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Anopheles gambiae mosquito Image/CDC

Cabo Verde: Locally transmitted malaria in Praia causes concern

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In a follow-up on the malaria outbreak in Cape Verde, or Cabo Verde, the Ministry of Health and Social Security says a total of 116 autochthonous, or locally acquired cases have been registered in...

Image/CIA

Mauritania reports confirmed Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever case

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In May, health officials reported two imported cases of  Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) in Senegal imported from Mauritania. A third imported case was reported in June. On Aug 24, the Mauritania...

African elephant Image/Gary M. Stolz, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Anthrax kills two elephants, greater Kudu in Mozambique game reserve

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Sporadic cases of the bacterial disease, anthrax, is responsible for the deaths of three animals at the Karingani Game Reserve in southwestern Mozambique, according to Dr Américo Da Conceicao, National...

Image/ C. S. Goldsmith, P. Rollin, M. Bowen This transmission electron micrograph (TEM) depicted numbers of Lassa virus virions adjacent to some cell debris. The virus, a member of the virus family Arenaviridae, is a single-stranded RNA virus, and is zoonotic, or animal-borne that can be transmitted to humans. The illness, which occurs in West Africa, was discovered in 1969 when two missionary nurses died in Nigeria, West Africa.In areas of Africa where the disease is endemic (that is, constantly present), Lassa fever is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. While Lassa fever is mild or has no observable symptoms in about 80% of people infected with the virus, the remaining 20% have a severe multisystem disease. Lassa fever is also associated with occasional epidemics, during which the case-fatality rate can reach 50%. There are a number of ways in which the virus may be transmitted, or spread, to humans. The Mastomys rodents shed the virus in urine and droppings. Therefore, the virus can be transmitted through direct contact with these materials, through touching objects or eating food contaminated with these materials, or through cuts or sores. Because Mastomys rodents often live in and around homes and scavenge on human food remains or poorly stored food, transmission of this sort is common. Contact with the virus also may occur when a person inhales tiny particles in the air contaminated with rodent excretions. This is called aerosol or airborne transmission. Finally, because Mastomys rodents are sometimes consumed as a food source, infection may occur via direct contact when they are caught and prepared for food.

Nigeria reports 10 new Lassa fever cases

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During the week ending on August 13, Nigeria reported an additional 10 confirmed Lassa fever cases as the incidence continues to increase despite ongoing efforts to control the disease. The new cases...

Cape Verde/Alvaro1984 18

Malaria prompts travel notice for Praia, Cape Verde

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A malaria outbreak in the capital city of Praia, Cape Verde has prompted federal health officials to issue a travel notice for the archipelago off the northwest coast of Africa. Recently, there has...

Nigeria map divided by states/United Nations

Nigeria: ‘Strange illness’ reported in Kogi State, Lassa ruled out

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Nigerian health officials are investigating, what is described as a “strange illness”in Kogi State, the week prior, something similar was reported in Kwara State . The Nigeria Centre for Disease...

Image/Alvaro1984 18

South Sudan: Oral Cholera Vaccination campaign concludes, Malaria deaths top 4,000

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Cholera The first round of an Oral Cholera Vaccination (OCV) campaign in four priority counties of South Sudan with active transmission of cholera, has successfully concluded despite security and access...

Somalia/CIA

‘Somalia is facing one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world’: WHO

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As millions of people in Somalia remain trapped in a devastating cycle of hunger and disease, WHO and health partners are working with national health authorities to save lives and reach the most vulnerable...

Image/Alvaro1984 18

South Africa: Diphtheria outbreak in Western Cape

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Officials with the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) in South Africa are reporting a diphtheria outbreak that has affected four people, including one fatality, according to a local...

Image/CDC

Malaria situation in Burundi shows improvement, still serious

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In a follow-up on the malaria outbreak in Burundi, the World Health Organization (WHO) says the situation has shown marked improvement in the last weeks, though the overall situation remains serious. While...