India, Karnataka : Nine more cholera cases in Holalu; swine flu reported

Via The Hindu :

" The waterborne disease has spread to neighbouring Vaddara Koppalu and Panakana Halli.

While the authorities concerned are taking steps to curb the spread of cholera in Holalu village in Mandya taluk, a case of influenza A (H1N1) virus, commonly known as swine flu, has been reported in Mandya city.

In Holalu village, nine more cases of cholera were reported on Wednesday. The waterborne disease has spread to neighbouring Vaddara Koppalu and Panakana Halli.

Mandya District Health Officer T.N. Marigowda, while confirming the swine flu case in Mandya city, said Jayamma (55), wife of Chowda Shetty, is undergoing treatment at BGS Apollo Hospital in Mysore.

In view of A (H1N1) case, the Mandya district administration has intensified surveillance in the locality."

West Australia first dengue fever case in 70 years

From Yahoo News :

" Western Australia has recorded its first locally-acquired case of dengue fever in more than 70 years.

The Health Department said a Pilbara man contracted the potentially deadly virus after being bitten by a mosquito at Point Samson, about 55km north-east of Karratha.

The department said it was most likely that an infected mosquito "hitched a ride" in a suitcase on a ship or a vehicle travelling from north Queensland, where outbreaks occur periodically."

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) - update

From WHO :

" WHO has been informed of an additional laboratory-confirmed case of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection in Qatar.

The patient is a 23-year-old man who was identified as a close contact of a previously laboratory-confirmed case as part of the epidemiological investigation. He is a worker in the animal barn owned by the previously laboratory-confirmed case. The man developed mild symptoms of illness and is in good condition. Preliminary investigations revealed that he did not recently travel outside the country.

Globally, from September 2012 to date, WHO has been informed of a total of 145 laboratory-confirmed cases of infection with MERS-CoV, including 62 deaths.

Based on the current situation and available information, WHO encourages all Member States to continue their surveillance for severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) and to carefully review any unusual patterns."

Trinidad and Tobago : Swine flu patients still in London hospital

Via News Day :

" The three Trinidadians who contracted the H1N1 virus (swine flu) while on their recent pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia are still being treated at a London hospital.

Health Minister Dr Fuad Khan told the media yesterday based on the latest information he had from the TT High Commission in London, England one of the patients is in the Intensive Care Unit of the University College London Hospital, another is being treated on the ward, and the third is under observation.

The patient in the ICU is Madree Swamad, who together with her husband Earl Swamad, were on the pilgrimage. On Sunday, Khan told Newsday a notice was put out for all those who were on the tour group."

MERS update: 3 more Saudi cases, 1 in Qatar

From Robert Roos at CIDRAP :

" Three more Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) cases, apparently including a fatal one, were reported in Saudi Arabia over the weekend, while Qatar reported an asymptomatic case in a foreigner in the country, according to government statements and news reports.

A machine-translated statement from the Saudi Ministry of Health (MOH), apparently issued on Oct 26, said the new cases all occurred in the Eastern province. The cases involve:

An 83-year-old citizen who had contact with a confirmed case-patient, had chronic illnesses, and was in an intensive care unit (ICU)

A 54-year-old resident healthcare worker with chronic illnesses who was in stable condition in an ICU

A 49-year-old citizen, also in stable condition in an ICU

In an English-language statement dated yesterday, the MOH announced that an 83-year-old in the Eastern region who had "many chronic diseases" died of MERS-CoV. The patient appears to be the same 83-year-old whose case was announced a day earlier."

India, Hyderabad : Viral fevers, HFMD on the rise

Via The Hindu :

" It is not just the cases of swine flu and dengue that are being detected in large numbers. Health officials, senior paediatricians and general practitioners are also indicating a rise in viral fevers and the prevalence of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) among children below five years this season.

While the typical symptoms of viral fevers are cough, cold, fever and body pains, the HFMD is characterised by mild illness, red spots on hands and legs, sore throat and mouth ulcers. Caused by virus, HFMD, however, is self-limiting and doctors point out that children will be able to recover within a week and there are no serious complications.

“Most of the viral fevers among children and even adults spread through touch and frequent hand washing is mandatory. There is no specific vaccine for HFMD, but there are flu shots for specific respiratory infections such as pneumonia. HFMD will subside on its own and there is no need for parents to panic,” advises in-charge Professor, Paediatrics, Gandhi Hospital, M. Vasudeva Murali."

Qatar : Expat tests positive for MERS virus

Via The Peninsula :

" A 23-year-old expatriate has been tested positive for the deadly corona virus — Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) — in the latest confirmed case of the disease in the country. 

This is the first case in the country involving a non-Qatari, which takes the total number of 

people infected by the disease to seven. 


The Supreme Council of Health (SCH), while announcing the new case yesterday said that a 

citizen, who was recently declared MERS patient has recovered and left the hospital. The SCH 

said that the new case was discovered during epidemic investigation procedures and the 

patient showed no symptoms of the disease. His condition is stable. 


