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13 deaths, over 40,000 infections reported at GMC Jammu due to rabies

With two deaths, 7,864 people get infected this year

Over 40,000 people have been reported infected with rabies at Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu in the last four years. Thirteen people have died of the infection in this period.

“Between 2019 and 2023, a total of 40,505 rabies infections and 13 deaths have been reported at GMC Jammu,” said Dr Rajeev K Gupta, Professor and Head of the Department of Community Medicine at Government Medical College Jammu.

According to him, 10,952 infections and 5 deaths were reported in 2019, and 6,314 infections were reported in the following year without any deaths at GMC Jammu. In the next year (2021), 6,201 infections and 3 deaths were reported, while in 2022, 9,174 infections and 3 deaths occurred.

With the highest number of 952 infections reported in September this year, a total of 7,864 people have been reported infected with the viral infection in 2023.

Regarding the month-wise breakdown of infections and deaths this year, 985 cases were reported in January, 941 in February, 925 in March, 815 in April, 882 in May, 843 in June, 823 in July, 698 in August, and 952 as of September. One death each was reported in July and September.

Reports indicated that rabies claims approximately 21,000 lives in the country annually and 59,000 deaths in 150 countries globally, with stray dogs being the main vectors of the infection. India has an estimated population of 30-60 million stray dogs.

According to Dr Raheel, who consults patients at the Anti-Rabies section of Government Medical College Jammu, most infections occur due to stray dog and cat bites, which, by and large, remain unvaccinated in Jammu District. Monkey, horse, sheep, goat, and rat bites also contribute to the infection, he said.

Dr Raheel also pointed out that a high percentage of rabies deaths occur in children under 15 years of age, as they often fail to report animal bites to their parents or healthcare experts on time.

Source : https://www.dailyexcelsior.com/13-deaths-over-40000-infections-reported-at-gmc-jammu-due-to-rabies

Uttarakhand: Dengue outbreak sweeps through Dehradun, prompting urgent action

The Raipur area of Dehradun has been engulfed by a concerning dengue fever outbreak, with reports indicating that it has become a major hotspot for the disease.
An alarming number of residents in every household within the Raipur area are grappling with dengue-related symptoms, and the situation has escalated to over 500 confirmed dengue cases in this locality alone.

This outbreak has already claimed the lives of 13 individuals in Dehradun.
According to the Health Department and Municipal Corporations, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has taken action by issuing stern directives to both departments.
Source: https://www.aninews.in/news/national/general-news/uttarakhand-dengue-outbreak-sweeps-through-dehradun-prompting-urgent-action20230910130433/

Dengue cases remain stubbornly high in Bengaluru, say doctors

Pediatricians report that 10% to 20% of dengue patients are now requiring hospitalization. Dr. Rajath Athreya, a pediatrician and member of the state’s Covid Technical Advisory Committee, notes that this includes admissions to the ICU.

In the South zone, which saw the highest number of cases in August, the BBMP (Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike) has implemented a schedule to ensure source reduction activities are carried out in all types of localities, not just slums.

Dengue cases, which reached their peak in July, have not shown a significant decrease in Bengaluru, according to doctors.

Pediatricians report that 10 per cent to 20 per cent of dengue patients are now requiring hospitalization. Dr. Rajath Athreya, a pediatrician and member of the state’s Covid Technical Advisory Committee, notes that this includes admissions to the ICU.

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/india/karnataka/bengaluru/dengue-cases-remain-stubbornly-high-in-bengaluru-say-doctors-2680118

Number of dengue cases in Kolkata has doubled in about a fortnight

The number of dengue cases in Kolkata has doubled in about a fortnight, figures shared by some officials of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation over the last month have shown.

There has been a corresponding rise in hospital admissions too, senior officials and doctors of private healthcare units in Kolkata said.

A KMC official said on Saturday that till the last count, about 1,400 dengue infections have been reported since January. KMC updates the number of dengue infections in the city every Thursday.

The Telegraph had reported earlier that about 700 dengue cases were reported till the second week of August.

Neither the KMC nor the state health department released any official data on the number of dengue infections, but some officials shared with The Telegraph the number of dengue infections on condition of anonymity. There is no official data on the number of people who have died of dengue, but several deaths from dengue have come to light.

KMC officials admitted on Saturday and Sunday that the numbers have seen a sharp rise in the last two weeks.

