The Ministry of Health in Indonesia has confirmed the country's 53rd case of human infection with the H5N1 Avian Influenza virus. The case, which was fatal, occurred in a 3-year-old girl from suburb of Jakarta. She became ill on 23 June 2006 and died on 6 July. She had contacted dead chicken 2 days before onset of her symptoms.

In addition, a 44-year-old man from East Jakarta was tested positive for Avian Influenza by local test, pending further confirmation by World Health Organization's laboratory. The man died on 12 July 2006.

The Hong Kong Department of Health confirmed an imported case of Dengue Fever. The 63-year-old woman developed symptoms of fever, dizziness, headache, joint pain and skin rash, and has since recovered. She had travelled to Indonesia prior to onset of symptoms. A total of 16 cases have been reported in this year and all of them were imported cases.

During the first 6 months of 2006, Vietnam recorded around 20 000 cases of Dengue Fever, up to 54 percent from the corresponding period in 2005. Ho Chi Minh City has so far reported some 3000 cases of Dengue Fever.

[Editor's note: Dengue Fever is most common during May to November in the Mekong Delta provinces such as Kien Giang, An Giang, Ca Mau, Tien Giang and Ho Chi Minh City.]

There has been an increase in Dengue Fever cases throughout Brazil in 2006. Up to June 30, there were 17 654 confirmed dengue cases in the state of Sao Paulo alone. Among them, 390 cases were in the capital city of Sao Paulo. Fragmentary data showed that dengue epidemics had been occurring in different parts of the country.

In Venezuela, 21 834 cases of Dengue Fever have been reported since this year. Of which, 1 161 cases (5.3%) were Haemorrhagic Dengue Fever. The cumulative case toll for this period increased by 44 percent compared to that for 2005. The states reporting the highest case numbers were Zulia, Amazonas, Lara, Tachira, Barinas, Merida, Miranda, and Trujillo, comprising 78.1% of all Dengue Fever cases reported in Venezuela.

Apart from Tamil Nadu of India, cases of Chikungunya Fever have also been reported in the states of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka. In Madhya Pradesh State, over 60 000 people were affected. Cases were reported in the districts Betul, Chhindwara, Badwani and Burhanpur. In Maharashtra State, 19 districts including Nashik, Jalgaon, Ahmadnagar, Pune, and Solapur had been affected. In Karnataka State, as many as 286 201 people in 26 districts were affected by the disease. Gulbarga, Bidar, Bellary and Gadag districts have been the worst hit.

In Delhi of India, 30 cases of Cholera were reported in the first week of July, taking the total number of cases of the disease up to 550 in this year. In addition, 9 cases of Cholera were reported in Chhani village of Gujarat.

An outbreak of Cholera has been reported in the Central Region of Ghana, affecting 40 people. Insanitary conditions of food vendors were implicated.

The recent outbreak of Cholera in Kenema, Sierra Leone, has claimed the lives of some people and many victims have been admitted to hospitals and clinics for treatment. The number of people suffering from vomiting and diarrhoea has increased since June 2006.

(Source: ProMED-mail 11 July 2006)

In Guinea-Bissau, cases of intense diarrhoea among children and adults were reported in the capital Bissau recently. The Health Ministry has ordered the closure of all traditional wells and urged the suspension of traditional ceremonies in an effort to prevent large gatherings that might facilitate the spread of disease.

An outbreak of Botulism occurred in northern Thailand, affecting 83 people after eating raw deer meat and gut. Of these, 3 patients developed respiratory failure.

[Editor's note: Foodborne botulism is a serious intoxication caused by ingestion of preformed toxins, which are produced by Clostrium botulinum, presented in the contaminated food. The features of the illness include marked fatique, weakness, blurred vision, dry mouth, difficulty in swallowing and speaking. Vomiting, constipation or diarrhoea may occur. Paralysis of breathing muscles can cause stopping of breathing and death.]

An outbreak of Legionellosis has been reported in Amsterdam of the Netherlands. Since 6 July 2006, there were 23 confirmed cases; of whom one died. Most patients were inhabitants of Amsterdam city centre. A cooling tower located next to a former Post Office building (Oosterdokskade) in the east-central part of city has been identified as the probable source of infection.

Sarawak of Malaysia has been experiencing a "2nd wave" of the Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease, with a steady increase in the number of new cases reported since May 2006. Local officials said that 403 new cases had been reported last week compared to 315 and 253 cases in the preceding 2 weeks.

Japan's National Institute of Infectious Diseases warned in May 2006 that this summer could see the biggest outbreak of the Pharyngoconjunctival Fever in a decade. Up to late June 2006, the institute has received reports of around 41 500 patients with Pharyngoconjunctival Fever from around 3 000 designated paediatric clinics in all 47 prefectures.

[Editor's note: Pharyngoconjunctival Fever is usually caused by human Adenovirus types 3, 4 or 7. It is characterised by red eyes, fever, sore throat, and enlargement of the adenoids.]