Evaluating suggested tags classifier

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” [1] “Undervaccinated”
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DAVID PITT Associated Press

DES MOINES — State officials announced Monday that they have identified bird flu in a commercial flock of 50,000 turkeys in northwest Iowa, the state’s second case of a virus that has been identified in multiple U.S. states.

Iowa agriculture officials and the U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed the case in Buena Vista County, about 100 miles (160 kilometers) north of the case identified March 1 in a backyard flock of 42 ducks and chickens in Pottawattamie County.

Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a disaster proclamation for Buena Vista County to allow state resources to help with disposal of the affected flock and disinfection of the farm. Officials didn’t immediately disclose the number of birds involved. The emergency declaration also provides resources for tracking, monitoring and the rapid detection of bird flu.

The turkeys have been killed and disposed of on the farm. A 10-kilometer (6.2-mile) control area has been established to limit traffic in and out of the area while extensive testing is done to ensure no other cases, said State Veterinarian Dr. Jeff Kaisand. He said five other commercial farms are within the zone and 37 backyard flocks.

The discovery of avian influenza is especially troubling in Iowa, the nation’s leading egg producer. In 2015, an outbreak led producers to kill 33 million hens in the state and 9 million birds in Minnesota, the nation’s leading turkey producer. Smaller outbreaks were reported in Nebraska, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig said in a statement that state and federal agriculture officials are working with producers “to trace back, control and eradicate this disease from our state.”

Naig told reporters that if the virus spreads significantly into commercial egg, chicken or turkey populations, then consumer prices and product availability could become an issue. Cases have been reported in at least 12 states in backyard flocks and commercial production houses.

“We’re not seeing a massive outbreak on a large scale and so I think it’s too soon to be concerned about food impact or pricing impact at this point, but you have to acknowledge that can be an issue over time,” he said.

Avian influenza is an airborne respiratory virus that spreads easily among chickens through nasal and eye secretions, as well as manure. The virus can spread from flock to flock by wild birds, through contact with infected poultry, by equipment, and on the clothing and shoes of caretakers.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the recent bird flu detections do not present an immediate public health concern. No human cases of these avian influenza viruses have been detected in the United States. While it can be transmitted to humans, it is unusual and typically due to close contact with infected birds.

The first infection this year was identified in a commercial flock of turkeys in Indiana on Feb. 9. Since then, five additional flocks have been found with cases in Indiana, where more than 171,000 birds have been killed and removed. The virus also was detected in a flocks of turkeys and broiler chickens in Kentucky last month, resulting in the destruction and disposal of more than 284,000 birds. A commercial chicken flock in Delaware also was infected, leading to the disposal of 1.2 million birds, the USDA said.

In the past few days officials have identified the virus on a southeast Missouri farm with 240,000 broiler chickens, a commercial mixed species flock in southeastern South Dakota and an egg-laying hen operation in northeast Maryland.

On Monday, Nebraska officials confirmed the state’s first known discovery of the virus this year, in a wild goose near Holmes Lake in Lincoln.

Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. 		Undervaccinated Similarity Model

THE ISSUE

“A former Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health nurse fired for refusing to get a flu shot lost her religious discrimination lawsuit,” LNP | LancasterOnline’s Dan Nephin reported Saturday. “In dismissing Shyanne Aukamp-Corcoran’s suit last month, a federal judge rejected her claim that her Christianity led to her opposition and said no reasonable jury would find she had a sincere religious objection. Aukamp-Corcoran’s attorney is asking for a reconsideration, arguing the case should go to a jury because it’s not for a judge to assess witness credibility.”

The phenomenon of people doing their own research on vaccination has proven to be a scourge in recent years.

Decision-making based on internet misinformation has led to the terrible resurgence of childhood diseases such as measles. To the tragedy of unvaccinated people dying of COVID-19. And to the decline in the belief that we must fight vaccine-preventable diseases by protecting not only ourselves but one another.

Unbelievably, in this case, a licensed practical nurse placed her own misguided “research” before the health of the patients with whom she was likely to come into contact. In firing her for refusing to get immunized against the flu, Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health was acting out of concern for those patients and this licensed practical nurse’s co-workers.

We’ve stated this before, and we’ll continue to make this point: If you want to be employed as a health care worker in a medical facility — a place that’s full of sick people who cannot afford to get sicker — you need to get vaccinated against infectious diseases. This is just a matter of common sense. Of what use is a health care worker who cannot safely be in the same room as a medically fragile patient?

We would believe this no matter the circumstances of a particular lawsuit. But in this instance, the judge’s call wasn’t even a difficult one.

Aukamp-Corcoran had contended that she “believes her religion requires her to keep her body pure from everything that contaminates the body and spirit,” including vaccines.

But the lead pastor at the church she attended told LNP | LancasterOnline in a 2019 email that the Brethren in Christ denomination, of which the church is part, “does not have an official position or statement on flu shots.”

Except for a few Christian faith-healing denominations, most religions have no theological objection to vaccination, according to research from Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Aukamp-Corcoran had gotten flu shots in the years 2012 through 2016, as her employer required. But she said she began in 2017 to research vaccination “from a medical perspective” after miscarrying and becoming pregnant again.

She asked her midwife and her physician to sign a medical exemption for her; they both refused, likely because they know that, as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website explains, changes “to the immune system, heart, and lungs during pregnancy make people more susceptible to influenza severe enough to cause hospitalization throughout pregnancy and up to two weeks postpartum. Influenza also may be harmful for the developing baby.”

So Aukamp-Corcoran posted about her vaccine situation on a sketchy vaccine “re-education” forum that since has been shut down by Facebook. She was advised by members of that group to seek a religious exemption.

No wonder that in his Feb. 17 opinion, U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Schmehl found the timing and circumstances of the plaintiff’s request for a religious exemption to Lancaster General Health’s vaccine requirement to be “suspicious” and indicative of “a lack of sincerity in her religious beliefs.”

He noted that she “did not request a religious exemption until after she unsuccessfully petitioned her midwife and her medical doctor for a medical-based exemption from the vaccination requirement.”

In finding Aukamp-Corcoran’s religious claims to be insincere, Schmehl agreed with Lancaster General Health’s assertion that her tattoos and piercings didn’t align with her claim that the Bible compelled her to keep her blood “pure.” And the judge rightly rejected Aukamp-Corcoran’s argument that granting her an exemption would not be an “undue hardship” for the health system.

Schmehl’s opinion cited vaccine expert Daniel Salmon of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, who stated that any exemption, for whatever reason granted, weakens the health system’s ability to protect patients from influenza. Because some medical exemptions are necessary, Lancaster General Health needs to limit religious exemptions only to those who demonstrate an actual established right to one. Otherwise, Salmon noted, immunity is lowered within the health system, and this can lead to a spread of influenza at the health system’s facilities.

According to an article published in 2010 in a U.S. government health journal, health care workers “who have direct contact with patients present the primary source of infectious disease outbreaks” in health care facilities. (The italics are ours.)

The article continued: “Patients are at increased risk for disease when they are treated by (health care workers) who have been exposed to influenza.”

And it noted that vaccination against the flu “can reduce morbidity by 70% to 90%, making it the most effective method to prevent transmission of the virus.”

People ages 65 and older are at particular risk of dying from influenza. As Schmehl noted, Aukamp-Corcoran’s primary duties as a licensed practical nurse at Lancaster General Health’s outpatient facility at Willow Lakes involved providing direct care to geriatric patients.

The judge also noted that on average, “influenza causes approximately 200,000 hospitalizations each year.” According to the CDC, approximately 90% of influenza-related deaths and 50% to 70% of influenza-related hospitalizations occur among people ages 65 and older.

In our view, only health care workers with documented medical reasons should be exempted from mandatory vaccinations, whether flu or COVID-19. And those medical exemptions ought to be stingily granted, to ensure the health of patients.

We appreciate Judge Schmehl’s decision to grant Lancaster General Health’s request for a summary judgment in this case, shutting down this lawsuit relatively quickly. He injected some common sense into the often-ridiculous and dangerous debate over vaccination and we laud him for it.

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What to Read Next

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{{byline}} Dec 31, 1969 		Undervaccinated Similarity Model

Maryland (Cecil County): commercial chickens

Date: Mon 7 Mar 2022 5:21 p.m. EST

Source: WBAL TV [edited]

https://www.wbaltv.com/article/avian-influenza-flu-commercial-chickens-cecil-county/39334609

The presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza was detected in a flock of commercial chickens in Cecil County, Maryland, according to the United States Department of Agriculture.

Samples from the flock were tested at the University of Delaware’s Allen Laboratory, part of the National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN), and confirmed at the APHIS National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) in Ames, Iowa, the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced in a statement released Saturday [5 Mar 2021].

The USDA said state officials quarantined the affected premises, and action is being taken to prevent the spread of the disease. Chicken from the flock will not enter the food system, the USDA said. Federal and state partners are working jointly on additional surveillance and testing in areas around the affected flock, the USDA said.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the recent HPAI detections do not present an immediate public health concern. No human cases of these avian influenza viruses have been detected in the United States.

As a reminder, the USDA said the proper handling and cooking of poultry and eggs to an internal temperature of 165 deg F [74 deg C] kills bacteria and viruses.

–

Communicated by:

Mahmoud Orabi

<>

[ProMED map of Cecil County, Maryland, United States: ]

[Avian influenza continues to move across the United States. Everyone must be diligent about biosecurity of the birds. Be on the alert for ill birds in your flock, and if you are a hunter, take notice if there are ill birds in flocks you may be hunting. If you are able, bring your birds inside. They can be in your garage or something like a back room. Even in winter, birds will need some type of ventilation, so a fan may be needed, but, of course, severe cold is always an issue as well. The point is to do what is necessary to protect your birds.

While most of these articles do not specifically mention H5N1, it is highly likely this is the specific strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza.

Migrating birds can transport the virus without the migratory bird appearing to be ill. So this is a time to be very vigilant about all birds near your flock. - Mod.TG 		Undervaccinated Similarity Model
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” [1] “Healthcare overwhelmed”
body suggestedTag reason

Young people in the Rakai region of southcentral Uganda are turning to healers because of their holistic approach to providing sexual and reproductive health, according to a new study at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. The researchers describe three reasons for young people to seek healers over the biomedical community. The findings are published in the journal Social Science and Medicine.

First, young people reported that the high costs, inconsistency of supply, and experience of stigma in biomedical clinics and pharmacies influenced their preferences to visit healers in lieu of biomedical sexual and reproductive healthcare (SRH) providers. Second, young people also described fears of being subject to stigma or receiving poor-quality care in biomedical settings and the expense of travel costs for treatments. Third, healers provide a sex-positive approach to SRH and counsel focused on pleasurable and economically-motivated sex. These therapies diverge from international and national HIV prevention messaging that frames non-marital and transactional sex in terms of danger and disease.

Healers have a long history of African healing practices that root “health” in the social body. The healers described in this study represent several different types of practitioners who are socially and legally recognized in Uganda.

“Healers have long demonstrated a willingness to collaborate with the biomedical community for HIV/AIDS care. Our findings indicate that healers are and should be engaged as allies in HIV prevention and other biomedical sexual and reproductive healthcare efforts,” said Erin V. Moore, lead author and Carl F. Asseff Assistant Professor of Anthropology and the History of Medicine at The Ohio State University, and formerly a postdoctoral student at Columbia Mailman School. “From a health efficacy perspective, many healers act as connection points to biomedical systems, where they frequently refer clients for testing and treatment.”

Data were collected in six different communities in the Rakai district of southcentral Uganda, The researchers also conducted a sub-study mapping young people’s access to and utilization of SRH to investigate where and how young people sought and attained contraceptives, HIV testing and treatment, and sex education.

“Healers provide a destigmatized, holistic SRH experience by embracing the fact that young people are sexual citizens. Global public health practitioners stand to benefit from taking healers’ conceptualization of sexual health seriously as it takes into account physical, emotional, social, and especially economic well-being,” said Moore. “There is much to learn from the holistic vision of sexual health and healing we have documented among healers and their patients in Rakai, Uganda.”

Uganda has a 35-year experience with HIV/AIDS. The Rakai region has had considerable success in reducing rates of HIV incidence.

“Our research shows how healers ’ SRH therapies offer a systems-level way to acknowledge young people ’s sexual lives and citizenship, which have been so frequently denied by biomedicine and public health,” observed John Santelli, senior author and professor of Population and Family Health and Pediatrics at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. 		Healthcare overwhelmed Similarity Model

Oxygen is the most critical medicine for people with severe COVID-19, yet its supplies are unstable in many countries. Without a significant investment in oxygen infrastructure, those whose illness is severe and who cannot access oxygen will die.

Recognizing this gap, the World Health Organization in Tanzania has been working with the health authorities to identify the country’s oxygen supply needs and propose solutions to increase supply of oxygen and oxygen-related medical devices.

A countrywide assessment supported by WHO in 2020 revealed that oxygen supply is insufficient because the infrastructure is not functioning due to lack of regular maintenance and repairs.

The assessment reported Zanzibar having only one oxygen production plant and the same needing repair to restore production to its capacity. Because of this challenge, hospitals in Zanzibar had to procure medical oxygen from commercial suppliers, at expensive prices.

With technical and financial support from WHO, Zanzibar has since been able to restore production of medical oxygen at its sole plant at Mnazi Mmoja Hospital. Support provided included purchase of spare parts, 27,000 litres of liquid oxygen and engagement of experts to mentor the biomedical technicians on periodic maintenance and regular repair of the plant.

With completion of the repair of medical oxygen production plant in the Island, critically ill patients in need of supplementary oxygen have had a chance to live. The plant currently provides oxygen supply to seven heath facilities in three regions in Unguja and two regions in Pemba.

To ensure that oxygen production in Zanzibar does not relapse WHO helped the health authorities chart a long-term plan to build more and modern oxygen production plants and ensure that lifesaving medical supplies – including oxygen – reach those who need them. 		Healthcare overwhelmed Similarity Model
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” [1] “Lab leak”
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SALT LAKE CITY, March 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ – ReddyPort ®, a medical technology company focused on bringing new non-invasive ventilation (NIV) products into market, announced today that US Patent No. 11,222,648 has been issued by the US Patent Office covering a positive pressure ventilation (PPV) microphone system, nebulizer, and related methods. ReddyPort Microphone and Controller in combination with ReddyPort Elbow enables patients to communicate clearly with clinicians and their families during treatment, without NIV mask removal or interruption of (CPAP) or bi-level therapy, reducing known risks for successful NIV therapy. For clinicians and family members, it helps ease the frustration of not being able to hear or understand the patient behind the NIV mask, especially during a life-threatening illness or end of life. ReddyPort Microphone with integrated speaker uses (DSP) digital signal processing to remove breathing noises and naturalize the patient’s voice. Currently, no products in the market use this type of technology.

Patients on NIV often experience physical discomforts that can impede well-being during NIV treatment, including dry mouth, phlegm build-up and an inability to communicate. Clinical studies of NIV treatments conclude mask intolerance is a major cause of overall NIV failure,¹ resulting in increased length of hospital stay and poor outcomes. Removing a NIV mask during critical treatment—including proper oral care—can lead to airway and alveolar collapse 2 and potential risk of aerosolization and transmission of bio-aerosols for healthcare providers.

“ReddyPort Microphone is an essential device designed to empower patients with the ability to communicate to caregivers and family members. Effective verbal communication is essential for compliance with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), and Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) directives to protect a patient’s right to manage care,” said Tony Lair, chief executive officer of ReddyPort. “This is especially important for patients on NIV when they need to communicate with their caregiver or provide end of life care directives.”

