Uganda: Ebola Outbreak DREF operation n° MDRUG031

CHF 107,056 has been allocated from the IFRC’s Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to support the Uganda Red Cross Society in delivering immediate assistance directly to 585 people affected by Ebola, 100 households at risk, and 3,628,390 people indirectly. Unearmarked funds to repay DREF are encouraged.

Summary: This DREF request is in response to a request from the Uganda Ministry of Health (MoH) to Uganda Red Cross Society (URCS) for support as a result of the series of haemorrhagic fever outbreaks in the country.These outbreaks have resulted in depletion of the health care service delivery systems budget.

The National Society will focus on providing support in social mobilization through house to house health promotion campaigns, psychosocial services, media campaign as well as information, education communication (IEC) in various districts of Uganda. This will ensure that community members take appropriate and timely control measures against the spread of the disease.

This operation is expected to be implemented over 3 months, and will therefore be completed by 22 February, 2013; a Final Report will be made available three months after the end of the operation (by 22 May, 2013).   http://reliefweb.int/report/uganda/uganda-ebola-outbreak-dref-operation-n%C2%B0-mdrug031

Summary: This DREF request is in response to a request from the Uganda Ministry of Health (MoH) to Uganda Red Cross Society (URCS) for support as a result of the series of haemorrhagic fever outbreaks in the country.These outbreaks have resulted in depletion of the health care service delivery systems budget. [link to reliefweb.int] 

The situation 
The Ministry of Health and World Health Organization (WHO) have confirmed the outbreak of Ebola hemorrhagic 
fever in Luwero District after tests from the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) came positive for Ebola Sudan 
on two samples collected by PCR and serology. A total of 4 people have since died, 2 of who were from the same 
family. The first Ebola case reported involved a motorcycle taxi rider, who died on 25 October, 2012.subsequently on 
7 November, 2012, the Luwero District Health Office received information from Nyimbwa Health Centre IV staff that 2 
Female residents of Kakute LCI, Ssambwe Parish, and Nyimbwa Sub-county with suspected Ebola had been 
admitted and were reported to have had contact with the motorcycle taxi rider. They two presented with headache fever and vomiting and general body weakness. The 25-year old woman who nursed the driver, died on 10 November 
2012 but samples had been already taken for further investigations. The District Health Team (DHT) with support 
from General Military Hospital supervised the burial at Kakute LCI and sensitized the residents on the disease 
control. Twelve more suspected cases are being monitored in isolation facilities in Luweero and Mulago Hospital in Kampala....

Table 1: National situation report on the outbreak in Luweero as of 18 November, 2012 

Summary of cases   Luweero  Kampala  Total 

New suspect cases today  1  1  2 

New deaths 

*

1  0  1 

Cumulative cases  

• Probable  

•  Confirmed  

9  5 

1 

14 

1 

Cumulative deaths (probable & confirmed cases) in  

• Health Facilities 

• Community 

4 

0 

0 

0 

4 

0 

Total number of cases on admission  6  6  12 

Cummulative cases discharged  0  0  0 

Runaways from isolation  0  0  0 

Number of contacts listed  62  0  62 

Total number of contacts followed up today  62  0  62 

Current admissions of Health Care Workers  0  0  0 

Cummulative cases of Health Care Workers  0  0  0 

Cummulative deaths of Health Care Workers  0  0  0 

Specimens collected today  3  4  7 

Cummulative specimens collected  14  6  20 

Number of cases with lab. confirmation  3  1  4 

Date of admission of last confirmed case  12/11/2012  0  - 

Confirmed cases that have died  3  0  3 

*The new death is the laboratory confirmed case that was admitted in Bombo Isolation facility.

mmore  http://www.ifrc.org/docs/Appeals/12/MDRUG031%20.pdf

Fall ill with the novel coronavirus

Fall ill with the novel coronavirus in Germany

 next article 

23.11.2012

The Robert Koch Institute was informed on 22.11.2012 under the International Health Regulations, that a further fall ill with the novel coronavirus (HCoV-EMC) has been confirmed in a patient from Qatar.The patient was treated after symptom onset in October initially treated in the hospital in Qatar, but then postponed because of his severe respiratory symptoms to a specialist chest clinic in Germany. That had taken place after the intensive medical treatment, his condition has improved considerably, so that he could be discharged from the hospital this week.

Samples of the patients had been sent from Qatar to the UK and examined there for the novel coronavirus. The Health Protection Agency (HPA) confirmed the detection of the novel coronavirus.

