Week of Sep 03, 2010
Bangladesh
Bangladeshi officials report anthrax outbreak affects more than 250
Health officials in northern Bangladesh say that an anthrax outbreak has so far infected more than 250 people. The outbreak has spread to four out of Bangladesh's 64 districts, according to the BBC and Xinhua. The outbreak was first detected in Sirajganj district, located some 83 miles (134 km) northwest of the capital, Dhaka, in late August and spread to neighboring Pabna district, according to Xinhua. It has also spread to Tangail district and according to the BBC, it has been detected in Kushtia district for the first time. Health officials say that all the cases are cutaneous (skin anthrax), which causes wound-like lesions. The outbreak is thought to have been caused by people slaughtering anthrax-infected cattle or goats and selling or eating the meat, according to the various news reports. "This type of anthrax is not that much dangerous to humans because there's treatment available. There's no man-to-man transmission of this anthrax," the BBC quoted Mahmudur Rahman, the director of Bangladesh's Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research as saying. Rahman told Xinhua that 21 new cases were detected Thursday (September 1) morning. He said that so far no deaths have been reported. The outbreak was confirmed on August 25, according to Xinhua, after 46 samples collected from Pabna and Sirajganj tested positive. According to the BBC, the government has already launched a vaccination drive for cattle and goats. Officials should continue their vaccination program so that the disease does not spread and should also encourage and if possible enforce the safe disposal of animal carcasses infected with the disease. According to the UN's World Health Organization (WHO), humans generally acquire the disease directly or indirectly from infected animals or occupational exposure to infected or contaminated animal products. The WHO says that there are 3 types of anthrax in humans: cutaneous anthrax, acquired when a spore enters the skin through a cut or an abrasion; gastrointestinal tract anthrax, contracted from eating contaminated food; and pulmonary (inhalation) anthrax from breathing in airborne anthrax spores. The cutaneous form accounts for 95 percent or more of human cases worldwide. All types of anthrax are potentially fatal if not treated promptly, according to the WHO.
Source:
Thirty new cases of anthrax detected in Kushtia, Tangail, Sep 02, 10, http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/more.php?news_id=110942&date=2010-09-02
Anthrax cases among humans in Bangladesh on rise, 33 animals dead , Sep 02, 10, http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/health/2010-09/02/c_13475497.htm
Fourteen fresh anthrax infection cases detected in Bangladesh , Sep 01, 10, http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/health/2010-09/01/c_13473163.htm
Anthrax outbreak hits Bangladesh, Sep 03, 10, http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-11183617
Anthrax Overview, Sep 03, 10, http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs264/en/
India
Swine flu and dengue outbreaks reported in India's capital
Officials in India's capital, New Delhi, report a rise this season of swine flu (H1N1) and dengue fever. According to the Hindustan Times (HT), one more person died of swine flu at New Delhi's Ram Manohar Lohia hospital on Tuesday (August 31), and so far 30 have died of swine flu in the capital. The number of confirmed swine flu cases is at 926 this year, the HT reported. An increase of dengue cases has also been reported in the city. On Tuesday, 74 new cases of dengue were reported. The total number affected by dengue was at 937, the HT reported, and three children have died from the disease in the last two months. Officials have increased efforts to control dengue and swine flu ahead of the upcoming Commonwealth Games (CWG). "The good thing is though number of cases may be high, we have checked mortality rate," the Times quoted N.K. Yadav, medical health officer, MCD as saying. Elsewhere across the region, according to the New Zealand Press Association (NZPA), swine flu has claimed 16 lives this winter in New Zealand. In total, 631 people had been hospitalized with confirmed cases of swine flu, of which 14 were in intensive care units. According to the NZPA, H1N1 is the most common strain circulating in the community. The deputy director of public health, Darren Hunt, said that numbers of cases appeared to be falling but there was regional variation, with areas such as Canterbury seeing increased cases of swine flu, NZPA reported. Meanwhile, the European Medecines Agency said that it was going to conduct a review of the safety of the Pandemrix flu vaccine, made by GlaxoSmithKline, to investigate possible links to narcolepsy. According to Reuters, Pandermix has been given to some 30.8 million Europeans since September 2009 for vaccination against H1N1 flu. Narcolepsy is a rare disorder that causes one to fall asleep suddenly and unexpectedly. A number of cases have been reported in Sweden, France and Finland. According to the Associated Press, GlaxoSMithKline is also conducting its own investigation.
