Technical Contributors to the June 2018 WHO meeting

Screening and treatment are effective ways to protect mothers and babies from the rising tide of syphilis. Arm yourself with the latest knowledge. …

Eurosurveillance editorial team

Eurosurveillance editorial team

Guilherme Almeida Elidio, Giovanny Vinícius Araújo de França, Flávia Caselli Pacheco, Marinélia Martins Ferreira, Jair dos Santos Pinheiro, Eliane Nogueira Campos, Bernardino Cláudio de Albuquerque, Rosemary Costa Pinto, Angela Desiree Carepa Santos da Silva, Priscila Leal e Leite, Greice Madeleine Ikeda do Carmo, Andre Luiz de Abreu, Cintia Paula Vieira Carrero, Marli Rocha de Abreu, Fabiano Marques Rosa, Cesar M. de Oliveira and Dirce Bellezi Guilhem

We report an ongoing measles outbreak in Manaus, Amazonas state, Brazil. As at 3 November 2018, 1,631 cases were confirmed corresponding to an incidence of 75.3 per 100,000 inhabitants; all five sanitary districts presented confirmed cases. Reintroduction of measles virus in Manaus is likely related to the current outbreak in Venezuela and due to recent decline in measles vaccine coverage. Given the current scenario, prevention and control measures should target individuals aged 15–29 years.…

An American patient bitten by a puppy while on a lengthy yoga tour in India became symptomatic 6 weeks later, after returning home; misdiagnoses delayed appropriate treatment. …

Eurosurveillance editorial team

ProMED Mail

African Swine Fever -- MongoliaInformation received on [and dated] 15 Jan 2019 from Dr Tumendemberel Dorjnyam, Director General, Chief Veterinary Officer, General Authority for Veterinary Services, Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry, Ulaanbaatar, MongoliaSummaryReport type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 9 Jan 2019Date of confirmation of the event: 10 Jan 2019Reason for notification: 1st occurrence of a listed disease in the countryManifestation of disease: clinical…

ProMED Mail

African Swine Fever -- BelgiumFrance will cull all wild boar in a zone along the Belgian border to try and avoid an outbreak of a deadly swine disease after new cases were discovered nearby in Belgium, the French agriculture ministry said on [Mon 14 Jan 2019]. France has been on alert for African swine fever [ASF] since the virus was confirmed in September [2018] among wild boar in Belgium, not far from the French border. ASF, harmless for humans, is often deadly for pigs, and outbreaks in Eastern Europe and China have…

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Anthrax -- MalawiThe anthrax death toll [in hippos] in Liwonde has risen to 48 from 45, and officials say the situation is now under control. Director of parks and wildlife Brighton Kunchedwa says that, although the death toll has risen by three, the situation on the ground is that everything is under control. "We have managed to contain the disease. Death is not a daily occurrence as was the case before. There has not been an outbreak of anthrax outside the Liwonde National Park," Kunchedwa said.Anthrax…

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Anthrax -- TanzaniaA total of 4 people died and more than 70 others were hospitalized as a result of anthrax or anthrax outbreaks in Momba district, southwestern Tanzania, a local health official said Thursday [10 Jan 2019]. Anno Maseta, a doctor in Momba district, confirmed that 78 Nzoka patients had been infected with the disease and that 4 of them had died. "So far, 4 people have died from bacterial disease; the remaining 74 are receiving treatment," he said.According to Juma Irando, District Commissioner…

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Rabies -- AustraliaA warning has been issued following a surge in people being bitten and scratched by flying foxes infected with a virus like rabies. A spike in the number of incidents in the Newcastle area has led New South Wales health experts to issue a bat attack alert. The extremely hot weather seen across Australia this is week is making the bats irritated and aggressive, the ABC reported.Authorities say the number of bites and scratches is unprecedented, with public health physician David Durrheim…

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Avian Influenza H5N1 -- IndiaInformation received on [and dated] 7 Jan 2019 from Mr. Tarun Shridhar, secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, New Delhi, IndiaSummaryReport type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 15 Dec 2018Date of confirmation of the event: 21 Dec 2018Reason for notification: recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: 5 Jun 2018Manifestation of disease: clinical diseaseCausal agent:…

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Bluetongue -- GermanyBluetongue disease has reached Rhineland-Palatinate. Bluetongue of the serotype BTV-8 has been found on a cattle holding in the district of Trier-Saarburg according to the LUA. The initial result has been confirmed today [11 Jan 2019] by the national reference lab, FLI.This is the 1st confirmation of the disease since May 2009. The disease affects sheep and cattle but is not known to infect humans. The whole of Rhineland Palatinate state will be declared a restricted area, and there will…