In the clinic in North Rhine-Westphalia, where the patient was treated successfully for four weeks, no illnesses have been reported among medical staff. A detailed survey of all contacts initiated by the hospital and the responsible health department currently. The Robert Koch Institute has taken in close cooperation with the physicians, the authorities and the local health departments to coordinate the research and interviews in Germany under the International Health Regulations.

The case is the fifth case became known disease with the novel coronavirus; previously been another case of Qatar and three cases from Saudi Arabia confirmed. A striking feature of most patients is the combined development of severe respiratory distress syndrome and acute renal failure. Between the individual cases was no epidemiological link, and they performed at longer intervals. It is further assumed that sporadic infections of unknown cause in these two countries. There is currently no evidence of human-to-human transmission. The risk assessment of the Robert Koch Institute therefore continues that the risk of disease is very low in Germany.

informed the public health service and a network of intensive care and information provided on its website. A laboratory diagnostic test, which is available at the RKI allows the specific detection of the virus. It is planned to investigate in the diagnosis of patient samples taken from the Robert Koch Institute to characterize the new virus disease better. A suspicion of a disease caused by the novel coronavirus is immediately reported to the competent health authority. general information about the novel coronavirus are on the web pages available at the RKI http://www.innovations-report.de/html/berichte/medizin_gesundheit/erkrankungsfall_neuartigen_coronavirus_deutschland_206129.html?http://www.rki.de>

3 new cases bringing the total to 6 worldwide – no new cases in the UK

23 November 2012: The WHO has today reported that globally, there are now six laboratory confirmed cases of novel coronavirus 2012. Four cases are from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and two cases from Qatar (one reported in the UK and the other reported in Germany). Two of the recently confirmed cases in KSA are epidemiologically linked and are from the same family and household. One has died and the other has recovered. Two other family members who were ill have been tested; one is negative and a result on the other is awaited. The newly reported case from Qatar, which was laboratory confirmed by the HPA in November, was initially treated in October in Qatar but then transferred to Germany and has now been discharged. In light of these developments the WHO is currently considering a review of the case definition and other guidance related to the novel coronavirus.»More information from WHO[external link]  http://www.hpa.org.uk/Topics/InfectiousDiseases/InfectionsAZ/NovelCoronavirus2012/

WHO: 4 new cases of coronavirus infection, including 2 in same family

 Friday, November 23, 2012 11:48 AM

The World Health Organization says it has been informed of four additional infections with the new coronavirus, including two people in one family in Saudi Arabia.

The WHO says two other members of the same family were sick with similar symptoms.

The UN agency's statement does not address the question of whether the family members may have been infected by an animal or environmental source, or whether the virus may have spread from person to person.

Of those four sick family members, two have died; one tested positive for the virus and testing is still underway on samples from the other....

....atory infections, in the community or among health-care workers. Health-care workers can serve as sentinel in disease outbreaks because they can become infected by unidentified cases.

There is little information about the new cases. The WHO statement does not identify whether the cases are men or women, nor does it give their ages or whether they lived in cities or the countryside.

Nor does the statement hypothesize how any of the people may have become infected...

http://www.globaltvedmonton.com/health/who+4+new+cases+of+coronavirus+infection+including+2+in+same+family/6442759396/story.html

Read it on Global News: Global Edmonton | WHO: 4 new cases of coronavirus infection, including 2 in same family 

Ministry confirms coronavirus case in Riyadh

Last Updated : Wednesday, November 21, 2012 12:32 AM

RIYADH — A new case of coronavirus infection was discovered in Riyadh, according to a statement by the Ministry of Health Tuesday.

“A citizen who visited one of the hospitals in Riyadh complaining of flu-like symptoms raised suspicion. Following appropriate tests and after cross checking the results in an specialized lab abroad, it was confirmed that the man tested positive for the virus," the statement said.

It said the patient was given appropriate treatment and his condition has improved.

The ministry asked the public not to panic, as the infection does not lead to serious complications. "There is no cause for worry. The discovered cases were few and isolated," it added.

“From many cases (discovered abroad) it can be said that the majority of whom infected with coronavirus got cured after receiving appropriate treatment as was the case with viruses causing respiratory infections and seasonal influenza," the ministry assured. — SG

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentid=20121121143527

4th Betacornavirus Case Raises Pandemic Concerns

Recombinomics Commentary 16:15
November 23, 2012

A new case of coronavirus infection was discovered in Riyadh, according to a statement by the Ministry of Health Tuesday.

