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The lethal avian-flu virus that has affected so much of the globe continues to kill birds and humans |
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But while the deadly H5N1 strain has hit more than 60 countries in less than five years, there are signs that the epidemic has peaked, at least for now.
Millions of birds have died or been destroyed as a result of outbreaks as far apart as northern Europe and the Far East.
And the number of cases among humans has also continued to rise since the strain emerged in South-East Asia in 2003 before spreading to Europe and Africa.
But provisional data for the first half of 2008 appear to confirm the rate is continuing to tail off after hitting a peak in the corresponding period in 2006.
The number of human deaths during that time was the lowest since 2005, as was the number of new outbreaks among birds.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN declared in an article in June 2008 that "the peak of the crisis" was over, but that the fight against the disease was not.
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Czech Republic struggles to combat an outbreak of hepatitis A |
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Approximately 440 cases have been
identified and their number is increasing. The
worst situation is seen in Prague, where some 260 infected individuals have been reported "Dozens of people are still waiting for the results of blood tests, so the number of infected could rise significantly within a week," said Michael Vit, the Director General of Health Services of the Czech Republic.
Hepatitis A is transmitted through [contact with
infected] urine, blood and sexual contact.
Although it [hepatitis A] is not as dangerous as
hepatitis B and C, it has a complicated treatment and spreads easily. [In the overwhelming majority
of cases, there is no real specific treatment
other than avoidance of contact with hepatotoxic agents such as acetaminophen, and alcohol .
To prevent transmission,
experts recommend washing hands frequently and avoid sharing hygiene and personal use products.
[Byline: Katerina Oratorova]
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Chikungunya outbreak - India |
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A map of India showing the location of the states mentioned above can
be accessed at:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/india_pol01.jpg>.
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YELLOW FEVER - SOUTH AMERICA |
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Additionally, there have been 2 cases of human yellow fever reported
from rural areas in central west Parana State (in the rural area of
Laranjal). Although the map of yellow fever risk areas in Brazil
represents the best understanding of current risk, this is an
evolving situation, |
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Advice to Travel Agents from the BMJ |
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The authors call on the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to provide guidance on malaria.
Currently IATA advises member airlines on how to disinfect aircraft to remove insects, but offers no health advice to travellers. This means that people travelling independently to visit relatives in countries that have malaria may not receive any information about this potentially life-threatening disease.
"We believe that the travel industry has an obligation to improve the quantity and quality of the malaria advice it provides …. [and] for independent travellers, malaria advice should be provided by the airline, for example on the ticket |
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Patients with measles at hospital |
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West Suffolk Hospital is acting after it was discovered some employees did not have immunity to the condition.
The Bury St Edmunds-based hospital's chief executive Chris Bown has said not everyone will get the jab.
The hospital is checking records to find staff without immunity who may be working with patients with measles and they will be offered injections.
Mr Bown said: "Our occupational health department are working through records to ensure staff are inoculated appropriately for measles and we are also asking them to be aware themselves
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Neglect, political squabbling hamper Brazil's fight against increasingly deadly dengue fever |
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Since January, dengue has killed at least 79 people and sickened over 75,000 in the surrounding Rio state, home to 40 percent of all of Brazil's cases of the disease. Another 80 deaths have been reported but are awaiting blood tests, the state health secretariat said Thursday. If confirmed as dengue, Rio's death toll this year would be higher than all of Brazil last year.
Dengue infects millions around the world, mostly in tropical regions where mosquitoes thrive in the heat and abundant water, and epidemiologists say Rio's shantytowns are at the leading edge of a dangerous global trend: while most dengue cases aren't fatal, the percentage of cases involving the more virulent, deadly form of the disease is growing — particularly among children, according to the Pan American Health Organization.
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World TB day |
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Multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) and extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB), HIV-associated TB, and weak health systems are major challenges.
WHO is working to dramatically reduce the burden of TB, and halve TB deaths and prevalence by 2015, through its Stop TB Strategy and supporting the Global Plan to Stop TB.
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YELLOW FEVER - SOUTH AMERICA |
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The number of confirmed cases of yellow fever has risen with 6 new cases and is now at 22 cases, including 6 deaths, according to Ministry figures, with 11 cases in San Pedro, 9 in Laurelty, and 2 in other areas. Another 12 suspected cases are being investigated.
Meanwhile, at a recent meeting in Port Iguazú, officials from Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Venezuela, Bolivia and Peru agreed to coordinate and monitor yellow fever immunization for the populations of border areas, with the support of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). They also agreed that the principal measure to prevent urbanization of the disease is reduction of breeding sites for Aedes aegypti mosquitoes throughout the region
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4th avian flu death suspected in Guangdong Province |
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. A 24-year-old man from the eastern province of Jiangsu died on Dec. 2. He passed the virus to his 52-year-old father, who later recovered. In the latest cases, a 22-year-old man from central Hunan Province died on Jan. 24, and a 41-year-old man from the southern region of Guangxi died on Feb. 20.