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Chronic Wasting Disease -- United StatesFourteen tissue samples from wild Iowa deer tested positive for chronic wasting disease [CWD], bringing the total deer testing positive for CWD in Iowa to 44. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is waiting for results on follow-up tests for 2 suspect samples that could raise the total positives for the year [2018] to 16. The deer tissue was collected primarily during the fall from hunter-harvested and road-killed deer.The way that this disease moves, these results were not unexpected,…

ProMED Mail

Poisoning -- NamibiaThe fisheries ministry has warned the public not to consume oysters and mussels produced at Walvis Bay, due to an outbreak of diarrhectic [diarrhetic, diarrheal] shellfish poisoning (DSP). As part of the national shellfish sanitation program, the Namibian Standards Institution (NSI) recently tested oysters and mussels for biotoxins and discovered that the results revealed the presence of DSP, the ministry said in a media statement on Fri 11 Jan 2019. The ministry said it was not safe to…

ProMED Mail

Ebola -- DR Congo- Since the beginning of vaccination on 8 Aug 2018, 56 866 [corrected number from MoH] people have been vaccinated, including 19 619 in Beni [North Kivu], 11 526 in Katwa [North Kivu], 6476 in Butembo [North Kivu], 5550 in Mabalako [North Kivu], 2283 in Kalunguta [North Kivu], 1684 in Komanda [Ituri], 1663 in Mandima [Ituri], 1222 in Oicha [North Kivu], 1166 in Goma [North Kivu], 791 in Vuhovi [North Kivu], 750 in Masereka [North Kivu], 719 in Kyondo [North Kivu], 700 in Lubero [North Kivu],…

ProMED Mail

Ebola -- DR Congo- Since the beginning of vaccination on 8 Aug 2018, 58 085 people have been vaccinated, including 19 783 in Beni [North Kivu], 11 793 in Katwa [North Kivu], 6746 in Butembo [North Kivu], 5611 in Mabalako [North Kivu], 2283 in Kalunguta [North Kivu], 1740 in Komanda [Ituri], 1663 in Mandima [Ituri], 1272 in Oicha [North Kivu], 1285 in Goma [North Kivu], 791 in Vuhovi [North Kivu], 750 in Masereka [North Kivu], 735 in Kyondo [North Kivu], 700 in Lubero [North Kivu], 599 in Mutwanga [North Kivu],…

ProMED Mail

Ebola -- DR Congo- Since the start of vaccination on 8 Aug 2018, 58 956 people have been vaccinated , including 19 855 in Beni [North Kivu], 12 153 in Katwa [North Kivu], 6746 in Butembo [North Kivu], 5686 in Mabalako [North Kivu], 2283 in Kalunguta [North Kivu], 1774 in Komanda [Ituri], 1663 in Mandima [Ituri], 1435 in Goma [North Kivu], 1272 in Oicha [North Kivu], 854 in Karisimbi [North Kivu], 791 in Vuhovi [North Kivu], 750 in Masereka [North Kivu], 735 in Kyondo [North Kivu], 700 in Lubero [North Kivu],…

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Equine Herpes Virus -- United StatesThe New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets confirmed equine herpesvirus in 3 horses in 2 counties, according to the Equine Disease Communications Center.A Paint mare from Erie County that exhibited ataxia and falling was confirmed positive for EHV-1 via nasal swab PCR test the week ending 11 Jan 2019.The mare and all other horses on the farm are quarantined. Biosecurity measures and temperature monitoring are in place. No horses have left the farm in the 2 weeks preceding…

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Equine Influenza -- NigeriaInformation received on [and dated] 7 Jan 2019 from Dr Olaniran Alabi, Director, Chief Veterinary Officer, Veterinary and Pest Control Services, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, ABUJA, NigeriaSummaryReport type: immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 17 Dec 2018Date of pre-confirmation of the event: 5 Jan 2019Reason for notification: 1st occurrence of a listed disease in the countryCausal agent: Equine influenza virusSerotype: PendingNature of…

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Foot and Mouth -- MoroccoInformation received on [and dated] 10 Jan 2019 from Dr. Abderrahman El Abrak, [Director of Veterinary Services, National Office of Sanitary Safety of Food Products (ONSSA), Ministry of Agriculture and Maritime Fisheries], Rabat, MoroccoSummaryReport type: Immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 1 Jan 2019Date of confirmation of the event: 7 Jan 2019Reason for notification: Recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: 13 Nov 2015Manifestation of disease:…

