Plague Watch 2010 - ?

UK 2/10/11
Source: hisz.rsoe.hu...

Government vets have started an investigation after five swans were found dead in Co Down. A mystery disease is one of the lines of investigation |being pursued by scientists |after the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) revealed the discovery was the second of its kind to be probed. In the previous case lesions were discovered, suggesting some sort of bacterial infection. However DARD insists there is no evidence to suggest the deaths are part of a rising trend. The five mute swans were found dead on private land in Killyleagh and it is understood another two birds have fallen ill. The birds were removed so post-mortem examinations could be carried out.

New Zealand 2/10/11
Source: hisz.rsoe.hu...

Stings from microscopic jellyfish are plaguing swimmers at popular beaches on Auckland's North Shore. A health warning has been issued for Takapuna, Cheltenham, Narrow Neck and Red Beach after reports of people developing itchy and painful red rashes after swimming. The rashes were very likely caused by microscopic jellyfish, a statement from Auckland Regional Public Health Service said. It said the jellyfish, which are too small to be seen, get caught inside togs and sting covered skin areas once the swimmer gets out of the water. Medical Officer of Health Dr Simon Baker said the problem was likely to spread throughout the Hauraki Gulf amid warm summer weather. "The only sure-fire way of avoiding this rash is not to swim at affected beaches." Tactics for minimising the risk of jellyfish stings include not wearing baggy clothes in the water, removing togs and showering after swimming, said Dr Baker. If swimmers get a rash, cool clothing and calamine lotion may help, he said. "We know this is the time of year that people want to be at the beach. We just want people to have the information they need to make choices for their own and their families' good health." Little is known about the habits of microscopic jellyfish. Until 2008 the rash associated with their sting was thought to be caused by sea lice. However, sea lice tend to bite exposed areas of skin, whereas the jellyfish normally sting beneath togs.

India 2/10/11
Source: hisz.rsoe.hu...

A 22-year-old youth from Jodhpur who is suffering from viral encephalitis has been brought to a city hospital. Doctors said his condition is critical and samples of his blood have been sent to the National Institute of Virology [NIV], Pune. Doctors at the Sterling Hospital said this is the 4th case of viral encephalitis from Jodhpur, Rajasthan, in the hospital. The youth is suffering from high fever, vomiting, and head ache, and also fell unconscious. The test carried out on the cerebral spinal fluid shows inflammation in the brain due to the virus [infection]. There is a possibility of a viral outbreak in the district of Rajasthan. "We have collected his samples and have sent them to NIV to find out which virus is affecting him," said infectious diseases consultant Dr Atul Patel. He said that ascertaining the kind of virus is important as a viral encephalitis outbreak in Bangladesh has claimed 29 lives. Earlier, there were reports of viral encephalitis fever in Chhota Udepur [Gujarat state], which claimed 2 lives. Neurophysician Dr Sudhir Shah said he has seen 4-5 cases from the same area in the past and had also spoken to local physicians about the possibility of a viral outbreak. "A young girl with viral allergy has also been taken to a hospital and earlier too, there were cases of viral encephalitis," said Dr Shah.

Wisconsin 2/10/11
Source: hisz.rsoe.hu...

Passengers on board Southwest flight 730 from Tampa to Milwaukee describe a scary scene while flying home from Florida. Some passengers couldn't breathe, others had flu like symptoms. There was one nurse on board who told Today's TMJ4 that she tried to help mid-flight. "The stewardess came on and asked was there a nurse or a doctor on the plane. And I'm a nurse, so I raised my hand," Terry Zeuske said. Zeuske didn't have any medical tools or medicine, but did what she could to help after several people got sick mid flight. She said one was: "Blue around the lips; his fingertips were blue. He said he was having trouble breathing. So we got oxygen and put that on him," Zeuske said. "And while I was doing that, they wanted me to go to someone else who was kind of having the same symptoms." Elizabeth Orr-Bell wore a surgical mask on the plane to stay safe. She and a group of friends went on a cruise from Tampa to Cozumel, Mexico. One of her friends got very sick after spending time on the beach in Cozumel. "He was running a high fever and was dehydrated. So we took him down to the ship doctor; they ran some tests on him, gave him some antibiotics, and once we boarded the plane, he wasn't breathing too well," Orr-Bell said. Ambulances, the haz-mat team, and the Milwaukee Health Department were waiting when the plane landed. Two of the sickest passengers, including Orr-Bell's friend, were taken by ambulance to the hospital. The other passengers were quarantined in the International Arrivals Terminal while health officials investigated. Southwest said the plane was sterilized and is back in use.

Phillipines 2/10/11
Source: hisz.rsoe.hu...

Twenty cases of typhoid fever have been recorded in Sitio Cabal-asan in Barangay Arpili, Balamban, Cebu as of Sunday. Officials from the Department of Health (DOH) and Integrated Provincial Health Office have visited the mountain village and distributed water disinfectant for residents. The DOH Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit met with villagers to tell them of their situation. Health official Renan Cimafranca said that they conducted the water source in the area tested positive for the typhoid fever bacteria. A blood test was also conducted on 6 residents who showed typhoid fever symptoms. Five of them tested positive. Cimafranca said that based on their investigation, only 9 of the 200 residents of the village have toilets. He said that this contributed to typhoid fever outbreak. The constant rain carries human waste toward villagers’ source of water. Cimafranca urged residents to first boil their water and utensils before using them. Chlorination of the water source was also advised. Cimafranca said the best way to prevent the incident from happening again is for the village to have a better water system. Barangay Captain Emong Paulin said the barangay council has yet to approve a P50,000 project to make sure that the water supplied to houses is safe for drinking.

Salmonella outbreak reported at Maine facility
Source: www.necn.com...

CAMDEN, Maine (AP) — Maine health officials say one person has died following a salmonella outbreak at a retirement and assisted-living facility in Camden. Dr. Stephen Sears, acting director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said seven cases of salmonella have been identified among residents at the Quarry Hill extended-care community. A spokesman for Pen Bay Health Care, the parent organization of Quarry Hill, told the Bangor Daily News the outbreak was noticed Jan. 24 when several residents became ill with symptoms including diarrhea, cramps, headache, fever and vomiting. One person was hospitalized and another person, whose name was not released, died Feb. 2. Sears said salmonella is usually food-borne, but epidemiologists have not been able to trace the cause of the outbreak.