“A citizen who visited one of the hospitals in Riyadh complaining of flu-like symptoms raised suspicion. Following appropriate tests and after cross checking the results in an specialized lab abroad, it was confirmed that the man tested positive for the virus," the statement said.

It said the patient was given appropriate treatment and his condition has improved.

The ministry asked the public not to panic, as the infection does not lead to serious complications. "There is no cause for worry. The discovered cases were few and isolated," it added.

The above translation from the Saudi Gazette describe the 4th confirmednovel betacoronavirus case.  This case was also reported in a ProMED RFI, but none of the reports contained any detail.  Today WHO issued an update, indicating they had received reports on four additional confirmed cases, raising the total to six (four in Saudi Arabia and 2 in Qatar), including an additional death.

The WHO description indicates the fatal case was epidemiologically linked to the above case, as well as two symptomatic family members.  One of the additional family members died increasing the familial death toll to 2, although initial testing of this case was negative for the novel betacornavirus.

Human transmission of this novel virus is not unexpected (earlier WHO comments notwithstandig) and the similarities with the SARS-CoV outbreak in 2002/2003 are striking.

More detail on this cluster and testing would be useful.

Family cluster of novel coronavirus cases reported in Saudi Arabia

23 Nov 2012 | 16:15 GMT | Posted by Declan Butler | 

The World Health Organization (WHO) this afternoon reported four new lab-confirmed cases of a novel coronavirus infection bringing the total number of cases identified since June to six. Two of the cases are from the same household, raising the possibility of human-to-human transmission of the virus, although it’s also possible that they both contracted it independently from an animal source in the area. Three of the new cases occurred in Saudi Arabia, including one who died, while a fourth case was reported in Qatar. The WHO gave few further details of the cases, such as their age or sex, or their current medical condition.

That the new cases have been found likely reflects increased surveillance for the virus since it’s identification as a novel virus. They follow two cases reported earlier — a 60 year old man from Saudi Arabia who fell ill, and died in June, and a 49-year-old man from Qatar who fell ill in September and has since recovered — seeSARS veterans tackle coronavirus. None of the contacts of those two men are known to have contracted the virus, which suggests that the virus likely doesn’t transmit, or doesn’t transmit easily, between humans. The coronavirus, identified in September is genetically most-closely related to bat coronavirus, and bats and possibly intermediate animal hosts, are likely to be the virus’ reservoirs.

Among this new batch of cases, two of the four cases in Saudi Arabia were from the same family, living in the same household — one died and the other recovered. Moreover, two other family members showed similar symptoms, and one has died; the WHO is waiting on the results as to whether the fatal case tests positive for the coronavirus too; the recovered case tested negative. Household clusters of cases of a novel virus raise the possibility of human-to-human transmission, and so immediately catch the attention of epidemiologists, who along with clinicians and virologists, will be urgently seeking to tease out the likely source of infection, how the people contracted the virus, and whether they each caught it independently from an animal reservoir, or is there any human-to-human transmission going on.

The WHO gave no description of the symptoms, but the cases in June and September had severe pneumonia and acute renal failure. What’s also striking so far is the very high case mortality rate – so far two out of six cases, and three out of seven if the unconfirmed fatal case tests positive. Now, one can’t put a firm figure on case mortality rates until one knows the t..

http://blogs.nature.com/news/2012/11/family-cluster-of-novel-coronavirus-cases-reported-in-saudi-arabia.html

World Health Organization: Six confirmed cases of SARS-like coronavirus in Middle East

As a precaution, the WHO advised medical authorities around the world to test any patients with unexplained pneumonias for the virus. Previously, the organization had only advised testing patients who had been to either Qatar or Saudi Arabia.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-204_162-57553669/world-health-organization-six-confirmed-cases-of-sars-like-coronavirus-in-middle-east/

"Health" discover new infections citizen Corona virus

2012-11-20 23:30:5

Ministry of Health announced the discovery of a case of Corona infection citizen in a hospital in the city of Riyadh, where the ministry after making sure hit Balvyrus citizen to take all actions and precautionary measures to deal with this situation.

The ministry that the patient may receive appropriate treatment and recovered, and health status reassuring nor claim to worry where these cases are sporadic and equal most people infected with the virus recovered after providing supportive therapy appropriate for such this topic cases like viruses that cause respiratory infections, and assured the ministry everybody's going to follow developments on the situation of the virus in coordination with international organizations and international medical bodies and regional organizations.   http://www.alriyadh.com/net/article/785909

WHO says 4 new cases of SARS-like virus found in Saudi, Qatar

Fri Nov 23, 2012 10:50am EST

Nov 23 (Reuters) - A new virus from the same family as SARS which was discovered and sparked a global alert in September has now killed two people in Saudi Arabia and Qatar and the total number of cases has risen to six, the World Health Organisation said on Friday.

