protect the industry.
There is no debate that boars are carriers of ASF, but it's more questionable if they are the leading vectors for transmitting the disease to domestic pigs. Some scientists caution that a mass killing of wild boars won't help.
"Mass collective hunts across vast areas could cause wild boars to move from where they're threatened and spread the ASF virus faster and further," said Rafal Kowalczyk, director of the Mammal Research Institute of the Polish Academy of Sciences. "It's also unlikely that the local hunting associations tasked with culling will take care not to spread the virus by disinfecting clothes or cars and dealing with the carcasses properly."
China: African Swine Fever
China has confirmed a new outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) in northwest China's Ningxia Hui autonomous region. On a local farm in Yongning County, 26 pigs were confirmed infected with the viral disease and 13 had died as of Jan. 19, said the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, citing a report from the China Animal Disease Control Center.
A team has been dispatched to the area to give guidance, and local authorities have initiated an emergency response to isolate and cull the affected pigs and disinfect the venue. Transport of all pigs and related products out of or into the blockade zone is forbidden, the ministry added.
China reported its first case of the disease in August 2018 in the northeast province of Liaoning. Later outbreaks were reported in several other provincial regions. Since then, a total of 103 ASF outbreaks have been detected in 24 provinces/autonomous region/municipalities. More than 916,000 pigs have been culled in an effort to halt further spread.
United States: Newcastle Disease
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed Jan. 18 the presence of virulent Newcastle disease (VND) in a small flock of backyard exhibition chickens in Utah County, Utah. This is the first case of VND in Utah, APHIS said.
According to APHIS, this case is believed to be connected to the current VND outbreak in California, as three of the birds at the premises were recently moved to Utah from Los Angeles County. Since May 2018, 299 cases of VND have been confirmed in southern California, primarily in backyard exhibition birds, but also recently in 3 commercial egg operations.
APHIS said it is working with the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF) to respond to the finding. Federal and state partners are also conducting additional surveillance and testing in the area.
UDAF confirmed that exhibition poultry (i.e., privately owned/non-commercial chickens) imported from California at the beginning of January and placed with a small domestic flock (250 birds) in Utah County have tested positive for VND.
UDAF said it received a report of a possible case of VND in Utah County earlier the week of Jan. 14 and quarantined the site. VND in the birds was confirmed Jan. 17 by the National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) in Iowa.
In Utah, the disease is currently contained to one domestic flock and has not been detected in any commercial poultry flocks, UDAF said. "The disease is spread when healthy birds come in contact with bodily fluids from infected birds and contaminated surfaces," UDAF state veterinarian Dr. Barry Pittman said.
This disease can be transmitted through manure, egg flats, crates, vehicles, or farming materials or equipment, or through people who have handled these materials and their clothing, hands, and shoes, UDAF said.
Tanzania: Anthrax
The Tanzanian Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children (MOHCDGEC) has informed WHO of a suspected outbreak of anthrax in Momba District, Songwe Region, located in the western part of the country. The event was initially reported to the local health authorities on Jan. 3 by a community leader in Nzoka ward. However, epidemiological investigation established that the outbreak started on Dec. 9 when the index case, a 70-year-old woman from Nzoka village, developed illness and died later in the community.
On Dec. 10, a 13-year old girl from the same village developed similar illness and subsequently died in the community. A cluster of similar cases eventually occurred between Dec. 24 and Jan. 7, two of whom died (one in the community and the other one on arrival at a health facility).
Most of the case-patients presented with swelling and ulceration on different parts of the body. Swab specimens of the skin lesions were obtained from 4 initial case-patients and analyzed at the Vwawa Hospital (the referral hospital for Songwe Region). Of these, 2 specimens showed gram-positive bacilli on Gram staining, pointing to a probable diagnosis of anthrax. In addition, 7 blood specimens were obtained and shipped to the national laboratory for further analysis. Test results released on Jan. 17 by the Tanzania Veterinary Laboratory Agency in Dar es Salaam indicated that 3 of the 7 specimens tested positive for Bacillus anthracis by polymerase chain reaction.
As of Jan. 17, a total of 81 human cases of cutaneous anthrax have been reported, including 4 deaths (case fatality ratio, 4.9%). There have been no new cases since Jan. 7. The ages of the cases range from one to 75 years, with a median age of 25 years. Females are more affected, accounting for 54% of the reported cases. The majority of the cases are farmers and livestock keepers. The cases originated from 4 different settlements in Nzoka village, namely, Chipanda, Nzoka, Kanyimbo and Manyolo.
Argentina: Hantavirus
The Jujuy provincial minister of health Jan. 14 confirmed a hantavirus case in San Pedro. This is one of the 4 suspected cases evaluated in this Ramallo city and was diagnosed in a 56-year-old patient who is being treated and is progressing well.
This was confirmed for El Tribuno in Jujuy by the subsecretariat for Health Promotion, Prevention, and Attention, Veronica Serra, who stated that there were 4 suspected hantavirus cases in the province: 3 in the public sector that were negative and one in the private sector that was positive. "Recently, yesterday afternoon, the diagnosis was confirmed for a patient hospitalized in the Santa Maria Clinic in San Pedro, who is being treated and is progressing favorably," the official stated.
She also explained that there is blocking work now, but all epidemiological research will start Jan. 15.
Serra also remarked that this specific case is different from the type of hantavirus that is circulating in Chubut province and is a milder strain. "The one circulating in Jujuy is a completely different strain [species] than the hantavirus in the south. The transmission of the hantavirus that we have in the province occurs via aspiration of urine of the rodent, not person-to-person as is occurring in the south. It is a variant of the disease that is milder as for its transmission," she said.
In Jujuy province last year, 7 cases of hantavirus were registered, the majority on the Ramal and Valles area. "In 2018 there were 4 cases in Libertador General San Martin, one in San Pedro, one in El Carmen, and the other in Cochinoca department, of which none were fatal; all were treated and progressed favorably."
Tunisia: Foot and Mouth Disease
A second case of foot-and-mouth disease [FMD] has been detected in a flock of sheep in Hassi El Ferid (Kasserine governorate) after the recording of a first outbreak in Magdoudech.
Urgent measures have been taken to deal with the spread of this disease, said Ridha Guesmi, head of animal production at the Regional Commissariat for Agricultural Development (CRDA) in Kasserine.
This includes strengthening immunization campaigns, noting that pre-emptive campaigns have already been launched for livestock in the region since the end of last week.
