News Briefs Archive

China – Chinese Army to Test New Recruits for HIV
China's People's Liberation Army will begin testing new recruits for HIV this year. The tests will begin in three districts of Beijing and expand to include all new recruits. According to unofficial estimates the number of HIV–infected people is near one million and according to state media reports, the annual increase in HIV infections have increased by 30 percent over the past several years. The government has issued a five–year plan to keep the annual increase in infections below 10 percent.
[Associated Press 10/24/01]

Canada – Botulism Food Contamination
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and INDIANLife Food Corporation are cautioning the public about consumption of INDIANLife brand Roti Wraps and six varieties of Naan Breads. These products should not be consumed because it is possible that they may support growth of bacteria causing botulism in humans. The manufacturer, INDIANLife Food Corp., Burnaby, British Columbia, is voluntarily recalling the affected products from the market. The products have been distributed in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. At this time there have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of these products and the CFIA is monitoring the effectiveness of the recall.
[PROMED 10/30/01]

Australia– Vancomycin–resistant Enterococcus
A Vancomycin Resistant Enterococcus outbreak at Royal Perth Hospital in Western Australia involved 134 patients. Three were infected and screening established that 131 were colonized. According to a clinical microbiologist at the hospital, the outbreak has peaked and a small number of colonized patients are being detected after active infection control and antibiotic restriction program.
[PROMED 10/25/01]

RELATED NEWS

World Bank and WHO Global Tuberculosis Plan
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Bank have launched a global plan to cut tuberculosis (TB) infection and death rates in 22 targeted countries that account for 80 percent of the eight million TB infections contracted worldwide. The plan is estimated to cost US$8.2 billion for implementation and US$10.2 over the next five years. Of the 34 million TB cases expected in the target countries by 2005, the plan is anticipated to detect and treat 21.5 million. The 22 countries would be responsible for developing their own anti–TB strategies with the help of international agencies. In particular, the target countries are urged to develop their own methods of instituting directly observed therapy short–course programs. Currently, the worldwide funding from governments and private donors provide only half the needed amount for fighting TB infections. Officials plan to find donors for the program among wealthy industrialized countries in Asia, Europe, and North America.
[Reuters Health 10/24/01, 10/23/01]

2. UPDATES

US (Florida, New York, Washington, D.C.) – Anthrax Cases
Beginning Oct. 3, 2001, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state and local public health authorities have been investigating cases of bioterrorism–related anthrax. As of Nov. 2, 2001, the CDC has confirmed 17 cases of anthrax in the United States, including: two cases of inhalation anthrax in Florida; four cases of cutaneous anthrax and one case of inhalation anthrax in New York City; three cases of cutaneous anthrax and two cases of inhalation anthrax in New Jersey; and five cases of inhalation anthrax in Washington, DC. Suspected cases include three cutaneous cases in New York City and one cutaneous case in New Jersey. Case confirmation is based on a rigorous case definition that was published in the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) on Oct. 19, 2001. On Oct. 31, 2001 an additional suspected case of cutaneous anthrax in New Jersey was reported. Officials have said that anyone thought to have been at risk for anthrax exposure is being offered antibiotics. Current treatments of anthrax exposure include ciprofloxacin or doxycycline as initial therapy.

The source of the majority of the anthrax cases have been attributed to mail delivery to government or media organizations, however, there have been two anthrax cases detected in women with no connection to the postal service, government or media. These include a 51–year–old accountant in New Jersey and a 61–year–old hospital worker in New York.

Four persons have died from the bacteria. The 61–year–old hospital worker, Kathy T. Nguyen, who tested positive for inhalation anthrax in New York died Oct. 31, 2001. The woman worked in a hospital supply room, which may have shared space with or was in close proximity to the hospital mailroom. New York Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani has said that environmental samples from the hospital have come back negative and no one else in the workplace is showing signs of the disease. In addition, two male postal workers in Washington, DC, aged 55 and 47, died on
Oct. 21 and Oct. 22, 2001, respectively. The fourth death, of a 63–year–old photo editor from Florida, was reported in the previous bulletin.

Traces of anthrax have been found in federal buildings, including congressional office buildings, the Supreme Court, the State Department and the health department as well as mail–processing facilities for the CIA, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and the White House. In addition, several postal facilities were found to be contaminated with anthrax. Investigations into the sources of anthrax contaminations are still being carried out.

On Oct. 27, 2001, the CDC posted recommendations for handling suspicious packages or envelopes.
[PROMED 10/19/01 – 10/30/01; CDC 10/30/01; Reuter 10/31/01; MMWR http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5041a1.htm]

UNITED STATES (HAWAII) – DENGUE FEVER
As of Nov. 2, 2001 the total number of CDC laboratory confirmed cases of dengue fever contracted in Hawaii is 74. On Maui there have been 56 cases, four cases on Kauai, 13 cases on Oahu and one case on the Hawaii. Two suspected cases on Maui and three suspected cases on Oahu have tested positive on preliminary screening tests. In addition, there are 310 reports of illness under investigation.
[PROMED 11/03/2001]