The U.N. health agency issued a global alert in late September saying a virus previously unknown in humans had infected a 49-year-old Qatari who had recently travelled to Saudi Arabia, where another man with the same virus had died.

On Friday, it said in a disease outbreak update that it had registered four more cases and that one of the new patients had died.

"The additional cases have been identified as part of the enhanced surveillance in Saudi Arabia (3 cases, including 1 death) and Qatar (1 case)," the WHO said.

The new virus is known as a coronavirus and shares some of the symptoms of SARS, or Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, which emerged in China in 2002 and killed around a tenth of the 8,000 people it infected worldwide.

Among the symptoms in the confirmed cases are a fever, coughing and breathing difficulties.

Coronaviruses are typically spread like other respiratory infections, such as flu, travelling in airborne droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

The WHO said investigations were being conducted into the likely source of the infection, the method of exposure, and the possibility of human-to-human transmission of the virus.

"Close contacts of the recently confirmed cases are being identified and followed-up," it said.

The WHO urged all its member states to continue surveillance for severe acute respiratory infections.

"Until more information is available, it is prudent to consider that the virus is likely more widely distributed than just the two countries which have identified cases," it said. (Reporting by Kate Kelland; Editing by Andrew Osborn)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/23/health-virus-who-idUSL5E8MN9DV20121123

Second coronavirus death reported

23 November 2012 Last updated at 10:14 ET

A second person has died from a new respiratory illness similar to the Sars virus, according to the World Health Organization.

The WHO said three fresh cases had also been reported bringing the total to six.

All are linked to either Saudi Arabia or Qatar. However, one man has been transferred to the UK for treatment...


It said in a statement: "Until more information is available, it is prudent to consider that the virus is likely more widely distributed than just the two countries which have identified cases."   http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-20468478

Novel coronavirus infection -WHO update

23 NOVEMBER 2012 - WHO has been notified of four additional cases, including one death, due to infection with the novel coronavirus. The additional cases have been identified as part of the enhanced surveillance in Saudi Arabia (3 cases, including 1 death) and Qatar (1 case). This brings the total of laboratory confirmed cases to 6.

Investigations are ongoing in areas of epidemiology, clinical management, and virology, to look into the likely source of infection, the route of exposure, and the possibility of human-to-human transmission of the virus. Close contacts of the recently confirmed cases are being identified and followed-up.

So far, only the two most recently confirmed cases in Saudi Arabia are epidemiologically linked - they are from the same family, living in the same household. Preliminary investigations indicate that these 2 cases presented with similar symptoms of illness. One died and the other recovered.

Additionally, 2 other members of this family presented with similar symptoms of illness, where one died and the other is recovering. Laboratory results of the fatal case is pending, while the case that is recovering tested negative for the novel coronavirus.

WHO continues to work with the governments of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and other international health partners to gain a better understanding of the novel coronavirus and the disease in humans. Further epidemiological and scientific studies are needed to better understand the virus.

WHO encourages all Member States to continue their surveillance for severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) and is currently reviewing the case definition and other guidance related to the novel coronavirus. Until more information is available, it is prudent to consider that the virus is likely more widely distributed than just the two countries which have identified cases. Member States should consider testing of patients with unexplained pneumonias for the new coronavirus even in the absence of travel or other associations with the Middle East. In addition, any clusters of SARI or SARI in health care workers should be thoroughly investigated regardless of where in the world they occur.

Of the 6 laboratory confirmed cases reported to WHO, 4 cases (including 2 deaths) are from Saudi Arabia and 2 cases are from Qatar. http://www.who.int/csr/don/2012_11_23/en/index.html

A chicken farm bird flu burst in Penghu 600 chickens culled

Huaxia Jingwei Website 2012-11-23 15:07:2

Huaxia Jingwei Website, November 23: According to Taiwan media reports, the Penghu area for the first time the outbreak of avian flu, the local epidemic prevention by last night overnight 600 chickens were culled. "The COA the BAPHIQ" said the 19th of this month, Penghu County a simulated native field died 150 chickens, chicken farmers take the initiative to send sick or dead chickens Penghu Livestock Disease Control Inspection. The test results came in yesterday evening, confirmed to have been infected with the H5N2 bird flu virus, highly pathogenic or low pathogenic two days to confirm.

