Via The Himalayan Times :
" NEPALGUNJ/ KATHMANDU: Diarrhoeal outbreak reported in Nepalgunj has now been confirmed as cholera. Bacterium causing cholera – vibrio cholerae - has been found in a sample sent to the national laboratory by a health team from Epidemiology and Disease Control Division, Kathmandu, and the District Public Health Office, Banke.
According to Reshamlal Lamichhane, a member of EDCD team, vibrio cholerae was found in a sample sent for test on July 30. Water samples from five places and stool samples of three patients were sent to Kathmandu for test on July 30. As many as 15 stool samples were sent to Kathmandu for testing on July 31.
An EDCD team headed by Lamichhane has been assisting in surveillance, investigation and management of the disease. Dr Vishwo Raj Khanal, senior public health officer, EDCD, said patients’ preliminary report and symptoms had pointed to cholera. EDCD officials said the main reason behind the outbreak was heavy rainfall in last two weeks.
Of the 21 samples sent to National Public Health Laboratory, one has tested for cholera while tests on others are being carried out. Dr Geeta Shakya, Director, NPHL, said they would submit remaining test reports to EDCD on Tuesday. The health workers from Kathmandu and local physicians the disease spread due to contaminated water."
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
India : Two succumb to H1N1 in State
Via Deccan Herald :
" The H1N1 toll in the district went up to four with an infected woman from Tirthahalli succumbing to the influenza on Sunday. A man from Chamarajnagar district has also succumbed to the influenza.
Ganga (40), was hospitalised at Manipal with H1N1 a week ago. District Health Officer Dr Channabsappa told Deccan Herald that her health condition deteriorated and she breathed last on Sunday night. The flu had claimed a woman from Tirthahalli last week.
A suspected case of H1N1 flu has been reported from the City also. The swab sample of a 35-year-old woman who showed symptoms of the disease has been sent to Manipal for tests, the DHO said. The death of Hanumanth Nayaka of Galipura Extension in Chamarajanagar has also been attributed to H1N1 flu. He breathed last four days ago."
" The H1N1 toll in the district went up to four with an infected woman from Tirthahalli succumbing to the influenza on Sunday. A man from Chamarajnagar district has also succumbed to the influenza.
Ganga (40), was hospitalised at Manipal with H1N1 a week ago. District Health Officer Dr Channabsappa told Deccan Herald that her health condition deteriorated and she breathed last on Sunday night. The flu had claimed a woman from Tirthahalli last week.
A suspected case of H1N1 flu has been reported from the City also. The swab sample of a 35-year-old woman who showed symptoms of the disease has been sent to Manipal for tests, the DHO said. The death of Hanumanth Nayaka of Galipura Extension in Chamarajanagar has also been attributed to H1N1 flu. He breathed last four days ago."
India : Chikungunya, dengue cases on the rise in State
Via The Hindu :
" Bangalore: Two vector-borne diseases, chikungunya and dengue, have become widespread in the State with patients being admitted to hospitals in district and taluk headquarters, apart from Bangalore.
Officials in the Department of Health told The Hindu that many have been affected in the past few days. The official count of those affected by chikungunya in the State touched 4,254 by July-end and officials conceded that the figure could be much higher. As many as 857 persons have been affected by dengue.
The sources said the number of such people was, however, lower than what it was during the corresponding period in the previous years. As many as 7.62 lakh people were affected by chikungunya in 2006, 1,705 in 2007, 46,510 in 2008 and 41,649 in 2009.
Chikungunya has been rampant in urban localities, and along with dengue and malaria spreads largely during the monsoon.
Now, the role of Minister for Health B. Sriramulu has come into question. A section of the Ministers in the Yeddyurappa Cabinet are up against the Health Minister and have called upon the Chief Minister to drop him from the Cabinet."
" Bangalore: Two vector-borne diseases, chikungunya and dengue, have become widespread in the State with patients being admitted to hospitals in district and taluk headquarters, apart from Bangalore.
Officials in the Department of Health told The Hindu that many have been affected in the past few days. The official count of those affected by chikungunya in the State touched 4,254 by July-end and officials conceded that the figure could be much higher. As many as 857 persons have been affected by dengue.
The sources said the number of such people was, however, lower than what it was during the corresponding period in the previous years. As many as 7.62 lakh people were affected by chikungunya in 2006, 1,705 in 2007, 46,510 in 2008 and 41,649 in 2009.
Chikungunya has been rampant in urban localities, and along with dengue and malaria spreads largely during the monsoon.
Now, the role of Minister for Health B. Sriramulu has come into question. A section of the Ministers in the Yeddyurappa Cabinet are up against the Health Minister and have called upon the Chief Minister to drop him from the Cabinet."
Indonesia : Bird Flu Case Statements To July 2010
This is an official statement from Indonesia's Ministry of Health. I'm not too sure if this has been reported in the local media yet, anyway excerpt from a translation done with Google Translate :
" In July 2010 there is one additional positive cases of bird flu (H5N1) in the name of YE (P, 34 years) who district of Tangerang, Banten. Positively infected by H5N1 cases were reported according to the examination Litbangkes dated July 12, 2010.
YE (P, 34 years) a teacher of high school (SMA) is a private in Tangerang district on July 2, 2010 went to the doctor private practice with symptoms of fever, cough and sore throat. It is not yet healed, two days later, the patient re-treatment and returned to private doctors refer directly to the hospital in the town of Tangerang swatsa.
During the treatment, patients experienced high fever, headache, sore throat, cough, breathlessness and diarrhea. During the three days hospitalized, YE conditions continue to deteriorate. Even on July 7, 2010 crowded heavier.X-ray results show the existence of severe pneumonia. YE then treated in the ICU (intensive care unit) and taken the throat and nasal swab specimens. The patient died on the same day at around 13:34 pm.
Risk factors could not be ascertained. But the information was obtained, ten days before the illness (June 2010), the patient traveled to Bandar Lampung.
Director General of Disease Control and Environmental Health Prof. dr. Tjandra Yoga Aditama as the focal point of the IHR (International Health Reagulation) has also informed about the cases to the WHO."
" In July 2010 there is one additional positive cases of bird flu (H5N1) in the name of YE (P, 34 years) who district of Tangerang, Banten. Positively infected by H5N1 cases were reported according to the examination Litbangkes dated July 12, 2010.
YE (P, 34 years) a teacher of high school (SMA) is a private in Tangerang district on July 2, 2010 went to the doctor private practice with symptoms of fever, cough and sore throat. It is not yet healed, two days later, the patient re-treatment and returned to private doctors refer directly to the hospital in the town of Tangerang swatsa.