The patient was checked and diagnosed of the illness at the National Influenza Laboratory.  

All those who came into contact with the patient were also checked and the initial results show 

that none has been infected, said the SCH statement.

India : Type 2 dengue virus predominant in Pune

Article via Times of India :

" The dengue virus type 2 (DENV-2) is currently predominant among the three serotypes of the virus co-circulating in Pune, scientists at the city-based National Institute of Virology (NIV) have found.

DENV-2 causes severe infection. The scientists identified the serotype in a molecular study on 51 blood samples till October of dengue-infected patients from Pune. 

"Of these, DENV-2 was the causative agent in 35 cases, DENV-1 in 11 samples and DENV-3 in five samples. 

Therefore, DENV-2 is currently the predominant dengue strain. DENV-3 was predominant during July and August, but now it is DENV-2," said Cecilia Dayaraj, head of the dengue research group at the NIV.

As far as virulence of different serotypes is considered, it is believed that DENV-2 is associated more often with dengue haemorrhagic fever that occurs in secondary infections."

India : 2,136 dengue cases in Rajasthan so far, highest since 2007

Via Times of India :

" The state is witnessing a spurt in dengue cases with at least 2,136 persons already been tested positive for the disease this year. This is the highest figure in the past seven years and has surpassed the figure of 2010 when 1,823 persons were tested positive.

The health department has put the blame on the weather. "The rain started early this year and it continued till October, creating a breeding ground for Aedes Aegypti mosquitoes. Our teams are constantly carrying out activities to check the spread of dengue," said a health official.

In fact, in the past seven years, the dengue cases never touched 2000-mark. In 2007, there were only 540 cases which rose to 682 in 2008. In 2009, there were 1,389 cases which rose to 1,823 cases in 2010. However, in 2011, it came down to 1,072 cases but started constantly increasing as in 2012, there were 1,295 cases which reached 2,136 cases so far this year."

New China H7N9 bird flu cases 'signal potential winter epidemic'

Via Reuters, excerpt :

" Fresh human cases in eastern China of a deadly new strain of bird flu signal the potential for "a new epidemic wave" of the disease in coming winter months, scientists said on Thursday.

The strain, known as H7N9, emerged for the first time in humans earlier this year and killed around 45 of the some 135 people it infected before appearing to peter out in China During the summer.

But a new case in October in a 35-year-old man from China's eastern Zhejiang province shows that the virus "has re-emerged in winter 2013" and "indicates a possible risk of a larger outbreak of H7N9 this winter," according to Chinese researchers writing in the online journal Euro surveillance.

Flu experts around the world have been warning that despite the marked drop off in cases during the summer months, the threat posed by H7N9 bird flu has not passed."

Nicaragua : Declare red alert for dengue

Machine translated article from El Nuevo Diario :

" Nicaragua's government today declared red alert for dengue epidemic, which has killed 13 people and affected nearly 5,000 people in the country.

In an official ceremony held in Managua, Government spokeswoman Rosario Murillo, next to the Health Minister, Sonia Castro decree reported health red alert because of dengue, which according to the Pan American Health Organization, PAHO , is more aggressive. 's government ordered the National Health Committee, formed by the health authorities, the Municipal Mayors, SINAPRED and Youth Councils contribute counteract campaigns for dengue disease in homes."

Human infection with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus – update

From WHO :

" The National Health and Family Planning Commission, China notified WHO of a new laboratory-confirmed case of human infection with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus.

The patient is a 67-year-old man from Zhejiang Province. He is a farmer, and has had contact with live poultry. He became ill on 16 October 2013, was admitted to a local township hospital on 18 October 2013, and was transferred to another hospital on 21 October 2013 as his condition deteriorated. He is currently in a critical condition.

To date, WHO has been informed of a total of 137 laboratory-confirmed human cases with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus infection including 45 deaths. Currently, four patients are hospitalized and 88 have been discharged. So far, there is no evidence of sustainable human-to-human transmission."

Venezuela recorded 41,938 dengue cases

Machine translated article from El Nuevo Diario :

" Venezuela recorded 41,938 dengue cases so far this year, 499 of them from the hemorrhagic variant of the disease, 26.9% more than the same time last year (33,040 cases), according to the latest epidemiological bulletin for the Ministry of Health.

The newsletter for the week of 6 to 12 in October, said that dengue is a disease that are on "alert status" along with acute respiratory infections, influenza, animal rabies and malaria, among other .

He noted that of the 23 states plus the District Capital that are Venezuela, only Amazon (south), Barinas (southwest) and Cojedes (center) have a tendency to "down" in terms of number of cases, while the other is " ascending ".

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) - update

From WHO :

" WHO has been informed of two laboratory-confirmed cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection in Saudi Arabia on 18 and 19 October 2013, and three laboratory-confirmed cases in 18 September 2013.

