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West Nile Virus -- RomaniaIn a follow-up on the West Nile virus (WNV) situation in Romania, the National Center for Communicable Disease Surveillance and Control reported (computer translated) since the start of surveillance on [2 May 2018], 23 meningitis/meningo-encephalitis have been reported due to West Nile virus infection and a death in the case of a 79-year-old patient who had comorbidities.Officials say the cases in Romania are sporadic and there is currently no risk of an epidemic.In addition to Romania…

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West Nile Virus -- GreeceGreek health officials have reported 21 additional confirmed human West Nile virus (WNV) cases during the past week, bringing the country total to 43 in 2018. Of the total, 35 presented with neuro-invasive disease (WNND, encephalitis and/or meningitis and/or acute flaccid paralysis) and 8 cases with mild symptoms (febrile syndrome). No deaths have been reported.In Europe, since the beginning of the 2018 transmission season, as of 2 Aug 2018, 111 human cases have been reported in the…

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Meningitis -- ChinaAbstract--------Angiostrongyliasis is a foodborne parasitic disease caused by the nematode _Angiostrongylus cantonensis_ that can lead to eosinophilic meningitis (EM) or meningoencephalitis in humans._A. cantonensis_ is prevalent in the Pacific Islands. In recent years, a large number of outbreaks and severe cases have occurred. Several species of mollusk, such as snails and slugs, act as intermediate and paratenic hosts of _A. cantonensis_.In this study, 2 cases of EM were found…

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West Nile Virus -- RomaniaFive citizens in Romania have been diagnosed with meningitis caused by the West Nile virus.The Romanian Ministry of Health recommends to local authorities to take pest control measures as soon as possible to prevent the spreading of the virus, stiri.tvr.ro reported, adding that 80 percent of the people that were infected or get infected have no symptoms.The only signs and tangible proof that something might be seriously wrong are high fever and headaches. In this case, specialists…

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Tuberculosis, Antimicrobial resistance, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis E, Mycobacteria, non-TB, HIV/AIDS, Schistosomiasis, Meningitis, Diphtheria, MERS, Sexually Transmitted Infection, Other Human Disease, Diarrhea, Scrub Typhus, Tularemia -- EthiopiaEditorialThe preventable tragedy of diphtheria in the 21st centuryInt J Infect Dis. 2018 (June); 71: 122-123.LH Blumberg, MA Prieto, JV Diaz, MJ Blanco, B Valle, C Pla, et alPerspectiveHealthcare worker exposure to Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV): Revision of screening strategies urgently neededInt J Infect Dis. 2018 (June); 71: 113-116.Hala Amer, Abdulrahman S Alqahtani, Faisal Alaklobi, Juhaina Altayeb, Ziad A Memish.Original…

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Meningitis - Neisseria -- KazakhstanEpidemiological situation on meningococcal infection:Since the beginning of 2018, 59 cases of meningococcal infection have been registered in the Republic of Kazakhstan, including 21 cases among children under 14 years of age. 13 of them have died: Almaty -- 6 cases; in Almaty region -- 4 cases; in South Kazakhstan -- 2 cases; and in Kyzylorda region -- 1 case.The situation is under the control of the Ministry of Health.--communicated by:Irene Lai, MDInternational SOSGlobal…

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Meningitis - Neisseria -- NetherlandsThe Netherlands is heading for a record number of infections with the meningococcal bacterium type [serogroup] W, also known as meningitis. So far this year [2018], 57 people ended up in intensive care, and 11 people died because of this bacterium, according to figures AD [Algemeen Dagblad, a Dutch daily newspaper based in Rotterdam] received from the national institute for public health RIVM [Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment].The number of meningitis deaths…

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Meningitis - Neisseria -- KazakhstanEight people have died of meningococcal disease in Kazakhstan since the start of 2018, chief sanitary doctor Jandarbek Bekshin said.62 meningococcal disease cases were registered in total, including 29 cases in Almaty, 4 cases in East Kazakhstan, South Kazakhstan regions and Astana each, and 3 cases in Almaty region, he said."Of the 8 lethal cases registered since start of the year [2018], 4 cases were registered in Almaty and 2 cases in Almaty region and South Kazakhstan region each,"…

