Wüstenschiff

Pakistan - Überschwemmungen
05.08.2010

Der Monsun hat im Norden des Landes zu den schwersten Überschwemmungen seit Jahren geführt. Mindestens 1.500 Menschen kamen bereits ums Leben, insgesamt sind etwa 3 Million Menschen von der Katastrophe betroffen. Nach Angaben des Deutschen Roten Kreuzes wurden die ersten Cholera-Fälle gemeldet. Das Auswärtige Amt rät von Reisen in die betroffenen Gebiete ab. / Quelle: crm

UNDIAGNOSED ENCEPHALITIS - INDIA (02): (GUJARAT) CHANDIPURA VIRUS CONFIRMED
****************************************************************************
A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>

Date: Sat 8 Aug 2010
Source: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India,
Diseases Outbreak Report of Last 3 days of All States [edited]
<http://idsp.nic.in/idsp/newreport/DOB/D ... report.jsp>


2 Children were taken to PHC [Primary Health Care unit] Chilakota
after vomiting. Disease symptoms were found and the children were
sent to CHC [Community Health Center] Limkheda for further treatment.
Next day they had convulsions with fever and foaming in their mouth
and died on the same day.

Serum samples of the 2 children were taken and sent to National
Institute of Virology (NIV) Pune. The result was Chandipura virus
positive for both samples.

Initial visit and investigation done by district level team, EMO
[emergency medical officer], DSI, QAMO, BHO Limkheda [various medical
and health officers] and MO PHC [medical officer, primary health
center] Chilakota with other health staff. 4 surveillance teams of
local health workers with 2 supervisors and MO is formed. Total
village population is covered in surveillance activities. Spraying
and fogging activities covered within 200 meters radius area around
the affected place. Dusting activities carried from house to house
within the region [to eliminate sandflies. - Mod.TY].

--
Communicated by:
Ronan Kelly
<ronankelly@comcast.net>

[ProMED thanks Ronan Kelly for calling in this official report and
the Chandipura virus infection diagnosis. It would be of interest to
know if the identification as Chandipura virus as the etiological
agent in these 2 cases was serological (IgM), virus isolation or by
PCR. Because Chandipura virus infections were considered relatively
benign prior to the reports of encephalitis coming out of India in
2004, it would be valuable to establish a repository of Chandipura
virus isolates at a WHO reference center for arboviruses so that
comparative genetic studies can be made of these recent Indian
isolates, ones made during the previous outbreak and the prototype virus.

A map showing Gujarat state in northwestern India can be accessed at
<http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_e ... _pol01.jpg>
A HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map of India can be accessed at
<http://healthmap.org/r/008x>. - Mod.TY]

MALARIA - INDIA (06): MUMBAI
****************************
A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>

Date: Thu 5 Aug 2010
Source: The Times of India, Press Trust of India (PTI) report [edited]
<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city ... 262679.cms>


Health officials said today [5 Aug 2010] 2 persons died of malaria
last night [in Mumbai], taking the death toll to 6 due to the disease
since August [2010]. The fresh victims of malaria include a
50-year-old man, a resident of Goregaon, and a 16-year-old boy, a
resident of Haji Ali, they said.

Altogether, over 45 deaths have been reported due to malaria since
January this year [2010], they said.

Over 200 persons suffering from malaria were admitted to the hospital
today [5 Aug 2010], they said, adding that total number of malaria
patients admitted to various city hospitals since August has reached to 988.

Even as the number of cases due to malaria keep rising per day and at
least one death is being reported due to the disease, Mumbai Mayor
Shraddha Jadhav today [5 Aug 2010] said BMC [Brihanmumbai Municipal
Corporation] has been successful in preventing malaria cases in the city.

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

[In the last report from 22 Jul 2010, ProMED-mail cited Mumbai city
officials reporting 8614 malaria cases in 14 days or more than 600
cases daily. In this comparison, 200 cases daily is a reduction.
However, the accuracy of the reporting are not known. - Mod.EP]

[Mumbai can be located on the HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map
of India at <http://healthmap.org/r/00BT>. - Sr.Tech.Ed.MJ]

MALARIA - INDIA (07): (JHARKHAND)
*********************************
A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>

Date: Thu 5 Aug 2010
Source: The Pioneer [edited]
<http://www.dailypioneer.com/273983/Pani ... Bermo.html>


Panic gripped the people of Bermo [Bokaro district] following reports
of cerebral malaria in the subdivision. Villages residing in the
Angawali, Central colony, Makoli, Phusro, and northern ravines of the
dense forest parallel to the Peterwar-Jainamore road are said to be
the worst affected.

