Emerging Infectious Diseases back issues from May 2008:
Scale-up of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis laboratory services, Peru.(PERSPECTIVE)
May 01, 2008; ... Over the past 10 years, the Peruvian National Tuberculosis (TB) Program, the National Reference Laboratory (NRL), Socios en Salud, and US partners have worked to strengthen the national TB laboratory network to support treatment of multidrug-resistant TB. We review key lessons of this ...
Pandemic influenza planning in the united states from a health disparities perspective.(PERSPECTIVE)
May 01, 2008; ... We explored how different socioeconomic and racial/ ethnic groups in the United States might fare in an influenza pandemic on the basis of social factors that shape exposure, vulnerability to influenza virus, and timeliness and adequacy of treatment. We discuss policies that might ...
Declining artesunate-mefloquine efficacy against falciparum malaria on the Cambodia--Thailand border.(SYNOPSIS)
May 01, 2008; ... Resistance to many antimalaria drugs developed on the Cambodia-Thailand border long before developing elsewhere. Because antimalaria resistance is now a global problem, artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) are the first-line therapies in most malaria-endemic countries. However, ...
Increasing hospitalizations and general practice prescriptions for community-onset staphylococcal disease, England.(RESEARCH)
May 01, 2008; ... Rates of hospital-acquired staphylococcal infection increased throughout the 1990s; however, information is limited on trends in community-onset staphylococcal disease in the United Kingdom. We used Hospital Episode Statistics to describe trends in hospital admissions for community-onset ...
Increasing hospital admissions for pneumonia, England.(RESEARCH)
May 01, 2008; ... Pneumonia is an important cause of illness and death in England. To describe trends in pneumonia hospitalizations, we extracted information on all episodes of pneumonia that occurred from April 1997 through March 2005 recorded in the Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) database by searching ...
Increasing incidence of listeriosis in France and other European countries.(RESEARCH)
May 01, 2008; ... From 1999 through 2005, the incidence of listeriosis in France declined from 4.5 to 3.5 cases/million persons. In 2006, it increased to 4.7 cases/million persons. Extensive epidemiologic investigations of clusters in France have ruled out the occurrence of large foodborne disease ...
Transmission of avian influenza virus (H3N2) to dogs.
May 01, 2008; ... In South Korea, where avian influenza virus subtypes H3N2, H5N1, H6N1, and H9N2 circulate or have been detected, 3 genetically similar canine influenza virus (H3N2) strains of avian origin (A/canine/Korea/01/2007, A/canine/ Korea/02/2007, and A/canine/Korea/03/2007) were isolated from dogs ...
Efficacy of aerial spraying of mosquito adulticide in reducing incidence of West Nile Virus, California, 2005.(RESEARCH)
May 01, 2008; ... Epidemic transmission of West Nile virus (WNV) in Sacramento County, California, in 2005 prompted aerial application of pyrethrin, a mosquito adulticide, over a large urban area. Statistical analyses of geographic information system datasets indicated that adulticiding reduced the number ...
Cryptococcus neoformans strains and infection in apparently immunocompetent patients, China.(RESEARCH)
May 01, 2008; ... To determine the population structure of the cryptococcosis agents in China, we analyzed the genotype of 120 Cryptococcus neoformans and 9 Cryptococcus gattii strains isolated from 1980 through 2006 from cryptococcosis patients residing in 16 provinces of mainland China. A total of 71% ...
Risk factors for sporadic shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coil infections in children, Argentina (1).(RESEARCH)(Clinical report)
May 01, 2008; ... We evaluated risk factors for sporadic Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coil (STEC) infection among children in Argentina. We conducted a prospective case-control study in 2 sites and enrolled 150 case-patients and 299 controls. The median age of case-patients was 1.8 years; 58% were ...
Invasive group A streptococcal disease in nursing homes, Minnesota, 1995-2006.(RESEARCH)
May 01, 2008; ... Nursing home residents are at high risk for invasive group A streptococcal (GAS) disease, and clusters of cases in nursing homes are common. To characterize the epidemiologic features of invasive GAS disease in nursing homes, we conducted active, statewide, population- and laboratory-based ...
Public response to community mitigation measures for pandemic iInfluenza.(Survey)
May 01, 2008; ... We report the results of a national survey conducted to help public health officials understand the public's response to community mitigation interventions for a severe outbreak of pandemic influenza. Survey results suggest that if community mitigation measures are instituted, most ...