To benefit from these campaigns are more than 400,000 sheep and 10,000 head of cattle, he added, recalling that last year, about 350 head of sheep and goats and 7 head of cows were vaccinated in the region.
During the working session held Jan. 15 at the headquarters of the governorate, emphasis was put on the importance of implementing the circular of the Ministry of Agriculture, in particular providing the necessary logistical and human resources to ensure the smooth running of the vaccination campaign and to take necessary samples for detection and eradication of the virus, he said.
The same source said that samples have already been sent to the Institute of Veterinary Research in Tunis to check whether other cases have been infected.
Australia: Tick fever
A tick fever outbreak recently threatened cattle herds at Kendall. The outbreak has been managed by the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) and North Coast Local Land Services.
A spokesperson from NSW DPI said that since the outbreak was detected, an infringement notice has been issued to a Victorian livestock transporter for failing to provide evidence of completing mandatory cattle tick requirements prior to bringing a bull from a tick zone to a mid-north coast property.
NSW DPI Cattle Tick operations leader Larry Falls said the notice was issued following departmental investigations of the tick fever outbreak on 3 properties, which led to the deaths of more than 60 cattle in the region.
"Our regulatory officers found no evidence a bull moved from Queensland to a Kendall property had undergone the mandatory tick inspection and treatment requirements before entering NSW," Mr Falls said.
"It's a reminder to anyone transporting cattle into NSW from tick infested areas that they must follow proper procedures."
Local landholders have worked with NSW DPI and North Coast Local Land Services staff to help manage and contain the tick threat.
Once tick fever -- a blood parasite spread by cattle ticks -- was confirmed, surviving cattle were treated with an antidote, and there have been no further incidences of tick fever in the area.
Mr. Falls said that an eradication program is well underway to successfully rid mid-north coast herds of cattle ticks and tick fever.
Congo: Ebola
The epidemiological situation of the Ebola Virus Disease dated Jan. 22:
Since the beginning of the epidemic, the cumulative number of cases is 713, of which 664 are confirmed and 49 are probable. In total, there were 439 deaths (390 confirmed and 49 probable) and 247 people cured.
Two-hundred three suspected cases under investigation.
Fourteen new confirmed cases, including 9 in Katwa, 2 in Mangurujipa, 1 in Biena, 1 in Butembo and 1 in Kayina, have been logged.
Four community deaths (2 in Katwa and 2 in Mangurujipa); 2 deaths in CTEs (1 in Butembo and 1 in Beni), have been reported.
One person healed out of Butembo CTE.
January 18, 2019
Belgium: African Swine Fever
"Two cases of boars positive for African swine fever were detected between Meix and Sommethonne [Gaume municipality, Luxembourg province, Wallonia region]", a few hundred meters from the French border, confirms René Collin, the Walloon Minister of Agriculture. These new cases are outside the buffer zone, which therefore will be extended over part of the 'enhanced observation area', to the southwest.
On Dec. 24, ProMED-mail cited a media report, informing that on Dec. 17, a carcass of a boar was found "not far from Gerouville", and that the carcass was tested and found positive for ASF. Gerouville is situated outside the buffer zone.
On Dec. 25, the case in Gerouville was reported by the Belgian authorities to the OIE.
On Dec. 27, a spokesperson of the Walloon government's Ministry of Agriculture denied the information on the case in Gerouville, claiming that Belgian local authorities had released inaccurate information.
Malawi: Anthrax
The anthrax death toll in hippos in Liwonde has risen from 45 to 48, and officials say the situation is now under control. Director of parks and wildlife Brighton Kunchedwa said, "We have managed to contain the disease. Death is not a daily occurrence as was the case before.”
Anthrax infects hippos and is then transmitted to people through hippo consumption.
There are at least 2,000 hippos in the national park. Kunchedwa said the disease has mainly been contained because of the ban of consumption and movement of bush meat in the south and eastern regions.
"We are also doing daily surveillance by air to identify hippo carcasses; this is helping a lot," he said. The parks and wildlife director added that the onset of the rains has reduced the spread of the disease drastically, saying the over-flooding water helps to wash away the bacteria that causes the disease.
Nigeria: Lassa Fever
In the reporting week 1 (Jan. 1-6) 25 new confirmed cases were reported from Edo (9), Ondo (8), Bauchi (3), FCT (1), Nasarawa (1), Ebonyi (1), Plateau (1) and Taraba (1) states, with 7 new deaths in Ondo (2), Edo (1), Nasarawa (1), Plateau (1), FCT (1) and Taraba (1) states.
From 1-6 Jan 2019, a total of 57 suspected cases have been reported. Of these, 25 were confirmed positive and 32 negative (not a case).
Since the onset of the 2019 outbreak, there have been 7 deaths in confirmed cases. The case fatality rate in confirmed cases is 28.0%. A total of 8 states (Edo, Ondo, Bauchi, Nasarawa, Ebonyi, Plateau, Taraba and FCT) have recorded at least one confirmed case across 14 local government areas [see Fig. 1 at the source URL].
A total of 25 patients are currently being treated at Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (ISTH) treatment center (14), Federal Medical Centre Owo (6), Bauchi (3), Ebonyi (1) and Plateau (1) states.
A total of 482 contacts have been identified from 8 states and are currently under follow-up evaluation.
Tanzania: Anthrax
A total of 4 people died and more than 70 others were hospitalized as a result of anthrax outbreaks in Momba district in southwestern Tanzania, a local health official said Thursday. Anno Maseta, a doctor in Momba district, confirmed, "So far, 4 people have died from bacterial disease; the remaining 74 are receiving treatment.”
According to Juma Irando, District Commissioner of Momba, the district management is currently working on measures to combat the anthrax epidemic, a highly infectious and deadly bacterial disease in mammals. The disease is particularly prevalent in cattle and sheep, where it typically causes either cutaneous ulcers or a form of pneumonia. Some patients admitted to the Nzoka village dispensary in the district confirmed that they had eaten meat from a dead cow that had been infected with anthrax.
Germany: Bluetongue
Bluetongue disease has reached Rhineland-Palatinate. Bluetongue of the serotype BTV-8 has been found on a cattle holding in the district of Trier-Saarburg according to the LUA. The initial result has been confirmed by the national reference lab, FLI.
This is the first confirmation of the disease since May 2009. The disease affects sheep and cattle but is not known to infect humans. The whole of Rhineland Palatinate state will be declared a restricted area, and there will be restrictions affecting the livestock trade.
