Monkeypox: Imported to Dallas, Texas from traveler to Nigeria

The CDC, Texas and Dallas health officials announced a human monkeypox case in an individual who traveled from Nigeria.

Texas reports anthrax in white-tailed deer

The Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) reported the confirmation of anthrax in a captive white-tailed deer herd on a Val Verde County premises on July 11, 2021.

The premises is located in the south central portion of the county, north of Comstock, and has been quarantined. TAHC rules require proper disposal of affected carcasses on the premises prior to release of the quarantine.

This is the first anthrax case in Texas this year.

“The TAHC will continue to closely monitor the situation and provide updates as needed,” said Dr. Andy Schwartz, TAHC State Veterinarian and Executive Director. “Producers are encouraged to remain vigilant and consult with their local veterinary practitioner if they suspect their animals are exposed to anthrax or are interested in vaccinating their livestock.”

Anthrax is a bacterial disease caused by Bacillus anthracis, which is a naturally occurring organism with worldwide distribution, including certain parts of Texas. Anthrax cases in Texas are most often found in portions of Crockett, Val Verde, Sutton, Edwards, Kinney and Maverick counties.

An effective vaccine for livestock is available and is commonly used in areas that are prone to have anthrax. To be effective, the vaccine must be used before the animal is exposed to the bacteria. There is no approved vaccine for deer.

 

Texas: Monkeypox case reported in traveler to Nigeria

Texas state and federal health officials confirmed a case of human monkeypox in a U.S. resident who recently traveled from Nigeria to the United States.

The person is currently hospitalized in Dallas. CDC is working with the airline and state and local health officials to contact airline passengers and others who may have been in contact with the patient during two flights: Lagos, Nigeria, to Atlanta on July 8, with arrival on July 9; and Atlanta to Dallas on July 9.

Travelers on these flights were required to wear masks as well as in the U.S. airports due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, it’s believed the risk of spread of monkeypox via respiratory droplets to others on the planes and in the airports is low. Working with airline and state and local health partners, CDC is assessing potential risks to those who may have had close contact with the traveler on the plane and specific settings.

Monkeypox is a rare but potentially serious viral illness that typically begins with flu-like illness and swelling of the lymph nodes and progresses to a widespread rash on the face and body. Most infections last 2-4 weeks. Monkeypox is in the same family of viruses as smallpox but causes a milder infection. In this case, laboratory testing at CDC showed the patient is infected with a strain of monkeypox most commonly seen in parts of West Africa, including Nigeria. Infections with this strain of monkeypox are fatal in about 1 in 100 people. However, rates can be higher in people who have weakened immune systems.

Prior to the current case, there have been at least six reported monkeypox cases in travelers returning from Nigeria (including cases in the United Kingdom, Israel, and Singapore). This case is not related to any of these previous cases. In the United Kingdom, several additional monkeypox cases occurred in people who had contact with cases.

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Experts have yet to identify where monkeypox hides in nature, but it’s thought that African rodents and small mammals play a part in spreading the virus to people and other forest animals like monkeys. People can get monkeypox when they are bitten or scratched by an animal, prepare wild game, or have contact with an infected animal or possibly animal products. Monkeypox can also spread between people through respiratory droplets, or through contact with body fluids, monkeypox sores, or items that have been contaminated with fluids or sores (clothing, bedding, etc.) Human-to-human transmission is thought to occur primarily through large respiratory droplets. Respiratory droplets generally cannot travel more than a few feet, so prolonged face-to-face contact is required.

Most monkeypox outbreaks have occurred in Africa. In addition to Nigeria, outbreaks have also been reported in nine other countries in central and western Africa since 1970.

England reports increase in norovirus outbreaks

Public Health England is reporting far more norovirus outbreak incidents than would be expected in the summer months, prompting advice to the public of simple actions that they can take to reduce the spread of norovirus.