During the treatment, patients experienced high fever, headache, sore throat, cough, breathlessness and diarrhea. During the three days hospitalized, YE conditions continue to deteriorate. Even on July 7, 2010 crowded heavier.X-ray results show the existence of severe pneumonia. YE then treated in the ICU (intensive care unit) and taken the throat and nasal swab specimens. The patient died on the same day at around 13:34 pm.
Risk factors could not be ascertained. But the information was obtained, ten days before the illness (June 2010), the patient traveled to Bandar Lampung.
Director General of Disease Control and Environmental Health Prof. dr. Tjandra Yoga Aditama as the focal point of the IHR (International Health Reagulation) has also informed about the cases to the WHO."
Australia : Severe swine flu cases on the rise
Via IBT Health :
" According to Australian health officials, the number of cases of severe swine flu in New South Wales has been increasing.
A number of people have been admitted to intensive care, with seven confirmed infected with H1N1 virus, and one suspected of infection just recently, of which included two pregnant women.
Jeremy McAnulty, health department's doctor for New South Wales said although the number of cases is low compared to the previous year, there is an increasing rise in the incidence of swine flu cases.
He advised people to get immunized so that they will be protected against the risk of infection.
"We're hopeful however that because people got infected last year, perhaps 20 or 30 per cent of the population got infected from the pandemic last year and another proportion has been vaccinated, then we won't see as severe a season as this year."
" According to Australian health officials, the number of cases of severe swine flu in New South Wales has been increasing.
A number of people have been admitted to intensive care, with seven confirmed infected with H1N1 virus, and one suspected of infection just recently, of which included two pregnant women.
Jeremy McAnulty, health department's doctor for New South Wales said although the number of cases is low compared to the previous year, there is an increasing rise in the incidence of swine flu cases.
He advised people to get immunized so that they will be protected against the risk of infection.
"We're hopeful however that because people got infected last year, perhaps 20 or 30 per cent of the population got infected from the pandemic last year and another proportion has been vaccinated, then we won't see as severe a season as this year."
India : Orissa Village Put on High Alert Over Dengue Fever Threat
Via Med India :
" The tribal dominated Balisahi village of Orissa has been put on high alert since a Dengue case was detected here last week.
Twenty two-year-old Pramila Lima, who is four months pregnant, complained of high fever, shivering and acute pain in the limbs. On being taking to the nearby Behrampur hospital, she was found to be suffering from Malaria.
She was later tested positive with Dengue following lateral tests. The doctors in the district hospital say that the villagers have been alerted and their blood samples have been collected.
"When our staff came to know about that a case of Dengue has been detected in our block, we immediately came here along with our staff, ANM (auxiliary nurse mid-wife), health worker male, Laboratory division and AYUSH doctors.
We came to the village and conducted a health check-up camp. We have taken the blood samples of all the people here on a slide, and the slides have been sent to the district health headquarters," said Jagdish Panigrahi, a doctor from the district hospital."
" The tribal dominated Balisahi village of Orissa has been put on high alert since a Dengue case was detected here last week.
Twenty two-year-old Pramila Lima, who is four months pregnant, complained of high fever, shivering and acute pain in the limbs. On being taking to the nearby Behrampur hospital, she was found to be suffering from Malaria.
She was later tested positive with Dengue following lateral tests. The doctors in the district hospital say that the villagers have been alerted and their blood samples have been collected.
"When our staff came to know about that a case of Dengue has been detected in our block, we immediately came here along with our staff, ANM (auxiliary nurse mid-wife), health worker male, Laboratory division and AYUSH doctors.
We came to the village and conducted a health check-up camp. We have taken the blood samples of all the people here on a slide, and the slides have been sent to the district health headquarters," said Jagdish Panigrahi, a doctor from the district hospital."
CDC : Possible Recurrent Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 Infection, Israel
A report from CDC, excerpt :
" To the Editor:
We report 2 cases of possible recurrent laboratory-confirmed infection with pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus in Israel. Patient 1, a 24-year-old man, had Noonan syndrome. He was hospitalized on August 10, 2009, because of high-grade fever and cough. At admission, a nasopharyngeal specimen was collected for pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus real-time reverse transcription–PCR (RT-PCR) (ABI 7500; Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA, USA) for the pandemic hemagglutinin gene; a validated in-house protocol developed at Israel Central Virology Laboratory was used, as previously described.
Briefly, the in-house assay was validated against the assay for pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC; Atlanta, GA, USA). The in-house assay was as sensitive as the CDC assay; however, the in-house primers and probes were more specific for detecting pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus with 105% amplification efficiency of viral RNA that was logarithmically serially diluted. In addition, of 100 samples tested side by side with the in-house and CDC assays, 75 samples were positive by both assays, and 25 were negative by both assays; thus, the sensitivity and specificity of the in-house assay were 100%."
" To the Editor:
We report 2 cases of possible recurrent laboratory-confirmed infection with pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus in Israel. Patient 1, a 24-year-old man, had Noonan syndrome. He was hospitalized on August 10, 2009, because of high-grade fever and cough. At admission, a nasopharyngeal specimen was collected for pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus real-time reverse transcription–PCR (RT-PCR) (ABI 7500; Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA, USA) for the pandemic hemagglutinin gene; a validated in-house protocol developed at Israel Central Virology Laboratory was used, as previously described.
Briefly, the in-house assay was validated against the assay for pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC; Atlanta, GA, USA). The in-house assay was as sensitive as the CDC assay; however, the in-house primers and probes were more specific for detecting pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus with 105% amplification efficiency of viral RNA that was logarithmically serially diluted. In addition, of 100 samples tested side by side with the in-house and CDC assays, 75 samples were positive by both assays, and 25 were negative by both assays; thus, the sensitivity and specificity of the in-house assay were 100%."
Monday, August 2, 2010
Dengue fever spreads in Vietnam
Via Saigon GP Daily :
" The Department of Preventive Health reported on August 1 that dengue fever is spreading through out the country.
The capital city of Hanoi has over 500 dengue fever patients and that figure is rising. Medical workers fretted that the density of mosquitoes and unhygienic environmental conditions in many residential blocks would worsen circumstances.
Meanwhile, the disease plagues Mekong delta provinces. Ben Tre’s deputy head of Department of Health, Nguyen Van Thang, reported on August 1 that around 1,800 residents had suffered from the disease, including two fatalities in the province. The province’s General Hospital receives approximately 40 cases a day, while 143 persons have been hospitalized. District Ba Tri has handled most of the cases with over 700 patients.
In Dong Thap province in the heart of the Mekong Delta, three residents died from the pandemic and the rate of infected patients has increased by 36.4 percent compared to the same period last year.
Until now, around 1,005 people have contracted dengue fever in An Giang province to the west, with three of them dying; meanwhile, its neighboring province, Kien Giang, said the province hospitals are treating 800 people suffering from dengue fever, also suffering three casualties."
