Australian Influenza Surveillance 2010 - Latest report

The latest report from the Department of Health and Ageing in Australia, excerpt :

Report No. 37
Reporting period 11 to 17 September 2010

• Levels of influenza-like illness (ILI) in the community have continued to increase through most surveillance systems this reporting period. Local, regional and widespread activity was reported within jurisdictions. However, the number of laboratory confirmed notifications continued to decline.
• There were 502 laboratory confirmed notifications of influenza during this reporting period, including 358 pandemic (H1N1) 2009 cases. Notifications of laboratory confirmed influenza were highest in SA.
• Results from sentinel laboratory surveillance systems for this reporting period show that 14% of the respiratory tests conducted over this period were positive for influenza, which is a slight decrease from the last reporting period (16%). In 2010, a total of 848 specimens have been positive for influenza (of 11,501 specimens tested), of which 71% were pandemic (H1N1) 2009, 10% were A/H3N2 and 17% were influenza B.
• Up to 17 September 2010, there have been 5606 confirmed cases of influenza diagnosed in 2010.

Full report in PDF format is also available.

Indonesia : Four Suspected Bird Flu Patients Improve

A report from Tempo Interaktif, an update to the 4 patients currently being warded in Makassar for suspected bird flu :

" Makassar : Health four patients suspect bird flu virus that was treated in the Hospital Dr Wahidin Sudirohusodo, Makassar gradually began to improve. However, they still remain an IV because his physical condition is still weak.General and Operations Director Dr Wahidin Sudirohusodo, Andi Kalsum Patonangi said after undergoing intensive treatment, four patients showed a positive growth trend.

Four patients were called Novi, 17 years; Nawir, 42 years; and Adrian, 4 years old. All three residents Pinrang origin. One more patient named Sapphira, 3 years, provided Soppeng District. They were isolated in space since the Inspection Centre yesterday."Body temperature had dropped drastically. His condition has improved although it must still rest for recovery," said Kalsum, this morning.

Kalsum said last body temperature checks carried out around 08:00 pm. As a result, four patients had body temperatures ranging from 36 degrees Celsius. They referred to the inspection space center after suffering symptoms of bird flu with a temperature above 38 degrees Celsius.

Two doctors still continue to monitor their health progress. Meanwhile, the hospital has not received the laboratory results of blood samples four patients. Samples were sent to Jakarta and have not received a reply the results."

Pakistan : Dengue grossly underreported

Via The Express Tribune :

" KARACHI: Dengue is not just spreading fast in Sindh but there is a gross discrepancy between government and private hospital statistics.

An indication of the spread is that up to eight patients a day are being administered mega platelets to counter the virus at the National Institute of Blood Diseases (NIBD). NIBD consultant haematologist Dr Tahir Shamsi says one mega platelet bag is given per patient per day and so far this season, a total of about 200 bags have been transfused. Last year, the number for NIBD was about 100 bags.

There is a disconnect, however, between this information and that which the government is giving. The government claims that seven (compared to the 200 of NIBD) mega platelets – four in government hospitals and three in private hospitals – have been used this season. Each bag of mega platelets costs up to Rs11,000 which the patient or their family has to cough up. The discrepancy can perhaps be accounted for by the lack of information sharing between the government and private hospitals.

It is likely that the need for platelets will either remain steady or go up. The number of dengue cases has risen to 506 (not including cases at relief camps) of which 339 have tested positive and four people have died, said ministry focal person and the Additional medical superintendent of Civil hospital, Dr Shakeel Aamir Mullick."

New Zealand : Pandemic Influenza H1N1 2009 (swine flu) - Update 210

The latest H1N1 update from New Zealand's MOH :

" Overall influenza H1N1 activity continues to decrease below baseline levels. While some cases and clusters of influenza are likely to continue, this is much less frequent now and at a national level we are nearing the end of the second wave of pandemic influenza H1N1 in New Zealand. The Ministry's weekly updates will end next week.

There have been 724 hospitalisations of laboratory-confirmed cases of pandemic influenza H1N1 so far this year. This includes 4 hospitalisations in the past week confirmed with H1N1 (as well as updated figures for the year to date). These figures do not include influenza-like illness among people admitted to hospital without a positive H1N1 laboratory test result.

Intensive Care Units have seen much less H1N1 admissions in recent weeks and are no longer routinely reporting cases in their care.

There have been a further two deaths linked to swine flu reported, bringing the total this year to 20; of these 15 have been confirmed as being due to swine flu. Details of these most recent deaths are reported on the Auckland and Counties Manukau DHB websites."

Philippines : Dengue death toll up to 33

Via Panay News :

" BACOLOD City : A total of 33 dengue-caused fatalities were recorded in Negros Occidental while the number of cases reached 6,294 from January to September 18 this year, according to the Provincial Health Office (PHO).

The number of dengue cases, the PHO said, actually decreased by 22 percent from 469 on Morbidity Week 36 to 368 on the following week.

Accumulated figures, however, revealed that cases this year are 558 percent higher compared to that of the same period last year with only 957.

Since reaching its peak on Morbidity Week 33 at 665, dengue cases had been on a decline.
The Provincial Dengue Task Force headed by Provincial Board member Melvin Ibañez hopes that such trend will continue despite the continuous rains.

Earlier, Ibañez predicted that dengue cases this year will surpass the 2007 record of about 5,300."

India : Malaria wreaks havoc

An article from Central Chronicle :

" Four children have been claimed by malaria in Thapoda village in Betul district. The deaths were reported between September 21 and 26. A Health Department team has reached Thapoda. According to the Chief Medical and Health Officer Dinesh Kaul, officials conducted house-to-house visits, collected 104 blood samples and supplied medicine. Fifty are still ailing.

Mosquitoes breed in stagnant water and wherever garbage piles up. Hence the civic bodies need to be streamlined.

Meanwhile, with one more person succumbing to H1N1, the death toll due to Swine Flu in Madhya Pradesh has risen to 73 since August this year, health authorities said. A 25-year-old girl, resident of Chhimka village in Bhind district, died yesterday while undergoing treatment in Birla Institute of Medical Research Hospital at Gwalior. Thirty two deaths were recorded in Bhopal followed by Indore (25), Jabalpur (11), four in Gwalior and one in Harda due to the viral infection. A total of 295 persons have been tested positive for H1N1 in the State."

Indonesia : Polman, South Sulawesi - Bird flu has spread to Kabupaten Polman

Ida at Bird Flu Information Corner has another post today with regards to bird flu outbreak, excerpt :

" Polewali Mandar : After hitting three municipals (kabupaten) Pinrang, Sidrap and Luwu, bird flu H5N1 is now attacking thousands of chicken in Kecamatan Limboro and Binuang, Kabupaten (Polewali Mandar/Polman), South Sulawesi.

About 200 chickens kept in an abattoir suddenly died within 5 days. Dead chickens showed signs such as darkening of wattle, comb and skin.

Bird flu virus also attacked several farms in Kelurahan Ammmassengeng Kecamatan Binuang. Farmers lost about 30-50 chickens with similar signs daily."

US : H1N1 flu virus can mutate in immunosuppressed patients - study

Via Reuters, excerpt :

" BOSTON : Patients with suppressed immune systems can quickly develop H1N1 flu infections that resist all known drugs, doctors in the Netherlands reported on Wednesday.

A health worker gets a single dose of Influenza A H1N1 vaccine inside a Department of Health (DOH) office in Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila in this April 26, 2010 file photo.

The case of a 5-year-old leukemia patient who died from swine flu after the virus mutated in his body showed that people with weakened immune systems may be at greater risk of developing dangerous drug-resistant infections, and illustrated the risks of using current drugs to treat these patients, the researchers said.

The H1N1 virus infecting the boy mutated to resist all three drugs approved to treat it, Dr. Charles Boucher of Erasmus University Medical Center in Rotterdam wrote in a letter to the New England Journal of Medicine."

India : Encephalitis deaths in UP due to a failed vaccine drive?

Via NDTV :

" Gorakhpur: On Sunday, five-year-old Mahima died of Japanese Encephalitis. She was the 219th victim in Uttar Pradesh since January 2010.

Since 2005, over 3,000 children have died of Japanese Encephalitis in the state. Experts believe the reason behind is a failed vaccine drive.Every year, the Centre is unable to provide required number of vaccines on time.

And whatever little arrives, even that is not fully used by the state.''Yes, it has been some sort of failure," admits the state's Additional Director (Health), UK Srivastav.

'If the Centre could not provide the vaccine, isn't it the duty of the state to source it? The vaccines cost barely 30-odd crores, which is nothing compared to the thousands of crores spent on building memorials. Or should the government simply let people die,'' says Dr. RMD Agarwal, a paediatrician and a BJP MLA."

Vietnam reports blue ear disease in two more localities

Via Xinhua :

" HANOI, Sept. 29 : Vietnam reported blue ear disease in the country's central province of Phu Yen and southern province of Ninh Thuan, bringing total localities affected by the disease to 32, said a report of the Department of Animal Health under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on Wednesday.

Blue ear disease appeared in 34 households of 11 communes of Ninh Thuan with 324 infected pigs. Of the total, 72 pigs died or were destroyed, said the department.

In Phu Yen, 125 pigs in one household became infected with the disease and were destroyed."

Philippines : Dengue cases breach 90,000 mark

Report from ABS-CBN :

" MANILA, Philippines : The Department of Health on Wednesday said it has recorded a total of 90,771 dengue cases since January this year even as it noted that dengue incidence has started decreasing.