The already restricted area in the south of the state, declared in December 2018 after the first outbreaks in Baden-Wuerttemberg (Ottersweiler-district) of Rastatt, will be extended. Parts of Northrhine-Westphalia and Hesse will also be affected. The restrictions will be in place for a minimum period of 2 years.
United States: Newcastle Disease
The US Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed virulent Newcastle disease in a second commercial poultry flock in California. The latest case is in a commercial layer flock in Riverside County, APHIS said, and the finding is part of an outbreak in southern California that began in May 2018 in backyard exhibition birds.
Virulent Newcastle disease is not a food safety concern and no human cases of Newcastle disease have ever occurred from eating poultry products. APHIS is working closely with the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) to respond to the finding, limit the disease's spread in commercial poultry and then eradicate it. APHIS said federal and state partners are conducting additional surveillance and testing in the area and are working with nearby commercial farms to increase biosecurity to prevent additional disease spread.
The initial commercial case was reported Dec. 16 in a flock of 110,000 6-week-old layer chickens in Riverside County, according to information submitted to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). Information on the second case has not yet appeared on the OIE website.
According to information from APHIS and CDFA, 231 cases of virulent Newcastle disease were reported in backyard birds between May 18 and Dec. 20, but the tally has not been updated since then because of the partial governmental shutdown.
Virulent Newcastle disease is a contagious and fatal viral disease affecting the respiratory, nervous and digestive systems of birds and poultry, APHIS said. The disease is so virulent that many birds and poultry die without showing any clinical signs. A death rate of almost 100% can occur in unvaccinated poultry flocks. Virulent Newcastle disease can infect and cause death even in vaccinated poultry.
Saudi Arabia: MERS
At the end of 2018, a total of 2,279 laboratory-confirmed cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), including 806 associated deaths (case fatality rate 35.3%), were reported globally; the majority of these cases were reported from Saudi Arabia (1,901 cases, including 732 related deaths with a case fatality rate of 38.5%).
During the month of December, a total of 5 laboratory-confirmed cases of MERS were reported globally (all from Saudi Arabia) with no associated deaths.
The demographic and epidemiological characteristics of reported cases, when compared during the same corresponding period of 2013 to 2018, do not show any significant difference or change. Owing to improved infection prevention and control practices in hospitals, the number of hospital-acquired cases of MERS has dropped significantly since 2015.
The age group 50-59 years continues to be at highest risk for acquiring infection of primary cases. The age group 30-39 years is most at risk for secondary cases. The number of deaths is higher in the age group 50-59 years for primary cases and 70-79 years for secondary cases.
Ireland: Norovirus
Authorities in the United Kingdom and Ireland are investigating a foodborne outbreak suspected to be caused by norovirus in live oysters. The infected oysters are thought to have come from Ireland and been purified in the UK, and it is believed they are no longer on the market.
Harvesting records and purification operations at the implicated unnamed business in Ireland have been checked; so far, nothing has proven that oysters harvested at the time were contaminated. So far the investigation has pointed toward a potential norovirus outbreak linked to one restaurant in England, where a number of people fell ill.
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) told Food Safety News that it has sought detailed clarification on traceability and delivery channels.
"We have started investigations in relation to this notification from the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed. It is not yet certain if the oysters that were consumed by the people who became ill were actually from Ireland," said a spokeswoman.
Nevertheless, at the request of the FSAI, the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) checked the harvesting records and purification operations at the implicated business in Ireland. There is nothing to demonstrate that any oysters harvested at that time were contaminated. There are also no other reports of illness. The FSAI and the SPFA are continuing inquiries."
High risk factors for shellfish-related norovirus include cold weather (low water temperatures), high prevalence of norovirus gastroenteritis in the community, and high rainfall (potentially leading to sewage system overflows). There is no regulatory limit for norovirus relating to shellfish.
Argentina: Hantavirus
The Ministry of Health in Chubut province confirmed 3 more deaths from hantavirus infection, meaning the current death toll from the outbreak has reached 9 people.
Those who lost their lives were 2 women and a 16-year-old, reported La Nación, all of whom were being treated in Esquel hospital [Chubut]. One of the women was the daughter and sister of 2 people who have already died from the outbreak which started in the small town of Epuyen, near the Chilean border. Although likely, it is unsure as yet whether one of the fatalities was due to hantavirus and tests are still being carried out to confirm this.
The primary states of hantavirus infection are very similar to that of flu, so it is not always immediately obvious whether an individual is in a life-threatening situation.
In order to mitigate the spread of the disease, the Chubut province government have cancelled all popular festivals in the region and confirmed that the illness has now gone further than just Epuyen.
Health officials in a previous report hypothesize that the outbreak is due to human-to-human transmission, which would be unusual. Andes virus is rarely transmitted directly person to person and only through close physical contact, usually within the family. Transmission of the virus person to a person at a party would seem unlikely.
United States: Chronic Wasting Disease
Fourteen tissue samples from wild Iowa deer tested positive for chronic wasting disease [CWD], bringing the total deer testing positive for CWD in Iowa to 44. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is waiting for results on follow-up tests for 2 suspect samples that could raise the total positives for 2018 to 16. The deer tissue was collected primarily during the fall from hunter-harvested and road-killed deer.
The way that this disease moves, these results were not unexpected, according to Todd Bishop, chief of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Bureau.
Eight positive deer were confirmed in Allamakee County, 4 in Clayton County, 1 (plus 2 suspects) in Wayne County, and, for the 1st time, 1 in Dubuque County. The Dubuque County deer was a roadkill, 2.5 mi [4 km] southeast of the city limits.
Bishop says hunters are doing an excellent job harvesting deer and providing samples in DNR's priority areas, areas where the disease had been confirmed before. The DNR wants to slow this down as best they can while still having high-quality deer hunting, hoping science can provide some solutions down the road, according to Bishop
More than 6,800 tissue samples were collected during the 2018 deer season. The DNR contacted each hunter whose deer tested positive and offered to collect the meat and any remaining bones and tissue. Hunters turned over the meat in every case. The collected material was bagged, sealed, then disposed in a local landfill.
CWD was first confirmed in the Midwest in Wisconsin in 2001 about 75 mi [121 km] from the Iowa state line and has since been confirmed in every other state bordering Iowa. The Iowa DNR began monitoring for the disease in 2002, with an emphasis on counties nearest where it was confirmed in the wild, and has tested more than 74 000 deer since. The disease was first confirmed in Iowa near Harpers Ferry in Allamakee County in 2013.