In the last 5 weeks, 154 outbreaks have been reported, compared to an average of 53 outbreaks reported over the same time period in the previous 5 years.

The overall number of laboratory confirmed norovirus reports across all age groups has also recently increased to the levels seen in previous years before the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Professor Saheer Gharbia, Deputy Director, National Infection Service, PHE, said:

Norovirus, commonly known as the winter vomiting bug, has been at lower levels than normal throughout the pandemic with less opportunity to spread between people in the community but as restrictions have eased we have seen an increase in cases across all age groups.

Symptoms include sudden onset of nausea, projectile vomiting and diarrhea but can also include a high temperature, abdominal pain and aching limbs. Stay at home if you are experiencing norovirus symptoms and do not return to work or send children to school or nursery until 48 hours after symptoms have cleared. As with COVID-19, handwashing is really important to help stop the spread of this bug, but remember, unlike for COVID-19 alcohol gels do not kill off norovirus so soap and water is best.

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How to reduce the spread of norovirus:

• Stay at home if you are experiencing norovirus symptoms. Do not return to work or send children to school until 48 hours after symptoms have cleared. Also avoid visiting elderly or poorly relatives, particularly if they are in hospital.
• Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and warm water. Alcohol hand gels don’t kill norovirus.
• When an infected person vomits, the droplets contaminate the surrounding surfaces. A bleach-based household cleaner or a combination of bleach and hot water should be used to disinfect potentially contaminated household surfaces and commonly used objects such as toilets, taps, telephones, door handles and kitchen surfaces.
• If you are ill, avoid cooking and helping prepare meals for others until 48 hours after symptoms have stopped, as norovirus can be spread through food contaminated by the virus when food is handled by symptomatic people or infected individuals.
• Wash any contaminated clothing or bedding using detergent and at 60°C, and if possible, wear disposable gloves to handle contaminated items.

India: Zika case count rises to 30 in Kerala, District collector advises public to be vigilant

In Kerala state, India, Health Minister Veena George said two more people in the state have been diagnosed with the Zika virus.

The victims were identified as a 38-year-old resident of Nedunkad and a 52-year-old resident of Anayara, Thiruvananthapuram District.

The District Collector, or District Magistrate has warned people to be vigilant against the mosquito-borne diseases Zika and dengue. Collective action should be taken to avoid mosquito breeding grounds.

The public should be made accustomed to waste disposal and source destruction. The Collector said that everyone should join together to prevent mosquito breeding in the home, surroundings, public places and workplaces. He also said that the coordinated action of various departments for mosquito eradication has been ensured.

The first patient identified in this current Zika virus outbreak was a 24-year-old pregnant woman who was admitted on 28 June 2021 with fever, headache, and rash.

The predominant mode of transmission for Zika virus is through the bites of infected mosquitoes, but the virus can also be transmitted by sexual contact, blood or blood components and possibly other substances of human origin.

Zika virus infection during pregnancy is associated with intrauterine central nervous system infection, congenital malformations and fetal death. Hence, pregnant women are the main risk group and the primary target for preventive measures.

 

Vietnam records 1,438 new COVID-19 cases, Ho Chi Minh City alone has 1,071 cases

The Vietnam Ministry of Health said Friday that there were 1,438 more COVID-19 cases, of which Ho Chi Minh City accounted for the most with 1,071 cases.
To date, Vietnam has recorded a total of 42,288 COVID-19 patients, including 207 deaths. More than 4.18 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in Vietnam.

In addition to Ho Chi Minh City, new cases were reported in Dong Nai (72), Dong Thap (66), Khanh Hoa (57), Binh Duong (53), Vinh Long (36), Phu Yen (22), Ben Tre (15), Binh Phuoc (10), Kien Giang (8 ), Can Tho (8 ), Hau Giang (7 ), Nghe An (6), Hanoi (3), Dak Nong (1), Lang Son (1), An Giang ( 1), and Lam Dong (1).