Hans Troedsson, the World Health Organization representative in China, said there was only a "preliminary" report on the Guangdong case.
Her death follows several confirmed cases of bird flu infection since December. A 24-year-old man from the eastern province of Jiangsu died on Dec. 2. He passed the virus to his 52-year-old father, who later recovered. In the latest cases, a 22-year-old man from central Hunan Province died on Jan. 24, and a 41-year-old man from the southern region of Guangxi died on Feb. 20.
Hans Troedsson, the World Health Organization representative in China, said there was only a "preliminary" report on the Guangdong case.
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Meningitis, meningococcal - Africa: meningitis belt |
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Among countries reporting cases to the MDSC, Burkina Faso, the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of the Congo have been reporting outbreaks since the beginning of the season. Other countries reporting meningitis activity without reaching the epidemic threshold at district level include Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Mali, Niger, Nigeria and Togo |
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Hepatitis B |
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Of the 2 billion people who have been infected with the hepatitis B virus (HBV), more than 350 million have chronic (lifelong) infections. These chronically infected persons are at high risk of death from cirrhosis of the liver and liver cancer, diseases that kill about one million persons each year. Although the vaccine will not cure chronic hepatitis, it is 95% effective in preventing chronic infections from developing, and is the first vaccine against a major human cancer. In 1991, the World Health Organization (WHO) called for all children to receive the hepatitis B vaccine |
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Paraguay declares state of emergency after 1st yellow fever death |
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The dead man was a 24-year-old from the central Paraguayan department
of San Pedro, who died in Asuncion's Clinicas Hospital from renal and
liver failure. Adolfo Galeano, an epidemiologist and the hospital's
director, said the young man had fallen ill after hunting for monkeys
with a group of friends. Galeano told a Tuesday [5 Feb 2008] press
conference that the hospital had studied a biopsy and performed an
autopsy to confirm the result.
During the same press conference, the nation's Health Minister, Oscar
Martinez, said that there were 5 confirmed yellow fever cases in the
nation. The last yellow fever death in Paraguay was in 1904 and the
last confirmed cases of infection were in 1974.
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Fatal case of human rabies (Duvenhage virus) from a bat in Kenya |
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On 24 Oct 2007, at the start of a 2-week holiday trip through Kenya,
a small bat had flown against her face. While she was hitting away
the animal, it made 2 bleeding scratches on the right side of her
nose. The incident took place in a camping site between Nairobi and
Mombasa, at dusk, while she was brushing her teeth. The wound was
washed with soap and cleaned with an alcohol solution. The warden of
the campsite and medical personnel of the neighbouring health centre
were not aware of the existence of rabies in bats in the area and no
further action was recommended. The woman and her husband then
continued the holiday trip.Despite
all efforts, the patient died on 8 Dec 2007, 23 days after the onset
of illness.
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Cholera outbreaks in Laos and Africa |
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Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2008 |
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New vaccination requirements for travelers to Bolivia |
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If a physician decides that for health reasons, a person cannot receive a yellow fever vaccine, a medical waiver may be issued. A medical waiver includes the completed medical waiver section of the ICVP and a letter from the physician. The physician’s letter must be translated into Spanish. The traveler must submit both the ICVP and the translation of the letter to the Bolivian Immigration Authorities.
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AVIAN INFLUENZA, HUMAN PAKISTAN, VIET NAM, EGYPT |
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Two Egyptians have tested positive for the deadly H5N1 bird flu
virus, a day after an Egyptian woman died of the disease, Egypt's
health ministry said on ThursdayA 4-year-old boy in Viet Nam has died of bird flu, becoming the
country's 5th reported victim of the H5N1 viral strain this year, a
health ministry official said today. "He tested positive for H5N1
virus late last week," health ministry administrative office director
Tran Hung told AFP. "It is the 1st human case of H5N1 in about 4
months in Vietnam."The 1st case of human infection with H5N1 avian influenza has been
confirmed in Pakistan. |
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Dengue carrying mosquito crosses Alps: Swiss officials |
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The Swiss health ministry plans to make chikungunya, which was described for the first time in Tanzania in 1952, a mandatory reportable disease from next year.
The mosquito is also present in southern France and parts of Spain, as well as the United States, but the outbreak of chikungunya in Italy is thought to have been the first outside the tropics.
Chikungunya gets its name from a Swahili word meaning "that which bends up" because of the arthritic-type symptoms that leave victims stooped.
Also causing fever, headaches and muscle pain, it has traditionally been present in eastern Africa, southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent. Most patients eventually recover.
