Category Archives: pandemic

Influenza infections in Australia 2009–2015: is there a combined effect of age and sex on susceptibility to virus subtypes?

— Read on bmcinfectdis.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12879-019-3681-4

DRC Ebola total tops 600; vaccination team attacked | CIDRAP Pray to God this does not get out of hand!

With 10 new Ebola infections reported on New Year’s Day and today, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Ebola outbreak passed the 600-case mark, as a fresh round of violence—this time in Komanda—injured a member of a health ministry vaccination team.

Source: DRC Ebola total tops 600; vaccination team attacked | CIDRAP

Oxfam forced to suspend Ebola response in DR Congo following pre-election violence – Democratic Republic of the Congo | ReliefWeb

Oxfam has been forced to suspend its work in the Ebola ravaged areas of Beni and Butembo, due to violent protests following the announcement that people in these areas won’t be able to cast their votes for a new president, when the rest of country goes to the polls this Sunday. Raphael Mbuyi, Oxfam’s acting Country Director in the DRC said: “This is an extremely worrying situation, as every time the Ebola response has been suspended before we’ve seen a big spike in the number of new cases. This could mean Ebola spreading to even more people and potentially other countries in the region, putting many more lives at risk. “However, it’s not surprising that people who have had their votes taken away at the last minute are frustrated and going to the streets. These people deserve to have their say as well. “All parties need to find a way for people who have been devastated by Ebola and have lived through decades of violent conflict, to cast their vote. “Whatever the outcome, there needs to be an end to the years of misery people in this country have had to endure. Just because elections are being held does not mean there will be peace.”

Source: Oxfam forced to suspend Ebola response in DR Congo following pre-election violence – Democratic Republic of the Congo | ReliefWeb

‘It’s God’s plan’: the man who dreams of bringing intensive chicken farming to Africa | Environment | The Guardian – Export bird flu to Africa – No Godliness – just greed and $.

A US mega-farm, a Christian backer and Africa’s oldest industrial chicken producer are bringing the world’s super birds to revolutionise the region’s food market and feed its poor

Source: ‘It’s God’s plan’: the man who dreams of bringing intensive chicken farming to Africa | Environment | The Guardian

Trek Into Congo Forest Reveals an Ebola Crisis Fueled by Violence – The New York Times

Congolese health officials and their international partners expect the fight against Ebola to drag on well into next year. The biggest worry is that, unchecked, the epidemic could reach Goma, the regional capital. “If it hits Goma, we’re done for,” said Dr. Jean-Christophe Shako, the director of a local Ebola response team whose tasks require negotiating with the militia so that health workers can enter their territories and have their safety guaranteed. The city sits on a busy border with Rwanda and has an international airport that could disperse the disease globally.

Inoreader – EID Journal: Higher Viral Load of Emerging Norovirus GII.P16-GII.2

Globally, particularly in developing countries, Norovirus infections may claim 50,000 children’s lives each year (cite).  One of the keys to prevention is good hand hygiene, unfortunately, unlike with many other bacteria and viruses, alcohol gel doesn’t do a particularly good job of killing the virus (see CMAJ: Hand Sanitizers May Be `Suboptimal’ For Preventing Norovirus).

Source: Inoreader – EID Journal: Higher Viral Load of Emerging Norovirus GII.P16-GII.2

More Ebola in DRC as WHO says it has outbreak ‘covered’ | CIDRAP – Trump US Government “afraid” to help stop Ebola outbreak.

In September the US State Department under White House orders pulled US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) staff and other personnel from the region citing local violence and security concerns. CDC Director Robert Redfield, MD, has gone on record saying he disagrees with the decision. The CDC is currently sharing data and analysis with the WHO. “We can mobilize from other parts, from those institutions who don’t have very strict security provisions like that,” Tedros told reporters at WHO headquarters, the AP said. “We can cover it.”

Source: More Ebola in DRC as WHO says it has outbreak ‘covered’ | CIDRAP

Multistate Infestation with the Exotic Disease–Vector Tick Haemaphysalis longicornis — United States, August 2017–September 2018 | MMWR The next Lyme Disease could be worse

During 2017–2018, Haemaphysalis longicornis has been detected in Arkansas, Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia on various species of domestic animals and wildlife, and from two humans.

Source: Multistate Infestation with the Exotic Disease–Vector Tick Haemaphysalis longicornis — United States, August 2017–September 2018 | MMWR