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Foot and Mouth -- RussiaInformation received on [and dated] 11 Jan 2019 from Dr. Nikolay Vlasov, Deputy Head, Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance, Ministry of Agriculture, Moscow, RussiaSummaryReport type: Immediate notificationDate of start of the event: 1 Jan 2019Date of confirmation of the event: 10 Jan 2019Reason for notification: Recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: 3 Apr 2018Manifestation of disease: Clinical diseaseCausal agent: Foot and mouth…

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Foot and Mouth -- TunisiaInformation received [and dated] on 10 Jan 2019 from Dr. Malek Zrelli, [Director General, General Directorate of Veterinary Services, Ministry of Agriculture], Tunis, TunisiaSummaryReport type: Follow-up report no. 1Date of start of the event: 15 Dec 2018Date of confirmation of the event: 21 Dec 2018Report date: 10 Jan 2019Date submitted to OIE: 10 Jan 2019Reason for notification: Recurrence of a listed diseaseDate of previous occurrence: 26 May 2017Manifestation of…

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Hantavirus -- ArgentinaThe Ministry of Health in Chubut province confirmed 3 more deaths from [a] hantavirus [infection] on [9 Jan 2019], meaning the current death toll from the outbreak has reached 9 people.Those who lost their lives were 2 women and a 16-year-old, reported La Nación, all of whom were being treated in Esquel hospital [Chubut]. One of the women was the daughter and sister of 2 people who have already died from the outbreak which started in the small town of Epuyen, near the Chilean border.

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Japanese Encephalitis -- IndiaCitation: Vasanthapuram Ravi, Shafeeq Keeran Shahul Hameed, Anita Desai, Reeta Subramaniam Mani, Vijayalakshmi Reddy, et al.: Dengue virus is an under-recognised causative agent of acute encephalitis syndrome (AES): Results from a 4-year AES surveillance study of Japanese encephalitis in selected states of India. International Journal of Infectious Diseases. 2019. doi: .Highlights- Dengue virus is one of the 3 most common agents identified in acute encephalitis syndrome (AES).-…

ProMED Mail

Hemorrhagic Fever -- IndiaHigh fever, body pain, head ache, bleeding from nose, mouth, and any other parts of the body. After fever for one or 2 weeks, encephalitis, fever, tightness of the throat, headache, and vomiting is noticed."Awareness about the monkey fever will be done through meeting with public in areas of Kundapur and Hebri. If people come across death of monkey, the same should be informed to the health department immediately," said the DMO of Udupi district.Precautions to be taken against monkey…

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Kyasanur Forest Disease -- IndiaThe outbreak of Kyasanur Forest disease [KFD], also known as monkey fever, in Malnad region of the district [Shivamogga] is showing no signs of abating, as 4 cases have now been reported from Tirthahalli taluk. The earlier cases were reported in Sagar taluk.With this, the total number of KFD cases in the district since December 2018 has reached 62, of which 58 cases are from Aralagodu Gram Panchayat limits in Sagar taluk. Six persons from Aralagodu died during this period.The…

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Lassa Fever -- Nigeria- In the reporting week 1 (1-6 Jan 2019) 25 new confirmed cases were reported from Edo (9), Ondo (8), Bauchi (3), FCT (1), Nasarawa (1), Ebonyi (1), Plateau (1) and Taraba (1) states, with 7 new deaths in Ondo (2), Edo (1), Nasarawa (1), Plateau (1), FCT (1) and Taraba (1) states.- From 1-6 Jan 2019, a total of 57 suspected cases have been reported. Of these, 25 were confirmed positive and 32 negative (not a case).- Since the onset of the 2019 outbreak, there have been 7 deaths in…

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Measles -- UkraineAddressing vaccine compliance problems is of particular relevance and significance to public health. Despite resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases and public awareness of vaccine importance, why is it so challenging to boost population vaccination coverage to desired levels especially in the wake of declining vaccine uptake? To understand this puzzling phenomenon, here we study how social imitation dynamics of vaccination can be impacted by the presence of imperfect vaccine, which confers…