Of the five laboratory-confirmed cases, two died. The ages of the five patients range from 35 to 83 years old; four men and one woman; two from Medinah and three Riyadh. Four patients had underlying medical conditions. Two patients reported having no contact with a laboratory-confirmed case or with animals prior to becoming ill.

Globally, from September 2012 to date, WHO has been informed of a total of 144 laboratory-confirmed cases of infection with MERS-CoV, including 62 deaths.

Based on the current situation and available information, WHO encourages all Member States to continue their surveillance for severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) and to carefully review any unusual patterns.

Health care providers are advised to maintain vigilance. Recent travellers returning from the Middle East who develop SARI should be tested for MERS-CoV as advised in the current surveillance recommendations."

Saudi Arabia : Man, 54, dies of MERS in Jubail

Via Arab News :

" A Jubail citizen who had been infected with the coronavirus died two days ago in one of the city’s hospitals, bringing the death toll from the virus to 52. Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) is a viral respiratory illness caused by a coronavirus called MERS-CoV. The virus first appeared in Jubail last week when the 121st case in the Kingdom was reported.

The Ministry of Health said in a recent statement that the 54-year-old citizen came from the Riyadh province. He had not traveled outside the Eastern and Riyadh Provinces prior to contracting the virus.

The victim had suffered several chronic diseases and was admitted to the hospital’s primary care. This is the first case to be recorded in Jubail since the outbreak of the virus, a source at the Health Ministry confirmed."

Australia : Another bird flu outbreak near Young

Via ABC News :

" The NSW Department of Primary Industries says there's been a second outbreak of bird flu (avian influenza) near Young, in south-west New South Wales.

It says the outbreak is likely to have been passed on from the first outbreak in the area last week, where culling of 400,000 chickens has just been completed.

Initial testing at the Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute confirmed the virus earlier today and the infected property has been placed under strict quarantine.

The department says tests are being carried out to try to confirm the origin of the latest incidence, but it's the H7 strain, not the H5N1 strain that's dangerous to humans."

India, Andhra Pradesh : Six test positive for swine flu; 1 in ICU

Via Times of India :

" Six confirmed cases of swine flu have been reported in Mahbubnagar district in the past one week.

While two patients were admitted in Gandhi hospital in Hyderabad, a 45-year-old woman was admitted in the ICU. The first swine flu case in the season was reported at Thudukurthy village of Nagarkurnool mandal in Mahbubnagar district a week ago. 

Following this, five more cases were reported from the village in the last three days including that of a government doctor.Confirming this, Mahbubnagar District Medical and Health Officer Dr Rukminamma said two people had tested positive for swine flu."

China reports new human H7N9 bird flu case

Via Xinhua :

" A new human H7N9 bird flu case was reported on Wednesday in east China's Zhejiang Province, the second in China this autumn, according to the provincial health authority.

The patient, identified by his sirname as Chen, 67, tested positive for the virus at the Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said a statement by the authority.

A farmer from the city of Jiaxing, Chen first showed flu symptoms on Oct. 16. He is now in a serious condition and receiving treatment at a local hospital.

His is the second H7N9 case in China this month. The first, reported on Oct. 15, was also in Zhejiang. The patient, a 35-year-old man from Shaoxing county, remains in a critical condition."

China reports second H7N9 bird flu case in October

Via Reuters :

" China confirmed a new human case of the deadly H7N9 strain of bird flu on Wednesday, the second infection reported in October after a summer lull.

A 67-year-old farmer in Jiaxing city in the eastern province of Zhejiang has been hospitalised with the virus, the official Xinhua news agency said, citing provincial health authorities.

Zhejiang has recorded the highest number of H7N9 infections anywhere in China."

India, Pune : 53-year-old woman succumbs to dengue

Via Times of India :

" The official dengue death toll rose to seven with the death of a 53-year-old woman from Erandwane at Sanjeevan Hospital here on Tuesday.

The total number of people tested positive with dengue virus has jumped to 496 with 11 people testing positive for dengue antibody test on Tuesday.

Shirin Shirish Gumaste had developed high grade fever with chills from October 19. 

"Besides fever, she also had symptoms like facial puffiness with a rash and pain in the abdomen," said a civil health official."

Cambodia reports 21st bird flu case in 2013

Via Xinhua :

" An eight-year-old girl from Cambodia's eastern Kampong Thom province has been confirmed for the H5N1 virus, bringing the number of the cases to 21 so far this year, a joint statement by the World Health Organization and the Cambodian Health Ministry said Tuesday.

The little girl was confirmed positive for human H5N1 avian influenza last week after she was admitted to the Jayavarman VII Hospital in Siem Reap province with fever, cough, vomiting and dyspnea, the statement said.

"The girl has been treated with Tamiflu and her condition is now stable," it said.

"Investigations revealed that the girl had come into direct contact with dead poultry when she helped prepare a meal from a chicken that had died earlier," it added.

Only 10 out of the 21 cases this year survived."

India, Mumbai : ​735 dengue patients in Mumbai this month

Via Times of India, excerpt :

" The extent to which dengue has spread in the city became clear on Tuesday when BMC officials gave out, for the first time, figures of patients treated in both private and public hospitals. 