The DOH said reported dengue cases have dropped from an average of 7,285 cases per week in August to only 2,740 cases per week this month.

It noted that the disease only has a 1% mortality rate.

The health department said dengue incidence has decreased in Central Visayas, Eastern Mindanao and Ilocos region except La Union.

Dengue cases are still rising in Caloocan, Manila and Quezon City, the DOH added.

Militant groups, meanwhile, chided the national government for its slow response to the dengue outbreak."

Indonesia : Four Patients Suspected Bird Flu

Another translated report from Liputan 6, bird flu patients in South Sulawesi :

" Makassar: Four suspected bird flu infected patients treated at Wahidin Sudirohusodo Hospital, Makassar, South Sulawesi. The information obtained is SCTV, on Wednesday (29 / 9), four patients consisted of two children and two adults. They are referrals from district hospitals Pinrang.

Pediatric patients is Savira origin and Andrian Soppeng District of Pinrang. Two other patients are from Novi and Nawir also Pinrang. Nawir and Andrew are still one family.

Although there is no further examination, doctors suspected bird flu because they suffer from high fever after dozens of dead pet chicken."

Indonesia : Makassar, South Sulawesi - Wahidin Sudirohusodo hospital treats bird flu suspects

An important post from Ida at Bird Flu Information Corner :

" Makassar : Four people are being treated in Inspection Center of Wahidin Sudirohusodo, Makassar, Wednesday 29/09. Those patients are residents of Kabupaten (municipal) Pinrang and Soppeng.

Three patients came from Jampue, Kecamatan Lanrisang, Kabupaten Pinrang, identified as Novi (17), Nawir (42) and Adrian (4-year-old). They were admitted to Lanrisang Pinrang hospital at 5,00 am before transferred to Makassar.

A 3-year-old girl, Safira, from Kabupaten Soppeng had been admitted to Wahidin Sudirohusodo hospital on the previous day.

The four patients are currently having high fever.

Director of Wahidin Sudirohusodo hospital, Andi Kalsum Patonangi said those patients were suspected to contract bird flu infection. However, hospital is still waiting laboratory confirmation of bird flu infection."

Nepal : Campaign against swine flu

Via The Himalayan Times :

" NEPALGUNJ: A campaign has been initiated against Swine Flu also known as Swine Influenza in schools in eight districts of the Tarai and neighbouring the Indian border.

Locals NGOs with support from UNICEF are running the campaign in schools in Banke, Nawalparasi, Chitwan, Saptari, Sunsari, Morang and Ilam districts, Chairperson of Banke UNESCO Club, Parvez Ali Siddique said.

According to him, of the 172 people found carrying the swine flu virus, 64 are children between five to 15 years of age. As a result, the campaign has been initiated with a focus on children."

India : Girl dies in hospital, swine flu ruled out

An article from Indian Express :

" CHENNAI: A 16-year-old girl collapsed and died in a private hospital at Adambakkam on Monday as neighbours claimed she died of swine flu.

Ragavardhini of Thiruvallur Street, Adambakkam, a class 12 student, had complained of tiredness and fever when she returned home from exams on Monday.

She had taken treatment in a private hospital where she collapsed in a bathroom later in the night. “She had all the symptoms of swine flu,” said a neighbour,” claimed one of the girls neighbours.

Doctors, however, said in the girl’s death certificate that she died of cardiac arrest.

T Porkaipandian, Director of Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, also said she died of H1N1."

Australia : Two NT men die with swine flu

Via WA Today :

" Two elderly men suffering from swine flu have died as the Northern Territory experiences an upsurge in infection rates from the virus.

It is understood the men, both of whom had serious underlying health problems, were the first people to die with swine flu in the NT this year.

It takes the total number of known swine flu-related deaths nationally so far this year to 14, compared to 191 in 2009.

Since the first case of swine flu in May 2009, according to the latest Australian Influenza Surveillance Report, prior to September 10 this year there were almost 40,000 confirmed cases of H1N1, or swine flu, in Australia.

The Australian federal government report showed that only 2,300 of those cases occurred in 2010."

Philippines : DOH - Dengue outbreak in 6 CV villages

Via Global Nation :

" The Department of Health in Central Visayas (DOH-7) will declare a dengue outbreak in six barangays across the region today.

Cebu City, which has six critical barangays, is expected to be included.Nurse Rennan Cimafranca of the Regional Epidemiological and Surveillance Unit in Central Visayas (RESU-7) said that dengue cases in these barangays have risen by more than 10 percent above the epidemic threshold level.

“The barangays included were not necessarily within the epidemic threshold level, some of them were from the hotspot category,” Cimafranca said.He said the declaration is based on the rise in dengue cases in the barangays last week compared with dengue statistics from the same period in the last five years."

Cholera: MSF Intervenes After Outbreaks Hit Four West African Nations

An article from Doctors Without Borders, excerpt :

" This summer, cholera outbreaks hit four neighboring countries in West Africa. Cholera is endemic in the region, but this wave brought with it far more cases than usual.

Cholera is a bacterial infection that causes severe watery diarrhea and vomiting. Though it can be fatal if it not addressed, treatment is relatively simple. The loss of fluids can be counteracted with a liquid rehydration therapy consisting of a salt-and-sugar solution or, in the worst cases, with intravenous infusions. The window for treatment is narrow, however. “Due to rapid dehydration, cholera can lead to death within hours,” explains Issiaka Abou, MSF’s head of mission for Chad. “It needs to be treated fast."

Read the whole article for details summary / activity of MSF.

India : Now, malaria, dengue strike city’s affluent

Via Times of India :

" MUMBAI: The BMC is going all out to tackle malaria and dengue cases in high-rises. Even as the monsoon has retreated and stagnant water across the city has considerably reduced, breeding in affluent homes has emerged as the latest concern.

According to the civic body, in September, of the 6,000 positive malaria cases in the city, 10% were from affluent homes and high-rises. Because of this, said officials, after addressing the slums and railway quarters, the BMC has now shifted its focus to upper-middle class areas.

"There is a general belief that malaria strikes only slumdwellers. But we found that ever since the rains reduced, the number of malaria cases in affluent homes have become stark,'' said additional municipal commissioner Manisha Mhaiskar. "Now, there will be almost zero breeding in public spaces because the monsoon is coming to an end. We will now start creating awareness in upper-middle class localities about the fact that breeding can happen in their very homes.''

India : 95 more test positive; dengue cases reach 3,108 in Delhi

Via Hindustan Times :

" Delhi continued to grapple with dengue outbreak as cases of the vector-borne disease today reached 3,108 after 95 more patients tested positive. The capital has reported five dengue deaths this season. The civic bodies are attributing the rapid increase in dengue cases this season to prolonged monsoon and stagnation of water at Commonwealth Games construction sites.

The dengue outbreak has also raised concern among several countries which are sending teams to participate in the Games to be held here from October 3."

Egypt: 29 New Outbreaks of Bird Flu in 3 Provinces

Hat Tip to Commonground at Pandemic Information News for this, excerpt :

" The discovery of 29 new outbreak of bird flu in 3 provinces

Said Dr. Sami Taha, member of the Veterinary Association for his fears of a renewed outbreak of avian influenza, the virus endemic in Egypt, and especially after the announcement concerned the discovery of 29 new epicenter of the disease in three provinces.

Taha pointed to the need to change the mechanisms of resistance to avian influenza, criticizing the anti-virus dispersal of responsibility among a number of ministries such as "health and the environment, local development and agriculture," where the student body Petkvl veterinary services as well as anti-virus Vaccine Institute analysis."

Philippines : WHO - Severe dengue fever cases growing

An article from ABS-CBN News :

" MANILA, Philippines : The rise in dengue cases not just in the Philippines but in other parts of Asia has prompted the World Health Organization (WHO) this month to declare that dengue is one of the fastest-emerging infections in the world.

In a statement, WHO said "much of Asia continues to be in the grip of dengue fever, with the number of hospitalizations and severe cases growing."

The agency said some countries have reported significant increases in dengue outbreaks as compared to the same period last year.

It also said that an estimated 2.5 billion people are at risk globally from dengue, and more than 70% of them reside in the Asia Pacific region.

Among the badly affected countries cited are the Philippines, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, and Vietnam.

Singapore also has dengue cases but according to WHO, it is experiencing a declining trend, with total number of cases over the years continuing to fall."

India : Swine Flu death toll in MP rises to 73

Via Chennai Online :

" Bhopal, Sept 28 : With one more person succumbing to swine flu, the death toll due to H1N1 in Madhya Pradesh has risen to 73 since August this year, health authorities said.

Rachna Singh (25), a resident of Chhimka village in Bhind district, died yesterday while undergoing treatment in Birla Institute of Medical Research Hospital at Gwalior.

Thirty two deaths were recorded in Bhopal followed by Indore (25), Jabalpur (11), four in Gwalior and one in Harda due to the viral infection, they said."

Indonesia : South Sulawesi ::: Bird flu outbreaks in Kabupaten Pinrang, Sidrap, and Parepare

From Ida at Bird Flu Information Corner, excerpt :

" Livestock and Fishery Service of Kabupaten (municipal) Sidrap, South Sulawesi strengthened livestock traffic control from Sidrap borders: Pinrang-Sidrap, Parepare-Sidrap, Wajo-Sidrap and Soppeng-Sidrap. This is to prevent disease introduction to Sidrap from other area, mentioned Head of Livestock and Fishery Service of Sidrap, HM Abd Azis. So far, Azis and team are still investigating whether thousands of chickens death in Sidrap was caused by bird flu virus.