" The Department of Preventive Health reported on August 1 that dengue fever is spreading through out the country.
The capital city of Hanoi has over 500 dengue fever patients and that figure is rising. Medical workers fretted that the density of mosquitoes and unhygienic environmental conditions in many residential blocks would worsen circumstances.
Meanwhile, the disease plagues Mekong delta provinces. Ben Tre’s deputy head of Department of Health, Nguyen Van Thang, reported on August 1 that around 1,800 residents had suffered from the disease, including two fatalities in the province. The province’s General Hospital receives approximately 40 cases a day, while 143 persons have been hospitalized. District Ba Tri has handled most of the cases with over 700 patients.
In Dong Thap province in the heart of the Mekong Delta, three residents died from the pandemic and the rate of infected patients has increased by 36.4 percent compared to the same period last year.
Until now, around 1,005 people have contracted dengue fever in An Giang province to the west, with three of them dying; meanwhile, its neighboring province, Kien Giang, said the province hospitals are treating 800 people suffering from dengue fever, also suffering three casualties."
Australia : High incidents of lead poisoning in children reported near Australian mining town
Via Xinhua :
" BRISBANE, Aug. 2 : One child develops lead poisoning every nine days in the Queensland mining town of Mt Isa, a new report revealed on Monday.
The statistic is published in the Medical Journal of Australia and comes amid legal action against Xstrata that allege its activities have left children brain damaged.
The report's co-author, Macquarie University associate professor Mark Taylor, has studied existing data on the problem and noted there is an obvious public health risk in the city.
"The evidence is clear. There is a single primary source of environmental lead in Mt Isa: the historic and ongoing mining and smelting activity," he said in the report.
"A purported lack of knowledge of the lead source is no longer a tenable response and provides no long term resolution for Xstrata, the government or the children of Mt Isa whose futures are at risk."
He said the city will continue to be at risk as long as stakeholders, including Xstrata, keep blaming natural lead levels in the environment."
The article from Australian Medical Journal. (click for link)
" BRISBANE, Aug. 2 : One child develops lead poisoning every nine days in the Queensland mining town of Mt Isa, a new report revealed on Monday.
The statistic is published in the Medical Journal of Australia and comes amid legal action against Xstrata that allege its activities have left children brain damaged.
The report's co-author, Macquarie University associate professor Mark Taylor, has studied existing data on the problem and noted there is an obvious public health risk in the city.
"The evidence is clear. There is a single primary source of environmental lead in Mt Isa: the historic and ongoing mining and smelting activity," he said in the report.
"A purported lack of knowledge of the lead source is no longer a tenable response and provides no long term resolution for Xstrata, the government or the children of Mt Isa whose futures are at risk."
He said the city will continue to be at risk as long as stakeholders, including Xstrata, keep blaming natural lead levels in the environment."
The article from Australian Medical Journal. (click for link)
Mexico : Mosquito-borne Dengue Spreads from Mexican Tropics
Via Mexidata :
" Troubling trends in dengue fever outbreaks are worrying health authorities and elected officials in Mexico. In 2010; deaths from the illness are running ahead of last year's fatalities. Dengue-transmitting mosquitoes are turning up in unexpected areas, and the pests are showing resistance to previously-applied insecticides. The federal Secretariat of Health has called on officials to "undertake the greatest efforts at safeguarding the health of the citizenry."
Until recently, dengue had been a problem in low-lying tropical areas along Mexico's coasts. Recently, however, the National Center for Epidemiological Monitoring and Disease Control (Cenavece) has detected Aedes aegypti, the mosquito which transmits the virus causing dengue, in unusual places including the Mexico City metropolitan area, Cuernavaca, Aguascalientes and Queretaro.
According to Health Secretary Jose Angel Cordova, transmitting mosquitoes are now found in zones higher than 5,000 feet — far above elevations where the bugs were previously found.
In Sonora, health authorities reported 65 cases of dengue through the third week of July, mainly in the state capital of Hermosillo and municipalities in the southern part of the state. In Guerrero, meanwhile, state health officials reported a 40 percent increase in dengue cases over last year's numbers. Most of the sicknesses were in the resort city of Acapulco. By the third week of July, the Guerrero State Health Department registered 2,491 cases, including six deaths. Nationwide, 8,850 dengue cases — including 16 fatalities — were tallied in the same time period."
" Troubling trends in dengue fever outbreaks are worrying health authorities and elected officials in Mexico. In 2010; deaths from the illness are running ahead of last year's fatalities. Dengue-transmitting mosquitoes are turning up in unexpected areas, and the pests are showing resistance to previously-applied insecticides. The federal Secretariat of Health has called on officials to "undertake the greatest efforts at safeguarding the health of the citizenry."
Until recently, dengue had been a problem in low-lying tropical areas along Mexico's coasts. Recently, however, the National Center for Epidemiological Monitoring and Disease Control (Cenavece) has detected Aedes aegypti, the mosquito which transmits the virus causing dengue, in unusual places including the Mexico City metropolitan area, Cuernavaca, Aguascalientes and Queretaro.
According to Health Secretary Jose Angel Cordova, transmitting mosquitoes are now found in zones higher than 5,000 feet — far above elevations where the bugs were previously found.
In Sonora, health authorities reported 65 cases of dengue through the third week of July, mainly in the state capital of Hermosillo and municipalities in the southern part of the state. In Guerrero, meanwhile, state health officials reported a 40 percent increase in dengue cases over last year's numbers. Most of the sicknesses were in the resort city of Acapulco. By the third week of July, the Guerrero State Health Department registered 2,491 cases, including six deaths. Nationwide, 8,850 dengue cases — including 16 fatalities — were tallied in the same time period."
Australia : Australian health officials note hike in swine flu cases
Via Radio Australia News, the whole report :
" There's been a rise in the number of severe swine flu cases in the Australian state of New South Wales.
Health officials say several people have been admitted to intensive care.
The seven confirmed and one suspected case in recent weeks included two pregnant women.
The New South wales Health Department's Doctor Jeremy McAnulty says while the number of cases is low compared with last year, the incidence does appear to be increasing, and people should get vaccinated.
"We're hopeful however that because people got infected last year, perhaps 20 or 30 per cent of the population got infected from the pandemic last year and another proportion have been vaccinated, then we won't see as severe a season as this year. But we don't know that for sure and we know if you're not protected through immunity. Then you are at risk of getting infection."
" There's been a rise in the number of severe swine flu cases in the Australian state of New South Wales.
Health officials say several people have been admitted to intensive care.
The seven confirmed and one suspected case in recent weeks included two pregnant women.
The New South wales Health Department's Doctor Jeremy McAnulty says while the number of cases is low compared with last year, the incidence does appear to be increasing, and people should get vaccinated.