“We are going door-to-door telling people that they should not allow water to accumulate anywhere in their house. We are also detecting and destroying sites for mosquito breeding. We are also cleaning abandoned vacant plots as they turn into sites for mosquito breeding,” said a KMC official.

Source: https://www.telegraphindia.com/my-kolkata/news/number-of-dengue-cases-in-kolkata-has-doubled-in-about-a-fortnight/cid/1963583

Himachal Pradesh reports five deaths from 732 scrub typhus cases

As many as 732 persons tested positive for scrub typhus while five deaths due to disease have been reported in Himachal Pradesh so far this year.

The Health Department has braced up tackle scrub typhus a rickettsial disease effectively.

National Health Mission, Mission Director Sudesh Mokta informed that till now 5218 tests have been conducted in the state, out of which 723 people were found positive and 5 people died due to the disease.

“Keeping in mind the current situation, all the Chief Medical Officers and Senior Medical Superintendents of the state have been asked to ensure proper storage of medicines,” he said, adding that it has also been asked to conduct comprehensive information, education and communication activities along with appropriate management for prevention and treatment of scrub typhus.

A spokesperson of the Health Department said that scrub typhus is a seasonal zoonotic (animal borne disease), generally the number of patients with high fever increases during the rainy season.

Most cases of which occur during the rainy season, which coincides with hay cutting and apple season.

“This disease is spread by the bite of a flea (mite) infected with a special bacteria (Rickettsia). This bacteria enters the body through the skin and causes scrub typhus fever. If a person is suffering from fever along with pain and shivering in the joints or there are cramps, stiffness in the body or the body feels as if it is broken and also has lumps in the neck, under the arms and above the hips due to excessive infection, then immediately the person needs to consult the nearest doctor,” said the spokesperson.

The spokesperson urged the general public to cover their entire body, especially their legs, feet and arms while working in the fields and bushes.

Source: https://www.thestatesman.com/india/himachal-pradesh-reports-five-deaths-from-732-scrub-typhus-cases-1503217402.html

Scores of sea lions die from bird flu in Argentina

Hundreds of sea lions were reported dead in Peru earlier in 2023, as the virus ravaged bird populations across South America. PHOTO: REUTERS

Scores of sea lions have died from bird flu in Argentina, officials said on Tuesday, as an unprecedented global outbreak continues to infect mammals, raising fears it could spread more easily among humans.

Animal health authorities have recently reported dead sea lions in several locations along Argentina’s extensive Atlantic coast, from just south of the capital Buenos Aires to Santa Cruz near the southern tip of the continent.

Another “50 dead specimens have been counted… with symptoms compatible with avian influenza”, read a statement from a Patagonian environmental authority.

“The number of dead is rising. There is no veterinary treatment for these cases,” a local official told AFP on condition of anonymity.

The authorities have asked Argentinians to avoid beaches along the country’s roughly 5,000km coastline where cases have been reported.

Sea lions are marine mammals, like seals and walruses. Adult males can weigh about 300kg.

The H5N1 bird flu has typically been confined to seasonal outbreaks, but since 2021 cases have emerged year-round and across the globe and led to what experts say is the largest outbreak ever seen.

Hundreds of sea lions were reported dead in Peru earlier in 2023, as the virus ravaged bird populations across South America.

There is no treatment for bird flu, which spreads naturally between wild birds and can also infect domestic poultry.

Source: https://www.straitstimes.com/world/scores-of-sea-lions-die-from-bird-flu-in-argentina

Dengue cases cross 600 mark in Uttarakhand, Dehradun worst affected

According to the information received from the Health Department, Dehradun has the maximum number of four-hundred and eighteen (418) dengue patients while the toll in the entire state stands at six hundred (600)

Haridwar, Udham Singh Nagar and Dehradun districts of the state are the most affected by dengue. File (For Representational purpose only) | Photo Credit: ANI

After nature’s havoc in Uttarakhand, dengue cases are now creating fear among the people as the state has crossed six hundred cases of the mosquito-borne viral disease.

Haridwar, Udham Singh Nagar and Dehradun districts of the state are the most affected by dengue. In the aftermath of recent heavy monsoon floods that inundated parts of Uttarakhand, health officials are grappling with a significant surge in dengue cases.

Dengue (break-bone fever) is a viral infection that spreads from mosquitoes to people.Waterlogging in areas due to incessant rains has caused a preferable environment for Aedes mosquitoes to breed. These mosquitoes are responsible for transmitting dengue, chikungunya, and Zika viruses.