Livestock and Fishery Service of Sidrap until now recorded about a thousand of chicken which had suddenly died. The most casualty was recorded from Kelurahan Kadidi.

Separately from Kabupaten Pinrang, Head of Agriculture and Livestock of Pinrang, H Syamsu Sulaiman stated they had done disinfection in entire sub-districts and depopulation of hundreds of bird flu infected chickens. Livestock service also isolated the infected areas, Sawitto, Tiroang, Paleteang, Mattiro Bulu, and Lanrisang.

Pinrang’s Head of Animal Health and Veterinary Public Health, Dr Elvi Martina, described bird flu diagnosis was done by clinical observation, necropsy and rapid test. Negative result should be re-checked by laboratory test in Maros (Veterinary Disease Investigating Center –adm-)."

Philippines : DOH checking report of 2 cholera deaths in Caloocan

An article from ABS CBN News :

" MANILA, Philippines : An official said Tuesday that the Department of Health (DOH) is checking a report that 2 residents of Caloocan City have died due to complications from cholera.

Dr. Eric Tayag, chief of the DOH’s National Epidemiology Center, said that the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) was expecting to receive water samples from Pangarap Village, where the reports of cholera cases are coming from.

Tayag said that aside from the 2 reported cholera deaths, the DOH received information over the weekend that at least 11 people have been afflicted by the cholera infection.

He said the DOH would be able to confirm the presence of vibrio cholerae bacteria, which causes cholera, in the water supply of Pangarap Village in 2 to 3 days.

The vibrio cholerae bacteria are present in water contaminated with human waste."

India : Mumbai reports 25 cases of chikungunya

Via DNA India :

" After malaria, Mumbaikars are now facing the onslaught of chikungunya. The maximum number of cases (25) has been reported from Kurla, Dharavi and Goreagon (East).

At a BMC general body meeting, corporators expressed fear that the city is witnessing a fall in the number of malaria cases, but there is a rise in that of chikungunya cases.

Vinod Shekhar, Congress corporator from Colaba, raised the issue in the meeting on Monday.
Anil Diggikar, additional municipal commissioner, said the health department of the BMC had identified three areas in the city — Kurla, Dharavi and Goreagon (east) — from where about 25 cases of chikungunya have been reported."

WHO : Influenza - Update 117

The latest influenza update from WHO, excerpt (I've taken only the key points from the update, go to the site for the full article) :

" 24 September 2010 : Influenza virus circulation remains most active in areas of the temperate Southern Hemisphere and in parts of Asia, particularly South and Southeast Asia.

As of early to mid-September 2010, Chile continued to report an increasing national trend of ILI activity associated with increased co-circulation of seasonal and H1N1 (2009) influenza viruses.

In neighboring Argentina, limited data suggest that low levels of predominantly influenza type B viruses circulated between June and late August 2010.

In New Zealand, the national consultation rate for ILI fell below the seasonal baseline during the third week of September 2010 after peaking approximately one month earlier.

In Australia, a steady increase in the national rate of ILI consultations was observed between late August and mid-September 2010, but overall levels remain well below those seen during the past three winter influenza seasons; geographically widespread activity has been recently reported in Victoria, South Australia, and Western Australia. Influenza H1N1 (2009) and seasonal type B viruses continue to co-circulate in Australia.

In India, there is widespread persistence of active influenza virus circulation. As of mid-September 2010, at least 17 states and territories reported new cases, with the highest numbers reported in the Delhi, Maharashtra, and Karnataka.

In Thailand, there has been active circulation of influenza H1N1 (2009) viruses and to a lesser extent seasonal influenza type B and H3N2 viruses since mid-July 2010, coinciding with a period of usual transmission of influenza viruses."

India : Dengue cases cross 3,000 in Delhi

Via Times of India :

" NEW DELHI: With just five days left for the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, the city continued to grapple with a dengue outbreak as cases of the vector-borne disease reached 3,013 after 97 more patients tested positive.

The capital has reported five dengue deaths this season.

South Delhi continued to be worst-affected this season recording 437 cases, followed by MCD Civil Lines Zone (392), Rohini (354) and Central Zone (337).

The civic bodies are attributing the rapid increase in dengue cases this season to prolonged monsoon and stagnation of water at Commonwealth Games construction sites."

Pneumonic plague under control in Tibet, says regional CDC center

Via Xinhua, updates to the plague outbreak in Tibet :

" LHASA, Sept. 27 : Health authorities have controlled a pneumonic plague that broke out earlier this month in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, Tibet's Center for Disease Control (CDC) said Monday.

The first case of the outbreak was detected on Sept. 23 and the affected person died of severe lung infections. Another four people were also diagnosed with the disease, according to previous reports.

All the five cases were reported in Latok Township, Nangxian County of Nyingchi Prefecture. The four survivors are still being treated and are in a stable condition.

Family members and people in close contact with the victims have been quarantined. Local health authorities are screening people looking for more cases in the township, said an official with the regional CDC who declined to be named.

Latok Township has been quarantined. People coming out of Nangxian County are examined for the disease at road check points."

Indonesia : Luwu Utara, South Sulawesi - Bird flu attacks chickens

Another post from Ida with regards to bird flu, this time in Luwu Utara, South Sulawesi :

" Luwu Utara : Livestock Service of Kabupaten (municipal) Luwu Utara, South Sulawesi, culled thousands of chickens belong to local farmers. Those birds were infected by bird flu H5N1.

Control measures have been done by vaccination and disinfection.

This is the second bird flu attack occurred in Luwu Utara after last outbreak in 2007."

Australia : Fifth dengue case in Cairns outbreak

Via The Sydney Morning Herald :

" A fifth Cairns resident has been diagnosed with dengue fever following the declaration of an outbreak of the mosquito borne virus last week.

Queensland Health announced on Monday the Parramatta Park resident had tested positive for the type 2 strain of the virus.

It is the fifth confirmed case in the suburb since an outbreak was declared last week.

A spokesman said they were waiting on the results of tests for another half a dozen patients who had reported dengue-like symptoms."

Indonesia : Ponorogo, East Java - Chickens die of bird flu

From Ida at Bird Flu Information Corner, more outbreaks of chickens dying due to bird flu being reported this time from Ponorogo in East Java :

" Ponorogo : Dozens of chicken in Kertosari, Ponorogo suddenly died.

The chickens were apparently healthy and found dead on the next day.

Laboratory test of Health Service showed those chickens were positive bird flu H5N1.

People culled and burned remaining birds following to the finding."

Nigeria : Backyard poultry and bird flu burden

Via Nigerian Compass, excerpt from a long article but it's worth your time to read it :

" AS Jide Olorunmbe (not real names), eight-year-old primary school pupil, approached his home in Ojokoro, on the outskirts of Lagos metropolis that afternoon, he walked through chickens, ducks, turkeys and other bird stocks seeking food in front of his house.

Being very familiar with the birds, his reaction to some of ducks, which tried to flee the scene was typical of that of a child. He made a quick move towards the ducks and fell on droppings (waste matter left by various birds), which littered the front of his house.

However, little Jide was excited as he caught one of the ducks by its legs. As it croaked and struggled to re-gain its freedom, Jide was simply amused by the reaction of the duck. It took strong condemnation from Jide's mother for the duck to regain its freedom.

Curiously, Jide’s body contact with the droppings never provoked any negative reaction. He merely dusted it off his arms with his hands, and within minutes, he was eating fried fish with the unwashed hands."

Hong Kong : Dengue fears spark call for war on mosquitoes

The dengue count increased in Hong Kong to 5 according to this article from The Standard :

" Southern District residents have urged the government to step up mosquito control to halt the spread of dengue fever, a potentially fatal disease, after the number of confirmed and suspected cases rose to five.

A 46-year-old British man was confirmed to have dengue fever last week, the first locally acquired case in seven years. His 47-year-old wife and two sons, aged eight and 18, as well as a neighbor, a two-year-old girl, were all suspected to have come down with the disease. All live on Island Road, Deep Water Bay, and confirmatory test results are pending.

Centre for Health Protection senior medical and health officer Taron Loh Lai-ting yesterday said all have recovered and there is no evidence to show dengue fever has become endemic locally.

At a talk co-organized by the CHP and Food and Environmental Hygiene Department at Stanley Bay Community Hall on the mosquito-borne disease, some residents called on the government to do more to prevent the outbreak of dengue fever."

India : Chennai bears brunt of A(H1N1) flu season

An article from The Hindu :

" 81 cases have been reported this month alone and five deaths recorded in the last two months

Three districts in Tamil Nadu have contributed the bulk of A(H1N1) cases this season. Chennai tops the list, with Vellore and Coimbatore towing the rear.

A total of 138 cases have been reported in the city, including those from private hospitals since August, according to Chennai Corporation sources. In September alone, 81 cases have been reported, and five deaths recorded in the last two months.

Compared to the State figures, (total cases over 730 and deaths – 11) Chennai, indeed, seems to bear the brunt of the A(H1N1) flu season this time. According to the Centers For Disease Control, Atlanta, the symptoms of A(H1N1) can include high fever, runny nose, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills, fatigue/tiredness, diarrhoea, and vomiting."

Malaysia : Pahang records second dengue death

Via The Star :

" KUANTAN: A 23-year-old trainee beautician died from dengue fever on Saturday, making her the second to die in Pahang.

