Earth Report – Global Disaster Watch
Marburg Virus – Equatorial Guinea
In a follow-up on the Marburg virus disease (MVD) outbreak in Equatorial Guinea, health officials report eight new cases, bringing the cumulative number of nine confirmed and 20 probable cases that have been recorded since the beginning of the outbreak and as of March 21.
Typhoid Fever – DR Congo
Since the beginning of 2023, a total of 1,800 suspected cases of the typhoid fever epidemic, including 12 deaths, have been notified in the Panzi health zone in Kwango province, DRC media reports.
New invasive mosquitoes descend on Florida, USA
An invasive mosquito species from Central and South America, Culex lactator, has taken root in South Florida, raising concerns that the pests might spread dangerous viruses, like West Nile and St. Louis encephalitis virus. The mosquitoes, which physically resemble many others in Florida, may have already seeded populations in additional counties. It’s likely that the pest will continue to spread to more locations in the state.
Marburg Virus – Tanzania
In a follow-up on the outbreak of unknown etiology in Tanzania, health officials announced today the cause of the outbreak that killed five people and hospitalized three others in Kagera province is Marburg virus disease (MVD).
Chickenpox – Hanoi, Vietnam
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) in Hanoi, the city recorded 70 cases of chickenpox this week, a slight decrease compared to the previous week when Hanoi saw 112 cases of chickenpox. Since the beginning of the year, Hanoi has recorded 548 cases of chickenpox, while during the same period in 2022, 4 cases were recorded.
Leptospirosis – Vanuatu
The Vanuatu Ministry of Health reports 32 cases of Leptospirosis and one death since the start of the year. This has prompted health officials to issue a red alert. The outbreak was exacerbated by the two tropical cyclones in March. From the 6 to 16 March, there were 10 new cases confirmed clinically.
Rift Valley Fever – Uganda
In a follow-up on the confirmed Rift Valley Fever (RVF) outbreak in Mbarara District, Uganda, the outbreak has increased to 20 human cases, including four fatalities.
Monkeypox – Japan
The Japanese Ministry of Health reported Monday that the Tokyo, Osaka, and Ibaraki Prefectures reported 13 cases in men have been confirmed as monkeypox (mpox) as a result of laboratory tests.
Botulism – Europe
From late February 2023 to 10 March 2023, 67 cases of botulism, probably of iatrogenic origin, related to intragastric injection of botulinum toxin (BTX) were reported in Germany (12), Austria (1), Switzerland (1) and Turkey (53). Information currently available indicates that all patients underwent medical intervention to reduce body weight between February 22 and March 1, 2023.
Among the 63 cases with available detailed information, 60 cases are reported in an epidemiological context with treatment administered by a private hospital in Istanbul, and another three cases are related to treatment in a private hospital in Izmir, Turkey. Due to the varying severity of the clinical picture of botulism, it is possible that some cases may still be identified.
Diphtheria – Nigeria
In a follow-up on the diphtheria outbreak in Nigeria, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) reports a total of 377 suspected cases from seven (7) states across the country. Cumulatively, between week 19 (mid-May) of 2022 and week 9 ( end of February) of 2023, a total of 1,064 suspected cases were reported from 21 states.
Anthrax – Russia
Two people were hospitalized with anthrax in Chuvashia, Tsivilsky municipal district, according to local Health Authorities. The therapeutic prognosis is favorable.
Chikungunya – Paraguay
The General Directorate of Health Surveillancereportedthat in the last three weeks (Epi Weeks 8, 9 and 10), there are a total of 11,649 cases of chikungunya. The epidemiological curve is currently at a plateau, an apparent decrease in cases is observed, however, the epidemic has spread throughout the country.
Polio – Burundi
The Ministère de la Santé Publique declared an outbreak of circulating poliovirus type 2 (CVDPV 2) today after confirming eight polioviruses, the first such detection in more than three decades.
Unknown Disease – Tanzania
The Tanzania Ministry of Health reports receiving information about the presence of a disease that is not yet known in Kagera province in Bukoba district villages, Maruku and Kanyangereko districts, Bulinda and Butayaibega villages. A total of 7 people have flu, vomiting, bleeding in various areas of the body and kidney failure. 5 People have died.
Measles – Nepal
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) reports there is a measles outbreak in Nepal. Between 24 November 2022 and 10 March 2023, a total of 690 measles cases, including one associated death (CFR 0.14%) have been reported from seven districts in western Nepal.