ProMED Mail

MERS -- Saudi ArabiaOne Newly confirmed case of MERS-CoV infection reported from Makkah region in the past 24 hours.Date of confirmation report: 9 Jan 2019Case No: 19-1780MERS in Jeddah city: 75-year-old male in Jeddah city, Jeddah regionContact with camels: NoCase classification: Primary, Community acquiredCurrent status: Hospitalized--Communicated by:ProMED-mail[This newly confirmed case is the 4th case of MERS-CoV reported by Saudi Arabia since 1 Jan 2010. The 3 prior cases reported…

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MERS -- Worldwide/UnknownHighlights- At the end of December 2018, a total of 2279 laboratory-confirmed cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), including 806 associated deaths (case fatality rate 35.3%), were reported globally; the majority of these cases were reported from Saudi Arabia (1901 cases, including 732 related deaths with a case fatality rate of 38.5%).- During the month of December [2018], a total of 5 laboratory-confirmed cases of MERS were reported globally (all from Saudi Arabia) with no…

ProMED Mail

MERS -- Saudi ArabiaDuring the period 10-15 Jan 2019, there has been one newly confirmed case of MERS-CoV infection and 3 outcomes reported on previously confirmed cases: 2 fatalities and one recovery.Information on newly confirmed case:Date of confirmation report: 15 Jan 2019Case No: 19-1781MERS in Jeddah city: 52-year-old male in Jeddah city, Jeddah regionContact with camels: NoCase classification: Secondary, household contactCurrent status: HospitalizedInformation on newly reported…

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Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning -- New ZealandThe Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) in New Zealand has extended a public health warning against collecting shellfish in the Northland east coast region due to a reported illness.The affected area now covers from North Cape (Outo) south to Cape Karikari (Whakapouaka) and includes Parengarenga, Houhoura and Rangaunu Harbours.One illness was noted in someone who consumed shellfish collected from Rarawa Beach. MPI is sampling and testing shellfish from this region. Results have shown…

ProMED Mail

Pneumonia -- United StatesThe Division of Wildlife Resources has found that a herd of bighorn sheep on Antelope Island [Utah] has somehow contracted a devastating respiratory disease and is dying off.About 150 animals were counted among the herd last year [2018]. But KSL-TV reports biologists on [Wed 9 Jan 2019] flew over the island and found only 26 sheep left.Division of Wildlife Resources spokesman Mark Hadley says, "This disease has taken all of the sheep," and there are no vaccinations or medications that…

ProMED Mail

Novel Swine Enteric Coronavirus -- CanadaFor the 1st time, the Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea (PED) virus has been discovered in Alberta. On [Tue 8 Jan 2019], Alberta Pork reported on their website the virus, which causes diarrhea and vomiting in pigs, has been found on a 400-head hog operation in the province.They say the virus is spread by the fecal-oral route, with the most common source being infected feces coming onto the farm from various surfaces that can transmit the disease. The virus can also cause up to 100% mortality in…

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Other Animal Disease -- BrazilThe Iowa-based Swine Health Information Center (SHIC) announced last week an outbreak of Seneca Valley [virus] A (SVA) in Brazil. The disease has been found in pigs of all ages, but initial cases were located in finishing pigs, said the SHIC.A previous outbreak of the disease in Brazil in the autumn and winter of 2014-15 preceded an occurrence of the disease in the US in 2015, the center said.The center is working to understand the risk presented from the outbreak in Brazil, said Paul…

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Trypanosomiasis -- Sri LankaA dog in Balangoda was found to have been infected by a parasitic disease known as trypanosomiasis. It was the 1st time that such a disease was detected in Sri Lanka, Senior Lecturer in Veterinary Clinical Studies, Professor Ashoka Dangolla said.Some of the symptoms of this disease are fever, severe headaches, irritability, extreme fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, aching muscles and joints, and feeling sleepy and lethargic.The dog was found to be suffering from this disease last month…

ProMED Mail

Yellow Fever -- Nigeria…

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Yellow Fever -- NigeriaOn 22 Nov 2018, the World Health Organization was informed of a cluster of suspected yellow fever (YF) cases and deaths in Edo State, Nigeria. Edo State is located less than 400km [250 miles] from Lagos on a dense population movement axis between Lagos and South-Eastern Nigeria. Edo State is also a known endemic area for Lassa fever, which was initially suspected as causing the outbreak. From 22 Sep through 31 Dec 2018, a total of 146 suspected, 42 presumptive positive, and 32 confirmed cases,…