Measles concern in central Pa.
Source: www.yorkdispatch.com...

After five cases of measles were recently confirmed in Perry County, the state's Department of Health advised surrounding counties to be aware of the outbreak. There have not been any confirmed cases in York, said spokeswoman Holli Senior of the state's Health Department. But that doesn't mean a local college didn't take action. York College students were notified via e-mail Wednesday afternoon of a "measles outbreak in our local area."

Norovirus Outbreak Reported At Cincinnati School
Source: www.wlwt.com...

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that norovirus spreads from person to person, through contaminated food or water, and by touching contaminated surfaces. The Health Department said the school is doing everything it can to make sure surfaces inside the school and school buses are scrubbed down to stop the virus' spread. "The problem is even after the symptoms are gone, the shed of the virus continues up to 30 days," said Dr. Marilyn Crumpton with the Health Department.

N.Korea confirms foot-and-mouth outbreak
Source: www.straitstimes.com...

SEOUL - NORTH Korea confirmed on Thursday it has been hit by an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, saying thousands of animals had died. The livestock disease broke out in the capital Pyongyang late last year and has spread to eight provinces since then, the state news agency said. It said the capital and North Hwanghae and Kangwon provinces had been worst affected, with about 10,000 cows and pigs infected and thousands of them dying. The report, quoted by the South's Yonhap news agency, said emergency quarantine orders have been issued across the country.

New plan to tackle spur-throated locusts outbreak
Source: www.abc.net.au...

The New South Wales government has endorsed a plan to battle the state's largest outbreak of spur-throated locusts in forty years. The large species which is normally found in Queensland has caused widespread damage to pasture, cotton, corn, citrus, legumes and sorghum across the state's west. Affected areas include Nyngan, Warren, Bourke, Narromine and Collarenebri. The Primary Industries Minister, Steve Whan, says insecticide is being made available to farmers to try to control the nymphs on the ground.

Outbreak of scarlet fever and measles in North Vietnam
Source: www.saigon-gpdaily.com.vn...

There is great public concern at the outbreak of scarlet fever and measles in Hanoi and the Northern provinces. Not only children but also adults are susceptible to the infectious virus. Patients are already crowding the infection division of the National Tropical Disease Centre in Hanoi. According to the deputy director of the hospital, Nguyen Hong Ha, scarlet fever has occurred during the same time in previous years and children have been most vulnerable to the disease. This year however, the fever has prolonged for one month and showed no signs of abating.

Hospital closes wards to visitors after norovirus outbreak
Source: www.thisiswalsallonline.co.uk...

WALSALL Manor Hospital is in lockdown to visitors after all of its wards were closed following an outbreak of the highly contagious Norovirus. The dramatic step was taken on Tuesday (February 8) and will remain in place until further notice. Hospital bosses are now urging visitors with family and friends currently in the hospital's care to stay away to help prevent the stomach bug – which causes sickness and diarrhoea – from spreading. Michael Scott, chief executive at Walsall Manor Hospital, said: "The spread of infection is easiest in places where groups of people are together for a reasonable amount of time, such as hospitals.

Algae outbreak closes Torrens
Source: www.adelaidenow.com.au...

AN outbreak of blue-green algae has caused the closure of sections of the River Torrens. Lord Mayor Stephen Yarwood said Adelaide's hot and dry conditions had contributed to increased levels of algae, prompting Adelaide City Council to temporarily close it yesterday from Hackney Rd to the city weir for up to a week. Fishing and paddleboats have been banned while the closure is in place, but Popeye cruises and the Adelaide Gondola will remain operational. Signs warning the public against contact with the water have been installed.

Salmonella cases go up in SA
Source: frenchtribune.com...

More than 70 people have been affected by an outbreak of salmonella in South Australia. Last week itself, the number of cases stood at 60. Since then 13 new patients have complained about the infection and their tests have turned out to be positive. The attack this time is of salmonella typhimurium phage type 9. But when asked, the public health director Kevin Buckett till now the exact source of contamination has not been found out and that needs to be determined first before any proper step for control could be taken.

India 2/11/11
Source: hisz.rsoe.hu...

A forest official died and another sustained injuries today in an attack by the wild bees at Pakidi hill under Sheragada block in Aska forest range in Ganjam district. "The dead forester Chintamani Swain (51) along with his guard had gone to conduct survey for plantation in the hill when the incident took place," forest ranger (Aska) N C Dora said. Swain, a native of Sorada area was working in Sheragada block. The body of the forester was recovered from the jungle, while the injured guard was admitted at the hospital at Sheragada, Dora said. The body was handed over to the relatives after conducting post-mortem, Dora said.

New Zealand 2/11/11
Source: hisz.rsoe.hu...

The deaths of thousands of fish over the past week in the Whangamarino wetland have been caused by very low levels of dissolved oxygen in the water, The Department of Conservation [DOC] says. Department spokesperson Kevin Hutchinson said numerous reports had come in from concerned residents and wetland users about the deaths, numbering possibly in the hundreds of thousands. While most are pests such as koi carp and catfish, native species mullet, bullies and eels have also been found dead. "The drought at the end of 2010 exposed large areas of the wetland and rapid plant growth occurred in areas usually under water. High rainfall in January compounded by the baked dry ground in the catchment meant water rapidly ran off into the wetland and water levels remained consistently high for about three consecutive weeks." Kevin Hutchinson says the decomposing plant matter started a bacterial process which depletes oxygen in the water.

West Virginia 2/11/11
Source: hisz.rsoe.hu...