"We're hopeful however that because people got infected last year, perhaps 20 or 30 per cent of the population got infected from the pandemic last year and another proportion have been vaccinated, then we won't see as severe a season as this year. But we don't know that for sure and we know if you're not protected through immunity. Then you are at risk of getting infection."
India : Woman dies of swine flu in Orissa
Via The Asian Age :
" Swine flu claimed its first victim in Orissa this year with a woman dying of the disease at a private hospital on Monday. The 56-year-old woman, a resident of Sailashri Vihar locality of the state capital, had been admitted to Apollo Hospital on July 29 with complaints of severe cold, high fever and chest pain, hospital sources said.
Swab and blood samples of the patient were sent to Regional Medical Research Centre here on July 30 which confirmed swine flu, the sources said. Last year, one person had died of swine flu in Rourkela. Three persons were earlier treated for swine flu at the SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack."
" Swine flu claimed its first victim in Orissa this year with a woman dying of the disease at a private hospital on Monday. The 56-year-old woman, a resident of Sailashri Vihar locality of the state capital, had been admitted to Apollo Hospital on July 29 with complaints of severe cold, high fever and chest pain, hospital sources said.
Swab and blood samples of the patient were sent to Regional Medical Research Centre here on July 30 which confirmed swine flu, the sources said. Last year, one person had died of swine flu in Rourkela. Three persons were earlier treated for swine flu at the SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack."
Northern India might have more swine flu cases: health official
Via Deccan Herald :
" Due to heavy rains in coming months, northern parts of India might have more cases of H1N1 viral infection in the second pandemic phase and the doctors may need to adopt a different strategy for treating such cases, a top public health official has said.
"With Kerala experience, we are now advocating to all doctors across the country, especially in northern parts of India where good rainfall is expected in the coming months, should strictly follow government public health policies and use ABC management guidelines," Dr Amar Fettle, Chief Nodal Officer, H1N1 control programme, Kerala, said during the day-long seminar on 'Swine Flu H1N1--Flu Fears' held at Nair hospital yesterday.
The northern states must be prepared with the 'surge' capacity -- to put the large number of patients -- and with the state-of-the-art labs for testing as well, he said.
"Do not wait for the test results to start the treatment as it would be late for the patient.If the symptoms are clear, immediately start start treating the cases for H1N1," Fettle said.
Out of the 75 deaths during this second wave of H1N1 infection in the state of Kerala, 21 were pregnant women.
"Therefore, we appeal to all gynaecologists also to follow the public health policies to save several pregnant women from dying," he said.
The virus is more prevalent in the population in the second stage and so the treatment will begin even before the sample test results are available, unlike the first phase.
"In the first phase, we had to adopt different methods like keeping a vigil at entry ports, keeping lot of isolation wards and sending all the samples for testing and then start the treatment. But the strategy now is to strictly follow the public health policy and start the treatment even before the test results are available," he told PTI."
" Due to heavy rains in coming months, northern parts of India might have more cases of H1N1 viral infection in the second pandemic phase and the doctors may need to adopt a different strategy for treating such cases, a top public health official has said.
"With Kerala experience, we are now advocating to all doctors across the country, especially in northern parts of India where good rainfall is expected in the coming months, should strictly follow government public health policies and use ABC management guidelines," Dr Amar Fettle, Chief Nodal Officer, H1N1 control programme, Kerala, said during the day-long seminar on 'Swine Flu H1N1--Flu Fears' held at Nair hospital yesterday.
The northern states must be prepared with the 'surge' capacity -- to put the large number of patients -- and with the state-of-the-art labs for testing as well, he said.
"Do not wait for the test results to start the treatment as it would be late for the patient.If the symptoms are clear, immediately start start treating the cases for H1N1," Fettle said.
Out of the 75 deaths during this second wave of H1N1 infection in the state of Kerala, 21 were pregnant women.
"Therefore, we appeal to all gynaecologists also to follow the public health policies to save several pregnant women from dying," he said.
The virus is more prevalent in the population in the second stage and so the treatment will begin even before the sample test results are available, unlike the first phase.
"In the first phase, we had to adopt different methods like keeping a vigil at entry ports, keeping lot of isolation wards and sending all the samples for testing and then start the treatment. But the strategy now is to strictly follow the public health policy and start the treatment even before the test results are available," he told PTI."
Trinidad & Tobago : Panel to probe possible dengue fever death
Via News Day, excerpt :
" THE Ministry of Health has proposed appointment of an independent panel to investigate the death of 19-year-old Shiraz Khan, who relatives claimed was diagnosed with dengue fever but was not treated as an emergency case at two health institutions. He died two days after allegedly testing positive for the virus.
Khan died Thursday morning, less than a week of showing signs of the symptoms and visiting the health institutions, a relative said. Following Khan’s death and complaints by relatives, Attorney General Anand Ramlogan, yesterday advised Minister of Health Therese Baptiste- Cornelis to appoint an independent medical panel to examine the facts and circumstances surrounding this death.
In a press statement yesterday, Baptiste-Cornelis indicated she has accepted the AG’s recommendation and proposed to appoint a panel comprising a health care expert from the Ministry of Health, another from the Regional Health Authority (RHA) and one from the private sector. It was suggested that the report should be completed within 21 days and submitted to Baptiste-Cornelis and Ramlogan. If the panel has unearthed any wrongdoing, the Minister of Health has assured that disciplinary action will be taken."
" THE Ministry of Health has proposed appointment of an independent panel to investigate the death of 19-year-old Shiraz Khan, who relatives claimed was diagnosed with dengue fever but was not treated as an emergency case at two health institutions. He died two days after allegedly testing positive for the virus.
Khan died Thursday morning, less than a week of showing signs of the symptoms and visiting the health institutions, a relative said. Following Khan’s death and complaints by relatives, Attorney General Anand Ramlogan, yesterday advised Minister of Health Therese Baptiste- Cornelis to appoint an independent medical panel to examine the facts and circumstances surrounding this death.
In a press statement yesterday, Baptiste-Cornelis indicated she has accepted the AG’s recommendation and proposed to appoint a panel comprising a health care expert from the Ministry of Health, another from the Regional Health Authority (RHA) and one from the private sector. It was suggested that the report should be completed within 21 days and submitted to Baptiste-Cornelis and Ramlogan. If the panel has unearthed any wrongdoing, the Minister of Health has assured that disciplinary action will be taken."
Flooded Pakistan battles to avoid disease
Via BBC News :
" Concerns are growing for survivors of flooding in north-west Pakistan after the heaviest rains in a generation killed at least 1,100 people.
There are reports of diarrhoea and cholera among the hundreds of thousands left homeless, and food and potable water are in short supply.
