Disease

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

On 3 January 2016, the National IHR Focal Point of Oman notified WHO of 1 additional case of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection.

Bubonic Plague in Madagascar - Update

The latest outbreak of bubonic plague on the Indian Ocean island of Madagascar has killed 63 people since August, the Health Ministry said.

At least 174 cases of the disease have been detected, Maherisoa Ratsitorahina, head of disease surveillance at the ministry, said in a statement Thursday in the capital, Antananarivo. Madagascar notified the World Health Organization of the current outbreak in September.

Efforts to curb the spread of the disease are being impeded by a build-up of garbage in Antananarivo amid a dispute between the municipality and the national government over who is responsible for waste management in the city.

Disease

Plague – Madagascar

The Ministry of Health of Madagascar has notified WHO of an outbreak of plague. The first case was identified on 17 August in a rural township in Moramanga district. The case passed away on 19 August. As of 30 August, 14 cases, including 10 deaths, were reported. All confirmed cases are of the pneumonic form. Since 27 August, no new cases have been reported from the affected or neighbouring districts.

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) – Jordan

Between 30 and 31 August 2015, the National IHR Focal Point of Jordan notified WHO of 2 additional cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection, including 1 death. Both cases are associated with a MERS-CoV outbreak currently occurring in a hospital in Amman city.

Philippines reports increase of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease

Health officials in the Philippines have seen a significant,in fact a three-fold increase in the number of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) cases reported during the first half of 2015, compared to the same period in 2014.

The Epidemiology Bureau of the Department of Health reported 563 HFMD cases through the end of June 2015, while only reporting 180 in the corresponding period in 2014.

HFMD is typically a benign and self-limiting disease. Most common in young children, it presents as fever, oral lesions and rash on the hands, feet and buttocks. The oral lesions consist of rapidly-ulcerating vesicles on the buccal mucosa, tongue, palate and gums. The rash consists of papulovesicular lesions on the palms, fingers and soles, which generally persist for seven to 10 days, and maculopapular lesions on the buttocks.

Hand, foot, and mouth disease is caused by viruses that belong to the Enterovirus genus (group). This group of viruses includes polioviruses, coxsackieviruses, echoviruses, and enteroviruses.

Insects

A plague of cockroaches has engulphed the southern Italian city of Naples. Hot weather and garbage left outdoors has caused the red insects to multiply exponentially. Pest control teams are spraying sewers around the clock in an attempt to avert a further spread of the insects which are carriers of typhoid and hepatitis.

 

Plague

Good rains and the resultant growth of vegetation in the Sahara have led to an increase in locust populations. Farmers in Niger and Mali are at high risk from large locust swarms that are moving southward from Algeria and Libya. The ravenous insects can decimate the food crops of entire communities.