The malaria control exercise of the health department is confined
merely to the distribution of anti-malaria medicine. The condition of
[several patients] is critical, sources added.

According to reports, in July [2010] several patients suffering from
malaria were admitted in CCL and DVC Hospital.

Dr Veni K of DVC Hospital, Bokaro thermal said that 2 or 3 patients
every day admitted to the DVC hospital for treatment are also
suffering from cerebral malaria.

Most of the patients brought from remote areas for treatment were
undiagnosed cases of cerebral malaria and were in advanced stage of
the disease. "The time factor for treatment of cerebral malaria is
most necessary. The sooner the treatment starts the better are the
chances of survival of patients," added Dr Veni K.

According to reports, 6 teams have been formed to fight out the
disease by the Health department; these teams are moving village to
village to identify the affected cases; however, in absence of ample
resources, including slides, the laboratory technicians have been
facing hardships.

The Medical Superintendent of district informed that all measures
were being taken to combat the disease in the Bermo area and
medicines have been distributed in large number.

The medical officer, however, advised the villagers to adopt
preventive measures and maintain cleanness and domestic precautions
to fight against the disease.

[Byline: Suresh Nikhar]

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

[Malaria is endemic in Jharkhand. A recent survey of malaria in
pregnant women (Hamer DH et al: Burden of malaria in pregnancy in
Jharkhand State, India. Malaria J 2009, 8: 210;
doi:10.1186/1475-2875-8-210; available at
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2744702/>) found that
1.8 percent (43/2382) had a positive diagnostic test for malaria
(53.5 percent _Plasmodium falciparum_, 37.2 percent _Plasmodium
vivax_, and 9.3 percent mixed infections). Among delivery unit
participants, 1.7 percent (12/717) had peripheral parasitaemia and
2.4 percent (17/712) had placental parasitaemia. One would expect
that a surge of cerebral malaria was followed by a surge in malaria
cases not presenting as cerebral malaria, but this is not mentioned
in the report. - Mod.EP]

[The HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map of India is available at
<http://healthmap.org/r/01-_>. - Sr.Tech.Ed.MJ]

CHIKUNGUNYA (24): INDIA (MAHARASHTRA)
*************************************
A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>

Date: Sat 7 Aug 2010
Source: Pune Mirror [edited]
<http://www.punemirror.in/index.aspx?pag ... &sectxslt=>


What is alarming is that this monsoon, Puneities are under attack
from 3 diereses -- swine flu, malaria and chikungunya. According to
Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) health department figures, 10
chikungunya cases have been recorded since January [2010] till date.

R R Pardeshi, Medical Officer of Health (MoH), said as of now, we are
concentrating on slum areas. "There is no record of death in the city
due to chikungunya," he said.

[Byline: Siddharth Gadkari and Neelambari Bhoge]

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

[India is endemic for chikungunya virus, and sporadic outbreaks have
occurred frequently. This report does not provide specific dates for
the occurrence of these cases, so one does not know if this is a
small focal outbreak or just cases scattered over time, although the
report does associate them with the monsoon season.

The absence of deaths among the 10 chikungunya virus infections is
not at all surprising, as the case fatality rate for this infection
is nearly zero, mortality only having been documented retrospectively
in the massive La Reunion Island outbreak in 2005-2006 (see
ProMED-mail archive number 20061014.2953).

A map of India showing the location of Pune in Maharashtra state can
be accessed at
<http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_e ... _pol01.jpg>
A HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map of India can be accessed at
<http://healthmap.org/promed/en?v=22.9,79.6,5>. - Mod.TY]

CHIKUNGUNYA (25): INDIA (KARNATAKA)
***********************************
A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>

Date: Sun 8 Aug 2010
Source: The Times of India, Times News Network (TNN) [edited]
<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city ... 276796.cms>


[Bijapur] district minister Murugesh Nirani has instructed health
department staff to be aware of the epidemic diseases affecting people of
late and take suitable measures to curb them. 67 suspected and 65 confirmed
cases of chikungunya have been detected in the district.