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Conjunctivitis -- Worldwide/UnknownVerhaar N, Hermans H, van Rooij E, van Oldruitenborgh-Oosterbaan MS and Ensink J. Case series: periocular habronemiasis in five horses in the Netherlands," was published in the Veterinary Record. Vet Rec. 2018 Jun 30;182(26):746. doi: 10.1136/vr.104265. Epub 2018 Apr 25. Abstract available at:[Byline: Christa Lesté-Lasserre]--Communicated by:ProMED-mail from HealthMap Alerts[The article does a good job of explaining the parasite and the problems it causes. There are some…

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Diarrhea -- KenyaCholera continues to represent a major public health concern in Eastern and Southern Africa Region (ESAR). From January to December 2018, approximately 37 565 cases and 443 cholera-related deaths were reported in the region with an average CFR of 1.2%. These cases emerged from 10 out of the 21 countries in Eastern and Southern Africa Region (ESAR).In 2018, the cholera burden in ESAR was markedly heterogeneous, with Zimbabwe accounting for the highest case load at 28.8% (10 807 cases),…

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Dengue -- Sri Lanka- 19 imported cases of dengue (4 cases of DENV-1, 1 case of DENV-2, 7 cases of DENV-4, and 7 cases of dengue serotype unknown) with travel history to Papua New Guinea were reported by Queensland Health (notifiable conditions data) for the period 1 Jan-9 Dec 2018 available at .Australia- Overseas acquired cases of dengue notified in Queensland in 2018 year to date[HealthMap/ProMED-mail map of Australia: ]******[2] Mosquito repellent plantsDate: Thu 27 Dec 2018Source:…

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Sepsis -- China"_Enterobacter_ strains 090008T and 090028T were recovered from the blood of 2 different patients at West China Hospital, Chengdu, PR China in 2017. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene and multi-locus sequence analysis of the rpoB, gyrB, infB and atpD housekeeping genes revealed that the 2 strains were distinct from any previously known species of the genus _Enterobacter_. Both average nucleotide identity (ANI) and in silico DNA-DNA hybridization (isDDH) values between strains…

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Hepatitis A -- United StatesThe Ohio Department of Health (ODH) and affected local health departments are investigating an increased number of hepatitis A cases in Ohio. ODH has declared a statewide community outbreak of hepatitis A after observing an increase in cases linked to certain risk factors since the beginning of 2018. Outbreaks of hepatitis A are occurring in several states across the USA, including neighboring states of Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan and West Virginia.Hepatitis A is a vaccine-preventable…

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Influenza, Influenza H3N2 -- Worldwide/UnknownInformation in this report is categorized by influenza transmission zones, which are geographical groups of countries, areas or territories with similar influenza transmission patterns.Summary-------In the temperate zone of the northern hemisphere influenza activity continued to increase slowly.- In North America influenza activity continued to increase overall with influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 predominating.- In Europe, influenza activity increased, with both A viruses circulating.-…

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Norovirus -- United KingdomAuthorities in the United Kingdom and Ireland are investigating a foodborne outbreak suspected to be caused by norovirus in live oysters.The oysters are thought to have come from Ireland and been purified in the UK, and it is believed they are no longer on the market.Harvesting records and purification operations at the unnamed implicated business in Ireland have been checked with nothing proving that oysters harvested at the time were contaminated.A number of people fell ill in…

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Polio -- DR CongoAs of October 2018, genetically-linked circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) isolates were detected in 2 cases from Haut-Katanga province (Mufunga-Sampwe district) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The 1st case was a 11-year old child who experienced onset of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) on [6 Oct 2018]. The 2nd case was a 29-month old child who experienced onset of symptoms on [7 Oct 2018], and is a known contact of the 1st case. The isolated viruses are a new…

ProMED Mail

Polio -- MozambiqueNew wild poliovirus cases reported this week: 0Total number of wild poliovirus cases in 2019: 0Total number of wild poliovirus cases in 2018: 29Total number of wild poliovirus cases in 2017: 22New cVDPV cases reported this week: 1Total number of cVDPV cases (all types) in 2019: 0Total number of cVDPV cases (all types) in 2018: 101Total number of cVDPV cases (all types) in 2017: 96Headlines- During the 4-day visit to polio endemic countries of Afghanistan and Pakistan, WHO…

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Polio -- PakistanAnother polio case has been reported from Bajaur district as the number of polio cases has risen to 6 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC), Islamabad notified the polio case from Bajaur district of the tribal districts.The National Institute of Health isolated wild polio virus from the stool sample of a 30-month-old child from the village of Sheikhan, UC Tali, Tehsil Salarzai, Bajaur District.A stool sample from the child was collected on [27 Dec…