NIV is the use of breathing support and is often administered through a face mask where air, with added oxygen, is delivered through positive pressure. This treatment is considered non-invasive because it is delivered with a mask fitted to the face, but without a need for tracheal intubation, and used to wean patients off mechanical ventilation. NIV is the first line of therapy in respiratory insufficiency or failure like Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Congestive Heart Failure (CHF), 3-4 Asthma, 5 Pneumonia, 6 or Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS). 7

The Company has been granted 3 patents and has 13 patents pending.

About ReddyPort ReddyPort is focused on enabling a better care experience for patients on NIV. ReddyPort provides solutions for NIV patients to improve satisfaction, reduce risk and cost, enable better workflows, and enhance quality of care.

References on file. 		Lab leak Similarity Model
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” [1] “Weaponizable pathogen”
body suggestedTag reason

José Manuel Albares, a Gender Champion for Polio Eradication pays tribute to women in polio eradication

On International Women’s Day, Spanish of Foreign Affairs European Union and Cooperation and Gender Champion for Polio Eradication, José Manuel Albares pays tribute to all the women in polio eradication across the world and reminds us that women are still underrepresented in senior leadership and decision making roles in global health and that these gaps in leadership are driven by stereotypes, discrimination and power imbalances that we are all responsible to tackle. 		Weaponizable pathogen Similarity Model
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” [1] “Vax campaign”
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Pharmaceutical companies and vaccine makers in India who have developed potential vaccine candidates… Vax campaign Similarity Model
In Canada, no new cases of measles or rubella were reported in week 7, 2022.Currently, there are no activeFootnote 1 cases of measles or rubella in Canada.No cases of measles and no cases of rubella have been reported in Canada in 2022.Canadians travelling outside of Canada are encouraged to consult the travel health notices for information on measles and rubella outbreaks occurring in other countries. In Canada, no new cases of measles or rubella were reported in week 7, 2022. Currently, there are no activeFootnote 1 cases of measles or rubella in Canada. No cases of measles and no cases of rubella have been reported in Canada in 2022. Canadians travelling outside of Canada are encouraged to consult the travel health notices for information on measles and rubella outbreaks occurring in other countries. During epidemiological week 7, 2022, no new cases of measles or rubella were reported in CanadaFootnote 2. To date in 2022, no cases of measles and no cases of rubella have been reported. The last case of measles was reported in February 2020. The last case of rubella was reported in December 2019. The last case of congenital rubella syndrome/infection was reported in September 2018. There are no activeFootnote * cases of measles or rubella reported in Canada. There are no activeFootnote * cases of measles or rubella reported in Canada. Active measles cases are those in which the onset date of the case falls within 42 days of the end date of the epidemiological week of the report Footnote 4. Active rubella cases are those in which the onset date of the case falls within 46 days of the end date of the epidemiological week of the report Footnote 5. Active measles cases are those in which the onset date of the case falls within 42 days of the end date of the epidemiological week of the report. Active rubella cases are those in which the onset date of the case falls within 46 days of the end date of the epidemiological week of the report. Only cases with rash onset up to the indicated end date are included in this report. Any additional cases will be described in future reports. Epidemiological week of birth is used for congenital rubella syndrome/infection cases. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Manual for the Surveillance of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases. Chapter 7: Measles. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/surv-manual/chpt07-measles.html. Page last reviewed: May 13, 2019. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Manual for the Surveillance of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases. Chapter 14: Rubella. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/surv-manual/chpt14-rubella.html. Page last reviewed: May 18, 2018. GC Key accessSecureKey Concierge (Banking Credential) access Personal Access Code (PAC) problems or EI Access Code (AC) problemsSocial Insurance Number (SIN) validation problemsOther login error not in this list Vax campaign Similarity Model
In Canada, no new cases of measles or rubella were reported in week 6, 2022.Currently, there are no activeFootnote 1 cases of measles or rubella in Canada.No cases of measles and no cases of rubella have been reported in Canada in 2022.Canadians travelling outside of Canada are encouraged to consult the travel health notices for information on measles and rubella outbreaks occurring in other countries. In Canada, no new cases of measles or rubella were reported in week 6, 2022. Currently, there are no activeFootnote 1 cases of measles or rubella in Canada. No cases of measles and no cases of rubella have been reported in Canada in 2022. Canadians travelling outside of Canada are encouraged to consult the travel health notices for information on measles and rubella outbreaks occurring in other countries. During epidemiological week 6, 2022, no new cases of measles or rubella were reported in CanadaFootnote 2. To date in 2022, no cases of measles and no cases of rubella have been reported. The last case of measles was reported in February 2020. The last case of rubella was reported in December 2019. The last case of congenital rubella syndrome/infection was reported in September 2018. There are no activeFootnote * cases of measles or rubella reported in Canada. There are no activeFootnote * cases of measles or rubella reported in Canada. Active measles cases are those in which the onset date of the case falls within 42 days of the end date of the epidemiological week of the report Footnote 4. Active rubella cases are those in which the onset date of the case falls within 46 days of the end date of the epidemiological week of the report Footnote 5. Active measles cases are those in which the onset date of the case falls within 42 days of the end date of the epidemiological week of the report. Active rubella cases are those in which the onset date of the case falls within 46 days of the end date of the epidemiological week of the report. Only cases with rash onset up to the indicated end date are included in this report. Any additional cases will be described in future reports. Epidemiological week of birth is used for congenital rubella syndrome/infection cases. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Manual for the Surveillance of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases. Chapter 7: Measles. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/surv-manual/chpt07-measles.html. Page last reviewed: May 13, 2019. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Manual for the Surveillance of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases. Chapter 14: Rubella. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/surv-manual/chpt14-rubella.html. Page last reviewed: May 18, 2018. GC Key accessSecureKey Concierge (Banking Credential) access Personal Access Code (PAC) problems or EI Access Code (AC) problemsSocial Insurance Number (SIN) validation problemsOther login error not in this list Vax campaign Similarity Model
In Canada, no new cases of measles or rubella were reported in week 5, 2022. Currently, there are no activeFootnote 1 cases of measles or rubella in Canada. No cases of measles and no cases of rubella have been reported in Canada in 2022. Canadians travelling outside of Canada are encouraged to consult the travel health notices for information on measles and rubella outbreaks occurring in other countries. During epidemiological week 5, 2022, no new cases of measles or rubella were reported in CanadaFootnote 2. To date in 2022, no cases of measles and no cases of rubella have been reported. The last case of measles was reported in February 2020. The last case of rubella was reported in December 2019. The last case of congenital rubella syndrome/infection was reported in September 2018. There are no activeFootnote * cases of measles or rubella reported in Canada. There are no activeFootnote * cases of measles or rubella reported in Canada. Active measles cases are those in which the onset date of the case falls within 42 days of the end date of the epidemiological week of the report Footnote 4. Active rubella cases are those in which the onset date of the case falls within 46 days of the end date of the epidemiological week of the report Footnote 5. Active measles cases are those in which the onset date of the case falls within 42 days of the end date of the epidemiological week of the report. Active rubella cases are those in which the onset date of the case falls within 46 days of the end date of the epidemiological week of the report. Only cases with rash onset up to the indicated end date are included in this report. Any additional cases will be described in future reports. Epidemiological week of birth is used for congenital rubella syndrome/infection cases. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Manual for the Surveillance of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases. Chapter 7: Measles. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/surv-manual/chpt07-measles.html. Page last reviewed: May 13, 2019. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Manual for the Surveillance of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases. Chapter 14: Rubella. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/surv-manual/chpt14-rubella.html. Page last reviewed: May 18, 2018. GC Key accessSecureKey Concierge (Banking Credential) access Personal Access Code (PAC) problems or EI Access Code (AC) problemsSocial Insurance Number (SIN) validation problemsOther login error not in this list Vax campaign Similarity Model
In Canada, no new cases of measles or rubella were reported in week 4, 2022. Currently, there are no activeFootnote 1 cases of measles or rubella in Canada. No cases of measles and no cases of rubella have been reported in Canada in 2022. Canadians travelling outside of Canada are encouraged to consult the travel health notices for information on measles and rubella outbreaks occurring in other countries. During epidemiological week 4, 2022, no new cases of measles or rubella were reported in CanadaFootnote 2. To date in 2022, no cases of measles and no cases of rubella have been reported. The last case of measles was reported in February 2020. The last case of rubella was reported in December 2019. The last case of congenital rubella syndrome/infection was reported in September 2018. There are no activeFootnote * cases of measles or rubella reported in Canada. There are no activeFootnote * cases of measles or rubella reported in Canada. Active measles cases are those in which the onset date of the case falls within 42 days of the end date of the epidemiological week of the report Footnote 4. Active rubella cases are those in which the onset date of the case falls within 46 days of the end date of the epidemiological week of the report Footnote 5. Active measles cases are those in which the onset date of the case falls within 42 days of the end date of the epidemiological week of the report. Active rubella cases are those in which the onset date of the case falls within 46 days of the end date of the epidemiological week of the report. Only cases with rash onset up to the indicated end date are included in this report. Any additional cases will be described in future reports. Epidemiological week of birth is used for congenital rubella syndrome/infection cases. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Manual for the Surveillance of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases. Chapter 7: Measles. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/surv-manual/chpt07-measles.html. Page last reviewed: May 13, 2019. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Manual for the Surveillance of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases. Chapter 14: Rubella. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/surv-manual/chpt14-rubella.html. Page last reviewed: May 18, 2018. GC Key accessSecureKey Concierge (Banking Credential) access Personal Access Code (PAC) problems or EI Access Code (AC) problemsSocial Insurance Number (SIN) validation problemsOther login error not in this list Vax campaign Similarity Model
In Canada, no new cases of measles or rubella were reported in week 03, 2022. Currently, there are no activeFootnote 1 cases of measles or rubella in Canada. No cases of measles and no cases of rubella have been reported in Canada in 2022. Canadians travelling outside of Canada are encouraged to consult the travel health notices for information on measles and rubella outbreaks occurring in other countries. During epidemiological week 03, 2022, no new cases of measles or rubella were reported in CanadaFootnote 2. To date in 2022, no cases of measles and no cases of rubella have been reported. The last case of measles was reported in February 2020. The last case of rubella was reported in December 2019. The last case of congenital rubella syndrome/infection was reported in September 2018. There are no activeFootnote * cases of measles or rubella reported in Canada. There are no activeFootnote * cases of measles or rubella reported in Canada. Active measles cases are those in which the onset date of the case falls within 42 days of the end date of the epidemiological week of the report Footnote 4. Active rubella cases are those in which the onset date of the case falls within 46 days of the end date of the epidemiological week of the report Footnote 5. Active measles cases are those in which the onset date of the case falls within 42 days of the end date of the epidemiological week of the report. Active rubella cases are those in which the onset date of the case falls within 46 days of the end date of the epidemiological week of the report. Only cases with rash onset up to the indicated end date are included in this report. Any additional cases will be described in future reports. Epidemiological week of birth is used for congenital rubella syndrome/infection cases. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Manual for the Surveillance of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases. Chapter 7: Measles. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/surv-manual/chpt07-measles.html. Page last reviewed: May 13, 2019. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Manual for the Surveillance of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases. Chapter 14: Rubella. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/surv-manual/chpt14-rubella.html. Page last reviewed: May 18, 2018. GC Key accessSecureKey Concierge (Banking Credential) access Personal Access Code (PAC) problems or EI Access Code (AC) problemsSocial Insurance Number (SIN) validation problemsOther login error not in this list Vax campaign Similarity Model
In Canada, no new cases of measles or rubella were reported in week 02, 2022. Currently, there are no activeFootnote 1 cases of measles or rubella in Canada. No cases of measles and no cases of rubella have been reported in Canada in 2022. Canadians travelling outside of Canada are encouraged to consult the travel health notices for information on measles and rubella outbreaks occurring in other countries. During epidemiological week 02, 2022, no new cases of measles or rubella were reported in Canada Footnote 2. To date in 2022, no cases of measles and no cases of rubella have been reported. The last case of measles was reported in February 2020. The last case of rubella was reported in December 2019. The last case of congenital rubella syndrome/infection was reported in September 2018. Epidemiological Week of Rash Onset, 2022 Number of confirmed measles cases reported Number of confirmed rubella cases reported Number of confirmed congenital rubella syndrome/infection cases reported There are no active* cases of measles or rubella reported in Canada. There are no active* cases of measles or rubella reported in Canada. Health Region Measles Active Cases * Active measles cases are those in which the onset date of the case falls within 42 days of the end date of the epidemiological week of the report Footnote 4. Active rubella cases are those in which the onset date of the case falls within 46 days of the end date of the epidemiological week of the report Footnote 5. Active measles cases are those in which the onset date of the case falls within 42 days of the end date of the epidemiological week of the report. Active rubella cases are those in which the onset date of the case falls within 46 days of the end date of the epidemiological week of the report. Only cases with rash onset up to the indicated end date are included in this report. Any additional cases will be described in future reports. Epidemiological week of birth is used for congenital rubella syndrome/infection cases. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Manual for the Surveillance of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases. Chapter 7: Measles. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/surv-manual/chpt07-measles.html. Page last reviewed: May 13, 2019. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Manual for the Surveillance of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases. Chapter 14: Rubella. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/surv-manual/chpt14-rubella.html. Page last reviewed: May 18, 2018. GC Key accessSecureKey Concierge (Banking Credential) access Personal Access Code (PAC) problems or EI Access Code (AC) problemsSocial Insurance Number (SIN) validation problemsOther login error not in this list Vax campaign Similarity Model