Source:
Swine Flu Claims 16 Lives, Sep 03, 10, http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/4091745/Swine-flu-claims-16-lives
Europe Probes Swine Flu Shot, Narcolepsy Link, Aug 27, 10, http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Sleep/wireStory?id=11495727
Europe Probes Swine Flu Shot, Narcolepsy Link, Aug 27, 10, http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/08/27/health/main6811292.shtml
74 dengue cases, 1 swine flu death, Sep 01, 10, http://www.hindustantimes.com/74-dengue-cases-1-swine-flu-death/Article1-594465.aspx
Philippines
Dengue fever case count nears 55,000 in Philippines
Local cases of dengue fever in the Philippines are rising at an alarming rate, and the Philippine Health Department warns that by the end of 2010, cases may increase to 80,000, Xinhua news agency reported. This year, the mosquito-borne disease has rapidly spread, infecting 54,659 people nationwide as of August 14, according to local online media site www.gmanews.tv on Tuesday (August 31). In comparison to the same period last year, between January 1 and August 14, the Sun Star Manila reports that the country recorded a 74.9 percent increase in dengue fever cases, according to a Disease Surveillance Report from the National Epidemiology Center (NEC). As for fatalities, this year has already recorded 429 deaths compared to 327 deaths during the same period last year. In Cebu City, as of Sunday (August 29), the Philippine Daily Inquirer reported health officials saying that cases had reached 1,175, including 11 deaths since the beginning of the year. More concerning, was that people, most of them children, were suffering from dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF), a severe and often fatal complication of the disease. The Philippine Daily Inquirer reported that on Thursday (September 2) alone, the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center admitted 39 people, 34 of them being children, while on Friday (September 3), three Cebu hospitals admitted a total of 151 dengue fever patients. Health and hospital authorities have their hands full in coping with the outbreak, and are ramping up their efforts to contain the spread of the disease. Elsewhere in southern Mindanao, the Department of Health (DoH) reports that dengue fever has killed about 60 people since January, triggering army soldiers to be used to help the government's initiatives to clean up communities in order to curb the spread of the disease, Inquirer Mindanao reported officials of Army units as saying. Army soldiers have already participated in a clean-up drive organized by the Municipal Health Offices. While the DoH repeatedly urges the public that the most effective way to fight dengue is by practicing their 4-S strategy ( Search and destroy, Self-protective measures, Seek early treatment and Say, no to indiscriminate fogging), one of the most critical things health officials need to continue doing is spreading awareness and educating the public on prevention. This is especially important as Dr. Eric Tayag, chief of the NEC, reports that dengue cases are expected rise in September, Xinhua reported. Tayag attributes this to dengue no longer being considered as a rainy season disease. Because the El-Nino-induced dry spell caused a water shortage, Tayag notes that people were forced to store water in containers in their homes, attracting a number of mosquitoes by increasing the number of breeding grounds. Dengue fever, which is carried by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, causes symptoms of high fever, rashes, headaches and muscle and joint pain.
