Southeast Asia continues to account for the most of the global leprosy burden, with more than 50% of the world’s cases reported from India. In the following graph, I’ve compared regional data with those of India. [1]

References:
1. Graph tutorial at: http://www.GIDEONonline.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/Gideon-Graphs.pps

GIDEON what’s new summary: January 22 to January 23, 2012

Infectious Diseases – Outbreaks (1 updates)

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As of December 2011, most cases of human infection by H5N1 Influenza virus were reported in Cambodia, China, Egypt, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam. In the following graph [1], note that successive peaks were reported by Vietnam and Indonesia, followed by increasing activity in Egypt during recent years.

The second graph [1] illustrates the fact that a disproportionately high case fatality rate has been reported among cases occurring in Indonesia.

References:
1. Graph tutorial at: http://www.GIDEONonline.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/Gideon-Graphs.pps

Note featured on ProMED

GIDEON what’s new summary: January 18 to January 22, 2012

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GIDEON what’s new summary: January 15 to January 18, 2012

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GIDEON what’s new summary: January 11 to January 15, 2012

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GIDEON what’s new summary: January 8 to January 11, 2012

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GIDEON what’s new summary: January 4 to January 8, 2012

The following background notes on toxoplasmosis in Australia and New Zealand are abstracted from Gideon www.GideonOnline.com and the Gideon e-book series. [1-3]

Australia:
An estimated 520 to 650 babies are born with congenital toxoplasmosis each year.

Prevalence surveys:
3.7% of encephalitis cases in Australia (221 cases reported, 1990 to 2007)

Seroprevalence surveys:
35% of pregnant women in Western Australia; 23% to 45% in Melbourne; 23% in South Australia; 26% in Queensland
50% of feral cats in Tasmania (1997 publication)
67% of captive common brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula, 2008 publication)
15.5% of Western grey kangaroos in the Perth region (2009 publication)
5% of wild brush-tailed rock-wallaby populations in southeast Queensland (2010 publication)
0% of Australian fur seals (Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus, 2007 to 2009)

Cases of human infection have been ascribed to ingestion of poorly-cooked kangaroo meat.

High abortion rates are reported among pregnant Tasmanian ewes, which are infected through ingestion of cat feces.
- Toxoplasmosis has been demonstrated among humpbacked dolphins (Sousa chinensis) stranded in Queensland; and in common wombats (Vombatus ursinus)
- Toxoplasmosis has been reported in kakariki (Cyanoramphus spp.)

Notable outbreaks:
1984 (publication year) – An outbreak (5 cases) of toxoplasmosis among members of a Lebanese family in Australia was ascribed to contaminated Kibbi (a traditional meat dish)

New Zealand:
164 primary maternal infections are estimated annually, with resultant infection of 66 fetuses.
– The maternal seroconversion rate is 0.62% per year.

Seroprevalence surveys:
33% of pregnant women in Auckland (IgG, 2000)
42.9% of healthy blood donors in Waikato (2007 publication)
85% of ewes (2006 to 2009)

Toxoplasmosis has been documented in wallabies (Macropus eugenii, Macropus rufogriseus) exported to the United States from New Zealand.

References:
1. Berger SA. Infectious Diseases of Australia, 2011. 503 pp, 158 graphs, 2460 references. Gideon e-books, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/country/infectious-diseases-of-australia/
2. Berger SA. Infectious Diseases of New Zealand, 2011. 399 pp, 132 graphs, 1199 references. Gideon e-books, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/country/infectious-diseases-of-new-zealand/
3. Berger SA. Toxoplasmosis: Global Status, 2011. 92 pp, 74 graphs, 950 references. http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/disease/toxoplasmosis-global-status/

GIDEON what’s new summary: January 1 to January 4, 2012

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