No cases of measles and no cases of rubella have been reported in Canada in 2022. Canadians travelling outside of Canada are encouraged to consult the travel health notices for information on measles and rubella outbreaks occurring in other countries. During epidemiological week 01, 2022, no new cases of measles or rubella were reported in Canada Footnote 2. To date in 2022, no cases of measles and no cases of rubella have been reported. The last case of measles was reported in February 2020. The last case of rubella was reported in December 2019. The last case of congenital rubella syndrome/infection was reported in September 2018. Epidemiological Week of Rash Onset, 2021 Number of confirmed measles cases reported Number of confirmed rubella cases reported Number of confirmed congenital rubella syndrome/infection cases reported 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 7 0 0 0 8 0 0 0 9 0 0 0 10 0 0 0 11 0 0 0 12 0 0 0 13 0 0 0 14 0 0 0 15 0 0 0 16 0 0 0 17 0 0 0 18 0 0 0 19 0 0 0 20 0 0 0 21 0 0 0 22 0 0 0 23 0 0 0 24 0 0 0 25 0 0 0 26 0 0 0 27 0 0 0 28 0 0 0 29 0 0 0 30 0 0 0 31 0 0 0 32 0 0 0 33 0 0 0 34 0 0 0 35 0 0 0 36 0 0 0 37 0 0 0 38 0 0 0 39 0 0 0 40 0 0 0 41 0 0 0 42 0 0 0 43 0 0 0 44 0 0 0 45 0 0 0 46 0 0 0 47 0 0 0 48 0 0 0 49 0 0 0 50 0 0 0 51 0 0 0 52 0 0 0 Cases (year-to-date) 0 0 0 There are no active* cases of measles or rubella reported in Canada. There are no active* cases of measles or rubella reported in Canada. Health Region Measles Active Cases Eastern Regional Integrated Health Authority 0 Central Regional Integrated Health Authority 0 Western Regional Integrated Health Authority 0 Labrador-Grenfell Regional Integrated Health Authority 0 Prince Edward Island 0 South Shore District Health Authority 0 South West Nova District Health Authority 0 Annapolis Valley District Health Authority 0 Colchester East Hants Health Authority 0 Cumberland Health Authority 0 Pictou County Health Authority 0 Guysborough Antigonish Strait Health Authority 0 Cape Breton District Health Authority 0 Capital District Health Authority 0 Zone 1 (NB) 0 Zone 2 (NB) 0 Zone 3 (NB) 0 Zone 4 (NB) 0 Zone 5 (NB) 0 Zone 6 (NB) 0 Zone 7 (NB) 0 Québec et Chaudières-Appalaches 0 Centre-du-Québec 0 Montréal et Laval 0 Ouest-du-Québec 0 Montérégie 0 Nord-Est 0 Ontario Central East 0 Ontario Central West 0 Ontario Eastern 0 Ontario North East 0 Ontario North West 0 Ontario South West 0 City of Toronto Health Unit 0 Winnipeg Regional Health Authority 0 Prairie Mountain Health 0 Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority 0 Northern Regional Health Authority 0 Southern Health 0 Saskatchewan South 0 Saskatchewan Central 0 Saskatchewan North 0 South Zone 0 Calgary Zone 0 Central Zone 0 Edmonton Zone 0 North Zone 0 British Columbia 0 Yukon 0 Northwest Territories 0 Nunavut 0 * Active measles cases are those in which the onset date of the case falls within 42 days of the end date of the epidemiological week of the report Footnote 4. Active rubella cases are those in which the onset date of the case falls within 46 days of the end date of the epidemiological week of the report Footnote 5. Active measles cases are those in which the onset date of the case falls within 42 days of the end date of the epidemiological week of the report. Active rubella cases are those in which the onset date of the case falls within 46 days of the end date of the epidemiological week of the report. Only cases with rash onset up to the indicated end date are included in this report. Any additional cases will be described in future reports. Epidemiological week of birth is used for congenital rubella syndrome/infection cases. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Manual for the Surveillance of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases. Chapter 7: Measles. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/surv-manual/chpt07-measles.html. Page last reviewed: May 13, 2019. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Manual for the Surveillance of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases. Chapter 14: Rubella. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/surv-manual/chpt14-rubella.html. Page last reviewed: May 18, 2018. GC Key accessSecureKey Concierge (Banking Credential) access Personal Access Code (PAC) problems or EI Access Code (AC) problemsSocial Insurance Number (SIN) validation problemsOther login error not in this list Vax campaign Similarity Model
No cases of measles and no cases of rubella have been reported in Canada in 2021. Canadians travelling outside of Canada are encouraged to consult the travel health notices for information on measles and rubella outbreaks occurring in other countries. During epidemiological week 52, 2021, no new cases of measles or rubella were reported in Canada Footnote 2. To date in 2021, no cases of measles and no cases of rubella have been reported. The last case of measles was reported in February 2020. The last case of rubella was reported in December 2019. The last case of congenital rubella syndrome/infection was reported in September 2018. Epidemiological Week of Rash Onset, 2021 Number of confirmed measles cases reported Number of confirmed rubella cases reported Number of confirmed congenital rubella syndrome/infection cases reported 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 7 0 0 0 8 0 0 0 9 0 0 0 10 0 0 0 11 0 0 0 12 0 0 0 13 0 0 0 14 0 0 0 15 0 0 0 16 0 0 0 17 0 0 0 18 0 0 0 19 0 0 0 20 0 0 0 21 0 0 0 22 0 0 0 23 0 0 0 24 0 0 0 25 0 0 0 26 0 0 0 27 0 0 0 28 0 0 0 29 0 0 0 30 0 0 0 31 0 0 0 32 0 0 0 33 0 0 0 34 0 0 0 35 0 0 0 36 0 0 0 37 0 0 0 38 0 0 0 39 0 0 0 40 0 0 0 41 0 0 0 42 0 0 0 43 0 0 0 44 0 0 0 45 0 0 0 46 0 0 0 47 0 0 0 48 0 0 0 49 0 0 0 50 0 0 0 51 0 0 0 52 0 0 0 Cases (year-to-date) 0 0 0 There are no active* cases of measles or rubella reported in Canada. There are no active* cases of measles or rubella reported in Canada. Health Region Measles Active Cases Eastern Regional Integrated Health Authority 0 Central Regional Integrated Health Authority 0 Western Regional Integrated Health Authority 0 Labrador-Grenfell Regional Integrated Health Authority 0 Prince Edward Island 0 South Shore District Health Authority 0 South West Nova District Health Authority 0 Annapolis Valley District Health Authority 0 Colchester East Hants Health Authority 0 Cumberland Health Authority 0 Pictou County Health Authority 0 Guysborough Antigonish Strait Health Authority 0 Cape Breton District Health Authority 0 Capital District Health Authority 0 Zone 1 (NB) 0 Zone 2 (NB) 0 Zone 3 (NB) 0 Zone 4 (NB) 0 Zone 5 (NB) 0 Zone 6 (NB) 0 Zone 7 (NB) 0 Québec et Chaudières-Appalaches 0 Centre-du-Québec 0 Montréal et Laval 0 Ouest-du-Québec 0 Montérégie 0 Nord-Est 0 Ontario Central East 0 Ontario Central West 0 Ontario Eastern 0 Ontario North East 0 Ontario North West 0 Ontario South West 0 City of Toronto Health Unit 0 Winnipeg Regional Health Authority 0 Prairie Mountain Health 0 Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority 0 Northern Regional Health Authority 0 Southern Health 0 Saskatchewan South 0 Saskatchewan Central 0 Saskatchewan North 0 South Zone 0 Calgary Zone 0 Central Zone 0 Edmonton Zone 0 North Zone 0 British Columbia 0 Yukon 0 Northwest Territories 0 Nunavut 0 * Active measles cases are those in which the onset date of the case falls within 42 days of the end date of the epidemiological week of the report Footnote 4. Active rubella cases are those in which the onset date of the case falls within 46 days of the end date of the epidemiological week of the report Footnote 5. Active measles cases are those in which the onset date of the case falls within 42 days of the end date of the epidemiological week of the report. Active rubella cases are those in which the onset date of the case falls within 46 days of the end date of the epidemiological week of the report. Only cases with rash onset up to the indicated end date are included in this report. Any additional cases will be described in future reports. Epidemiological week of birth is used for congenital rubella syndrome/infection cases. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Manual for the Surveillance of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases. Chapter 7: Measles. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/surv-manual/chpt07-measles.html. Page last reviewed: May 13, 2019. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Manual for the Surveillance of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases. Chapter 14: Rubella. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/surv-manual/chpt14-rubella.html. Page last reviewed: May 18, 2018. GC Key accessSecureKey Concierge (Banking Credential) access Personal Access Code (PAC) problems or EI Access Code (AC) problemsSocial Insurance Number (SIN) validation problemsOther login error not in this list Vax campaign Similarity Model
In Canada, no new cases of measles or rubella were reported in week 51, 2021. Currently, there are no activeFootnote 1 cases of measles or rubella in Canada. No cases of measles and no cases of rubella have been reported in Canada in 2021. Canadians travelling outside of Canada are encouraged to consult the travel health notices for information on measles and rubella outbreaks occurring in other countries. During epidemiological week 51, 2021, no new cases of measles or rubella were reported in Canada Footnote 2. To date in 2021, no cases of measles and no cases of rubella have been reported. The last case of measles was reported in February 2020. The last case of rubella was reported in December 2019. The last case of congenital rubella syndrome/infection was reported in September 2018. Epidemiological Week of Rash Onset, 2021 Number of confirmed measles cases reported Number of confirmed rubella cases reported Number of confirmed congenital rubella syndrome/infection cases reported 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 7 0 0 0 8 0 0 0 9 0 0 0 10 0 0 0 11 0 0 0 12 0 0 0 13 0 0 0 14 0 0 0 15 0 0 0 16 0 0 0 17 0 0 0 18 0 0 0 19 0 0 0 20 0 0 0 21 0 0 0 22 0 0 0 23 0 0 0 24 0 0 0 25 0 0 0 26 0 0 0 27 0 0 0 28 0 0 0 29 0 0 0 30 0 0 0 31 0 0 0 32 0 0 0 33 0 0 0 34 0 0 0 35 0 0 0 36 0 0 0 37 0 0 0 38 0 0 0 39 0 0 0 40 0 0 0 41 0 0 0 42 0 0 0 43 0 0 0 44 0 0 0 45 0 0 0 46 0 0 0 47 0 0 0 48 0 0 0 49 0 0 0 50 0 0 0 51 0 0 0 52 0 0 0 Cases (year-to-date) 0 0 0 There are no active* cases of measles or rubella reported in Canada. There are no active* cases of measles or rubella reported in Canada. Health Region Measles Active Cases Eastern Regional Integrated Health Authority 0 Central Regional Integrated Health Authority 0 Western Regional Integrated Health Authority 0 Labrador-Grenfell Regional Integrated Health Authority 0 Prince Edward Island 0 South Shore District Health Authority 0 South West Nova District Health Authority 0 Annapolis Valley District Health Authority 0 Colchester East Hants Health Authority 0 Cumberland Health Authority 0 Pictou County Health Authority 0 Guysborough Antigonish Strait Health Authority 0 Cape Breton District Health Authority 0 Capital District Health Authority 0 Zone 1 (NB) 0 Zone 2 (NB) 0 Zone 3 (NB) 0 Zone 4 (NB) 0 Zone 5 (NB) 0 Zone 6 (NB) 0 Zone 7 (NB) 0 Québec et Chaudières-Appalaches 0 Centre-du-Québec 0 Montréal et Laval 0 Ouest-du-Québec 0 Montérégie 0 Nord-Est 0 Ontario Central East 0 Ontario Central West 0 Ontario Eastern 0 Ontario North East 0 Ontario North West 0 Ontario South West 0 City of Toronto Health Unit 0 Winnipeg Regional Health Authority 0 Prairie Mountain Health 0 Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority 0 Northern Regional Health Authority 0 Southern Health 0 Saskatchewan South 0 Saskatchewan Central 0 Saskatchewan North 0 South Zone 0 Calgary Zone 0 Central Zone 0 Edmonton Zone 0 North Zone 0 British Columbia 0 Yukon 0 Northwest Territories 0 Nunavut 0 * Active measles cases are those in which the onset date of the case falls within 42 days of the end date of the epidemiological week of the report Footnote 4. Active rubella cases are those in which the onset date of the case falls within 46 days of the end date of the epidemiological week of the report Footnote 5. Active measles cases are those in which the onset date of the case falls within 42 days of the end date of the epidemiological week of the report. Active rubella cases are those in which the onset date of the case falls within 46 days of the end date of the epidemiological week of the report. Only cases with rash onset up to the indicated end date are included in this report. Any additional cases will be described in future reports. Epidemiological week of birth is used for congenital rubella syndrome/infection cases. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Manual for the Surveillance of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases. Chapter 7: Measles. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/surv-manual/chpt07-measles.html. Page last reviewed: May 13, 2019. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Manual for the Surveillance of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases. Chapter 14: Rubella. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/surv-manual/chpt14-rubella.html. Page last reviewed: May 18, 2018. GC Key accessSecureKey Concierge (Banking Credential) access Personal Access Code (PAC) problems or EI Access Code (AC) problemsSocial Insurance Number (SIN) validation problemsOther login error not in this list Vax campaign Similarity Model
In Canada, no new cases of measles or rubella were reported in week 50, 2021. Currently, there are no activeFootnote 1 cases of measles or rubella in Canada. No cases of measles and no cases of rubella have been reported in Canada in 2021. Canadians travelling outside of Canada are encouraged to consult the travel health notices for information on measles and rubella outbreaks occurring in other countries. During epidemiological week 50, 2021, no new cases of measles or rubella were reported in Canada Footnote 2. To date in 2021, no cases of measles and no cases of rubella have been reported. The last case of measles was reported in February 2020. The last case of rubella was reported in December 2019. The last case of congenital rubella syndrome/infection was reported in September 2018. Epidemiological Week of Rash Onset, 2021 Number of confirmed measles cases reported Number of confirmed rubella cases reported Number of confirmed congenital rubella syndrome/infection cases reported 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 7 0 0 0 8 0 0 0 9 0 0 0 10 0 0 0 11 0 0 0 12 0 0 0 13 0 0 0 14 0 0 0 15 0 0 0 16 0 0 0 17 0 0 0 18 0 0 0 19 0 0 0 20 0 0 0 21 0 0 0 22 0 0 0 23 0 0 0 24 0 0 0 25 0 0 0 26 0 0 0 27 0 0 0 28 0 0 0 29 0 0 0 30 0 0 0 31 0 0 0 32 0 0 0 33 0 0 0 34 0 0 0 35 0 0 0 36 0 0 0 37 0 0 0 38 0 0 0 39 0 0 0 40 0 0 0 41 0 0 0 42 0 0 0 43 0 0 0 44 0 0 0 45 0 0 0 46 0 0 0 47 0 0 0 48 0 0 0 49 0 0 0 50 0 0 0 51 0 0 0 52 0 0 0 Cases (year-to-date) 0 0 0 There are no active* cases of measles or rubella reported in Canada. There are no active* cases of measles or rubella reported in Canada. Health Region Measles Active Cases Eastern Regional Integrated Health Authority 0 Central Regional Integrated Health Authority 0 Western Regional Integrated Health Authority 0 Labrador-Grenfell Regional Integrated Health Authority 0 Prince Edward Island 0 South Shore District Health Authority 0 South West Nova District Health Authority 0 Annapolis Valley District Health Authority 0 Colchester East Hants Health Authority 0 Cumberland Health Authority 0 Pictou County Health Authority 0 Guysborough Antigonish Strait Health Authority 0 Cape Breton District Health Authority 0 Capital District Health Authority 0 Zone 1 (NB) 0 Zone 2 (NB) 0 Zone 3 (NB) 0 Zone 4 (NB) 0 Zone 5 (NB) 0 Zone 6 (NB) 0 Zone 7 (NB) 0 Québec et Chaudières-Appalaches 0 Centre-du-Québec 0 Montréal et Laval 0 Ouest-du-Québec 0 Montérégie 0 Nord-Est 0 Ontario Central East 0 Ontario Central West 0 Ontario Eastern 0 Ontario North East 0 Ontario North West 0 Ontario South West 0 City of Toronto Health Unit 0 Winnipeg Regional Health Authority 0 Prairie Mountain Health 0 Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority 0 Northern Regional Health Authority 0 Southern Health 0 Saskatchewan South 0 Saskatchewan Central 0 Saskatchewan North 0 South Zone 0 Calgary Zone 0 Central Zone 0 Edmonton Zone 0 North Zone 0 British Columbia 0 Yukon 0 Northwest Territories 0 Nunavut 0 * Active measles cases are those in which the onset date of the case falls within 42 days of the end date of the epidemiological week of the report Footnote 4. Active rubella cases are those in which the onset date of the case falls within 46 days of the end date of the epidemiological week of the report Footnote 5. Active measles cases are those in which the onset date of the case falls within 42 days of the end date of the epidemiological week of the report. Active rubella cases are those in which the onset date of the case falls within 46 days of the end date of the epidemiological week of the report. Only cases with rash onset up to the indicated end date are included in this report. Any additional cases will be described in future reports. Epidemiological week of birth is used for congenital rubella syndrome/infection cases. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Manual for the Surveillance of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases. Chapter 7: Measles. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/surv-manual/chpt07-measles.html. Page last reviewed: May 13, 2019. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Manual for the Surveillance of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases. Chapter 14: Rubella. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/surv-manual/chpt14-rubella.html. Page last reviewed: May 18, 2018. GC Key accessSecureKey Concierge (Banking Credential) access Personal Access Code (PAC) problems or EI Access Code (AC) problemsSocial Insurance Number (SIN) validation problemsOther login error not in this list Vax campaign Similarity Model

Date: Mon 7 Mar 2022 4:04 p.m. CT

Source: Des Moines Register [edited]

https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/money/agriculture/2022/03/07/bird-flu-detected-commercial-turkey-facility-northwest-iowa-avian-influenza-usda-gov-kim-reynolds/9410913002/

Bird flu is spreading in Iowa, with the state reporting its 2nd outbreak Monday [7 Mar 2022], this time infecting 50 000 turkeys in a northwest Iowa commercial facility.