Dengue fever, another disease of tropical origin, is a flu-like illness which is especially dangerous in children and the elderly, who have little resistance and often die of internal bleeding.
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Cholera outbreaks -Thailand |
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. Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit and Dr
Wanchai Sattayawuthipong of the Phuket Provincial Health Office held
a conference call yesterday [5 Nov 2007] with Prime Minister Surayud
Chulanont and Dr Prachit Prarachit, permanent secretary of the
Ministry of Public Health, to discuss the cholera situation in Phuket.
Dr Prachit said that between 1 Jan and 31 Oct 2007, there were 600
cases of cholera spread across 36 provinces. All provinces have been
put on alert to help control the severe diarrheal disease, which is
caused by ingesting contaminated food or water.
Dr Prachit said, "Khon Kaen (221 cases) and Phuket are the areas with
the most reported instances of cholera, although the disease is now
under control. The Ministry of Public Health has worked in each of
the provinces to raise awareness of the disease by asking people to
avoid eating raw food and meat for now."
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Vietnam -Cholera outbreaks |
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The state-run newspaper Hanoi Moi (New Hanoi)
quoted Health Minister Nguyen Quoc Trieu as saying the "cholera
bacterium is emerging in 8 out of 11 infected localities."
Officials in Ha Tay province were quoted by the online edition of
Saigon Giai Phong (Liberation Saigon) as saying 2 people aged 72 and
87 had died among 185 infections in the province, about 60 km (35 mi)
southwest of Hanoi. 2 other people had died of suspected diarrhea in
Nghe An province, said Dan Tri (People's Knowledge) online news.
The Health Ministry said 15 percent of the nearly 800 cases reported
so far had tested positive for the cholera bacterium.
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Cholera in Iraq |
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The disease is continuing to spread across Iraq and dissemination to as yet unaffected areas remains highly possible. Epidemiological curves are still rising in the provinces from which the majority of laboratory-confirmed cases have originated, Kirkuk (2309) and Sulaymaniah (870). An increasing number of cases of acute watery diarrhoea has also been reported in Diala, a province neighbouring Baghdad. Although V. cholerae has not yet been laboratory confirmed, the clinical symptoms indicate the presence of cholera. The numbers of cases are remaining stable in Basra, Baghdad, Dahuk, Mosul and Tikrit. However, a case has now been confirmed in Wasit, a province that has previously been unaffected by the outbreak |
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Avian influenza – situation in Indonesia |
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Of the 109 cases confirmed to date in Indonesia, 88 have been fatal.
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'Billions without clean water' |
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It says access to water should be seen as a basic human right as well as a key factor in the fight against diseases such as typhoid and cholera.
UN water expert Brian Appleton says 5,000 children die needlessly every day from waterborne illnesses:
"That's equivalent to 12 full jumbo jets crashing every day," he says.
Report recommends
More than doubling annual investment in water supply to $180bn, with focus on sustainable use of water
Letting private sector take the lead in providing water supplies
Scrapping water subsidies that encourage waste
Setting up Water Innovation Fund to foster smart ideas for water technology.
"The UN is calling on governments to concentrate on community-based initiatives, which it says are more cost-effective and efficient than hi-tech centralised water-supply policies.
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Cholera, diarrhea & dysentery update 2007 |
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Cholera is caused by poor sanitation, sewerage treatment and poor quality drinking water |
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Deadly Ebola resurfaces in Congo |
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More than 100 people have died and many more have fallen sick in a recent fever epidemic in central DR Congo.
Scientists say some deaths could have been from a bacterium called Shigella.
Three months ago, people started falling sick from a mystery virus in several villages around Kananga, the capital of West Kasai region.
Emergency response teams are now being sent to DR Congo to try to contain the outbreak.
Ebola is untreatable and almost always fatal.
IIt is thought to be transmitted through the consumption of infected bush meat and can also be spread by contact with the blood secretions of infected people.
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MEASLES - UNITED KINGDOM : ALERT |
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Parents have been urged to give their children the MMR [measles,
mumps, rubella] vaccine as it was revealed Britain is in the middle
of the worst measles outbreak for 20 years. The unprecedented
warning from the Health Protection Agency [HPA] came as the number of
children suffering from the disease trebled over the last 11
weeks. Experts fear even more will be infected as the autumn school
term begins.
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CHIKUNGUNYA - ITALY |
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The laboratory of the Istituto Superiore di Sanit E0-ISS (Superior
Institute of Health), the leading technical and scientific public
body of the Italian National Health Service, has confirmed that the
blood samples, taken from patients in the small city of Castiglione
(province in Ravenna, Italy), have resulted positive for the
mosquito-borne chikungunya fever [virus
Meanwhile other clinical cases are emerging in neighboring places.