As against 578 dengue patients treated in public hospitals from January to September, BMC officers on Tuesday revealed that this month had seen 735 patients.

The dengue outbreak in the city has cost 11 lives so far, prompting the BMC to call in experts from Delhi’s National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme and the National Institure of Malarial Research from Goa.

Till Tuesday this month, 615 dengue patients were treated in private hospitals and 120 in public hospitals."

Dengue epidemic in Nicaragua rebounded with thousands of infections

Machine translated article from El Nuevo Diario :

" The dengue epidemic in Nicaragua rebounded nearly a dozen deaths and nearly five thousand people infected so far this year, medical sources said on Tuesday to official media.

The Director of Epidemiology of the Ministry of Health (MoH), Carlos Saenz, said the country is witnessing "a slight increase in cases" and urged people to increase hygiene measures.

During 2013, health authorities have confirmed nine deaths from the disease, mostly children and teenagers. Among the victims are a 16-year-old gave birth and died just days later.

In addition, some 4,900 people have been infected with dengue in Nicaragua and currently there are 57 patients hospitalized, according to official figures."

Jamaica : Patient admitted with influenza A but subtype unknown, says Ministry

Via Go Jamaica :

" The Health Ministry has confirmed that the recent flu case that has resulted in the hospitalisation of one person has been identified as influenza A. 

However, the ministry says contrary to media reports, the subtype of the virus has not yet been determined.

As a result, Director of Communications in the Ministry of Health Neville Graham says any information placed in the public domain as to subtype detected in Jamaica is premature at this time. 

Media reports On Saturday suggested that the virus has been identified as the H1 N1 virus."

India : 5-year-old dies at private hospital in Chennai, dengue suspected

Via The Hindu :

" A five-year-old girl, suspected to have had dengue, died at a private hospital in New Washermenpet on Monday. One of her relatives has also been admitted to hospital with similar symptoms.

D. Raghavi, who lived on Third Street, Desiya Nagar, had been admitted to Priya Nursing Home on Saturday with symptoms of dengue. Her father is a daily-wage labourer, and the child was a UKG student of a Chennai Corporation school in the neighbourhood.

Her relative, Ravikumar (26) has now been admitted at the same hospital’s intensive care unit.

Raghavi’s death created a scare in the area, and political party representatives rushed to her home to offer condolences.

The Chennai Corporation however, denied the child had died of dengue, saying her platelet count was 2.5 lakh, IgM and IgG tests were negative and there was no bleeding." 

Nigeria : Cholera kills five in Sokoto, says health official

Via Premium Times :

" The Deputy Director of Health of Tambuwal Local Government Area of Sokoto State, Bala Oroji, said on Monday that five persons died of suspected cholera at Barkeji Village in the area.

Mr. Oroji announced this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Tambuwal.

He said that all the deceased persons were aged between 27 and 30 years.

Mr. Oroji said that three persons, one female and two males died on October 14, out of nine infected.

”Similarly, a male and female died on October 19 due to the epidemic, out of the remaining infected persons,” he said.

He said that 11 infected persons were hospitalised at the Barkeji community dispensary on Sunday.

According to him, four of the affected persons have been discharged on Monday, while the remaining seven on admission at the health centre are still receiving treatment."

Thailand : Worst dengue epidemic in 20 years

Via Bangkok Post, excerpt :

" Thailand has experienced its worst epidemic of dengue fever in 20 years with 126 deaths and 135,344 people infected with the virus, according to Sopon Mekthon, director-general of Department of Disease.

He said more than 7,500  cases a week were being reported in June, but the infection rate had now fallen to below 2,000 a week. so the department expected the the situation to improve from now on. 

The Public Health Ministry has battled the outbreak  with operation centres in all districts in the country and continuous campaigning in communities, he said."

Cambodia reports 29,631 malaria cases in 9 months, down 46 pct

Via Xinhua :

" Cambodia recorded 29,631 malaria cases in the first nine months of 2013, down 46 percent from the 54,464 cases over the same period last year, the figures of the National Center for Malaria showed Monday.

During the January-September period this year, the disease killed only 7 people, down sharply from 35 deaths over the same period last year, the figures said.

"Death toll from malaria no longer poses a major concern for the Cambodian people," Dr. Char Meng Chuor, director of the center, said in a press release on Monday.

The country is committed to stopping the death from malaria by 2015 and completely eliminating it by 2025, he said.

Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease, which is often found in rainy seasons and mostly happens in forest and mountainous provinces.

Last year, malaria killed 45 people in Cambodia."

WHO : Cholera in Mexico

Press release from WHO :

" The Ministry of Health in Mexico has reported 171 confirmed cases, including one death, of infection with Vibrio cholerae O1 Ogawa toxigenic between 9 September to 18 October 2013.

In the second week of September 2013, Mexico was affected simultaneously by a hurricane and tropical storm which caused heavy rains, floods, landslides and internal displacement of populations, thus increasing the risk of diarrhoeal diseases.

