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EINet
News Briefs Archive
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About EINet
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In this edition:
The Canadian government is developing a health
surveillance system to monitor the Internet called GPHIN,
Global Public Health Intelligence. When it is launched in
May, the system will use search–engine technology to
continuously scan the Web, news wires, public health e–mail
systems, and even local on–line newspapers around the world;
collect a wide variety of data from around the world; detect
the impact of health risks; and make the information
available instantly on–line. When an urgent alarm is sounded by the GPHIN system, the
information will be transmitted simultaneously to scientists
at Health Canada in Ottawa and the Geneva–based WHO, which
will have primary control of any sensitive information which
may be identified and will co–ordinate international
response and efforts to identify global health risks.
<This is a very promising technology and a generous
activity on the part of the Canadian Government. We will
certainly look forward to further information as
implementation takes place. AMK> Here is our weekly summary of relevant Asia–Pacific EID
issues based on postings to the ProMED Electronic Network,
which is a prototype for a communications system to monitor
emerging infectious diseases globally as an initiative of
the Federation of American Scientists (FAS) and co–sponsored
by WHO. More information about PROMED can be acquired
contacting the moderator. Please contact the moderator if
you would like more any of the reports below:
CHINA (HONG KONG) EX THAILAND – CHOLERA (03㪝) March
98
CHINA (HONG KONG) – CHOLERA (02㪜) March 98
THAILAND – CHOLERA – CHOLERA (01㪚) March 98
By the end of March, 30 people who returned from holidays
in Thailand were diagnosed by Hong Kong's Department of
health as having contracted cholera there. 16㪛㫺: HK
authorities moved into high gear on in an attempt to stem
the spread of cholera with inspections of passengers on
flights from Thailand and checks on imported seafood, as
local cases are believed to have been caused by eating
shellfish. 19㪛㫺: An investigation to determine which of
these cases were cholera began. 28㪛㫺 In the past days, Thai health chiefs have made
contradictory remarks regarding the presence of cholera in
the country. They finally denied cholera was present in
their country, saying the El Tor strain contracted by HK
tourists was not classified as cholera there "because it is
much less serious...and its potential spread is limited."
However, Dr. Edward T. Ryan, Massachusetts General Hospital,
US, disagreed, noting that both _Vibrio cholerae_ O1
biotypes cause cholera. CHINA (HONG KONG) – INFLUENZAVIRUS A (H5N1): 2
STRAINS
2㪜㫺
The CDC released on 1 April in Hong Kong its findings
that the outbreak of "bird flu" was caused by two different
strains of H5N1, as illustrated by CDC researcher Nancy Cox.
Chinese University professor John Tam told a medical
conference that the finding could imply that there is more
than one originating source of the virus, and certainly
means that vaccine production becomes more problematic. INDONESIA (JAKARTA) – DENGUE/DHF
05㪜㫺
Dengue fever has killed 21 people and infected thousands
more in Jakarta this year, sparking fears of an epidemic,
the Sinar Pagi daily reported. Hospitals are being
overwhelmed by patients suffering from the disease.
<Clyde E. Markon, M.D. Source: The Straits Times,
Malaysia>
AUSTRALIA – JAPANESE ENCEPHALITIS
30㪛㫺
An adult male, recently treated in Cairns Base Hospital,
has been diagnosed as having Japanese Encephalitis. It is
believed he acquired JE while working on a boat at the mouth
of the Mitchell River on the west coast of Cape York
Peninsula. This is the first time JE has been diagnosed on
the mainland of Australia. An outbreak of JE in the outer
islands of the Torres Strait in 1995 resulted in two deaths
and led to the vaccination of over 3,500 outer island
residents against the disease. <Debbie Phillips WHO
Collaborating Centre for Arbovirus Reference and Research
Queensland Health Brisbane e–mail:
phillipd@health.qld.gov.au> AUSTRALIA (NEW SOUTH WALES) – PARAMYXOVIRUS, PIGS
(02)
25㪚㫺
Dr Peter Kirkland, Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural
Institute in Camden (Australia), recently told a
forum on human disease that the discovery of
a paramyxovirus in pigs which also affected Australian
farm workers last year should serve as a warning to
government not to cut back funds for veterinary
laboratories. It was not a public health threat, although it
may be an occupational risk for farm workers through contact
with bodily fluids of pigs. PAPUA NEW GUINEA – JAPANESE ENCEPHALITIS (02, 03)
09 to 10㪜㫺
Papua New Guinea health officials announced on 9 April
that they were informed of 16 Japanese encephalitis (JE)
cases resulting in 6 deaths. Dr. Wangi, Senior Specialist
Medical Officer and National Epidemiologist, Disease
Control, said this was the first case where an investigation
was conducted and JE was medically proven from blood samples
of pigs, dogs, chicken, sick people with visible signs of
the disease and their relatives. Only one death from JE had
been reported by PNG prior to this event. It appears likely
that a mosquito control program will be employed.