Castiglione is a few kilometers south south-east of Ravenna, in
Emilia Romagna Region, Italy |
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Doctors urge back-to-school measles jabs |
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Parents should think about adding the MMR vaccine to their back to school ’to do’ list," said Dr Ramsay, who stressed that children must receive the full course of the vaccine. Between 5 and 10 per cent of children who just receive one dose rather than two are still vulnerable to infection. Around 16 per cent of children who are given the first dose do not turn up to receive the second.
The HPA said it was difficult to explain why there has been such an increase in cases in recent weeks, with infections occurring among unvaccinated school-age children across all social groups, not just among communities where vaccination rates are typically low. A spokeswoman said small outbreaks had occurred in primary schools and among familes who had travelled abroad.
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Cholera death toll in India rises |
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The outbreak has affected Rayagada, Koraput and Kalahandi districts where more than 2,000 people have been admitted to hospitals, officials say.
Doctors say contaminated food and water are to blame for the epidemic.
Unofficial sources say the death toll could be higher than 200
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Fresh rain worsens S Asia floods |
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In Bangladesh, more than 50,000 people have fallen sick after eating stale food or drinking contaminated water.
About 28m people have been affected by floods in India, Bangladesh and Nepal.
The number of those killed varies widely from 500 to 3,000.
Landslide toll
In the worst affected Indian state of Bihar, officials say at least 300 people have died from the floods.
Rain water has destroyed crops worth millions of dollars and left hundreds of thousands homeless, they say
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Floods wreak havoc and displace tens of millions worldwide |
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In South Asia, an estimated 35 million people have been affected while a staggering 200 million people have been affected by floods in China. In all of these countries, volunteers and staff from the Red Cross Red Crescent are working to assist vulnerable communities by distributing basic relief goods, helping people reach safer ground and providing first aid to those in need. The International Federation is also supporting relief efforts in flood-affected areas |
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West Nile Virus Spreads Quickly, Killing California Woman |
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The disease, which can be life-threatening to those with compromised immune systems, causes symptoms including fever, rash and headache and can cause meningitis, blindness, paralysis or encephalitis, according to the CDC.
In Denver, with the mosquitoe population booming, Colorado health officials issued a warning that this year the number of cases could increase. In 2003, West Nile Virus was diagnosed in nearly 2,900 people and killed 63. This year, a wet spring and summer, mixed with hot weather, increase the mostquitoes and cause the virus to develop and spread more quickly.
Since the best way to attack the virus is to avoid getting bitten by infected mosquitoes, here are some tips to stay safe:
Drain all standing water on your property
Wear loose-fitting clothing that covers arms and legs
Avoid being outside at dawn or dusk when mosquitoes are most active
Use deet insect repellant
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Worst flu in Australia for years |
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In the past week, 111 people sought treatment for flu at hospital emergency departments across the state, more than double the number for the same period last year. Thousands more each week are seeking relief from their GPs.
Experts are unsure why this season's flu is so severe. "There is a significant amount of influenza activity and an increase in the number of cases presenting to emergency and in laboratories this year," said Dr Dominic Dwyer, a medical virologist from Westmead Hospital. "It has been the worst we've had in several years."
Dr Dwyer said it was difficult to know why so
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Travellers warned of Malaysia disease outbreak |
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"Dengue fever is prevalent throughout Malaysia, including in major urban areas such as Kuala Lumpur," the advice said.
"There is currently an outbreak of dengue fever and it is strongly recommended that you take precautions against being bitten by mosquitoes."
It causes a fever lasting three to five days, then an apparent partial recovery before symptoms including muscle pain, in particular backache, vomiting, diarrhoea and rash begin a day or two later.
Many people can carry the disease without showing symptoms.
But a severe complication, Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever, that occurs mainly in children can be fatal.
The outbreak has reportedly claimed dozens of lives in Malaysia.
The health department recommends wearing mosquito repellents and covering up to avoid being bitten by a mosquito and contracting the disease.
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Polio alert hits Melbourne, Australia |
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The man, who is in isolation in Box Hill Hospital, was on Thai Airlines flight TG999 from Bangkok on July 2 and health authorities are trying to contact all 249 passengers on the flightHome » National » Article
A national health alert was tonight issued after the first case of polio was detected in Australia for 21 years.
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Med travel warning due to killer heatwave |
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Temperatures have soared to 115F (44C) in Athens and central Greece, killing five people in the past two days.
The heatwave is straddling a huge swathe of southeast Europe, including several islands in the Mediterranean. One person died of heatstroke in Crete on Monday, and several people, including tourists, required hospital treatment yesterday.
On Sicily, three elderly people died yesterday, taking the nationwide death toll in the current heatwave to six.Temperatures in the southern Italian city of Bari reached 113F, while the Sicilian capital of Palermo hit 108F.
