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Vol. II, No. 02 ~ EINet News Briefs ~ January 26, 1999
****A free service of the APEC Emerging
Infections Network*****
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 AsiaPacific
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:
- Overview of infectiousdisease
information from PROMED and other sources
- Updates from previous bulletins
- Notices
- How to add colleagues to the EINet
listserv
1. OVERVIEW OF INFECTIOUSDISEASE
INFORMATION FROM PROMED Here is our regular summary
of relevant AsiaPacific 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), cosponsored by WHO.
ASIA
MONGOLIA INFLUENZA A
The epidemic of influenzaA that struck Northern China in December 1998
and early January 1999 was mirrored in Mongolia with similarities in start
dates, peak, and abatement of cases. Descriptive statistics were also
similar. Virology studies are currently in progress, and there is strong
evidence that the virus in Mongolia was the same as that which struck
Northern China.
[ProMed, Jan. 14, 1999]
JAPAN VRE IN POULTRY
Vancomycin Resistant Enterococcus has been detected in frozen chickens
imported from Vietnam. A health alert was issued following this discovery
as the chickens were already on the market. The bacteria escaped detection
by quarantine inspectors. The Nagoya wholesaler that shipped the poultry
from Vietnam decided to inspect its stock after learning that VRE had
been detected in shipments in Yokohama and Kobe. This is the first time
the bacteria has been detected in poultry after it has cleared customs.
VRE was responsible for the death of a 60yearold man in July 1998. The
bacteria can be killed by cooking poultry for five minutes at 80degree
heat.
[ASAHI NEWS, Jan. 18, 1999]
OCEANIA
NEW ZEALAND NEW MOSQUITO VECTOR
Aedes camptorhynchus, an Australian mosquito species has established a
local population in a small area north of Napier City. The mosquito is
a known vector of Ross River virus. While pest experts consider the eradication
of the species to be a simple job, the Ministry of Health and the Agriculture
and Forestry Ministry are evaluating a risk assessment strategy which
has come under criticism due to the delay in further action being taken.
[ProMed, Jan.20 and Jan. 21, 1999]
PAPUA NEW GUINEA (NEW IRELAND) YAWS
An outbreak of Yaws in the New Ireland has led to a series of meetings
between health officials and doctors. More than 1,000 people are believed
to have been affected by this outbreak. Officials are in the process of
verifiying the outbreak, and doctors have been alerted in case it becomes
an epidemic.
[Post Courier Online, Jan. 25, 1999]
AMERICAS
RESEARCH REPORT HIGH SALMONELLA RISK WITH ALFALFA SPROUTS
Researchers have reported an increased risk of salmonellosis associated
with consumption of alfalfa sprouts in the Journal of the American Medical
Association this week. Their report was based on salmonella outbreak investigations
during 1995 in Oregon, British Columbia, and Denmark. The problem
in eliminating the bacteria from seeds lies in the fact that this cannot
be achieved without compromising the seed's germination potential. The
bacteria resides in the crevice of the seed between the cotyledon and
testa, an area that chemical treatments do not penetrate. Seeds are often
stored for months or years under cool, dry conditions in which Salmonella
bacteria are stable. During the three to fiveday sprouting period the
bacteria can increase in number three to four times, the report said.
Contamination of seeds can occur in a variety of ways before they reach
the consumer. It was also reported that more than 20,000 people in North
America contracted salmonella infections from alfalfa sprouts in 1995.
While irradiation of seeds may be the only solution to prevent salmonella
outbreaks, it may be not be well received by consumers.
[Nando media, Jan. 13, 1999]
CANADA, USA BOTULISM ADVISORY
An advisory has been issued against the bacteria causing botulism following
contamination of two lots of Hickory Farms Beef Stick, beef summer sausage.
The sausage is sold in a vacuum packed 375g package which does not bear
a "keep refrigerated" warning. The packages bear the following codes:
EST 222 8255 8258 or EST 222 8255 8257. The product was imported from
the United States and distributed throughout Canada.
[CFIA press release, Jan. 12 1999]
CHILE NEW HANTAVIRUS OUTBREAK
Four people have died from hantavirus infections in the past few days
in the Nuble province, and doctors believe the disease is on the resurgence
now. All four victims displayed symptoms characteristic of hantavirus
disease. The first victim of the disease was a 44yearold woman. Two
infected family members are recovering in a hospital in the city of Chillan.
Official confirmation of the disease will follow after investigations
by the Public Health Institute. This year's drought has been cited as
a reason for the resurgence of the disease as it brings humans into close
contact with rodents, which tend to go closer to homes in search of food.
