Source: hisz.rsoe.hu...
Government vets have started an investigation after five swans were found dead in Co Down. A mystery disease is one of the lines of investigation |being pursued by scientists |after the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) revealed the discovery was the second of its kind to be probed. In the previous case lesions were discovered, suggesting some sort of bacterial infection. However DARD insists there is no evidence to suggest the deaths are part of a rising trend. The five mute swans were found dead on private land in Killyleagh and it is understood another two birds have fallen ill. The birds were removed so post-mortem examinations could be carried out.
New Zealand 2/10/11
Source: hisz.rsoe.hu...
Stings from microscopic jellyfish are plaguing swimmers at popular beaches on Auckland's North Shore. A health warning has been issued for Takapuna, Cheltenham, Narrow Neck and Red Beach after reports of people developing itchy and painful red rashes after swimming. The rashes were very likely caused by microscopic jellyfish, a statement from Auckland Regional Public Health Service said. It said the jellyfish, which are too small to be seen, get caught inside togs and sting covered skin areas once the swimmer gets out of the water. Medical Officer of Health Dr Simon Baker said the problem was likely to spread throughout the Hauraki Gulf amid warm summer weather. "The only sure-fire way of avoiding this rash is not to swim at affected beaches." Tactics for minimising the risk of jellyfish stings include not wearing baggy clothes in the water, removing togs and showering after swimming, said Dr Baker. If swimmers get a rash, cool clothing and calamine lotion may help, he said. "We know this is the time of year that people want to be at the beach. We just want people to have the information they need to make choices for their own and their families' good health." Little is known about the habits of microscopic jellyfish. Until 2008 the rash associated with their sting was thought to be caused by sea lice. However, sea lice tend to bite exposed areas of skin, whereas the jellyfish normally sting beneath togs.
India 2/10/11
Source: hisz.rsoe.hu...
A 22-year-old youth from Jodhpur who is suffering from viral encephalitis has been brought to a city hospital. Doctors said his condition is critical and samples of his blood have been sent to the National Institute of Virology [NIV], Pune. Doctors at the Sterling Hospital said this is the 4th case of viral encephalitis from Jodhpur, Rajasthan, in the hospital. The youth is suffering from high fever, vomiting, and head ache, and also fell unconscious. The test carried out on the cerebral spinal fluid shows inflammation in the brain due to the virus [infection]. There is a possibility of a viral outbreak in the district of Rajasthan. "We have collected his samples and have sent them to NIV to find out which virus is affecting him," said infectious diseases consultant Dr Atul Patel. He said that ascertaining the kind of virus is important as a viral encephalitis outbreak in Bangladesh has claimed 29 lives. Earlier, there were reports of viral encephalitis fever in Chhota Udepur [Gujarat state], which claimed 2 lives. Neurophysician Dr Sudhir Shah said he has seen 4-5 cases from the same area in the past and had also spoken to local physicians about the possibility of a viral outbreak. "A young girl with viral allergy has also been taken to a hospital and earlier too, there were cases of viral encephalitis," said Dr Shah.
Wisconsin 2/10/11
Source: hisz.rsoe.hu...
Passengers on board Southwest flight 730 from Tampa to Milwaukee describe a scary scene while flying home from Florida. Some passengers couldn't breathe, others had flu like symptoms. There was one nurse on board who told Today's TMJ4 that she tried to help mid-flight. "The stewardess came on and asked was there a nurse or a doctor on the plane. And I'm a nurse, so I raised my hand," Terry Zeuske said. Zeuske didn't have any medical tools or medicine, but did what she could to help after several people got sick mid flight. She said one was: "Blue around the lips; his fingertips were blue. He said he was having trouble breathing. So we got oxygen and put that on him," Zeuske said. "And while I was doing that, they wanted me to go to someone else who was kind of having the same symptoms." Elizabeth Orr-Bell wore a surgical mask on the plane to stay safe. She and a group of friends went on a cruise from Tampa to Cozumel, Mexico. One of her friends got very sick after spending time on the beach in Cozumel. "He was running a high fever and was dehydrated. So we took him down to the ship doctor; they ran some tests on him, gave him some antibiotics, and once we boarded the plane, he wasn't breathing too well," Orr-Bell said. Ambulances, the haz-mat team, and the Milwaukee Health Department were waiting when the plane landed. Two of the sickest passengers, including Orr-Bell's friend, were taken by ambulance to the hospital. The other passengers were quarantined in the International Arrivals Terminal while health officials investigated. Southwest said the plane was sterilized and is back in use.
Phillipines 2/10/11
Source: hisz.rsoe.hu...
Twenty cases of typhoid fever have been recorded in Sitio Cabal-asan in Barangay Arpili, Balamban, Cebu as of Sunday. Officials from the Department of Health (DOH) and Integrated Provincial Health Office have visited the mountain village and distributed water disinfectant for residents. The DOH Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit met with villagers to tell them of their situation. Health official Renan Cimafranca said that they conducted the water source in the area tested positive for the typhoid fever bacteria. A blood test was also conducted on 6 residents who showed typhoid fever symptoms. Five of them tested positive. Cimafranca said that based on their investigation, only 9 of the 200 residents of the village have toilets. He said that this contributed to typhoid fever outbreak. The constant rain carries human waste toward villagers’ source of water. Cimafranca urged residents to first boil their water and utensils before using them. Chlorination of the water source was also advised. Cimafranca said the best way to prevent the incident from happening again is for the village to have a better water system. Barangay Captain Emong Paulin said the barangay council has yet to approve a P50,000 project to make sure that the water supplied to houses is safe for drinking.
