Aktuelle Epidemien im Nahen und Mittleren Osten

[Birgitt]

DENGUE/DHF UPDATE 2011 (19)
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- Saudi Arabia (Jeddah). 1 May 2011.

"The behavior of comfort" by
mosquitoes is the cause of 64 new cases of dengue fever during the
last week in Jeddah, according to Fahd Adakksi, assistant
under-secretary-Jeddah for crises and emergencies, who explained that
"the behavior of comfort" causes mosquitoes wishing to escape from the
heat, which has begun to increase in Jeddah, to enter into the homes
of citizens, which increases the proportion of mosquito bites of the
population. He said in a press statement yesterday [30 Apr 2011] that
the cases recorded last week [64], compared with 123 cases recorded in
the same week last year [2010], was a decline of 50 per cent. [It is
likely that the _Aedes aegypti_ dengue virus vector mosquitoes were
already in and immediately around homes, where they are most likely to
breed. The heat may be accelerating larval and pupal development, or
cause residents to store more water in their homes, providing more
breeding habitat. - Mod.TY]
<http://www.alwatan.com.sa/Local/News_De ... tegoryID=5>
in Arabic, trans. Corr.SB.

[A HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map of Brazil showing Jeddah can
be accessed at <http://healthmap.org/r/011Z>. - Mod.TY]

[Birgitt]

DENGUE/DHF UPDATE 2011 (27)
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- Saudi Arabia (Jeddah). 4 Jul 2011.

The number of dengue fever cases
in Jeddah requiring hospital attention has risen to about 130 a week,
while the number of instances involving only minor symptoms that
remain unreported are suspected to be much higher. According to
Al-Yawm Arabic daily Monday [4 Jul 2011], many of the 130 weekly cases
have been found in more affluent districts of the city, suggesting
that the mosquitoborne virus is spreading from its usual areas of
proliferation in unplanned [neighborhoods] or downmarket areas.
<http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cf ... 0628103998>

[A HealthMap/ProMED-interactive map showing the location of Jeddah in
Saudi Arabia can be accessed at <http://healthmap.org/r/011Z>. -
Mod.TY]

[Birgitt]

FOODBORNE ILLNESS - SAUDI ARABIA: (AL MADINAH), HAJJ PILGRIMS
*************************************************************

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Date: Wed 2 Nov 2011
Source: The Saudi Gazette [edited]
http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cf ... 1102111560


A total of 81 Bangladeshi pilgrims were taken to hospitals in Madina
Mon 31 Oct 2011, with food poisoning after eating a meal at an
unlicensed caterer. They received medical treatment at King Fahd,
Uhud, and Al-Ansar hospitals, and samples of the food they had eaten
were sent for analysis.

Dr Abdul Hameed Muhammad Shahat, medical director of King Fahd
Hospital in Madina, said that around midnight on the date, the
emergency unit received 26 pilgrims, most of whom were elderly. They
were suffering from abdominal pains associated with diarrhea and
vomiting. The pilgrims were all treated and discharged, except for one
who had to be hospitalized.

Dr Ali Karbooji, medical director of Uhud Hospital, said that the
hospital received 19 Bangladeshi pilgrims who were admitted to the
hospital with food poisoning. "Most of them were discharged while some
were kept at the hospital until they were stable." Dr Fareed Al-Nuzha,
medical director of Al-Ansar Hospital, said that 36 pilgrims were
admitted and treated.

[Byline: Ayman Al-Saydalani]

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail


[Madina (or Medina) is a city in the Hejaz region of western Saudi
Arabia and the capital of the Al Madinah Province. It is the 2nd
holiest city in Islam, and the burial place of the Islamic Prophet
Muhammad.

Hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca, is one of the greatest religious
observances in Islam. Hajj is expected to fall between 4-9 Nov 2011.
The exact dates of Islamic holidays cannot be determined in advance,
due to the nature of the Islamic lunar calendar. Estimates are based
on expected visibility of the hilal (waxing crescent moon following a
new moon) and may vary according to location.