Yap Woan Jen, of Jalan Haji Ahmad, succumbed to the illness at the Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital here at 10.11am after she failed to regain consciousness.

The victim was first warded at a private hospital and then transferred to a government hospital when her condition worsened on Thurs­day.

State Local Government, Environ­ment and Health Committee chairman Datuk Hoh Khai Mun said a preliminary report revealed that Yap had died from dengue shock symptoms.

The first death was recorded in Keratong in Rompin earlier this year."

India : Swine flu toll climbs to 71 in MP

Via Central Chronicle :

" With four more person succumbing to swine flu, the death toll due to the disease has risen to 71 in Madhya Pradesh, official sources said today. Pankaj Mahto (26) succumbed to the viral disease at Chirayu Hospital yesterday, while Neetu Chouhan (28) and Shivlal (46) died at Hamidia Hospital.

With the three deaths, Bhopal has recorded 32 deaths from H1N1 virus so far. Vimla Bai (42) died due to swine flu at a hospital in Indore yesterday taking the toll in the city to 24 so far. Meanwhile, Jabalpur has recorded 11 deaths, Gwalior (3) and Harda (1) due to the disease. Three more persons have tested positive for the H1N1 virus taking the number of swine flu cases in the state to 288 so far."

Indonesia : Residents eight suspected bird flu

An article from Treyfish at Pandemic Information News, this following the B2B outbreak in Pinrang, excerpt :

" Health Pinrang make observations on eight people suspected of being infected with the H5N1 virus causing bird flu disease. Observations following the discovery of 5000 poultry broiler type die in District Lanrisang.

Pinrang Chief Medical Officer, Dr Rusman, said the residents in a positive bird flu has yet been found. "But we made some observations on eight residents to anticipate," Heriawan.

Command Post community health checks have also been established in Sompa Saddang, District Lanrisang. The establishment of posts to monitor the possibility of faster citizens who contracted the H5N1 virus. A resident district Cempa, Pinrang, bird flu infected 2005."

Philippines : Dengue Cases in Bikol Alarms DOH - 11 confirmed dead from disease

An article from Vox Bikol, fatalities and confirmed dengue cases increases :

" LEGAZPI CITY, Sept. 23 : The Department of Health (DOH) in Bikol said Thursday that dengue cases shot up by 71 percent as compared to last year's incidence, prompting health authorities to be on heightened alert. DOH data disclosed that at least 11 people have died and 1,889 people were hospitalized in various parts of Bikol mainly due to dengue, a mosquito-borne disease.

The surge in dengue cases in Bikol for the past nine months of this year may be attributed to these three factors: climate change, urbanization and poor health and sanitation practices of the community. The DOH epidemiology surveillance team said the current 1,889 cases shot up by 71 percent from the 1,099 cases registered last year."

India : 93 more cases of dengue in Delhi; total climbs to 2,821

Via The Med Guru :

" The recent sweep of dengue, the vector borne disease, is showing no signs of receding with the 93 fresh cases surfacing on Saturday, taking the total number of infections in the national capital to 2,821 this season.

According to the civic authorities, with 429 cases, south Delhi is hit hardest by the outbreak, followed closely by Municipal Corporation of Delhi's (MCD) Civil Lines zone with 367 cases. Rohini zone with 339 cases is not far behind."

Five plague cases reported in Tibet, one dead (Update)

An update to my post earlier, via Xinhua :

" BEIJING/LHASA, Sept. 26 : Five people have been diagnosed of pneumonic plague in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region and one of them has died, health authorities confirmed Sunday.

All the five cases were reported in Latok Village, Nangxian County of Nyingchi Prefecture, Ministry of Health said on its website, quoting a report from Tibet's regional health department.

It said the first case was detected on Sept. 23 and the patient died of severe lung infections.

The other four cases, all of whom reportedly had direct contacts with the first patient, have been quarantined.

"One of the cases is critical and the other three appear in stable condition," the report said.

Health authorities did not identify the patients.

The health department in Tibet has sent disease prevention and control specialists to Nangxian County to prevent the epidemic from spreading further.

It said everyone who visited the county after Sept. 18 must immediately seek treatment should fever, cough or other flu-like symptoms appear."

The Associated Press has also picked up the story.

China : Five plague cases reported in Tibet, one dead

This article is from Xinhua :

" BEIJING, Sept. 26 : Five people have been diagnosed of pneumonic plague in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region and one of them has died, health authorities confirmed Sunday.

All the five cases were reported in Nangxian County of Nyingchi Prefecture, Ministry of Health said on its website, quoting a report from Tibet's regional health department."

And after I did more digging I found this on China's MOH page and translated via Google :

" Long County, Colorado town in our region that a suspected outbreak of human plague. Comprehensive clinical, epidemiological investigation, laboratory test results, the experts identified the outbreak as the outbreak of pneumonic plague together, so far, five human cases, including 1 death.

Can be judged to be the first case of secondary pneumonic plague died of bubonic plague, and the remaining four cases were pneumonic plague, for the initial cases in direct contact with the infection. Are four cases were treated in isolation.

Currently, patients in critical condition in 1 patient, other cases being stable condition.

After the outbreak, the regional party committee, government and the Ministry of Health attaches great importance to the district, prefectural, and county public health emergencies immediately activated emergency plans, the experts have rushed to the scene to carry out epidemiological investigations, follow-up management of close contacts, foci deal with medical treatment and other prevention and control, the epidemic has been effectively controlled. Currently, the normal order of production and living of local people.

To remind the health sector, after September 18 who visited the area and, if fever, cough and other symptoms, should speed to the local disease control institutions for treatment. I will keep the Office of the situation to the public."

France : Provence - Dengue, chikungunya alert

A Google translated report via Le Progres :

" The health surveillance is reinforced in the PACA region, where the first cases of the virus carried by the tiger mosquito has been detected over a 12 year old child.

Chikungunya was diagnosed over a 12 year old child, now followed her home. He is currently an isolated case.

Precautionary measures were taken, including expertise on-site presence of the mosquito and mosquito control interventions into areas frequented by the patient as well as greater vigilance network of health professionals to identify the area of of possible patients seen with symptoms of chikungunya.

A call for vigilance has been launched by Jean-Jacques Coiplet, Director of Public Health and Environmental Agency Regional Health stating that all its teams were mobilized. An alert was issued to all GPs in the region as well as laboratories to trace any information on possible symptoms that may make you think of dengue or chikungunya."

India : State set to launch campaign to fight malaria

From Times of India, Jaipur reports malaria and dengue cases :

" JAIPUR: The state health department will launch anti-larval activities in the state in the first two weeks of October. Malaria has registered a steep increase over the past couple of weeks. In the past week alone, over 2,000 cases of malaria were registered in the state.

Due to a good monsoon, and early winter, the dengue cases are expected to rise this year.

The western districts of Barmer, Jaisalmer, Udaipur and Nagaur are worst hit by malaria, while several dengue cases have been reported in Alwar.

"Compared to the past week, the situation has improved somewhat and the number of pulmonary falciparum (PF) malaria cases have registered a slight drop," said Dr B R Meena, additional director, health department.

Despite the department's claims, malaria has been spreading in the state. So far, 16,000 cases of malaria and 170 of dengue have been reported in the state over the past one month."

India : Diseases claim 42

Via The Telegraph :

" Ramabai Nagar, Sept. 25 : At least 42 people have died of viral fever, malaria and dengue in more than 82 villages in Kanpur district of Uttar Pradesh in the past one month.

Of the 82 villages affected by the water-borne diseases, 42 are badly hit, district magistrate Saroj Tiwari said. However, all measures are being taken to control the spread of the diseases and medical staff have been sent to the affected villages, he added."

Australia : Teen's death linked to swine flu

An article from ABC News :

" A teenager who died after being sent home from a hospital in WA's Wheatbelt is believed to have been suffering from swine flu.

Andrew Allan,16, had a fever and difficulty breathing when his mother took him to Northam Hospital, east of Perth, almost a fortnight ago.

A nurse gave him some paracetamol and sent him home.

He was not assessed by a doctor.

The teenager was dead the next morning.

His father, James Allan, says he received a phone call from the WA coroner's office this week.

An initial report found Andrew Allan was suffering from swine flu and a bacterial infection when he died.

"He certainly would have had a better chance of survival in a hospital I think with trained people observing him than just being put to bed at home," Mr Allan said.

An investigation has begun at Northam Hospital.

A spokesman for the WA Health Department says the nurse who sent the teenager home has not worked there since the incident."

India : 93 more test positive for dengue in Capital

Via Hindustan Times :

" The Capital on Saturday reported 93 new cases of dengue, taking the tally to 2,821. The disease has claimed five lives, including one from outside Delhi, this year alone. The daily average of 70 new cases has gone up to 80 cases every day.

Delhi has also reported eight chikungunya - another mosquito-borne infection- cases so far. Barring the first cases, which were reported from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), civic agencies say, seven cases were reported from Palam village causing them to isolate the area.

"We are carrying out fogging and anti-larval operations in Palam area to restrict further rise in cases of chikungunya," said Dr V.K. Monga, chairman, public health committee, Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD.

"While chikungunya doesn't cause death as in the case of dengue, it does cause a lot of bodyache and fever," Dr V.K. Monga, MCD health official said."

India : 2 more succumb to swine flu; toll reaches 206

A report from Sakaal Times :

" PUNE: With two more deaths occurring in the last couple of days, swine flu death toll in the city has reached 206 since April this year. These latest deaths took the toll to 417, since the outbreak of the pandemic Influenza H1N1.