<Dorothy Preslar <dpreslar@fas.org> Source: AAP, 9
Apr 1998 and Clyde E. Markon, M.D. Hennepin Faculty
Associates>
CANADA – CJD SURVEILLANCE
16㪛㫺
A nation–wide surveillance program for Creutzfeldt–Jakob
Disease (CJD) will be launched this month from Ottawa. Dr.
Maura Ricketts, epidemiologist at the Laboratory Centre for
Disease Control, was cited as saying that by the end of the
month, letters will be sent to all doctors in Canada who
treat brain disorders asking for their co–operation in
referring cases they suspect could be CJD. <Robert A.
LaBudde, PhD, PAS, Dpl. Least Cost Formulations,
Ltd.> CANADA (ONTARIO) – SALMONELLOSIS, FOODBORNE
02㪜㫺
Toronto –– An advisory on a province–wide outbreak of
_Salmonella enteritidis_ was issued today by Dr. David
Mowat, Ontario s Chief Medical Officer of Health. According
to Dr. Mowat, results of an investigation by public health
officials from the Ontario Ministry of Health suggest that
shredded cheese contained in Lunchmates products produced by
J.M. Schneider Inc. may be the source of the infection.
There have been 177 confirmed cases of _Salmonella
enteritidis_ (infection), predominantly among school
age children aged 5 to 14 years. <Robert A. LaBudde, PhD,
PAS, Dpl. ACAFS, Least Cost Formulations, Ltd> LATIN AMERICA – CHOLERA AND EL NINO
31㪛㫺
Many countries in the Americas are experiencing
unexpected outbreaks of cholera associated with extreme
weather conditions brought by the arrival of the El Nino
phenomenon. During 1998, the following countries have
already reported cholera outbreaks: Bolivia, Honduras,
Ecuador, Peru, Nicaragua. WHO/PAHO are working closely with
countries in the region to reactivate cholera preparedness
and response plans. <WHO WER and Epidemiological
Bulletin>
E.AFRICA: FAO – CHOLERA, IMPACT, COMMERCIAL FISHING (01,
02)
26㪛㫺
FAO Technical note on cholera problems in East–Africa
(excerpted). The World Health Organization (WHO) has not
documented a significant outbreak of cholera resulting from
commercially imported food. FAO does not think that a ban on
import of fish products from countries affected by an
epidemic of cholera is the most appropriate response.
Similarly, WHO has noted that although there is a
theoretical risk of cholera transmission with food in
international trade, the weight of evidence suggests that
this risk is very small and can normally be dealt with by
means other than an embargo on importation. FAO recommends that the most appropriate ways to prevent
transmission of cholera through international trade of
seafood are: to strengthen measures to prevent the
contamination of fish products during harvesting, handling
and processing and to specifically address this hazard as
part of an on–going re–evaluation of processing plants,
HACCP plans and Good Manufacturing Practices plans. TUBERCULOSIS RESURGENCE
International Tuberculosis Day was just celebrated amidst
disturbing reports that the disease is enjoying a resurgence
worldwide, with Asia particularly at risk. According to the
World Health Organisation (WHO), Asia accounts for two
thirds of all new TB cases reported each year and hosts 64
per cent of all notified TB cases. TB has often been dubbed
the 'poor man's disease, and Asia possesses the largest
concentration of the poor. Apart from the Subcontinent, the
Philippines accounts for 29 per cent of the new TB cases in
the region while China, having dismantled many of its social
safety nets in its drive for a free market economy,
accounted for 51 per cent of the new cases in 1996. What is required is for governments all over the world,
in conjunction with WHO, to focus attention once again on a
killer that had been thought to have been almost driven out
of existence. While addressing the issue of making the
latest treatments available at affordable prices for the
common man, the issue of poverty has to be tackled before we
can turn the corner on the once again increasingly deadly
disease. <The Nation, Pakistan> Chaiyos Kunanusont, Chief of Medical Service and Care
Development Sector, AIDS Division of the Thai CDC, recently
commented on the introduction of the short–course AZT
treatment reported in the last issue of EINet News Briefs
which showed effective reduction in HIV transmission from
mother to child by one half: "Beside drug cost (which is
more affordable in our country because the Government is
manufacturing it), we find more difficult jobs on counseling
and infant care especially on infant formula. We now have a
package project to "prevent Thai children" ranging from
premarital, prepregnancy, intrapregnancy (AZT, etc), and
post delivery activities. The last one is mainly on medical
care for infected and social support for noninfected
children. Mother to child transmission intervention is
really a wide spectrum. With this price cut, I found other
activities are relatively more expensive! ==========================================================================
WHAT: International Training And Research In Emerging
Infectious Diseases (Itreid) Fellowship Program At
University Of Washington, Seattle (website at
http://weber.u.washington.edu/~itreid/) PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: The International Training and
Research in Emerging Infectious Diseases (ITREID) fellowship
program at the University of Washington is an ongoing
program which seeks to train international researchers in
the areas of emerging and re–emerging infectious diseases.