The etiology of this cluster of foodborne illness is not stated but
with knowledge of the incubation period, the presence or absence of
fever, the food(s) ingested and the length of the illness one can
generate a differential diagnosis. - Mod.LL]

[For the interactive HealthMap/ProMED map of Medina, Saudi Arabia, see
http://healthmap.org/r/1oDO. - Mod.MPP]

[Birgitt]

MALARIA - DUBAI: REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
*****************************************

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Date: 15 Dec 2011
Source: XPRESS [edited]
http://gulfnews.com/about-gulf-news/al- ... lio/xpress


Malaria scare hits International City in Dubai
----------------------------------------------
Several cases of malaria have been reported in International City (IC)
in Dubai, doctors said. General practitioner Dr Fouziya Ayyub, who
works in IC, said dozens of residents could be infected by mosquitoes
thriving in dirty water bodies in the residential cluster.

"The stagnant waters are mosquito-breeding grounds. People get bitten
and fall sick. When I test them, it turns out to be malaria," said Dr
Fouziya. "As far as I know, there were zero malaria cases here. But
now I see about 2 or 3 cases per week." She added some cases appear to
be "local transmissions" rather than "imported" ones.

The UAE was declared malaria-free by the World Health Organisation in
2007, but there have been incidents of people getting infected abroad
and entering the country.

The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) told XPRESS: "Like any other capital
cities where malaria transmission is eradicated, we do have cases of
imported malaria in the country... People can get the infections and
return to UAE. This is what we call imported malaria." It added: "All
cases reported to DHA in 2011 are cases of imported malaria; all the
cases are expatriates..."

However, Dr Fouziya said some patients had told her they had not
travelled outside the UAE "for a long time." If her suspicions are
true, this would be a case of local malaria transmission, she added.

XPRESS obtained some malaria-positive medical records dated November
through December [2011] from a Dubai clinic, but was unable to verify
how long the patients had stayed in the UAE at a stretch. However, one
Pakistani patient said he was "fine" when he travelled from his home
country to the UAE on 4 Oct 2011. "I was fine back home and doing well
when I landed here. I only fell sick earlier this month -- I was
surprised to find out it was malaria," the 25-year-old said.

Though malaria does not spread from person to person, Dr Fouziya said,
"I would advise people take preventive medicine against malaria and
vaccinations against typhoid because of the unhygienic conditions in
some places in International City and workers' camps."

Another physician, Dr Sarika Raut, said she was also aware of the
cases. "It's very surprising malaria cases have been reported there
recently," said Dr Raut, who practises in Jebel Ali.

Dr Fouziya said patients in IC were initially referred to hospitals
because clinics didn't stock malaria medicine. "We had to order the
pills and are now treating patients."

IC residents say they are under siege by mosquitoes. "We keep our
windows shut and don't step out on the balcony. I tell my children to
rush inside when the school bus drops them off," said an Indian mother
living near plot CBD17, where a water body several meters deep has
collected in a stalled construction site.

Did you know?
-------------
Malaria kills hundreds of thousands of people globally each year and
its symptoms include high fever on alternate days, severe chills and
nausea.

A spokesperson from DHA (Dubai Health Authority) said, "Malaria
transmission is eradicated in the UAE and the country has a WHO
certificate of being malaria-free. UAE worked on eradication of
malaria disease since 1979 and WHO certified UAE-free of malaria in
May 2006.

"However, like any other cities where malaria transmission is
eradicated, we do have cases of imported malaria in the country.

"You may appreciate that Dubai's population is multi-cultural and
Dubai is a multi-ethnic society and there is considerable population
movement from UAE to countries where malaria is holoendemic or hyper
endemic. So the imported malaria is caused either by visiting friends
and relatives back home or during summer vacations to such countries.
Thus people can get infection and return to UAE. This is what we call
imported malaria.

"At DHA, we have a travel clinic covering all travel-related issues in
Al Mankhool Preventive Medicine Centre and Al Muhaisnah Medical
Fitness Centre, where clients are prescribed adequate chemoprophylaxis
and counselling on how to avoid mosquito bites and use mosquito
repellent creams when visiting such countries.

"All cases reported to DHA in 2011 are cases of imported malaria, all
the cases are expatriates and most are imported cases, especially from
India and African countries."

[Byline: Faisal Masudi, Staff Reporter]

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail from HealthMap alerts
<promed@promedmail.org>

[According to the just released World Malaria Report 2010
(http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/rel ... index.html),
Dubai reported no cases in 2010. A detailed travel history needs to be
obtained. The case referred above of malaria in a Pakistani national
returning some weeks before falling ill, illustrate the difficulty as
this case could easily have been infected in Pakistan. People from
malaria endemic countries can be asymptomatic gametocyte carriers and
may start a local transmission as seen in Greece earlier this year and
in Jamaica in 2006.