According to a statement issued by Deputy Director, Health Services, Amar Majhi (40), a resident of Hadapsar (originally hailing from Jharkhand) died on Wednesday at Sassoon General Hospital. He was suffering from high fever, cough and breathlessness for more than 16 days.

Another death occurred on Thursday at Noble Hospital, where Shobha Khedekar (40), from Purandar taluka, breathed her last. She was suffering from fever with chills and increasing dyspnoea since Sept 20."

Philippines : Dengue death toll hits 62 in two Mindanao regions

Via GMA News :

" BUTUAN CITY : The dreaded dengue disease has already claimed the lives of 62 people this year in two regions in Mindanao, reports from regional Department of Health offices claimed.

Of the 4,932 cases recorded from January to September in Northern Mindanao (Region 10), with Cagayan de Oro City as the regional center, about 54 people have died, mostly minors, the DOH-10 report showed.

Meanwhile, suspected dengue cases in the Caraga region (Region 13) has already reached a total of 2,001, according to the DOH Center for Health Development (CHD), through its Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit.

According to Dr. Gerna Manatad, DOH-13 CHD Regional Epidemiologist, the figure was based on admission reports from the different disease-reporting hospitals in the region from January 1 to September 9.

This is 168% higher compared to the record of the same period last year which only had 746 cases, Manatad said."

Zimbabwe : Cholera outbreak at Zim diamond field

An article published at Zim Online :

" HARARE : Zimbabwean health officials have been placed on high alert amid reports that at least 19 people have died from a fresh cholera outbreak whose epicentre is at the controversial Chiadzwa or Marange diamond field.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) this week said that the latest outbreak has so far affected 18 of the country’s 62 districts compared to 54 districts at the same time in 2009.

“Cumulative cholera cases stood at 753 with 669 suspected and 86 laboratory confirmed cases, while 19 deaths had been reported by 29 August 2010,” the UN agency said.

The hardest hit areas are Beitbridge, Bindura, Buhera, Chegutu, Chivi, Chimanimani, Chipinge, Chiredzi, Harare, Hurungwe, Kadoma, Masvingo, Makonde, Mount Darwin, Mutare, Mwenezi, Nyanga, Plumtree and Uzumba-Maramba-Pfungwe.

More than 70 percent of the cases currently reported are from rural areas."

Thailand : Doctor slams scrapping of flu campaign

Via Bangkok Post, excerpt :

" The Public Health Ministry was rash in dropping its flu prevention campaign to combat the H1N1 influenza outbreak, an academic says.

The ministry's flu vaccination scheme is also inadequate as the 2.1 million doses of flu vaccine held in stock are insufficient to cover people in need, said Yong Poovorawan, head of Chulalongkorn University's Centre of Excellence in Clinical Virology.

"Only 4% of Thais can gain access to the vaccine, which is not enough for those in need.

"It should be complemented by a prevention campaign, as the vaccine cannot ensure 100% prevention," he said yesterday.

"The best tool to contain influenza is to ensure that people with flu-like symptoms wear masks. But health authorities have not prioritised the [face mask wearing] campaign," he said.

Dr Yong said adults aged between 26-30 years contracted the H1N1 strain the most, followed by children aged one to five years.

However, the elderly, listed as a risk group and entitled to a free vaccination, were less affected.

The ministry should have focused more on mask-wearing campaigns among the public, he said.

A total of 59,412 influenza cases and 83 flu deaths were reported from January to Sept 18 this year."

Canada : Vancouver-processed raw oysters recalled

Via CTV News :

" VANCOUVER : A voluntary recall has been issued for a brand of raw West Coast oysters after three groups of diners got food poisoning after eating together in the Vancouver-area.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is warning the public not to eat Effingham extra small raw oysters, produced by Albion Fisheries and Sea World Fisheries, after the 16 people became ill.

"They had norovirus-like illness -- diarrhea, vomiting, stomach cramps -- and they've now recovered," said Anna Marie D'Angelo, a spokeswoman for Vancouver Coastal Health Authority.

"We reported that to the food inspection agency."

D'Angelo said the unrelated groups of people became sick last Friday, Sunday and Monday, leading to an investigation and then the recall. She didn't know if people in other areas of the province have become sick too."

Hong Kong : Three suspected local dengue fever cases investigated

Press release via Hong Kong's Centre for Health Protection, more suspected dengue cases :

" The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) is investigating three suspected local dengue fever cases involving the three family members of the 46-year-old man who was earlier confirmed with dengue fever acquired in Hong Kong.

The three family members are the man's 47-year-old wife and his sons aged 18 and eight respectively. Their blood specimens obtained by CHP today (September 24) have shown positive results for Dengue virus IgM this evening. Confirmatory tests are being conducted.

The two sons developed fever in early September, while the female patient recalled today that she also had headache and skin rashes in early September.

Their domestic helper was tested negative for the virus.

As for the suspected local case involving a two-year-old girl, CHP is arranging further confirmatory tests. Screening blood tests for her father and two sisters, aged nine months and two respectively, are also being arranged.

CHP has today conducted field visits to ESF International Kindergarten (Hillside) and Bradbury School, where the girl and the eight-year-old boy studied, and distributed questionnaires. So far, none of their classmates reported symptomatic. Blood tests will be arranged with the parents' consent.

Meanwhile, CHP's investigation continued in the vicinity of the patients'residence at Island Road, Deep Water Bay and Stubbs Road where the two schools were located. Information from around 400 persons were successfully obtained by either questionnaire or interview. Nobody reported active symptoms during CHP's investigation.

As at today, blood samples from 66 persons were taken for laboratory analysis. Results are pending."

Nepal : Fourth swine flu death

Via The Himalayan Times :

" KATHMANDU: Nepal recorded its fourth death caused by Influenza A (H1N1), commonly known as swine flu, at Om Hospital.

Dr Anand K Shrestha, project coordinator of Avian Influenza Control Project under Ministry of Health and Population, said a 43-year-old patient from Bhaktapur succumbed to swine flu on Thursday.

“After AICP completes its investigation, they will officially declare the death on Sunday,” said the project coordinator, adding that he was transferred from Norvic Hospital to Om Hospital. Nepal recorded its third swine flu death in December at Bir Hospital. AICP has so far recorded 217 confirmed cases of swine flu, mostly from Jhapa, Ilam, Saptari, Morang, Chitwan and Kathmandu."

India : Nearly 100 dengue cases in a day in Delhi, total reaches 2,728

An article from Times of India, dengue cases rises in Delhi :

" NEW DELHI: The national capital remained in the grip of dengue fever with a whopping 97 fresh cases being reported today, taking the total number of patients suffering from the vector-borne disease to 2,728.

The capital has reported five dengue deaths this season. The MCD has said students and working population are most prone to the disease and appealed to the heads of schools, offices and commercial establishments to take adequate precautions.

The civic bodies are attributing the rapid increase in dengue cases this season to prolonged monsoon and stagnation of water at Commonwealth Games construction sites."

Thailand : Some flu patients develop resistance to antiviral drug

Via The Nation :

" Chulalongkorn University's leading influenza virologist yesterday announced that four people had been infected with oseltamivirresistant H1N1 flu virus since the pandemic hit the country in April 2009.

Dr Yong Poovorawan, who heads the Faculty of Medicine at Chulalongkorn Hospital's Centre of Excellence in Clinical Virology, said his team had collected 1,100 samples from people who were infected with the H1N1 virus after the 2009 outbreak and found that four people in Bangkok had developed resistance to the antiviral drug oseltamivir.

He said there were no reports of oseltamivir resistance during the first wave of the pandemic from June to September 2009. But a patient reportedly developed resistance to the drug in the second wave of the flu pandemic from January to March this year.

The other three cases of oseltamivir resistance were reported in the third wave of the pandemic, during the past two months.

"The development of oseltamivir resistance in patients was caused by overuse of the drug," Yong told an annual seminar hosted by the Faculty of Medicine's paediatric division at Chulalongkorn University."

Baby dies in Germany of cholera caught in Pakistan

Via Trend :

" A baby has died in Germany, apparently of cholera he caught during his family's stay in Pakistan, health authorities said Friday.

Since cholera epidemics in Germany a century ago, the disease has practically disappeared from the country, with the annual case rate varying from three to zero. Cholera causes vomiting and diarrhoea, DPA reported.

Six people who had been in contact with the 9-month-old boy, who died in a Frankfurt hospital early Thursday, have been put under quarantine, but have shown no signs of the disease."

Nepal : Chitwan doctor contracts dengue

Via The Himalayan Times :

" CHITWAN: A senior doctor working in the Bharatpur Hospital in the district has contracted dengue fever. The doctor, whose identity has been kept secrect, has been ferried to the Capital where he is undergoing treatment.

Efforts are being made to take the doctor abroad for further treatment.

Chitwan District Public Health Officer Mahendra Prasad Shrestha said the health workers and the commoners have been worried after the doctor was infected with the dengue virus.

He said the office has urged the Ministry of Health to send a team of specialist doctors and health workers at the earliest."

Indonesia : Pinrang, South Sulawesi - Thousands of backyard chickens die of bird flu

Ida at Bird Flu Information Corner has another article with regards to bird flu from Indonesia, this time Pinrang, South Sulawesi, excerpt :

" Pinrang : Thousands of backyard chickens in three sub-districts of Kabupaten (municipal) Pinrang, have suddenly died of bird flu since Monday (21/9).