Of the 171 confirmed cases, two are from the Federal District, 157 cases from the state of Hidalgo, nine from the state of Mexico, one from the state of San Luis Potosi and two from the state of Veracruz.

Eighty-six of the total confirmed cases are women and 85 are men with ages ranging from three months to 88 years old. Of these, thirty-nine cases were hospitalised."

Hong Kong : Outbreak of red-eye syndrome at RCHE under CHP investigation

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

" The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) is today (October 21) investigating an outbreak of acute infectious conjunctivitis (ACJ), commonly known as red-eye syndrome, at a residential care home for the elderly (RCHE) in Tsuen Wan and hence appealed to members of the public to maintain good personal and environmental hygiene against ACJ.

The outbreak involves 35 female residents aged 68 to 100 and a female member of staff of the RCHE. All of the affected persons have presented with red and itchy eyes with discharge since September 10 and subsequently sought medical consultation. None of them required hospitalisation and they are all currently in stable condition.

 Officers of the CHP have conducted a site visit and provided health advice to the staff.

"ACJ is a contagious condition mostly caused by bacteria and viruses. The symptoms are irritation, tearing, pain and redness of the eyes. In most cases, full recovery can be expected within one to two weeks with proper treatment," a spokesman for the CHP explained.

Transmission usually occurs through direct contact with discharges from the eyes or upper respiratory tracts of infected people, or indirectly through contaminated fingers, clothing and other articles."

India, Hyderabad : Six test positive for swine flu; 1 in ICU

Article via Times of India :

"  Six confirmed cases of swine flu have been reported in Mahbubnagar district in the past one week.

While two patients were admitted in Gandhi hospital in Hyderabad, a 45-year-old woman was admitted in the ICU. The first swine flu case in the season was reported at  Thudukurthy village of Nagarkurnool mandal in Mahbubnagar district a week ago. 

Following this, five more cases were reported from the village in the last three days including that of a government doctor. Confirming this, Mahbubnagar District Medical and Health Officer Dr Rukminamma said two people had tested positive for swine flu.

"We have sent samples and expect a lab report. We have been constantly monitoring the situation in the district and there is no cause for alarm at this stage. Some patients have been admitted to Nagarkurnool and Mahbubnagar hospitals," Dr Rukminamma observed.Swine flu virus is not endemic to the area. 

Hospitals in Mahbubnagar district are now well-equipped to tackle swine flu cases."

Nigeria: 8 Killed, 61 Hospitalised in Plateau Cholera Outbreak

Via All Africa :

" Medical authorities in Plateau have confirmed an outbreak of cholera in Namu village in the Qua'pan Local Government Area of the state.

Namu, a village at the Plateau and Nasarawa States border, hosts displaced people in the violent crisis that broke out in the Obi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

"Yes, there has been an outbreak of cholera in Namu village, eight people have been killed while 61 others have been hospitalised," the Plateau State Epidemiologist, Dr Raymond Yuryit, said in Namu on Sunday.

Yuryit spoke when he received Alhaji Alhassan Barde, the Executive Secretary of the Plateau State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), who had gone to assess the situation. He said that those hospitalised had been diagnosed with the disease and had been admitted into various health centres.

Juryit attributed the outbreak to overcrowding, dirty environment and the consumption of unhygienic food and water.

He described cholera as a "deadly disease" that could kill "within the shortest possible time because its dehydrates the victim, leading to severe gastro-intestinal impact"."

Cholera Cases Up A Dozen In Mexico, Total Case Count Now 171

Via The Global Dispatch :

" In a follow up to the current cholera outbreak in Mexico, The Ministry of Health in Mexico has reported another 12 cases in the past week, bringing the total case count to 171, according to a World Health Organization (WHO) update Saturday.

All 12 of the new cases are from Hidalgo state. Of the 171 confirmed cases, two are from the Federal District, 157 cases from the state of Hidalgo, nine from the state of Mexico, one from the state of San Luis Potosi and two from the state of Veracruz.

Eighty-six of the total confirmed cases are women and 85 are men with ages ranging from three months to 88 years old.  Of these, thirty-nine cases were hospitalized."

USA : Yellow fever mosquito detected in California

Via The Sacramento Bee, excerpt :

" A mosquito capable of carrying deadly yellow fever, dengue and other diseases has been detected in California as vector control agents scramble to control its spread.

The bugs first were detected in the Central Valley communities of Madera and Clovis in June, and were detected again this week in the city of Fresno and in San Mateo County in the Bay Area in August.

They bite during the day, prefer people to animals, and need only a teaspoon of water — less than in a saucer under a houseplant — to lay eggs to reproduce."

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2013/10/16/5826851/yellow-fever-mosquito-detected.html#storylink=cpy"

India : Delhi dengue team to be in Mumbai by Wednesday

Article via Times of India, excerpt :

" In the wake of a spate in deaths due to dengue, a team from Delhi's National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme will visit the city by Wednesday to check the status of the disease in the city.