HealthMap location: http://healthmap.org/r/1yb7 - Mod.EP]

[Birgitt]

FOODBORNE ILLNESS - JORDAN: (ZARQA GOVERNORATE)
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Date: Sun 8 Jan 2012
Source: Ammon News [edited]
http://en.ammonnews.net/article.aspx?articleNO=15172


A total of 16 people were admitted into hospitals in the city of Zarqa (east of Amman), on Friday [6 Jan 2012] after suffering from food poisoning symptoms.

All the patients were taken to Prince Hashim and Prince Faisal Military Hospitals were suffering from similar symptoms after apparently eating poisoned food in Awajan district. All the patients received medical treatment at the hospitals and are in stable condition, a source of civil defense department said.

--
Communicated by:
Alison Bodenheimer
Child Protection Measurement Specialist
Columbia University Middle East Research Center
Amman, Jordan


[ProMED thanks Alison Bodenheimer, a former member of our staff, for contributing this posting.

It is not clear what the etiology of this foodborne illness is given the lack of further information. Data needed in order to speculate on the etiology of the illness would include type of food ingested, incubation period of illness, presence or absence of fever, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea and the length of the illness. - Mod.LL

A HealthMap/ProMED-mail map can be accessed at: http://healthmap.org/r/1CMW]

[Sarah_F]

Gute Idee - aber man bekommt auch ganz schön Angst dort hin zu fahren bei all diesen Meldungen!

[Kuno]

... aber man bekommt auch ganz schön Angst dort hin zu fahren bei all diesen Meldungen!

Angst haben musst du sicher nicht, Sarah. Einfach immer schoen im Auto bleiben und sich ausschliesslich von den mitgebrachten Vorraeten ernaehren. Dann zieht man sich nichts Krankes rein...

...es sei denn, man hat Gammelfleisch mitgenommen oder Sprossen, die von EHEC befallen waren.

[Birgitt]

CRIMEAN-CONGO HEMORRHAGIC FEVER - OMAN: FATAL
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Date: Sat 21 Jan 2011
Ssource: Gulf News [edited]
http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/oman/woma ... n-1.968898


Woman dies of haemorrhagic Congo fever in Oman
----------------------------------------------
Muscat: An expatriate woman has died of haemorrhagic Congo fever [Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus infection] at Al Buraimi Hospital, according to an official at the Ministry of Health. The Oman News Agency, quoting an unnamed ministry official, reported that the woman was admitted to the government hospital in Buraimi last Wednesday [18 Jan 2012]. "All necessary procedures were followed in such cases of communicable diseases, but the woman died in the midnight due to her late arrival at the hospital," the health ministry official said.

The pathogenic virus, especially common in East and West Africa, is a widespread tickborne viral disease, a zoonosis of domestic animals and wild animals that may affect humans, with a mortality rate of almost 30 per cent.

The Health Ministry official said that epidemic detection teams in the country continue to take precautions and are liaising with the departments concerned such as the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and the Ministry of Regional Municipalities and Water Resources to get to the root of the cause of disease. The official, who stressed that the viral fever was not widespread, urged the public not to panic and spread false information through social media without authentic information.

--
communicated by:
Dan Silver

[A similar report from the Oman Observer was forwarded also by Shamsudeen Fagbo . No additional information regarding the the circumstances of the infection of the expatriate woman, or the exact location, are revealed. The meaning of the victim's designation as expatriate is uncertain, and it may be that the infection was not contracted in Oman.

Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a viral haemorrhagic fever caused by a bunyavirus virus classified in the genus _Nairovirus_. All members of the genus _Nairovirus_ are transmitted by argasid or ixodid ticks, but only 3 have been implicated as causes of human disease: the Dugbe and Nairobi sheep viruses, and CCHF, which is the most important human pathogen among them. Although primarily a zoonosis, sporadic cases and outbreaks of CCHF affecting humans do occur. The disease is endemic in many countries in Africa, Europe, and Asia. CCHF is a severe disease in humans, with a high mortality rate. Fortunately, human illness occurs infrequently, although animal infection may be more common.