Congo: Ebola
The epidemiological situation of the Ebola virus disease in the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri dated Jan. 13:
Since the beginning of the epidemic, the cumulative number of cases is 649, of which 600 are confirmed and 49 are probable.
In total, there were 396 deaths (347 confirmed and 49 probable) and 237 people recovered.
One hundred twenty-one suspected cases are under investigation.
Five new confirmed cases in Katwa.
Four new confirmed deaths, including 2 community deaths in Katwa, 1 at the Ebola treatment center (ETC) of Mabalako and 1 at the ETC of Butembo.
Three new recovered cases, including 2 discharged from Butembo ETC and 1 from ETC in Beni.
France: African Swine Fever
France will cull all wild boar in a zone along the Belgian border to try to avoid an outbreak of a deadly swine disease after new cases were discovered nearby in Belgium, the French agriculture ministry said on Jan. 14. France has been on alert for African swine fever [ASF] since the virus was confirmed in September among wild boar in Belgium, not far from the French border. ASF, harmless for humans, is often deadly for pigs, and outbreaks in Eastern Europe and China have disrupted the pork industry there.
"The confirmation of 2 cases of ASF in Belgium at about 1 km [approx. 0.6 mi] from the border, leaves our country more exposed than ever to this major risk for pig farming," a ministry statement said. "We are now at a maximum risk level."
France would create a boar-free zone spanning several km (miles) its side of the border by culling all wild boar in the coming weeks and erecting a perimeter fence in the next few days, the ministry said.
Poland, one of the eastern European countries to have faced cases of ASF in recent years, is planning to cull 185,000 wild boar across the country, drawing protests from hunters that the measure was excessive.
The disease can be carried by wild boars but experts also stress that human factors such as transport, clothing and food waste can play a role in spreading the disease. No vaccination or treatment exists for the highly contagious virus. Outbreaks often lead to export restrictions on pig meat.
Nigeria: Yellow Fever
Kwara Commissioner for Health Alhaji Usman Rifun-Kolo disclosed that a yellow fever case has been confirmed in Agunji in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara. According to him, the patient is a farmer from Kebbi State, resident in Agunji District.
He noted that the state Ministry of Health is already in touch with traditional leaders to brief them on the outbreak of the disease.
The commissioner added that samples have also been taken from the residence to confirm whether they had earlier taken the yellow fever immunization that took place in 2018. "The results showed only 25 per cent of people in that community were vaccinated for yellow fever," said the commissioner.
He pointed out that the patient is responding to treatment, though not fully recovered, and that health workers will commence a vaccination exercise, while urging people to comply with the exercise.
Also speaking, Dr Abimbola Folorunso, the Executive Secretary of Kwara State Primary Health Care Development Agency, said that international health partners such as the World Health Organization are already on the ground to assess the situation and render assistance.
January 11, 2019
Kenya: Anthrax
Three people have been hospitalized in Chuka, Kenya, after eating tainted meat. The individuals are being treated for suspected anthrax and are in critical condition, according to a local news report. In addition, some 10 others were treated at other facilities and discharged. It is believed they ate anthrax-infected cow, and officials sent livestock officers to affected areas to investigate the situation.
In December, Igembe deputy county commissioner James Kosgei cautioned area residents against consuming uninspected meat during this festive season. These cases reminds people of the wisdom of that official caution and tell us that risk of the disease is still active in that area in spite of any attempts at vaccination.
Argentina: Hantavirus
The Chubut Ministry of Health stated the child who was admitted to the Epuyen Hospital two days ago and then taken to Bariloche was confirmed as a "positive" hantavirus case after tests done by the Malbran Institute. With this case, the number affected by this disease (which is transmitted by the long-tail mouse), increases to 14 including 5 fatalities.
In the last part of the official announcement, the Chubut Ministry of Health indicated that "the contingency team continues to work in Epuyen, focusing their action on selective respiratory isolation of people classified as close contacts [of the patient]," adding that the child is currently in stable condition.
Epuyen, with a population of approximately 4,000 inhabitants and the epicenter of the outbreak, is located in the extreme northwest of Chubut province, in the Andean region. About 220 blood samples have been taken to test for those who are potentially infected.
The samples were taken from people who were at the quinceanera, where presumably the outbreak started. Samples also included the so-called "continent population," that is, those neighbors with whom the potential bearers of the virus made close contact, as well as the population at risk of the municipality and health personnel.
Algeria: Peste des Petits Ruminants
A total of six cases of peste des petits ruminants (PPR) were discovered and confirmed during the past week in the locality of Ain Kheyar (wilaya of El Tarf). The cases are being reported by the APS on Jan. 4, citing the director Agricultural Services (ASD).
The results of samples taken from sheep in Ain Kheyar confirmed that 6 head of sheep are suffering from PPR, said Kameleddine Benseghir. In the same context, he said that a suspicion of a PPR outbreak in Chihani commune was also reported, detailing that 25 head of sheep from this area have undergone the usual tests in order to confirm or deny PPR infection.
A "special device" was immediately set in motion, Benseghir added, saying that the measures include the closing of the weekly livestock markets in Bouhadjar, Ain Assel, and Drean for a month. In addition, an inter-wilayas movement ban and new regulations requiring permits for livestock transport have been implemented.
The same official also mentioned the mobilization of a monitoring brigade at the level of the dairas of the wilaya (subdivision of a province) in order to preserve the livestock.
Zimbabwe: Anthrax
At least eight people are reportedly receiving treatment after consuming meat infected with anthrax in Zvimba. Sources privy to the development alleged that the disease has affected several cattle in the area, which is home to the former president Robert Mugabe. The affected people are from Kasanze and Chirau villages, under Chief Chirau.
Last year, following reports of the suspected anthrax cases, the government received $30,000 toward the purchase of drugs and management of the disease.
Zvimba district senior veterinary animal health inspector Chemhere Nyamangara also confirmed the suspected cases at a stakeholders' meeting. He said: "It is worrying that despite efforts to educate people on the dangers of eating meat of an animal that has fallen ill or died due to unknown reasons, people still eat it, exposing themselves to danger. People should immediately notify the Department of Veterinary Services whenever they suspect anthrax symptoms both in human beings and in livestock.”
He encouraged people to avoid opening carcasses of cattle that die of natural causes to reduce contamination of pastures by anthrax.
