Disease

Newcastle Disease in the Philippines

A Newcastle disease outbreak has been declared in seven towns in Ilocos Norte due to the increasing number of chicken deaths. The provincial veterinary office reported that more than 7,000 chickens have died due to the virus in the towns of Pagudpud, Burgos, Bangui, Adams, Dingras, Marcos and Banna.

It said that some dead chickens have been found on the streets. The veterinary office added that majority of those affected by the virus were native chickens and fighting cocks.

It said that vaccines have been distributed in other towns in Ilocos Norte to prevent the virus from spreading.

Disease

Zika Virus Outbreak in South Pacific

The tiny South Pacific kingdom of Tonga said Friday it has a Zika epidemic after five people tested positive for the virus and another 265 are suspected of having it.

The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said in addition to Tonga, the Pacific islands of American Samoa and Samoa have also reported Zika outbreaks and it is warning Pacific travellers to protect themselves from mosquitoes, which spread the virus.

Newcastle Disease in the Philippines

An outbreak of Newcastle disease in Central Luzon in the Philippines has killed more than 40 000 chickens according to the Department of Agriculture.

It is suspected that the spread of the virus was enhanced by recent typhoons that have stressed the birds and weakened them.

The department had already implemented measures to prevent the further spread of the disease, including the distribution of vaccine and disinfectant particularly to backyard raisers.

Disease

Zika virus infection – United States of America - United States Virgin Islands

On 25 January 2016, the National IHR Focal Point for the United States of America notified PAHO/WHO of the first laboratory-confirmed cases of Zika virus infection in St. Croix, one of the three main islands in the United States Virgin Islands (USVI).

Circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus – Lao People’s Democratic Republic

On 17 January 2016, the National IHR Focal Point (NFP) of Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR) notified WHO of 2 additional cases of vaccine-derived poliovirus type 1 (VDPV1). Both cases are from Longsane district, Xaisomboun Province.

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) – Thailand

On 24 January 2016, the National IHR Focal Point of Thailand notified WHO of 1 laboratory-confirmed case of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection. This is the country’s second case of MERS-CoV infection (see DON published on 10 July 2015).

Bird Flu in Nigeria

Avian Influenza, popularly referred to as bird flu, is now in 18 states in Nigeria and has affected over 2.5 million chickens and is spreading fast.

By the last count, as of yesterday (Thursday), not less than 2.5 million chickens have been infected and over 700 farms have been affected nationwide. From one incidence in one state and moving to two states, it has increased and by now it is in not less than 18 states - according to local health authorities.

Newcastle Disease in the Philippines

The confirmation of an outbreak of the contagious and fatal Newcastle disease (ND) virus in Tarlac has spurred the Department of Agriculture (DA) to urge poultry stakeholders and fighting cock aficionados not to transport their animals to other regions.

Meningitis Outbreak in Ghana

Health authorities in central Ghana have denied that there is a meningitis outbreak in the country's Ashanti region.

The Ashanti regional health directorate claimed that they were only nine people who had tested positive after critical tests were done, according to Citi News.

Reports, however, indicate that at least 32 people have died in the west African country since the outbreak of the disease four weeks ago.

According to Ghana web, more than 100 cases of Pneumococcal Meningitis have been reported in the country's southern region of Brong-Ahafo region.

Disease

Newcastle Disease in Romania

Romania has reported an outbreak of Newcastle disease for the first time since 2007.

Over 500 birds died in a flock of laying hens in Bucov, Prahova. Another 1070 birds were destroyed to prevent the outbreak from spreading.

Romania's report to the World Organisation for Animal health described the affected farm as 'non-commercial, and said the birds were aged seven and a half months. They were vaccinated at 1 and 3 weeks old with a live attenuated vaccine, administered orally.

In addition to the stamping out operation, the country is enacting screening measures, tracing of the outbreak and movement controls.

Disease

China Bird Flu - Update

Three more people in China have died from severe respiratory infections from the H7N9 virus, pushing the number of deaths so far to 27. Two new cases have also been reported.

Saudi Arabia reports 7 new novel coronavirus cases

Saudi Arabia's health ministry has reported that five Saudis have died of novel coronavirus (nCoV) infections in the past few days, and two more case-patients are in intensive care.

Newcastle Disease Outbreak in Kazakhstan.

The country's concerned veterinary authorities have reported an outbreak of Newcastle disease in East Kazakhstan.

Second outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Tibet

Over 500 head of cattle have been culled in the latest outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in the Tibetan capital region of Lhasa in central Tibet.

Disease

Europe money crisis leads to poor health

Harsh spending cuts by debt-crippled European governments are also being partly blamed for outbreaks of diseases not normally seen in Europe and a spike in suicides, new research shows.

Since the crisis struck in 2008, state-run welfare and health services across Europe have seen their budgets cut, medical treatments rationed and unpopular measures such as hospital user fees introduced.

Those countries that have slashed public spending the hardest - Greece, Spain and Portugal - have fared the worst medically.

"Austerity measures haven't solved the economic problems and they have also created big health problems," said Martin McKee, a professor of European Public Health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, who led the research.

He said worsening health was driven not just by unemployment, but by the lack of a welfare system to fall back on.

"People need to have hope that the government will help them through this difficult time," he said.

The paper was published online on Wednesday in a special series of the journal Lancet.

McKee said Greece in particular was struggling.

Based on government data, he and colleagues found suicides rose by 40 per cent in 2011 compared to the previous year.

Last year, the country also reported an exponential rise in the number of HIV cases among drug users, due in part to addicts sharing contaminated syringes after needle exchange programs were dropped.

In recent years, Greece has also battled outbreaks of malaria, West Nile virus and dengue fever.

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Novel Coronavirus Infection - Update

The Robert Koch Institute has informed WHO of a new confirmed case of infection with the novel coronavirus (nCoV). The patient was a 73-year-old male from United Arab Emirates.

To date, WHO has been informed of a global total of 17 confirmed cases of human infection with nCoV, including 11 deaths.

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Newcastle Disease Outbreak in Israel

The Israeli veterinary authorities have reported an outbreak of Newcastle disease at a breeding farm in Hazafon.

Out of a total of 10680 susceptible birds, 30 deaths were reported. The remaining 10650 birds were destroyed.

Disease

Four new outbreaks of Newcastle disease were reported in Israel in the first week of December and resulted in the deaths of 5,700 birds, 4,400 were destroyed and 197,000 were slaughtered.

An outbreak of Bovine Johne's Disease (BJD) on a Queensland [Australia] stud farm has the farmer facing the prospect of slaughtering all of his 2 700 stud cattle. Some fear the outbreak could collectively cost Queensland cattle breeders tens of millions of dollars.

Disease

An outbreak of Newcastle disease in southern Minnesota, USA has prompted the closing of islands in Minnesota and Pigeon Lakes.