The geographical distribution of the virus, like that of its tick vector (members of the genus _Hyalomma_). is widespread. Healthcare workers in endemic areas should be aware of the illness and the correct infection control procedures to protect themselves and their patients from the risk of nosocomial (hospital-acquired) infection.

CCHF virus may infect a wide range of domestic and wild animals. Many birds are resistant to infection, but ostriches are susceptible and may show a high prevalence of infection in endemic areas. Animals become infected with CCHF virus from the bite of infected ticks. However, the most important source for acquisition of the virus by ticks is believed to be infected small vertebrates on which immature _Hyalomma_ ticks feed. Once infected, the tick remains infected through its developmental stages, and the mature tick may transmit the infection to large vertebrates, such as livestock. Domestic ruminant animals, such as cattle, sheep and goats, become viraemic for around one week after becoming infected.

Humans who become infected with CCHF acquire the virus from direct contact with blood or other infected tissues from infected livestock, or they may become infected from a tick bite. The majority of cases have occurred in those involved with the livestock industry, such as agricultural workers, slaughterhouse workers, and veterinarians. The length of the incubation period for the illness appears to depend on the mode of acquisition of the virus. Following infection via tick bite, the incubation period is usually one to 3 days, with a maximum of 9 days. The incubation period following contact with infected blood or tissues is usually 5 to 6 days, with a maximum of 13 days.

Onset of symptoms is sudden, with fever, myalgia (aching muscles), dizziness, neck pain and stiffness, backache, headache, sore eyes and photophobia. There may be nausea, vomiting and sore throat early on, which may be accompanied by diarrhoea and generalised abdominal pain. Over the next few days, the patient may experience sharp mood swings, and may become confused and aggressive. After 2 to 4 days, the agitation may be replaced by sleepiness, depression and lassitude, and the abdominal pain may localize to the right upper quadrant, with detectable hepatomegaly and haemorrhagic phenomena. The mortality rate from CCHF is about 30 per cent, with death occurring in the second week of illness.

Health care workers who have had contact with tissue or blood from patients with suspected or confirmed CCHF should be followed up with daily temperature and symptom monitoring for at least 14 days after the putative exposure.

For more detailed information on CCHF, see: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factshee ... index.html.

The HealthMap interactive map of Oman can be accessed at http://healthmap.org/r/1FWS. - Mod.CP]

[Birgitt]

CRIMEAN-CONGO HAEMORRHAGIC FEVER - OMAN (02): (AL BURAIMI) FATAL
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Date: Sun 22 Jan 2012
Source: Gulf News [edited]
http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/oman/smug ... i-1.969371


Smuggled livestock could have caused the Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) infection of a Bangladeshi expatriate, who died last week in Buraimi [Al Buraimi governorate], according to reliable sources. Sources at the Buraimi Hospital said the death of an illegal Pakistani resident, who was involved in handling livestock, could also have been caused by CCHF 2 week ago. "There is a thriving trade of illegally imported livestock as it comes much cheaper than the livestock imported with proper certification from the authorities." An unidentified source claimed that mostly these smuggled livestock come from the Horn of Africa.

The unclaimed body of the Pakistani was still lying in the Buraimi hospital morgue but no investigation was carried out to determine his death although his symptoms were similar to CCHF. It is believed that the infected livestock smuggled into country could have infected the deceased as Oman is believed to be largely free of such tick-borne viral infection.

The middle-aged Bangladeshi who died last week was not a woman as reported earlier. He was a cook working with a restaurant in Buraimi. The health authorities are confused about how the restaurant employee contracted the infection when he had no direct contact with livestock. However, a source believes that the Bangladeshi could be working part time in loading/unloading of smuggled livestock and could have contracted infection while handling the 'illegal cargo'.

The Ministry of Health (MoH) has cautioned the public about misleading information about CCHF. "A lot of the information is exaggerated," a statement issued by the MoH said on Sun 22 Jan 2012. The Ministry statement said that the disease is transmitted by ixodid (hard) ticks, especially those of the genus, _Hyalomma_, which is both a reservoir and a vector for the CCHF virus. Numerous wild and domestic animals, such as cattle, goats, sheep, and hares, serve as amplifying hosts for the virus. Transmission to humans occurs through contact with infected animal blood or ticks. The fever can be transmitted from one infected human to another by contact with infectious blood or body fluids. Documented spread of CCHF has also occurred in hospitals due to improper sterilisation of medical equipment, re-use of injection needles, and contamination of medical supplies.