    According to reports, the Penghu a simulated native plants in the 19th of this month, the chickens in bird flu symptoms start to appear, 150 chickens died suddenly after another. The chicken farmers dead chickens examination again 50 chickens died the next day.

    Released yesterday evening inspection confirmed infection of H5N2 avian influenza in chickens. Acting Director of the COA BAPHIQ "said Hsieh Fu-mei, H5N2 avian flu does not infect humans; highly pathogenic (high infection rates, high mortality) or low pathogenic, still need to wait for another two-day test results to confirmed.

    Hsieh Fu-mei said that the island provides outbreaks of avian influenza, regardless of the level of pathogens, the chicken farm chicken farm and within a radius of three kilometers must move control 21 days; recognized as highly pathogenic required to audience culling. Penghu local competent authority has taken a high-standard management, culling the remaining 600 chickens yesterday, and to strengthen disinfection control around farms have not yet found the symptoms of avian flu.  http://huaxia.com/xw/twxw/2012/11/3098681.html

German lab: Qatar man suffered from new virus

Germany's national health institute says a patient from Qatar has been confirmed with a new type of coronavirus but it has shown no signs of being easily transmitted like the related virus that caused the 2003 global SARS outbreak.BERLIN —

Germany's national health institute says a patient from Qatar has been confirmed with a new type of coronavirus but it has shown no signs of being easily transmitted like the related virus that caused the 2003 global SARS outbreak.

The Robert Koch Institute said Friday the patient fell ill in Qatar in October with severe respiratory problems. He was treated in a specialty clinic in Germany for a month and released this week.

Britain's Health Protection Agency confirmed based on samples that he was sickened by a new coronavirus detected so far only in four other people, from Qatar and Saudi Arabia.  http://seattletimes.com/html/health/2019745169_apeugermanynewvirus.html

H5N2 bird flu reported at chicken farm in Chiayi

2012/11/23 18:00:34

Taipei, Nov. 23 (CNA) Animal health officials have imposed a ban on the movement of chickens at a farm in southern Taiwan that has been found infected with low-pathogenic H5N2 avian influenza. Wong Yo-chu, director of the Chiayi County government's Animal Disease Control Center, said his agency will not allow the 15,700 chickens at the farm in Puzih to be moved off the premises, but they will be kept alive. "As it was low-pathogenic, we will not cull the chickens," Wong said, but the eggs laid by the chickens will have to be disinfected before they can be sold on the market. All 94 poultry farms within a 3-kilometer radius of the farm are being monitored, and no abnormal cases have been reported yet, Wong said. Meanwhile, the Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine under the Council of Agriculture said Friday that it has filed a report of the Chiayi case with the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). as confirmed to have been infected with H5N2 virus Thursday.

Southeast Asia: Bird flu back

The H5N1 avian influenza virus, back for more than a year. Previously, South-East Asia has been one of the world most affected.

The number of reported reappearance of H5N1 in poultry and wild birds has decreased since mid-2011 and fell sharply during the second quarter of 2012, according to FAO. Six countries reported to the UN agency 98 cases of poultry affected by H5N1 and five cases of wild birds from April to June 2012, according to CIDRAP (Center for Infectious Disease Research & Policy, University of Minnesota). Among the countries included Cambodia , the Indonesia and China.

During this period, the decline in the number of cases of bird flu was the most sensitive in Egypt and Indonesia.Countries are affected more sporadically - like Vietnam , Japan and South Korea - have reported no cases.H5N1 had declined from 2003 to 2008 before a new advance in mid-2008 to mid-2011.

FAO has called for caution, however: all H5N1 cases are not reported and "clinical signs [of illness] may be masked by the use of regular vaccination of poultry farms." In addition, the second quarter marks the end of the season of H5N1, said the FAO report (during the first quarter of 2012, 198 cases were reported in eleven countries).

Vietnam has had good report no cases during the second quarter, the virus may be endemic in the delta of the Mekong and the provinces surrounding Ho Chi Minh City . Nine cases of human transmission have been reported during the second quarter of 2012 in four countries, including Cambodia and Indonesia. In 2012, 30 people became ill, 19 died, the last in August in Indonesia (in 2011, 62 cases were reported, including 34 deaths).  http://asie-info.fr/2012/11/23/asie-du-sud-est-la-grippe-aviaire-recule-513625.html

German lab: Qatar man sickened by new virus of same family that caused SARS

Updated: Friday, November 23, 8:19 AM

BERLIN — Germany’s national health institute says a patient from Qatar has been confirmed with a new type of coronavirus but it has shown no signs of being easily transmitted like the related virus that caused the 2003 global SARS outbreak.

