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About
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Vol. III, No. 8 ~ EINet News Briefs ~ June 9, 2000
The EINet listserv was created to foster discussion, networking, and collaboration in the area of emerging infectious diseases (EID's) among academicians, scientists, and policy makers in the Asia–Pacific region. We strongly encourage you to share their perspectives and experiences, as your participation directly contributes to the richness of the "electronic discussions" that occur. To respond to the listserv, use the reply function. In this edition:
Below is a bi–weekly summary of Asia–Pacific EID issues based on postings to the ProMED Electronic Network and other sources. ProMED is the prototype for a communications system that monitors emerging infectious diseases globally, an initiative of the Federation of American Scientists (FAS), and co–sponsored by WHO. ASIA NIPAH VIRUS IDENTIFIED AS A NEW GENUS OF VIRUSES Genetic analysis confirmed a close relationship between the Nipah virus and a virus called the Hendra virus. Tests revealed a strong reaction between the Nipah virus and antiserum for the Hendra virus. The Nipah virus led to over 100 fatalities in outbreaks
in Malaysia and Singapore during 1998 and 1999. The virus may cause
severe encephalitis and ultimately, death. SINGAPORE – HIV–INFECTED SPOUSES Since April 1999, 12 spouses (11 women and 1 man) from
Thailand, Indonesia, China, and the Phillipines have been repatriated.
AMERICAS
USA – HEPATITIS C: THE SILENT EPIDEMIC About 80 to 85% of people who come into contact with Hepatitis C become long–term carriers of the virus. Within 10 to 30 years of infection, the virus can grow and replicate in the body, thereby leading to liver inflammation, fibrosis or liver scarring, cirrhosis and liver cancer. Early detection and treatment are considered the best measures to remain complication–free. Hepatitis C can be transmitted through blood products or other bodily
fluids. Approximately 35,000 to 185,000 are infected annually. USA – POSSIBLE E.COLI CONTAMINATION Containers affected by the recall are stamped with the code "06 JUN 00
W". The products include: 16–oz and 24–oz containers of Breakstone's Free
small–curd fat–free cottage cheese, 16–oz and 24–oz containers of Breakstone's
4% milk fat minimum Smooth & Creamy cottage cheese, 24–oz containers of
Light 'n' Lively Free fat–free and Light 'n' Lively 1% reduced–fat cottage
cheese with calcium. CANADA (ONTARIO) – STUDY WARNS ABOUT RISK OF E.COLI INFECTION
A strong and persistent association between E. coli infection and cattle
density was discovered, providing support to other studies that identified
cattle manure as a chronic source of E. coli contamination of food and
water in the United States, Scotland., Argentina, and Canada. OTHER WARNING ABOUT ANTIBIOTIC TREATMENT FOR E.COLI Among 71 cases (<10 years of age) with diarrhea caused by bacterial infection between 1997 and 1999, 56% (n=9) developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) after antibiotic treatment, compared to .08% (n=62) who did not receive the medicines. HUS, a rare complication in children, usually destroys red blood cells
and causes kidney failure. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC), HUS occurs in 2ף% of E. coli 0157:H7 cases. WATER BORNE DISEASES REEMERGING ON CRUISE SHIPS In addition to standards set by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC) for treatment of drinking water on cruise ships that
dock in U.S. ports, improved water–handling practices on cruise ships
and careful monitoring of water quality have been advised. RUSSIA (MOSCOW) – MALARIA In 1999, anopheles mosquitoes were exterminated manually by scattering
bacterial insecticides on all the local areas of water. To date, funding
for mosquito control has not been provided this year.
RUSSIA – HEMORRHAGIC FEVER Patient medical examinations have confirmed ticks as the primary source
of infection; ticks have become increasingly active lately, due to current
weather conditions in the Stavropol region. USA – ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO PREVENT WEST NILE VIRUS Earlier this year, $2.7 million was granted for prevention efforts in
New York City, the District of Columbia, and 17 states along the Atlantic
and Gulf coasts that were affected by last year's outbreak, or are at
higher risk for WNV spread this year due to bird migratory patterns. WORLD FEDERATION OF PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION'S 9TH INTERNATIONAL
CONGRESS (BEIJING, CHINA) Further information and registration for the Congress is available at
www.apha.org/wfpha, or contact Brooke Lundquist, program planning assistant,
at brooke.lundquist@apha.org
HEALTH INTERNETWORK The network will enhance public health and improve population health
status and outcomes in developing countries through routine and sustainable
access to state–of–the–art medical and health care information.
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