There are 12 provinces and cities that have not recorded new cases for 14 days: Yen Bai, Quang Tri, Tuyen Quang, Son La, Ninh Binh, Thai Nguyen, Dien Bien, Hai Duong, Phu Tho, Quang Ninh, Hoa Binh, Bac Kan.

Elsewhere in Southeast Asia where 89,727 cases were reported: Indonesia increased 56,757 cases, Malaysia increased 13,215 cases, Thailand increased 9,186 cases, Philippines increased 5,221 cases, Myanmar increased 4,188 cases, Cambodia increased 996 cases, Singapore increased 48 cases, Laos increased by 116 cases.

 

Texas reports rise in rabies in cattle

Officials with Texas A&M University say that rabies cases in Texas cattle is up in 2021, already exceeding the number of cases in all of 2020.

There were eight bovine rabies cases in 2020 and four in 2019. In 2021 to date, 10 cattle have tested positive for rabies.

This is prompting state authorities are recommending cattle owners take extra precautions when handling animals that appear ill.

According to Pam Douglas, the infection control coordinator at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, “Rabies can occur in all warm-blooded animals and is almost always fatal,” Douglas said. “Rabies is caused by a virus that affects the nervous system and is transmitted by the saliva of an infected animal, usually via a bite or by saliva coming in contact with mucous membranes (eyes, nose, or mouth) or an opening in the skin. Rabies is uncommon in cattle but there can be some instances when cases in nearby wildlife increase because there are more opportunities for exposure.”

Infected animals exhibit a few common behavioral patterns owners can watch out for in their herds.

“Anorexia, itching, impaired coordination, lameness, hypersalivation, the appearance of choking, and bellowing are some of the signs of rabies in cattle,” Douglas said.

Affected animals may also exhibit aggressive behavior, muscle spasms, convulsions, and anxiety.

Considering the serious nature of this disease and the difficulty of treating it, prevention should be the key focus for owners. Rabies vaccinations are strongly recommended for any animal or human at risk of contracting the disease, as rabies exposure transgresses to humans as well, almost always causing death once people begin showing symptoms.

If owners are exposed to the saliva of an infected animal, Douglas suggests washing the contaminated area with soap and water as soon as possible, especially if the saliva came in contact with an open wound and consult with your healthcare provider. wound and consult with your healthcare provider.

Finland reports many new COVID-19 cases are among socially active young adults, Most new cases caused by Delta variant

Finland health officials report a total of 1,651 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Finland between 5 and 11 July. The number of cases has been increasing for the past three weeks. About 540 new cases were reported in the middle of June (14–20 June), after which the number of cases has approximately tripled.

The COVID-19 epidemic is now spreading among socially active young adults, for example at bars, restaurants and social events. As in the previous weeks, the highest number of infections was reported among 20–29-year-olds, who accounted for one third of all infections between 5 and 11 July. People aged 10–19 accounted for 25 per cent of all new cases, with most of these cases reported among people who had reached the age of 18.

Currently, the estimated effective basic reproduction number is 1.0–1.25, with a 90 per cent probability. The rise in the number of infections among young adults between 5 and 11 July has led to an increase in the estimated basic reproduction number.

The percentage of cases where the virus was contracted abroad has halved compared to the previous week. In Finland, 12 per cent of the cases reported between 5 and 11 July originated from abroad, and the further infections resulting from them accounted for 3 per cent of all cases.

About 94,200 COVID-19 tests were taken between 5 and 11 July. The percentage of positive COVID-19 cases of all samples taken was 1.8 per cent between 5 and 11 July. This figure has tripled since mid-June when it was 0.6 per cent.

In Finland, the infections caused by the Delta variant account for over 80 per cent of the positive test results that are analysed further. The COVID-19 variant is determined in about one in five positive samples. The fact that in recent weeks Euro 2020 football fans returning from Russia have accounted for a large percentage of genotyped samples may lead us to overestimate the percentage of cases caused by the Delta variant to some extent. The Delta variant was identified in about 90 per cent of the samples taken from people who had tested positive for COVID-19 at the eastern border or who had had contacts with someone based in or recently coming from Russia.

