Taiwan CDC, in accordance with Paragraph 2, Article 8 of the Communicable Disease Control Act, has issued an update on the important international epidemics for the 2nd week of this year, reminding people who plan to visit the affected areas to be aware of related disease prevention measures.
1. Asia:
(1) Avian influenza in Indonesia: WHO announced on January 11, 2008 that the Ministry of Health of Indonesia has announced a new case of human infection of H5N1 avian influenza. A 16-year-old female from West Java Province developed symptoms on December 30, 2007, was hospitalized on January 4, 2008, and is currently receiving treatment in hospital. Investigations found that the case had contact with dead chickens in her neighborhood two weeks prior to her onset of symptoms. Of the 117 cases confirmed to date in Indonesia, 94 have been fatal. To prevent infection, avoid contact with birds and their excreta, and poultry meat and eggs must be fully cooked before serving.
(2) Avian influenza in animals in China and Vietnam: (A) The Ministry of Agriculture in China announced on January 5, 2008 that 1 new outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza had occurred in Turpan of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on December 29, 2007. The national laboratory confirmed the presence of the H5N1 virus in poultry in the area on January 3, 2008. (B) OIE announced that Vietnam reported 10 new outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza in 10 villages between December 12, 2007 and January 1, 2008. A total of 81 outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza were reported in Vietnam in 2007, and 1 outbreak has been reported in 2008. To prevent infection, avoid contact with birds and their excreta, and poultry meat and eggs must be fully cooked before serving.
2. European Region:
(1) Avian influenza in animals in Portugal: OIE announced that Portugal reported 3 new outbreaks of lowly pathogenic avian influenza in 3 poultry farms located in Oeste Province between December 21, 2007 and December 31, 2007. A total of 4 outbreaks of lowly pathogenic avian influenza were reported in Portugal in 2007. To prevent infection, avoid contact with birds and their excreta, and poultry meat and eggs must be fully cooked before serving.
(2) Meningococcal disease in Italy: ECDC announced on January 10, 2008 that between December 13, 2007 and December 15 2007, seven cases of Neisseria meningitidis (N. meningitidis) were reported in the Treviso area, region of Veneto in north-eastern Italy. Three of the reported cases were fatal. Serotyping has demonstrated the presence of meningococci serogroup C in six cases. The mean age of the cases was 23 years (range 15-33 years). The epidemiological investigation revealed that all the cases had visited certain places (bars, restaurants, discos) in the Treviso area between December 8 and December 9. In total, the Veneto Surveillance System for Meningitis Control registered 14 cases of N. meningitidis serogroup C infection in 2007, bringing the annual incidence rate in the Veneto Region to 0.3 per 100,000 population. To prevent infection, avoid going to crowded places.
(3) Norovirus and human rabies in Netherlands: (A) ECDC announced on January 10, 2008 that 29 norovirus outbreaks were reported in the Netherlands in October 2007. Of these outbreaks, 15 were caused by GII.4 noroviruses. In November, 46 outbreaks were reported, and of those 2 were caused by GII.4 noroviruses. (B) ECDC announced on January 10, 2008 that a 34-year-old woman was reported to be infected with rabies in the Netherlands.The case developed symptoms on November 16, 2007, was admitted to the hospital on November 19, 2007, and then died on December 8, 2007. She went on a two-week trip to Nairobi and Mombasa of Kenya on October 24, 2007.During her trip, a small bat smashed into her face and left two bleeding scratches on her nose.She died while still receiving treatment in hospital. To prevent infection, avoid going to crowded places and having contact with unknown animals.
3. Africa Region:
Avian influenza in Egypt: WHO announced on January 3, 2008 that the Ministry of Health and Population of Egypt had announced the death of a previously confirmed case of H5N1 infection. The 50-year-old female from Domiatt Governorate died on December 31, 2007. Of the 43 cases confirmed to date in Egypt, 19 have been fatal. To prevent infection, avoid contact with birds and their excreta, and poultry meat and eggs must be fully cooked before serving.