--
communicated by:
HealthMap Alerts via ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>

[Chikungunya virus continues to circulate in India, including in Karnataka
in May 2010 (see ProMED-mail archive no. 20100505.1462).

An interactive map showing the location of the Bijapur district in
Karnataka can be accessed at
<http://www.maplandia.com/india/karnataka/bijapur/>. Maps of India showing
the location of Karnataka state can be accessed at
<http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_e ... _pol01.jpg> and
the HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map at <http://healthmap.org/r/026N>.
- Mod.TY]

CHOLERA, DIARRHEA AND DYSENTERY UPDATE 2010 (14): ASIA
******************************************************
A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>

******
Cholera - India (Maharashtra)
Date: Tue 27 Jul 2010
Source: DNA India [edited]
<http://www.dnaindia.com/health/report_c ... ck_1415541>


A cholera-like epidemic is widely spreading in Bhingar and the adjoining
camp areas in Ahmednagar and about 500 people have fallen sick with it,
district civil hospital sources have said. Contaminated water supply and
lack of cleanliness are said to have caused the epidemic.

The epidemic has claimed one life at Boot hospital, a 52 year old man.
About 50 patients are being treated in the district civil hospital and a
special cell has been opened there. 30 patients are from Bhingar.

Many patients are getting treatment at Cantonment hospital and in private
hospitals. Cantonment hospital has a capacity of about 25 patients but
actually 35-40 patients are undergoing treatment.

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

[The state of Maharashtra can be located on the HealthMap/ProMED-mail
interactive map of India at <http://healthmap.org/r/026Q>. - Sr.Tech.Ed.MJ]

DENGUE/DHF UPDATE 2010 (41)
***************************
A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>

In this update:
Asia
[1] India (Maharashtra)
[2] India (Delhi)

******
[1] India (Maharashtra)
Date: Sat 7 Aug 2010
Source: Pune Mirror [edited]
<http://www.punemirror.in/index.aspx?pag ... &sectxslt=>


According to Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) health department figures, 59
dengue cases have been recorded since January [2010] till date. R R
Pardeshi, medical officer of health (MoH), said as of now, they are
concentrating on slum areas.

[byline: Siddharth Gadkari and Neelambari Bhoge]

--
communicated by:
HealthMap Alert via ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>

[No dates are given for the occurrence of these cases. Since dengue is
endemic in India, one can not determine if this report is of a focal
outbreak or sporadic, scattered cases, although mention is made of
increased risk during the monsoon season.

The 8 Aug 20120 edition of the Hindustan Times
(<http://www.hindustantimes.com/Three-die ... 83721.aspx>)
reported that an 18 year old boy had died of DHF and 4 dengue cases had
been hospitalized in Mumbai on 6-7 Aug 2010.

A map showing the Indian states can be accessed at
<http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/india.html>. A HealthMap/ProMED-mail
interactive map of India can be accessed at
<http://healthmap.org/promed/en?v=22.9,79.6,5>. - Mod.TY]

******
[2] India (Delhi)
Date: Sun 8 Aug 2010
Source: The Times of India
<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city ... 273233.cms>


Delhi reported 10 new cases of dengue on Saturday [7 Aug 2010], taking the
total number of people affected by the mosquitoborne disease in the city to
107 this year [2010], an official said. "No deaths were reported," said
Municipal Corporation of Delhi's chief medical officer NK Yadav.

--
communicated by:
HealthMap Alerts via ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>

JAPANESE ENCEPHALITIS AND OTHER - INDIA (11): (UTTAR PRADESH)
*************************************************************
A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>

Date: Wed 11 Aug 2010
Source: Yahoo News, Press Trust of India (PTI) report [edited]
<http://in.news.yahoo.com/20/20100811/14 ... o-chi.html>


Japanese encephalitis [JE] has claimed the lives of 2 children [in
Gorakhpur], taking the toll in the viral infection in the district to 149
this year [2010], a health official said today [11 Aug 2010]. Over 100
people suffering from acute encephalitis syndrome are being treated at
various hospitals in Gorakhpur division [Uttar Pradesh (UP)], additional
director, Health, UK Srivastava said. These include patients from Bihar
[state] and Nepal also, he said. 29 districts of eastern UP, some parts of
Bihar and neighbouring Nepal have been hit hard by the virus.