Pakistan's military is helping with the rescue effort, and the US has announced $10m (£6.4m) in emergency aid.
Floodwaters are receding in some areas, but more rain is now forecast.
Part of the main north-south motorway into the region was reopened on Sunday, before reportedly closing again. The brief opening allowed some aid supplies into the flooded area while also permitting people to flee.
The BBC's Aleem Maqbool, in the capital Islamabad, says officials there fear that once access to affected areas improves, the full picture will show that the situation is much worse than is so far known.
'Contaminated wells'
The information minister of Khyber-Pakhtoonkhwa (formerly North West Frontier Province), one of the worst-hit provinces, said 1.5 million people had been affected by the floods and landslides.
"We are receiving information about the loss of life and property caused by the floods all over the province," Mian Iftikhar Hussain told the AFP news agency."
" Concerns are growing for survivors of flooding in north-west Pakistan after the heaviest rains in a generation killed at least 1,100 people.
There are reports of diarrhoea and cholera among the hundreds of thousands left homeless, and food and potable water are in short supply.
Pakistan's military is helping with the rescue effort, and the US has announced $10m (£6.4m) in emergency aid.
Floodwaters are receding in some areas, but more rain is now forecast.
Part of the main north-south motorway into the region was reopened on Sunday, before reportedly closing again. The brief opening allowed some aid supplies into the flooded area while also permitting people to flee.
The BBC's Aleem Maqbool, in the capital Islamabad, says officials there fear that once access to affected areas improves, the full picture will show that the situation is much worse than is so far known.
'Contaminated wells'
The information minister of Khyber-Pakhtoonkhwa (formerly North West Frontier Province), one of the worst-hit provinces, said 1.5 million people had been affected by the floods and landslides.
"We are receiving information about the loss of life and property caused by the floods all over the province," Mian Iftikhar Hussain told the AFP news agency."
India : H1N1 claims two school students in Pune
Via Times of India :
" PUNE: Two school students succumbed to the H1N1 influenza, in the current academic session which got under way on June 7. Among the total 80 H1N1 casualties since April, these are the only cases of students.
It has been a year since the first H1N1 casualty in India, 14-year-old Reeda Shaikh, succumbed to the infection on August 3 last year.
Among the 130 students found positive since the beginning of the new academic session, 45 were reported to be from primary schools followed by 38 from nursery schools, 26 from higher secondary schools, 13 from professional colleges and eight from colleges.
As many as 74 infected students were reported from 52 educational institutions in Pune Municipal Corporation limits. This is followed by 41 positive students from 27 educational institutions in Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation limits, 12 from 27 institutes in the rural parts of Pune district and three students from three cantonment schools.
"Among the 130 infected students, 46 are schools students who have recovered and have started attending classes. A total of 48 students have presently been isolated at their homes and 25 are being treated at various hospitals in the district," a state health official said."
" PUNE: Two school students succumbed to the H1N1 influenza, in the current academic session which got under way on June 7. Among the total 80 H1N1 casualties since April, these are the only cases of students.
It has been a year since the first H1N1 casualty in India, 14-year-old Reeda Shaikh, succumbed to the infection on August 3 last year.
Among the 130 students found positive since the beginning of the new academic session, 45 were reported to be from primary schools followed by 38 from nursery schools, 26 from higher secondary schools, 13 from professional colleges and eight from colleges.
As many as 74 infected students were reported from 52 educational institutions in Pune Municipal Corporation limits. This is followed by 41 positive students from 27 educational institutions in Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation limits, 12 from 27 institutes in the rural parts of Pune district and three students from three cantonment schools.
"Among the 130 infected students, 46 are schools students who have recovered and have started attending classes. A total of 48 students have presently been isolated at their homes and 25 are being treated at various hospitals in the district," a state health official said."
Diarrhea spreading in mid-western Nepal
Via Xinhua :
" KATHMANDU, Aug. 1 : Diarrhea that spread in mid- western Nepal a few days ago has not yet come under control, The Rising Nepal reported on Sunday.
According to the daily, the patients of the epidemic frequented local hospitals also on Friday and Saturday in the district.
The hospitals informed that more than 400 diarrhea patients were undergoing treatment in the local hospitals.
Local Bheri Zonal Hospital, Teaching Hospital and United Hospital of the city, some 365 km west of Kathmandu, have been filled with the diarrhea patients, many of whom are on the hospitals' floor because of the lack of beds and space.
According to the hospitals, five patients died of diarrhea in recent days."
" KATHMANDU, Aug. 1 : Diarrhea that spread in mid- western Nepal a few days ago has not yet come under control, The Rising Nepal reported on Sunday.
According to the daily, the patients of the epidemic frequented local hospitals also on Friday and Saturday in the district.
The hospitals informed that more than 400 diarrhea patients were undergoing treatment in the local hospitals.
Local Bheri Zonal Hospital, Teaching Hospital and United Hospital of the city, some 365 km west of Kathmandu, have been filled with the diarrhea patients, many of whom are on the hospitals' floor because of the lack of beds and space.
According to the hospitals, five patients died of diarrhea in recent days."
Indonesia : Rabid dogs roam holiday hotspot, kill at least 78
Via Yahoo Health :
" BALI, Indonesia : Putu Valentino Rosiadi should have started third grade this month. But instead of buying a new school uniform and notebooks, his father mournfully cradles a black-and-white photo.
The 8-year-old was next door when a stray dog jumped him in May, ripping its teeth into the boy's right calf. He was stitched up at a local hospital and sent home. His family was told no cases of rabies had been reported in their area.
Earlier this month, a high fever hit him. Valentino died two days later.
"He was delirious. There was foam coming out of his mouth," said the boy's father, Komang Suda, 32. "Every time we tried to give him water, it was like he went into shock. He was shaking and very agitated."
A rabies epidemic has gripped Bali, an island of 3 million people and one of Asia's top tourist destinations. Seventy-eight deaths have officially been logged in the past two years, including that of a 40-year-old woman a week ago, and many other deaths have likely gone unreported."
" BALI, Indonesia : Putu Valentino Rosiadi should have started third grade this month. But instead of buying a new school uniform and notebooks, his father mournfully cradles a black-and-white photo.
The 8-year-old was next door when a stray dog jumped him in May, ripping its teeth into the boy's right calf. He was stitched up at a local hospital and sent home. His family was told no cases of rabies had been reported in their area.
Earlier this month, a high fever hit him. Valentino died two days later.
"He was delirious. There was foam coming out of his mouth," said the boy's father, Komang Suda, 32. "Every time we tried to give him water, it was like he went into shock. He was shaking and very agitated."
A rabies epidemic has gripped Bali, an island of 3 million people and one of Asia's top tourist destinations. Seventy-eight deaths have officially been logged in the past two years, including that of a 40-year-old woman a week ago, and many other deaths have likely gone unreported."