Dozens of fires have broken out in southern Italy and firefighters have dropped tanks of water from aircraft to control more than 30 forest fires.
In total, at least 46 people have died in the heatwave stretching across Greece, Italy, the Balkans, Turkey, and Romania. Four people have died in Greece, six in Italy, three in Albania and at least four in Bosnia, Croatia and Turkey.
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The cervical cancer vaccine Gardasil |
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The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) examined the evidence surrounding the vaccines before concluding that 12-and 13-year-old girls should all be immunised.
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2007 Measles and Mumps Outbreaks |
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Worldwide, more than 20 million people get sick with measles each year, causing 345,000 deaths. Measles cases occur in all regions of the world: Southeast Asia (14 million cases), Africa (3.5 million cases), Eastern Mediterranean (2 million cases), Western Pacific (1 million cases), Europe (170,000 cases) and the Americas (<1000 cases). Mumps is endemic in all regions of the world, including in many developed countries.
People who have received 2 doses of live measles or mumps containing vaccine are generally considered immune to measles and mumps.
Persons may be also considered immune to measles and mumps if they have documented diagnosis by a physician, laboratory evidence of immunity, or were born before 1957.
Adolescents and adults who cannot be considered immune based on the above mentioned criteria should receive two doses of MMR vaccine separated by at least 28 days.
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Avian influenza - situation in Egypt |
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Of the 34 cases confirmed to date in Egypt, 14 have been fatal.
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Malaria in Jamaica |
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Of these reported cases, 264 have occurred in Kingston, 12 in St Catherine, 3 in St Thomas and 1 in Clarendon. There have been no reported deaths due to malaria |
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Norovirus outbreak hits Queen Elizabeth 2 world cruise |
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The Cunard Line ship is on a 106-night world cruise that included a stop in
ForMembers of the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
will board the ship on Fri 19 Jan 2007 in Acapulco, Mexico. So far, 263
passengers and 27 crew members have shown signs of norovirus infection, a
common ailment that causes vomiting and diarrhea for 48 to 72 hours.
Fortt Lauderdale last week. After a dockside meeting with Queen Mary 2, the
2 ships left Port Everglades on 10 Jan 2007 on separate itineraries.
Cunard spokesman Brian O'Connor said the norovirus outbreak began before
the ship reached Fort Lauderdale on its trans-Atlantic trip to New York.
Cases began declining after it left New York. Four passengers were still
sick on Thu 18 Jan 2007, he said. O'Connor said Cunard has no plans to
interrupt the QE2 world cruise for disinfection, although special cleaning
rules have been followed since the outbreak began |
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Avian flu UK |
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What is bird flu?
Like humans and other species, birds are susceptible to flu.
There are many types of bird, or avian, flu.
The most contagious strains, which are usually fatal in birds, are H5 and H7.
There are nine different types of H5. The nine all take different forms - some are highly pathogenic, while some are pretty harmless.
The type currently causing concern is the "highly pathogenic" Asian strain of the H5N1 virus.
Scientists have discovered four different subtypes of H5N1, and there could well be more. However, all are deadly to birds, and can cause disease - and death - in humans
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12 DECEMBER 2006 | LONDON/GENEVA -- |
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Cervical cancer is the second most common type of cancer among women, with deaths projected to rise by almost 25 per cent over the next 10 years, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). In 2005 there were more than 500 000 new cases of cervical cancer, of which over 90 per cent were in developing countries. Left untreated, invasive cervical cancer is almost always fatal.
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Avian influenza in Egypt |
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. While being transferred and cared for at the country's designated avian influenza hospital, a 30 year-old female, a 15 year-old girl and a 26 year-old male died. The most recent death occurred on 27 December. The cases reportedly had contact with sick poultry (ducks |
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Chinese fowl still imported during bird flu resurgence |
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. Lang Son provincial authorities also said they confiscated nearly 2 tons of
fowl transported from China on 3 occasions on Tuesday [2 Jan 2007] alone.in Quang Ninh province, also in the north, as the New Year was approaching
last Thursday and Friday [28-29 Dec 2006], local authorities confiscated
1.2 tons, said Nguyen Dang Truong, head of the province's market management.
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RIFT VALLEY FEVER Kenya |
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The area Provincial Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Ahmed Omar, on Tuesday [2 Jan
2007] told the press that one person died at Garissa Provincial General Hospital this morning [Tue 2 Jan 2007] while the other one died at Hagarbul
in Garissa District.
Dr. Omar said 47 new cases of the disease have also been recorded in the 3
districts of Garissa, Wajir and Ijara, bringing the total number of cases
to 152 up from 105.