Source : https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/dengue-cases-cross-600-mark-in-uttarakhand-dehradun-worst-affected/article67247352.ece

China Grapples With Rapid Surge In Monkeypox Cases As WHO Urges Swift Action

The most recent data from WHO highlights China’s emergence as a major concern. In the last three months alone, China has documented 315 confirmed mpox cases.

In recent months, China has been grappling with a surge in cases of mpox, a disease previously known as monkeypox, earning the unenviable title of the world’s fastest-growing outbreak, according to a recent report by the World Health Organization (WHO). The agency is urging swift action from China to curb the spread of the disease.

While parts of the Americas and Europe have managed to rein in the mpox outbreak, Asia has become a new hotspot for the disease. The origins of this outbreak can be traced back to mid-2022. Countries such as Japan, South Korea, and Thailand experienced sporadic cases last year. However, this year has witnessed a notable upswing, with these nations reporting double-digit cases on a weekly basis.

WHO suggests China is a major concern

The most recent data from WHO highlights China’s emergence as a major concern. In the last three months alone, China has documented 315 confirmed mpox cases. The accuracy of these numbers is challenged by inconsistencies in reporting from the Chinese government, making it challenging to fully comprehend the true scale of the outbreak within the country.

In efforts to contain mpox, various nations have employed different strategies. While the disease is less contagious than Covid-19, its impact has been felt globally, affecting thousands. One key factor in controlling mpox has been proactive measures like vaccination. However, in China, questions have arisen about the efficacy of the government’s actions in tackling the outbreak, as some experts argue that more could be done.

According to a report from South China Morning Post, Hong Kong, too, has witnessed a surge in mpox cases, believed to be a delayed result of the relaxation of Covid-19 travel restrictions. Experts caution that this trend might lead to more infections spilling over from mainland China, which has recently seen a significant rise in cases. While the overall threat to the general population remains relatively low, concerns are arising over the necessity of hospital isolation for mpox patients, especially those with mild symptoms.

Source: https://www.republicworld.com/world-news/rest-of-the-world-news/china-grapples-with-rapid-surge-in-monkeypox-cases-as-who-urges-swift-action-articleshow.html

Florida officials report five deaths from ‘flesh-eating’ bacteria in Tampa Bay since January

Vibrio vulnificus infections are rare but can cause severe skin breakdown and ulcers

Five people are confirmed dead in the Tampa Bay area because of a flesh-eating bacterium known to lurk at beaches, Florida officials reported.

According to Florida Health, the vibrio vulnificus bacterium’s natural habitat is in warm, brackish seawater because it requires salt to live. The bacteria typically grow more quickly in warmer months.

Infections are rare, but health officials say those with open wounds, cuts or scrapes should stay out of the water.

Five people have died this year from reported bacterial infections, including two in Hilsborough County and one each in Pasco, Polk and Sarasota counties. There have been 26 reported cases of vibrio vulnificus infections in Florida since January, officials said.

Vibriosis causes an estimated 80,000 illnesses and 100 deaths in the United States every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (BSIP/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

In 2022, there were 74 total cases and 17 deaths. Those numbers were abnormally high that year because Hurricane Ian spilled sewage into the ocean, increasing bacteria levels.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), some Vibrio vulnificus infections lead to necrotizing fasciitis, a severe infection in which the flesh around an open wound dies. Necrotizing fasciitis can be caused by more than one type of bacteria.

People with open wounds, cuts or scratches can be exposed to the bacterium through direct contact with the mixture of fresh and seawater.

Vibrio vulnificus can cause an infection of the skin which may lead to skin breakdown and ulcers.

Five people in the Tampa Bay area have died from confirmed vibrio vulnificus infections since January, Florida health officials said. (DANIEL SLIM/AFP via Getty Images)

While anyone can get a Vibrio vulnificus infection, the infections can be more severe for people with weakened immune systems.

The bacterium can invade the bloodstream, causing a severe life-threatening illness with symptoms including fever, chills, decreased blood pressure and blistering skin lesions.

It has the potential to cause severe illness or death; the CDC says about one in five people die sometimes within a day or two of becoming ill.

Vibrio vulnificus can also cause disease in people who eat raw or undercooked oysters and shellfish.

Source: https://www.foxnews.com/us/florida-officials-report-5-deaths-flesh-eating-bacteria-tampa-bay-january