India : Dengue claims two more in Tirunelveli

Via Times of India :

 " TIRUNELVELI: Two more persons, including a six-year-old child, fell victim to dengue in Tirunelveli on Saturday as the illness threatens to assume epidemic proportions. According to health officials, the number of persons who have died due to dengue in Kadayanallur and adjoining rural areas in the southern district has risen to 10 with these two deaths since April.

The two deceased were identified as Sharmila (6) daughter of Kumaresan of Udayampuli near Mukkoodal, about 40 kilometres from Kadayanallur, the epicentre of the outbreak and Hassan Mohideen (58) of Vadakarai near Alangulam. The two were admitted in the government hospital at Tirunelveli since May 10. "We did our best to save them.

 But they were brought to the government hospital after the illness turned severe. They had taken treatment in private hospitals before coming to the GH. If they had come earlier, they would have been saved,'' said deputy director (health) Meeran Mohideen. Now as many as 110 persons belonging to all age groups from various villages in Kadayanallur region are undergoing treatment at the government hospital for dengue. A battery of health officials have plunged into action soon after the outbreak was reported last month.

Besides state health officials, experts from the Vector Control Research Centre, Pondicherry have landed in Tirunelveli to study the unusual outbreak of the disease in summer, as dengue is usually reported only during winter. The dengue outbreak was reported from Kadayanallur region way back in 2009 when a number of deaths were reported. This year, in April, three persons died sparking fear of dengue though officials were on a denial mode initially. Later they admitted that the cause of death was dengue and sprang into action."

Leptospirosis in Peru

Via CDC, excerpt :

" What Is the Current Situation? 

Flooding has caused an outbreak of leptospirosis in Peru, especially in the Loreto region. This is the worst flooding seen in this area for over 20 years. Peru has reported more than 300 cases and 3 deaths associated with leptospirosis thus far in 2012. Health authorities have alerted people to take precautions against the infection.

What Is Leptospirosis? 

Leptospirosis is a disease that is spread by animal urine. People become infected with the disease when they come in contact with body fluids of infected animals or in contact with water, soil, or food contaminated with infected urine. Leptospirosis is a hazard for many people who work outdoors or with animals. The disease has also been associated with swimming, wading, kayaking, and rafting in contaminated lakes and rivers. Symptoms include high fever, headache, chills, muscle aches, vomiting, jaundice (yellow eyes and skin), red eyes, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and rash. Some people do not experience symptoms. This disease can cause kidney or liver failure and/or meningitis (swelling of the tissue covering the brain). Without treatment, recovery can take several months. Leptospirosis occurs throughout the world, especially in regions with flooding. Leptospirosis occurs more often in tropical areas. Urban areas lacking sanitation may also have a higher risk of leptospirosis."

Dengue fever kills 14 Cambodian children in 1st four months

Via Xinhua :

 " Cambodia reported 2,277 dengue fever cases, killing 14 children in the first four months of 2012, Dr. Char Meng Chuor, director of the National Center for Parasitology, Entomology and Malaria Control, said Sunday.

During the four months this year, the infection cases of the disease had increased by 369 percent if compared to the same period last year, he said.

 "It's a concern for us," he said, appealing to people to sleep in mosquito nets and keep clean environment around their houses. "To prevent the disease, it's required to kill larvae by using Abate and by filling in puddles around houses, which are sources of mosquitoes," he said.

 About 270 tones of Abate (a chemical substance used to kill larvae in water pots) will be distributed free of charge to households this year, he added."

South Africa : HPAI Outbreak Discovered in Western Cape Province

Via Xinhua :

" The South African veterinary authorities have discovered another outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza at a commercial ostrich farm located in Western Cape Province.

The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) received Follow-up Report No. 11 yesterday, 9 May. A total of 310 ostriches were found susceptible, out of which 98 cases were identified.

No deaths were reported, and no birds were destroyed. Initially, no clinical signs or mortalities were seen. Stamping out of ostriches on positive farm is taking place. The presence of the H5N2 sub-type of the HPAI virus has been confirmed. The source of the outbreak remains inconclusive."

Indonesia : Riau boy: 157th bird flu fatality Indonesia : Riau boy - 157th bird flu fatality

Via The Jakarta Post :

" A two-year old boy, identified only as MAF, died from bird flu last Friday in a state hospital in Riau, the Health Ministry has confirmed.

A ministry team has investigated the boy’s neighborhood and found that he may have had contact with quails’ eggs because his parents sold them, the ministry’s directorate general for disease control and environmental health said in a press statement released on Tuesday night.

The boy, a resident of Siak in Pekanbaru, was brought to a private clinic on April 20 after developing a fever on April 17, the statement said.

He was then rushed to a private hospital on the night of April 20 because his condition had not improved, it said.

On April 21, he was treated in another hospital identified only as EB, where doctors reported the case to the Riau Health Agency’s post command. He was referred to a state hospital, identified only as AA.

“[The boy’s] condition deteriorated and he died on April 27 at 11:45 p.m. at Hospital AA,” the statement said.
The total number of bird flu cases since 2005 now stands at 189, with 157 fatalities after the latest case.

Director general Dr. Tjandra Yoga Aditama has reported the latest case to the World Health Organization, the statement said."