Uganda: Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever
Residents in Kingura village in Bwijanga Sub County Masindi are living in fear after a resident died of what they said was acute fever. Medical officials have confirmed an outbreak of Crimean-Congo fever in Masindi District in Western Uganda. The disease has been confirmed and the deceased patient was buried by officials from the World Health Organization and medical officials from the Ministry of Health.
"There is a health worker who died at the end of December 2018, and the blood sample tested positive for the hemorrhagic fever," said Emmanuel Ainebyoona, the senior public relations officer at the Ministry of Health. He said the deceased was given a supervised burial by medical officers to ensure that mourners are not exposed to any possible infection.
Asked about what the government is doing to handle the outbreak, Ainebyoona said medical officers are on the ground to educate the public and following up on any suspected cases that may be reported. "The public should remain calm and report to medical officers any suspected cases," he added.
The Masindi District health officer, Dr. John Turyagaruka, urged residents to stay calm, saying that the tests indicated that it was not Ebola, but instead Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever.
The Bwijanga Sub County chairperson Olivia Mugisa wants the residents to be informed on how to protect themselves from the disease. "We need health experts on the disease to screen our locals so that we can understand who is sick for emergency attention," she said.
According to WHO, onset of symptoms is sudden, with fever, myalgia, (muscle ache), dizziness, neck pain and stiffness, backache, headache, sore eyes and photophobia (sensitivity to light). There may be nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and sore throat early on, followed by sharp mood swings and confusion. After 2-4 days, the agitation may be replaced by sleepiness, depression and lassitude, and the abdominal pain may localize to the upper right quadrant, with detectable hepatomegaly (liver enlargement).
Panama: Hantavirus
The Panama Ministry of Health has reported an increase in cases of hantavirus infection in Los Santos Province, Republic of Panama, to the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization. During 2018, a total of 103 confirmed cases of hantavirus infections have been reported at the national level, 99 of which were reported in Los Santos Province. In Los Santos Province, 51 cases were classified as hantavirus fever (HF) without pulmonary syndrome, and 48 cases were classified as hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), including 4 deaths.
Of the 51 HF cases, 41 percent were female, 55 percent aged between 20-59 years, with 76 percent occurring between June 2018 and November 2018.
Of the 48 HPS cases, 56 percent were female, 67 percent aged between 20-59 years, with more than half of the cases occurring in February 2018 (17 percent) and between June 2018 and September 2018 (42 percent).
Of HPS cases, 4 deaths were reported (2 female, 2 male, all aged over 60 years).
Cases were confirmed by serology and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Sequencing determined that the type of virus associated with this outbreak is Choclo virus, which was was first isolated in 1999 in the western Republic of Panama.
Hantavirus cases have been reported in the Republic of Panama since 1999. In the last 5 years, transmission has been documented in Los Santos, Herrera, Veraguas, and Cocle provinces. During 2018, cases have been reported in Los Santos, Herrera, Cocle and Veraguas provinces. Since the reservoir for hantavirus is sylvatic rodents and transmission can occur when people come in contact with rodent habitats, the current increase in hantavirus cases in the Republic of Panama could be related to changes in the abundance and distribution of rodent species, as well as strengthened surveillance and laboratory capacity at the provincial level. Environmental and ecological factors affecting rodent populations can have a seasonal impact on disease trends.
Libya: Leishmaniasis
Health officials in Bani Walid municipality [Misratah district] in northwest Libya are reporting an outbreak of the disfiguring parasitic disease leishmaniasis, according to a local media report.
So far, 290 cases have been reported although it is not clear when this upsurge of cases began.
The report notes that Director of the Office Ayman al-Hawadi said that the disease has become a nightmare for residents in Bani Walid, especially in the absence of medical treatment. al-Hawadi goes on to call on competent authorities to save the city from a health disaster in the same report.
In a Libya Observer report, Chairman of the Commission for the Management of Medical Supply Service, Tahir Bakhir, said medication for leishmaniasis disease will be available by next week. However, he noted that no more than 5,000 doses will be available.
In December, Bakhir warned that leishmaniasis will increase during the months of January and February, to reach thousands of cases.
Leishmaniasis is caused by the protozoan leishmania parasites, which are transmitted by the bite of infected female phlebotomine sandflies -- flies that are 3 times smaller than a mosquito. According to the World Health Organization, there are an estimated 700,000 to 1 million new cases annually, and they cause 20,000-30,000 deaths each year.
Nigeria: Lassa fever
In the final week of 2018, 22 new confirmed cases were reported from Edo (9), Ondo (6), Bauchi (5), and Taraba (2) states with five new deaths in Ondo( 2), Bauchi (2) and Taraba (1) states. There was also one probable case from Ondo state
For the year, a total of 3,498 suspected cases have been reported. Of these, 633 were confirmed positive, 20 probable, 2,853 negative.
Since the onset of the 2018 outbreak, there have been 171 deaths in confirmed cases and 20 in probable cases. Case Fatality Rate in confirmed cases is 27.0 percent. Twenty-three states have recorded at least one confirmed case across 93 local government areas.
Eighty per cent of all confirmed cases are from Edo (44%), Ondo (25%) and Ebonyi (11%) states. Twenty patients are currently being managed at Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital treatment Center (9), Federal Medical Center Owo (6), Bauchi (3), FCT(1) and Plateau (1) States.
A total of 9,643 contacts have been identified from 23 states. Of these 421 (4.4%) are currently being followed up, 9,089 (94.3%) have completed 21 days follow up while 15 (0.2%) were lost to follow up. 118 (1.2%) symptomatic contacts have been identified, of which 38 (0.4%) have tested positive.
United States: Pigeon Paramyxovirus
As reports of mourning and Eurasian collared dove die offs in the Kuna area of Idaho filter in to Fish and Game offices, forensic testing on several dead birds from the area has pinpointed the cause of death as pigeon paramyxovirus, a strain of paramyxovirus that is common to pigeons and doves.
Similar dove die offs were recently reported in the Idaho city area, while a large pigeon die off occurred during summer in Mountain Home due to a different strain of paramyxovirus.
The disease poses no health risk to humans or pets but can impact other domestic poultry. Persons with backyard chickens are encouraged to keep their birds isolated from wild doves and pigeons and not feed chickens in areas frequented by wild doves or pigeons.