The number of patients in hospital care has remained stable despite the growing number of new cases.

Argentina COVID-19 deaths top 100K, More Delta variant cases reported in travelers

Argentina COVID-19 death toll

Earlier this week, Argentina hit a tragic milestone that only three other South American countries have reached–topping more than 100,000 deaths linked to COVID-19. Brazil, Peru and Colombia have already eclipsed the 100,000 death mark.

This occurred on Wednesday and as of this report, 100,695 deaths have been recorded.

On Wednesday, Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Director Carissa F. Etienne said while “COVID infections, hospitalizations and deaths are dropping across most of the continent, including in Brazil, Peru, Uruguay, and Chile, cases are rising in Argentina.”

As of this publication, Argentina has reported 4,719,952 total COVID-19 cases have been reported, the eighth highest total in the world.

The Ministry of Health confirms more Delta variants in travelers

The Ministry of Health of the Nation confirmed Monday another nine positive cases of Delta variant in travelers from the United States, Mexico and Paraguay.

So far, Argentina has not confirmed cases with a Delta variant in people without a history of traveling abroad or related to an international traveler.

Of the new cases detected, six are residents of the City of Buenos Aires and three from the province of Buenos Aires. After their arrival in the country, they carried out isolations in hotels in the CABA and homes, according to national regulations and in accordance with the provisions of the jurisdictions.

It should be noted that in three of the cases they are adults who were vaccinated during their stay in Miami, United States.

The Ministry of Health recommends that the population:

● Postpone travel
● Keep land borders closed
● Prohibition of entry of non-resident foreigners in the country
● Requirement of a negative molecular biology test with a maximum notice of 72 hours. prior to the trip and a test upon entry to the country for people entering by international flights through the authorized airports (Ezeiza, Aeroparque and San Fernando) and the Buenos Aires Port terminal.
● Those with a positive antigen test upon arrival in the country, should perform isolation in specific hotels in the City of Buenos Aires.
● Obligation to keep isolation for all international travelers for a term of 7 days after entry (according to the indications of each jurisdiction)
● Obligation to carry out a molecular test on the seventh day of admission.

 

Persistent Lyme infection in brain, possible correlation between infection and Lewy body dementia: Tulane study

Tulane University researchers found the bacterium that causes Lyme disease in the brain tissue of a woman who had long suffered neurocognitive impairment after her diagnosis and treatment for the tick-borne disease. The presence of the corkscrew-shaped Borrelia burgdorferi spirochetes in the former Lyme disease patient’s brain and spinal cord were evidence of a persistent infection.

The findings were published in Frontiers in Neurology.

The 69-year-old woman, who experienced progressively debilitating neurological symptoms throughout her illness, decided to donate her brain to Columbia University for the study of the disease as her condition worsened. While she had first experienced the classic symptoms of Lyme disease 15 years prior and was treated accordingly after her diagnosis, she experienced continual neurological decline including a severe movement disorder and personality changes, and eventually succumbed to Lewy body dementia. Lewy body dementia is associated with abnormal protein deposits in the nerve cells of the brain which can cause impairment in thinking, movement and mood, leading to a severe form of dementia.

This is the first time researchers have identified a possible correlation between Lyme disease infection and Lewy body dementia.

Read more at Tulane University

Dhaka, Bangladesh: Antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteremia in young children with pneumonia associated with a high mortality rate

Resistance to antibiotics is common and often deadly among children with pneumonia in Bangladesh, according to a new study coauthored by researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) with colleagues at the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (abbreviated as icddr,b). This study, which appears in the journal Open Forum Infectious Diseases, offers an early warning that a pandemic of potentially deadly antibiotic resistance is under way and could spread around the globe.