Three affected sub-districts are Kecamatan Lanrisang, Watang Sawitto and Paleteang.

The outbreak is probably caused by high rain rate in this later week, said Head of Animal Health Division, Livestock Service of Pinrang, Elvi Martina. Last bird flu outbreak in Pinrang occurred in 2005, she added.

Following to this, Livestock Service will conduct surveillance in 12 sub-districts of Pinrang.

The chief of Kecamatan Lanriseng – one of the affected sub-districts – M Husein predicted about 800 to 1000 chickens had died until now. This number will possibly increase.

In Kecamatan Lanriseng, bird flu attacks four villages, Desa Sama Ulue (Dusun Sumpang and Dusun Uloe), Desa Lanriseng, Desa Amassangang and Desa Mallongi-Longi."

Australia : North Qld dealing with more dengue cases

An article from ABC News in Australia :

" Queensland Health (QH) is on alert for another outbreak of dengue fever, with another case confirmed in Cairns.

A resident of the Cairns suburb of Parramatta Park has been diagnosed with type two dengue fever.

QH says it is awaiting test results on several other suspected cases in the same suburb.
The potentially fatal virus is spread by mosquitos.

QH medical director Dr Jeffrey Hanna says people with symptoms including sudden fever, severe headaches, a rash, muscle and joint pain should see a doctor.

There have been 30 confirmed cases of dengue fever in north Queensland this year including five in Cairns."

India : 95 fresh cases push dengue count to 2,631

Via The Asian Age :

" The national capital remained in the grip of dengue fever with a whopping 95 fresh cases being reported on Thursday, taking the total number of patients suffering from the vector-borne disease to 2,631.

The MCD said students and working population are most prone to the disease and appealed to the heads of schools, offices and commercial establishments to take adequate precautions."

India : H1N1 claims two more, toll now 417

Via Times of India :

" PUNE: The Influenza A H1N1 virus claimed two more lives, taking the death toll in the city to 417 since August 2009. According to the district information officer, Amar Biso Majhi (40), a resident of Hadapsar, died of swine flu at Noble Hospital at 6.45 am on Tuesday.

Shivaji Khedekar (40), a resident of village Bhivari in Pune district also died of swine flu at the same hospital on the same day at 7.47 am.

Meanwhile, five more people tested positive for the virus on Wednesday. With this, the number of infected patients has gone up to 1,960 since this April."

Nepal : Cholera outbreak looms over capital

Via The Himalayan Times :

" KATHMANDU: The capital city is getting vulnerable to cholera. With a sudden surge in number of cholera patients, the authorities have sounded alarm bells. Shukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital, Teku, today confirmed that it recorded 25 cases of cholera in the last two weeks. Though no death has been reported, rising number of patients at the hospital has put authorities concerned on their toes.

Till now, the most vulnerable areas in the capital city have been identified as Kalanki, Kalimati, Nepaltar, Maitidevi, Balaju and Kritipur. “We have already written to Epidemiology and Disease Control Division seeking their prompt action,” said Dr Saroj Prasad Rajendra, director at Shukraraj Hospital. She added that cases were recorded mainly in the urban and slum areas due to contaminated water and food sold in open spaces.

“Mortality rate of cholera patients is usually high. Patients suffer from short dehydration and may die if immediate treatment is not provided,” she said."

Indonesia : Tulungagung, East Java - Bird flu in backyard chickens

From the ever reliable Ida at Bird Flu Information corner, a report on the outbreak of bird flu in Tulungagung, Indonesia :

" Tulungagung : Avian influenza or bird flu H5N1 broke out in Tulungagung, East Java. The possible cause is unstable weather, said Tatik Andayani, the Head of Animal Health Division, Tulungagung Livestock Service.

Until now two bird flu cases had been reported attacking local farms. One case was identified in Dusun Doropatung Desa Doroampel Kecamatan Sumbergempol, last Thursday, which had killed 23 backyard chickens.

Second case occurred in Desa Pinggirsari Kecamatan Ngantru which killed 45 backyard chickens."

Barbados : Dengue Death

An article from Nation News :

" Another death from dengue has been recorded here.

The Ministry of Health says a young adult female is the latest person to succumb to dengue fever.

The death occurred on Thursday, September 16, and was confirmed by laboratory tests on September 22.

Barbados has recorded 199 confirmed cases of dengue fever and three deaths so far this year."

India : Delhi grapples with dengue, cases cross 2,500 mark

Via Times of India :

" NEW DELHI: As Delhi rolls up its sleeves to host the 19th Commonwealth Games, civic authorities continue to grapple with what experts are calling a "cycle of dengue". According to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), the infectious disease has claimed five lives so far.

The total number of patients reached 2,536 Wednesday. The number this year is expected to cross the 2006 figure of 3,366 cases. Nearly 70 new dengue cases are turning up in the city every day despite the regular fogging operations and checks against breeding of dengue causing mosquitoes in houses."

New Zealand : Pandemic Influenza H1N1 2009 (swine flu) - Update 209

Via New Zealand's Ministry of Health :

" Overall influenza H1N1 activity, which has been decreasing since the last week of August, has dropped below the baseline in the past week. There have been 702 hospitalisations of laboratory-confirmed cases of pandemic influenza H1N1 so far this year, including 104 people with confirmed H1N1 admitted in intensive care.

These figures do not include influenza-like illness among people admitted to hospital without a positive H1N1 laboratory test result. Fourteen of the 18 swine flu-related deaths reported so far this year were confirmed to be associated with swine flu.

It's still important to seek medical advice early, particularly for people with underlying medical conditions or who are severely overweight or pregnant as they are at greater risk of a more severe illness."

India : Now, chikungunya rears its head in Capital

Via Indian Express :

" Even as 86 new cases of dengue — the highest so far — were recorded in the Capital on Wednesday, taking the total number to 2,536, yet another disease is now giving Health Department officials a hard time. At least six people were diagnosed with the chikungunya virus, also spread by mosquitos, in Palam Village on Wednesday.

Prior to these, two more cases of the virus had been reported by the National Institute of Communicable Diseases in Delhi, taking the total number of cases to eight. “While chikungunya doesn’t cause death as in the case of dengue, it does cause a lot of bodyache and fever,” MCD health official Dr VK Monga said."

India : 86 more dengue cases in Delhi, total climbs to 2,536

Via Deccan Herald :

" The dengue cases in Delhi climbed to 2,536 today with 86 more patients testing positive for the vector-borne disease.

The capital has reported five dengue deaths this season. South Delhi continued to be worst-affected this season recording 385 cases, followed by MCD Civil Lines Zone (330), Rohini (303) and Central Zone (300).The MCD has said students and working population are most prone to the disease and appealed to the authorities concerned to take preventive measures.

Chairman of MCD Public Health Committee V K Monga said that after detailed study of dengue patients in Delhi, it was revealed that the most affected segment of population is students and persons who go out for jobs or business.He appealed to heads of schools, offices, commercial establishments to take adequate precautions.

The civic bodies are attributing the rapid increase in dengue cases this season to prolonged monsoon and stagnation of water at Commonwealth Games construction sites."

Update: Detection of a Verona Integron-Encoded Metallo-Beta-Lactamase in Klebsiella pneumoniae --- United States, 2010

An update via CDC, excerpt :

" In July 2010, CDC was notified of a patient with a carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae strain that produced a Verona integron-encoded metallo-beta-lactamase (VIM) carbapenemase (1) not reported previously among Enterobacteriaceae in the United States.

The patient was a woman from the United States who became ill with diarrhea during a Mediterranean cruise and was hospitalized in Greece, where she received a diagnosis of sepsis and Clostridium difficile infection.

After 12 days in two hospitals in Greece, she was transferred to a hospital in the United States for continued management of sepsis and acute renal failure. On admission, blood was drawn for culture through a central venous catheter that had been placed while the patient was hospitalized in Greece.

The blood subsequently grew carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae exhibiting the VIM resistance mechanism, which has been described previously in Greece but not in the United States. Further testing showed the isolate to be nonsusceptible to all antimicrobials usually used to treat Klebsiella."

India : Bali Launches Island-wide Campaign to Eradicate Rabies

An article from Reuters, excerpt :

" DENPASAR, Bali, Sept 21 : Across the world, hundreds of thousands of stray dogs are killed by government-led inhumane mass cullings, during which animals are poisoned, electrocuted, clubbed or shot in attempts to curb the spread of rabies.

However, in the lead up to World Rabies Day on Sept. 28, Bali's government has committed to a more humane and successful approach to eradicating rabies, implementing a model program that other countries can begin to use as part of their own rabies control efforts.

The Bali government today signed an agreement authorizing a mass vaccination campaign to immunize nearly 400,000 dogs."

Philippines : Iloilo dengue cases hit 4,825 with 27 fatalities

Via The News Today, dengue cases increases along with more fatalities :

" Dengue cases in Iloilo province has now reached 4,825 with 27 deaths as reported by the Iloilo Provincial Health Office from January 1 to September 18, 2010.

Of the total dengue cases, the number of patients confined in the 12 provincial and district hospitals in Iloilo for this month alone starting August 19 is 32.

Dr. Maria Socorro Quinon, IPHO assistant head, said that the municipalities of Pototan still continue to be on the top with 371 cases of which there are two deaths.