The mourning dove hunting season is closed, but invasive Eurasian collared doves continue to be harvested. Upland hunters should avoid harvesting any live birds found on the ground that appear weak or sick. As a precaution, potentially sick birds should not be handled by hunters or hunting dogs, because while there is no risk to humans or pets, birds infected with the virus could have other diseases as well.
Kuna-area residents feeding birds are advised to stop feeding doves for the next few weeks to reduce further transmission of the virus to other birds. All persons feeding birds should practice good feeder hygiene, which includes removing waste, or excess feed, every week, cleaning feeders and feeding areas using a 10-percent bleach solution followed by rinsing in clean water, and also maintaining any watering areas in clean condition.
People noticing multiple dead pigeons or doves at, or near, bird feeders can report the event at https://idfg.idaho.gov/report/doves. Because Fish and Game staff are aware of the outbreak, no follow-up calls will be made.
In the event that dead birds are encountered, wear rubber gloves or use plastic bags to handle the carcasses, which can be disposed of with other household trash. While bird virus outbreaks are occasionally seen in Idaho, they tend to be localized, affect a relatively small number of birds, and are short lived.
Togo: Lassa Fever
The Togo government confirmed last week a Lassa fever case reported in Doufelgou district [Kara region] in the north of the country, according to an Agence de Presse Africaine report. This was a hemorrhagic fever case, according to officials.
Lassa fever is a rare but potentially life-threatening viral hemorrhagic disease. The risk of infection is low but can occur if someone comes into contact with an infected person's blood or bodily fluids. Lassa fever cannot be spread through casual contact, including skin to skin contact, without exchange of bodily fluids. Those at highest-risk would be health care workers treating patients in facilities known to have Lassa fever and family members caring for infected patients.
Early diagnosis and supportive care are essential. One should consult a medical professional if he or she has been in direct contact with an infected person within the past 3 weeks and have symptoms of Lassa fever, which include: fever, chest, stomach or back pain, cough, vomiting, diarrhea, or mucosal bleeding.
Chile: Hantavirus
The Seremi de Salud [Regional Health Ministerial Secretariat] of Los Lagos has confirmed this year's first case of infection by hantavirus in the Chilean region.
The patient, a female employee of the Health Service of Chile, was taken to Santiago after it was confirmed that she had been infected with the virus in Epuyén, Argentina (which is located 4 hours from Palena). The woman resides in the city of Palena, in the Los Lagos Region, and remains hospitalized in the Puerto Montt Hospital.
"During the dawn of today we received the information on the blood tests of the patient from the province of Palena, that were undergone at the Universidad de Católica de Chile-- which is a certified center for the realization of this type of exams, and it confirmed a case of hantavirus," informed Marcela Cárdenas, a health officer in Los Lagos.
Hantaviruses are spread via the urine, saliva, and feces of infected rodents and the infection is contracted via contact with contaminated surfaces or via inhalation of contaminated air.
The most common symptoms of the virus infection are similar to those of influenza: fever, muscle aches, and fatigue. Other possible symptoms include headaches, dizziness, chills, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain and respiratory distress leading to hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome. Hantavirus infections are fatal in roughly one-third of cases.
Those present in Chile should avoid exposure to potentially rodent-infested areas. Individuals exhibiting the aforementioned symptoms are advised to seek immediate medical treatment.
India: Anthrax
The death of a male elephant calf in Similipal continues to be shrouded in mystery. The carcass of the male calf was found in TL-5 under Badamahulia beat of Badabalipusi section within Kedumunduli range two days back. The tusks were intact and there were no injury marks on the decomposed carcass. While a forest officer who was promised anonymity said anthrax could be the cause of the elephant's death, another officer attributed it to infection. Divisional Forest Officer of Karanjia Prasanna Kumar Behera offically said the elephant calf is suspected to have died of 'infection'.
A veterinary team, comprising Piyush Soren of Similipal Tiger Reserve, Khanim Tangmaiee, Harekrushna Moharana Bhandari, and Jagyandatta Pati conducted an autopsy on the carcass. In the past, anthrax has claimed 8 elephants in the region. While four adults died of the disease in Dukura and Kaptipada ranges, an equal number was killed by anthrax in Rairangpur and Karanjia forest divisions. One of them was reportedly an elephant of Dalma forest in neighboring Jharkhand, which had snuck into Karanjia.
In October 2017, a 20-year-old female elephant was found dead near Phulbadia village bordering Similipal National Park. While wildlife activists claimed that the animal died due to poaching, forest officials suspected anthrax to be the cause of its death.
The forest officials have asked the local veterinary office to vaccinate domestic animals living near the periphery areas of Similipal to prevent the spread of anthrax. Sources said the elephant population has drastically come down in the last 20 years in the park due to poaching and anthrax.
Nepal: Avian influenza
On Jan. 6, a 45-year old pregnant woman and her two family members, residents of Dandapauwa-6, Ramkot, Kathmandu visited the outpatient department of Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease hospital. They presenting with a 4-day history of fever, cough, sore throat, chest pain, and weakness.
According to them, they have a poultry chicken farm, where nearly 700 chickens have died in the last week alone and are still dying at a rate of approximately 150/day. According to them, chickens are showing symptoms of coughing, sneezing, nasal discharge, and dying quickly. Chickens were tested positive for influenza A by rapid diagnostic test.
Samples were further sent to higher center to identify its subtypes.
It is not yet known whether the patients had also contracted with avian influenza virus from their flock, as suggested since they also developed influenza-like illness soon after their chicken have died of similar symptoms. Influenza A (H1N1) pdm09 virus is also concurrently circulating in Kathmandu.
Congo: Ebola
The epidemiological situation of the Ebola virus disease in the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri dated Jan. 7:
Since the beginning of the epidemic, the cumulative number of cases is numbered 627, of which 579 are confirmed and 48 are probable. In total, there were 382 deaths (334 confirmed and 48 probable) and 221 people recovered.
Ninety-eight suspected cases are under investigation.
There are two new confirmed cases, including 1 in Oicha and 1 in Katwa.
Five new deaths are of confirmed cases, including 3 in Butembo, 1 in Beni, and 1 in Katwa.
Syria: Leishmaniasis
Years of conflict and damage to the infrastructure in Hama have contributed to creating an environment where the parasitic skin disease Leishmaniasis can spread within the local communities. The disease, known locally as the 'Aleppo Boil', is spread by the bite of infected sand-flies that thrive in the piled-up waste and damaged sewers in the streets of Hama.
