Disease

Portugal hepatitis A

In a follow-up to the hepatitis A outbreak in Portugal this year, 402 cases have been confirmed since the beginning of the year, according to local media (computer translated). The majority of cases occurred in the Lisbon and Tagus Valley regions. This is up from 322 cases one month ago.

Cholera cluster reported in Misamis Oriental, Philippines

T In a follow-up to a report on a diarrhea outbreak in Misamis Oriental, Philippines, the Department of Health (DOH) noted the clustering of Cholera cases in the Municipality of Medina. 557 suspect cases were identified in 17 of 19 barangays of the municipality from June 1 to July 17, with cases noted to peak in June 29 to July 1. Two deaths due to severe dehydration were reported.

Diphtheria cases continue spread in Venezuela

The vaccine-preventable disease was reportedly eradicated in Venezuela decades ago; however, it saw a reemergence in 2016 with 324 cases.

According to a Reuters report this weekend, Venezuela notified the World Health Organization (WHO) of around 123 cases of suspected diphtheria between January and mid-June, bringing the total number of suspected cases in the past year to 447, according to a Cuban health ministry web page which reported the figures.

Getting official figures from the Venezuelan Health Ministry has been difficult as the Epi Bulletin is rarely published.

The crisis in Venezuela is immense with skyrocketing inflation rates, food and medicine shortages and incredible violence and civil unrest. The health care crisis has showed us hospitals with no supplies, a lack of running water and electricity, a malaria epidemic and the resurgence of diphtheria after 24 years.