Authorities have found more than 20 dead horses on a farm in West Virginia. The West Virginia Department of Agriculture says it has activated its homeland security incident management team to assess the situation at the property in Greenbrier County. Local reports indicate up to 26 horses have been found dead on the property, thought to be about 300 acres, since a tipoff to county officials on Wednesday. A feed and grain store is just a few hundred metres from the property in Crawley, where the dead animals were found. West Virginia's agriculture commissioner, Gus Douglass, said his department had the duty to ensure the carcasses were disposed of properly to protect the environment and the health of other animals. He said his team left the department's headquarters at Guthrie early on Thursday afternoon local time and would report back once they assess the situation. He said he was disturbed by the discovery. "It seems we're seeing more of these incidents in recent years - particularly with horses - and I find that very distressing. "Farmers have a moral obligation to care for their animals, and the vast majority of them do so. But there are a few that, for whatever reason, fall short of those responsibilities." While the agriculture department has broad authority when it comes to controlling infectious diseases in farm animals, state law gives county sheriffs or their designees authority over animal welfare issues. "Some people believe that the Department of Agriculture is responsible for the welfare of farm animals, but that's simply not the case. "If we receive a report of distressed animals, we can enter a farm to see if the cause is disease related. If not, that's where our authority ends," said One report from West Virginia suggested a law enforcement official visiting the property saw 14 dead horses as he headed up the old road to an abandoned farmhouse on the property. A man is under investigation over the treatment of the horses and faces two counts of midemeanour animal cruelty, a report suggests. Further reports indicate the man at the centre of the investigation has interests in other properties, which are also being checked.

Egypt 2/11/11
Source: hisz.rsoe.hu...

A new fatal case of bird flu - avian influenza A/(H5N1) virus infection - was reported yesterday on 9 Feb 2011 in Monoufia governorate. The victim was a 43 year old agricultural worker. Dr Hisham Atta, deputy minister of health said that the victim had been detained at hospital in Shebin 2 days ago after symptoms of the disease had begun. He had a high temperature and experienced joint pain. Clinical samples were obtained from his family to determine whether they have been exposed to the virus. The victim's house has been treated with disinfectant.

Hundreds of dead birds discovered in Lake Charles
Source: www.kplctv.com...

LAKE CHARLES, LA (KPLC-TV) – The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is trying to figure out what caused the death of hundreds of birds in south Lake Charles. The birds were discovered on Thursday morning. More than 100 birds were scattered across Lake Street between Gauthier and Tank Farm Road; another hundred were found on Lincoln Road, about a mile away. Kori Legleu, a biologist with Wildlife and Fisheries, identified the birds as Tree Swallows, a kind of bird that travels in tight flocks.

Dozens of poisoned birds fall from the sky above Columbia County
Source: www.cbs6albany.com...

KINDERHOOK -- A couple of residents of Kinderhook in Columbia County collected dozens of dead birds that fell from the sky and littered their yards and nearby tree branches. It turns out that they were European starlings that were poisoned by a U.S. Department of Agriculture program to eradicate bird flocks that threaten dairy farms. Carol Bannerman, a USDA spokeswoman, tells the Kingston Daily Freeman that it's not an uncommon practice for farmers to use pesticide-laced bird seed to kill flocks of starlings. Usually, they die on the farmland, but in this case, the farm was close to town so the bodies were found by rather startled residents. European starlings are an invasive species and as such aren't protected by law like native songbirds are. Bannerman said huge flocks of thousands of starlings may settle on a farm and devour large quantities of feed set out for the cattle.

Huge fish kill reported in Vero Beach
Source: floridaindependent.com...

Another massive fish kill has struck Florida waters — this time affecting menhaden in a Vero Beach state park. The Sebastian Inlet State Park became inundated with swathes of dead fish last week. According to one report, some residents have estimated that there are “millions” of dead fish, and the area is now inundated with a strong odor from the decay.

Haiti's Cholera Outbreak Spreading to South America and Florida
Source: www.medscape.com...

February 11, 2011 (Vienna, Austria) — The cholera epidemic that developed in Haiti became a multifocal event as it spread throughout South America, due to factors such as air travel and immigration that act as "vectors" of infectious disease, a new report suggests. The findings were reported by Jennifer Malaty, from the Georgetown University Medical Center, in Arlington, Virginia, here at the IMED 2011: International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Surveillance. "Cholera's sudden emergence in the Americas and the Caribbean after 100 years of silence was a tragic reminder of how mobile pathogens have become," Ms. Malaty told Medscape Medical News. "The [Haitian] population also had the disadvantage of being immunologically naïve," she said.

34 test positive for tuberculosis exposure at NJ hospital
Source: www.dailyrecord.com...|head

TOMS RIVER — A total of 34 employees at HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital tested positive for exposure to tuberculosis last week, but no one has contracted the disease, the hospital CEO reported on Thursday. The Ocean County Health Department and state Department of Health reviewed a list of every patient admitted to the rehabilitation hospital during the past year and none were identified as known TB patients, said Patty Ostaszewski, the hospital's chief executive officer, in a prepared media statement.

Cholera deaths rise to six in Accra
Source: www.ghananewsagency.org...

Accra, Feb. 11, GNA - The Regional Health Directorate of Ghana Health Service (GHS) on Friday cautioned residents to observe personal hygiene and adhere to advice provided by health professionals as the number of deaths from the cholera outbreak in Accra rose to six.

Norovirus cases confirmed at Martin Correctional Institution in Indiantown
Source: www.tcpalm.com...

INDIANTOWN — A pair of dangerous contagious disease outbreaks at a Treasure Coast prison over the past three weeks has left parts of the prison on quarantine and inmates' relatives scared for the prisoners' safety. Prison officials at the Martin Correctional Institution were still dealing with a potentially deadly bacterial meningitis outbreak at the jail last week when Martin County Health Department officials say they were first alerted to the another contagious disease spreading through prison dorms — one that had inmates vomiting and experiencing flu-like symptoms. Health department officials eventually confirmed six inmates had contracted norovirus — a gastrointestinal virus known as the "Norwalk virus," which has made headlines in recent years for a number of outbreaks on cruise ships. Up to 130 other inmates showed symptoms of the disease.

Maine Reps Push for Disaster Relief for Shellfish Industry
Source: www.mpbn.net...

Maine's two congressional representatives, Mike Michaud and Chellie Pingree, today urged the House Appropriations Committee to provide disaster relief for Maine's shellfish industry, hit hard in 2009 by one of the worst red tide seasons in recent history. In a letter to the committee, the two say the about 3,000 harvesters and dealers were affected by the toxic algae outbreak, which shut down 97 percent of the state's shellfishery. Michaud and Pingree say the funding is needed to help rebuild the industry, which they say generates about $50 million in revenue each year.