The program is initially focused on malaria, hepatitis C,
Salmonella, and Leishmania, and integrates epidemiological
and laboratory–based research. HIV RESEARCH IS EXCLUDED. The
program provides training for students who are interested in
graduate and postgraduate study in the Departments of
Epidemiology, Genetics, Laboratory Medicine, Microbiology,
and Pathobiology at the University of Washington. FOR MORE INFORMATION: To request additional information,
contact Ms. Leslie Miller, ITREID Program Coordinator
University of Washington Department of Pathobiology, Box
357238 Seattle, WA 98195� Telephone: 206𤰏� Fax:
206𤰏� E–mail: lmill@u.washington.edu ==========================================================================
WHAT: new listserv, waphgis, intended to foster
discussion of issues surrounding the use of Geographic
Information Systems (GIS) for public health purposes. The
goal is to see how best to apply GIS in solving public
health problems whether in Washington State or
elsewhere. HOW TO SUBSCRIBE: send a message to listproc@u.washington.edu <mailto:listproc@u.washington.edu>
with the request "subscribe waphgis" followed by your name in the body of the
message. Example: subscribe waphgis John Smith. If you have any other problems
with the list, contact Nedra Floyd Pautler, the list manager pautler@u.washington.edu.
*** APEC EMERGING INFECTIONS NETWORK SIDE MEETING at 14th
APEC Industrial Science and Technology Working Group
(ISTWG), Taipei March 16㪪, 1998 The IST Working Group approved an APEC Action Plan on
Emerging Infectious Diseases and 3 related projects that
will dramatically increase cooperation in areas such as
outbreak response, data–sharing and laboratory research.
Delegates from 9 economies had finalized the Action Plan and
appraised the related projects (including APEC Emerging
Infections Network) during a "Working Party Meeting" on the
first day of the ISTWG gathering in Taipei.
One of the projects will focus on an aggressive new
effort, led by Korea, to enhance E. coli surveillance and
research in the APEC economies. A second project, based at
the USA Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, seeks to
help build up laboratory capacity at WHO National Influenza
Centers and elsewhere for surveillance of newly emerging
(and previously undiscovered) influenza viruses. The third
project, the APEC EINet, is in its second year of providing
Internet–based EID information and collaboration tools to
officials, scientists and policy makers.
Approval of the Action Plan means it now has formal APEC
project status, an important intermediary step in the effort
toward placing infectious diseases at the top levels of
APEC's Science and Technology agenda. For more details on
the plan, please see the APEC EINet Web site
(www.apec.org/infectious). *** U.S.–Japan Cooperative Medical Science Program, 3rd
International Conference on Emerging Infectious Diseases,
Bali, Indonesia, Dr. Carrie Horwitch, an APEC–EINet co–investigator, was a
participant at the 3rd Annual US–Japan Cooperative Agreement
on International Emerging Infectious Diseases in Bali,
Indonesia. The purpose of the meeting was to present recent
scientific studies in the areas of hepatitis, tuberculosis,
malaria, and infections related to malignancy. The
participants also gathered in working groups on these four
topics to develop working papers on future collaborative
studies and needs in these areas. The increased use of
telecommunications networks figured prominently in the
working group papers.
The APEC EINet listserv was established to enhance collaboration among academicians
and public health professionals in the area of emerging infections surveillance
and control. Subscribers are encouraged to share their own material with their
colleagues in the Asian–Pacific Rim by addressing comments to apec–ein@u.washington.edu.
To subscribe or unsubscribe, please contact Nedra Floyd Pautler at pautler@u.washington.edu.
Further information about the APEC Emerging Infections Network is available at
http://www.apec.org/infectious.
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© 1998, The University of Washington |
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