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MALARIA - COSTA RICA (LIMON |
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Authorities have observed high-risk cases of this strain of malaria, which is rare and
has not been seen in Costa Rica in 10 years. The ministry is advising
citizens to take immediate and constant measures to keep it from spreading,
including using mosquito nets |
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Malaria in Nepal |
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The outbreak, which was initially thought to be dengue fever, has affected the ten Village Development Corporations (VDCs) of the district. Approximately 1,200 people have been diagnosed with malaria in four of the VDCs, with about half testing positive for Plasmodium falciparum species, and the remainder for P. vivax. A lack of medical facilities in the area has resulted in many patients making use of medicines prescribed by fake doctors.
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Flu vaccines now available - £20 |
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138,000 Thais fall sick because of floods |
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The ministry also warned people to avoid walking through floodwater, which often hosts germs and leeches.
"Please travel around by boats, if possible. If not, please dress carefully! Wear underpants and long pants. Also cover the lower part of your pants with plastic bags and tie tightly to ensure that no leech can climb in," the ministry's permanent secretary Prat Boonyawongvirot said.
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China: 1735 deaths during period Jan-Aug 2006 |
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The cases were found in 21 provinces, autonomous regions, and
municipalities across China including Guizhou, Guangxi, Hunan, Guangdong,
and Hubei.
The ministry said that China ranks second in the world after India in terms
of the number of rabies cases. Every year more than 50 000 people around
the world die of the disease, with most of them living in developing countries.
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Polio - India |
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To worsen the matter, many of these cases are from areas that were free of
the virus.
Uttar Pradesh alone has reported 312 cases, the highest of all the states
and World Health Organization officials have described it as an 'exporter'
of the disease. Bihar is in the 2nd position with 20 cases. Polio has also
resulted in 23 deaths, most of them from Uttar Pradesh.
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Flu 2006 |
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Each year 10 -20% of the population may become ill with influenza, resulting in increased sick leave and lost productivity. Influenza in the work place can reduce morale and productivity as well as compromising safety and efficiency
Each healthy individual who gets the flu is likely to have:
o 5 – 6 days restricted activity
o At least 3 days absence from work or study
o Additional visits to the doctor
o 0.4 days absence looking after other people with the flu
Being vaccinated is the best chance we have of not catching the flu – and not passing it on. In our daily lives it is very difficult to avoid all risk of exposure to an infection as common as influenza that is spread by airborne droplets. While no vaccination is 100% effective having a flu shot is the best protection available for your employees. Typically, flu vaccines prevent influenza in 70 -90% of those vaccinated.
Due to the late delivery the demand at that time is likely to ver |
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Dengue |
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WHO describes dengue fever as a severe, flu-like illness that
affects infants, young children, and adults, but seldom causes death.
The clinical features of dengue fever vary according to the age of
the patient. Infants and young children may have a non-specific
febrile illness with rash (although some infants and very young
children may develop shock syndrome, with sudden loss of circulating
fluid volume, and die).
Older children and adults may have either a
mild febrile syndrome or the classical incapacitating disease, with
abrupt onset and high fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes,
muscle and joint pains, and rash.
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CHIKUNGUNYA - INDIAN OCEAN UPDATE SPREAD TO UK |
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More than 115 travelers have shown symptoms of the illness -- which
causes a high fever, headache, nausea, vomiting and muscle and joint
pain -- so far this year [2006], compared to an average of about 6
cases annually.
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ANGIOSTRONGYLUS MENINGITIS - CHINA (02) |
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. But the bureau warned people
not to eat raw or half-cooked snails and gave a phone number, 65066969, for
the public to report anyone improperly cooked snails.
Guo Zixia, an official with the Beijing municipal office of health
inspection, said it would impose administrative punishment on Shuguo Yanyi
Restaurant for improperly cooking the Amazonian snails, which caused the
outbreak.
The office on Sunday issued an urgent notice prohibiting the sale of raw or
half-cooked freshwater snails in the city's restaurants. The office also
required restaurants to boil snails thoroughly before serving them to
customers. It then inspected about 2000 restaurants, although it did not
find any selling raw or half-cooked snails.
Yin Quanxi, an official with the office, was quoted by the Beijing Daily
Messenger as saying thoroughly boiled snails were safe to eat.
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Indonesia -Avian flu |
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The case is a 6-year-old female from Bekasi, West Java Province. She developed symptoms on 6 August and was hospitalized on 11 August. She remains hospitalized but is recovering. The source of her infection is currently under investigation.
Of the 60 cases confirmed to date in Indonesia, 46 have been fatal.