The Robert Koch Institute said Friday the patient fell ill in Qatar in October with severe respiratory problems. He was treated in a specialty clinic in Germany for a month and released this week.

Britain’s Health Protection Agency confirmed based on samples that he was sickened by a new coronavirus detected so far only in four other people, from Qatar and Saudi Arabia....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/german-lab-qatar-man-sickened-by-new-virus-of-same-family-that-caused-sars/2012/11/23/622cc0d6-3570-11e2-92f0-496af208bf23_story.html

Tanzania: Kagera On High Ebola Alert

BY MEDDY MULISA, 22 NOVEMBER 2012

KAGERA Region is on high Ebola alert following reports that neighbouring Uganda risked a major resurgence of the disease after 43 cases were discovered this year.

The Regional Health Officer (RHO), Dr Herman Kabirigi, told the 'Daily News' here that a team of experts had been dispatched to all entry points to monitor movement of people. The entry points include Rusumo and Kabanga, in Ngara District; Kaisho and Murongo, in Karagwe District, and Kyaka and Mutukula, in Misenyi District.

He said that health officials were making 24-hour surveillance at all entry points to check the disease. The warning came after Uganda announced that the Ebola virus had claimed another life on Sunday, bringing the death toll in the latest outbreak of the infectious disease in the country to five. Ebola killed 16 people in August, this year, including four clinical officers who were attending sick patients.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) later confirmed that the Ebola disease which was reported in neighbouring Uganda was now under control. Reports from Uganda's capital, Kampala revealed that police have halted visitation of inmates in all prisons across the city and neighbouring districts.

The move is aimed at curbing the spread of the deadly Ebola haemorrhagic fever among inmates and other people. Addressing the media at a weekly police briefing, the Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson, Ibin Ssenkumbi, yesterday said the visitors will only be given access to the suspects if the reason is serious enough.

"We hereby call upon friends, relatives and sympathisers of suspects to refrain from visiting them in the meantime because they will not be allowed to meet them (suspects)," he reiterated. Ssenkumbi, however, noted that the move is temporary, saying once the Ministry of Health declares the country Ebola-free, the suspects will receive visitors as usual.

The WHO describes Ebola as "a viral haemorrhagic fever and one of the most virulent diseases known to humankind". It says the disease was discovered in 1976 in a western equatorial province of Sudan and a nearby region of Zaire (now Democratic Republic of the Congo). It takes its name from a river in the DRC.

 http://allafrica.com/stories/201211220156.html?aa_source=acrdn-f3

Yellow fever in Sudan – update

Yellow fever in Sudan – update

GENEVA, Switzerland, November 22, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/– The Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) in Sudan began a 10-day mass vaccination campaign against yellow fever in Darfur on 20 November 2012, in response to the outbreak.

As of 17 November 2012, the outbreak is reported to have affected 26 localities, with a total of 459 suspected cases including 116 deaths. Two cases were confirmed by IgM ELISA test and RT-PCR by the WHO regional reference laboratory for yellow fever, the Institut Pasteur in Dakar, Senegal. An outbreak investigation team led by the Ministry of Health, with support from WHO are in the field to assess the extent of the outbreak and prioritize areas for the mass vaccination campaign.

With support from the International Coordinating Group on Yellow Fever Vaccine Provision (YF-ICG), the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), and international non-governmental organizations (INGOs), the vaccination campaign will be carried out in the most affected 12 localities in Darfur region, targeting approximately 2.2 million people.

The YF-ICG is a partnership which manages stockpile of yellow fever vaccines for emergency response. It is represented by United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and WHO, which also serves as the Secretariat.

Seven INGOs, including the International Committee of the Red Cross, MSF-Belgium, MSF-Spain, MSF-Swiss, Merlin, Save the Children-Swiss, and International Medical Corps are currently working in the 12 localities prioritized for the vaccination campaign. They will actively support the FMOH in this emergency response.

WHO is supporting the State Ministries of Health in conducting field investigations to better assess the epidemiological situation and the risk of disease spread, as well as on-the-job trainings for health staff to strengthen their disease surveillance systems and to improve collection of samples and laboratory diagnosis..

WHO has activated the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN) and additional support will soon be provided to the ongoing response efforts in the country. http://appablog.wordpress.com/?id=19061

Ebola outbreak: 1 nurse on surveillance at Bombo hospital

One nurse is said to be under surveillance at Bombo hospital after she came into contact with an affected person.