Philippines : Cebu City dengue cases up 756 with nine deaths
An article from Cebu Daily News, excerpt :
" Dengue cases in Cebu City rose by 756 cases from January to July this year, up from 593 cases for the same period last year, local health authorities said last week.
The Cebu City Health Department said nine children aged three to six years old died from the disease this year.
They said they expect more cases in the months to come owing to the rainy season.
Assistant City Epidemiologist Durinda Macasucol said August and September would usually register the highest number of dengue cases.
Barangay Guadalupe has the highest number of recorded dengue cases for the year.
Parents were advised to clean their surroundings and remove stagnant water which could become breeding grounds for dengue-carrying mosquitoes.
Macasucol also advised the parents to bring their children immediately to the doctors if they experience high fever for two days already.
Dengue symptoms include, high fever lasting two to seven days, joint and muscle pain, skin rashes, nose bleeding, abdominal pain, vomiting and dark-colored stools."
" Dengue cases in Cebu City rose by 756 cases from January to July this year, up from 593 cases for the same period last year, local health authorities said last week.
The Cebu City Health Department said nine children aged three to six years old died from the disease this year.
They said they expect more cases in the months to come owing to the rainy season.
Assistant City Epidemiologist Durinda Macasucol said August and September would usually register the highest number of dengue cases.
Barangay Guadalupe has the highest number of recorded dengue cases for the year.
Parents were advised to clean their surroundings and remove stagnant water which could become breeding grounds for dengue-carrying mosquitoes.
Macasucol also advised the parents to bring their children immediately to the doctors if they experience high fever for two days already.
Dengue symptoms include, high fever lasting two to seven days, joint and muscle pain, skin rashes, nose bleeding, abdominal pain, vomiting and dark-colored stools."
Over 130,000 people carry TB in Myanmar annually: report
Via Xinhua :
" YANGON, Aug. 1 : More than 130,000 people were infected with tuberculosis (TB) annually, standing one of the 22 countries in the world with most prevalence of the disease, the local Flower News reported Sunday.
According to a statistical report for 2009, of the new TB patients, 9.15 percent were found infected with both TB and HIV, and these patients are being treated in 2010.
Sufficient TB medicines are in stock to treat the 130,000 new TB patients, the authorities claimed.
Myanmar has been making efforts to combat TB since 1966 under a national program, targeting to remove TB out of health issue by 2050.
Under the program, 325 townships in the country have been covered, report said.
In order to expose more hidden TB patients, the health authorities have been cooperating with private clinics to offer free treatment to patients by adopting public-private-mix approach method."
" YANGON, Aug. 1 : More than 130,000 people were infected with tuberculosis (TB) annually, standing one of the 22 countries in the world with most prevalence of the disease, the local Flower News reported Sunday.
According to a statistical report for 2009, of the new TB patients, 9.15 percent were found infected with both TB and HIV, and these patients are being treated in 2010.
Sufficient TB medicines are in stock to treat the 130,000 new TB patients, the authorities claimed.
Myanmar has been making efforts to combat TB since 1966 under a national program, targeting to remove TB out of health issue by 2050.
Under the program, 325 townships in the country have been covered, report said.
In order to expose more hidden TB patients, the health authorities have been cooperating with private clinics to offer free treatment to patients by adopting public-private-mix approach method."
India : Woman dies of dengue
Via The Hindu :
" Even as Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) officials continue to deny dengue deaths in the city, hospitals are reporting deaths caused by the vector-borne disease.
On Saturday, a 37-year-old woman from Viveknagar died of dengue in St. Philomena's Hospital.
Confirming the death, a spokesperson for the hospital said the victim, Vijaya Rani, was admitted to the hospital two days ago after she developed complications."
" Even as Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) officials continue to deny dengue deaths in the city, hospitals are reporting deaths caused by the vector-borne disease.
On Saturday, a 37-year-old woman from Viveknagar died of dengue in St. Philomena's Hospital.
Confirming the death, a spokesperson for the hospital said the victim, Vijaya Rani, was admitted to the hospital two days ago after she developed complications."
Vietnam : Blue-ear pig disease hits 13 provinces
Via VOV News, the whole report :
" The Veterinary Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development confirmed on July 30 that a new outbreak of blue-ear disease in pigs has been detected in Hoa Khuong and Hoa Lien communes in the Hoa Vang district of Da Nang city.
All samples taken from 92 sick pigs in the two communes tested positive for the PRRS (porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome) virus.
In the Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang, the epidemic was found in 76 households in An Thai Trung commune in the Cai Be district, Thach Tri commune in the Go Cong Tay district and Tan Thoi commune in the Tan Phu Dong district. In total, 644 out of about 1,500 pigs in the three communes were infected by the deadly virus. So far, 93 communes in 9 districts of Tien Giang province have been struck by blue-ear disease, nearly half of which have died.
Earlier, the epidemic struck Dong Nai and Binh Phuoc provinces, bringing the total number of infected provinces to 13, namely Nghe An, Cao Bang, Soc Trang, Quang Tri, Tien Giang, Lao Cai, Long An, Binh Duong, Bac Lieu, Quang Nam, Dong Nai, Binh Phuoc and Da Nang.
The disease is being gradually contained in the north, but continues to spread in the south."
" The Veterinary Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development confirmed on July 30 that a new outbreak of blue-ear disease in pigs has been detected in Hoa Khuong and Hoa Lien communes in the Hoa Vang district of Da Nang city.
All samples taken from 92 sick pigs in the two communes tested positive for the PRRS (porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome) virus.
In the Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang, the epidemic was found in 76 households in An Thai Trung commune in the Cai Be district, Thach Tri commune in the Go Cong Tay district and Tan Thoi commune in the Tan Phu Dong district. In total, 644 out of about 1,500 pigs in the three communes were infected by the deadly virus. So far, 93 communes in 9 districts of Tien Giang province have been struck by blue-ear disease, nearly half of which have died.
Earlier, the epidemic struck Dong Nai and Binh Phuoc provinces, bringing the total number of infected provinces to 13, namely Nghe An, Cao Bang, Soc Trang, Quang Tri, Tien Giang, Lao Cai, Long An, Binh Duong, Bac Lieu, Quang Nam, Dong Nai, Binh Phuoc and Da Nang.
The disease is being gradually contained in the north, but continues to spread in the south."
Sunday, August 1, 2010
India : H1N1 claims one more, toll 292
Via Times of India, more fatalities being reported :
" PUNE: One more H1N1 flu death was reported in the city on Friday, taking the toll since August 2009 to 292.
According to the district information officer, Pune, the deceased has been identified as Pratiksha Sunil Kadam (30), a resident of Katraj.