The Iowa Department of Agriculture said the 15-week-old turkeys were destroyed at a Buena Vista County facility to prevent the spread of the highly contagious virus.

Officials are “restricting movement in, within, and out” of a quarantine area in a 6 mi [9.6 km] circle around the infected facility, said Iowa State Veterinarian Jeff Kaisand. Birds in 5 commercial facilities and 37 backyard flocks in the quarantined area are being tested.

Tests verified the virus in the Buena Vista County flock late Sunday [6 Mar 2022], Kaisand said. The destroyed birds will be disposed of on location, he said. The owner has the option of composting the birds or burying them.

On Monday [7 Mar 2022], Gov. Kim Reynolds issued a disaster declaration for the county, allowing the state agriculture department and other agencies to assist with detection, tracking, and monitoring of the disease and containment, disposal, and disinfection.

Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig said Monday [7 Mar 2022] the outbreak at a commercial facility could have trade implications. The US Department of Agriculture will report the case to global animal health and trade officials and wait to see if any restrictions are placed on Iowa birds.

Last week, the Iowa and US agriculture departments said a backyard flock of 42 chickens and ducks, where bird flu was detected in Pottawattamie County, had been destroyed and incinerated.

Kaisand said he believes wild birds infected the turkey facility as they migrate across the US. He sees no connection between the Pottawattamie County and Buena Vista County outbreaks.

Agriculture officials also set up a quarantine area in Pottawattamie County, but with just 3 backyard flocks in that zone, officials only required that the birds be monitored for signs of infection.

Over the weekend, avian influenza also was discovered in commercial flocks in Maryland, South Dakota, and Missouri, bringing to 12 the states with reported outbreaks detected.

Kaisand said poultry producers should put up “as many firewalls as possible between your poultry and wild birds,” adding that “separating any connections between wild birds and domestic birds is absolutely critical this year [2022].”

State and federal agencies said none of the birds nor any poultry products from flocks where avian influenza is detected will reach US food supplies. No human cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza have been detected in the United States.

The virus’ spread is particularly concerning in Iowa, which leads the nation in egg production, with 55 million laying hens, and ranks 7th nationally for turkey production, raising 12 million birds annually.

Kaisand said it’s important to note that there is no cure or vaccine for bird flu.

The virus can wipe out a flock within 48 hours. A 2015 outbreak led to the destruction of 32.7 million laying hens, turkeys, and other birds in Iowa. That was about 2/3 of the 50.5 million that were destroyed nationally in what is considered the worst foreign animal disease outbreak on record.

The US Department of Agriculture helps the state and producers get rid of potentially infected birds and disinfect facilities, Naig said. The federal government also will help producers financially with the loss of the birds. “This is a devastating blow to them economically,” he said.

He said he believes industry and state and federal government officials are better prepared than in 2015, with tighter biosecurity measures limiting access to facilities and preventing contamination of birds’ water and feed.

“None of us want to be facing a foreign animal disease again here in Iowa, but we have learned a lot,” Naid said, adding that “we’re ready to respond quickly” when an outbreak is identified to prevent the virus’ spread.

Last week, Naig said Iowans with flocks should be “on high alert” over the next couple months while wild birds are migrating. The state is part of the Mississippi flyway, a migration route for millions of birds annually.

Naig said the discovery of disease in Iowa on 1 Mar [2022] was “not unexpected,” given reports it had been detected in wild, backyard, and commercial flocks, mostly in eastern US states.

Kaisand urged poultry owners to immediately report to the state and federal agriculture departments any birds that become sick or die unexpectedly.

Officials say poultry products remain safe to eat when properly handled and cooked.

US Department of Agriculture figures for 2020, the latest available, show Iowa’s poultry industry receipts were USD 1.28 billion.

[Byline: Donnelle Eller]

–

Communicated by:

Mahmoud Orabi

<>

[ProMED map of Buena Vista County, Iowa, United States: ]

****** 		Vax campaign Similarity Model

Date: 6 Mar 2022

Source: Ministry of Health, Israel [in Hebrew, machine trans., edited]

https://www.gov.il/he/departments/news/06032022-03

A case of polio (child paralysis) was discovered in a 4-year-old child in Jerusalem who was not vaccinated against polio as part of routine vaccinations. The source of the disease, in this case, is a polio vaccine that has undergone a change and may cause disease in those who are not vaccinated.

The most important means of preventing polio is to adhere to routine immunizations at the recommended time according to the guidelines of the Ministry of Health. It is recommended that routine immunizations for those who have not yet done so be completed as soon as possible.

The Jerusalem District Health Bureau has opened an epidemiological investigation and will contact the child in close contact to provide specific instructions. Based on the findings of the investigation, further recommendations will be decided.

It should be noted that the virus is found in sewage samples in the area, a finding that happens occasionally, but so far in similar incidents in the past, there have been no clinical cases.

Polio is an infectious disease caused by the poliovirus. The virus is contagious and is transmitted from person to person (especially in children). The virus enters the body through the mouth and is excreted in the feces. There are usually no signs of illness and only 1 in 1000 people (who are not vaccinated) will develop symptoms symptomatically with paralysis [the range of AFP (acute flaccid paralysis) to infected has been cited as a high of 1 in 50 infected to a low of 1 in 1000 infected - Mod.MPP].

The Ministry of Health will continue to update the public as needed and the investigation will progress.

–

Communicated by:

ProMED

[ProMED would like to thank Yaakov Dickstein for alerting us to this case.] (see links below to the ProMED coverage of the events in Egypt and Israel in 2013, for additional details)

Questions that come to mind now are:

Which cVDPV is implicated? VDPV1, VDPV2 or VDPV3? Is this VDPV a circulating VDPV? Is it genetically related to cVDPVs from another country or is a locally evolved cVDPV? Does the infected 4-year old child have an AFP illness? Has contact tracing identified other infected children in Jerusalem? Is there a known history of travel or contact with travelers? Is environmental sampling ongoing in the West Bank and Gaza strip as well? Have routine immunization activities been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic or is the vaccination status of this child a function of vaccine hesitancy on the part of the parents? Information on additional findings from knowledgeable sources would be greatly appreciated.

Maps of Israel can be seen at

https://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/map/israel_map.htm

and

https://promedmail.org/promed-post?place=8701864,64615

. - Mod.MPP 		Vax campaign Similarity Model

NewsDesk @bactiman63

Moderna Inc, a biotechnology company pioneering messenger RNA (mRNA) therapeutics and vaccines, Monday signed a memorandum of understanding with the Kenyan government to establish the first mRNA manufacturing facility in Africa.

The agreement, that was witnessed by President Uhuru Kenyatta in State House Nairobi, will see Moderna establish a state-of-the-art mRNA facility in Africa with the goal of producing up to 500 million doses of vaccines each year.

The Company anticipates investing up to 60 billion shillings in the new facility which will focus on drug substance manufacturing on the continent of Africa for the continent of Africa, and could also be expanded to include fill/finish and packaging capabilities at the site.

“We are pleased to partner with Moderna in the establishment of this mRNA manufacturing facility to help prepare the country and our sister states on the continent through the African Union to respond to future health crises and stave off the next pandemic,” said President Kenyatta.

“This partnership is a testament to the capabilities of our community and our commitment to technological innovation. Moderna’s investment in Kenya will help advance equitable global vaccine access and is emblematic of the structural developments that will enable Africa to become an engine of sustainable global growth”, the President added. “Kenya recognizes and appreciates the collaboration of Moderna in building our local manufacturing capacity. This will ensure as a country and region we can quickly respond to health demands requiring Vaccine commodities”, said health cabinet secretary Mutahi Kagwe.

Moderna is also working on plans to allow it to fill doses of its COVID-19 vaccine in Africa as early as 2023, subject to demand. “Battling the COVID-19 pandemic over the last two years has provided a reminder of the work that must be done to ensure global health equity. Moderna is committed to being a part of the solution and today, we announce another step in this journey – an investment in the Republic of Kenya to build a drug substance mRNA manufacturing facility capable of supplying up to 500 million doses for the African continent each year,” said Stéphane Bancel, Chief Executive Officer of Moderna. “With our mRNA global public health vaccine program, including our vaccine programs against HIV and Nipah, and with this partnership with the Republic of Kenya, the African Union and the U.S. Government, we believe that this step will become one of many on a journey to ensure sustainable access to transformative mRNA innovation on the African continent and positively impact public health”, he added.

“We would like to thank the Government of the Republic of Kenya for their support in bringing our mRNA manufacturing facility to Kenya. We would also like to thank the U.S. Government for assisting us in this process,” said Noubar Afeyan, Co-founder and Chairman of Moderna.

In its prophylactic vaccines modality, Moderna’s mRNA pipeline includes 28 vaccine programs including vaccines against respiratory viruses, vaccines against latent viruses and vaccines against threats to global public health. 		Vax campaign Similarity Model
Outbreaks and Emergencies Bulletin, Week 3: 10 - 16 January 2022 The WHO Health Emergencies Programme is currently monitoring 132 events in the region. This week’s articles cover: Floods in São Tomé and Príncipe COVID-19 across the WHO African region Circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo Vax campaign Similarity Model
Outbreaks and Emergencies Bulletin, Week 44: 25 - 31 October 2021 The WHO Health Emergencies Programme is currently monitoring 137 events in the region. This week’s articles cover: Ebola Virus Disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo COVID-19 across the WHO African region Circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 in Kenya Measles in the Democratic Republic of the Congo Vax campaign Similarity Model

Rift Valley fever – Kenya

Disease outbreak news 12 February 2021

Rift Valley fever (RVF) has been reported in Kenya in humans in Isiolo and Mandera counties and in animals in Isiolo, Mandera, Murang’a and Garissa counties. As of 4 February 2021, there were a total of 32 human cases (14 confirmed positive), and 11 deaths (CFR 34 %).

Isiolo County

The event is believed to have started on 19 November 2020, with deaths among herders presenting with symptoms of fever, headache, general malaise with or without nausea, epistaxis/hematemesis, and abdominal pain/diarrhoea reported to the County Department of Health in Isiolo. The first human case was reported in late November 2020 from Sericho ward in Garbatulla Subcounty. Deaths have been reported in Gafarsa and Erisaboru within Garbatulla subcounty as well Korbesa in Merti subcounty. On 16 December, RVF was confirmed by PCR at the National Virology Laboratory (NVL), Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI). As of 4 February 2021, a total of 22 human cases had been reported (12 confirmed positive), and 10 deaths (three confirmed positive). Most cases were from Garbatulla subcounty, with the majority being herders, male, and aged 13 to 70 years old.

Sheep and goats were also reported sick on 19 November 2020 in Sericho subcounty, which is mainly pastoral. The communities in this area live in villages and livestock are grazed in communal grazing areas. Animal samples tested IgM and real time PCR positive for RVF at the Central Veterinary Laboratory (CVL), Kabete and the Regional Veterinary Investigation Laboratory in Garissa. The event was officially confirmed on 7 January 2021 and reported to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) on 15 January 2021 and later on 22 and 29 January 2021. As of 27 January, a total of 20 livestock samples (19 sheep and 1 camel) had tested positive for RVF by IgM-capture ELISA and real-time PCR.

Mandera County

A patient from Kalmalab village, Mandera North subcounty fell ill after he was involved in the slaughter of four sick camels. He was evacuated to a Nairobi hospital with haemorrhagic symptoms on 18 January. He was later admitted to the Intensive Care Unit with multiple organ failure. RVF was confirmed on 21 January at the NVL. He died on 22 January 2021. As of 4 February 2021, a total of 10 cases (2 confirmed RVF positive), including 1 death had been reported from Mandera North sub county.

Kalmalab village borders the river Dawa which broke its banks following rains in the Ethiopian highlands. The RVF outbreak may be associated with this flooding, as it increases the risk of mosquito-borne zoonosis. Livestock samples have been submitted to CVL Kabete for testing.

Murang’a County

Livestock with RVF syndromes (including bleeding and abortions) were first reported on 29 December 2020 in Gatanga subcounty, Kihumbuini ward. The first animal death was reported on 1 January 2021. Samples were collected from the same farm on 1 January and were confirmed RVF positive on 3 January at CVL Kabete using Elisa IgG/IgM testing. More suspected animal cases have been reported in Ng’araria ward in Kandara subcounty. No human cases have been confirmed, however suspected cases were traced and samples from affected households were collected on 25 January for testing at NVL.

Garissa County

Samples from suspected livestock (sheep and goats) were collected from Masalani, Ijara Subcounty and Balambala, Balambala Subcountrym on 20 December 2020 for testing and were confirmed positive for RVF on 22 December using Elisa IgM testing. Field investigations are ongoing to determine the extent of the outbreak.

Surveillance in livestock was initiated after the detection of the RVF outbreak in Isiolo. Outbreaks among animals were observed during this time period. In December 2020, results from CVL Kabete taken from 120 livestock revealed 20 (19 sheep out of which 10 died, and 1 camel) positive RVF cases confirmed by Elisa IgM testing. Further laboratory analysis are ongoing in both human and livestock samples. Public Health Response

WHO is working closely with the Ministry of Health via the local health cluster alongside the FAO and OIE in supporting the following public health activities in response to the outbreak:

RVF outbreak investigation (determining extent of the outbreak, associated risk factors, vector surveillance, and ecology mapping) Inclusion of the RVF outbreak into the weekly disease outbreak SitRep Training of health care workers (capacity building on RVF case detection and appropriate case management) Raising awareness via radio spots, printing and dissemination of Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials Building capacity of the County laboratories to carry out tests for RVF and other diseases Animal quarantine Ante and post-mortem inspections Ongoing epidemiological investigations Sensitization of community health volunteers, healthcare workers and veterinarians Planning of updating and reviewing the RVF contingency plan (last version 2014) and develop/update RVF SOP for the post-outbreak period.

WHO risk assessment

RVF outbreaks are recurrent in Kenya and there have been several RVF outbreaks in the past (1998, 2006-2007, 2014, 2018). The current outbreak affecting humans and animals in Isiolo (Ewaso Nyiro), Mandera (Dawa) and Garissa counties is associated with rivers flooding. There was no flooding/rainfall in Muranga; outbreaks are around swampy areas, and quarry lakes. Contact with infected animals was associated with human infection. Herders, farmers, slaughterhouse workers, and veterinarians have an increased risk of infection. Isiolo and Garissa counties are pastoral communities (primarily sheep and goats) where livestock are grazed in communal grazing areas.

The onset of the event began in Sericho, Isiolo county around 19 November 2020. RVF outbreaks were later reported in Balambala and Ijara Subcounties, Garissa county on 7 December 2020 that were attributed to flooding along the Ewaso Basin whose river burst its banks in early November 2020. This then led livestock to migrate and graze along the marshy areas of the nearby riverbank. The location of the event is currently reported in four counties within Kenya. Yet, given the favourable environmental conditions (heavy rainfall and flooding) that can increase the presence of disease vectors, along with uncontrolled movement of viraemic animals (in search of water and pasture), there is an increased risk of disease spreading to other parts within Kenya and to neighbouring countries. It should be highlighted that an RVF outbreak will have a severe economic impact on this pastoral community that is dependent on livestock production. The last animal vaccination for RVF was in 2018, but the exact coverage is unknown. Although the country has local capacity, response measures remain insufficient. Vector control measures have not been conducted and a national vector control plan has yet to be developed.

