Disease

Listeriosis - Australia

Three people have died and 12 others have fallen ill in a national listeria outbreak linked to contaminated rockmelons, and more cases are expected, Australian health authorities said. NSW Health said that all 15 victims are elderly and are spread nationally from Victoria to Tasmania.

The outbreak is linked to the melons, also called cantaloupes, from a grower in the eastern state of New South Wales, the state's food authority confirmed on its website. The produce company, which has not been named, ceased operations and is investigating.

The disease causes flu-like symptoms and can lead to nausea, diarrhoea, and infection of the blood stream and brain. Listeria bacteria does not cause illness in most people but it can result in sickness and death for those with weaker immunity, such as the elderly, newborn babies and pregnant women.

Nigeria – Yellow Fever

Kebbi State has recorded 36 cases of yellow fever outbreak in 8 local government areas of the state.

In order to prevent the disease from spreading or to counter the spread of the disease in these local government areas, a yellow fever reactive vaccination campaign has been scheduled to begin from 10th to 19th March, 2018.