Health Dept. Investigating Possible Norovirus Outbreak
Source: www.arlnow.com...

Arlington County’s health department is investigating a possible Norovirus outbreak at an assisted living facility. The county issued a short statement to ARLnow.com last night confirming they’re “currently investigating reports of gastrointestinal (GI) illness at a long-term care facility.” Citing “confidentiality rules,” a Department of Human Services spokesman refused to identify the facility. A source, however, tells us the facility is the Sunrise at Bluemont Park (5910 Wilson Blvd) senior living community. The source says paramedics were called to the building on Wednesday. Medics then called the health department. “We have not yet identified the cause of the illness; however, it is not uncommon to have GI illness due to Norovirus this time of year,” DHS spokesman Kurt Larrick said. “We are working with the facility on ways to control the spread of illness.”

Typhoid outbreak in interior of Naitasiri
Source: www.fijivillage.com...

There is a typhoid outbreak in the interior of Naitasiri, mainly in the villagers of Sawanikula, Narokorokoyawa, Nasau and Korovou, whereby more than 100 people have been medically checked for the illness. However, the confirmed number of cases is still yet to be finalized. Medical staffs on the ground have confirmed that the outbreak is serious, they have placed a curfew for the villagers, and the doctors have been making regular visits to monitor the situation.

Typhoid outbreak in Fijian district
Source: australianetworknews.com...

There's an outbreak of typhoid in the Fijian district of Naitasiri in Viti Levu. Fiji Village states more than 100 people have been checked for the illness but the number of confirmed cases remains unclear. Fiji's Health Minister Neil Sharma told Radio Australia News they're currently assessing the number of cases which come in. Dr Sharma says if those numbers go beyond a certain point they ring the alarm bells and make sure teams are place to provide treatment. A public health intervention is also now underway, advising people how to prevent the spread of typhoid.

Beware chlamydia outbreak: health official
Source: timestranscript.canadaeast.com...

FREDERICTON - On the eve of his departure for a new post in British Columbia, senior health official Dr. Paul Van Buynder says the biggest public health challenge facing New Brunswick is a chlamydia outbreak of epidemic proportions. The outgoing deputy chief medical officer of health says there were 1,800 confirmed cases of the sexually transmitted infection last year, a 20 per cent jump from the year before. "If you are under 30 and you are breathing you need a chlamydia test," he said yesterday, his last day on the job before packing his bags for a Vancouver-area health authority, where he will become the chief medical health officer.

Jaundice outbreak in Ahmedabad, 40 cases detected
Source: www.dnaindia.com...

The old water pipeline leakage has resulted in an out break of jaundice in Khadia and Sarangpur areas. The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation's health department has come across 40 cases of jaundice in these areas since the beginning of February. Contaminated water due to leakages in water pipelines at couple of places have been considered to be the root cause of the water-born disease. The health department brought the same to notice of the engineering department of the central zone that repaired the pipe lines.

Cambodia 2/12/11
Source: hisz.rsoe.hu...

A five-year-old Cambodian girl has died from bird flu, the World Health Organisation said Wednesday, in the first reported fatality from the virus since early last year. The girl fell ill in the capital Phnom Penh on January 30 and was taken to hospital with symptoms of coughing and shortness of breath, a joint statement from Cambodia and the UN's public health arm said. She died on February 4. "Despite intensive medical care, the girl died 12 hours after admission from complications," it said. The child is the 11th person in the country to become infected with the H5N1 virus and ninth to die since 2003. Cambodia said it was working to identify her close contacts and "to initiate preventive treatment as required". Health Minister Mam Bun Heng urged people with respiratory infections who had been in "contact with dead or sick poultry to promptly seek medical attention".

b]Burma 2/12/11
Source: hisz.rsoe.hu...

The recent outbreak of bird flu in Sittwe Township in western Burma's Arakan State has brought great losses for the local poultry farmers as they had to cull thousands of their birds, said one affected farmer. The farmer told Narinjara that he is unable to save his business after all the chickens from his farms were taken by the authorities in the culling. "All 4,000 chickens, worth about ten million kyat, were taken from my farm and culled by the officials. So far, I have not gotten any compensation from the authorities and now it is very difficult for me to restart my business," said the farmer. Officials from the local health and municipal departments have culled thousands of chickens from the poultry farms in the area after finding a strain of the H5N1 virus, also known as the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza - HPAI virus at a farm in Bumay Village in Sittwe Township on 12 January 2011. "As my farm is near the village hit by the flu, all of my chickens have been wiped out by the officials even though they were uninfected. The farms in other nearby villages also faced the same fate and an estimated 50,000 birds from both infected and uninfected farms have been culled by the authorities," said the farmer. Another farmer reported that most of the affected farmers are facing a loss of their livelihood as authorities have neglected to even provide loans, much less compensation, to help them recover from the loss. "There is no compensation or loans being provided by the authorities to the farmers. It is like we had to suffer according to our fate. Apart from this, we have to pay the officials for anti-virus sprays on our farms and for culling the chickens, and now we are facing the ruin of our business," he said. According to a local veterinarian, the virus is now under control as health officials have been closely monitoring the farms in the area after culling the affected birds.

Angola 2/12/11
Source: hisz.rsoe.hu...

At least 320 cases of measles were recorded over the past ten days in communes of Sanga and Kissanga-Kungo, in Cela district , coastal Kwanza Sul province, reported the local Health Department. Speaking Friday to Angop, the acting head of district Health Department, Joaquim da Costa Tomás, said that the cases have claimed nine lives and 170 people in serious health condition. To roll back the spread of disease, a team of experts from Health Public have been sent to carry out a vaccination campaign.

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Royal Ontario Museum investigates sudden bee death
Source: www.bbc.co.uk...

A Toronto museum is investigating the sudden death of thousands of bees in a glass-enclosed beehive exhibit. Officials at the Royal Ontario Museum said 20,000 bees in a biodiversity exhibit had died within two days last week, though they had appeared healthy. Scientists have ruled out staff error and starvation, but said poor ventilation, disease or a lack of worker bees could be to blame. The museum plans to replace the colony in the spring.

South Korea 2/13/11
Source: hisz.rsoe.hu...