The first confirmed COVID-19 case was registered in Kenya on 12 March 2020. As of 8 February 2021, Kenya had reported 101 819 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 1,779 deaths.. The impact of the pandemic has led to a wide-spread shortage of supplies necessary to mount an effective RVF response such as Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Furthermore, surveillance officers and laboratory services have largely prioritised the COVID-19 response. WHO advice

Rift Valley fever is a mosquito-borne zoonosis primarily affecting domestic animals (such as sheep, goats, and camels). Humans get infected through contact with viraemic animals and their fluids (blood, etc.). Human cases often occur in proximity to outbreaks in livestock in an environment favourable for mosquito vectors that also transmit the virus to animals and sometimes to humans. The majority of human infections result from direct or indirect contact with the blood, bodily fluids or tissues of infected animals. Awareness of the risk factors of RVF infection, integrated vector control activities and protective measures against mosquito bites is essential in reducing human infection and deaths. Public health messages for risk reduction should focus on:

Public awareness and public education on RVF Reducing the risk of animal-to-human transmission resulting from unsafe animal husbandry and slaughtering practices. Hand washing, use of gloves and other PPE when handling sick animals or their tissues or when slaughtering animals is recommended. Reducing the risk of animal-to-human transmission arising from the unsafe consumption of raw or unpasteurized milk or animal tissue; animal products found within RVF endemic regions should be thoroughly cooked prior to eating or drinking. Reducing the risk of mosquito bites through the implementation of vector control activities (e.g., insecticide spraying and use of larvicide to reduce mosquito breeding sites), use of insecticide-impregnated mosquito nets and repellents, protective clothing, and avoidance of outdoor activity at peak biting times of the vector species. As outbreaks of RVF in animals precede human cases, establishing and strengthening existing surveillance activities are essential in the prevention and management of RVF outbreaks. This includes the early warning and detection surveillance system for animal health, environmental monitoring, case surveillance and other measures in line with the One Health approach. Routine animal vaccination is recommended to prevent RVF outbreaks. However, vaccination campaigns are not recommended during an outbreak as it may intensify transmission among the herd through needle propagation of the virus. Restriction of animal movement to reduce the spread of the virus from infected to uninfected areas Vector surveillance measures need to be implemented, in conjunction with development of a national plan for vector control.

WHO advises against the application of any travel or trade restrictions on Kenya or the affected area based on the current information available on this event.

For more information on Rift Valley fever, please see the link below:

WHO fact sheet on Rift Valley fever 		Vax campaign Similarity Model
[1] “
” [1] “New H2H transmission”
body suggestedTag reason

Sci Rep. 2022 Mar 7;12(1):3635. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-07713-3.

Malaria is one of Ethiopia’s most targeted communicable diseases for elimination. Malaria transmission varies significantly across space and time; and Ethiopia had space-time disparity in its transmission intensities. Considering heterogeneity and transmission intensity at the district level could play a crucial role in malaria prevention and elimination. This study aimed to explore temporal, spatial, and spatiotemporal clusters of malaria incidence in northwest Ethiopia. The analysis is based on monthly malaria surveillance data of districts and collected from the Amhara public health institute. The Kulldorff’s retrospective space-time scan statistics using a discrete Poisson model were used to detect temporal, spatial, and space-time clusters of malaria incidence with and without adjusting the altitude + LLIN arm. Monthly malaria incidence had seasonal variations, and higher seasonal indices occurred in October and November. The temporal cluster occurred in the higher transmission season between September and December annually. The higher malaria incidence risk occurred between July 2012 and December 2013 (LLR = 414,013.41, RR = 2.54, P < 0.05). The purely spatial clustering result revealed that the most likely cluster occurred in the north and northwest parts of the region while secondary clusters varied in years. The space-time clusters were detected with and without considering altitude + LLIN arm. The most likely space-time cluster was concentrated in northwestern and western parts of the region with a high-risk period between July 2012 and December 2013 (LLR = 880,088.3, RR = 5.5, P < 0.001). We found eight significant space-time clusters using the altitude + LLIN arm. The most likely space-time cluster occurred in the western and northwestern parts of the region in July 2012-December 2013 (LLR = 886,097.7, RR = 5.55, P < 0.05). However, secondary clusters were located in eastern, northwestern, western parts of regions, which had different cases and relative risks in each cluster. Malaria transmission had temporal, spatial, and space-time variation in the region at the district level. Hence, considering these variations and factors contributing to malaria stratification would play an indispensable role in preventing and controlling practices that ultimately leads to malaria eliminations. 		New H2H transmission Similarity Model
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” [1] “Treatment campaign”
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NHS East of England has confirmed that they’ve ended the major incident that was declared in mid February after the discovery of an Ebola-like disease in the area.

Staff at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge were told to self isolate after three individuals were diagnosed with Lassa Fever in the East of England, according to The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).

A newborn baby with the disease sadly passed away at a hospital in Bedfordshire after contracting the disease.

The cases were linked to recent travel to West Africa, and have occurred within the same family.

Hundreds of frontline workers across the region, as well as at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, were reportedly told to isolate after being identified as potential contacts.

At the time, due to the potential impact of Lassa fever on staffing in local hospitals due to self isolation, a regional major incident was declared.

This major incident ended on March 3, just under a month since it was declared. 		Treatment campaign Similarity Model

(NEXSTAR) — A California company has issued a recall for 83 of its beef jerky products that may be “adulterated with Listeria monocytogenes,” the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has announced.

Boyd Specialties, LLC, of Canton, said the recall affects 1,634 pounds of jerky shipped to retail locations in Alabama, California, Connecticut, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Texas. The affected products came in 15 different flavors and were sold under more than 20 different brand names.

Inspectors with the Food Safety Inspection Service became aware of possible contamination after a sample tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes during routine “follow-up procedures,” the FSIS said. There have yet to be any reports of illness, the agency said.

Consumers who believe they may have purchased one of the affected products are encouraged to discard the jerky or return it for a refund. The products, produced on Feb. 23, 2022, all bear the establishment number “EST. 40269” on the USDA mark of inspection.

A full list of the recalled products and photos of their labels can be found on the FSIS website.

Listeriosis, an infection caused by foodborne listeria monocytogenes bacteria, affects roughly 1,600 people each year, around 260 of whom die, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Those at the highest risk are pregnant women, newborns, young children, those over 65, and those with weakened immune systems. Pregnant women are also 10 times more likely to contract listeria infection, and pregnant Hispanic women are roughly 24 times more likely. In pregnant women, listeria infection can cause miscarriages, stillbirths, or preterm labor.

Symptoms of listeria infection include fever and diarrhea, along with headache, stiff neck, nausea, loss of balance, abdominal pain, confusion, and convulsions, according to the CDC and FDA. Pregnant women, however, typically only experience flu-like symptoms and fever, the CDC says. 		Treatment campaign Similarity Model

(NEXSTAR) — A California company has issued a recall for 83 of its beef jerky products that may be “adulterated with Listeria monocytogenes,” the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has announced.

Boyd Specialties, LLC, of Canton, said the recall affects 1,634 pounds of jerky shipped to retail locations in Alabama, California, Connecticut, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Texas. The affected products came in 15 different flavors, and were sold under more than 20 different brand names.

Inspectors with the Food Safety Inspection Service became aware of possible contamination after a sample tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes during routine “follow-up procedures,” the FSIS said. There have yet to be any reports of illness, the agency said.

Consumers who believe they may have purchased one of the affected products are encouraged to discard the jerky or return it for a refund. The products, produced on Feb. 23, 2022, all bear the establishment number “EST. 40269” on the USDA mark of inspection.

A full list of the recalled products and photos of their labels can be found at the FSIS website.

Listeriosis, an infection caused by foodborne listeria monocytogenes bacteria, affects roughly 1,600 people each year, around 260 of whom die, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Those at the highest risk are pregnant women, newborns, young children, those over 65 and those with weakened immune systems. Pregnant woman are also 10 times more likely to contract listeria infection, and pregnant Hispanic women are roughly 24 times more likely. In pregnant women, listeria infection can cause miscarriages, stillbirths or preterm labor.

Symptoms of listeria infection include fever and diarrhea, along with headache, stiff neck, nausea, loss of balance, abdominal pain, confusion and convulsions, according to the CDC and FDA. Pregnant women, however, typically only experience flu-like symptoms and fever, the CDC says. 		Treatment campaign Similarity Model

Date: Mon 7 Mar 2022

Source: The Express Tribune [edited]

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2346804/punjab-prepares-vaccine-against-lumpy-skin-disease

In the light of the spread of the lumpy skin disease in Sindh, veterinary experts in Punjab have prepared a vaccine with “successful results” to stop the possible spread of the virus in the province.

Veterinary Research Institute Director Dr Sajjad Hussain told The Express Tribune that the 1st case of the virus was detected in October last year [2021] in Sindh after which Punjab started preparations to ward off the threat.

The infection rate of the virus in animals is 90 per cent whereas the mortality rate is up to 5 per cent, the expert said.

The symptoms of the virus are fever, reduced milk production, and skin protuberances along with loss of appetite.

Dr Hussain said the authorities vaccinated cattle in at least 10 dairy farms across Mirpur Khas, Hyderabad, and Karachi with successful results.

About the presence of “zero cases” in Punjab, he said the virus could not travel from Sindh to Punjab because Punjab hardly imports any livestock from Sindh. However, the staff of the livestock department was deployed along the border of Sindh and Punjab to keep the virus at bay.

It may be noted here that the Ministry of National Food Security and Research Livestock Wing of the federal government through a letter last week [week of 1 Mar 2022] had confirmed that lumpy skin disease had been confirmed in selected areas of Sindh and South Punjab and issued certain guidelines to control it.

Besides Karachi, the disease was being reported from Thatta, Jamshoro, Mirpurkhas, Hyderabad, Khairpur, Sanghar, Sukkur, and Nawabshah, the press release had said.

[Byline: Asif Mehmood]

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Communicated by:

ProMED-SoAs

[ProMED-SoAs readers are referred to the posting: Undiagnosed illness, cattle - Pakistan: (Sindh) RFI ] 		Treatment campaign Similarity Model

Date: Mon 7 Mar 2022

Source: The Leader [edited]

https://www.theleader.com.au/story/7646237/japanese-encephalitis-virus-detected-in-nsw/

NSW Health has confirmed that 2 people with Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) are being treated in hospital and is continuing to urge the public to be vigilant and safeguard themselves against mosquito bites.

Both people are residents of the NSW-Victoria border region: a man from the Corowa area and a child from the Wentworth area in the far southwest of NSW. They are being treated in hospitals in Victoria.

The man remains in a serious condition in ICU. The child has been discharged from ICU but continues to receive hospital care due to the serious nature of their illness.

Several more people in NSW are undergoing further testing, and more cases are expected to be confirmed over the coming days and weeks.

Earlier

NSW Health has confirmed one highly probable case of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) in an NSW resident and is warning the public to be vigilant and safeguard themselves against mosquito bites.

The person is in ICU in a stable condition. They are a resident in the NSW-Victoria border region.

Several more patients in NSW are undergoing further testing, and more cases are expected to be confirmed over coming weeks.

Locally acquired cases of JEV have never previously been identified in NSW in animals or humans. JEV is usually only found in far northern Australia and neighbouring countries.

JEV can cause severe neurological illness with headache, convulsions, and reduced consciousness in some cases.

There is no specific treatment for JEV.

JEV is a viral illness spread by mosquitoes. It can infect animals as well as humans and has been confirmed in samples from a number of pig farms in regional NSW.

The virus cannot be transmitted between humans, and it cannot be caught by eating pork or pig products.

NSW Health Acting Chief Health Officer Marianne Gale said the best way to avoid infection is to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes, which are most active between dusk and dawn.

“NSW Health is cautioning people undertaking outdoor activities such as camping and fishing to carefully consider their plans. This is especially important for people planning activities near waterways or where mosquitoes are present, particularly the Murray River and its branches,” Dr Gale said. “People should be particularly vigilant given the recent wet weather conditions, which have led to very high mosquito numbers that may increase further in the coming days and weeks.”

NSW Health is working closely with the NSW Department of Primary Industries and other state and territory agencies to determine the extent to which the virus is circulating, through animal testing and mosquito monitoring.

Mosquito control activities are being carried out in the vicinity of farms where pigs are confirmed to have been infected by JEV, and NSW Health is arranging vaccination of workers on affected farms.

Simple actions you can take to avoid mosquito bites include avoid going outdoors during peak mosquito times, especially at dawn and dusk, wear long sleeves and pants outdoors (reduce skin exposure), use repellent, especially those that contain DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus, and reduce all water-holding containers around the home where mosquitoes could breed, as mosquitoes only need a small amount of liquid to breed.

The warning follows detection of a mosquito-borne disease Ross River virus found in mosquitoes at Picnic Point, a suburb north of the Georges River, on 2 occasions in the past month.

[Byline: Eva Kolimar]

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Communicated by:

ProMED from HealthMap Alerts

[The state of New South Wales (NSW) now has 2 confirmed human cases of Japanese encephalitis. One of these, currently in serious condition in the hospital’s ICU, appears likely to be one of the patients reported in a 3 Mar 2022 post (see item [1] in Japanese encephalitis - Australia (03): (VI, QL) spread ] 		Treatment campaign Similarity Model

Date: Fri 4 Mar 2022

Source: OIE WAHIS [edited]

https://wahis.oie.int/#/report-info?reportId=49953

Lumpy skin disease virus (inf. with), Pakistan

Summary

Report type: immediate notification

Started: 27 Oct 2021

Confirmed: 1 Mar 2022

Reported: 4 Mar 2022

Reason for notification: 1st occurrence in the country

Causal agent: Lumpy skin disease virus

Nature of diagnosis: clinical, laboratory

This event pertains to a defined zone within the country.

New outbreaks (3)

[Since 27 Oct 2021, 3 outbreaks of lumpy skin disease (LSD) have occurred in the provinces of Punjab (1) and Sindh (2). See details of each outbreak at the source URL above. - Mod.CRD]

Summary of outbreaks

Total outbreaks (3)

Total animals affected:

Species / Susceptible / Cases / Deaths / Killed and disposed of / Slaughtered or killed for commercial use / Vaccinated

Cattle / 195 / 60 / 5 / 0 / 0 / 0

Epidemiology

Source of the outbreak(s) or origin of infection: unknown or inconclusive.

Epidemiological comments: LSD cases have been reported from limited areas of the 2 provinces in Pakistan. First suspected case of LSD from Bahawalpur region of Punjab province was reported to AHC/CVO dated 27 Oct 2021. Accordingly, National Veterinary Laboratories (NVL) conducted sampling and further investigations in coordination with the local veterinary authority. Other suspected cases of LSD were reported from Jamshoro and Thatta region of Sindh dated 1 Dec 2021, and Central Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (CVDL) Sindh conducted sampling and further investigations in coordination with the local veterinary authority. Provincial veterinary authorities instantly took control and prevention measures. Since disease was 1st time seen in Pakistan, and diagnostic kits and reagents had to be imported, which took longer time therefore, LSD has been confirmed in March 2022. AHC/CVO Pakistan has immediately issued guidelines for control and prevention of LSD for Provincial Veterinary Authorities. Now, the situation is under control.

Control measures at event level

Control measures applied, domestic: zoning, quarantine, movement control inside the country, disinfestation, disinfection, control of vectors

Diagnostic test results

Laboratory name and type: National Veterinary Laboratories, Islamabad (national laboratory)

Species / Test / Outbreaks / Test date / Result

Cattle / real-time polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR) / 3 / 27 Oct 2021 to 1 Mar 2022 / positive

[The location of the outbreaks can be seen on the interactive map included in the OIE report at the source URL above.]