The BMC's insecticide department is also trying to clear as many breeding sites as possible to put a curb on the spread of the ailment.

Alarmed by the spike in the number of dengue deaths that the city has witnessed this season, the civic body is calling in experts from Delhi and Goa for technical assistance. So far this year, 11 people have died of the disease and among them seven were minors.

But the civic body seems not to be ready to take the blame."

2,000 Cambodian children die of diarrhea per year: UNICEF

From Xinhua :

" The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) office in Cambodia said Sunday that a new figure showed that about 2,000 Cambodian children die every year of diarrheal diseases due to lack of safe water, sanitation and basic hygiene.

"In Cambodia, perhaps 2,000 die of diarrhea each year. However, one of the simplest and most inexpensive barriers to infection is handwashing with soap," the UNICEF said in a statement ahead of the the Global Handwashing Day to be celebrated in Cambodia on Monday.

It said that UNICEF, along with other partners and the Cambodian government, would launch a campaign in order to get the nation into the habit of handwashing with soap.

"The simple act of handwashing with soap is one of the most effective ways to save children's lives," said Sanjay Wijesekera, global head of UNICEF's Water, Sanitation and Hygiene programs. "Washing hands before eating and after defecation drastically reduces the spread of diarrheal disease and has far reaching effects on the health and welfare of children and communities."

According to UNICEF, diarrhea remains the second largest cause of under-five mortality globally with 600,000 children dying each year."

Trinidad and Tobago : H1N1 virus down, but neuro dengue on the increase

Via News Day :

" Health Minister, Dr Fuad Khan, has said that the H1N1 virus appears to be under control, but neuro dengue which could send children into fits, appears to be on the increase.

Speaking with the media following the opening of the World Congress of Surgeons, Obstetrics, Trauma and Anesthesia yesterday at the Hyatt Regency in Port-of-Spain, Khan said that of 300 swabs taken for testing from children at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex (EWMSC) Paediatric Emergency Department over the past week, all were returned negative.

“At the end of the day,” he said, “it (H1N1 virus) seems to be under control, so people should not panic at that level.” The viruses found, he said, were mainly normal respiratory viruses.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health has received the 60,000 H1N1 vaccines ordered through the Pan American Health Organisation, and are currently in the system. They are only for high risk persons, and front line workers in the health sector.

On the issue of dengue, Khan said, “what we are finding is an increase in neuro dengue. Children are coming in and going into some fits. We are working on that.”

Urging people to keep their surroundings clean, and get rid of stagnant water which breeds the Aedes mosquito that causes the dengue fever, he said they live principally within and around dwelling houses with a flying span of 20 metres."

India, Hyderabad : Two swine flu cases reported in Mahbubnagar district

Via The New Indian Express :

" Two cases of swine flu have been reported in Mahbubnagar district. Father-son duo of Toodukurthi village of Nagarkurnool mandal of the district have tested H1N1 positive. Thirty-five-year- old kirana merchant Anand and his 65-year-old father Ramachandraiah have tested positive. The son, who was the first to be tested positive is being treated in Yashoda Hospital in Hyderabad, whereas his father is being treated at Gandhi Hospital.

Anand was treated in a local private hospital for two days for high fever and when his situation did not improve he was referred to Yashoda Hospital where he was tested positive for swine flu. After Anand was tested positive medical officials tested all his family members and during the test his father was also tested positive and was shifted to Gandhi Hospital in Hyderabad.

As soon as the news of swine flu reached the district medical officials, a team was rushed to the village to take stock of the situation. The officials had set up a medical camp in the village and are testing every villager for swine flu."

Human infection with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus – update

From WHO :

"  The National Health and Family Planning Commission, China notified WHO of a new laboratory-confirmed case of human infection with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus. This is the first new confirmed case of human infection with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus since 11 August 2013.

The patient is a 35-year-old man from Zhejiang Province. He was admitted to a hospital on 8 October 2013 and is in a critical condition. Additionally, a previously laboratory-confirmed patient from Hebei has died.

To date, WHO has been informed of a total of 136 laboratory-confirmed human cases with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus infection including 45 deaths. Currently, three patients are hospitalized and 88 have been discharged. So far, there is no evidence of sustainable human-to-human transmission."

Hong Kong bans import of poultry products from New South Wales, Australia

Press release from Hong Kong's CHP :

" The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (October 16) that in view of a notification from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) about an outbreak of highly pathogenic H7 avian influenza at a poultry farm in New South Wales, Australia, import of poultry and poultry products, including poultry eggs, from that state has been banned with immediate effect for the protection of Hong Kong's public and animal health.

A CFS spokesman said some 4 600 tonnes of frozen and chilled poultry meat and 500 000 poultry eggs from Australia were imported into Hong Kong last year.

"We have contacted the Australian authority over the matter and will closely monitor information released by the OIE on the avian influenza outbreak in the country. Appropriate actions will be taken in response to the developments of the situation," the spokesman said."