South Korea on Sunday confirmed two additional bird flu outbreaks in areas near Seoul despite nationwide efforts to stem the spread of the disease. The farm ministry said the new cases were reported at a medium-sized duck farm and a small poultry farm that raises chickens and ducks, which reported symptoms earlier in the week. All 8,400 birds on the two farms in Hwaseong south of Seoul and Dongducheon north of the capital have been culled and buried, with other bird farms within a 3-kilometer radius being checked for infections. The outbreaks are the first to be confirmed since a chicken farm that raised 35,000 birds tested positive for the virulent H5N1 strain on Wednesday, and the 42nd and 43rd outbreaks reported in the past 45 days.

N. Korea's FMD outbreak spreads across country: report
Source: english.yonhapnews.co.kr...

SEOUL, Feb. 13 (Yonhap) -- North Korea's foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) has spread across many parts of the country after the first case was confirmed in the capital city on Dec. 25, a U.S. broadcaster said Sunday. Radio Free Asia (RFA), quoting a report by the Paris-based World Organization for Animal Health, said the communist country confirmed that since the first case hit a small cattle farm in Pyongyang, the highly contagious animal disease has spread to at least five provinces. While there are no reports of animals being culled and buried to control further spreading of the disease, North Korea said 11,165 animals have been infected so far. Of these, 8,640 pigs have died along with 15 cattle, it said.

Hepatitis B and C outbreak in Moga district, India
Source: www.examiner.com...

According to a report in the India Tribune, at least 142 cases of hepatitis B & C have been seen in the Baghapurana and Nihalsinghwala sub-divisions of the Moga district. Chief Medical Officer, Dr Amarjit Singh Sidhu, attributes the outbreak to the use of inadequately sterilized needles and syringes by unqualified medical practitioners.

Virus sickens 150 Ft. Benning soldiers
Source: chronicle.augusta.com...

FORT BENNING, Ga. -- Soldiers were encouraged to wash their hands after about 150 trainees fell ill with a mild gastrointestinal virus causing nausea, vomiting and diarrhea Wednesday, a Fort Benning officials said Friday. "Some went back to training right away and others were isolated so they would not spread it to their counterparts," Monica Manganaro, a Fort Benning spokeswoman, told the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer. Manganaro said some of the soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment, a basic training unit, started showing signs Wednesday evening. On Thursday, more soldiers from the same battalion started showing signs but there were no new reports of sickness Friday.

Swine flu remains global threat
Source: www.brisbanetimes.com.au...

SWINE flu is still a global danger and Australians travelling overseas are being warned to remain vigilant, despite health authorities declaring the threat over in December. The World Health Organisation warning follows the death of Australian tourist Michael Coyle from swine flu in Russia. Mr Coyle, 63, from New South Wales, was on his way to get married in central Russia when a man suffering from swine flu sat next to him on the flight from Hong Kong to Moscow. Mr Coyle contracted the virus and died soon after arriving in Ufa in the remote Volga region last month. It is not known how many other people might have been contaminated on the flight. Health authorities say the threat is not limited to Asia. Since October, Britain has been in the grip of a swine flu epidemic, with 195 people dying from the virus in the past four months, including 18 children aged under 15. The World Health Organisation's Gregory Hä¨rtl said swine flu could be contracted anywhere. ''People everywhere should be aware of and take all precautions they can to prevent or reduce the risk of infection,'' he told The Sunday Age. ''Cases are being reported from around the world.''

Nipah kills another in Kushtia
Source: www.thedailystar.net...

Nipah encephalitis claimed one more life at Kushtia General Hospital Sunday morning, raising the death toll to 31. Fulchand Ali, 30, of Shimulia village in Mirpur upazila of the district, was admitted to the general hospital with high fever Saturday afternoon, reports our Kushtia correspondent. He died at about 10:00am Sunday, Dr Taposh Kumar Pal, resident medical officer of the hospital, said.

ALERT: Seizures Now Reported in Kids Receiving Flu Vaccine
Source: www.foodconsumer.org...

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is looking into an uptick in young children having febrile seizures following a flu shot. There have now been 36 confirmed reports of such seizures during the current flu season. All of the seizures took place less than a day after the children were given Fluzone. Fluzone is currently the sole flu shot recommended for very young children in the U.S. Google News reports: "The [FDA] said recommendations for using the vaccine have not changed, nor has there been any change in flu vaccine guidance ... FDA officials said they've been paying special attention to seizure reports because of an unexplained higher rate of fevers and seizures in young children in Australia and New Zealand who got a specific flu vaccine earlier this year."

Virgina 2/14/11
Source: hisz.rsoe.hu...

As scientists approached Hamilton Cave to check on the bats inside, they found the body of one wedged in a crack outside the cave's mouth. The bat's nose was white, as if the thumb-sized animal had poked its gargoyle face into flour. "The first white-nose victim at Hamilton Cave," geologist Wil Orndorff said somberly. "Ever," added colleague Chris Hobson, a zoologist. That white gunk was a fungus believed to cause a torturous disease in bats called white-nose syndrome. In 2009, when scientists last checked Hamilton Cave in far Southwest Virginia, all the bats looked fine. But the mysterious fungus, new to science when it appeared in New York in 2006, is spreading quickly. White-nose has killed more than 1 million bats from New Hampshire to Tennessee, including thousands in Virginia. At some Northeast caves, it has wiped out more than 90 percent of the bats, leaving behind little brown bones like pine needles. "This is like the Great Plague for bats," said Orndorff, who works with Hobson for the state Natural Heritage Program, a conservation office. The disease has caused "the most precipitous decline of North American wildlife in recorded history" and could make entire species of bats go extinct, experts said in a 2009 statement. Scientists are comparing this onslaught to the devastation of the buffalo, the passenger pigeon and the American chestnut tree. And all the bats want to do is eat the mosquitoes that make us miserable and the bugs that damage our crops and gardens.

California 2/14/11
Source: hisz.rsoe.hu...