She was admitted to the isolation ward in the Sassoon hospital on Wednesday and was diagnosed as H1H1 positive. She died on Friday at 10.15 pm."
" PUNE: One more H1N1 flu death was reported in the city on Friday, taking the toll since August 2009 to 292.
According to the district information officer, Pune, the deceased has been identified as Pratiksha Sunil Kadam (30), a resident of Katraj.
She was admitted to the isolation ward in the Sassoon hospital on Wednesday and was diagnosed as H1H1 positive. She died on Friday at 10.15 pm."
Malaysia : Special team to put bacteria to the test
Via The Star :
" KUANTAN: A special team will be set up by the state government to study the behaviour and strains of melioidosis and leptospirosis bacteria.
The move comes after 89 people were infected following the search and rescue operation of a drowned man in the Lubuk Yu recreational forest in Maran between June 26 and 30 and the death of a teenager in Bentong, who had no connection with the Lubuk Yu incident.
Cases had also been recorded in Jerantut, Maran and Lipis.
State Local Government, Environment and Health Committee chairman Datuk Hoh Khai Mun said the team would be led by the state health department and include a medical expert on the bacteria from the International Islamic University Malaysia.
“We want to study the behaviour and mobility of the bacteria and how they spread to other locations.
“From the findings, we can draw up measures to prevent the outbreak from happening again,” he told reporters after presenting prizes to winners of a district-level recycling campaign for primary and secondary students organised by a food and beverage company and Kuantan Municipal Council here on Thursday."
" KUANTAN: A special team will be set up by the state government to study the behaviour and strains of melioidosis and leptospirosis bacteria.
The move comes after 89 people were infected following the search and rescue operation of a drowned man in the Lubuk Yu recreational forest in Maran between June 26 and 30 and the death of a teenager in Bentong, who had no connection with the Lubuk Yu incident.
Cases had also been recorded in Jerantut, Maran and Lipis.
State Local Government, Environment and Health Committee chairman Datuk Hoh Khai Mun said the team would be led by the state health department and include a medical expert on the bacteria from the International Islamic University Malaysia.
“We want to study the behaviour and mobility of the bacteria and how they spread to other locations.
“From the findings, we can draw up measures to prevent the outbreak from happening again,” he told reporters after presenting prizes to winners of a district-level recycling campaign for primary and secondary students organised by a food and beverage company and Kuantan Municipal Council here on Thursday."
Dominican towns fight disease outbreaks
Via Wood TV :
" SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic : Officials in the Dominican Republic are warning people living near low-lying areas flooded by recent rainstorms to be on alert for two diseases that have already killed 53 people and sickened thousands.
Health Minister Bautista Rojas says communities hit hard by the July storms have seen an outbreak of mosquito-borne dengue fever as well as leptospirosis. It spreads through exposure to water contaminated with urine from infected animals.
Rojas said Tuesday that health workers will go to rural communities in the central Cibao valley. State laboratories have already provided free testing for the diseases near the capital, Santo Domingo.
Rojas says 26 people have died of dengue and 27 of leptospirosis."
" SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic : Officials in the Dominican Republic are warning people living near low-lying areas flooded by recent rainstorms to be on alert for two diseases that have already killed 53 people and sickened thousands.
Health Minister Bautista Rojas says communities hit hard by the July storms have seen an outbreak of mosquito-borne dengue fever as well as leptospirosis. It spreads through exposure to water contaminated with urine from infected animals.
Rojas said Tuesday that health workers will go to rural communities in the central Cibao valley. State laboratories have already provided free testing for the diseases near the capital, Santo Domingo.
Rojas says 26 people have died of dengue and 27 of leptospirosis."
Malaria resurgence risk in southern Europe: climate assessment in an historically endemic area of rice fields at the Mediterranean shore of Spain
An excerpt from a research published at the Malaria Journal :
" Background
International travel and immigration have been related with an increase of imported malaria cases. This fact and climate change, prolonging the period favouring vector development, require an analysis of the malaria transmission resurgence risk in areas of southern Europe. Such a study is made for the first time in Spain. The Ebro Delta historically endemic area was selected due to its rice field landscape, the presence of only one vector, Anopheles atroparvus, with densities similar to those it presented when malaria was present, in a situation which pronouncedly differs from already assessed potential resurgence areas in other Mediterranean countries, such as France and Italy, where many different Anopheles species coexist and a different vector species dominates.
Methods
The transmission risk was assessed analysing: 1) climate diagrams including the minimum temperature for Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax development; 2) monthly evolution of the Gradient Model Risk (GMR) index, specifying transmission risk period and number of potential Plasmodium generations; 3) ecological characteristics using remote sensing images with the Eurasia Land Cover characteristics database and the monthly evolution of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI); 4) evaluation of A. atroparvus population dynamics.
Results
Climatological analyses and GMR index show that a transmission risk presently exists, lasting from May until September for P. falciparum, and from May until October for P. vivax. The GMR index shows that the temperature increase does not actually mean a transmission risk increase if accompanied by a precipitation decrease reducing the number of parasite generations and transmission period. Nevertheless, this limitation is offset by the artificial flooding of the rice fields. Maximum NDVI values and A. atroparvus maximum abundance correspond to months with maximum growth of the rice fields."
" Background
International travel and immigration have been related with an increase of imported malaria cases. This fact and climate change, prolonging the period favouring vector development, require an analysis of the malaria transmission resurgence risk in areas of southern Europe. Such a study is made for the first time in Spain. The Ebro Delta historically endemic area was selected due to its rice field landscape, the presence of only one vector, Anopheles atroparvus, with densities similar to those it presented when malaria was present, in a situation which pronouncedly differs from already assessed potential resurgence areas in other Mediterranean countries, such as France and Italy, where many different Anopheles species coexist and a different vector species dominates.
Methods
The transmission risk was assessed analysing: 1) climate diagrams including the minimum temperature for Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax development; 2) monthly evolution of the Gradient Model Risk (GMR) index, specifying transmission risk period and number of potential Plasmodium generations; 3) ecological characteristics using remote sensing images with the Eurasia Land Cover characteristics database and the monthly evolution of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI); 4) evaluation of A. atroparvus population dynamics.
Results
Climatological analyses and GMR index show that a transmission risk presently exists, lasting from May until September for P. falciparum, and from May until October for P. vivax. The GMR index shows that the temperature increase does not actually mean a transmission risk increase if accompanied by a precipitation decrease reducing the number of parasite generations and transmission period. Nevertheless, this limitation is offset by the artificial flooding of the rice fields. Maximum NDVI values and A. atroparvus maximum abundance correspond to months with maximum growth of the rice fields."
Swine flu claims one more in Mumbai
Via DNA India :
" A 51-year-old woman succumbed to swine flu taking the death toll due to H1N1 influenza to ten this month.