It is followed by the municipalities of Cabatuan with 370 cases of which there are four deaths; Tigbauan with 368 cases; Guimbal with 262 cases of which there is one death; Passi City with 257 cases of which there is one death; Janiuay with 229 cases of which there is one death; Sta. Barbara with 168 cases of which there are two deaths; and Oton with 162 cases of which there are three deaths."

Thailand : GPO concerned over A (H1N1) vaccine shortage

Via The Nation :

" Government Pharmaceutical Organisation (GPO) chairman Dr Vichai Chokewiwat Wednesday expressed concerns about the possible shortage of vaccine doses against influenza A(H1N1).

He urged relevant authorities to quickly tackle such concerns.

According to him, the Public Health Ministry has sent 2.1 million doses of the vaccine to provinces and thus it is possible that Bangkok people will find it hard to the get the vaccine.

Bangkok is now trying to deal with the third round of influenza A(H1N1) outbreak."

India : Dengue death toll in Bihar at 6, 518 others test positive

An article from DNA India :

" Six people have died so far due to the outbreak of dengue in Munger district of Bihar, while 518 others have tested positive, official sources said today.

Unofficial sources have, however, claimed that the number of casualties due to suspected mosquito-bred fever stands at 27.

As many as 518 out of 1361 people diagnosed for symptoms of the dengue fever have tested positive, officials said."

Angola : Over 200 cases of malaria recorded in Cangandala Hospital

Via Angola Press :

" Cangandala : At least 223 cases of malaria were diagnosed in August in the hospital of Cangandala District, in the northern Malanje Province, ANGOP has learnt.

According to a monthly report from the hospital, which reached ANGOP on Tuesday, these cases did not claim any lives.

The document reads that in the referred period 1.389 patients with various diseases were assisted in that hospital.

The hospital of Cangandala District operates with 35 technicians, among them five Cuban physicians, 30 nurses, among other staff."

Hong Kong : Suspected local dengue fever case investigated

Press release from Hong Kong's Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health, excerpt :

" The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is investigating a suspected local case of dengue fever involving a 46-year-old man.

The patient, who lives in Deep Water Bay, developed a headache on September 13 followed by fever, nausea, stomach ache, diarrhoea and rash.

His blood samples taken on September 18 and 20 tested positive for Dengue virus IgM. Confirmatory tests have been conducted and results will be available later today.

His two sons (aged 8 and 18) also showed symptoms of fever with onset on September 6 and 10. Blood investigation is being arranged. His wife is asymptomatic.

The man had no history of travel outside Hong Kong in the month before onset of symptoms. But he had travelled with his family to Thailand from August 8 to 12."

Indonesia : Luwu Timur, South Sulawesi - 24,000 birds die of bird flu

From Ida at Bird Flu Information Corner, the report indicated 24,000 birds dead due to bird flu. 24,000 is not a small number, let's hope there will not be human cases involved in the near future in the affected areas.

" Malili : Avian influenza or bird flu H5N1 attacked Kabupaten (municipal) Luwu Timur, South Sulawesi. At least twenty-four thousand birds in nine sub-districts, Kecamatan Wotu, Burau, Tomoni, Mangkutana, Tomoni Timur, Kalaena, Malili, Angkona and Wasuponda had been infected.

So far, the virus is not transmitted to human.

Data of Agriculture, Horticulture and Livestock Service of Luwu Timur noted the infected birds were layer, broiler and native chickens.

Bird flu test was done by rapid test and confirmed through laboratory examination of Veterinary Disease Investigation Center (Balai Besar Veteriner) laboratory in Maros.

Regional government had done control measures by burning the infected chickens, disinfection and activating bird flu control points in each sub-district."

US : H1N1 has neurological side effects

Via The Daily Utah Chronicle, excerpt :

" At the peak of the H1N1 virus pandemic last fall, Josh Bonkowsky received call after call to treat children with H1N1 who were also experiencing neurological complications such as seizures.

The calls prompted Bonkowsky, professor of pediatrics and neurology, to find out if the H1N1 virus causes more children to have neurological complications than the seasonal flu. New research confirms his hypothesis.

Although seizures were the most common complication, they were just as prevalent in children affected by the seasonal flu. Other side effects more common in H1N1 included encephalopathy, which causes patients not to act like themselves, as well as confusion, aphasia&-which inhibits communication&-and focal neurological deficits, which affect one part of the nervous system, Bonkowsky said."

Nepal : Number of dengue patients on the rise

Via The Himalayan Times :

" CHITWAN: The number of people infected by Dengue has been on the rise in Chitwan, with the latest number reaching 71.

Altogether 265 people have so far carried out tests for suspicion of carrying the Dengue virus and of them 71 were found infected by Dengue, the District Public Health Office has said.

The number of people suffering from fever since the recent outbreak of viral fever and Dengue has been increasing every day, and more than 500 people with symptoms of fever visit different hospitals in Chitwan."

Australian Influenza Surveillance 2010 - Latest report

Via Australia's Department of Health :

" Report No. 36

Reporting period 4 to 10 September 2010

• Levels of influenza-like illness (ILI) in the community have continued to increase through most surveillance systems this reporting period with sporadic and widespread activity reported within jurisdictions. However, there was a decline in the number of laboratory confirmed notifications compared to previous weeks.
• There were 267 laboratory confirmed notifications of influenza during this reporting period, including 149 pandemic (H1N1) 2009 cases. This is a substantial decrease in the number of laboratory confirmed notifications compared to the previous week of 501. Notifications of laboratory confirmed influenza were highest in QLD this reporting period and in SA the notification rate over the past month has also been relatively high.
• Results from sentinel laboratory surveillance systems for this reporting period show that 16% of the respiratory tests conducted over this period were positive for influenza, which is a slight decrease from the last reporting period (19%). In 2010, a total of 754 specimens have been positive for influenza (of 10,834 specimens tested), of which 70% were pandemic (H1N1) 2009, 12% were A/H3N2 and 16% were influenza B.

A detailed PDF report is also available."

India : Second H1N1 death reported in Mohali

A report from Indian Express :

" Another swine flu death was reported at Fortis Hospital in Mohali on Tuesday. This was the second H1N1 death here in the past less than a month.

A resident of Mandi in Himachal Pradesh Jai Chand Thakur (55) died of H1N1, confirmed the Fortis Hospital spokesperson this evening. He was admitted to the hospital with swine flu symptoms on September 11 and was tested positive for the virus on September 14. “He was been under treatment in an isolated ward but today suddenly his condition deteriorated and he died,” informed the spokesperson.

On August 26, another H1N1 patient Gurmeet Singh (43), a resident of Sector 36, Chandigarh, had died at Fortis Hospital. Though Gurmeet tested positive for swine flu, but since he was suffering from other chronic diseases as well, he had died of cardiac arrest, the hospital had claimed."

India : 79 more cases of dengue in Delhi, total 2,450

Via Net Indian :

" Delhi Tuesday reported 79 more cases of dengue Tuesday, taking the total number of people infected with the mosquito-borne disease to 2,450, an official said.

The disease has claimed five lives in the city this year including one from outside Delhi, a Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) official said.

As the numbers of cases rise steadily, MCD's nightmare of the total dengue cases crossing the 2006 figure of 3,366 cases may come true.

As the numbers of cases rise steadily, MCD's nightmare of the total dengue cases crossing the 2006 figure of 3,366 cases may come true.

According to the MCD, 1,153 dengue cases and three deaths were reported in 2009, 1,312 cases and two deaths in 2008, 548 cases and one death in 2007, and 3,366 cases and 36 deaths in 2006. "

Australia : Two men die with swine flu

Via Yahoo News :

" Two elderly men suffering from swine flu have died as the Northern Territory experiences an upsurge in infection rates from the virus.

It is understood the two men, both of whom had serious underlying health problems, were the first people to die with swine flu in the NT this year.

NT health officials released a statement on Wednesday advising people that swine flu remained a serious threat to public health, particularly among people with pre-existing medical conditions.
Peter Markey, from the NT Centre for Disease Control, said the most common strain of influenza circulating this year was H1N1, or swine flu.

This year there have been 173 influenza notifications in the NT, with 139 of them being H1N1.
About 45 of the reported swine flu cases have occurred in the past week, 17 of which required hospitalisation.

Dr Markey said his organisation had, in the lead-up to the Top End's annual flu season, been advising people to get vaccinated."

Spain: H5 Avian Flu In Doves

Mike Coston at Avian Flu Diary, has very insightful and in dept look into issues / viruses "bugging" humanity. I turn to his blog everyday to read what he has to say and today I saw a post on his blog titled Spain : H5 Avian Flu in Doves. Here's the excerpt from that, please go to his site for all the links mentioned.

" A week ago, CopitoSP posting on FluTrackers from Madrid, Spain alerted forum members to an ongoing die off of `turkish doves’ in `Montjuïc and surrounding areas due to a disease of unknown origin’.

The original news item appeared in El Pais.com, and was titled Una enfermedad desconocida mata a cientos de tórtolas en los jardines de Montjuïc which translated works out to An unknown disease kills hundreds of pigeons in the gardens of Montjuïc.

An ongoing thread to track this event was created on FluTrackers, where you can read the full details of the story and follow up reports.

Today we have confirmation – courtesy of IronOreHopper - that HPAI H5 has been confirmed by FAO/Empres (The Global Animal Disease Information System)."

India : 7 more die of encephalitis, toll 319 in eastern UP

An article from Times of India :

" GORAKHPUR: Seven more persons died of encephalitis in the district, taking the toll in the deadly disease in eastern Uttar Pradesh to 319, health officials today said.

