Outbreak of Anthrax Associated with Handling and Eating Meat from a Cow,Uganda, 2018

On April 20, 2018, the Kween District Health Office in Kween District, Uganda reported 7 suspected cases of human anthrax. A team from the Uganda Ministry of Health and partners investigated and identified 49 cases, 3 confirmed and 46 suspected; no deaths were reported. Multiple exposures from handling the carcass of a cow that had died suddenly were significantly associated with cutaneous anthrax, whereas eating meat from that cow was associated with gastrointestinal anthrax. Eating undercooked meat was significantly associated with gastrointestinal anthrax, but boiling the meat for >60 minutes was protective. We recommended providing postexposure antimicrobial prophylaxis for all exposed persons, vaccinating healthy livestock in the area, educating farmers to safely dispose of animal carcasses, and avoiding handling or eating meat from livestock that died of unknown causes.     

First incursion of Salmonella enterica serotype typhimurium DT160 into New Zealand

An outbreak of human Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium DT160 infection in New Zealand was investigated from May to August 2001. Handling of dead wild birds, contact with persons with diarrheal illness, and consumption of fast food were associated with infection. Contaminated roof-collected rainwater was also detected.     

Cost-benefit of stockpiling drugs for influenza pandemic

We analyzed strategies for the use of stockpiled antiviral drugs in the context of a future influenza pandemic and estimated cost-benefit ratios. Current stockpiling of oseltamivir appears to be cost-saving to the economy under several treatment strategies, including therapeutic treatment of patients and postexposure prophylactic treatment of patients' close contacts.     

Epidemiology of Escherichia coli O157:H7 outbreaks, United States, 1982-2002

Escherichia coli O157:H7 causes 73,000 illnesses in the United States annually. We reviewed E. coli O157 outbreaks reported to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to better understand the epidemiology of E. coli O157. E. coli O157 outbreaks (>or=2 cases of E. coli O157 infection with a common epidemiologic exposure) reported to CDC from 1982 to 2002 were reviewed. In that period, 49 states reported 350 outbreaks, representing 8,598 cases, 1,493 (17%) hospitalizations, 354 (4%) hemolytic uremic syndrome cases, and 40 (0.5%) deaths. Transmission route for 183 (52%) was foodborne, 74 (21%) unknown, 50 (14%) person-to-person, 31 (9%) waterborne, 11 (3%) animal contact, and 1 (0.3%) laboratory-related. The food vehicle for 75 (41%) foodborne outbreaks was ground beef, and for 38 (21%) outbreaks, produce.     

2005-2019年湖北省学校流行性腮腺炎暴发疫情流行特征

目的分析湖北省学校2005-2019年流行性腮腺炎暴发疫情的流行特征,为制定流行性腮腺炎的防控策略提供依据。方法对2005-2019年湖北省流行性腮腺炎暴发疫情进行描述性流行病学分析,对不同地区暴发疫情的罹患率进行聚类分析,对疫情处置效果进行分析。结果湖北省2005-2019年共发生流行性腮腺炎暴发疫情288起,报告病例12 488例,罹患率为3.16%。报告疫情较多的年份为2017、2006和2011年,月份主要集中在3-6月及10-12月;襄阳市、十堰市报告事件起数最多,武汉市和荆州市的平均罹患率最高,且所有地区疫情暴发场所均以小学为主。目前,疫情主要由属地医疗机构报告发现干预时间中位数为8.8 d,疫情持续时间为27.0 d。结论小学是湖北省流行性腮腺炎暴发疫情的重点场所,冬春季节应加强疫情防控,及早干预疫情缩短疫情持续时间。     

Association Between Human Cases and Poultry Outbreaks of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Vietnam From 2003 to 2007: A Nationwide Study

This study quantifies the spatio‐temporal association between outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 in domestic poultry (n = 3050) and human cases (n = 99) in Vietnam during 2003–2007, using rare events logisitic regression. After adjusting for the effect of known confounders, the odds of a human case being reported to authorities increased by a factor of 6.17 [95% confidence interval (CI) 3.33–11.38] and 2.48 (95% CI 1.20 – 5.13) if poultry outbreaks were reported in the same district 1 week and 4 weeks later respectively. When jointly considering poultry outbreaks in the same and neighbouring districts, occurrence of poultry outbreaks in the same week, 1‐week later, and 4 weeks later increased the odds of a human case by a factor of 2.75 (95% CI 1.43–5.30), 2.56 (95% CI 1.31–5.00) and 2.70 (95% CI 1.56–4.66) respectively. Our study found evidence of different levels of association between human cases and poultry outbreaks in the North and the South of the country. When considering the 9‐week interval extending from 4 weeks before to 4 weeks after the week of reporting a human case, in the South poultry outbreaks were recorded in 58% of cases in the same district and 83% of cases in either the same or neighbouring districts, whereas in the North the equivalent results were only 23% and 42%. The strength of the association between human and poultry cases declined over the study period. We conclude that owner reporting of clinical disease in poultry needs to be enhanced by targeted agent‐specific surveillance integrated with preventive and other measures, if human exposure is to be minimized.     

Evaluation of live attenuated S79 mumps vaccine effectiveness in mumps outbreaks: a matched case-control study

Background Mumps virus infection is a potentially serious viral infection of childhood and early adulthood. In China, live attenuated S79 mumps vaccine has been licensed for pediatric use since 1990. The objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of live attenuated S79 mumps vaccine against clinical mumps in outbreaks. Methods Cases were selected from mumps outbreaks in schools in Guangzhou between 2004 and 2005. Each case was matched by gender, age and classroom. Vaccination information was obtained from Children＇s EPI Administrative Computerized System. Vaccine effectiveness （VE） was calculated for 1 or 2 doses of S79 vaccine with 95% confidence intervals （CI）. Results One hundred and ninety-four cases and 194 controls were enrolled into the study. VE of the S79 mumps vaccine for 1 dose versus 0 confer protection 80.4% （95% Cl, 60.0%-90.4%） and VEs against mumps in outbreaks for 1 dose of mumps vaccine are similar among those children aged 4-9 years and aged over 10 years old. Conclusion The live attenuated S79 mumps vaccine can be effective in preventing clinical mumps outbreaks.     

Concurrent Chikungunya and Dengue Virus Infections during Simultaneous Outbreaks, Gabon, 2007

An outbreak of febrile illness occurred in Gabon in 2007, with 20,000 suspected cases. Chikungunya or dengue-2 virus infections were identified in 321 patients; 8 patients had documented co-infections. Aedes albopictus was identified as the principal vector for the transmission of both viruses.