The MoH statement stressed that only one case was reported with CCHF. "The victim presented late for medical attention and passed away within few hours, on Wednesday [18 Jan 2012], in Buraimi hospital. No other cases with similar presentation are reported," the statement reiterated. Scoffing at rumours, the Ministry spokesperson said that anti-viral medicine was only given to the healthcare providers in Buraimi Hospital and the immediate contacts including the colleagues of the deceased Bangladeshi cook. "The doctors and nurses are working in a safe environment and there is no case of CCHF among healthcare providers," the spokesperson added.

Urging residents of Buraimi, which borders with Al Ain, not to panic, the MoH spokesperson said: "There is no need to worry as no new cases [have been] reported among the community in Burami, or the staff of the hospital, or the health centre."

The Ministry also [said that] reports in a section of the media that restaurants in Buraimi had been closed down [were incorrect]. The only restaurant that was closed for further investigation is the one where the infected individual was working.

[Byline: Sunil K Vaidya]

--
communicated by:
Shamsudeen Fagbo, DVM
Coordinator
Zoonotic Diseases Unit
Ministry of Health
Riyadh
Saudi Arabia


[The account of this incident remains confused. Little appears to be known about the victim who was previously reported to be an expatriate woman, and is now variously described as an illegal Pakistani resident and a Bangladeshi expatriate cook, whose body remains unclaimed in a mortuary. (N.B. Bangladesh separated from Pakistan in 1971. - Corr.SB).

It seems probable that the victim was infected in handling illegally imported livestock or meat in the course of his occupation. Clarification is awaited regarding the identity of the victim and confirmation of the illegal importation of livestock.

For other information on human cases of CCHF, see http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factshee ... index.html.

Al Buraimi is a governorate in the north west corner of the Sultanate of Oman, on the border of the United Arab Emirates. The HealthMap interactive map of Oman can be accessed at http://healthmap.org/r/1FWS. - Mod.CP]

[CCHF virus (CCHFV) circulates in an enzootic tick-vertebrate-tick cycle; members of the tick genus _Hyalomma_ seem to be the principal vectors. The virus can be found in many species of wild and domestic mammals, including cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, horses, donkeys, and dogs. There is no evidence that the virus causes disease in animals. Domesticated ruminants including cattle, sheep, and goats are viremic for one week after experimental infections; the only symptom was a transient, mild elevation in body temperature. The introduction of viremic, symptomless animals to slaughterhouses can expose their personnel to infection. Otherwise, infected ticks are the main link between infected animals and humans; acaricides can be used on livestock and other domesticated animals to control ticks, particularly before slaughter or export.

In meat, CCHFV is usually inactivated by post-slaughter acidification. It is also killed by cooking. Unpasteurized milk should not be drunk.

Most species of birds are seronegative and are thought to be resistant to infection; however, antibodies can be found in ostriches, and these animals become viremic after experimental inoculation.

In 2006, the OIE added CCHF to its list of notifiable diseases; this, due to its zoonotic impact and potential international spread. A useful report on CCHF from OIE's ad-hoc group (February 2010) is available at http://www.oie.int/doc/ged/D11186.PDF.

For additional information, please refer to http://www.cfsph.iastate.edu/Factsheets ... _fever.pdf. - Mod.AS]

[Birgitt]

ISRAELI SPOTTED FEVER - ISRAEL
******************************
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Date: Sun 5 Feb 2012
Source: Haaretz [edited]
http://www.haaretz.co.il/news/health/1.1633808


In September 2011, a female Israeli soldier 1st came to the hospital with a fever that had lasted 6 days, together with headache, muscle weakness and widespread rash. After she was released to her home, she returned 2 days later to another hospital with complaints of insomnia, vomiting and worsening headaches. She was discharged home again, but returned next day to the emergency room with weakness in the legs again, sitting in a wheelchair.

After she was released back to her home, she returned 2 days later in a hospital emergency room with shortness of breath, interfering with speech. Transferred to inpatient hospital intensive care unit in serious condition with multi-organ failure, and was diagnosed to have been infected with Israeli spotted fever. The soldier was released from the hospital and underwent lengthy rehabilitation before being returned to good health.