–

Communicated by:

ProMED

[This immediate notification complements the information published in ProMED posting ] 		Treatment campaign Similarity Model

As America enters the third year of the COVID-19 pandemic and approaches the 2-year anniversary of business and school shutdowns put in place when little was known about the novel coronavirus, a group of public health experts have published a new roadmap laying out how the country can enter the “new normal” stage of the pandemic and manage the virus without eliminating it.

The roadmap recommends against future school closings, suggests the United States will need to manufacture 1 billion at-home COVID-19 tests per month, and says the nation can lift pandemic restrictions when it is tallying 165 or fewer deaths per day from the virus.

The authors begin the roadmap by acknowledging where America stands: fatigued with the pandemic, some having stopped all COVID-19 protocols, while others still extremely cautious. In the middle are millions who are confused about how to comport themselves now that vaccines and therapeutics make COVID-19 a more manageable disease.

The roadmap was co-authored by 24 US experts, including 2 from the University of Minnesota’s Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, publisher of CIDRAP News.

Measures may end when deaths fall dramatically

“The pandemic and its restrictive measures should end when Covid death rates decline to those of a bad influenza season,” the authors write. That translates to roughly 60,000 deaths per year, or 165 per day.

Currently, the 7-day average of new daily COVID-19 cases is 44,800, with 1,539 daily deaths, according to the Washington Post tracker. In the past week cases fell by 31%, hospitalizations fell 23%, and deaths fell 19%.

In the best-case scenario, the authors write, widespread use of vaccines and previous infection will limit the ability of the virus to cause extensive deaths.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s COVID Data Tracker shows 65.1% of Americans are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, 76.5% have received at least one dose of vaccine, and 44% of fully vaccinated Americans have received a booster.

Testing, air quality key parts of roadmap

White House officials say more money is urgently needed from Congress to bolster COVID-19 testing supplies and guarantee that uninsured Americans keep getting free treatment for the virus, the Associated Press reports.

Expanding test-to-treat options and making widely available at-home COVID-19 tests is 1 of the main 12 recommendation made by the authors of the roadmap. The roadmap suggests that the US develop the capacity to manufacture 1 billion a -home COVID-19 tests per month.

Roadmap coauthor Michael Mina, MD, PhD, the chief science officer of eMed, a company that sells COVID-19 tests, told CIDRAP News that tests are no longer needed to simply stop the transmission chain of the virus. Instead, they will be explicitly linked to gaining access to COVID-19 treatments.

“Linking tests to treatment has already been made a priority of the administration. Making the whole test-to-treat process work at home means that people will get tested and thus treated in time for the oral antiviral treatments to be maximally beneficial,” he said.

“Effective, accessible treatment changes the balance of this pandemic. And, moving forward, it will be one of the major advances and advantages associated with access to rapid testing at home.”

The roadmap also emphasizes a need for schools and businesses to improve their air quality. Moreover, it emphases that school shutdowns should be avoided at almost all costs, and that most schools should and can go maskless in the near future.

Starting today, masks for public school students in New York City are optional, the New York Times reports. It is one of the biggest school districts in the country.

In addition to testing, air quality, and school guidelines, the roadmap also covers the need to investigate and invest in treatments for “long COVID,” to invest in public health infrastructure, and to ensure that American healthcare workers are well-equipped with personal protective equipment in the future. 		Treatment campaign Similarity Model
Outbreaks and Emergencies Bulletin, Week 1: 27 December 2021 – 2 January 2022 The WHO Health Emergencies Programme is currently monitoring 135 events in the region. This week’s articles cover: COVID-19 across the WHO African region Yellow Fever in West and Central Africa Treatment campaign Similarity Model
Outbreaks and Emergencies Bulletin, Week 51: 13 - 19 December 2021 The WHO Health Emergencies Programme is currently monitoring 140 events in the region. This week’s articles cover: COVID-19 across the WHO African region Ebola Virus Disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo Cholera in Cameroon Monkeypox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo Treatment campaign Similarity Model
Outbreaks and Emergencies Bulletin, Week 50: 06 - 12 December 2021 The WHO Health Emergencies Programme is currently monitoring 140 events in the region. This week’s articles cover: COVID-19 across the WHO African region Ebola Virus Disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo Rift Valley Fever in Senegal Fire explosion incident in Sierra Leone Treatment campaign Similarity Model
Outbreaks and Emergencies Bulletin, Week 49: 29 November - 05 December 2021 The WHO Health Emergencies Programme is currently monitoring 142 events in the region. This week’s articles cover: COVID-19 across the WHO African region Ebola Virus Disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo Cholera in Ethiopia Humanitarian Crisis in Cameroon Treatment campaign Similarity Model
Outbreaks and Emergencies Bulletin, Week 48: 22 - 28 November 2021 The WHO Health Emergencies Programme is currently monitoring 143 events in the region. This week’s articles cover: COVID-19 across the WHO African region Ebola Virus Disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo Hepatitis Virus E in Chad Floods in South Sudan Treatment campaign Similarity Model
Outbreaks and Emergencies Bulletin, Week 47: 15 - 21 November 2021 The WHO Health Emergencies Programme is currently monitoring 137 events in the region. This week’s articles cover: Ebola Virus Disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo COVID-19 across the WHO African region Yellow fever in Ghana Cholera in Uganda Treatment campaign Similarity Model
Outbreaks and Emergencies Bulletin, Week 46: 08 - 14 November 2021 The WHO Health Emergencies Programme is currently monitoring 136 events in the region. This week’s articles cover: Ebola Virus Disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo COVID-19 across the WHO African region Fire explosion in Sierra Leone Cholera in Togo Treatment campaign Similarity Model
Outbreaks and Emergencies Bulletin, Week 45: 01 - 07 November 2021 The WHO Health Emergencies Programme is currently monitoring 134 events in the region. This week’s articles cover: Ebola Virus Disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo COVID-19 across the WHO African region Cholera in Cameroon Lassa fever in Nigeria Treatment campaign Similarity Model
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” [1] “Border closure”
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WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has decided to ban Russian oil imports, toughening the toll on Russia’s economy in retaliation for its invasion of Ukraine, according to a person familiar with the matter.

The move follows pleas by Ukrainian President Volodmyr Zelenskyy to U.S. and Western officials to cut off the imports, which had been a glaring omission the massive sanctions put in place on Russia over the invasion. Energy exports have kept a steady influx of cash flowing to Russia despite otherwise severe restrictions on its financial sector. 		Border closure Similarity Model
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Date: Fri 4 Mar 2022

Source: Dexter Statesman [edited]

https://www.dexterstatesman.com/story/2937635.html

Stoddard County Health Center Director Ben Godwin stated in a social media release that a flock of broiler chickens in Stoddard County has tested positive for avian influenza (AI). Godwin said the test was confirmed by the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).

Godwin’s release said samples from the flock were tested at the University of Missouri Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, part of the National Animal Health Laboratory Network NAHLN, and confirmed at the APHIS National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) in Ames, Iowa.

The APHIS is working closely with state animal health officials in Missouri on a joint incident response to the positive test. State officials quarantined the affected premises, and birds on the properties will be depopulated to prevent the spread of the disease; birds from the flock will not enter the food system.

Godwin said according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the recent HPAI detections do not present an immediate public health concern.

Godwin said cases of avian influenza in humans is very rare but could cause flu-like symptoms. Additionally, Godwin said no human cases of these avian influenza viruses have been detected in the United States.

Godwin said everyone should cook all poultry and eggs to an internal temperature of 165 deg F [74 deg C] to kill bacteria and viruses.

As part of the existing avian influenza response plans, federal and state partners are working jointly on additional surveillance and testing in the areas around the affected flock. Godwin’s release said the United States has the strongest AI surveillance program in the world, and USDA is working with its partners to actively look for the disease in commercial poultry operations, live bird markets, and migratory wild bird populations. Anyone involved with poultry production from the small backyard to the large commercial producer should review their biosecurity activities to assure the health of their birds. The APHIS has materials about biosecurity, including videos, checklists, and a toolkit available at

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/…/dtf-resources/dtf-resources

.

Godwin said the USDA will report these finding to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) as well as international trading partners. He said the USDA also continues to communicate with trading partners to encourage adherence to OIE standards and minimize trade impacts.

The OIE trade guidelines call on countries to base trade restrictions on sound science and, whenever possible, limit restrictions to those animals and animal products within a defined region posing a risk of spreading the disease of concern.

Godwin said APHIS will continue to announce the 1st case of HPAI in commercial and backyard flocks detected in a state but will not announce subsequent detections in the state. All cases in commercial and backyard flocks will be listed on the APHIS website at

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/…/avian-influenza/2022-hpai

.

According to Godwin’s release, all bird owners should prevent contact between their birds and wild birds and report sick birds or unusual bird deaths to state/federal officials, either through their state veterinarian or through APHIS’s toll-free number in addition to practicing good biosecurity.

Additionally, the APHIS is urging producers to consider bringing birds indoors when possible to further prevent exposures. The Animal Health Protection Act authorizes APHIS to provide indemnity payments to producers for birds and eggs being depopulated during a disease response.

The APHIS also provides compensation for disposal activities and virus elimination activities. Additional information on biosecurity for backyard flocks can be found at

http://healthybirds.aphis.usda.gov

.

Avian influenza (AI) is caused by an influenza type A virus that can infect poultry (such as chickens, turkeys, pheasants, quail, domestic ducks, geese, and guinea fowl) and is carried by free-flying waterfowl such as ducks, geese, and shorebirds. AI viruses are classified by a combination of 2 groups of proteins: hemagglutinin or “H” proteins, of which there are 16 (H1-H16), and neuraminidase or “N” proteins, of which there are 9 (N1-N9). Many different combinations of H and N proteins are possible. Each combination is considered a different subtype and can be further broken down into different strains that circulate within flyways/geographic regions. AI viruses are further classified by their pathogenicity (low or high), the ability of a particular virus strain to produce disease in domestic poultry.

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Communicated by:

ProMED

[ProMED map of Stoddard County, Missouri, United States: ]

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Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) – The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Disease Outbreak News: Update 1 February 2021

Between 1 June through 31 December 2020, the National IHR Focal Point of Saudi Arabia reported four additional cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS-CoV) with one associated death. The cases were reported from Riyadh (two cases), Taif (one case), and Al-Ahsaa (one case) Regions.

The link below provides details of the four reported cases.

MERS-CoV cases reported from 1 June through 31 December 2020 xlsx, 24kb

From 2012 through 31 December 2020, a total of 2566 laboratory-confirmed cases of MERS-CoV and 882 associated deaths were reported globally to WHO under the International Health regulations (IHR 2005). The total number of deaths includes the deaths that WHO is aware of to date through follow-up with affected member states. WHO risk assessment

Infection with MERS-CoV can cause severe disease resulting in high mortality. Humans are infected with MERS-CoV from direct or indirect contact with dromedaries. MERS-CoV has demonstrated the ability to transmit between humans. So far, the observed non-sustained human-to-human transmission has occurred mainly in health care settings.

The notification of additional cases does not change the overall risk assessment. However, with the current COVID-19 pandemic, the testing capacity for MERS-CoV have been severely affected in many countries since most of the resources have been redirected towards SARS-CoV-2. The Ministry of Health of Saudi Arabia is working to increase the testing capacities for better detection of MERS-CoV infections.

WHO expects that additional cases of MERS-CoV infection will be reported from the Middle East, and that cases will continue to be exported to other countries by individuals who might acquire the infection after exposure to dromedaries, animal products (for example, consumption of camel’s raw milk), or humans (for example, in a health care setting or household contacts).

WHO continues to monitor the epidemiological situation and conducts risk assessment based on the latest available information. WHO advice

Based on the current situation and available information, WHO encourages all Member States to continue their surveillance for acute respiratory infections, including MERS-CoV, and to carefully review any unusual patterns. Given limited capacities in countries for testing, WHO advises that countries should test all suspect MERS-CoV cases, and a subset sample of severe acute respiratory infections for MERS-CoV.

Infection prevention and control measures (IPC) are critical to prevent the possible spread of MERS-CoV in health care facilities. It is not always possible to identify patients with MERS-CoV infection early because like other respiratory infections, the early symptoms of MERS-CoV infection are non-specific. Therefore, healthcare workers should always apply standard precautions consistently with all patients, regardless of their diagnosis. Droplet precautions should be added to the standard precautions when providing care to patients with symptoms of acute respiratory infection; contact precautions and eye protection should be added when caring for probable or confirmed cases of MERS-CoV infection; airborne precautions should be applied when performing aerosol generating procedures.

Early identification, case management and isolation, together with appropriate infection prevention and control measures can prevent human-to-human transmission of MERS-CoV.

MERS-CoV appears to cause more severe disease in people with diabetes, renal failure, chronic lung disease, and immunocompromised persons. Therefore, these people should avoid close contact with animals, particularly dromedaries, when visiting farms, markets, or barn areas where the virus is known to be potentially circulating. General hygiene measures, such as regular hand washing before and after touching animals and avoiding contact with sick animals, should be adhered to.

Food hygiene practices should be observed. People should avoid drinking raw camel milk or camel urine, or eating meat that has not been properly cooked.

WHO does not advise special screening at points of entry with regard to this event nor does it currently recommend the application of any travel or trade restrictions. 		Out of season Similarity Model

Yellow fever – Senegal

Disease outbreak news 29 December 2020

From October to December 2020, a total of seven confirmed cases of yellow fever (YF) have been reported from four health districts in three regions in Senegal. The outbreak consists of a cluster of four confirmed cases from three health zones in Kidira health district, Tambacounda region; one case in the neighbouring Kedougou health district, Kedougou region; one case in Saraya health district, Kedougou region; and one case in Thilogne health district, Matam region.

In Tambacounda region, on 18 October 2020, a sample was collected from a 40 year-old female living in Kidira district during an investigation for West Nile virus infection. On 29 October, Institut Pasteur de Dakar (IPD) confirmed the case as yellow fever. On 31 October, IPD reported results of a second confirmed case of YF to national health authorities, following a notification by Bakel health zone, Kidira health district. The case was an 8 year-old boy whose illness began in Kidira health district and died on 31 October. On 12 November, IPD notified national health authorities about a third confirmed case, a 23 year-old male, who was detected by routine surveillance and died on 5 November. On 16 November, a fourth confirmed case, a 15 year-old boy from Kidira health district, was reported to national health authorities. The two deaths among the four cases reported in Kidira health district occurred at two hospitals: one at the Matam regional hospital and the other at the Tambacounda regional hospital.

In Kedougou and Matam regions, three confirmed cases were reported in December 2020, whose samples were collected during various investigations. In Kedougou region, laboratory tests conducted by IPD revealed that out of the 16 samples received from region, there were:

one confirmed case [polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and IgM positive] living in Saraya district; one confirmed case [IgM positive and confirmed by plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT)] living in Kedougou district; and two presumptive cases (IgM positive and PRNT in progress).

In Matam region, one case was confirmed as YF by IgM and PRNT. The case is a 90-year-old male from Thilogne health district, who is hospitalized in a private clinic in Dakar.

The Strategic Tool for Assessing Risks (STAR), which was used prior to notification of the third case in Kidira health district, classified YF as “low”, where small outbreaks can be observed but likely not a large outbreak. Public health response

The Ministry of Health is coordinating a rapid response. Recommended response activities include immunization of the local population, enhanced surveillance, risk communication, community engagement and vector control. Additional potential support for vaccines and operational costs may be requested by the country. WHO risk assessment

The detection of YF cases in the Tambacounda and Kedougou regions demonstrates the possibility of sylvatic spread of YF to unvaccinated people in a rural area and emphasizes the importance of maintaining high population immunity in all countries located in areas at high risk for YF. Recent epidemiological studies have reported that the villages are in a savanna area with non-human primates. Permanent or temporary pools of water are observed at the outskirts of residential areas.