UNICEF, with its partners, is helping fight Leishmaniasis through awareness-raising campaigns in 13 of the most affected villages of Hama and its rural villages. Health workers in Hama are training young people on how to lead group discussions and peer-to-peer information sessions about the causes, detection and treatment of Leishmaniasis. Young people were also trained on the behavioral changes necessary to foster an environment unfavorable for the disease.
Recurring displacement of infected children and families coupled with incorrect livestock handling practices have further spread the infection in rural Hama. "I didn't know that dung could be a place for the 'Aleppo Boil' parasite to live," says Amira, a local livestock keeper from Jarjisa in rural Hama, who took part in one of the sessions. Amira's husband and 3 children were all infected with Leishmaniasis.
UNICEF helped raise the awareness of children, families, frontline health workers, community leaders, school teachers and livestock keepers in Hama and the rural outskirts, through 13 volunteer mobile teams (comprised of health workers and young people) aiming to put an end to the epidemic.
January 4, 2019
China: African Swine Fever
African swine fever [ASF] has spread to several southern Chinese provinces, with severe and swift outbreaks that have led to the culling of scores of pigs in a country that is considered to be the world's largest consumer and producer of pork. The disease was first detected in the northernmost regions of China in early August. The virus has now spread to Guangzhou City in Guangdong Province -- the southernmost province on the mainland.
According to a Dec. 25 article by Hong Kong media Apple Daily, local authorities in Guangzhou culled more than 6,000 pigs at a farm in Huangpu District, after local authorities temporarily put the owner of the farm and her dozen employees under house arrest at an unknown hotel.
Apple Daily journalists reported seeing workers with face masks operating manning excavators in Huangpu District, trying to bury the culled pigs. The intense stench of the dead pigs could be detected a few dozen meters away.
The female farm owner, a retired soldier who wasn't identified, had recently purchased the 6,000 pigs from the nearby Guangxi region. It was determined that these pigs were infected with the virus because some of them had already died by the time they were shipped to her farm.
According to Apple Daily, the latest case in Guangzhou places the number of Chinese provinces, municipalities, and regions with known cases of the African swine fever at 23, with a total of 101 reported outbreaks.
Guangzhou isn't the only city in Guangdong affected by the outbreak. According to Taiwanese media, 11 pigs died from the disease at a farm in Zhuhai City. And China's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said that at a pig farm in Huizhou City, 11 pigs died from the disease, while 11 others had been infected.
Chinese media also reported that a local food shipping company had been directed by the provincial government of Guangdong that all cross-city shipment of live pigs would be banned.
Benin: Lassa fever
Minister of health Benjamin Hounkpatin confirmed four new cases of Lassa hemorrhagic fever in Benin, including one in Cotonou. This occurred in the period of 15-26 Dec.
In the case of Cotonou, a 28-year-old has been infected. His case was detected on Dec. 24, but his illness commenced the previous week. He had a fever, a cough, a cold, and fatigue. Due to the persistence of the cough and cold, and with the appearance of traces of blood in nasal discharge, the alert was given.
The patient was placed in isolation, and his result from the laboratory came back positive for Lassa fever. Subsequently, the patient was isolated and put on treatment.
According to the details provided by Hounkpatin, there is no indication of travel by the patient to an epidemic locality of Lassa fever. According to the patient's statements, there is no known contact with rodents.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, the minister reassured the public that public health measures are underway. He also reminded people of the behaviors that will help avoid becoming infected. This involves washing hands regularly with soap and water; avoiding contact with stool, sperm, urine, saliva, vomit, and contaminated objects from a person suspected to be ill or dead from Lassa; and protecting food and keeping it in a safe place, out of reach of rodents.
It should be recalled that 7 cases have been recorded since the beginning of the epidemic to date, including 5 positive cases.
United States: Newcastle Disease
During the week of Dec. 14-20, the US Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed 17 additional cases of virulent Newcastle disease (vND) in Riverside County, California. This includes 16 cases in backyard exhibition birds and one commercial case.
Affected flocks are quickly euthanized. Together, these actions will help prevent additional disease spread and eradicate the disease more quickly.
USDA is announcing confirmed vND cases weekly. Cases are still being tested and confirmed as they are identified. If there is a finding in a new state or a different segment of industry, the USDA will issue an announcement for that case immediately, as we did for this week's commercial case. A complete list of confirmed cases are available at www.aphis.usda.gov/animalhealth/vnd.
vND has not been found in commercial poultry in the US since 2003. No human cases of Newcastle disease have ever occurred from eating poultry products. Properly cooked poultry products are safe to eat. In rare instances, people working directly with sick birds can become infected. Signs are usually mild and limited to conjunctivitis. Infection is easily prevented by using standard personal protective equipment.
Samples from the flocks were tested at the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System (CAHFS). The APHIS National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames, Iowa, confirms all findings. APHIS is working closely with the California Department of Food and Agriculture to respond to these findings and to conduct an epidemiological investigation. Federal and state partners are also conducting additional surveillance and testing in the area.
Algeria: Foot and Mouth Disease
The governor of the El Bayadh province has issued a decision to close livestock markets across the country's territory for a month to avoid sheep and goats from contracting foot and mouth disease [FMD]. Governor Mohamed Jamal Khanfar told APS that the decision taken Dec. 26 is a preventive measure to avoid and prevent the spread of the disease among cattle herds.
For his part, the state director of the agricultural interests on behalf of the province, Said al-Hawari, said that the El Bayadh province has 9 livestock markets, of which 3 are large markets in Bougtob, El Bayadh and El Abiodh Sidi Cheikh, and the other 6 are located in Ghassoul, Brezina, El Maharra, Rogassa, Tismouline and Boualem. The spokesperson added that this decision comes after the detection of some cases of sheep suspected as infected with FMD, pending the outcome of veterinary tests.
The Veterinary Services launched a vaccination campaign, which will cover 50,000 sheep.
Israel: Foot and Mouth Disease
Foot-and-mouth disease [FMD] serotype-O has been confirmed in a ranging beef cattle herd in Kibbutz Ortal, Golan Heights. This strain is similar to the one identified in other recent outbreaks.
In Kibbutz Shamir, Upper Galilee, 30 clinical FMD cases were observed in a group of 300 fattening male calves. This group was vaccinated a month ago.
An FMD outbreak in December is unusual and concerning. Farmers and practitioners are advised to verify and adhere to the timely application of primary and booster vaccinations.
