Zoonotic Infections News

Leprosy, also known as Hansen’s disease, is a chronic bacterial infection caused by Mycobacterium leprae, an obligate intracellular parasite. Although an ancient disease, leprosy continues to be a major health problem in the developing countries of Africa, Asia and Latin America. Several million people worldwide are permanently disabled by Hansen’s disease. Although 95% of the global total of new cases were reported from 14 countries in 2013 (Bangladesh, Brazil, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Madagascar, Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Tanzania), 59% were from India alone. In these countries, infected humans are the only known natural reservoir, and M. leprae are thought to spread person-to-person following long-term, close contact, usually with an infected member of the household who is excreting enormous numbers of leprosy bacilli in their nasal secretions. Nonetheless, only 5% of the world’s population are naturally susceptible to infection with M. leprae.

The CDC has announced that seven outbreaks of Salmonella affecting 324 people across 35 states have been linked to contact with live poultry in backyard flocks.

WHO has announced an outbreak of Lassa fever in Nigeria, with 273 suspected cases and 149 deaths reported from August 2015 to May 17.

Using tweezers was the most effective technique to remove ticks when compared with three commercial removal devices, according to published study results.

Alpacas raised as hobby animals in Qatar tested positive last year for Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus, or MERS-CoV — the first livestock outside of dromedary camels found to be infected with the virus that causes deadly MERS in humans, according to a report.

At least 38 suspected cases of Lassa fever and 15 deaths have been identified in Liberia since January, according to WHO.

Data from a 2013 outbreak of monkeypox virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo indicated more frequent community and familial transmission than previously reported.

Investigators for the CDC and the Alaska Division of Public Health discovered that a patient living in a remote area of Alaska was infected with a novel species of orthopoxvirus.

Investigators reported that a woman in rural China who was infected with rabies while pregnant and did not receive post-exposure prophylaxis, or PEP, later gave birth to a healthy boy before she died.

Four multistate Salmonella outbreaks in the United States have been linked to small turtles or their environments, according to WHO.