Though the water borne encephalitis is caused due to consumption of
contaminated water in which the enterovirus develops, JE is [transmitted]
by mosquito bite. Pigs and birds are host and carriers of the JE virus.

--
communicated by:
HealthMap Alerts via ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>

[As in previous reports from Gorakhpur, both JE virus encephalitis and an
unspecified acute encephalitis syndrome are mentioned. In the report above,
149 encephalitis cases are attributed to JE virus infection. It is not
clear if the more than 100 cases of acute encephalitis syndrome are
included in that number, or are in addition to the 149 JE virus cases.
Enteroviruses are mentioned, but not explicitly as etiological agents in
the cases mentioned. Specific enteroviruses were not mentioned. Further
information on the etiological agents involved in the acute encephalitis
syndrome cases would be of interest.

An interactive map showing the region where these cases occurred in
northern India can be accessed at
<http://www.maplandia.com/india/uttar-pradesh/gorakhpur/>. A map showing
the locations of the Indian states can be accessed at
<http://www.indianorphanages.net/images/ ... al-map.gif>. The
HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map of India is available at
<http://healthmap.org/r/02lp>. - Mod.TY]

CHOLERA, DIARRHEA AND DYSENTERY UPDATE 2010 (15): PAKISTAN
**********************************************************
A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>

Date: Sat 14 Aug 2010
Source: Agence France-Presse [edited]
<http://nz.news.yahoo.com/a/-/world/7762 ... an-floods/>


Pakistan's prime minister, Yousuf Raza Gilani, said on Sat 14 Aug 2010 that
20 million people had been affected by the worst floods in the country's
history as the United Nations confirmed the 1st cholera case.

Independence day celebrations were cancelled as floods continued to bring
misery to millions and aid agencies warned of a "second wave" of deaths
from disease.

"The floods affected some 20 million people, destroyed standing crops and
food storages worth billions of dollars, causing colossal loss to national
economy," Gilani said in a televised address to the nation.

UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, was due to arrive in Pakistan on Sunday
[15 Aug 2010] to discuss the relief effort and visit flood-hit areas.

"Outbreak of epidemics in the flood-hit areas is a serious threat, which
can further compound the already grave situation," Gilani added, as the UN
confirmed the country's 1st cholera case in Mingora, the main town in the
north western district of Swat.

Maurizio Giuliano, spokesman for the UN Office for Humanitarian Affairs,
said at least 36 000 people were reportedly suffering from acute watery
diarrhea (AWD). "We're not suggesting that everyone who has acute watery
diarrhea has cholera, but cholera is certainly a concern and that's why
we're stepping up our efforts to treat cholera," he said.

Arif Mehmood, Pakistan's chief meteorological official, said no new wave of
flooding was expected to hit any river in the next couple of days.
Charities said relief for those affected by the worst natural disaster in
Pakistan's history was lagging far behind what was needed.

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

[It was inevitable that _Vibrio cholerae_ infection would be found in the
aftermath of the horrendous flooding in western Pakistan. How many of the
36 000 cases of AWD is cholera is not clear but it is not just one. - Mod.LL

The interactive HealthMap/ProMED map for Pakistan is available at
<http://healthmap.org/r/02BJ> - CopyEd.EJP]

Indien - Malaria
16.08.2010

Mumbai gilt mit ca. 12.400 Erkrankungen mittlerweile als die Malaria-Hochburg des Bundesstaates Maharashtra (22.159 bestätigte Fälle). 47 % der gemeldeten Fälle kamen aus der 14-Millionen-Stadt an der Westküste. Alleine in den ersten beiden Juliwochen traten fast 9.000 Fälle auf. Bis Mitte August wird ein Anstieg von 55% gegenüber dem Vorjahr gemeldet. Bisher gab es offiziell 31 Tote. Betroffen sind hauptsächlich die Bewohner der Slum-Gebiete und Bauarbeiter auf den über 100 Baustellen in der Innenstadt. Auch aus fünf Distrikten in Karnataka werden vermehrte Malaria-Fälle gemeldet. Die hohen Zahlen sind für diese Gegend relativ untypisch. Im südindischen Bundesstaat Kerala, wo Malaria noch vor einigen Jahren als eradiziert galt, wurden in der ersten Jahreshälfte 2010 bisher 82 Erkrankungen (im Vergleich zu 154 im gesamten Jahr 2009) gemeldet. Die meisten der Fälle kamen bei Wanderarbeitern aus den nördlichen Bundesstaaten (Orissa, Bihar, West Bengal) vor. Dringend Mückenschutz beachten, ggf. Chemoprophylaxe bzw. standby-Therapie. / Quelle: crm
______________________

