Health updates at Metco: April 2020

Friday 24 April 2020

Measles – Mexico

Mexico is experiencing a measles outbreak. Between 1 January and 2 April 2020, 1,364 probable¹cases of measles were reported, of which 124 were laboratory confirmed, 991 were discarded and 328 remain under investigation. The age of the confirmed measles cases ranged from three months to 68 years (median=20 years), and 59% were male. Analysis conducted by the National Reference Laboratory (InDRE) identified the genotype D8 (similar to other countries in the Region), linage MVs/GirSomnath.IND/42.16/ for 17 of the confirmed cases.

Of the 124 confirmed cases, 105 were in Mexico City, 18 in Mexico State, and one in Campeche State; the following is a summary of the epidemiological situation in each:

Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow.

www.who.int.2508070001-01-01 00:00:00Z

Thursday 23 April 2020

Ebola virus disease – Democratic Republic of the Congo

From 15 to 21 April 2020, three new confirmed cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD) were reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, all from Beni Health Zone in North Kivu Province (Figure 1).

Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow.

www.who.int.2507950001-01-01 00:00:00Z

Wednesday 22 April 2020

Yellow fever – Ethiopia

On 3 March 2020, the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI) reported three suspected yellow fever cases in Enor Ener Woreda, Gurage zone, SNNPR. The three reported cases were members of the same household (father, mother and son) located in a rural kebele. Two of three samples tested positive at national level by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and were subsequently confirmed positive by plaque reduction neutralization testing (PRNT) at the regional reference laboratory, Uganda Viral Research Institute (UVRI) on 28 March 2020.

In response to the positive RT-PCR results, the EPHI and Ministry of Health performed an in-depth investigation and response, supported by partners including WHO.

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www.who.int.2507720001-01-01 00:00:00Z

Saturday 18 April 2020

Yellow fever – Republic of South Sudan

On 3 March 2020, a WHO supported cross-border rapid response investigation identified two presumptive positive cases of yellow fever in Kajo Keji county, Central Equatoria State, South Sudan. The initial Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing conducted at the National Public Health Laboratory in Juba, South Sudan tuned out negative. However, following further testing, both the cases were confirmed positive for yellow fever by plaque reduction neutralization testing (PRNT) at the regional reference laboratory, Uganda Viral Research Institute (UVRI) on 28 March.

The investigation was mounted in response to the recently declared outbreak in bordering Moyo district, Uganda. During the investigation, the team collected 41 blood samples from five villages which were in close proximity to the bordering Moyo district, Uganda. Of the 41 individuals whose samples were collected, nine (22%) had history of fever, but none had history of jaundice. The individuals represented a spectrum of occupations typical for the area (farming, forestry, homemaker, soldier). Most of the individuals investigated were between 20-45 years of age, and 18 (44%) of these individuals were female.

Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow.

www.who.int.2507130001-01-01 00:00:00Z

Thursday 16 April 2020

Ebola virus disease – Democratic Republic of the Congo

From 10 to 14 April 2020, three new confirmed cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD) were reported in the ongoing outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Figure 1).

Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow.

www.who.int.2507340001-01-01 00:00:00Z

Friday 10 April 2020

Yellow fever – Republic of South Sudan

On 3 March 2020, the Ministry of Health of South Sudan reported two presumptive positive cases of yellow fever in Kajo Keni county, Central Equatoria State, South Sudan. Both the cases were subsequently confirmed positive by plaque reduction neutralization testing (PRNT) at the regional reference laboratory, Uganda Viral Research Institute (UVRI) on 28 March.

The cases were identified through a cross-border rapid response team investigation mounted in response to the recently declared outbreak in bordering Moyo district, Uganda. During the investigation, the team collected 41 blood samples from five villages which were in close proximity to the bordering Moyo district, Uganda. Of the 41 individuals whose samples were collected, nine (22%) had history of fever, but none had history of jaundice. The individuals represented a spectrum of occupations typical for the area (farming, forestry, homemaker, soldier). Most of the individuals investigated were between 20-45 years of age, and 18 (44%) of these individuals were female.

Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow.

www.who.int.2507130001-01-01 00:00:00Z

Thursday 9 April 2020

Ebola virus disease – Democratic Republic of the Congo

No new cases have been reported in the ongoing Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo since 17 February 2020 (Figure 1).

Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow.

www.who.int.2507030001-01-01 00:00:00Z

Wednesday 8 April 2020

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) – The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

From 1 through 29 February 2020, the National IHR Focal Point of Saudi Arabia reported 18 additional cases of MERS-CoV infection, including five associated deaths. The cases were reported from Riyadh (seven cases), Hafer Albatin (two cases), Najran (two cases), Eastern (two cases), Aljouf (one case), Makkah (one case), Hail (one case), Taif (one case) and Jeddah (one case) regions. Among reported cases of MERS-CoV infection, majority (16 cases) were male, and only two cases were female. The age of reported cases ranged from 34 to 81 years. No cases were reported among healthcare workers.

The link below provides details of the 18 reported cases.

Posted from: this blog via Microsoft Flow.

www.who.int.2506980001-01-01 00:00:00Z

Coronavirus Worldwide Graphs / Stats

Currently Infected
1,057,415
Mild Condition
1,009,416 (95%)
Serious or Critical
47,999 (5%)

Cases with Outcome
392,834
Recovered/Discharged
309,358 (79%)
Deaths
83,476 (21%)

The charts below show daily and total case trends. Data is added, and charts updated, after the close of the day (GMT+0).

Total Cases (worldwide)

See also: Data Table by Country

"Total Cases" = total cumulative count (1,450,249). This figure therefore includes deaths and recovered or discharged patients (cases with an outcome).

Cases: 64,438

Source: Worldometer - www.worldometers.info

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Daily Cases (worldwide)

The spike observed on Feb. 12 is the result, for the most part, of a change in diagnosis classification for which 13,332 clinically (rather than laboratory) confirmed cases were all reported as new cases on Feb. 12, even though they were diagnosed in the preceding days and weeks. We will distribute these cases over the correct period once the analysis being conducted by the WHO with China's NHC is completed. See also: How to interpret the 15,152 (+600%) surge in new cases of February 12

Source: Worldometer - www.worldometers.info

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Growth Factor of Daily New Cases

Growth factor is the factor by which a quantity multiplies itself over time. The formula used is every day's new cases / new cases on the previous day. For example, a quantity growing by 7% every period (in this case daily) has a growth factor of 1.07.

A growth factor above 1 indicates an increase, whereas one which remains between 0 and 1 it is a sign of decline, with the quantity eventually becoming zero, whereas a growth factor constantly above 1 could signal exponential growth