Since April 2018, FMD serotype-O has been affecting cattle, sheep, wild ruminants (gazelles, captive deer), and wild boar in north and northeastern Israel.
United States: Chronic Wasting Disease
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) is enacting the Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) response plan, following a preliminary positive detection of CWD in white-tailed deer in Hardeman and Fayette counties. The response plan involves a coordinated effort between TWRA, Tennessee Department of Agriculture, and other partners.
Seven deer in Fayette County and 3 in Hardeman County have preliminarily tested positive for CWD. Additional samples are being tested, and the TWRA is actively trying to contact the hunters who harvested these deer.
"Once arrangements are made, TWRA will be encouraging hunters harvesting deer in these areas to submit their deer for testing," said Chuck Yoest, TWRA CWD coordinator.
"Hunters are our biggest ally in managing chronic wasting disease in Tennessee if it is confirmed here," said Dr. Dan Grove, wildlife veterinarian, University of Tennessee Extension. "Besides submitting deer from the to-be-defined CWD zone, the most important thing everyone needs to do is follow the regulations for moving harvested deer.
Although CWD has no known risk to the health of humans or livestock, it is a contagious and deadly neurological disorder that affects members of the deer family. It is transmitted through animal-to-animal contact, animal contact with a contaminated environment, and contaminated feed or water sources. It is the most significant threat to the deer population nationwide, as it is 100% fatal to deer and elk.
Wildlife agencies across the country are working to inform the public about CWD, its deadly results, and possible impacts to economies. Currently, 25 states and 3 Canadian provinces have documented CWD. Last week, Mississippi announced a preliminary CWD-positive, hunter-harvested deer in Marshall County, which became the closest to Tennessee and the 4th overall this year [2018] in Mississippi. Other confirmed cases have previously been made in the border states of Arkansas, Missouri, and Virginia.
Nigeria: Yellow Fever
In the Dec. 10-16 reporting week, 13 new positive cases from Edo (9), FCT (3), and Ekiti (1) states were confirmed at WHO regional reference laboratory, Institut Pasteur, Dakar (IP Dakar).
From the onset of the outbreak in September 2017 to date, 3,902 suspected cases have been reported from all 36 states and the FCT in Nigeria.
Of the 3,295 samples that were collected and tested, 185 were presumptive positive in-country and were sent for confirmation to IP Dakar.
So far, 78 positive cases from 14 states (Kwara, Kogi, Kano, Zamfara, Kebbi, Nasarawa, Niger, Katsina, Edo, Ekiti, Rivers, Anambra, FCT, and Benue states) have been confirmed at IP Dakar.
Since the onset of the outbreak, 13 deaths in IP Dakar-confirmed cases and 27 deaths in presumptive positive cases have been recorded. Case fatality rate [CFR] among presumptive positive and IP Dakar-confirmed cases is 14.6% and 16.7%, respectively.
Yellow fever preventive mass vaccination campaigns have been conducted in 6 states (Borno, Kebbi, Niger, Plateau, Sokoto, and the FCT) between Nov.22 and Dec. 2, bringing the total states covered by preventive mass vaccination campaign to 12.
A multi-agency national emergency operations center at NCDC is coordinating the national response.
Nigeria: Monkeypox
Nigeria continues to report sporadic cases of monkeypox since the beginning of 2018.
In the reporting month, 15 new suspected monkeypox cases were reported, out of which 6 confirmed cases were recorded in 5 states (Rivers -1, Bayelsa -2, Delta -1, Cross Rivers -1, Edo -1)
A total of 114 suspected, 45 confirmed, one probable cases and one death have been reported in 2018. The 45 cases confirmed were recorded in 13 states (Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, Oyo, Cross River, Edo, Enugu, Imo, Lagos, Plateau, Abia, Anambra, and Nasarawa)
Since the beginning of the outbreak in September 2017, 311 suspected cases have been reported in 26 states. Of these, 132 confirmed cases in 17 states (Rivers, Bayelsa, Cross River, Imo, Akwa Ibom, Lagos, Delta, Edo, FCT, Abia, Oyo, Enugu, Ekiti, Nasarawa, Benue, Plateau, Anambra) and 7 deaths were recorded.
Genetic sequencing suggests multiple sources of introduction of monkeypox virus into the human population with evidence of human-to-human transmission.
Males are more affected with 73.3% of confirmed cases in 2018.
Persons within the 21-40 age group are more affected.
Iran: Schmallenberg Virus
A recently discovered virus known to infect ruminants in parts of Europe might infect horses, as well: Researchers have just identified antibodies to the Schmallenberg virus, transmitted by flying insects, in 10 Iranian horses.
They are the first horses worldwide to test positive for these antibodies, the scientists said.
In screening for antibodies in cattle, sheep, and goats, as well as in horses, the researchers discovered, unexpectedly, that members of the equine species tested positive along with the other species, said Mehdi Rasekh, DVM, DVSc, an assistant professor of large animal internal medicine at the University of Zabol Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, in Iran.
"The results surprised us because the positive response was expected in ruminants but detecting antibodies against Schmallenberg virus in horses was a new finding in the world," Rasekh said.
Scientists discovered the Schmallenberg virus in 2011 in Germany and The Netherlands, where it infected cattle, sheep, and goats, he said. Those infections generally led to fever, fetal malformations, and abortion.
Like African horse sickness (AHS) and bluetongue virus, Schmallenberg virus is transmitted by biting midges. With climate change and greater human and animal movement, these tiny winged insects are crossing borders and bringing with them an increased disease risk.
Concerned about the spread of midge-borne diseases into neighboring Turkey, Rasekh and his fellow researchers conducted a serological survey of at-risk species in Iran. They conducted blood tests on a random population of three species of ruminants as well as on 200 randomly selected horses.
They weren't surprised to find positive results in the cattle, sheep, and goats, given Turkey's close proximity with its seropositive population, Rasekh said. However, as many as 5 percent of the tested horses also had positive results.
"Of course, this means new challenges for the equine industry," he said.
Congo: Ebola
The epidemiological situation of the Ebola virus disease in the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri dated 30 Dec 2018:
Since the beginning of the epidemic, the cumulative number of cases is 598, of which 550 are confirmed and 48 are probable. In total, there were 363 deaths (315 confirmed and 48 probable) and 204 people healed.
47 suspected cases are under investigation.
Two new confirmed cases, including 1 in Komanda and 1 in Mabalako.
Two new deaths of confirmed cases (all community deaths): 1 in Mabalako and 1 in Komanda