Pakistan - Überschwemmungen
16.08.2010

Der Monsun hat im Norden des Landes zu den schwersten Überschwemmungen seit Jahren geführt. Die UNO hat den ersten Cholera-Fall bestätigt. Darüber hinaus wird in den anhaltenden Regenfällen der Ausbruch anderer gastrointestinaler Infektionen und von Atemwegserkrankungen erwartet. Das Auswärtige Amt rät von Reisen in die betroffenen Gebiete ab. / Quelle: crm

DENGUE/DHF UPDATE 2010 (42)
***************************
A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>

In this update:
Asia
[1] India (Maharashtra)
[2] India (Delhi)

******
[1] India (Maharashtra)
Date: Sat 7 Aug 2010
Source: Pune Mirror [edited]
<http://www.punemirror.in/index.aspx?pag ... &sectxslt=>


As per Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) [Maharashtra state] health
department figures, 59 dengue cases have been recorded since January
[2010] till date. In 2006 there were 78 dengue cases, in 2007 90, in
2008 65, and in 2009 179.

[Byline: Siddharth Gadkari, Neelambari Bhoge]

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

[A map showing the Indian states can be accessed at
<http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_e ... _pol01.jpg>.
A HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map of India showing the location
of Pune can be accessed at
<http://healthmap.org/r/02KT>. - Mod.TY]

******
[2] India (Delhi)
Date: Sat 14 Aug 2010
Source: India News Post, Indo Asian News Service (IANS) report [edited]
<http://www.indianewspost.com/health/300 ... delhi.html>


A total of 215 people have been infected by the mosquito-borne
disease in the city this year [2010]. "21 more people have tested
positive for dengue in Delhi though no one died today (Sat 14 Aug
2010)," Municipal Corporation of Delhi's chief medical officer NK
Yadav told IANS. One person has died due to dengue this year [2010] in Delhi.

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

[A HealthMap/ProMED-interactive map of India showing the location of
Delhi can be accessed at
<http://healthmap.org/r/01Jf>. - Mod.TY]

CHOLERA, DIARRHEA AND DYSENTERY UPDATE 2010 (16)
************************************************
A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>

In this update:
Asia
[1] Cholera, possible - Pakistan (Sindh)
[1] Cholera - Pakistan (Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa)

******
[1] Cholera, possible - Pakistan (Sindh)
Date: Fri 13 Aug 2010
Source: Al Jazeera [edited]
<http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/ ... 72432.html>


Farhan Safdar is a volunteer working for Doctors Worldwide, the
British medical relief organization, in the affected of Nowshera in
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

His diary for Al Jazeera is posted below:
I've been in Pakistan 3 weeks and have been working with the Doctors
Worldwide team from a few days in to this humanitarian disaster.

If you ask me if anything has changed on the ground, I have to
respond with honesty and say that things are taking a turn for the
worse. The rain keeps on falling and the true magnitude of this
disaster is becoming clearer minute-by-minute.

Earlier, I was with a doctor from an international medical
organization. He confirmed that there are cases of cholera in Sindh
province and the reality is that if cholera has been found in Sindh
then it will of course be found in other parts of this broken and
devastated country.

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

[ProMED-mail awaits confirmation or not of the report of cholera
infection in the southeastern part of the flood-ridden country. - Mod.LL]

[Maps of Pakistan are available at
<http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_e ... l_2002.jpg> and
<http://healthmap.org/r/02S_>. - Sr.Tech.Ed.MJ]

******
[2] Cholera - Pakistan (Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa)
Date: Tue 17 Aug 2010
Source: Arirang (South Korea) [edited]
<http://www.arirang.co.kr/News/News_View ... category=2>


The WHO has asked Pakistan to investigate a reported case of cholera
in the northwest Swat Valley [Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa/Northwest Frontier
Province] amid fears that an epidemic could break out in its flood-hit regions.

The international health body says cholera, which is endemic in the
flood-affected country has a high chance of spreading rapidly after
floods and other disasters. WHO spokesman Paul Garwood said
international health rules require Pakistan to probe into the case
and report back to the organization.