The risk of infection for travelers is said to be low as long as precautionary
measures are taken. [USA Today, Jan. 13, 1999]
[CHIP news, Jan. 15, 1999]
USA LISTERIOSIS AND MEAT RECALLS
Three companies in the U.S. have voluntarily recalled meat products following
detection of Listeria bacteria by the USDA. Sliced luncheon meat products
produced by OSCAR MAYER were traced as the source of contamination in
a single case of listeriosis in an elderly gentleman in Kansas City, Missouri.
The products were distributed throughout the U.S., Singapore, Bermuda,
Aruba, St. Martin, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico. The 10 oz
"Oscar Mayer All American Variety Pack" and 6 oz "Oscar Mayer Club Sandwich
Variety Pack" have a January 12 production date, and bear the codes "EST
537A" or "P". The operating plant of Thorn Apple Valley Inc. in Arkansas
has been shut down by the USDA due to failure to comply with sanitation
requirements. Repeated detection of listeria in hot dogs and luncheon
kits produced from July 6 through December 30, 1998 and unsanitary conditions
in the plant were cited as reasons for the closure. The products were
also sold to companies in South Korea and Russia, and bear the codes "EST
13529" and "EST P". Bosell Foods, Inc. of Cleveland has recalled
350 pounds of sliced ham following listeria detection. The meat was distributed
only in Cleveland and packages are marked with EST 2587, with a sellby
code 2㪪.
OTHER
CHINA AIDS
China's growing AIDS problem has been compounded by other difficulties
that include a general deficiency of funding and human resources, lack
of AIDS education, and unavailability of antiretrovirals. Even if the
latter were approved for use in the country, cost would form a barrier
to treatment. WHO estimates that there are close to 600,000 HIV infected
people in China. Mode of transmission varies by region, and multiple subtypes
of HIVם, including A, B, B', C, D, E, and F, as well as a unique recombinant
C/B' strain have been isolated. The government is seeking international
help to combat the problem.
[Scientist, Jan. 04, 1999, Vol 13, No. 1]
WHO DIRECTOR GENERAL ON BURDEN OF DISEASE
Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland, the Director General of WHO while speaking
on the topic of a burden of disease approach to address health problems,
emphasized on six principles that need to be taken into consideration.
These include: 1) evaluation of problems based on best available evidence,
2) use of best available information, 3) focus on nonfatal health outcomes,
morbidity and disability, 4) focus on inequalities 5) examination of risk
factors, and 6) anticipation of future trends. Neuropsychiatric conditions
alone account for 10% of the global disease burden. Tobacco use, undernutrition,
alcohol, unsafe sex and HIV were other major causes of disease burden
that were cited. The burden of noncommunicable diseases and neuropsychiatric
conditions is also expected to rise as a result of longer life expectancies
and demographic changes. The Global Burden of Disease Study will be refined
and elaborated by an innovation of the WHO, a cluster on Evidence and
Information for Policy.
[Dec. 15, 1998]
2. UPDATES FROM PREVIOUS BULLETINS
MALAYSIA JAPANESE ENCEPHALITIS
The outbreak of Japanese Encephalitis in Malaysia appears to be ongoing
with four more fatalities being reported in the month of January. Restrictions
have been imposed on transport of pigs in Negri Sembilan and Perak, and
pig farmers have been asked to cooperate with authorities on reporting
new cases and eliminating breeding grounds of mosquitoes. 160,000 people
have been targeted for vaccination in Perak and Negri Sembilan, of whom
only 15,850 have been vaccinated until now. DNA sequencing of viruses
isolated from pigs in Negri Sembilan is under progress to determine whether
they belong to the same strain as the those found in Perak. While Japanese
Encephalitis is not uncommon in Malaysia during the months of Nov/Dec/Jan,
high fatality rates in young adults is unusual as is the case in this
outbreak. Mass vaccination of pigs is being carried out in Perak using
a vaccine imported from Taiwan that has some similarities to the strain
of JE virus circulating in that state.
[Promed, Jan. 13 Jan.18, 1999]
USA MULTIFOCAL LISTERIOSIS
The outbreak of listeriosis attributed to contaminated meat products from
Bil Mar Foods has claimed 10 lives and resulted in 3 miscarriages. More
than 60 illnesses in 13 states have been linked to this outbreak. The
Centers for Disease Control has begun releasing daily updates on the outbreak,
and a full report is available at http://www.cdc.gov/epo/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00056169.htm
[ProMed, Jan. 21 and 22, 1999]
3. NOTICES
WHO has recently published "Tuberculosis and Air Travel; Guidelines for
Prevention and Control", which can be accessed at http://www.who.int/gtb/publications/aircraft/index.html
4. HOW TO JOIN THE EMAIL
LIST and receive EINet News Briefs regularly 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 AsiaPacific Rim. 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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