Officials with New South Wales (NSW) Department of Primary Industries (DPI) are encouraging farmers in the center of the state to vaccinate their livestock following confirmation of the second case of anthrax for 2019.
Drought conditions have created a favorable environment for anthrax infections and the most recent case occurred further west than would normally be expected.
“Ingestion of soil by sheep, cattle and other ruminants is one of the key risk factors for anthrax, which is why drought conditions are increasing the risk,” DPI Senior Veterinary Officer, Dr Graham Bailey said.
“Cases of anthrax in NSW tend to occur in an area which runs through the center of the state; between Bourke and Moree in the north, to Albury and Deniliquin in the south.
“Anthrax can be prevented by annual vaccination of cattle and sheep. Producers in high risk locations are encouraged to consider vaccination.”
Other risk factors include a history of anthrax on the property, grazing stubble or very short pastures, low ground cover, deep cultivation or earthworks in paddocks, rain causing soil movement or exposure, contact with infected carcasses and alkaline soils which favor spore survival.
The state’s second and most recent case was located in the Western Local Land Services region and occurred in a mob of rams.
Anthrax is a bacterial pathogen in livestock and wild animals. Ruminants such as bison, cattle, sheep and goats are highly susceptible, and horses can also be infected.
Anthrax is a very serious disease of livestock because it can potentially cause the rapid loss of a large number of animals in a very short time. Affected animals are often found dead with no illness detected.
When conditions become favorable, the spores germinate into colonies of bacteria. An example would be a grazing cow ingests spores that in the cow, germinate, grow spread and eventually kill the animal. Anthrax is caused by the bacterium, Bacillus anthracis. This spore forming bacteria can survive in the environment for decades because of its ability to resist heat, cold, drying, etc. This is usually the infectious stage of anthrax.
There are no reports of person-to-person transmission of anthrax. People get anthrax by handling contaminated animal or animal products, consuming undercooked meat of infected animals and more recently, intentional release of spores.
There are three types of human anthrax with differing degrees of seriousness: cutaneous, gastrointestinal and inhalation.
In a follow-up on the measles outbreak in Samoa, health authorities say there have been 15 confirmed cases, including three deaths. In addition, 314 suspected cases – most of them children under the age of four are being investigated. The government has also today ordered all preschools and day care centers closed until further notice.
Tonga
An outbreak of measles has occurred following the return of a squad of Tongan rugby players from New Zealand where one player developed measles. Twelve other players were in the incubation period of the illness during travel back to Tonga and developed symptoms on 6th- 9th October.
The diagnosis was laboratory confirmed for 6 players tested. Boys in the touring squad came from the following schools and locations: Tonga College ‘Atele (TCA), Tupou College Toloa (TCT) (a boarding school), Tonga High School (THS) and a small number from other schools on Tongatapu and the islands of Vava’u, Ha’apai and ‘Eua.
The outbreak has involved students (mainly) from schools on Tongatapu as well as students from Vava’u High School.
As at 28th October, 107 cases of confirmed or suspected measles have been identified in Tonga.
Two cases have been admitted to Vaiola Hospital and one admitted in Prince Ngu hospital, Vava’u. All admitted cases have recovered well or are recovering well. No serious cases of disease or deaths have been reported form the outbreak. No cases of measles have been reported amongst health care staff.
While the dengue fever epidemic in the Philippines is the largest in the last ten years and more than double last years total, the province of Pangasinan has only seen a slight increase this year.
Image/CDC
The Provincial Health Office (PHO) has recorded 7,566 dengue cases from January 1 to October 21, marking a 2.5 percent increase from the 7,376 cases recorded in the same period last year.
11 deaths have been recorded.
Officials report the most commonly affected age group is from five to nine and 10-14 years old.
The top 10 on the PHO’s watch list of areas with high incidence of dengue are San Carlos City (624 cases); Bayambang (486); Malasiqui (423); Lingayen (386); Calasiao (318); Bugallon (298); Rosales (266); Bani (247); Binmaley (246); and San Quintin (243).
Kimpee Jayson Cruz, nurse from PHO, urged the public to maintain cleanliness in their surroundings and to practice the Department of Health’s 4S Kontra Dengue to prevent the mosquito-borne disease.