The study was led by Mohammod Jobayer Chisti, MD, PhD, a senior scientist in icddr,b’s Nutrition and Clinical Services Division. Chisti was inspired to conduct the research when he observed that the hospital affiliated with icddr,b was admitting more and more young children with pneumonia who were highly resistant to treatment with standard antibiotics. “At our hospital, dozens of kids died of pneumonia between 2014 and 2017, despite receiving the World Health Organization’s recommended antibiotics and enhanced respiratory support,” says Chisti.

Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs that causes fluid and pus to fill air sacs, producing cough, fever, trouble breathing, and other symptoms. Without effective treatment, the infection can be fatal; pneumonia is the most common cause of death in young children, according to the World Health Organization. In small children, pneumonia can be caused by viruses, but certain types of bacteria are common sources of infection, too. In the United States and other high-income countries, Staphylococcus (“staph”), Streptococcus (“strep”), and Haemophilus influenzae are the most common bacterial causes of pneumonia, which usually respond well to antibiotic therapy. Vaccines for the latter two have saved countless lives worldwide.

However, when Chisti and his colleagues examined health records of more than 4,000 children under age five with pneumonia admitted to their hospital between 2014 and 2017, they found that a very different pattern of bacterial infections was occurring. The usual staph and strep infections that commonly cause pneumonia in the United States and elsewhere were relatively rare. Among the children who had a positive culture, gram-negative bacteria were responsible for 77 percent of the infections, including Pseudomonas, E. coli, Salmonella and Klebsiella.

“That’s totally different than what I’m used to in my practice in Boston,” says Jason Harris, MD, MPH, co-first author of the study and chief of the division of Pediatric Global Health at the Massachusetts General Hospital for Children. Unfortunately, he adds, “the gram-negative bacteria we saw in these kids are notorious for being antibiotic resistant.” To wit: Some 40 percent of the gram-negative bacterial infections in this study resisted treatment with first- and second-line antibiotics that are routinely used to treat pneumonia. More alarming, children who had antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections were 17 times more likely than others without bacterial infections to die.

Harris believes that these results are clear evidence that longstanding concerns that antibiotic resistance will become a deadly menace are no longer theoretical–the problem has taken root. “These kids are already dying early because of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, from what would be a routine infection in other parts of the world,” says Harris. “And this was at one hospital in Bangladesh. Extrapolate these findings across a country of 163 million people, and then to a larger region where antibiotic resistance is emerging, and the overall numbers are probably huge.”

There is an urgent need to address factors that are promoting antibiotic resistance in Bangladesh, says Tahmeed Ahmed, PhD, executive director of icddr,b and senior author of the study. For starters, antibiotics can be purchased without a prescription in the country and many people use them to self-treat conditions such as dysentery, cold, cough and fever. Misuse of antibiotics promotes the spread of bacteria that resist the medications. “We may be able to reduce this emerging bacterial resistance by improving antibiotic stewardship, particularly in the outpatient setting,” says Ahmed. Lab testing for diagnosis of bacterial infections is also inadequate in the country. “What’s more, lack of access to clean water and adequate sanitation helps spread bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics,” adds Ahmed. Improvements in health care infrastructure and policy changes to rein in the misuse of antibiotics are essential, he argues, though Ahmed notes that Bangladesh’s health care system also needs better access to more advanced antibiotic therapies for resistant infections.

If these and other steps aren’t taken now, it’s only a matter of time before the problem of widespread deadly antibiotic resistance spreads around the world, notes Harris. “We know that acquisition of antibiotic resistance is very common in travelers, and that when highly resistant bacteria crop up in one part of the world, they ultimately crop up everywhere,” he says, comparing the problem to another current global health care crisis. “If COVID-19 was a tsunami, then emerging antibiotic resistance is like a rising flood water. And it’s kids in Bangladesh who are already going under.”