Spread of Streptococcus suis sequence type 7, China.(DISPATCHES)
May 01, 2008; ... Streptococcus suis sequence type (ST) 7 has been spreading throughout China. To determine events associated with its emergence, we tested 114 isolates. In all 106 ST7 strains responsible for human outbreaks and sporadic infections, the tetracycline-resistance gene, tetM, was detected on ...
Morbillivirus and pilot whale deaths, Mediterranean Sea.(DISPATCHES)
May 01, 2008; ... An outbreak of a lethal morbillivirus infection of long-finned pilot whales occurred in the Mediterranean Sea from the end of October 2006 through April 2007. Sequence analysis of a 426-bp conserved fragment of the morbillivirus phosphoprotein gene indicates that the virus is more closely ...
Sandfly fever Sicilian virus, Algeria.(DISPATCHES)
May 01, 2008; ... To determine whether sandfly fever Sicilian virus (SFSV) is present in Algeria, we tested sandflies for phlebovirus RNA. A sequence closely related to that of SFSV was detected in a Phlebotomus ariasi sandfly. Of 60 human serum samples, 3 contained immunoglobulin G against SFSV. These data ...
Lakes as source of cholera outbreaks, Democratic Republic of Congo.(DISPATCHES)(Clinical report)
May 01, 2008; ... We studied the epidemiology of cholera in Katanga and Eastern Kasai, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, by compiling a database including all cases recorded from 2000 through 2005. Results show that lakes were the sources of outbreaks and demonstrate the inadequacy of the strategy used ...
Serologic evidence for novel poxvirus in endangered red colobus monkeys, Western Uganda.(DISPATCHES)
May 01, 2008; ... Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, Western blot, and virus neutralization assays indicated that red colobus monkeys in Kibale National Park, western Uganda, had antibodies to a virus that was similar, but not identical, to known orthopoxviruses. The presence of a novel poxvirus in this ...
Increase in West Nile neuroinvasive disease after Hurricane Katrina.(DISPATCHES)(Clinical report)
May 01, 2008; ... After Hurricane Katrina, the number of reported cases of West Nile neuroinvasive disease (WNND) sharply increased in the hurricane-affected regions of Louisiana and Mississippi. In 2006, a >2-fold increase in WNND incidence was observed in the hurricane-affected areas than in previous ...
Outbreak of Puumala virus infection, Sweden.(DISPATCHES)(Clinical report)
May 01, 2008; ... An unexpected and large outbreak of Puumala virus infection in Sweden resulted in 313 nephropathia epidemica patients/100,000 persons in Vasterbotten County during 2007. An increase in the rodent population, milder weather, and less snow cover probably contributed to the outbreak. ...
Human infections with Plasmodium knowlesi, the Philippines.(DISPATCHES)
May 01, 2008; ... Five human cases of infection with the simian malaria parasite Plasmodium knowlesi from Palawan, the Philippines, were confirmed by nested PCR. This study suggests that this zoonotic infection is found across a relatively wide area in Palawan and documents autochthonous cases in the ...
Naturally acquired human Plasmodium knowlesi infection, Singapore.(DISPATCHES)(Case study)
May 01, 2008; ... We report a case of naturally acquired Plasmodium knowlesi in Singapore, a malaria-free country. Diagnosis was confirmed by PCR with validated species-specific primers. In industrialized countries, free-ranging primates are a potential source of P. knowlesi human infection. P. knowlesi ...
Rickettsia slovaca in Dermacentor marginatus and tick-borne lymphadenopathy, Tuscany, Italy.(DISPATCHES)(Clinical report)
May 01, 2008; ... Of 263 patients in Tuscany, Italy, from whom ticks were removed during July 2005-May 2007, five showed signs of tick-borne lymphadenopathy. Of the ticks, 17 were Dermacentor marginatus; 6 (35.3%) of these were identified by sequence analysis as containing Rickettsia slovaca. Tick-borne ...
Fatal Rickettsia conorii subsp. israelensis infection, Israel.(DISPATCHES)(Case study)
May 01, 2008; ... Underdiagnosis of fatal spotted fever may be attributed to nonspecific clinical features and insensitive acute-phase serologic studies. We describe the importance of molecular and immunohistochemical methods in establishing the postmortem diagnosis of locally acquired Israeli spotted fever ...
Social support and response to AIDS and severe acute respiratory syndrome.(DISPATCHES)
May 01, 2008; ... Negative public reactions to emerging infectious diseases can adversely affect population health. We assessed whether social support was associated with knowledge of, worry about, and attitudes towards AIDS and severe acute respiratory syndrome. Our findings suggest that social support may ...