Source:
Philippine dengue cases may rise to 80,000 by end of this year, Aug 31, 10, http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/health/2010-08/31/c_13471577.htm
Dengue cases in RP up by 75%, Aug 24, 10, http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/dengue-cases-rp-75
Army soldiers help cleanup drive vs dengue fever, Sep 01, 10, http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view/20100901-289947/Army-soldiers-help-cleanup-drive-vs-dengue-fever
Visayas hospitals have hands full dealing with dengue, Sep 03, 10, http://www.inquirer.net/mindandbody/healthbeat/view.php?db=1&article=20100903-290350
Other World News
Nigeria
Cholera outbreak in Nigeria kills at least 352
Heavy rains have helped cholera spread in Nigeria, already killing at least 352 people in a three month period, the Associated Press (AP) reported a health official saying on August 25. The country's rainy season has helped the disease rapidly spread, infecting more than 6,400 people since June, according to a statement made by the Health Ministry, who also stated that epidemiological evidence has indicated that the entire country was at risk of contracting the disease. Doctors have determined that 12 out of Nigeria's 36 states have been affected by the disease, the AP reported. Xinhua news agency reported on August 27 that Nigeria's northeastern Adamawa State had confirmed 100 cholera deaths among some 1,200 infected, while in northern Zamfara State, health officials reported outbreaks in five local government areas had killed seven people, among a total of 54 cases. Xinhua noted that the ministry had deployed a rapid response team of medical experts to the affected areas to contain the situation. Nigeria's Health Ministry has attributed the cholera outbreak to the heavy seasonal rains spreading the infection across rural communities that do not have access to proper toilet facilities, while in many areas, uncovered wells allows for water to flow into communities' drinking water supplies. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported Health Minister Onyebuchi Chukwu saying that the death toll and infection from the epidemic could be higher. Meanwhile, on Thursday (September 2), another water-borne disease, gastroenteritis, has erupted in Nigeria's Yobe State, and has so far claimed 42 lives, among 443 cases recorded in one month, Xinhua reported. The state has commenced a massive sensitization campaign on safe drinking water, waste management and administration of oral rehydration therapy to combat the disease. While Nigeria endures these outbreaks, neighboring Cameroon has also been suffering from cholera since May, already tallying more than 2,000 cases, including 155 deaths, the AP reported on Tuesday (August 31). Cholera is an acute, diarrheal illness characterized by profuse watery diarrhea, vomiting and leg cramps. In severe cases, rapid loss of fluids results in dehydration and shock, which can lead to death. According to WHO estimates, around 120,000 people die annually from cholera.
Source:
Fresh cholera outbreak claims 7 lives in Nigeria's Zamfara State, Sep 02, 10, http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/health/2010-09/02/c_13475292.htm
Cholera claims 100 lives in Nigeria's Adamawa State, Aug 27, 10, http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/health/2010-08/27/c_13465881.htm
3,000 cases of cholera in Nigeria, Cameroon and Niger, Aug 24, 10, http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/5610285-147/3000_cases_of_cholera_in_nigeria.csp
Nigeria: Cholera epidemic death toll rises to 352, Aug 25, 10, http://www.google.com/search?q=Nigeria%3A+Cholera+epidemic+death+toll+rises+to+352&rlz=1I7GGLJ_en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7
Gastroenteritis outbreak hits Nigerian state, claims 42 lives, Sep 02, 10, http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/health/2010-09/02/c_13475338.htm
Pakistan
Health response in Pakistan has benefited almost 4.6 million people in flood-affected areas
According to Pakistan's latest government estimates, over 18.6 million people have been affected by the floods, with the number increasing as southern Sindh province continues to endure floodwaters that have been going for a month now. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) marks the official death toll as of Friday (September 3) at 1,677. The death toll could further increase as health needs remain vast, and relief efforts struggle to cope with numerous obstacles. In all affected districts, particularly in Sindh and Punjab province, children, women and men continue to require assistance for water-borne and vector-borne diseases. OCHA reports that 436 health facilities out of the 2,957 health facilities in 33 flood-affected districts have been damaged or destroyed, which greatly limits health care services available to affected communities. The health cluster reported on Friday that in total, almost 4.6 million people have been treated from July 29 to September 1. Of this number, 616,606 cases of acute diarrhea, 671,476 cases of acute respiratory infection, 861,986 cases of skin disease and 126,683 of suspected malaria, have been reported. Because of stagnant flood waters that increase the mosquito breeding grounds, health officials are worried about increasing numbers of suspected malaria cases in Balochistan and Sindh provinces. In the last 24 hours, the cluster reports that the number of suspected malaria cases made up 20 percent of patient consultations in Balochistan province and 12 percent in Sindh. The Health cluster and its partners now have six coordination hubs established as of August 31. USAID reported that relief agencies have distributed enough medicine to treat 3.4 million people for one month and had provided emergency reproductive health services to almost 60,000 patients. In the international effort, Australia, Bangladesh, China, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Jordan, Occupied Palestinian territories, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Turkey and UAE have sent medical teams to support health relief efforts in affected areas.