Health officials are investigating the Playboy Mansion over fears Hugh Hefner's famed property is the source of a recent disease outbreak. More than 75 conference guests who attended a fundraiser at the Los Angeles residence were reportedly struck down by a respiratory infection. Four Swedish men who attended the event were diagnosed with Legionellosis or pontiac fever, a milder form of Legionnaires disease caused by bacteria that thrives in warm air-conditioning systems. A fog machine used at the bash could have spread the illness. Over 700 guests were attending an event on February 3 as part of the annual DOMAINfest Global conference. The three-day conference took place at a hotel in Santa Monica and the final gathering was at a party in the grounds of the iconic Playboy Mansion in Los Angeles. Within 48 hours after leaving the mansion, scores of people reported coming down with symptoms including fever, respiratory problems and violent headaches. Many of the victims started tweeting and posting their symptoms on Facebook and that's when organisers of the conference noticed a trend. Elliot J. Silver, who attended the party, said: 'It is scary everyone came down with the same thing at the same time. 'It knocked me on my ass. A lot of people are blaming the Playboy Mansion on the blogs, but you can't be sure.' Playboy spokeswoman Teri Thomerson said the Playboy Mansion was cooperating fully with the Department of Public Health's investigation.

The Netherlands: Q Fever outbreak continues
Source: www.examiner.com...

The outbreak that started in 2007 continues into its fifth year in the Netherlands. As of Feb. 2, there were 8 more confirmed cases so far in 2011. Since 2007, there have been greater than 4,000 cases and several deaths, including 11 deaths in 2010. Though the cases have been seen throughout the country, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that mostof these cases have been in Noord (North) Brabant, Gelderland, Limburg, and Utrecht Provinces in the southern part of the country.

Villages on curfew due to typhoid outbreak
Source: www.radiofiji.com.fj...

A curfew has been placed in four villages in the interior of Naitasiri where an outbreak of typhoid has occurred. The Health Ministry placed the curfew – so that the outbreak is contained within the villages and not spread to nearby villages. The villages are Nasava, Narokorokoyawa, Korovou and Sawanikula. Ministry spokesperson Peni Namotu tolf FBC News the villagers have been told not to move around – as a medical team is currently assessing the situation there.

Peru vaccination drive targets bat-borne rabies
Source: www.bbc.co.uk...

The superstition about bats turning into vampires to suck the blood of unwitting human victims has not reached Condorcanqui province on Peru's northern jungle border with Ecuador. But here, on the fringes of the Amazon rainforest, the native vampire bats are to be feared as some carry the rabies virus. It was here that five children died in the latest rabies outbreak last September. Around 20 rabies deaths have been blamed on bats in Peru over the past year, which health officials say is one of the highest numbers in a generation.

Dengue is back in South America: 31 dead and 46.600 suspected cases
Source: en.mercopress.com...

An outbreak of dengue fever across much of Latin America has killed 31 people since the start of the year and is showing no sign of relenting. Endemic in several countries there’s growing concern following the discovery of a very “aggressive” strain in Peru. There is no vaccine for dengue, a mosquito-borne viral disease endemic to tropical regions across the world, including Asia and Africa. Since January 1, nearly 46,600 confirmed or suspected cases have been detected in Latinamerica according to the latest reports from the Pan-American Health Organization, PAHO.

Nigeria: Community Blames Firm for Mosquito Infestation
Source: allafrica.com...

Onitsha — The unusual mosquito infestation in Ububa Nkpor and its environs in Idemili North Local Government Area, Anambra State has been blamed on the activities of a construction company handling the old Enugu-Onitsha road. The community has appealed to both the Idemili council and State Government Health Ministry to come to its aid as mosquito bites have malaria outbreak in the area.

Flu Outbreak Hits Northern Arizona
Source: www.kpho.com...

KINGMAN, Ariz. -- Widespread flu activity is being reported in Mohave County and around Arizona. The Arizona Department of Health Services said widespread activity means several laboratory-confirmed cases of the flu have been reported in three or more regions of the state. Arizona is split into four regions. Mohave County RN nursing supervisor Sherry Lawson said the widespread activity reported in Mohave County means every major metropolitan area in the county has reported several cases of the virus. The website for the Department of Health Services said about 3,300 flu cases have been reported in Arizona for the season so far. Thirty-four cases were in Mohave County. The agency said this year's strains seem to be hitting mainly people in the age range of 19 to 49.

Japan mass food poisoning fears in Hokkaido schools
Source: www.bbc.co.uk...

More than 950 schoolchildren have fallen ill at nine schools on Japan's northern Hokkaido island in a suspected outbreak of food poisoning. Thirteen children are in hospital in the city of Iwamizawa; 48 teachers and other school staff also have symptoms. The affected schools will remain closed until the end of the week.

Indiana 2/15/11
Source: hisz.rsoe.hu...

Officials in Mount Vernon are struggling to stay on top of a massive bird invasion. They say there are at least 50,000 birds living in the area. Officials have now set up a bird committee, headed up by water department head Chuck Gray to get rid of the birds by spring. Gray is using chargers that make loud noises, chargers that shoot out sparks to chase the birds, and even a bird cannon. He says the measures are working to clear out the pesky crows, but now blackbirds are a new problem swooping in on the east end of town. Gray says he's not surprised that all kinds of birds keep picking Posey County to land. "They basically have an unlimited food supply, with the trash cans, the 55 pound burn bins we use for trash cans in town, and then we have corn on one side and soybeans on the other side." Resident Edward Lowery says he's glad to hear the city is taking measures to clear the birds out, but he thinks they need to be moving faster. He says in the past three months, blackbird droppings have covered his back patio and the incessant chirping has kept him awake at night. One of his neighbors, Chris Cartwright, agrees. Cartwright says, "It's a health hazard, you know the children they go outside and play, and they get into the bird droppings and everybody knows birds carry diseases." That's why she says she's happy to hear the bird cannon boom, and hopes it will bring some much needed relief, and soon. City officials say it's not really feasible to kill the birds because they would need to be shot down in mass and then cleaned up, making it both messier and more expensive.

Japan 2/15/11
Source: hisz.rsoe.hu...

A total of 840 elementary and junior high school students have missed class in Iwamizawa, Hokkaido, due to food poisoning after eating school lunch last week, local officials said Monday. Fifteen teachers and other school staff also exhibited food poisoning symptoms, they said. The officials initially reported that 925 students were absent from school in connection with food poisoning, but the figure included those who have missed class because of flu and other illnesses. Health authorities suspect salmonella infection but have yet to determine what made them sick, they said. The students started exhibiting the symptoms on Friday after eating lunch the previous day which was cooked in the school kitchens for some 3,100 students. The lunch included potato miso soup, komatsuna leaf salad and Japanese radish with ground meat, the officials said.