In emergency rooms, doctors are encouraged to be alert to the combination of 3 symptoms: fever, rash and headache/muscle ache. This disease may be severe, with a mortality rate due to 0.7 percent in estimates.

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>

[Mediterranean spotted fever (MSF), also referred to as boutonneuse fever, is a caused by _Rickettsia conorii_ and presents with high fever, head and muscle aches and rash. In 2005, several strains of _R. conorii_ were proposed to be subspecies of the organism based on differences detected by serological and genetic means. The typical MSF organism is now referred to as _R. conorii_ subsp. _conorii_ and the agents of Indian tick typhus, Astrakhan fever and Israeli spotted fever (ISF) referred to as subspecies _indica_, _caspia_ and _israelensis_, respectively (1).

The ISF organism was 1st isolated in Israel in 1974 and, although initially thought to have a restricted area of distribution, it has been found in Portugal, Sicily, and parts of northern Africa including Tunisia. The organism is usually associated with the dog as the underlying reservoir and with _Rhipicephalus sanguinus_ as the tick vector. Since fatal infections are generally linked to late diagnoses (2), the disease should be quickly suspected and treated (like Rocky Mountain spotted fever in the USA) based on clinical signs and symptoms. After an incubation period 0f 6-7 days following tick exposure, the disease presents with headache, myalgias, high fever and a diffuse rash that can affect the palms and soles. A hallmark of MSF is an eschar at the tick bite site called tache noir is often absent in ISF.

The disease is endemic in Israel with an incidence varying from 0.7 to 10.3/100 000 from 1971-1980 (2) and has decreased since then. According to the weekly reports of the Epidemiology department in the Ministry of Health, Jerusalem, the total number of "spotted fever" cases, recorded during 2011 was 13 compared to 15 during 2010 (http://www.old.health.gov.il/pages/images/excel.gif). The annual incidence is generally highest in children less than 10 years of age and lowest in those over 65 years old. A strong seasonal pattern exists with most cases occurring between June and October.

References
----------
1.Giammanco GM, Vitale G, Mansueto S, et al: Presence of _Rickettsia conorii_ subsp. _israelensis_, the causative agent of Israeli spotted fever, in Sicily, Italy, ascertained in a retrospective study. J Clin Microbiol 2005;43: 6027-6031.
2. Weinberger M, Keysary A, Sandbank J, et al: Fatal _Ricksettsia conorii_ subsp. _israelensis_ infection, Israel. Emerg Infect Dis 2008;14: 821-825.

- Mods.AS/LL

A HealthMap/ProMED-mail map can be accessed at: http://healthmap.org/r/1zjH.]

[Birgitt]

DENGUE/DHF UPDATE 2012 (19)
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******

- Yemen (Hodeida governorate). 3 May 2012. Dengue fever infection increased in Al-Lohaia district, overlooking the Red Sea, in the south west of the coastal governorate of Hodeida. Around 67 people in the village of Deer Al-Dokhna in Al-Lohaia district complain symptoms of the dengue fever, but it has not been confirmed yet whether they have the virus or not. Laboratory tests of 12 people from the village showed that only 4 people were dengue fever [virus] infected and no people died, according to Dr Sultan Al-Maqtari, the director of the Epidemic Surveillance Center in Hodeida. "There are more than 1000 infected people," claimed Ishaq Salah, from the Tehama People's Union.
http://www.yementimes.com/en/1569/news/ ... odeida.htm

[A HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map showing the location of the Hodeida [Al Hudaydah] governorate can be accessed at http://healthmap.org/r/2jQM. - Mod.TY]

[Birgitt]

DENGUE/DHF UPDATE 2012 (20)
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*****

- Yemen (Hajja governorate). 10 May 2012. Residents of Bani Jamal, a village in Qofl Shamr area, Hajja governorate, have been suffering from dengue fever for the past month. Thus far, 7 people have died, a young girl among them, according to the Hajja Public Health Office.
http://www.yementimes.com/en/1571/news/ ... deaths.htm

[A HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map showing the location of the Hajja governorate can be accessed at http://healthmap.org/r/2nix. - Mod.TY]

[Birgitt]

DENGUE/DHF UPDATE 2012 (21)
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*****

- Yemen (Hodeida city and gorvernorate). 17 May 2012. Dengue fever has swept through Hodeida Central Security Prison and an African refugee camp because of poor sanitation and diet, health officials said. 70 cases have been reported in the detention center and 115 in the Ethiopian refugee camp run by the International Migration Organization, the Yemen Times reported. http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/ ... 337269650/