Although mass vaccination took place in Senegal in 2007, the eastern part of the country is considered to be at high risk of endemic YF transmission. Unvaccinated individuals remain vulnerable to infection with YF due to the persistence of the disease in primates (sylvatic cycle), especially in rural areas. The two affected regions are also difficult to reach, making vaccination efforts challenging. Intensive care units in the regions are far from the district (186 km) with poor road conditions. Affected districts are rural, largely consisted of forests, making it difficult to control the vector and mitigate the combined sylvatic-urban cycle.

The COVID-19 pandemic poses a risk of disruption to routine immunization activities due to the burden on health systems and declining immunization uptake due to physical distancing or community reluctance. Disruption of immunization services, even for brief periods, will increase the number of susceptible individuals and increase the likelihood of outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases. As of 27 December 2020, there were 18 523 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 387 deaths reported in Senegal. WHO advice

YF is an acute viral haemorrhagic disease transmitted by infected mosquitoes and has the potential to spread rapidly and have serious public health consequences. There is no specific treatment, although the disease can be prevented with a single dose of YF vaccine, which confers lifelong immunity. Supportive care to treat dehydration, respiratory failure and fever, and antibiotic treatment for associated bacterial infections are recommended.

Senegal is considered a high priority country by the Eliminate Yellow Fever Epidemics (EYE) strategy. The introduction of YF vaccination into routine vaccination took place in January 2005. Vaccination is the primary means of preventing and controlling YF. In urban centres, targeted vector control measures are also useful to stop transmission. WHO and partners will continue to support local authorities in implementing these interventions to control the current epidemic.

WHO recommends YF vaccination for all international travelers aged 9-months or older traveling to Senegal. Senegal also requires a YF vaccination certificate for travelers aged 9-months or older from countries at risk of YF transmission and travelers who have transited more than 12 hours at an airport of a country that is at risk of transmitting YF.

YF vaccination is safe, highly effective and offers protection for life. In accordance with the International Health Regulaions (2005), third edition, the validity of the international YF vaccination certificate extends to the life of the person vaccinated. A booster dose of YF vaccine cannot be required from international travelers as a condition of entry.

WHO has published guidelines for vaccination activities during the COVID-19 pandemic and is currently developing specific operational guidelines for conducting mass vaccination campaigns in the context of COVID-19. Where conditions permit, the EYE strategy will support the rapid resumption of YF prevention activities.

WHO encourages Member States to take all necessary measures to keep travelers well informed of risks and preventive measures, including vaccination. Travelers should also be aware of the signs and symptoms of YF and should consult a physician promptly when showing signs. Returning viremic travelers may pose a risk to the establishment of local YF transmission cycles in areas where the competent vector is present.

WHO does not recommend any restrictions on travel and trade to Senegal based on the information available on this outbreak.

For more information on yellow fever, please see:

WHO Yellow Fever Factsheet

Guiding principles for immunization activities during the COVID-19 pandemic

WHO strategy for yellow fever epidemic preparedness and response

A Global strategy to Eliminate Yellow Fever Epidemics (EYE) 2017-2026, WHO 2018

WHO list of countries with vaccination requirements and recommendations for international travelers

WHO list of countries with risk of yellow fever transmission and countries requiring yellow fever vaccination 		Out of season Similarity Model
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” [1] “International aid”
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On Friday, 4th March 2022, The Government of the State of Eritrea held a multisectoral consensus-building workshop to jointly review, provide feedback and validate the draft National Action Plan for health security (NAPHS). The workshop brought together multisectoral stakeholders from the National and Zoba levels. The sectors represented include The Ministry of Health, Ministry of Agriculture and veterinary services, Ministry of Land, Water and Environment, Ministry of Marine Resources, Ministry of Local Government, Office of National Security, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ministry of Information, Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare, Orotta College of Health Sciences, WHO, FAO and UNICEF. This marked a significant milestone in the NAPHS development timelines that were agreed upon by the core team and stakeholders in November 2022. The plan is a result of several consultative workshops with multisectoral stakeholders. It builds on the gains made in the implementation of the previous NAPHS (2017-2021) and on the COVID-19 response. It also focuses on addressing the challenges experienced in implementation of the previous NAPHS. Through implementation of the plan, Eritrea’s capacity to prevent, detect and respond to public health threats will be strengthened in line with the International Health Regulations (IHR) requirements. This will subsequently lead to a reduction in morbidity, mortality, disability, and socio-economic disruptions due to public health threats and contribute to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3). Specifically, the plan will contribute to SDG 3.d.1 indicator on strengthening International Health Regulations (IHR) capacity and health emergency preparedness. During the workshop, the team further brainstormed on how to scale up best practices and address the challenges experienced in the implementation of the previous NAPHS. Some of the key recommendations included:

Endorsement of the NAPHS by all the relevant sectors and commitment to the implementation. Revitalization of the multisectoral coordination structures at all levels. Printing, distribution, and dissemination of the NAPHS to all stakeholders at all levels including printing a summary in all local languages. Holding annual meetings to review implementation progress and status of IHR core capacities based on the state party annual reports to the World Health Assembly. Development of annual operational plans and incorporation of priority activities in annual work plans for the different health departments and sectors. Forging partnerships to enhance resource mobilization.

Successful implementation of the plan will require collective action and accountability from all sectors and stakeholders. “I applaud Eritrea for the efforts made to strengthen the International Health Regulations (IHR) core capacities to prevent, prepare, detect, and respond to public health threats. The overall IHR core capacity index improved from 49.3% in 2017 to 57% in 2020, with improvements noted across the capacities”. This plan provides an opportunity for collaboration to further strengthen the IHR core capacities to prevent, prepare, promptly detect, and respond to public health threats hence mitigating the impact of these threats. Said Dr. Martins Ovberedjo, WHO Representative for Eritrea.

“The development of this plan was led by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with a broad range of stakeholders, including National Ministries, Development Partners, and the academia with technical assistance from WHO. The plan is aligned to the 2020 National Health policy and the 2022-2026 health sector strategic development plan (HSSDP III) that are anchored on National and International priorities including the global agenda of the SDGs. Furthermore, the Internal Health Regulations 2005 has been contextualized in this document”. Said Dr. Andeberhan Tesfatsion, Director General of Public Health Department, MOH Eritrea. 		International aid Similarity Model
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” [1] “Enhanced surveillance”
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In a joint statement today, three global health groups urged countries to prioritize monitoring SARS-CoV-2 in wildlife, given growing concerns that continued spread could create virus reservoirs in animals.

In other developments, the number of world COVID-19 deaths passed 6 million, and China reported a spike in local COVID-19 cases.

Steps to curb transmission

The statement on animal surveillance came from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), and the World Health Organization (WHO). They said though wildlife doesn’t play a key transmission role in humans, SARS-CoV-2 spread in animal populations can affect their health and lead to the emergence of new variants.

So far, farmed mink and pet hamsters have shown the capacity to infect humans, and scientists are reviewing a possible case of transmission between white-tailed deer and a human. And in the United States, large numbers of white-tail deer have been shown to carry the virus, underscoring concerns about establishment of an animal reservoir.

The groups urged countries to adopt new steps aimed at those in close contact with wildlife, especially hunters and butchers, and the public. For example, they said people working closely with wildlife should be trained on how to reduce the risk of transmission between people in animals, such as using personal protective equipment and observing good hygiene practices around animals.

Also, they recommend that hunters avoid tracking sick animals or harvesting ones that are found dead. As a basic precaution, they said the public should not approach or feed wild animals or eat animals that are found orphaned, sick, or dead. People should also safely dispose of uneaten food, masks, tissues, and other waste to avoid passing the virus to animals.

Global cases top 6 million

Over the weekend, the global COVID-19 total passed 6 million cases, according to the Johns Hopkins online dashboard. The five countries with the highest fatality counts include the United States, Brazil, India, Russia, and Mexico.

China, one of the few countries with a “zero COVID” policy today reported its highest daily total in about 2 years, with 214 local cases, in addition to 312 asymptomatic local cases, according to the country’s National Health Commission. The provinces with the most cases are Guangdong, Jilin, and Shandong. The port city Qingdao is experiencing an Omicron spike centered in middle school students in Laixi county, where a second wave of mass testing is planned, according to Reuters.

In vaccine developments, Moderna has signed a memorandum of understanding with Kenya’s government to establish the first mRNA vaccine manufacturing facility in Africa, the health ministry said in a statement. The goal is to produce 500 million vaccine doses a year.

In a separate development, global health groups and vaccine manufacturers who met on Mar 1 to discuss the current COVID-19 vaccine situation released a joint statement, which said vaccine supply problems have eased, but low-income countries are facing challenges delivering them, such as weak healthcare infrastructure and lack of trained vaccinators. 		Enhanced surveillance Similarity Model
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” [1] “Drug resistance”
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Joint European report calls for more action on antimicrobial resistance

A new joint report on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in European Union/European Economic Activity (EU/EEA) countries is calling for concerted action to address the problem from a One Health perspective.

The report from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA), the European Medicines Agency (EMA), and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) notes that there have been encouraging trends in human and animal antibiotic use across Europe over the past decade. From 2011 through 2020, antibiotic consumption in humans in EU/EEA countries fell by 23%, while animal antibiotic consumption fell by 43% in 25 European nations with consistent reporting.

In addition, EU/EEA countries have made major strides in developing and implementing national AMR action plans.

Resistance to commonly used antibiotics in bacteria from food-producing animals, however, remains high (>20% to 50%) or very high (>50% to 70%), with significant variation across the continent, while resistance to critically important antibiotics in healthcare-associated pathogens continues to climb. And the declines in human and animal antibiotic use vary widely as well. In addition, the evidence that AMR can spread between humans, animals, and the environment continues to mount, and significant gaps remain in implementation of national AMR action plans.

“AMR cannot be contained within borders or regions, underlining the need for concerted action throughout the EU/EEA,” the report states.

To continue making progress, the report urges EU/EEA countries to prioritize monitoring and evaluation of national action plan implementation, integrate and expand surveillance of drug-resistant bacteria in humans, animals, and the environment, and invest in antimicrobial stewardship and infection prevention and control programs.

The report also recommends that a forthcoming EU policy initiative to boost implementation of the EU One Health Action Plan against AMR should promote innovative economic models and incentives for new antibiotics, diagnostics, and vaccines; target antibiotic consumption in nursing homes; and establish a system to promote implementation of best practices to tackle AMR.

Canadian hospital surveys show rise, stabilization of antimicrobial use

Point-prevalence surveys of sentinel acute-care hospitals in Canada suggest that antimicrobial use over a 15-year period stabilized following a sharp increase, Canadian researchers reported today in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology.

The surveys were conducted by the Canadian Nosocomial Infection Surveillance Program in 2002, 2009, and 2017 during a 24-hour period in February of each year to identify trends in antimicrobial use in acute care. Patients were eligible if they were admitted for 48 hours or more or if they had been admitted to the hospital within a month. Twenty-eight to 47 hospitals participated in each survey.

In 2002, 2,460 of 6,747 patients (36.5%) at surveyed hospitals received one or more antimicrobials. In 2009, the proportion of patients receiving one or more antimicrobial climbed to 3,566 of 8,902 patients (40.1%). In 2017, 3,936 of 9,929 patients (39.6%) received one or more antimicrobial. Overall, the prevalence of antimicrobial use increased 9.9% from 2002 to 2009 but remained stable (a 1.1% decrease) from 2009 to 2017. In a secondary analysis of the 18 hospitals that participated in all three surveys, the prevalence of antimicrobial use was similar to the primary analysis.

Among patients who received one or more antimicrobials, penicillin use increased 36.8% from 2002 to 2017 and third-generation cephalosporin use increased from 13.9% to 18.1%. Over the same period, fluoroquinolone use declined by 36.5% and clindamycin use decreased by 62.5%. Carbapenem use increased by 57.6% from 2002 to 2009, then by 4.8% from 2009 to 2017.

The authors say the stabilization of antimicrobial use coincided with an increased focus on antimicrobial stewardship in Canadian hospitals since the mid-2000s.

“Further studies are needed to examine the appropriateness of antimicrobial use, as part of a coordinated approach to prevent the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance,” the authors write. 		Drug resistance Similarity Model
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Human infection with avian influenza A (H5N8) – the Russian Federation

Disease Outbreak News 26 February 2021

On 18 February 2021, the National IHR Focal Point for the Russian Federation notified WHO of detection of avian influenza A(H5N8) in seven human clinical specimens. These are the first reported detection of avian influenza A(H5N8) in humans. Positive clinical specimens were collected from poultry farm workers who participated in a response operation to contain an avian influenza A(H5N8) outbreak detected in a poultry farm in Astrakhan Oblast in the Russian Federation. The laboratory confirmation of the seven specimens were performed by the State Research Centre for Virology and Biotechnology VECTOR (WHO H5 Reference Laboratory). The age of seven positive cases ranged between 29 to 60 years and five were female.

Between 3 and 11 December, a total of 101 000 of 900 000 egg laying hens on the farm died. This high mortality rate prompted an investigation. Samples were collected from these birds and an initial detection of avian influenza A(H5N8) was performed by the Russian regional veterinary laboratory. On 11 December, the outbreak was confirmed by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) Reference laboratory, and the Federal Centre for Animal Health (FGBI-ARRIAH), in Vladimir, the Russian Federation. Outbreak containment operations started immediately and continued for several days due to the large size of the poultry farm.

In addition to operations on the farm, acute and convalescent sera was collected from the seven positive human cases for serological testing. The results were suggestive of recent infection.

The cases remained asymptomatic for the whole follow-up duration (several weeks). Follow-up nasopharyngeal swabs were collected during medical observation period and were tested negative for avian influenza A(H5N8). No obvious clinical manifestations were reported from any farm workers under medical surveillance, their family members, or other close contacts of the seven cases.

Influenza A(H5N8) viruses isolated from this poultry outbreak in Astrakhan belonged to clade 2.3.4.4b of avian influenza A(H5Nx) viruses. In 2020, avian influenza A (H5N8) viruses were also detected in poultry or wild birds in Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Egypt, Germany, Hungary, Iraq, Japan, Kazakhstan, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, the United Kingdom, and the Russian Federation. Public health response

On receiving the initial signal of a probable outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) at the poultry farm on 3 December 2020, the national authorities took immediate measures including cessation of poultry production cycles, and product transportation from the affected farm.

Between 11 and 18 December, several measures including culling and disposing of poultry, eggs, litter and disinfection of contaminated premises were taken as part of outbreak response activities

During and after the culling of all the poultry, nasopharyngeal swabs and serum samples were collected from poultry farm workers and personnel involved in outbreak response at the farm. The surveillance activities, both within and outside of the containment area, was intensified. A total of 24 close contacts of the confirmed cases have been identified and traced. In total, 150 individuals were monitored for clinical indication of respiratory disease and received antiviral prophylaxis therapy. No symptoms were reported among these individuals.

Whole Genome Sequencing of avian influenza A (H5N8) viruses isolated from poultry and from one of the seven human cases was performed and were uploaded to the Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data (GISAID) database on 20 February 2021. Genetic and phenotypic characterization of the virus is ongoing.

