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| http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/World/20110119/deadly-ebola-like-virus-in-western-india-110119/ |
Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Confirmed in Humans for the 1st Time in India
Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) was confirmed to be the cause of a previously undiagnosed outbreak in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India on January 18th. This is the first confirmed report of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever in India. To date, 5 cases have been confirmed, including 3 deaths (a female patient, an attending physician, and an intensive care nurse). The two other patients include another nurse and the husband of the first patient. Previously, serious outbreaks through nosocomial infection have been recorded, and therefore proper control measures must be utilized.
Ticks collected from the Ahmedabad area were collected and testing showed “high quantities” of CCHF virus. It is likely that the virus is present in ticks and other animals (including cattle) throughout Northern India, as they can be infected but do not die from the disease. If the virus is shown to be present in animals such as cattle, the virus could have spread to humans from cutting infected meat. The Gujarat government has been warned to be on the lookout for additional cases.
Encephalitis in Honduras
In the last week there has been an outbreak of Encephalitis in Guarita in Lempira, Honduras. Guarita is located near the Sumpul River close to El Salvador. So far, twenty horses have died from this inflammatory disease and about 20-30 are ill. No humans have contracted the disease yet, but health officials in both Honduras and El Salvador fear that it may be spread.
Rift Valley Fever Re-emerge in South Africa
A case of rift valley fever has been identified in Groot-Brakrivier in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. Although only one case has been identified so far, this has raised concern within the region as an outbreak ending in August last year left 26 people and more than 8,500 animals dead. Furthermore, this has dashed the hopes of local wool and meat producers that the international markets will be open again since restrictions were placed following the outbreak last year. As livestock makes up 49% of agricultural output in South Africa, this may have serious financial repercussions on the local economy. Experts believe that the virus may continue to spread via mosquitoes as heavy rain and flooding perpetuate throughout the country and the Department of Agriculture has advised farmers to vaccinate their animals and to refrain from handling or eating sick animals.
African Swine Fever in Angola
African Swine Fever was confirmed in the cities of Kambundi Katembo and Luquembo of Malanje Province, Angola. A report from January 21st state that the fever has already spread through a great number of the pigs in Kambundi Katembo and Luquembo. African Swine Fever is infectious among pigs and causes hemorrhaging and myocardial infarction in the pig. Resident owners of those infected animals that have died are advised to bury them far from their homes.
Avian Influenza nested in Japanese Chicken Farms
In the early morning of January 23rd, Japanese officials confirmed the presence of avian influenza in chickens from a farm in Shintomi, located in the Miyazaki prefecture. The farm has been ordered to euthanize 410 thousand chickens, as a preemptive measure to stop the spread of avian influenza throughout the poultry population. Although it is possible for avian influenza to be spread to humans, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the risk is small and transmission of the virus generally occurs only after direct and repeated contact with infected poultry.
Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) was confirmed to be the cause of a previously undiagnosed outbreak in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India on January 18th. This is the first confirmed report of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever in India. To date, 5 cases have been confirmed, including 3 deaths (a female patient, an attending physician, and an intensive care nurse). The two other patients include another nurse and the husband of the first patient. Previously, serious outbreaks through nosocomial infection have been recorded, and therefore proper control measures must be utilized.
Ticks collected from the Ahmedabad area were collected and testing showed “high quantities” of CCHF virus. It is likely that the virus is present in ticks and other animals (including cattle) throughout Northern India, as they can be infected but do not die from the disease. If the virus is shown to be present in animals such as cattle, the virus could have spread to humans from cutting infected meat. The Gujarat government has been warned to be on the lookout for additional cases.
Encephalitis in Honduras
In the last week there has been an outbreak of Encephalitis in Guarita in Lempira, Honduras. Guarita is located near the Sumpul River close to El Salvador. So far, twenty horses have died from this inflammatory disease and about 20-30 are ill. No humans have contracted the disease yet, but health officials in both Honduras and El Salvador fear that it may be spread.
Rift Valley Fever Re-emerge in South Africa
A case of rift valley fever has been identified in Groot-Brakrivier in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. Although only one case has been identified so far, this has raised concern within the region as an outbreak ending in August last year left 26 people and more than 8,500 animals dead. Furthermore, this has dashed the hopes of local wool and meat producers that the international markets will be open again since restrictions were placed following the outbreak last year. As livestock makes up 49% of agricultural output in South Africa, this may have serious financial repercussions on the local economy. Experts believe that the virus may continue to spread via mosquitoes as heavy rain and flooding perpetuate throughout the country and the Department of Agriculture has advised farmers to vaccinate their animals and to refrain from handling or eating sick animals.
African Swine Fever in Angola
African Swine Fever was confirmed in the cities of Kambundi Katembo and Luquembo of Malanje Province, Angola. A report from January 21st state that the fever has already spread through a great number of the pigs in Kambundi Katembo and Luquembo. African Swine Fever is infectious among pigs and causes hemorrhaging and myocardial infarction in the pig. Resident owners of those infected animals that have died are advised to bury them far from their homes.
Avian Influenza nested in Japanese Chicken Farms
In the early morning of January 23rd, Japanese officials confirmed the presence of avian influenza in chickens from a farm in Shintomi, located in the Miyazaki prefecture. The farm has been ordered to euthanize 410 thousand chickens, as a preemptive measure to stop the spread of avian influenza throughout the poultry population. Although it is possible for avian influenza to be spread to humans, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the risk is small and transmission of the virus generally occurs only after direct and repeated contact with infected poultry.
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