Tweet
Monitoring current threats: ECDC Communicable Disease Threats Report (CDTR), week 38/2014
22 Sep 2014
The ECDC Communicable Disease Threats Report is a weekly bulletin intended for epidemiologists and health professionals in the area of communicable disease prevention and control. This issue covers the period 14?20 September 2014 and includes updates on:
Ebola virus disease ? West Africa
Since last week, the affected countries have reported 1 066 additional cases (80 in Guinea, 674 in Liberia, 312 in Sierra Leone) and 326 additional fatalities. The average case-fatality ratio is 49%. Since the beginning of the outbreak in December 2013, there have been 318 cases and 151 deaths among healthcare workers. The overall situation remains critical and the increasing number of healthcare workers that have been infected is a major cause for concern.
This is the largest ever documented outbreak of EVD in terms of numbers and geographical spread. It is currently affecting Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria. The outbreak has not yet reached its peak and is currently in a phase of rapid spread.
Outbreak of Enterovirus D68 ? USA
Since 10 September, the U.S. Ceners for Disease Control reported 58 additional laboratory-confirmed cases and that 10 new States were affected. In Canada, from 1 to 11 September 2014, laboratory tests confirmed 10 EV-D68 cases in Calgary, five in Edmonton and three in central and northern Alberta.
EV-D68 is a potential cause of respiratory tract infection mainly among children. However, it has been rarely reported worldwide and the number of cases is likely to be underestimated in the United States and Canada due to the absence of a mandatory surveillance system. This year, the magnitude of the outbreak in United States is higher than in previous years and the risk of its extension, including to the EU, remains possible.
Chikungunya outbreak - The Americas, 2013-2014
The first two autochthonous cases were reported in Brazil, close to the border with French Guiana. In addition, the Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance (MSPAS) in Guatemala confirmed the first eight autochthonous cases in the country. The number of reported cases of chikungunya infections has risen in most of the affected areas.
An outbreak of chikungunya virus infection has been ongoing in the Caribbean since December 2013. The outbreak has spread to North, Central and South America. There have been more than 700 000 probable and confirmed cases in the region, including 113 fatalities so far. Several EU countries are reporting imported cases from the affected areas.
Read the full Communicable disease threats report week 38/2014.
See previous CDTRs
22 Sep 2014
The ECDC Communicable Disease Threats Report is a weekly bulletin intended for epidemiologists and health professionals in the area of communicable disease prevention and control. This issue covers the period 14?20 September 2014 and includes updates on:
Ebola virus disease ? West Africa
Since last week, the affected countries have reported 1 066 additional cases (80 in Guinea, 674 in Liberia, 312 in Sierra Leone) and 326 additional fatalities. The average case-fatality ratio is 49%. Since the beginning of the outbreak in December 2013, there have been 318 cases and 151 deaths among healthcare workers. The overall situation remains critical and the increasing number of healthcare workers that have been infected is a major cause for concern.
This is the largest ever documented outbreak of EVD in terms of numbers and geographical spread. It is currently affecting Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria. The outbreak has not yet reached its peak and is currently in a phase of rapid spread.
Outbreak of Enterovirus D68 ? USA
Since 10 September, the U.S. Ceners for Disease Control reported 58 additional laboratory-confirmed cases and that 10 new States were affected. In Canada, from 1 to 11 September 2014, laboratory tests confirmed 10 EV-D68 cases in Calgary, five in Edmonton and three in central and northern Alberta.
EV-D68 is a potential cause of respiratory tract infection mainly among children. However, it has been rarely reported worldwide and the number of cases is likely to be underestimated in the United States and Canada due to the absence of a mandatory surveillance system. This year, the magnitude of the outbreak in United States is higher than in previous years and the risk of its extension, including to the EU, remains possible.
Chikungunya outbreak - The Americas, 2013-2014
The first two autochthonous cases were reported in Brazil, close to the border with French Guiana. In addition, the Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance (MSPAS) in Guatemala confirmed the first eight autochthonous cases in the country. The number of reported cases of chikungunya infections has risen in most of the affected areas.
An outbreak of chikungunya virus infection has been ongoing in the Caribbean since December 2013. The outbreak has spread to North, Central and South America. There have been more than 700 000 probable and confirmed cases in the region, including 113 fatalities so far. Several EU countries are reporting imported cases from the affected areas.
Read the full Communicable disease threats report week 38/2014.
See previous CDTRs