A/H5N1 flu outbreak in people at risk of re-

22.11.2012 | 15:24:00

Tran Thanh Duong, Deputy Director, Department of Preventive Medicine confirmed A/H5N1 flu risk further outbreaks in poultry as well as affect the entirely possible in the coming years. Speaking at risk communication workshop on influenza A/H5N1 held in Hanoi, morning 22/11, Deputy Director, Department of Preventive Medicine, Tran Thanh Duong explained, causes continued outbreaks in poultry and spread to humans is because if the authorities do not have the radical measures to control avian influenza.
 According to Yang, the trade of trafficking and smuggling of poultry disease in the past is great risk to the spread of the A/H5N1 flu outbreak from country to country, or from one region to another. Currently, according to the notice of the Department of Animal Health (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) Vietnam has discovered the C branch of the A/H5N1 flu virus, but have not recorded the spread of this new virus to humans.According to statistics of the Department of Preventive Medicine, from early 2012 to the present, A/H5N1 flu still appear scattered on both poultry and humans. In particular, in Vietnam, the cases of this flu has a high mortality rate.During 2012 continued with the flu outbreaks in poultry and has had four questions, including two deaths. Cause of A/H5N1 flu cases in Vietnam has a high mortality rate due to this virus strain circulating in the country have high virulence and the majority of these cases admitted to the hospital late. So to prevention, Department of Preventive Medicine recommends people to see the manifest as a sudden high fever above 39 degrees C or chest pain, coughing, shortness of breath, headache, sore throat, tiredness, need to immediately medical facility for examination and treatment. People need to avoid late admission, when severe disease that has led to a high mortality risk. From early 2012, the world has recorded 30 cases of A/H5N1 flu in six countries, including with 19 deaths.

  http://www.vietnamplus.vn/Home/Dich-cum-AH5N1-o-nguoi-co-nguy-co-tai-bung-phat/201211/170012.vnplus

Beware, Bird Flu Back Rampant

Thursday, November 22, 2012, 18:11 pm 

Bird flu, illustration REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAMBI --- At least 800 chickens died suddenly in the village Nagasari, District Mestong, Muarojambi regency, Jambi, tested positive for bird flu after laboratory checks by the local Animal Husbandry Department.

"From the results of tests conducted on the dead chickens in the village of Naga farmers belonging Sari, positive bird flu," said Chief District Veterinary Office Muarojambi, Parahuman Lubis in Edinburgh on Thursday.

According to him, the test performed immediately after getting a report of the presence of hundreds of chickens died suddenly. "Most of the dead chickens are kind of chicken that are specific to the hatchery," he said.

He said the data received from the Department of Animal Husbandry Muarojambi, 800 chickens that died in the village Nagasari in just less than two weeks.

Having tested positive for bird flu, the Animal Husbandry Department Muarojambi take the initiative to carry out the destruction of the remaining chicken. "Farmers also been banned mejual bird flu infected chickens to the community, because it is dangerous," she said.

In order for the bird flu does not spread more widely, the local animal husbandry department has been spraying disinfectant Nagasari village. "Spraying is we do. Residents are asked not remove chicken from a cage.'s To avoid the transmission of a greater," explained Parahuman.

He added that, in addition to the village Nagasari, it is also another report that too many Pijoan village chickens died suddenly. "For in the village Pijoan unknown results of the examination. Due to a lot of dead chicken carcass was removed and buried people. But most likely also due to bird flu," he said. http://www.republika.co.id/berita/nasional/umum/12/11/22/mdvz3j-waspadalah-flu-burung-kembali-merajalela

Airborne transmission of Ebola in pigs

Airborne transmission of Ebola

Duration: 

18 minutes

First broadcast:

 

Thursday 22 November 2012

Ebola Transmission
In the last few months there have been several outbreaks of the deadly Ebola virus in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, the first time there have been so many in quick succession. Up until now, it has been thought that it is only spread through direct contact and bodily fluids. However new research now shows that the deadliest form of the disease infects pigs, and can also be spread through the air from pigs to monkeys. Dr Gary Kobinger from the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Canada is one of the scientists behind the findings. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p010jyvq  

Doctors Without Borders appeals to Uganda officials to confront the Ebola virus

He appealed to officials in the organization "Doctors Without Borders", Minister of Health of Uganda Christine Oondoa, the need to take the necessary measures to isolate infected (Ebola), who has returned once again to face the citizens, and that after a month and a half on the last plague, which killed 17 people in western Uganda.