“These 4S strategy consists of: Search and destroy mosquito breeding places; practice Secure self-protection measures; Seek early consultation; and Support fogging/spraying only in hotspot areas where increase in cases is registered for two consecutive weeks to prevent impending outbreak.
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — One of the most common reasons some people don’t get an annual flu shot is the belief the vaccine can actually give a person the flu.
That is a common myth that can lead to the flu spreading, says a nursing researcher.
“By containing an inactive virus, the flu vaccine gives your body a sneak peek, so if you are exposed to the flu virus after vaccination your immune system will be able to fight it off much easier,” says Libby Richards, an associate professor of nursing who specializes in public health in Purdue University’s School of Nursing.
“People may feel under the weather after receiving the flu shot due to signs of the body creating an immune response, which is actually a good thing,” Richards says. “Common side effects from flu shots are muscle soreness at the injection site. Some people may also develop a low-grade fever, headache or overall muscle aches. These side effects can be mistaken for the flu, but in reality, are just a body’s normal response to vaccination.”
Traditional flu vaccines protect against three flu viruses: influenza A (H1N1) virus, influenza A (H3N2) virus and an influenza B virus. There are also flu vaccines that protect against four flu viruses, frequently called “quadrivalent” vaccines. These vaccines protect against the same viruses as the trivalent vaccine and an additional B virus.
Although U.S. flu activity is currently low, some areas are seeing flu activity. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people ages 6 and above should get their flu vaccination.
Richards said it is common for most people to get a flu shot in October, but they can also do so later. Flu season typically peaks from December through February but can remain active well into May.
North Carolina public health officials have reported a fourth death linked to the Legionnaires’ disease outbreak in people who attended the NC Mountain State Fair in Fletcher in September.
As of today, 141 cases of Legionnaires’ disease or Pontiac Fever had been reported in residents of multiple states and North Carolina counties who attended the fair.
The outbreak has been linked to the Davis Event Center of the WNC Ag Center, particularly near the hot tubs and during the last five days of the fair.
Legionella bacteria are found naturally in the environment. These bacteria can become a health concern when they grow and spread in human-made building water systems like hot water tanks, cooling towers of air conditioning systems, decorative fountains and hot tubs or spas that aren’t properly maintained. Approximately 200 cases are reported annually in North Carolina.
An emergency committee convened by WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, PhD, MSc, met for a fifth time to review the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, or DRC, and determined that the outbreak still constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, or PHEIC.
“This outbreak remains a complex and dangerous outbreak,” Tedros said. “We need the full force of all partners to bring this outbreak under control and meet the needs of the people affected.”
The outbreak, which has been ongoing in an area of conflict in northeastern DRC since August 2018, has left 3,233 people infected and 2,157 dead. The PHEIC was initially declared on July 17 when the emergency committee met for the fourth time following confirmed cases in neighboring Uganda and the city of Goma. At the time, Tedros called the Goma case a “game-changer” in the outbreak.
Following the declaration, temporary recommendations were put in place to prevent further spread and interference with international traffic, including improving community awareness, engagement and participation in preventive and preparation strategies; continuing cross-border screenings to ensure no contacts are missed; enhancing coordination with the United Nations and other partners; and strengthening surveillance and measures to prevent nosocomial infections.
At the time, WHO stated the regulations and PHEIC would be reviewed at least every 3 months.
Tedros said during the most recent news conference that since declaring the PHEIC, “impressive progress” has been made. Weekly case counts have decreased each week for the last 4 weeks, falling from 100-plus cases to around 15. Additionally, the outbreak has been contained in former hotspots like Beni, and further transmission has been stopped in Goma and Uganda.
Tedros also noted that several new vaccination strategies have been successfully implemented, which has resulted in doubling the existing vaccine supply. Overall, almost 240,000 people have been vaccinated.
“This encouraging trend should be celebrated with caution,” Tedros said. “Though the outbreak has been contained, it’s been contained in a rural, difficult-to-reach place.”
“Every case has the ability to spark a new and bigger outbreak,” he added.
According to WHO, the PHEIC status will remain in place for at least 3 more months until the emergency committee reconvenes again. – by Caitlyn Stulpin
Disclosure: Tedros reports no relevant financial disclosures.
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