If an epidemic were to occur the WHO says close to 140 000 cases of
cholera could sweep the country over the next 3 months.

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

[This posting does not repudiate the reported case, but rather
suggest more investigation of the case is needed. - Mod.LL]

CONJUNCTIVITIS - TURKEY
***********************************************
A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>


******
Turkey
Date: Wed 18 Aug 2010
Source: Daily News and Economic Review [edited]
<http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php? ... 2010-08-18>


The number of people who have turned up at doctors with complaints of
eye discharge caused by viral conjunctivitis has increased in
Istanbul compared to just a week ago. Many people have gone to
hospitals with complaints of viral conjunctivitis, officials said.
The rising number of infections has been seen in the Fatih, Samatya,
Bakirkoy, Zeytinburnu and Bahcelievler districts.

The virus that causes the infection can spread through the
respiratory tract and is deemed more dangerous in times of high
temperatures and humidity. "An outbreak of viral conjunctivitis is
observed once every 4-5 years," Dr. Cihan Unlucerci told daily
Hurriyet [News agency]. "The spread of the virus can be prohibited
almost 90 percent by sneezing in the right way, covering the mouth
with hands while sneezing." Unlucerci said such measures would
protect those who come in contact with infected people [but see comment below].

"Symptoms like bleariness of the eyes, watering of the eyes, pain in
the eyes, elevated sensitivity to light, bloated eyelids and waking
up with sealed-over eyelids will decrease after the 1st week," he
said. "The patient will be fully recovered in 3 weeks." The number of
infected people usually rises in autumn. Experts are surprised by the
high number of patients this summer [2010].

To prevent the spread of infection:
- Wash hands often with water and soap
- Don't touch or rub eyes
- Don't use common towels; clean them with water and detergent
- Use paper towels just once, then throw them away
- Limit pillowcases, glasses, makeup materials, eye drops and eye
ointment to personal use.

[Byline: Cigdem Isler]

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

[Conjunctivitis is an inflammation or infection of the thin layer
(conjunctiva) that lines the inside of the eyelid and covers the
white part of the eye. Inflammation can cause blood vessels in the
eye to become larger, and that can make the white of the eye look
pink or red. Thus, conjunctivitis is often called "pink eye" or "red
eye." Viral infection is the most common cause of conjunctivitis.

The infectious agent involved in the Turkish outbreak does not appear
to have been identified, but it is likely to one or more of the
adenoviruses and picornaviruses associated with mild respiratory
virus infections during the summer months. Information on the
identity of the infectious agent would be welcomed in due course.

The HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map of Turkey is available at
<http://healthmap.org/r/038k>

[Regarding the containment of viral conjunctivitis, "Sneezing into
the hands" is not the way to go. We preach sneezing or coughing into
the inside of the elbow is better if there is no tissue to sneeze
into. Every thing/one the hands touch will become contaminated. - Mod.DK]

DENGUE/DHF UPDATE 2010 (43)
***************************
A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>


******
India (Delhi)
Date: Mon 16 Aug 2010
Source: Times of India, Press Trust of India (PTI) report [edited]
<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city ... 320180.cms>


Dengue cases continue to rise in the city [Delhi] with 20 people
testing positive on Monday [16 Aug 2010] taking the count of those
affected by the disease to 254. "20 people tested positive for dengue
fever on Monday [16 Aug 2010]. With this, the total number of people
who tested positive for dengue since June [2010] has risen to 254,"
NK Yadav, MCD's [Municipal Corporation of Delhi] medical health officer, said.

After a spurt in dengue cases was reported in Jamia Nagar, Yadav said
the MCD has appointed an epidemiologist who will look after the area.

He also said that the number of hand-operated fogging machines has
been doubled especially in the Commonwealth Games village to curb the
dengue menace. "Fogging is effective for only 2 days. Dengue fever
can be prevented if mosquito breeding can be controlled," the official said.

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

[The number of dengue cases in Delhi continues to slowly rise.
Fogging is indeed a temporary control measure. Elimination of
breeding sites in water catchments provides longer-term control.

A HealthMap/ProMED-interactive map of India showing the location of
Delhi can be accessed at
<http://healthmap.org/r/01Jf>. - Mod.TY]