Noteworthy that, the Ebola virus was first discovered in 1976 the Democratic Republic of Congo, which lies on its borders Uganda and there is as yet no vaccine for this virus, and the World Health Organization (WHO) has monitored 52 cases at the end of last October.

A symptom of this disease, very high temperatures, diarrhea, nausea and lack of efficient kidney and hepatitis, and bleeding, which is transmitted directly through blood, saliva and waste for people infected, and the virus finds a warehouse him in some animals, such as birds bats, which feeds on fruit The gorillas and chimpanzees, who live in tropical forests, as well as pigs, which stores the virus in the respiratory apparatus.

It should be noted, that Uganda suffered since the beginning of last October with another kind of virus, cause a rise in temperature and bleeding, which was discovered in the southwest on the border with Rwanda, a virus (Marburg), which resulted in the death of 8 people and wounding nine cases . http://shorouknews.com/news/view.aspx?cdate=22112012&id=0eaa443d-0925-449b-a22e-90487c12ec53

Ebola: Health centre suspends admissions

Construction of an isolation centre for Ebola cases at Nyimbwa Health Centre IV. PHOTO BY dan wandera. 

By Dan Wandera

Posted  Wednesday, November 21  2012 at  02:00 Luweero

Nyimbwa Health Centre IV in Luweero District has stopped admitting patients due to inadequate space at the facility, which is preparing to receive confirmed and suspected Ebola virus cases.

According to Dr Innocent Nkonwa, the in-charge of the facility, the patients will, however, continue receiving treatment.

“We have not stopped treatment. The maternity wing is under renovation and those supposed to be admitted are being referred to our neighbouring facilities of Bombo Health Centre III and other units around the area,” Dr Nkonwa said, noting that they, however, have few people turning up due to the Ebola scare.

Meanwhile, the district Ebola task force and surveillance teams are reportedly overwhelmed by emergency calls from different health units to attend to patients with symptoms similar to that of the deadly hemorrhagic fever.

“Some of the cases are not really related to Ebola but there is panic and fear among health workers and the public. We are trying to respond to all these calls to ensure that the outbreak is handled and so we call upon the people to be calm but vigilant,” Dr Joseph Okware, the district health officer, said.

The number of confirmed Ebola cases has risen to six according to the latest results from the Uganda Virus Research Institute, while blood samples of 12 suspected cases have also been taken for testing.  http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Ebola--Health-centre-suspends-admissions/-/688334/1625214/-/s2doa9z/-/index.html

Health workers complain over protection

Dr Steven Kajaaya (R) takes blood samples from Tom Njerejeza of Kichwamba Village in Lyantonde District. Njerejeza died of an illness with Ebola-like symptoms, last week.Health workers at Layntonde Hospital have appealed to the government to give them more protective gear. PHOTO BY ISSA ALIGA  Health workers at Lyantonde Hospital have expressed concern over the shortage of protective gear at the facility.

The health workers told the Daily Monitor on Tuesday that they were at risk of contracting Ebola, which broke out in Luweero District recently. The disease has killed five people in Luweero.

The complaint came shortly after a 30-year-old boda boda cyclist identified as Tom Njerejeza, of Kichwamba Village in Lyantonde District last week died from an illness with Ebola-like symptoms. Dr Steven Kajaaya, a health worker at Lyantonde Hospital, said the only protective gear was used during the burial of Njerejeza at Kichwamba Village.

No gear
“The only pair of Ebola protective gear were used and discarded. Right now, we don’t have any and the doctors are at risk should there be another Ebola incident that may occur,’’ Dr Kajaaya said. Dr Kajaaya called upon the government to give the hospital more protective gear.

Sensitisation
“We cannot risk our lives and we shall not attend to any other Ebola victim if we don’t have protective gear,’’ Dr Kajaaya said.The Lyantonde District Health Officer, Dr Okoth Obbo, said blood samples obtained from Njerejeza had been taken to the Central Health Public Laboratory in Wandegeya, Kampala for examination.

Dr Obbo added that they have started a joint community sensitisation exercise with local leaders to teach people how to prevent spread of Ebola.

The Lyantonde District chairperson, Mr Fred Muhangi, warned residents against shaking hands and hugging, saying such body contacts should be stopped until health experts come up with a report about the suspected outbreak of the virus in Lyantonde.  http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Health-workers-complain-over-protection/-/688334/1626268/-/n4lsvk/-/index.html

Lyantonde Blood Samples Test Negative For Ebola

Blood samples of person who died after displaying symptoms similar to Ebola in Lyantonde district have tested negative for the Ebola virus.

http://ugandaradionetwork.com/a/story.php?s=47611