Epidemic outbreak claims 7 children in Imo
Source: www.vanguardngr.com...

About seven children have been reported dead, following the outbreak of gastro enteritis in Okigwe local government area of Imo State. Already, the ‘A’ Field Office of United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, Enugu, last weekend, moved emergency medical supplies to the State Ministry of Health, Owerri. “What we brought in is UNICEF’s rapid response package. UNICEF cannot fold its hands and watch helplessly and innocent children die from preventable diseases. This is why we had to quickly intervene as soon as we got wind of the outbreak”, Okoroikpa said.

61-year-old Hong Kong man becomes 4th swine flu victim this year
Source: www.allheadlinenews.com... 5MG5

The swine flu has returned to Hong Kong nearly 18 months after an outbreak killed some 80 people in the city. On Monday, the health authorities confirmed the death of a 61-year-old man after he contracted the virus, adding his death to 12 critical cases that have sprung up in last three days. So far, Hong Kong has treated 37 people for swine flu in the city’s intensive care units.

Worst TB outbreak in Nunavut’s history a national problem: CMAJ
Source: www.thestar.com...

The editorial reports that Nunavut suffered 100 new and active cases of tuberculosis in 2010. That's the highest number in the territory's 10-year history and represents an infection rate 62 times the Canadian average. Worse, most of the new cases occurred in younger patients, suggesting the disease is being actively spread.

Haiti Cholera Outbreak Yet to Peak: Study
Source: topnews.us...

A report compiled by researchers in the US and Haiti has revealed that the cholera outbreak in the nation has not yet been suppressed. The latest findings come despite the fact that foreign nations had ended up directing funds amounting to billions of dollars in aid. According to the statistics available, the cholera outbreak has resulted in the death of 3,600 Haitians and has been described to be equivalent to epidemic proportions. It needs to be remembered that prior to the outbreak, the country had suffered a massive earthquake in January 2010.

Superbug's spread across West Midlands
Source: www.bbc.co.uk...

A superbug that contributed to the deaths of about 80 patients in Shropshire, has become dominant across the West Midlands. Researchers in Birmingham, led by Professor Peter Hawkey, said they were surprised at how quickly E.coli ESBL had spread throughout the region. Professor Hawkey said: "For these ESBL strains, there's a group of antibiotics called carbapenems, but there is only one group and with resistance to that group we are left with no treatment at all."

Officials say flu-like illnesses ‘widespread’ through two Virginias
Source: bdtonline.com...

PRINCETON — Though signs indicate winter may be coming to a close, flu season seems to be just starting up in the two Virginias. In West Virginia, the level of flu-like illness has been declared “widespread” by the Center for Disease Control and the West Virginia Bureau for Public Health. Melody Rickman, RN, administrator of the Mercer County Health Department, said the county has seen the amount of flu cases more than double in the past two weeks. “There has been an increase,” Rickman said. “As of last Friday, we had 313 cases reported while the week before, we only had 103 cases of flu-like illness that had been reported. Those numbers are for Mercer County alone.”

17,000 birds culled in Japan
Source: www.examiner.com...

Today, 17,000 chickens will be culled in Japan due to the speading of bird flu: now being termed a 'pandemic'. The disease was reported at farms over the weekend and a 10kms quarantine zone was enforced. It is believed that the spread of the virus is due to migrating birds and a special investigation team has been set up to investigate. This comes in the wake of the disease spreading in South Korea, despite efforts to contain the disease. This year, 5.45milion birds have been culled in South Korea due to bird flu.

Recent Gull Deaths on a Winter Haven Lake Are Investigated
Source: www.theledger.com...

State wildlife scientists are investigating the recent deaths of an undetermined number of gulls on a suburban Winter Haven lake. The gull deaths were reported late last week on Lake Thomas. Wendy Quigley, spokeswoman for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's Fish and Wildlife Research Institute in St. Petersburg, said three of the dead birds were brought back to the institute for a necropsy, which will be performed later this week.

Hundreds of eels, fish killed by pollutant
Source: www.stuff.co.nz...

Hundreds of eels and fish are dead after a pollutant was illegally discharged into a creek in South Hagley Park. Pollution hotline staff at Environment Canterbury were alerted to the incident on Saturday evening after a tip off from a member of the public. Upon inspection, approximately two kilometres of waterway was found to be discoloured, with hundreds of dead eels and fish.

Masses of Dead Fish in South Florida
Source: www.africanaonline.com...

Just when you thought the animal deaths were finally coming to an end, a massive fish die off was reported at a South Florida state park. Masses of dead fish were found floating in the water at Sebastian Inlet State Park on February 4. Officials believe that low oxygen levels in the water are to blame.

Toxic algae blamed for fish kill
Source: www.marinebusiness.com.au...

A TOXIC microalgae has been confirmed as the cause of a large fish kill on the NSW South Coast which saw thousands of dead fish wash up on beaches in Jervis Bay last month. Residents reported dead and dying fish at a number of locations including Honeymoon Bay, Hare Bay and Callala Bay in early January. Fish affected by the kill included a large range of species and size classes including flathead, whiting, mullet, luderick and catfish.

Mysterious deaths of carp at city lake under investigation
Source: www.thisislincolnshire.co.uk...

THE cause of mysterious deaths of dozens of fish spotted floating on a Lincolnshire lake is being investigated. The dead carp were seen floating in the Railway Lakes, behind the Lincolnshire Co-operative home store. A resident in the area saw the fish a week ago when he was out walking and reported the matter to the police. They were still visible in the privately-owned lake when the Echo went to take photographs. The Environment Agency is currently investigating the issue after receiving reports about the dead carp. Agency spokesman Regan Harris said: "We are investigating the ongoing reports concerning the dead carp in the Railway Lakes at Hartsholme Park.

South Korea 2/16/11
Source: hisz.rsoe.hu...