Sweden : Severe swine flu kicks off influenza season

Via The Local :

" As temperatures drop, influenza season has begun with a case of swine flu in central Sweden, which required several days in intensive care for a 65-year-old patient.

The local Värmlands Folkblad newspaper reported on Wednesday that the patient had to be admitted to hospital for several days.

"The patient ended up in intensive care due to problems breathing," said county council communicable diseases doctor Olle Wik, who said, however, that laymen should avoid drawing any conclusions about the severity of the upcoming flu season based on the case in Värmland, central Sweden."

HK bans import of poultry products from parts of Italy

Press release from Hong Kong's CHP :

" The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (October 16) that in view of a notification from the European Commission about an outbreak of low-pathogenic H5 sub-type avian influenza on a poultry holding in Brescia Province, Lombardy Region, Italy, import of poultry and poultry products, including poultry eggs, from this area has been banned with immediate effect for the protection of Hong Kong's public and animal health.

A CFS spokesman said about 2 000 tonnes of frozen poultry meat and 120 000 poultry eggs from Italy were imported into Hong Kong last year.

An import ban on the same items from Emilia-Romagna Province, Italy, has been in effect since August 17 this year and is still in force, he added."

Indonesia : Health Officials Rush to Address Possible Dengue Outbreak in West Java

Via Jakarta Globe :

" Hundreds of residents have been hospitalized in Cidaun subdistrict, as local health officials reported a possible outbreak of dengue fever on Wednesday.

Villagers in the Bobojong hamlet in Cidamar village have reportedly come down with high fevers and joint pain in the past week. The affected residents also exhibited red rashes —a symptom of the dengue virus — Cidaun Polyclinic head Ade Wahyudin said.

“We conducted laboratory tests to ascertain whether this was really dengue or something else,” Ade said. “But judging from the symptoms, it appears to be dengue.”

It may be the first dengue outbreak reported in the subdistrict, an area not typically known as a breeding ground for the aedes aegypti mosquito — the carrier of dengue and chikungunya. In the first nine months of the year, Cidaun reported only three cases of dengue fever."

US, Tennessee : Knox viral meningitis cases spur caution

Via Knox News, excerpt :

" A cluster of five viral meningitis cases, possibly related, caused the Knox County Health Department to distribute information about the illness and its symptoms to some area schools and day-care centers.

“Parents get concerned (when) they hear the word ‘ meningitis,’” said Health Department Director Dr. Martha Buchanan, who added that privacy laws prevented her from telling whether the cases were in children or adults, or in what schools.

Viral meningitis — inflammation of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord — can be caused by a variety of different viruses, some of which are required to be reported, and some of which are not. In this case, the Health Department was involved because five cases appear to be connected. Though a cause hasn’t been identified, Buchanan said, there have been no new cases, and some of those who were ill already have recovered."

India, Mumbai : 8th dengue death in city, 660 cases so far this year

Via The Indian Express, excerpt :

" A 20-year-old pregnant woman succumbed to dengue on Monday. This is the eighth dengue death in the city since the onset of monsoon. While six deaths were reported by BMC, one was reported by Mira-Bhayander Municipal Corporation (MBMC).

Ruby Shaikh, a resident of Sakinaka, was nine months pregnant when she contracted malaria last month. 

"She complained of high fever. When we admitted her in a private nursing home, she tested positive for malaria as well as dengue," said her brother Meezan Shaikh.

According to Meezan, Ruby was transferred to JJ hospital after two days as her condition became critical.

In the next 22 days, she suffered kidney failure and partial paralysis. "Ruby lost her baby a little before she died," Meezan said.

Meezan alleged that BMC had not carried out fumigation in Sakinaka for a long time."

Australia : Bird flu outbreak expected to devastate family business

Via ABC News :

" Thousands of chickens are set to be culled in an outbreak of bird flu in NSW. 

A farm that has 400,000 layer chooks in the state's south-west has been infected with the H7 strain of avian flu. 

Thats' not the strain that kills humans, and authorities have confirmed that eggs from the farm are still safe to eat. However, it could still devastate the family business involved."

Malaysia, Selangor : Ignorance doesn't help in fighting dengue

Via The Star :

" Dengue fever is sweeping across Selangor, with thousands being infected and 14 deaths reported.

The main cause for the recent spike is a tidak apa attitude as well as ignorance.

It is important to know what dengue fever means and how we can protect ourselves and our families from the tiny but dangerous Aedes mosquito.

Selangor Health executive councillor Dr Daroyah Alwi has said that to prevent the spread of dengue, the public must first prevent the breeding of its vector, the Aedes mosquito.

With its black-and-white stripes, the Aedes mosquito is easily identifiable.

Aedes mosquitoes need stagnant water to reproduce. To control their number, there should be no pools of stagnant water, which allow them to breed.

Even a curled up mango leaf in the garden can be a spot for the eggs to hatch. If conditions are not favourable, the eggs will remain dormant for a year or more under your rose bush in a garden that is shaded and cool.