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Meningitis -- AustraliaOfficials with the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District have reported several viral meningitis cases, prompting an alert to the public to be alert to the symptoms. Up to 12 people were diagnosed with viral meningitis, relatively common illness, all caused by an enterovirus, and were hospitalized as a result.Director Public Health, Curtis Gregory, said the 1st person became unwell in late March [2018] and the others in early April [2018]."There have been no indications of common…

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Meningitis - Neisseria -- FijiFiji has recorded 4 deaths caused by the meningococcal disease so far this year [2018]. This was revealed by the Minister for Health and Medical Services Rosy Akbar in Parliament yesterday [Tue 17 Apr 2018].Ms. Akbar said the ministry declared a national outbreak of meningococcal C on [20 Mar 2018], after a review was made on the evidence and recommendations by health experts on the National Meningococcal Taskforce.She added that there have been 46 cases from [1 Jan to 12 Apr 2018]; 22…

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Meningitis - Neisseria -- ChinaHsueh-Mei Chiang, Chien-Shun Chiou, Chuen-Sheue Chiang, Shu-Man Yao,Hao-Hsin Wu, Yu-Ning Fan, Hsin-Yi Wei On 23 Jul 2017, a hospital in Taoyuan reported a suspected case of meningococcal disease, who was a soldier in a military base, to Taoyuan Department of Health. After investigation, another 2 soldiers who served in the same base with the index case developed symptoms of meningitis and were reported subsequently. Blood cultures from all 3 cases yielded serogroup B _Neisseria …

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Meningitis - Neisseria -- FijiOverview--------The Fiji Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MoHMS) declared an outbreak of meningococcal [serogroup] C on [Tue 20 Mar 2018]. The Ministry, through the National Meningococcal Disease Taskforce, continues to coordinate the response to the outbreak, including strengthening surveillance, laboratory diagnostics, clinical management, public health interventions, and risk communications.Surveillance------------National surveillance is coordinated by the Fiji Centre …

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Meningitis -- NigeriaThere were 166 suspected cases of cerebrospinal meningitis (CSM) reported from 59 LGAs in 16 states (Adamawa - 2, Borno - 6, Cross River - 2, Ebonyi - 2, Gombe - 4, Jigawa - 5, Kaduna - 2, Kano - 4, Katsina - 58, Kebbi - 13, Niger - 1, Oyo - 2, Sokoto - 11, Taraba - 1, Yobe - 5 & Zamfara - 48). Of these, 7 were laboratory confirmed, and 13 deaths were recorded.Ongoing surveillance for CSM has been intensified in all the 26 states in the Nigeria meningitis belt, and case-based surveillance …

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Meningitis -- SudanTests have confirmed 14 cases of meningitis in Central Darfur, with reports of other cases in South, North, and East Darfur. Medical sources told Radio Dabanga that 14 meningitis (cerebro-spinal fever) cases have been confirmed through lab tests in Central Darfur.The sources pointed to the presence of cases in South Darfur, denied by the Ministry of Health and the state government.On Wednesday [28 Mar 2018], Nyala witnessed the overcrowding of large numbers of patients in the private …

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Undiagnosed -- NigeriaThe Jigawa state commissioner of health, Dr Abba Zakari Umar, confirmed the deaths of 14 people as a result of the outbreak of cerebrospinal meningitis in the state.Speaking about the reports of the deaths of 42 people in Majiya village of Taura local government in the state: "The figures are totally incorrect," the doctor said. "[According to] our records, 51 cases were recorded in 14 Local Government Areas; 14 of them died."--Communicated by:EpiCore Global Surveillance Project …

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Meningitis - Neisseria -- NigeriaThe Kano state government says the outbreak of cerebrospinal meningitis was responsible for the deaths of 8 persons in Dungurawa village of Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area of [Kano] state.The state commissioner for health, Kabiru Getso, made the disclosure at a news conference in Kano on Wednesday [28 Mar 2018]. He said that the ministry received the information about the outbreak of a strange disease and dispatched its Rapid Response Team to the area. "The team reported that the 1st …

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Meningitis - Neisseria -- NigeriaAt a news conference held in Kano on [Wed 28 Mar 2018], the Commissioner of Health, Kabiru Gesto, revealed that the unknown disease responsible for the death of 8 persons is an outbreak of cerebrospinal meningitis.The government had initially dispatched a rapid response team to carry out an investigation. "The team reported that the 1st case was reported on [Thu 15 Mar 2018] in the area and the victims died instantly before reaching a health facility," he said. Getso gave further details …