Disease

Syphilis – Montana, USA

A national increase in syphilis cases continues to impact Montana and public health officials are concerned. During the first couple of months in 2018, nine new syphilis cases were reported in Montana, continuing the 2017 outbreak experienced when 49 cases were reported.

Rift Valley fever – South Sudan

The RVF outbreak was first suspected in December 2017, following three deaths in humans with a history of severe hemorrhagic illness in Thonabutkok village, Yali Payam, Yirol East County, Eastern Lakes State.

Abortions in goats and sheep; deaths/disease in goats and cows were also reported and epidemiologically linked to the human cases.

From 7 December 2017 to 9 March 2018, a total of 40 suspected human Rift Valley fever cases have been reported in the Eastern Lakes State.

Measles – the Philippines

The Philippines Department of Health has reported a near tripling of measles cases during the first month of 2018, compared to the same period in 2017, according to a Measles Disease Surveillance Report recently published. A total of 877 suspect measles cases were reported nationwide from Jan. 1 to Feb. 3, 2018.