Mosquitoes tend not to migrate far from the breeding site, so the problem is often localised."

China confirms new human H7N9 infection

Via Xinhua :

" One new human H7N9 avian influenza case has been confirmed in east China's Zhejiang Province, local authorities said Tuesday.

It was the second such case reported in Zhejiang since late April, according to a statement from the provincial health department.

A 35-year-old man surnamed Liu tested positive for the H7N9 virus at the Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, according to the statement.

Liu, a company employee from Shaoxing County, was admitted to a township hospital on Oct. 8. He is in critical condition and is receiving treatment at a Shaoxing county hospital.

H7N9 bird flu cases in China reached 134 by the end of August. Of the cases, 45 patients have died, according to the National Health and Family Planning Commission.

No new cases of H7N9 infection were reported on the Chinese mainland in September, according to the commission."

Mexico : Cholera Kills 1, Sickens 158 in 5 States

Article via ABC News, excerpt :

" Mexican authorities say cholera has sickened 159 people, including one who died, and spread to four states and the capital. It is the first local spread of the disease since an outbreak that ended in 2001.

Health Secretary Mercedes Juan says one person died in the central state of Hidalgo, where 145 of the cases have been reported.

Juan said Monday the illness has also been detected in Veracruz, San Luis Potosi, Mexico City and neighboring Mexico state."

India, Karnataka : Belgaum woman tests positive for H1N1

From Times of India, excerpt :

"  A 50-year-old woman from Yamgarni village of Belgaum district, who was admitted to a city hospital last week, has tested positive for swine flu. 

Civil surgeon at the Chhatrapati Pramila Raje Civil Hospital L S Patil said, "The woman was admitted in the hospital last week after she complained of high fever. 

Her throat swab sample was sent to the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune on Thursday and it tested positive for swine flu. We have informed concerned officials in Belgaum district to take immediate steps in the village as some patients from the village had earlier been admitted with swine flu symptoms." 

Indonesia : 1 Residents of Bengkulu Allegedly Hit by Bird Flu

Machine translated article from Kompas :

" A Great Hamlet Village residents, the city of Bengkulu, Burhan (53) resident, was taken to the Hospital M Yunus undergoing medical treatment since Saturday (10/12/2013). 

He feared bird flu after eating chicken meat with suspected bird flu. Burhan wife, Rogaya, said, on Tuesday, Burhan redeem some rooster with the hens in Panorama City Market Bengkulu.

He plans to breed around 35 chickens he had. Unexpectedly, after that, in a matter of a few days, dead pet chicken to the remaining two-tailed. During that time, he had slaughtered some pet chickens for consumption. 

After eating it, Burhan said to suffer from abdominal pain and cough. Separately, Animal Husbandry Department officials Bengkulu, Helni Kusuma Dewi, confirmed that on Saturday, he received a report that livestock owned by Burhan died suddenly.

 "After we did a quick test apparently confirmed chickens owned Burhan pack tested positive for bird flu, while live chicken are advised to be destroyed, but because we have no funds to replace the resident chickens leave our chickens, we only recommend it, "said Helni. Burhan Until this news was still being treated in yellow numbers 9 M.Yunus Hospital for observation."

India, New Delhi : Fifth dengue death as cases cross 3,500

Via The Indian Express :

" A 17-year-old girl became the fifth in the capital to fall to dengue, as the total number of diagnosed cases so far this year crossed 3,500.

Yashica Narang from Rajouri Garden died on September 24 at Sir Ganga Ram hospital, a day after she was admitted there. Yashika had tested positive for the IgM antibody for the dengue virus through ELISA technology.

Four dengue deaths have been confirmed so far, including a six-year-old girl who died at Safdarjung hospital last month. Seven others, who died with symptoms of dengue last month and tested positive for either the antigen or antibody of the virus through the rapid tests, have been listed as "suspected" dengue deaths by the civic bodies.

According to officials, if patients who have tested positive through rapid tests are taken into account, the total count may increase 2-3 times."

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) - update

From WHO :

" WHO has been informed of an additional two laboratory-confirmed cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection in Saudi Arabia.

The patients, both men, aged 55 and 78, were from Riyadh region. They became ill at the end of September 2013 and died in the beginning of October 2013. Both the patients were reported to have had no contact to a known laboratory-confirmed case with MERS-CoV.

Globally, from September 2012 to date, WHO has been informed of a total of 138 laboratory-confirmed cases of infection with MERS-CoV, including 60 deaths.

Based on the current situation and available information, WHO encourages all Member States to continue their surveillance for severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) and to carefully review any unusual patterns.

Health care providers are advised to maintain vigilance. Recent travellers returning from the Middle East who develop SARI should be tested for MERS-CoV as advised in the current surveillance recommendations.

Specimens from patients’ lower respiratory tracts should be obtained for diagnosis where possible. Clinicians are reminded that MERS-CoV infection should be considered even with atypical signs and symptoms, such as diarrhoea, in patients who are immunocompromised."