Salmonella outbreak reported at Maine facility
Source: www.necn.com...
CAMDEN, Maine (AP) — Maine health officials say one person has died following a salmonella outbreak at a retirement and assisted-living facility in Camden. Dr. Stephen Sears, acting director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said seven cases of salmonella have been identified among residents at the Quarry Hill extended-care community. A spokesman for Pen Bay Health Care, the parent organization of Quarry Hill, told the Bangor Daily News the outbreak was noticed Jan. 24 when several residents became ill with symptoms including diarrhea, cramps, headache, fever and vomiting. One person was hospitalized and another person, whose name was not released, died Feb. 2. Sears said salmonella is usually food-borne, but epidemiologists have not been able to trace the cause of the outbreak.
Measles concern in central Pa.
Source: www.yorkdispatch.com...
After five cases of measles were recently confirmed in Perry County, the state's Department of Health advised surrounding counties to be aware of the outbreak. There have not been any confirmed cases in York, said spokeswoman Holli Senior of the state's Health Department. But that doesn't mean a local college didn't take action. York College students were notified via e-mail Wednesday afternoon of a "measles outbreak in our local area."
Norovirus Outbreak Reported At Cincinnati School
Source: www.wlwt.com...
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that norovirus spreads from person to person, through contaminated food or water, and by touching contaminated surfaces. The Health Department said the school is doing everything it can to make sure surfaces inside the school and school buses are scrubbed down to stop the virus' spread. "The problem is even after the symptoms are gone, the shed of the virus continues up to 30 days," said Dr. Marilyn Crumpton with the Health Department.
N.Korea confirms foot-and-mouth outbreak
Source: www.straitstimes.com...
SEOUL - NORTH Korea confirmed on Thursday it has been hit by an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, saying thousands of animals had died. The livestock disease broke out in the capital Pyongyang late last year and has spread to eight provinces since then, the state news agency said. It said the capital and North Hwanghae and Kangwon provinces had been worst affected, with about 10,000 cows and pigs infected and thousands of them dying. The report, quoted by the South's Yonhap news agency, said emergency quarantine orders have been issued across the country.
New plan to tackle spur-throated locusts outbreak
Source: www.abc.net.au...
The New South Wales government has endorsed a plan to battle the state's largest outbreak of spur-throated locusts in forty years. The large species which is normally found in Queensland has caused widespread damage to pasture, cotton, corn, citrus, legumes and sorghum across the state's west. Affected areas include Nyngan, Warren, Bourke, Narromine and Collarenebri. The Primary Industries Minister, Steve Whan, says insecticide is being made available to farmers to try to control the nymphs on the ground.
Outbreak of scarlet fever and measles in North Vietnam
Source: www.saigon-gpdaily.com.vn...
There is great public concern at the outbreak of scarlet fever and measles in Hanoi and the Northern provinces. Not only children but also adults are susceptible to the infectious virus. Patients are already crowding the infection division of the National Tropical Disease Centre in Hanoi. According to the deputy director of the hospital, Nguyen Hong Ha, scarlet fever has occurred during the same time in previous years and children have been most vulnerable to the disease. This year however, the fever has prolonged for one month and showed no signs of abating.
Hospital closes wards to visitors after norovirus outbreak
Source: www.thisiswalsallonline.co.uk...
WALSALL Manor Hospital is in lockdown to visitors after all of its wards were closed following an outbreak of the highly contagious Norovirus. The dramatic step was taken on Tuesday (February 8) and will remain in place until further notice. Hospital bosses are now urging visitors with family and friends currently in the hospital's care to stay away to help prevent the stomach bug – which causes sickness and diarrhoea – from spreading. Michael Scott, chief executive at Walsall Manor Hospital, said: "The spread of infection is easiest in places where groups of people are together for a reasonable amount of time, such as hospitals.
Algae outbreak closes Torrens
Source: www.adelaidenow.com.au...
AN outbreak of blue-green algae has caused the closure of sections of the River Torrens. Lord Mayor Stephen Yarwood said Adelaide's hot and dry conditions had contributed to increased levels of algae, prompting Adelaide City Council to temporarily close it yesterday from Hackney Rd to the city weir for up to a week. Fishing and paddleboats have been banned while the closure is in place, but Popeye cruises and the Adelaide Gondola will remain operational. Signs warning the public against contact with the water have been installed.
Salmonella cases go up in SA
Source: frenchtribune.com...
More than 70 people have been affected by an outbreak of salmonella in South Australia. Last week itself, the number of cases stood at 60. Since then 13 new patients have complained about the infection and their tests have turned out to be positive. The attack this time is of salmonella typhimurium phage type 9. But when asked, the public health director Kevin Buckett till now the exact source of contamination has not been found out and that needs to be determined first before any proper step for control could be taken.