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AVIAN AND PANDEMIC INFLUENZA |
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The risk of avian flu to British nationals visiting countries affected by avian flu is believed to be very low. There is no reason not to travel to these countries The risk of avian flu to British nationals living overseas in countries affected by avian flu is also currently very low; but they should take personal responsibility for their own safety in the event of a future pandemic, including considering their access to adequate healthcare
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dengue update 2006 |
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As of week 14 of 2006, 878 cases of classic dengue and 2 cases of
dengue hemorrhagic fever have been notified in Bolivia
An outbreak of dengue fever is occurring in Cambodia's Kompong
Chhnang province, about 90 km north of the capital, with more than 30
people sickened
Figures from January to mid-April show 4971 Thais
nationwide have been infected with the disease and that 8 reportedly
died, 3 in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat, 2 in Bangkok
and one each in Phichit, Nakhon Nayok, and Pattani
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Avian influenza – situation in Egypt |
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The Ministry of Health in Egypt has informed WHO of the country’s fourth death from H5N1 avian influenza. The death occurred in a previously announced patient, an 18-year-old girl from the northern governorate of Minufiyah. She developed symptoms on 5 April and died on 14 April.
The Ministry of Health regards cases as confirmed when positive results are obtained in two laboratories: the country’s national public health laboratory and the Cairo-based US Naval Medical Research Unit 3 (NAMRU-3). Test results on the country’s initial cases have been fully validated by a WHO collaborating laboratory in the United Kingdom. All cases confirmed by the Ministry of Health are now listed in the WHO cumulative table of laboratory-confirmed cases.
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Avian influenza – situation in China – update |
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The case occurred in a 21-year-old male migrant worker employed in Wuhan City, Hubei Province. He developed symptoms on 1 April. He is presently hospitalized in critical condition.
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MUMPS - USA (NEBRASKA, IOWA) |
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Meghan Harris M.P.H., of the Iowa Department of Public Health, said
that the latest state affected by mumps is Missouri, which has reported a
single case. The tally, which was released here today [5 Apr 2006], has
increased by 55 cases since Fri 31 Mar 2006. Harris said she expects the
numbers to be higher when the next scheduled update is issued Thu 6 Apr 2006.
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Advice on use of oseltamivir |
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See report |
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Meningococcal disease in the African Meningitis Belt, epidemic season 2006 |
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In these affected countries (see table below) a total of 5719 suspected cases, including 580 deaths, have been reported to WHO. Cases have occurred in two foci, one in West Africa, affecting Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Mali and Niger, and characterized by the predominance of Neisseria meningitidis (Nm) serogroup A. Outbreaks in the second epidemic foci, in eastern Africa, concern Kenya, Sudan and Uganda and are mainly caused by Neisseria meningitidis (Nm) serogroup W135.
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Chikungunya and Dengue in the south west Indian Ocean |
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printable version
Chikungunya and Dengue in the south west Indian Ocean
17 March 2006
Chikungunya in La Réunion (France), Mayotte, Maurice, Seychelles and India
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Meningitis in West Africa |
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Worst hit has been Burkina Faso, where 246 people have died,
according to the medical aid group Medecins Sans Frontieres, and over
2000 more have fallen ill from the meningitis bacterium (_Neisseria
meningitidis_), which attacks the brain and spinal chord.
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Meningitis in India |
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While the government is trying to combat its spread through
antibiotics, medicines are not reaching affected areas quickly enough.
The meningococcus spreads through contact. |
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Chikungunya virus in Madagascar |
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Since 2005, chikungunya fever has spread among Indian Ocean islands,
beginning in Comoros and affecting Reunion, Mauritius and the
Seychelles. Chikungunya ('that which bends up' in Kiswahili) is
believed to have originated in Tanzania |
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AVIAN AND PANDEMIC INFLUENZA: FACTSHEET FOR BRITISH NATIONALS TRAVELLING OR RESIDENT OVERSEAS |
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The risk of avian flu to British nationals living overseas in countries affected by avian flu is also currently very low; but they should take personal responsibility for their own safety in the event of a future pandemic, including considering their access to adequate healthcare
All those visiting or living in countries affected by avian flu should follow sensible precaution |
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Fifty cases of scarlet fever were reported from Wiltshire in January and February 2006. |
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Scarlet fever results from infection with a beta-haemolytic streptococcus (usually group A) which produces erythrogenic toxin. The disease is characterised by sore throat, a skin rash which does not normally involve the face, and flushing of the cheeks, pallor around the mouth, and high fever. Patients with severe infections often have nausea and vomiting. The incubation period is short, usually between 1 and 3 days. If left untreated, the infectious period ranges between 10 and 21 days, but is considerably shorter with adequate penicillin treatment (3).
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Chikungunya in Mauritius, Seychelles, Mayotte (France) and La Reunion island (France) - update |
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An extensive public health education campaign using mass media and community associations to sensitize the population about protective measures. Epidemiological surveillance and vectoral surveillance is also being reinforced.
