Diseases & Outbreaks News and Discussions

[firestar464]

Infectious H5N1 influenza virus in raw milk rapidly declines with heat treatment, study shows

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-06- ... s-raw.html

[weatheriscool]

Concerns grow as 'gigantic' bird flu outbreak runs rampant in US dairy herds

Source: USA Today

Published 5:08 a.m. ET June 16, 2024 | Updated 5:08 p.m. ET June 16, 2024

More than three years into a worldwide outbreak of bird flu, the virus continues to expand in the U.S., with growing impacts to food production and animals. Over 80 million chickens, thousands of wild birds and dozens of mammal species, including a polar bear, have been infected.

Now it's running rampant among dairy cows, turning up in 94 herds across 12 states since March. The latest animal to test positive was an alpaca on an Idaho farm.

“It's gigantic, the scope and scale of the presence of the disease,” said Julianna Lenoch, national coordinator for the Department of Agriculture’s wildlife disease program. This scale ‒ and related concerns ‒ are reflected in the price of eggs, renewed warnings to cook ground beef and eggs thoroughly, and in extraordinary measures dairy and poultry farmers are being asked to take to prevent its spread.

As the outbreak lingers and expands, it’s prompting growing concerns about the risks to humans and the influence of warmer temperatures and more extreme weather events in making this and future pandemics worse.

Read more: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nat ... 090745007/

[wjfox]

Low child vaccine uptake sees tipping-point warning

2 hours ago

The UK is at a "tipping point", with low uptake of routine vaccinations putting children at risk of catching severe diseases, health officials say.

Stalling vaccination rates against some diseases, such as whooping cough and measles, means population immunity is no longer high enough to stop outbreaks.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3ggge56x1qo

[wjfox]

Bird flu stays stable on milking equipment for at least one hour

27 Jun 2024

Bird flu, or H5N1 virus, in unpasteurized milk is stable on metal and rubber components of commercial milking equipment for at least one hour, increasing its potential to infect people and other animals, report researchers from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and Emory University in Emerging Infectious Diseases.

The study underscores the heightened risk of bird flu exposure for dairy farm workers and signals the need for wider adoption of personal protective equipment, including face shields, masks and eye protection.

“Dairy cows have to be milked even if they are sick, and it has not been clear for how long the virus contained in residual milk from the milking process remains stable on the equipment,” said lead author Valerie Le Sage, Ph.D., research assistant professor of microbiology and molecular genetics at the Center for Vaccine Research at Pitt. “It is concerning that the virus in unpasteurized milk can remain stable for hours and potentially infect farm workers or spread from animal to animal.”

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1049760

[Time_Traveller]

Bird flu stays stable on milking equipment for at least one hour

27 Jun 2024

Bird flu, or H5N1 virus, in unpasteurized milk is stable on metal and rubber components of commercial milking equipment for at least one hour, increasing its potential to infect people and other animals, report researchers from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and Emory University in Emerging Infectious Diseases.

The study underscores the heightened risk of bird flu exposure for dairy farm workers and signals the need for wider adoption of personal protective equipment, including face shields, masks and eye protection.

“Dairy cows have to be milked even if they are sick, and it has not been clear for how long the virus contained in residual milk from the milking process remains stable on the equipment,” said lead author Valerie Le Sage, Ph.D., research assistant professor of microbiology and molecular genetics at the Center for Vaccine Research at Pitt. “It is concerning that the virus in unpasteurized milk can remain stable for hours and potentially infect farm workers or spread from animal to animal.”

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1049760

More on this: :-

Bird flu spread to cows takes 'dangerous' step towards infecting humans through respiration, scientists warn

Monday 8 July 2024 16:04, UK



The cow flu virus that has spread through US dairy herds may have taken a "dangerous" step towards being able to infect humans through respiratory infections, scientists have warned.

The H5N1 virus, more commonly found in birds, has so far been confirmed in cattle on more than 100 farms in 12 states, with inactivated fragments of the strain being found in pasteurised milk on supermarket shelves.

Four people working with animals have so far been infected, though symptoms were mild and they did not pass the virus on to anyone else.

Now detailed analysis by scientists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the US shows viral samples taken from cows were able to attach to receptors found on cells in the human respiratory tract.

