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 1st 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 Vietnam and Egypt:(A) WHO announced on December 28, 2007 that the Ministry of Health in Vietnam has confirmed a new case of human infection of H5N1 avian influenza. The case is a 4-year-old male from Son La Province. He developed symptoms on December 7, was hospitalized on December 11, and died on December 16. The source of exposure is currently under investigation. Of the 101 cases confirmed to date in Vietnam, 47 have been fatal.(B) WHO announced on December 28, 2007 and January 2, 2008 that the Ministry of Health and Population of Egypt has announced four new cases of human infection of H5N1 avian influenza. Four women had contact with sick and dead poultry prior to illness onset. The first case is a 50-year-old female from Domiatt Governorate. She was hospitalized on December 24, and is currently in critical condition. The second case is a 22-year-old female, a chicken seller, from Menofia Governorate. She was hospitalized on December 26, and is now recovering from the disease in the intensive care unit. The third case is a 25-year-old female from Dekerns District, Dakahlyah Governorate. She developed symptoms on December 26, was hospitalized on December 27, and died on December 30. The fourth case is a 36-year-old female from Menof District, Menofia Governorate. She developed symptoms on December 26, was hospitalized on December 29, and died on December 31. To date, there has been no evidence of an epidemiological link between this case and the previous case from Menofia Governorate announced on December 28. Of the 43 cases confirmed to date in Egypt, 18 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 Myanmar and Israel:(A) OIE announced that Myanmar reported 1 new outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in one village located in Shan Province on December 23, 2007. A total of 15 outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza were reported in Myanmar in 2007.(B) OIE announced that Israel reported 1 new outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in poultry farm located in Haifa Province on January 1, 2008. So far, this is the first outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza reported in the world in 2008. To prevent infection, avoid contact with birds and their excreta, and poultry meat and eggs must be fully cooked before serving.
(3)Influenza in Japan: The National Institute of Infectious Diseases announced on December 28, 2007 that during week 50 (December 10-December 16, 2007), a total of 26,983 flu cases were reported in Japan. The influenza-like illness (ILI) consultation rate was 5.7. A cumulative total of 74,102 flu cases were reported between weeks 36 and 50 in 2007. Most cases (45.6%) are aged between 5 to 9 years. To prevent infection, avoid going to crowded places.
2.European Region:
Measles in Germany: ECDC announced on January 4, 2008 that since early October 2007 the Bavarian Health Authority (BHA) had noticed an increase in the number of measles cases in Bavaria, Germany. A total of 95 cases were found between week 41 and 51 in 2007, while only three cases were reported to the District Health Authorities (DHA) during the same period in 2006. A total of 92 cases (97%) were unvaccinated, and the total number of hospitalized cases reported was 24 (25%). 51% (48 cases) had laboratory-confirmed measles infection. Most measles cases in the current outbreak were residents of the greater Munich area in the south of Bavaria. The cases were between five months and 39 years of age, and fifty-nine (62%) were female. Genotyped samples were a variant of D4, which had previously been responsible for clusters of measles cases in Jewish orthodox communities in Antwerp, the United Kingdom, and Jerusalem. To prevent infection, avoid going to crowded places.
3.Africa Region:
Avian influenza in animals in Benin: OIE announced that Benin reported 2 new outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza had occurred in two villages located in Dangbo Province and Porto Novo Province between December 11 and December 15, 2007. A total of 5 outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza were reported in Benin in 2007. To prevent infection, avoid contact with birds and their excreta, and poultry meat and eggs must be fully cooked before serving.