Disease

Dengue fever – Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso has been experiencing an epidemic of dengue fever since week 31 of 2017 (week ending on 6 August). WHO officially declared the outbreak on 28 September 2017.

In a period of about two weeks, the dengue case tally has gone from 2,298 (suspected, probable and confirmed) cases and nine deaths on Oct. 8 to 6,699 (suspected, probable or confirmed) cases and 13 deaths on Oct. 27 and officials say this is likely underestimated.

Plague outbreak update: Madagascar

In an update on the plague outbreak in Madagascar, UN officials now put the ever changing case tally in the epidemic that began on August 1 at 1,947 confirmed, probable and suspected cases of plague through Nov. 3. The death count has risen to 143.

Portugal: Legionnaires’ disease

A Legionnaires’ disease outbreak at a Lisbon hospital has now infected 26 patients and two hospital employees. The outbreak reported at São Francisco Xavier Hospital in Lisbon is already the largest in a hospital unit in Portugal and one of the largest in the world and more positive cases are expected.

An investigation into the cause of the outbreak has been opened.