COVID-19 cases spiking in some parts of the Americas, Dropping in others

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is reporting a mixed bag when it comes to the COVID-19 trajectory in the Americas. According to PAHO Director Carissa F. Etienne, new COVID-19 cases spiked in Central America, the Caribbean and some South America countries last week.

She points out that cases are increasing in Central American countries, including El Salvador and Guatemala, where COVID deaths have also surged. In addition, parts of the Caribbean, particularly Cuba, cases are spiking. Cuba has reported the highest number of weekly cases since the start of the pandemic.

Elsewhere in South America, “COVID infections, hospitalizations and deaths are dropping across most of the continent, including in Brazil, Peru, Uruguay, and Chile”, she said.

However, cases are rising in Argentina and Colombia.

Dr. Etienne noted in a press briefing, “Cases rise when complacency sets in. We are all tired, but after experiencing successive peaks of infections in the same locations, we must break this cycle by embracing public health measures early and consistently.”

She also discussed the issue with vaccine access in these areas. While 58% of Chile’s population are fully protected against COVID and in Uruguay 55% are protected, Paraguay and Jamaica have fully vaccinated less than 3% of their populations. Honduras and Guatemala have yet to vaccinate 1% of their populations.

In total, the Americas has reported nearly 74 million COVID-19 cases and 1.9 million deaths – more than a third of COVID cases and more than 40% of deaths reported globally.

Cyclospora cases (domestic) top 200 this summer in the US

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 202 domestically acquired cyclosporiasis illnesses in the past few weeks, bringing the total this summer to 208 laboratory-confirmed cases in people who had no history of international travel. At least 21 people required hospitalization for their illness.

The cases have been reported in 22 states. No deaths have been reported.

Health officials note that cyclosporiasis illnesses are reported year-round in the United States; however, during the spring and summer months there is often an increase in cyclosporiasis acquired in the United States (i.e., “domestically acquired”).

While many cases of cyclosporiasis cannot be directly linked to an outbreak, previous U.S. outbreaks of cyclosporiasis have been linked to various types of fresh produce, including basil, cilantro, mesclun lettuce, raspberries, and snow peas.

India: Mucormycosis in Delhi, Zika in Kerala

Mucormycosis in Delhi

According to officials figures, till July 6, Delhi had recorded 1,656 mucormycosis cases, including 952 active cases, according to a Economic Times report.

On March 27, the Delhi government had declared black fungus an epidemic.

Check out the Mucormycosis Dashboard

 

Zika in Kerala

Health Minister Veena George said an alert has been sounded across Kerala over Zika virus.

With four more infections reported on Tuesday, the number of confirmed Zika virus cases in Kerala has now risen to 23 — all the cases have been reported from Thiruvananthapuram, according to a Indian Express report.

The minister said pregnant women should take extra care. In case of infection in the early stage of pregnancy, there is a high chance of the baby being born with a congenital defect of microcephaly (underdeveloped brain).

 

Shigella cases up to 7 linked to Wichita area water park

State and county health officials in Kansas reported an additional confirmed case of Shigella linked to the Tanganyika Wildlife Park in Goddard, Kan., just west of Wichita.

This brings the total cases to seven.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) became aware of the first cases linked to the park on June 18. All three people tested positive for Shigella bacteria.

DNA fingerprinting was performed on Shigella bacteria from two cases who reside in different counties, using a standardized laboratory and data analysis method called whole genome sequencing (WGS). WGS gives investigators detailed information about the bacteria causing illness. In this investigation, WGS showed that bacteria isolated from these two cases were closely related genetically. This means that they likely share a common source of infection. WGS testing could not be performed for the remaining five cases.

The Splash Park has remained closed since June 19.

Shigellosis is caused by a type of bacteria known as shigella that can cause severe gastrointestinal illness in people, including diarrhea, fever and cramps. It can also lead to more severe illnesses such as sepsis and kidney injury.

Shigella is spread through food, through water, or person to person by swallowing fecal matter. Most people recover without treatment. Some strains are resistant to antibiotics.