The version of H5N1 found in birds is unable to do that, suggesting the bovine virus has mutated.

https://news.sky.com/story/bird-flu-spr ... n-13175177

[firestar464]

Colorado workers with bird flu toiled in heat, without effective protective gear

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/colora ... 024-07-16/

[firestar464]

Two deaths in listeriosis outbreak linked to plant-based milk recall

https://www.msn.com/en-ca/money/topstor ... r-BB1qb7fx

[wjfox]

India alert after boy dies from Nipah virus in Kerala

21 July 2024

Health authorities in India's Kerala state have issued an alert after a 14-year-old boy died of the Nipah virus.

According to the state's health minister, an additional 60 people have been identified as being in the high-risk category of having the disease.

Kerala Health Minister Veena George said the boy was from the town of Pandikkad and that those who came into contact with him have been isolated and tested.

People in the area have been asked to take precautions such as wearing masks in public areas and refraining from visiting people in hospital.

The Nipah virus infection is a "zoonotic illness" transmitted from animals like pigs and fruit bats to humans, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj50d7e9vp6o



Reuters

[Time_Traveller]

WHO 'extremely worried' about possible Gaza polio outbreak

1 hour ago

The World Health Organization is “extremely worried” about the possibility of an outbreak of the highly infectious polio virus in Gaza after traces were found in wastewater.

Dr Ayadil Saparbekov, head of the WHO’s team in the Palestinian territories, told reporters that a risk assessment was being implemented and that in the meantime health workers in Gaza were providing protection advice to the 2.3 million population.

But, he added, it would be “very difficult” for people to follow it, given the breakdown of water and sanitation services.

Traces of polio - which is spread through faecal matter - were found in sewage samples collected from two different sites in Gaza a month ago, indicating that the virus may be circulating.

No associated paralytic cases have been recorded so far. But the Israeli military said on Sunday that it had begun vaccinating its soldiers.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crgrxjn9rkpo

[weatheriscool]

[Time_Traveller]

What we know about sloth virus - and where it's spreading

Sunday 18 August 2024 16:02, UK



Cases of the oropouche virus, unofficially known as sloth fever or sloth virus, have been found in Europe amid outbreaks in South America.

There have been more than 10,000 cases reported this year, with 19 in Europe, and the first two deaths caused by the disease have been confirmed in Brazil. So what do we know about the virus, how it got to Europe, and what the risks are?

Oropouche virus is a zoonotic disease mainly transmitted to humans as a result of being bitten by infected midges, though some mosquitoes can also carry and spread it.

It was first discovered in Trinidad and Tobago in 1955, on the Oropouche River - which is where its name derives from.

It has been circulating in Latin America and the Caribbean since then, with sporadic outbreaks in countries such as Brazil and Peru. There have been around 500,000 recorded cases since the disease was discovered, according to The Lancet Infectious Diseases journal.

https://news.sky.com/story/sloth-virus- ... e-13197863

[caltrek]

Cholera Outbreak in Sudan Has Killed at Least 22 People, Health Minister Says
August 18, 2024

Introduction:

CAIRO (AP via U.S. News) — Sudan has been stricken by a cholera outbreak that has killed nearly two dozen people and sickened hundreds more in recent weeks, health authorities said Sunday. The African nation has been roiled by a 16-month conflict and devastating floods.

Health Minister Haitham Mohamed Ibrahim said in a statement that at least 22 people have died from the disease, and that at least 354 confirmed cases of cholera have been detected across the county.

Ibrahim didn’t give a time frame for the deaths or the tally since the start of the year. The World Health Organization, however, said that 78 deaths were recorded from cholera this year in Sudan as of July 28. The disease also sickened more than 2,400 others between Jan. 1 and July 28, it said.
Cholera is a fast-developing, highly contagious infection that causes diarrhea, leading to severe dehydration and possible death within hours when not treated, according to WHO. It is transmitted through the ingestion of contaminated food or water.

The cholera outbreak is the latest calamity for Sudan, which was plunged into chaos in April last year when simmering tensions between the military and a powerful paramilitary group exploded into open warfare across the country.