All the seven patients died in Baba Raghav Das Medical College Hospital, Additional Director (Health) U K Srivastava said, adding 39 new patients were admitted in the hospital today.

Srivastava said of the total 319 deaths so far, 299 took place in BRDMCH while the remaining were reported from government hospitals in Gorakhpur, Siddharthnagar, Kushinagar, Maharajganj, Basti and Deoria districts."

India : Two more die of swine flu in twin cities

Via Express Buzz :

" HYDERABAD: Two more persons died of swine flu today in the twin cities. As many as 25 deaths were reported since the outbreak of swine flu during the monsoon season in the state.

A 40-year-old male, native of Khammam and 24-year-old woman of Shamshabad airport colony, both undergoing treatment at Yashoda and Gandhi Hospital respectively in the city, died today morning.

Dr. Jayakumari, district medical and health officer told Express that the both patients were admitted with swine flu symptoms on Friday. The duo died today while undergoing treatment. "

Vietnam : National action plan to combat bird flu

An article from VOV News :

" The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), in coordination with the Ministry of Health (MoH) and various overseas organisations, held a seminar in Hanoi on September 20 to draw up an action plan to combat bird flu in the next five years (2011-2015).

According to MARD, the animal husbandry sector in Vietnam has developed dramatically but animal health services have not yet met its requirements. As a result, there are more cases of diseases being transferred from animals to humans.

MARD’s Deputy Minister Diep Kinh Tan said that over the past five years, more than VND3,931 billion (roughly US$201.7 million) has been allocated by the State and international organisations on training medical workers and building testing centres. However, he said, the country still faces numerous challenges due to the spread of the deadly H5N1 virus."

Philippines : DOH to declare dengue outbreak in C. Visayas

Via Global Nation, it looks like dengue is not dying down anytime soon in the Philippines :

" A DENGUE outbreak will be declared in Central Visayas after health authorities recorded 7,241 cases from January to Sept. 18 this year.

The Department of Health in Central Visayas (DOH-7) said the figure represented an 18-percent increase since Sept. 18.

The Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (RESU)–Central Visayas recorded 1,095 cases in one week alone.

Dr. Jocelyn Abellana, DOH Central Visayas regional dengue coordinator, said the figure also represented a 46.4-percent increase for the same period last year.

Dengue cases were pegged at 4,921 cases with 63 deaths last year."

India : Artificial heart breathes life into critical H1N1 patient

Via DNA India :

" Doctors had given up on 57-year-old Srinivas, a former employee of the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), who was on ventilator for over 40 days after being diagnosed with influenza A(H1N)1 infection. Srinivas was down with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), a grave kind of lung failure.

“We received a call from a city hospital on August 14. We were informed about a H1N1 patient who was on the ventilator for over 40 days with ARDS. Srinivas was referred to us for extra corporeal membrane oxygenator (ECMO) system treatment which we had been trying out on H1N1 patients,” said Dr Binoy Chattuparambil, consultant cardiac surgeon, Narayana Hrudayalaya.

ECMO is a kind of an external artificial heart. It purifies the blood by oxygenating it. “A lung affected by ARDS requires at least a month to recover. During this period, ARDS supports the heart and gives the affected lung the rest that is required to clear the infection and regain its original functions,” Dr Chattuparambil said."

Malaysia's dengue death rate spirals 53 percent this year

An AFP report hosted by Yahoo Health :

" Malaysia said Monday its dengue fever death rate spiralled 53 percent this year, but backed away from a controversial trial of releasing genetically modified mosquitoes to wipe out the disease.

"There was a major rise in deaths due to dengue fever, with 107 deaths so far this year compared to 70 deaths for the same period last year," said deputy premier Muhyiddin Yassin.

Muhyiddin said the majority of the deaths could have been avoided, and urged the public to take action to eradicate the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes -- which spread dengue -- from their homes and workplaces.

"We have identified 19 hotspots throughout the country where the disease is prevalent, and action is being taken to tackle the situation in these areas," he said."

Australia : Swine flu kills four in six weeks

Via The West Australian :

" Four West Australians have died from swine flu in the past six weeks, and the death of a Perth man last week has also been linked to the flu strain.

Health authorities confirmed yesterday six people had died from swine flu, also known as A/H1N1, this year, up from the two deaths reported by early last month.

They said all the cases were in adults with predisposing risk factors or medical conditions. But sources have told _The West Australian _that a Perth man in his early 50s, with no known underlying medical condition, died from swine flu late last week."

India : 75 dengue cases, count rises to 2,371

A report from The Asian Age, dengue cases increases in Delhi :

" The city reported 75 new cases of dengue on Monday, taking the total number of people infected with the disease to 2,371.

The disease has this year claimed five lives in the capital, including one from outside the city.The city has been recording around 70 cases on an average every day.

"We are carrying out fogging operation in various parts of the city," said municipal health officer of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), N.K. Yadav."

Malaysia : Rat urine virus in two more areas

Via New Straits Times :

" ALOR STAR: Leptospirosis or rat urine virus has been detected in two more areas -- in the lake of the Pendang Lake Resort and the Bukit Perak waterfall, state director of health Dr Marzukhi Md Isa said yesterday.

He said the Bukit Perak waterfall has been closed to the public while guests of the Pendang Lake Resort were advised to keep off the lake. Water samples taken from the waterfall and the lake were found to contain the virus, he said when contacted. So far, no one had been reported to have contracted the virus in the two areas, he added.

Three locations in the state -- Puncak Janing recreational park in Kuala Nerang, Lata Bayu recreational park in Baling and Bukit Wang recreational park in Kubang Pasu -- were closed a month ago after the virus was detected there."

Hong Kong : Influenza-like-illness outbreaks under close watch

Another press release from the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health in Hong Kong, excerpt :

" The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (September 20) urged members of the public and management of institutions to maintain good environmental and personal hygiene to prevent influenza.

The appeal was made after the CHP received two reports of influenza-like-illness (ILI) outbreaks in correctional institutions, affecting 53 inmates in total.

The first case involved 33 male inmates, aged between 21 and 53 in a correctional institution in Southern District. They developed symptoms of ILI since September 15.

All of the affected sought medical treatment at the correctional institution. One of them was admitted to Queen Mary Hospital. All are now in stable condition.

Throat swabs taken from two affected inmates tested negative for influenza A and B. Further tests are being done."

Hong Kong : ILI and HFMD situation update

Press release from Hong Kong's Centre for Health Protection :

" The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health received reports of influenza-like illness (ILI) outbreaks in nine schools affecting 48 persons during the three days ending at noon today (September 20).

Reports about hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) outbreaks involving 12 persons in five schools were received during the same period.

The above brought to 32 and 39 the cumulative totals of ILI and HFMD outbreak reports respectively since the start of the new school term in September."

India : Dengue grips three more

Via The Telegraph :

" Jamshedpur, Sept. 20: Three new cases in the last 24 hours pushed up the number of people suffering from dengue in the steel city to nine.

The disease, which claimed the life of Mahatma Gandhi Memorial College and Hospital doctor B.M. Nayak last week, today afflicted one more doctor — orthopaedic Sanjay Kumar, who runs a private practice in Mango.

Kumar, who has been undergoing treatment for viral fever at the general ward of Tata Main Hospital for the last four days, tested positive for dengue today.

A three-member team of entomologists arrived from Ranchi this afternoon to supervise and assist the administrative machinery engaged in checking the spread of dengue in the slums and suburbs. The team will inspect the work of health department officials to determine whether the anti-mosquito drive was being carried out properly or not.

District malaria officer L.B.P. Singh said the entomologists would move around with health workers and collect samples of stagnant water from households across the city."

India : After cholera, malaria hits Orissa district

Via Sify News :

" Bhubaneswar, Sep 20 : There has been a sudden increase in the number of malaria cases in Orissa's Rayagada district, where cholera and other water-borne diseases have claimed over 40 lives since August, a senior official said Monday.

'Malaria patients have increased in the last few weeks,' District Collector N.B. Jawale told IANS.

He said five to six suspected malaria cases were being reported each day from all the 22 health camps and centres set up by the administration in the district to tackle cholera and diarrhoea.

'Most of the people coming to the centres have high fever,' Jawale said.

According to the 2001 census, the Rayagada district, some 390 km from here, has a population of about 823,000 people.

Cholera and other water borne diseases have claimed 41 lives and infected over 1,500 people in all the 11 blocks of the district."

France Finds Second Case of Dengue Fever Transmitted by Tiger Mosquito

Via Bloomberg, excerpt, France finds dengue case number 2 :

" France found a second case of dengue fever transmitted locally by an Asian tiger mosquito, suggesting the disease may take hold as the insect settles on the European continent.

The patient, a resident of Nice on the French Riviera, has recovered, according to the region’s health department. The first case of local infection was found Sept. 13, also in Nice, and “is an important public health event” because it’s the first time that natural transmission of the dengue virus has been reported in continental Europe since 1927-1928, the European Center for Disease Control and Prevention said in a statement on its website."

India : Swine flu claims another 110 lives across the country

An article from Deccan Herald :

" The prolonged monsoon seems to have aggravated swine flu cases with 110 people succumbing to the disease across the country in the week gone by.

While 42 deaths were reported from Maharashtra, the capital reported 10 deaths in the week ending September 19.

Two deaths each were reported from Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Uttarakhand and Puducherry.

Madhya Pradesh reported 14 cases, Gujarat 29 and Uttar Pradesh 3.

A total of 2,427 people have lost their lives to swine flu from May last year."