New cases of foot-and-mouth disease were confirmed Tuesday in the country's fifth-largest city of Daejeon despite vaccinations in the region, stoking fears over a recurrence of a disease whose spread had thought to have been halted. The Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry said a close inspection confirmed additional cases of the disease at a pig farm in the city's Dong district. Before the latest outbreak, a pig farm in Busan's Saha district had been the last to be affected by the disease Monday last week. Pigs in the affected farm in Daejeon were vaccinated on Jan. 30 and Feb. 5. On the outbreak of the disease despite the vaccination, the ministry said, "Vaccination doesn't guarantee complete immunization against the disease," adding, "Given that suspicious symptoms were found several days ago, we judged that the virus came from affected areas nearby such as those in South Chungcheong Province. Epidemiological studies are underway." Since Friday, more than 100 pigs have died in the farm in Daejeon. Quarantine authorities will cull more than 2,100 pigs at the farm to prevent the disease from spreading. Including Daejeon, the disease has hit 10 metropolitan cities and provinces and 70 lower-level administrative areas nationwide, sparing just Seoul, Ulsan, Gwangju, the two Jeolla provinces and Jeju Island. The number of animals culled has reached 3,333,496.

Japan 2/16/11
Source: hisz.rsoe.hu...

A bird flu infection case has been confirmed among more than 160 chickens recently found dead at a poultry farm in Kiho, Mie Prefecture, prefectural officials said Wednesday. A genetic test showed that the flu virus found in some of the dead birds was the highly pathogenic H5 type, they said. The prefecture then decided to cull about 67,000 chickens raised at the affected farm and prohibit the movements of chickens and eggs within a 10-kilometer radius of the farm, covering more than 57,000 chickens at six farms in Kumano and other areas. The poultry farm in Kiho raised chickens for meat at 14 hen coops and a total of 168 birds died Sunday through Tuesday at one of the buildings, according to the prefecture and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. Noticing the higher-than-usual number of dead birds, the farm alerted the prefecture, they said. Of the 10 birds put to a preliminary test, six tested positive for bird flu, they said.

Japan 2/16/11
Source: hisz.rsoe.hu...

A total of 840 elementary and junior high school students have missed class in Iwamizawa, Hokkaido, due to food poisoning after eating school lunch last week, local officials said Monday. Fifteen teachers and other school staff also exhibited food poisoning symptoms, they said. The officials initially reported that 925 students were absent from school in connection with food poisoning, but the figure included those who have missed class because of flu and other illnesses. Health authorities suspect salmonella infection but have yet to determine what made them sick, they said. The students started exhibiting the symptoms on Friday after eating lunch the previous day which was cooked in the school kitchens for some 3,100 students. The lunch included potato miso soup, komatsuna leaf salad and Japanese radish with ground meat, the officials said.

Outbreak of Breast Cancer
Source: topnews.us...

A study conducted by the Institute of Cancer Research has found an outbreak in the number of women suffering from breast cancer. It was found that the number of breast cancer patients were higher than expected after they were screened. The research found that almost three women out of 1,000 who tested negative were diagnosed with breast cancer before their next screening. Women of age group 50-70 are invited for a mammogram every three years and the study reported 7.3 million cases between 1997 and 2003.

PNG cholera death toll nearly 500
Source: www.news.com.au...

NEARLY 500 people have died from Papua New Guinea's prolonged cholera outbreak, a top PNG medical official says. Health Secretary Doctor Clement Malau has told PNG's National newspaper 483 people have died while 10,066 have been diagnosed with cholera since the first outbreak in September 2009. Seven of PNG's 19 provinces, including the capital Port Moresby, have been affected by cholera with Dr Malau adding Western Province was the worst hit with 300 deaths.

H1N1 OUTBREAK SHUTS DOWN AMERICAN UNIVERSITY IN CAIRO
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk...

The Ministry of Health (MOH) announced yesterday, June 8th, that two American students enrolled in summer courses at the American University in Cairo (AUC) tested positive for the H1N1 virus. The students, who arrived on different flights but were living in the same AUC dormitory, were subsequently hospitalized, treated and quarantined at a local hospital. They are recuperating in a dedicated H1N1 ward and expected to be released in the next 48 hours.

Fresh FMD fears in southeast Bulgaria
Source: www.emg.rs...

The foot-and-mouth (FMD) outbreak in Bulgaria is still not tackled completely, as there are reports of potentially infected animals in the village of Stefan Karadjovo, near Yambol in southeastern Bulgaria, the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency announced, quoted by local media on February 15 2011.

H1N1 death toll rises to 74 with death of six last week
Source: health.asiaone.com...

Six people infected with influenza A (H1N1) virus died last week, raising the nation's total influenza casualties since July 2010 to 74. All six patients were male, unvaccinated, with ages ranging from two to 84. A total of 183 patients aged from two to 89 years old have been confirmed to have severe seasonal influenza infection in the last two weeks alone, of those, only 10 specimens had received vaccination, according to Center for Disease Control (CDC).

10 in hospital, curfew in villages
Source: www.fijitimes.com...

TEN people from four villages in the interior of Naitasiri have been hospitalised as a result of a typhoid outbreak, the Ministry of Health has confirmed. The villages of Nasava, Narokorokoyawa, Korovou and Sawanikula in Wainimala were placed under curfew as a team from the Ministry of Health was dispatched to the area, said deputy secretary Public Health Dr Jo Koroivueta.

Dead fish find sparks fears of pollution
Source: news.scotsman.com...

PEOPLE are being urged to keep children and pets away from a local pond amid a pollution scare. Investigations at Campbridge Park Pond in Livingston are being carried out by West Lothian Council and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency after around 20 dead fish were reported on the pond's surface last Friday. The dead fish - mostly roach, perch and pike - and samples of the pond water are being analysed to find the source of the problem, with early indications suggesting a natural phenomenon related to cold weather.

Mystery pollution kills off fish life
Source: www.stuff.co.nz...

A toxic discharge has killed more than 500 fish in a New Plymouth stream and those responsible could face a fine of $600,000. Taranaki Regional Council resource management director Fred McLay said hundreds of fish were found dead in the Mangaone Stream. "This is a major fish kill. There were too many to pick up," Mr McLay said. It was not known where the pollution had come from but the council hoped to complete its investigations within 10 days.

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