Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2020/03/news-scan-mar-04-2020
News Scan for Mar 04, 2020
New Saudi MERS case; Avian flu in Taiwan, Bulgaria
Filed Under:
Avian Influenza (Bird Flu); MERS-CoV
[h=3]Saudi health ministry reports another MERS case[/h] Today Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Health (MOH) reported a new MERS-CoV case in Najran, bringing the March tally to three infections, after the ministry reported 18 in February.
The MERS-CoV (Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus) case involves a 42-year-old man with unknown exposure to camels, a known MERS risk factor. The MOH listed the case as primary, meaning he is unlikely to have contracted the virus from another person. The patient is not a healthcare worker.
Infection with MERS-CoV can cause severe illness and death. The virus can transmit between humans but has done so mainly in healthcare settings, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
As of Jan 31, 2020, the WHO said that it had received reports of 2,519 laboratory-confirmed MERS infections, including 866 associated deaths. The vast majority of these cases occurred in Saudi Arabia.
Mar 4 Saudi MOH report
[h=3]Avian flu outbreaks strike poultry in Taiwan and Bulgaria[/h] Two countries reported more avian flu outbreaks in poultry: Taiwan, involving three different subtypes, and Bulgaria with a pair of new highly pathogenic H5N8 outbreaks, according to the latest reports from the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE).
In Taiwan, animal health officials reported two more highly pathogenic H5N2 outbreaks in native chickens, which began in the middle of February in Kaohsiung City and Pingtung County. Taken together, the virus killed 9,193 of 39,367 susceptible birds, and the rest were culled as part of the outbreak response. The region has been battling high-path H5N2 outbreaks since 2015. Also, authorities reported one more low-pathogenic H5N2 outbreak, which struck a poultry farm in Chiayi County and began on Feb 1, killing 1,500 of 20,000 chickens, with culling slated for the survivors.
Also, in a separate development, Taiwan reported four more outbreaks involving highly pathogenic H5N5 avian flu, part of activity that began in September 2019. The outbreaks began from Feb 7 to Feb 21, and two were detected at slaughterhouses. Combined, the outbreaks killed 361 of 12,123 susceptible birds. The rest were destroyed to slow the spread of the virus.
Bulgaria, meanwhile, reported two more outbreaks involving H5N8, both on farms in the city of Plovdiv. The events started on Mar 2, killing a total of 40 of 8,620 susceptible birds. The surviving poultry were culled.
Mar 3 OIE report on high-path H5N2 in Taiwan
Mar 3 OIE report on low-path H5N2 in Taiwan
Mar 3 OIE report on high-path H5N5 in Taiwan
News Scan for Mar 04, 2020
New Saudi MERS case; Avian flu in Taiwan, Bulgaria
Filed Under:
Avian Influenza (Bird Flu); MERS-CoV
[h=3]Saudi health ministry reports another MERS case[/h] Today Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Health (MOH) reported a new MERS-CoV case in Najran, bringing the March tally to three infections, after the ministry reported 18 in February.
The MERS-CoV (Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus) case involves a 42-year-old man with unknown exposure to camels, a known MERS risk factor. The MOH listed the case as primary, meaning he is unlikely to have contracted the virus from another person. The patient is not a healthcare worker.
Infection with MERS-CoV can cause severe illness and death. The virus can transmit between humans but has done so mainly in healthcare settings, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
As of Jan 31, 2020, the WHO said that it had received reports of 2,519 laboratory-confirmed MERS infections, including 866 associated deaths. The vast majority of these cases occurred in Saudi Arabia.
Mar 4 Saudi MOH report
[h=3]Avian flu outbreaks strike poultry in Taiwan and Bulgaria[/h] Two countries reported more avian flu outbreaks in poultry: Taiwan, involving three different subtypes, and Bulgaria with a pair of new highly pathogenic H5N8 outbreaks, according to the latest reports from the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE).
In Taiwan, animal health officials reported two more highly pathogenic H5N2 outbreaks in native chickens, which began in the middle of February in Kaohsiung City and Pingtung County. Taken together, the virus killed 9,193 of 39,367 susceptible birds, and the rest were culled as part of the outbreak response. The region has been battling high-path H5N2 outbreaks since 2015. Also, authorities reported one more low-pathogenic H5N2 outbreak, which struck a poultry farm in Chiayi County and began on Feb 1, killing 1,500 of 20,000 chickens, with culling slated for the survivors.
Also, in a separate development, Taiwan reported four more outbreaks involving highly pathogenic H5N5 avian flu, part of activity that began in September 2019. The outbreaks began from Feb 7 to Feb 21, and two were detected at slaughterhouses. Combined, the outbreaks killed 361 of 12,123 susceptible birds. The rest were destroyed to slow the spread of the virus.
Bulgaria, meanwhile, reported two more outbreaks involving H5N8, both on farms in the city of Plovdiv. The events started on Mar 2, killing a total of 40 of 8,620 susceptible birds. The surviving poultry were culled.
Mar 3 OIE report on high-path H5N2 in Taiwan
Mar 3 OIE report on low-path H5N2 in Taiwan
Mar 3 OIE report on high-path H5N5 in Taiwan