022421 – World Health Report

This report intends to give the UTD Community a snapshot of international health risks as reported by the linked official sources from the U.S. and other countries.

Please note the revision date (mmddyy) of this report, printed on the title of the post, and go to the direct sources listed for the most up-to-date information.  The information in this report may change without prior notice.

Health

• Kenya * WHO * Rift Valley fever (RVF) has been reported in Kenya in humans in Isiolo and Mandera counties  and in animals in Isiolo, Mandera, Murang’a and Garissa counties. As of 4 February 2021, there were a total of 32 human cases (14 confirmed positive), and 11 deaths (CFR 34 %).
• Pakistan, Yemen, Afghanistan, Mali, Chad, Burkina Faso, Sudan, Guinea, South Sudan, Benin, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria * Communicable disease threats report, 14-20 February 2021, week 7 * Poliomyelitis. Update of the week Since the previous CDTR update on 22 January 2021 and as of 9 February 2021, 108 cases of polioviruses (WPV1, cVDPV1 and cVDPV2) have been reported, one of which was caused by the WPV1 strain, two by the cVDPV1 strain and 105 by the cVDPV2 strain. Wild poliovirus (WPV1): One new case of Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) caused by WPV1 has been reported in Afghanistan. 26 WPV1 environmental samples have also been detected in Pakistan.  Circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus (cVDPV): Two new cases of AFP caused by cVDPV1 have been reported in Yemen. 105 cases of AFP caused by cVDPV2 have been reported from 11 countries: Afghanistan (63), Pakistan (14), Mali (7), Chad (5), Burkina Faso (4), Sudan (4), Guinea (3), South Sudan (2), Benin (1), Democratic Republic of the Congo (1) and Nigeria (1). 49 cVDPV2 environmental samples have also been detected: Pakistan (24), Afghanistan (22), Benin (2) and Kenya (1). Sudan: The country launched another nationwide vaccination campaign targeting more than eight million children and aiming to vaccinate all children below the age of five years.
• Sudan * GOV.AU * Sudan is also experiencing an outbreak of Cholera and vaccine-derived poliovirus (cVDPV).
• United States * Communicable disease threats report, 14-20 February 2021, week 7 * Extensively drug-resistant (XDR) Salmonella Typhi infections were detected in the US in residents without international travel history.

Ebola News

• Democratic Republic of the Congo  * WHO * Ebola. On 7 February 2021, the Minister of Health of the Democratic Republic of the Congo declared an outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) after the laboratory confirmation of one case in North Kivu Province. The case was an adult female living in Biena Health Zone. To date the source of infection is still under investigation.
• Democratic Republic of the Congo * Communicable disease threats report, 14-20 February 2021, week 7 * Ebola. Opening date: 9 February 2021 Latest update: 19 February 2021. On 7 February 2021, the Minister of Health of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) declared an outbreak of Ebola virus disease after a laboratory-confirmed case was detected. The outbreak is in the North Kivu province in the eastern part of the DRC, where a large outbreak was declared over in June 2020. Update of the week. Since last week’s report on 12 February 2021, and as of 18 February, two new confirmed cases have been reported in the North Kivu province of the DRC, in the Katwa health zone. Additionally, media quoting health authorities report that two further cases were detected on 18 February 2021, one in the Katwa health zone and one in the Mangurudjipa health zone. The latter is approximately 150 kilometres from the city of Butembo.
• Guinea * WHO * Ebola. On 14 February 2021, the Ministry of Health (MoH) of Guinea informed WHO of a cluster of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) cases in the sub-prefecture of Gouécké, Nzérékoré Region, Guinea between 18 January and 13 February 2021. The cases showed symptoms of diarrhea, vomiting and bleeding after attending the burial of another relative (a 51 year-old nurse) on 1 February 2021.
• Guinea * GOV.AU * The Ministry of Health of Guinea has declared an Ebola epidemic in the Gouecke sub-district of the N’Zerekore region. There are several suspected Ebola cases, including some fatalities. These are the first Ebola cases reported since June 2016.
• Liberia * GOV.UK * There have been previous outbreaks of Ebola in Liberia and there has recently been an outbreak of Ebola in Guinea close to the Liberian border. Liberian authorities are increasing their epidemiological surveillance levels in response. Further information on Ebola can be found on the WHO website.
• Mali * GOV.AU * Overland travel may be affected by restrictions imposed in response to the Ebola epidemic in Guinea.

Please note the revision date (mmddyy) of this report, printed on the title of the post, and go to the direct sources listed for the most up-to-date information.  The information in this report may change without prior notice.