WHO is following up with the public health authorities in the Russian Federation, including implementation of public health measures warranted by such events, and with the WHO Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS) on further analysis and assessment of the virus materials and serum samples. On 20 February, a special briefing by the head of the Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing was organized for the state Russian media to inform the public about these cases and the implications. WHO risk assessment

Since 2004, avian influenza A(H5) viruses have spread from Asia to Europe via wild birds. The genetic clade 2.3.4.4 H5 viruses have often reassorted among other avian influenza viruses, resulting in avian influenza A(H5N1), A(H5N2), A(H5N3), A(H5N5), A(H5N6) and A(H5N8) viruses, some of which have been detected in birds in many countries .

In the Russian Federation, avian influenza A(H5N8) of clade 2.3.4.4 was isolated for the first time in 2014 in a wild bird in the northern region of Russian Far East.

As mentioned earlier, all the seven cases with PCR-positive results were clinically asymptomatic. All close contacts of these cases were clinically monitored, and no one showed signs of clinical illness. Infections with avian influenza viruses of the same clade (H5 clade 2.3.4.4) have been reported from China since 2014 in people with exposure to infected birds. The likelihood of human infections with influenza A(H5N8) viruses has been considered to be low.

Further genetic and antigenic characterization and information on seroconversion among contacts of the positive cases is required to fully assess the risk.

The development of zoonotic influenza candidate vaccine viruses for potential use in human vaccines, coordinated by WHO, remains an essential component of the overall global strategy for influenza pandemic preparedness.

Based on currently available information, the risk of human-to-human transmission remains low. WHO advice

These cases do not change the current WHO recommendations on public health measures and surveillance of animal and seasonal human influenza, which should continue to be implemented. Respiratory transmission occurs mainly by droplets, disseminated by unprotected coughs and sneezes. Short-distance airborne transmission of influenza viruses may occur, particularly in crowded enclosed spaces. Hand contamination, direct inoculation of virus, exposure to infected birds or virus-contaminated materials or environments are potential sources of infection.

When avian influenza viruses are circulating in an area, the people involved in specific, high-risk tasks such as sampling sick birds, culling and disposing of infected birds, eggs, litter and cleaning of contaminated premises should be trained on how to protect themselves, and on proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE) . People involved in these tasks should be registered and monitored closely by local health authorities for seven days following the last day of contact with poultry or their environments.

Due to the constantly evolving nature of influenza viruses, WHO continues to stress the importance of global surveillance to detect virological, epidemiological and clinical changes associated with circulating influenza viruses that may affect human (or animal) health and timely virus sharing for risk assessment.

Thorough investigation of all potential novel influenza human infections is warranted. All human infections caused by a novel influenza subtype are notifiable under the International Health Regulations (IHR), and State Parties to the IHR are required to immediately notify WHO of any laboratory-confirmed case of a recent human infection caused by new influenza A subtype with the potential to cause a pandemic (please see case definitions for diseases requiring notification under the IHR ). Evidence of illness is not required.

In the case of a confirmed or suspected human infection, a thorough epidemiologic investigation of history of exposure to animals, of travel, and contact tracing should be conducted, even while awaiting the confirmatory laboratory results. The epidemiologic investigation should include early identification of unusual respiratory events that could signal person-to-person transmission of the novel virus. Clinical samples collected from the time and place that the case occurred should be tested and sent to a WHO Collaboration Center for further characterization.

Travelers to countries with known outbreaks of avian influenza should avoid farms, contact with animals in live animal markets, entering areas where animals may be slaughtered, or contact with any surfaces that appear to be contaminated with animal feces. Travelers should also wash their hands often with soap and water. Travelers should follow good food safety and good food hygiene practices.

Based on the currently available information, WHO advises against any special traveler screening at points of entry or restrictions on travel and/or trade with the Russian Federation.

For further information and details please see:

Current technical information including monthly risk assessments at the Human-Animal Interface WHO

WHO Influenza virus infections in humans October 2018.

Case definitions for diseases requiring notification under the IHR (2005)

International Health Regulations IHR (2005)

Manual for the laboratory diagnosis and virological surveillance of influenza (2011)

Terms of Reference for National Influenza Centers of the Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System 		Strain identified Model

Influenza A (H3N2) variant virus – United States of America

Disease Outbreak News 5 February 2021

On 13 January, 2021, a child under 18 years of age in Wisconsin developed respiratory disease. A respiratory specimen was collected on 14 January. Real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing conducted at the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene indicated a presumptive positive influenza A(H3N2) variant virus infection. The specimen was forwarded to the Influenza Division of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on 21 January for further testing. On 22 January, CDC confirmed an influenza A (H3N2)v virus infection using RT-PCR and genome sequence analysis. Investigation into the source of the infection has been completed and revealed that the child lives on a farm with swine present. Sampling of the swine on the property for influenza virus has not yet been conducted but is planned. Five family members of the patient reported respiratory illness during the investigation and were tested for influenza; all tested negative. The patient was prescribed antiviral treatment and was not hospitalized and has made a full recovery. No human to human transmission has been identified associated with this investigation.

Sequencing of the virus by CDC revealed it is similar to A (H3N2) viruses circulating in swine in the mid-western United States during 2019-2020. Viruses related to this A (H3N2)v virus were previously circulating as human seasonal A (H3N2) viruses until around 2010-2011 when they entered the USA swine population. Thus, past vaccination or infection with human seasonal A (H3N2) virus is likely to offer some protection in humans.

This is the first influenza A (H3N2)v virus identified in the United States in 2021. Since 2005, a total of 485 influenza variant virus human infections caused by all subtypes including 437 human infections with A (H3N2)v, including this one, have been reported in the United States. Public health response

According to the International Health Regulations (IHR), human infection caused by a novel influenza A virus subtype is an event that has the potential for high public health impact. A novel influenza A virus is considered to have the potential to cause a pandemic if (1) the virus has demonstrated the capacity to infect and transmit efficiently among humans; and (2) differs from currently-circulating seasonal human influenza viruses such that the hemagglutinin (HA) gene (or protein) is not a mutated form of those, i.e. A/H1 or A/H3, circulating widely in the human population; and (3) the population has little to no immunity against it. Human infections with variant viruses tend to result in mild clinical illness, although some cases have been hospitalized with more severe disease. Nevertheless, human infections with these viruses need to be monitored closely.

CDC and Wisconsin State Authorities have taken the following monitoring, prevention and control measures

Case management of the case and close contacts; Testing of close contacts; An epidemiological investigation was completed with no evidence of person-to-person transmission; Risk communication has been initiated for the public and healthcare workers; Strengthened surveillance in the community where the case resides; Laboratory samples were shared with the WHO Collaboration Centre

WHO risk assessment

Since 2005, there has been some limited, non-sustained human-to-human transmission of variant influenza viruses, but no ongoing community transmission has been identified. Current evidence suggests that these viruses have not acquired the ability of sustained transmission among humans, thus the likelihood is low.

Swine influenza viruses circulate in swine populations in many regions of the world. Depending on geographic location, the genetic characteristics of these viruses differ. When an influenza virus that normally circulates in swine (but not people) is detected in a person, it is called a “variant influenza virus”. Most human cases are the result of exposure to swine influenza viruses through contact with infected swine or contaminated environments. Because these viruses continue to be detected in swine populations around the world, further human cases can be expected.

Influenza viruses that infect pigs may be different from human influenza viruses. Thus, influenza vaccines against human influenza viruses are generally not expected to protect people from influenza viruses that normally circulate in pigs. In addition, pigs are susceptible to avian, human and swine influenza viruses; they may get infected with influenza viruses from different species at the same time. If this happens, it is possible for the genes of these viruses to mix and create a new virus. This type of major change in the influenza A viruses is known as antigenic shift. If this new virus causes illness in people and can be transmitted easily from person-to-person with no immunity, an influenza pandemic can occur.

The risk assessment will be reviewed as needed should further epidemiological or virological information become available.

All human infections caused by a novel influenza subtype are notifiable under the International Health Regulations (IHR) and State Parties to the IHR (2005) are required to immediately notify WHO of any laboratory-confirmed case of a recent human infection caused by an influenza A virus with the potential to cause a pandemic. Evidence of illness is not required for this report. WHO advice

Due to the evolution influenza viruses, WHO continues to stress the importance of global surveillance to detect virologic, epidemiologic and clinical changes associated with circulating influenza viruses that may affect human (or animal) health with timely sharing of such viruses and related information for further characterization and risk assessment.

This case does not change the current WHO recommendations on public health measures and surveillance of seasonal influenza. All human infections caused by a novel influenza subtype are notifiable under the International Health Regulations (IHR) and State Parties to the IHR (2005) are required to immediately notify WHO of any laboratory-confirmed case of a recent human infection caused by an influenza A virus with the potential to cause a pandemic. Evidence of illness is not required for this report .

Travelers to countries with known outbreaks of animal influenza should avoid farms, contact with animals in live animal markets, entering areas where animals may be slaughtered, or contact with any surfaces that appear to be contaminated with animal feces. General hygiene measures, such as regular hand washing before and after touching animals and potentially contaminated environments and avoiding contact with sick animals, should be adhered to. WHO does not recommend any specific different measures for travellers. WHO does not advise special screening at points of entry regarding this event, nor does it recommend that any travel or trade restrictions be applied.

In the case of a confirmed or suspected human infection caused by a novel influenza virus with pandemic potential, including a variant virus, a thorough epidemiologic investigation (even while awaiting the confirmatory laboratory results) of history of exposure to animals, of travel, and contact tracing should be conducted. The epidemiologic investigation should include early identification of unusual respiratory events that could signal person-to-person transmission of the novel virus and clinical samples collected from the time and place that the case occurred should be tested and sent to a WHO Collaboration Center for further characterization. 		Strain identified Model

Influenza A(H1N2) variant virus – Brazil

Disease Outbreak News 4 January 2021

On 15 December 2020, the Brazil Ministry of Health reported the second confirmed human infection with influenza A(H1N2) variant virus [A(H1N2)v] in Brazil in 2020. The case was a 4 year-old female who lives on a farm which also functions as a swine slaughter in Irati municipality, Paraná state. On 16 November 2020, the case had illness onset with a fever, cough, coryza, headache and dyspnea, and was provided ambulatory care on the same day at Darcy Vargas Hospital. He was treated with medication for fever and headache and has recovered. No symptomatic contacts were found among the case’s family.

On 18 and 19 November, respiratory samples were collected for testing. The Parana State Laboratory detected an unsubtypeable influenza A virus and the samples were sent to the Oswaldo Cruz Institute (Fiocruz), the National Influenza Centre (NIC) in Rio de Janeiro for complete viral genome sequencing, where influenza A(H1N2)v virus was confirmed on 14 December.

The A(H1N2)v virus is genetically different from other variant viruses previously detected in humans in Brazil in 2015 and in April 2020, based on preliminary genetic analysis conducted by Fiocruz NIC. The preliminary analysis shows that all genes are most similar to those from currently circulating influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses, except for neuraminidase which is most similar to those from influenza A(H3N2) viruses. Further characterization of the virus is underway. All influenza type A viruses detected by sentinel surveillance and viruses submitted from non-sentinel sites (hospital and peripheral laboratories) in Brazil are subtyped by properties of hemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N) surface proteins. To date, no other human infections with variant viruses have been reported in Brazil.

This case is the third human infection of influenza A(H1N2)v virus reported in Parana state and in Brazil. The first case was detected in 2015 and the second in April 2020. These two confirmed cases lived in rural areas with pig farming and one case worked in a pig slaughterhouse. Public health response

Local authorities carried out epidemiological and veterinary investigations to obtain more information about possible exposure, potential suspected cases, clinical features and evolution of the case among other epidemiological, virological and clinical information. While investigations are ongoing, local authorities enhanced laboratory surveillance and subtyping of influenza samples in Irati municipality where the case was reported. WHO risk assessment

There has been some limited, non-sustained human-to-human transmission of variant influenza viruses, although ongoing community transmission has not been identified. Current evidence suggests that these viruses have not acquired the ability of sustained transmission among humans. The risk assessment will be reviewed if needed should further epidemiological or virological information become available.

Swine influenza viruses circulate in swine populations in many regions of the world. Depending on the geographic location, genetic characteristics of these viruses vary. When an influenza virus that normally circulates in swine (but not people) is detected in a person, it is called a “variant influenza virus”. Most human cases are the result of exposure to swine influenza viruses through contact with infected swine or in some cases, contaminated environments. Further human cases can be expected because these viruses continue to be detected in swine populations around the world.

Influenza viruses which infect swine may be different from human influenza viruses. Thus, influenza vaccines against human influenza viruses are generally not expected to protect people from influenza viruses that normally circulate in pigs. In addition, pigs are susceptible to avian, human and swine influenza viruses; they potentially may be infected with influenza viruses from different species at the same time. If this happens, it is possible for the genes of these viruses to mix and create a new virus. This type of major change in the influenza A viruses is known as antigenic shift. If this new virus causes illness in people and can be transmitted easily from person-to-person, an influenza pandemic can occur.

Due to the constantly evolving nature of influenza viruses, WHO continues to stress the importance of global surveillance to detect virological, epidemiological and clinical changes associated with circulating influenza viruses that may affect human or animal health and timely virus sharing for risk assessment.

All human infections caused by a novel influenza subtype are notifiable under the International Health Regulations [IHR (2005)] and State Parties to the IHR (2005) are required to immediately notify WHO of any laboratory-confirmed case of a recent human infection caused by an influenza A virus with the potential to cause a pandemic. Evidence of illness is not required for this report. WHO advice

This case does not change the current WHO recommendations on public health measures and surveillance of seasonal influenza.

WHO does not advise special traveler screening at points of entry or restrictions with regard to the current situation of influenza viruses at the human-animal interface.

Travelers to countries with known outbreaks of animal influenza should avoid farms, contact with animals in live animal markets, entering areas where animals may be slaughtered or contact with any surfaces that appear to be contaminated with animal feces. Travelers should also wash their hands often with soap and water. Travelers should follow good food safety and good food hygiene practices. Should infected individuals from affected areas travel internationally, their infection may be detected in another country during travel or after arrival. If this were to occur, further community level spread is considered unlikely as this virus has not acquired the ability to transmit easily among humans.

In case of a confirmed or suspected human infection caused by a novel influenza virus with pandemic potential, including a variant virus, a thorough epidemiologic investigation of history of exposure to animals, of travel, and contact tracing should be conducted, even while awaiting the confirmatory laboratory results. Epidemiologic investigations should include early identification of unusual respiratory events that could signal human-to-human transmission. Clinical samples collected from the time and place that the case occurred should be tested and sent to a WHO Collaboration Center for influenza for further characterization.

For further information and details please see:

Influenza at the Human-Animal Interface: Pan American Health Organization Recommendations to Strengthen Intersectoral Work for Surveillance, Early Detection, and Investigation, 9 July 2020. Available in English, Spanish and Portuguese

Key facts: Influenza (Avian and other zoonotic)

Current technical information including monthly risk assessments at the Human-Animal Interface can be found at the WHO website

Influenza virus infections in humans October 2018

Protocol to investigate non-seasonal influenza and other emerging acute respiratory diseases

Manual for the laboratory diagnosis and virological surveillance of influenza (2011)

Terms of Reference for National Influenza Centers of the Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System

Case definitions for diseases requiring notification under the IHR (2005)

International Health Regulations IHR (2005)

World Organization For Animal Health (OIE) Swine influenza

Brazil Ministry of Health. Official reports of this case available in Portuguese 		Strain identified Model
[1] “
” [1] “Unsubstantiated report”
body suggestedTag reason
No new cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) were reported to WHO during the month of December 2021. A total of 2583 laboratory-confirmed cases, including 889 associated deaths were reported globally by the end of December, with a case-fatality ratio (CFR) of 34.4%. Unsubstantiated report Similarity Model