Acute encephalitis caused by intrafamilial transmission of enterovirus 71 in adult.(DISPATCHES)(Case study)
May 01, 2008; ... Enterovirus 71 (EV71) is a common cause of hand, foot, and mouth disease and sometimes causes severe neurologic complications, mainly in children. We report a case of adult-onset encephalitis caused by intrafamilial transmission of a subgenogroup C4 strain of EV71. This case elucidates the ...
Seasonal cholera from multiple small outbreaks, Rural Bangladesh.(DISPATCHES)
May 01, 2008; ... Clinical and environmental Vibrio cholerae organisms collected from February 2004 through April 2005 were systematically isolated from 2 rural Bangladeshi locales. Their genetic relatedness was evaluated at 5 loci that contained a variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR). The observed ...
New Saffold cardioviruses in 3 children, Canada.(DISPATCHES)(Clinical report)
May 01, 2008; ... In Canada, cardiovirus isolates related to Saffold virus were detected in nasopharyngeal aspirates from 3 children with respiratory symptoms. Polyprotein sequence of the Can112051-06 isolate had 91.2% aa identity with Saffold virus; however, EF and CD loops of the viral surface varied ...
Bacteremia caused by group G streptococci, Taiwan.(DISPATCHES)
May 01, 2008; ... A retrospective observational study in Taiwan, 19982004, identified 92 patients with group G streptococcal bacteremia; 86 had Streptococcus dysgalactiae subspecies equisimilis. The most common diagnosis was cellulitis (48 cases), followed by primary bacteremia (34 cases). Infection ...
Unique Cryptosporidium population in HIV-infected persons, Jamaica.(DISPATCHES)
May 01, 2008; ... A cryptosporidiosis survey showed the presence of Cryptosporidium hominis, C. parvum, C. canis, and C. felis in 25, 7, 1, and 1 HIV-positive persons from Jamaica, respectively; 1 person had both C. hominis and C. felis. Multilocus sequence typing indicated the presence of a homogeneous but ...
Human astrovirus gastroenteritis in children, Madagascar, 2004-2005.(DISPATCHES)
May 01, 2008; ... We report data regarding the molecular epidemiology of human astrovirus (HAstV) infections among children in Madagascar. In a 13-month study, 5 HAstV isolates were detected in fecal samples from 237 children (2.1%) by reverse transcription-PCR. Phylogenetic analysis showed the ...
The mystery of increased hospitalizations of elderly patients.(COMMENTARY)
May 01, 2008; ... This issue of Emerging Infectious Diseases contains 2 articles that report increases in England in the incidence of hospitalizations for specific diseases, one on pneumonias (1) and the other on community-acquired staphylococcal diseases (2). Both articles report increases in disease among ...
Extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis, Taiwan.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
May 01, 2008; ... To the Editor: In Taiwan, the incidence of tuberculosis (TB) was 74.1/100,000 population in 2004 and 72.7/100,000 in 2005; the mortality rate was 4.2/100,000 in 2004 and 4.3/100,000 in 2005 (I). Because of these high incidences and the increasing effects of multidrug-resistant TB (MDR TB), ...
Hantavirus outbreak, Germany, 2007.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
May 01, 2008; ... To the Editor: Hantavirus disease (for review see [1]) has been reportable in Germany since 2001, according to the Federal Infection Protection Act. In this country, Puumala virus (PUUV) causes most clinical hantavirus cases, although Dobrava-Belgrade virus and Tula virus also circulate ...
Chikungunya virus in Aedes albopictus, Italy.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
May 01, 2008; ... To the Editor: Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infection is a self-limiting illness characterized by fever, headache, weakness, rash, and arthralgia. Some patients show prolonged weakness or arthralgia lasting several months. In 2006, several Indian Ocean states and India experienced outbreaks ...
Persistent Human metapneumovirus infection in immunocompromised Child.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
May 01, 2008; ... To the Editor: Respiratory viral infections can be associated with a wide range of clinical manifestations from self-limiting upper respiratory tract diseases to pneumonia (1). However, in general, respiratory viral infections are more likely to progress to more severe diseases in ...
Leptospirosis in Taiwan, 2001-2006.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
May 01, 2008; ... To the Editor: Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease that has now been identified as an emerging infectious disease (1,2). It is caused by pathogenic spirochetes of the genus Leptospira. The natural hosts for Leptospira spp. come from a variety of species (2-4), of which the rodent is the ...
Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonenis: infection, Suriname.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
May 01, 2008; ... To the Editor: A 17-year-old man was seen at the Dermatology Service in Paramaribo (Suriname) with a skin condition that he had had since he was 5 years of age. The condition consisted of multiple cutaneous ulcerations, nodules, and fibrotic plaques disseminated on his face, limbs, and ...
Household transmission of carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
May 01, 2008; ... To the Editor: Since its first description in 2001, carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae has become a frequent nosocomial pathogen in the eastern United States (1). This bacterium was introduced into Israel in 2005 and is endemic now in several hospitals in the country ...
Alternatives to ciprofloxacin use for enteric fever, United Kingdom.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
May 01, 2008; ... To the Editor: In cases of typhoid and paratyphoid fever, it is often necessary to commence treatment before the results of laboratory sensitivity tests are available. It is therefore important to be aware of optional drug therapies available because some organisms may be resistant to key ...
Usutu Virus Sequences in Culex pipiens (Diptera: culicidae), Spain.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
May 01, 2008; ... To the Editor: Usutu virus (USUV) is an arbovirus and a member of the mosquito-borne cluster within the Flavivirus genus. USUV belongs to the Japanese encephalitis virus antigenic group, which is closely related to pathogens such as West Nile virus (WNV) (1). USUV has been ...
Rotavirus P[4]G2 in a vaccinated population, Brazil.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
May 01, 2008; ... To the Editor: Gurgel et al. provide an early examination of postmarketing surveillance data from Brazil, one of the first countries to implement routine childhood immunization with Rotarix vaccine (I). In a community with reported vaccination coverage of 50%, the P[4]G2 strain was ...
Erratum: vol. 14, no. 4.(LETTERS)(Correction notice)
May 01, 2008 ... In the article "Reassortant Avian Influenza Virus (H5N1) in Poultry, Nigeria, 2007" by I. Monne et al., the author affiliations contained errors. Isabella Monne, Tony M. Joannis, Alice Fusaro, Paola ...
Twelve Diseases That Changed Our World.(Book review)
May 01, 2008; ... Twelve Diseases That Changed Our World Irwin W. Sherman ASM Press, Washington, DC, USA, 2007 ISBN-10:978-1555814662 ISBN-13:978-1555814663 Pages: 219; Price: US $29.95 Twelve Diseases That Changed Our World offers engaging ...
Superantigens: Molecular Basis for Their Role in Human Diseases.(Book review)
May 01, 2008; ... Superantigens: Molecular Basis for Their Role in Human Diseases Malak Kotb and John D. Fraser, editors ASM Press, Washington, DC, USA, 2007 ISBN-10:1555814247 ISBN-13:978-1555814243 Pages: 263; Price: US $129.95 This ...
Animal Viruses: Molecular Biology.(Book review)
May 01, 2008; ... Animal Viruses: Molecular Biology Thomas C. Mettenleiter and Francisco Sobrino Caister Academic Press, Norfolk, UK, 2008 ISBN: 978-1904455226 Pages: 531; Price: US $300.00 In this multi-author work, Mettenleiter and Sobrino have ...
AIDS Therapy, 3rd Edition.(Book review)
May 01, 2008; ... AIDS Therapy, 3rd Edition Raphael Dolin, Henry Masur, and Michael S. Saag, editors Churchill Livingstone, New York, New York, USA, 2007 ISBN-10: 044306752X ISBN-13:978-04430675257 Pages: 1,204; Price US $189.00 Reviewing ...
Bedtime at Nana and Pop's House.(ANOTHER DIMENSION)(Poem)
May 01, 2008; ... <Pre> Bedtime at Nana and Pop's House Requires a hug and a kissFrom the two year oldIn Mickey Mouse pajamas,Climbing on my lap,Interrupting the crime-news on T.V.,Smack! a kiss on the left ear,Smack! a kiss on the right,"Eye, eye," the imp ...
"His Lyre is now attuned only to woe".(ABOUT THE COVER)(Cover story)
May 01, 2008; ... --Petrarch "Dreams and fables I fashion," wrote 18th-century Italian poet and librettist Pietro Metastasio, "and even while I sketch elaborate fables and dreams upon paper ... I so enter into them that I weep and am offended at ills I invented" (1). Metastasio might have been ...
Upcoming infectious disease activities.(NEWS & NOTES)(Calendar)
May 01, 2008 ... May 5-7, 2008 Eleventh Annual Conference on Vaccine Research Baltimore Marriott Waterfront Hotel Baltimore, MD, USA http://www.nfid.org/conferences/vaccine08 June 19-22, 2008 13th International Congress on Infectious ...