According to health officials, the woman a resident of suburban Andheri died yesterday.
Altogether 16 patients are undergoing treatment at various hospitals in the city for swine flu.
In July, at least 27 patients have succumbed to various rain-related ailments and the city have registered 15,258 rain-related cases this month."
" A 51-year-old woman succumbed to swine flu taking the death toll due to H1N1 influenza to ten this month.
According to health officials, the woman a resident of suburban Andheri died yesterday.
Altogether 16 patients are undergoing treatment at various hospitals in the city for swine flu.
In July, at least 27 patients have succumbed to various rain-related ailments and the city have registered 15,258 rain-related cases this month."
India : Fifth death in week due to swine flu
Via Times of India, the whole article :
" SURAT: Nital Shankar Patel, 27, died of swine flu at Apple Hospital here on Saturday. With this, the virus has claimed at least five lives in a week's time in the city.
Patel was admitted to the hospital on July 25 and tested positive for H1N1.
There was no improvement in her condition and she remained critical. Patel was earlier admitted to Surbhi Hospital in Navsari. She was shifted to Apple Hospital in a critical condition and was on ventilator. A detailed history report on her will be submitted to the health department by the health authorities in Navsari."
" SURAT: Nital Shankar Patel, 27, died of swine flu at Apple Hospital here on Saturday. With this, the virus has claimed at least five lives in a week's time in the city.
Patel was admitted to the hospital on July 25 and tested positive for H1N1.
There was no improvement in her condition and she remained critical. Patel was earlier admitted to Surbhi Hospital in Navsari. She was shifted to Apple Hospital in a critical condition and was on ventilator. A detailed history report on her will be submitted to the health department by the health authorities in Navsari."
Malaysia : Concern Over More Dengue Cases In Kelantan
Via Bernama :
" KOTA BAHARU, July 31 : Kelantan health authorities have expressed concern over the rise in the number of dengue cases in the state this year.
State Deputy Director of Health Dr Wan Mansor Wan Hamzah said the state recorded 1,707 cases of the disease, including five deaths, this year up to July 24 compared to 1,031 cases, including one death, during the corresponding period last year.
Three of the five deaths this year occurred in the Pasir Mas district and the two others in the Kota Baharu district, he said.
"The rise in the number of cases is of concern and measures are being taken to prevent further spread of the disease," he told Bernama at the launch of the "Jom Ganyang Aedes" (Let's Destroy the Aedes Mosquito) campaign for the Kota Baharu district, here.
He said the programme was an extension of the campaign at the national level launched by Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai in Kuala Lumpur recently."
" KOTA BAHARU, July 31 : Kelantan health authorities have expressed concern over the rise in the number of dengue cases in the state this year.
State Deputy Director of Health Dr Wan Mansor Wan Hamzah said the state recorded 1,707 cases of the disease, including five deaths, this year up to July 24 compared to 1,031 cases, including one death, during the corresponding period last year.
Three of the five deaths this year occurred in the Pasir Mas district and the two others in the Kota Baharu district, he said.
"The rise in the number of cases is of concern and measures are being taken to prevent further spread of the disease," he told Bernama at the launch of the "Jom Ganyang Aedes" (Let's Destroy the Aedes Mosquito) campaign for the Kota Baharu district, here.
He said the programme was an extension of the campaign at the national level launched by Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai in Kuala Lumpur recently."
News break: "Pig MRSA" ST398 involved in the death of a child?
An important post by Maryn Mckenna at Superbug, excerpt :
" The latest postings to the website of the CDC journal Emerging Infectious Diseases include a sad and very troubling letter from physicians in Lyon and Paris, reporting the death from necrotizing pneumonia of a previously healthy 14-year-old girl. That would be sad under any conditions, but here's what makes the death so troubling: It appears to have been caused by MRSA — but not by the community strain, USA300, that has been implicated in a number of deaths from necrotizing pneumonia.
Instead, her death appears to have been caused by infection with MRSA ST398 — the livestock-associated strain that was first noted in pigs raised with antibiotics, and the pig-farm workers caring for them, in the Netherlands 6 years ago, and that has since spread across the European Union, Canada and into the United States.
This may be the first death associated with ST398, though I can't say that for sure as I am away from my big computer and working without my database. I'll update later today and confirm or knock that down.
The physicians say that the girl came in with flu-like symptoms and abdominal pain, was put on IV antibiotics (cefotaxime and amikacin), underwent an exploratory laparotomy that showed nothing, and shortly afterward developed acute respiratory distress and was put on a vent. A chest X-ray was shadowy on both sides. She went rapidly downhill and died 6 days later.
On analysis, the staph strain infecting her was ST398; there was no indication where she had picked it up. The strain had an unusual characteristic: It possessed the ability to make the cell-destroying toxin Panton-Valentine leukocidin, PVL for short, a genetic trick that until now has been a property only of community MRSA strains such as USA300. Though its role is disputed, PVL has been linked to community MRSA's ability to start infections on intact skin, and to the cellular damage that destroys children's lungs in cases of pneumonia caused by USA300. Until now, ST398 has been PVL-negative."
" The latest postings to the website of the CDC journal Emerging Infectious Diseases include a sad and very troubling letter from physicians in Lyon and Paris, reporting the death from necrotizing pneumonia of a previously healthy 14-year-old girl. That would be sad under any conditions, but here's what makes the death so troubling: It appears to have been caused by MRSA — but not by the community strain, USA300, that has been implicated in a number of deaths from necrotizing pneumonia.
Instead, her death appears to have been caused by infection with MRSA ST398 — the livestock-associated strain that was first noted in pigs raised with antibiotics, and the pig-farm workers caring for them, in the Netherlands 6 years ago, and that has since spread across the European Union, Canada and into the United States.
This may be the first death associated with ST398, though I can't say that for sure as I am away from my big computer and working without my database. I'll update later today and confirm or knock that down.
The physicians say that the girl came in with flu-like symptoms and abdominal pain, was put on IV antibiotics (cefotaxime and amikacin), underwent an exploratory laparotomy that showed nothing, and shortly afterward developed acute respiratory distress and was put on a vent. A chest X-ray was shadowy on both sides. She went rapidly downhill and died 6 days later.
On analysis, the staph strain infecting her was ST398; there was no indication where she had picked it up. The strain had an unusual characteristic: It possessed the ability to make the cell-destroying toxin Panton-Valentine leukocidin, PVL for short, a genetic trick that until now has been a property only of community MRSA strains such as USA300. Though its role is disputed, PVL has been linked to community MRSA's ability to start infections on intact skin, and to the cellular damage that destroys children's lungs in cases of pneumonia caused by USA300. Until now, ST398 has been PVL-negative."
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