Read more here: https://www.usnews.com/news/world/arti ... ister-says

[weatheriscool]

[firestar464]

Lyme disease cases are rising. We don’t have a vaccine — but we used to

https://www.msn.com/en-ca/health/other/ ... r-BB1nKETZ

[caltrek]

Human Parvovirus B19 Is Increasing In The US: Here’s What To Know
by Holly Large
August 26, 2024

Introduction:

(IFL Science) Officials from the CDC have advised healthcare providers and the public to stay alert for the highly contagious respiratory virus, parvovirus B19, as cases appear to be increasing across the US. So, what is there to know about it?

What is parvovirus B19?

Parvovirus B19 is a small, seasonal virus that only infects humans (it’s another type of parvovirus that can infect your pooches) and is best known for causing "fifth disease" or “slapped cheek” syndrome. It’s referred to as a highly transmissible virus, meaning it spreads very easily, doing so in respiratory droplets like those in coughs and sneezes.

Infection with the virus is also common, with around half of adults having antibodies against it by the time they’re 20, and 70 percent by the age of 40. However, those working in settings with children tend to have a higher risk of becoming infected.

Although the CDC doesn’t do routine surveillance of parvovirus B19, the agency’s advisory comes in light of receiving reports from commercial labs and clinicians with evidence that infections in the US are currently on the up, particularly in children aged between 5 and 9 years old. They’re also seeing more cases than usual in pregnant people.

Read more here: https://www.iflscience.com/human-parvo ... ow-75695

[firestar464]

Mysterious Oropouche virus is spreading: what you should know

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-02746-2

[caltrek]

More Illnesses and Deaths in Listeria Outbreak Linked to Deli Meats is Reminder to Avoid Recalled Products
August 28, 2024

Introduction:

(CDC) A CDC Food Safety Alert update regarding a multistate outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections has been posted at https://www.cdc.gov/listeria/outbreaks ... 7-24.html .

Key Points:

• Since the last update on August 8, 2024, 14 more illnesses have been reported bringing the total to 57. All 57 people have been hospitalized and 9 deaths have now been reported.

o The 6 new deaths include one from Florida, one from Tennessee, one from New Mexico, one from New York and two from South Carolina.

• This is the largest listeriosis outbreak since the 2011 outbreak linked to cantaloupe.

• Everyone should check their homes for any remaining recalled Boar's Head products since they can have long a shelf-life. Look for "EST. 12612" or "P-12612" inside the USDA mark of inspection on the product labels. Some of the products have sell by dates into October 2024.

• Listeria is a hardy germ that can remain on surfaces, like meat slicers, and foods, even at refrigerated temperatures. It can also take up to 10 weeks for some people to have symptoms of listeriosis.

Read more here: https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/202 ... ats.html

[firestar464]

What is the deadly 'Triple E' mosquito virus spreading through northeastern U.S.?

https://www.msn.com/en-ca/video/news/wh ... i-AA1pCjy5

[weatheriscool]

[caltrek]

Study on E. coli Outbreak in the UK Demonstrates Increasing Impact of Climate Change on Public Health and Food Security
September 5, 2024

Introduction:

(Eurekalert) A study published in Eurosurveillance to investigate an outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O157:H7 in the UK identified contaminated lettuce as the most likely source of the infection, and determined that heavy rainfall and flooding may have carried STEC from animal faeces to the lettuce crops. More heavy rainfall events are expected due to climate change in the future, leading to increased impacts on health and food security.

Ahead of Field Epidemiology Day 2024, this study demonstrates the value of field investigations in quickly responding to outbreaks, improving preparedness, and protecting public health, and possible novel methods for field epidemiology in the future.

It also demonstrated the value of new integrative techniques with a One Health approach, using weather data and information on animal and land use data to better understand the events and conditions that may have led to the STEC infection outbreak.

Outbreak detection and cases

After a large outbreak of STEC 0157:H7 was detected in the UK in September 2022, a national-level investigation was initiated to identify the source of the outbreak and inform risk mitigation strategies. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) was used to identify outbreak cases, and strongly suggested a link to a single source.

There were 259 cases and 7 secondary cases linked to the outbreak, with symptom onset reported from 5 August to 12 October 2022. 75 cases were admitted to hospital, with no deaths being reported.

Read more of the Eurekalert article here: https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1056930

For an at points technical presentation of study results as published in Eurosurveillance: https://www.eurosurveillance.org/conten ... 3.2400161