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Cholera in Sudan |
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In less than 2 weeks, 1433 cases have been reported and the 1st case has been confirmed as cholera by WHO |
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Yellow fever in Bolivia |
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For all of 2005, Bolivia listed 57 notified suspected cases of YF, with 16
confirmed & 7 deaths |
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Bird flu maintained its relentless march across the globe on Tuesday [21 Feb |
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At least 15 nations have reported outbreaks in birds this month, an indication
that the virus is spreading faster |
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Avian influenza – situation in Indonesia |
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The two women resided in different sub-districts of West Java Province.
The newly confirmed cases bring the total in Indonesia to 25. Of these, 18 were fatal.
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Avian influenza confirmed in birds in Nigeria 8 February 2006 |
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WHO stresses that H5NI is a risk to people who are in direct contact with infected birds, and has advice on how people can protect themselves.
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MEXICO |
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11/01/06 Dengue fever- Health Services in Oaxaca state have reported 1076 cases of dengue fever in 2005; 910 were classic dengue and 166 were dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF). Cases were reported from Tehuantepec Isthmus (536), Tuxtepec (263), coastal region (136), central valleys (78), Mixteca (40) and highlands (23).(Via ProMED-Mail 2006 #014)
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Avian influenza – situation in Iraq |
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The girl’s 39-year-old uncle, who cared for her during her illness, developed symptoms on 24 January and died of a severe respiratory disease on 27 January |
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Avian influenza – situation in China |
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The case occurred in a 29-year-old woman from Chengdu City in the south-central province of Sichuan. She developed fever on 12 January and was hospitalized with symptoms of pneumonia. Authorities say her condition deteriorated rapidly, and she died on 23 January.
Information provided to WHO indicates that she was self-employed in a shop selling dry goods. No information on possible exposure to diseased birds as the source of her infection is presently available, but an investigation is under way. Close contacts have been placed under medical observation.
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North Korea - human case rumored,Indonesia - death of suspected case (chicken vendor) |
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North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il has alerted his regime to fight bird flu
after at least one person was infected with the virus in Pyongyang in
December 2005, a human rights activist here said.
An Indonesian chicken seller whom local tests showed had been infected with
H5N1 avian influenza virus has died, a hospital official said on Thu 26 Jan
2006. If confirmed by outside laboratories recognised by the World Health
Organisation (WHO), the case would take total known deaths in Indonesia
from avian flu to 15.
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Gambia |
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The main holiday season in the Gambia is during the United Kingdom winter period between November and April, and further cases have subsequently been reported. Twenty-seven cases have been reported to the Health Protection Agency Malaria Reference Laboratory with dates of diagnosis between 10 October 2005 and 12 January 2006, compared to eight cases and one death reported prior to the holiday season (January to August 2005).
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Avian influenza – situation in Turkey |
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The situation in birds continues to evolve, with several new outbreaks under investigation in new parts of the country. All evidence to date indicates that patients have acquired their infections following close contact with diseased birds.
Some 100,000 treatment courses of oseltamivir (Tamiflu) arrived in Turkey Friday evening. This supply, which is being used for both the treatment of patients and prophylaxis of persons at risk, is considered by Turkish health officials to be adequate for responding to the current situation. WHO has organized additional support for laboratory diagnostic work, and this will be arriving within the next day or two.
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Measles Nosocomial - Kenya (Nairobi) |
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A total of 81 cases of measles have now been confirmed in Nairobi
since the 1st case was reported in a refugee from the Somalian
community in the Eastleigh division of Nairobi in October [2005]. One
case of measles has also been confirmed in Turkana District.
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Avian influenza – situation in China |
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The Ministry of Health of China has confirmed an additional case of human infection on the mainland with the H5N1 avian influenza virus. The case is a 41-year-old woman from the south-eastern province of Fujian. She developed symptoms of fever followed by pneumonia on 6 December, and was admitted to hospital two days later. The patient died on 21 December. |
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GAMBIA - Malaria (alert) |
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The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has issued a warning to travellers to malarious areas. This follows two deaths and four other cases of falciparum malaria in travellers returning from The Gambia who did not take appropriate anti-malarial prophylaxis. The Gambia is popular with UK travellers, particularly during winter months and travellers need to be aware that the area is highly malarious. |
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Avian Influenza in Asia |
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Since January 2004, over 60 human deaths in Asia have been confirmed as resulting from Avian Influenza. Vietnam, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, South Korea, North Korea, Pakistan, Thailand, Mongolia, Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkey, Romania and Croatia have all suffered confirmed outbreaks in poultry or wild birds. Most cases of human infection are believed to have resulted from direct contact with infected poultry; so far human to human transmission has occurred only extremely rarely, and has not been sustained. However, medical experts warn that a virus with the capacity to be transmitted from person to person, through mutation of the Avian Influenza virus is a distinct possibility and could lead to a global pandemic. |
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