Dengue Fever/Chikungunya – Brazil
The State Department of Health of Minas Gerais (SES) reports through March 12, 83,911 probable dengue fever cases, including 25,265 confirmed cases were reported. There are nine confirmed deaths from dengue in Minas Gerais and 40 deaths under investigation. Concerning chikungunya and Zika, state officials report 27,514 probable and 7,555 confirmed chikungunya cases.
Leptospirosis – New Caledonia
New Caledonia health officials report a rise in leptospirosis cases since the beginning of the year. As of 28 February 2023, 65 leptospirosis cases have been confirmed. This includes 25 cases in January and 40 cases in February. There was in total 56 hospitalizations (86%) and 1 death recorded.
Avian Influenza – Canada
The British Columbia government reports testing has confirmed eight skunks found dead in late February in Richmond and Vancouver are positive for avian influenza. The skunks were found in residential areas in both cities and were taken to B.C.’s Animal Health Centre due to concerns they may have been deliberately poisoned.
Covid-19
The countries with the 10 greatest number of Covid-19 cases:
Johns Hopkins University has stopped collecting Covid-19 data as at 10 March 2023. This will accordingly be the final of the regular covid-19 updates.
Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease – Philippines
The Iloilo Provincial Health Office Provincial Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (PHO-PESU) recently reported that all 2,407 cases of the HFMD from Jan. 1 to Feb. 25 are tagged as recovered.
Rabies – Philippines
The Philippines Department of Health’s Epidemiology Bureau reports 55 human rabies cases/deaths through February 25 this year. This is a 8 percent increase in cases/deaths compared to the same period in 2022 (51). Only three of the 17 regions in the country have not reported a rabies case this year to date.
Monkeypox – Mexico
The Mexico Ministry of Health reports that, in the last 14 days, a total of 74 probable cases and 51 confirmed cases of mpox or monkeypox have been identified in the country.
Covid-19 – New York City
Wild rats in the New York City sewer system and elsewhere in the city have tested positive for Covid-19 Alpha, Delta and Omicron variants.
Syphilis – Mississippi, USA
According to the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH), in the last several years, Mississippi has experienced sharp increases in the number of reported cases of primary and secondary syphilis. Between 2016 and 2020, reported primary and secondary syphilis cases rose by more than 125%, to 741 cases and a rate of 24.9 cases per 100,000 population in 2020, one of the highest rates among US states.
Diphtheria – Venezuela
Health authorities reported on Thursday, March 9, that three confirmed cases of diphtheria have been confirmed in Bolivar State, specifically in the Sifontes municipality.
Chikungunya – Paraguay
The General Directorate of Health Surveillance in Paraguay reports a total of 11,467 cases of chikungunya during the last three epidemiological weeks (EW7-9) indicating the persistence of a large number of cases.
Rift Valley Fever – Uganda
The Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) VHF laboratory confirmed twelve (12) Rift Valley Fever (RVF) human cases on March 1, the World Health Organization reports. The 12 cases were reported in the greater Mbarara areas.
Chikungunya – Brazil
The number of probable cases of chikungunya in Brazil at the beginning of this year more than doubled compared to the same period last year, according to data from the Ministry of Health. Until February 20, the increase was 110%, from 16,971 to 35,569 probable cases.
Measles – South Africa
The South Africa National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) reports since the first week in October 2022, 727 confirmed measles cases have been detected. A measles outbreak has now been declared in all the provinces in South Africa except for the Eastern Cape. Members of the public are urged to ensure their children are vaccinated against measles.
Plastic Disease
The first disease linked exclusively to exposure to plastics has been identified by experts from the United Kingdom and Australia, who have called it plasticosis.
Writing in the Journal of Hazardous Materials, they say the disease affects seabirds who have ingested plastic debris, inflaming their digestive systems and breaking down their ability to fight infections and parasites, along with harming their ability to digest food. The study authors say it is possible the new disease is also affecting other species, including humans.
Syphilis – Paraguay
The prevalence of syphilis in Paraguay remains high, despite the existence of efficient prophylactic measures, such as the use of condoms, and also effective and cheap therapeutic options, health officials note. In 2021, 7,902 people with syphilis were registered in the country, a 19% percent increase in cases compared to 2020.
Gonorrhea – Denmark
Gonorrhea infections in Denmark have been on the rise for a long time, and now the infection curve has taken an extraordinarily large jump. Almost 40 percent more people were diagnosed with gonorrhea last year compared to the year before, and the number is now at the highest level for over 25 years. A total of 3,906 cases of the sexually transmitted infection (STI) were reported in 2022.