Texas Cyclospora outbreak grows to 135 cases
Texas has had 32 new cases of Cyclospora infection since Jul 2, bringing the total in the state to 135, the Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS) said in an update today.
Cases of the gastrointestinal illness have surged in recent days, with 123 of the total coming in the past 2 weeks. Cyclosporiasis is caused by consuming food or water contaminated by the parasite, but so far no source has been identified in the outbreak.
The main symptom is watery diarrhea, which can last for days or even months. Last summer Texas reported 200 Cyclospora cases, some of which were tied to cilantro from Mexico's Puebla region, the TDSHS said.
Jul 8 TDSHS update
Jul 2 CIDRAP News scan on previous update
Nigeria, Taiwan report avian flu outbreaks affecting 205,000 birds
Nigeria reported 46 outbreaks of H5N1 avian flu yesterday affecting more than 140,000 poultry, while Taiwan confirmed new outbreaks involving the H5N2 and H5N8 strains, according to three separate reports posted by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE).
The Nigerian outbreaks affected flocks ranging from 139 to 19,379 birds, on farms and in backyard holdings. They all occurred in March and early April but were not reported to the OIE till yesterday. All outbreaks were in the same general vicinity in Plateau region. On Jun 22 officials reported 30 previous outbreaks that occurred in March.
Of 142,382 susceptible poultry, 14,288 birds died from the virus, and the rest were destroyed to prevent disease spread. Nigeria has now confirmed 161 H5N1 outbreaks in domestic birds this year.
Jul 7 OIE report on Nigeria
Jun 22 CIDRAP News scan on previous 30 outbreaks
In Taiwan, which has been hit hard by avian flu this year, officials confirmed H5N2 in four outbreaks involving more than 65,000 poultry and H5N8 in a separate outbreak involving a 16,700-chicken farm.
The H5N2 outbreaks involved three chicken farms in Changhua County and a goose farm in Yunlin County, both of which sit on the western side of the island. Of 65,390 birds, 24,976 died from the virus, and the rest were culled.
The outbreaks began from Jun 19 to Jun 25.
Birds tested positive for H5N8, meanwhile, on a farm in Changhua County. Of the 16,700 chickens, 9,051 died from the disease, while the rest were euthanized to control the outbreak, which began on Jun 20.
Control measures were implemented on all five affected farms.
Jul 7 OIE report on H5N2 outbreaks
Jul 7 OIE report on H5N8 outbreak