[A HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map showing the location of Hodeida can be accessed at http://healthmap.org/r/0xiP. - Mod.TY]

[Birgitt]

MALARIA - UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (02): (ABU DHABI) IMPORTED
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Date: Tue 26 Jun 2012
Source: Khaleej Times
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/kt-article- ... tionhealth

Imported cases of malaria on the rise in Abu Dhabi
--------------------------------------------------
Malaria cases in Abu Dhabi have more than doubled in the past 6 years, but this is primarily because of the influx of expatriate workers and not through local transmission, said a health official.

"There is a steady increase in the number of malaria cases notified to the Health Authority-Abu Dhabi (HAAD) from 2005 up to 2011," said Dr Ahmed Abdalla, senior officer of Communicable Diseases at the authority.

Compared to the about 900 cases in 2005, malaria cases reached 2731 last year. The HAAD records showed that more than 2000 cases were from Pakistan, more than 500 from India and the rest from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Sudan, Nepal, Ethiopia and Somalia. "All of these cases are imported from outside the country, none of these cases have been contracted inside the UAE...," Dr Abdalla stressed. According to him, the majority of the cases are from the "working population rather than tourist or travellers."

Contracting malaria is not a ground for deportation in the country. Malaria, which is transmitted by the bite of an infective female Anopheles mosquito, is endemic in tropical countries in Asia, Africa and South America. Although malaria can be a fatal disease, severe illness and death are largely preventable when a prompt diagnosis is made and proper treatment is administered.

On Monday [25 Jun 2012], the HAAD hosted a workshop for laboratory technicians from private hospitals where the health authority receives most malaria notifications, in an effort to provide participants the skills and knowledge to diagnose malaria species accurately in blood film preparation.

Accurate diagnosis of malaria species would enable physicians to recommend treatment that would eradicate the parasite completely and avoid possible relapse. "Accurate microscopic diagnosis is considered the gold standard for diagnosing malaria," said Dr Abdalla who organised the 3-day workshop.

Of the 4 plasmodium species, Plasmodium Vivax malaria is responsible for 82.5 per cent of all reported cases in Abu Dhabi. P. Vivax does not cause severe malaria and is found mostly in Southeast Asia and the Asian subcontinent, Dr Abdalla told Khaleej Times.

People travelling to malaria-endemic countries should take medication against the disease one to 3 weeks prior to travel and continue to take them when they come back. If fever occurs, he/she should consult a doctor, advised Dr Abdalla.

According to him, the 1st symptom for malaria is fever in varying degrees. "It can be like headache, muscle ache, sometimes vomiting and diarrhoea, and chills," he described. Malaria is a major global public health problem with an estimated 300-500 million cases and approximately one million deaths occurring annually, according to the World Health Organisation. In the UAE, local transmission of malaria has been eliminated completely with the last reported case in 1997.

[Byline: Olivia Olarte-Ulherr]

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Communicated by:
ProMED-mail from HealthMap alerts
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[The United Arab Emirates was certified malaria-free in 2007. In 2009, 3108 malaria cases were reported (Ninth intercountry meeting of national malaria programme managers Marrakech, Morocco 22-24 September 2010. WHO-EM/MAL/363/E http://applications.emro.who.int/docs/w ... _14396.pdf.

The huge influx of cases including, it must be presumed, asymptomatic gametocyte carriers pose a constant threat of starting local transmission.

Systematic examination of immigrants from malaria endemic areas would ensure early diagnosis and treatment.
HealthMap location: http://healthmap.org/r/2E3T. - Mod.EP]

[Birgitt]

DENGUE/DHF UPDATE 2012 (27)
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- Yemen (Hodeidah, Al Hudaydah Governorate). 4 Jun 2012. About 30 people died of dengue fever and 1200 are infected by this epidemic in the port governorate of Hodeidah. According to Yemen Fox, al-Thawra hospital in Hodeida had registered over 50 new cases in less than a week, affirming that about 10 cases were being reported per day since last Monday [28 May 2012].
http://thecomingcrisis.blogspot.com/201 ... eidah.html

[A HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map showing the location of Hodeidah, Al Hudaydah Governorate can be accessed at http://healthmap.org/r/0xiP. - Mod.TY]