Source:
Floods in Pakistan Bulletin No 16 , Sep 03, 10, http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/VVOS-88XQKV?OpenDocument
Pakistan Monsson Floods Situation Report 21, Sep 03, 10, http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/VVOS-88XPEM?OpenDocument&RSS20=22-P&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ReliefwebOCHASitReps+%28ReliefWeb++-++OCHA+Situation+Reports%29
World
New diagnostic test could "revolutionize" TB health care
One of the deadliest diseases in the world, tuberculosis (TB), kills about 1.8 million people a year, while also affecting approximately 9.4 million people annually. Concerns regarding TB have grown over the years, as the bacterial disease has become increasingly drug-resistant. It has also largely affected the developing world, including up to 50 percent of the population in some countries, such as Nepal. In the fight against the disease, scientists have recently reported a major advance in diagnosing TB that many are saying could "revolutionize" TB care, the Associated Press (AP) reported. Currently, the current TB smear test, discovered over 125 years ago, is time-consuming and misses half of all cases, resulting in the return of patients back to their communities where they can spread the infection, Fast Company said. According to a press release, this new study, undertaken by Dr. Catherina C. Boehmer of the Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics in Geneva and funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, has developed a new test requiring only 15 minutes of manual labor, for taking the mucus sample, mixing it with chemicals and putting it in an inkjet-like cartridge that goes into a machine. The machine then amplifies the DNA in the sample and checks for bits of bacterial genes. The AP reported that the whole process takes less than two hours. Results of the study, further enforce the potential of this diagnostic tool. The study, which was used on 1,730 patients with suspected TB in Peru, Azerbaijan, South Africa and India, was able to successfully identify 98 percent of all confirmed TB cases and 98 percent of ones resistant to revamping, one of the top drugs used to treat TB. It also correctly identified almost three-quarters of TB cases that were mistakenly declared negative from the microscope exam and accurately eliminated TB in 99 percent of people who did not have it. According to TB expert, Dr. Mario Raviglione, "These results suggest that it has the potential to revolutionize TB care," the AP reported. In comparison to the current TB exam, the ability of this newly developed test to rapidly and accurately diagnose patients enables immediate and proper treatment. Ultimately, the use of this tool could vastly curb the spread of TB and promote prevention. AP reports that the UN World Health Organization (WHO) will meet with experts over the next few days to review results and plan steps forward. Dr. Small of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, is feeling optimistic about the test's approval after the WHO relayed its commitment to making it a top priority. However, Fast Company noted that healthcare is a common subject to the weaknesses of bureaucracies, and when large, and sometimes corrupt governments are involved, the availability of critical life-improving tools are extensively delayed, often causing the deaths of many people whose lives could have been saved. The study of the test was published online on Wednesday (September 1) by the New England Journal of Medicine. The US government, who commissioned the study with several partners, is now seeking US Food and Drug Administration approval, while the test has been already approved, and on sale in Europe.
Source:
Speedy test seen as big advacne in diagnosing TB, Sep 02, 10, http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38959496/ns/health-infectious_diseases/
Gates Foundation-funded breakthrough TB test delivers results in minutes, not days, Sep 02, 10, http://www.fastcompany.com/1686641/breaking-ground-in-tb-diagnostics-but-will-delivery-be-the-bottleneck
Tuberculosis tests can be diagnosed in record time, Sep 03, 10, http://www.healthnews18.com/tuberculosis-tests-can-be-diagnosed-in-record-time.html
The Asia-Pacific Disease Outbreak/Surveillance News is meant for informational purposes only. As such, the Center of Excellence in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance (COEDMHA) does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information and of any statements or opinions based thereon. COEDMHA's Pacific Disaster Management Information Network (PDMIN) team surveys, compiles and disseminates news reports from various publicly available newswires, websites, and health information networks including but not limited to the World Health Organization (WHO), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and ProMed. Some information is presented in its original version. The information contained herein does not necessarily represent the views of the COEDMHA.