Appeared in ProMED:

The following background information on “newer” viral respiratory infections in Canada was abstracted from GIDEON:

Prevalence surveys

• Human matapneumovirus (HMPV) is found in 4.1 per cent of adults with community-acquired pneumonia (2005 publication).
• HMPV is found in 9.5 per cent of respiratory specimens from the community and 25 per cent of outbreaks; median age was 24 months (Calgary, 2007 publication).
• HMPV is found in 14.8 per cent of patients with acute respiratory tract infection (4 provinces, 2001 to 2002 influenza season).
• HMPV is found in 8 per cent of acute lower respiratory tract infections (Montreal, 2001).
• HMPV is found in 3.9 per cent of pediatric inpatients and outpatients (Alberta, 2002 to 2003).
• HMPV is found in 6 per cent of children below age 3 years hospitalized for acute respiratory tract infections (Quebec, 2001 to 2002).
• HMPV is found in 13.5 per cent of children aged under 5 years, 26.1 per cent of children aged 6 to 10 years, 32.3 per cent of children aged 11 to 15 years, 99.0 per cent of persons agd 16 to 30 years, 91.7 per cent of adults aged 31 to 60 years, 93.8 per cent of persons aged over 60 years in Saskatchewan seropositive (2007 publication).
• HMPV is found in 4 per cent of adults hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia (Edmonton, 2008 publication).

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Although botulism is commonly associated with canned foods and vegetables, tomatoes are rarely implicated. A single botulism outbreak among 116 listed in the GIDEON database is ascribed to tomatoes. In fact, only three papers could be identified through a a PubMed search using the terms “tomatoes” and “botulism.” [1-3] Interestingly, two of these papers originated in Russia, the country which reported the most recent outbreak in ProMED.

One explanation for the relative rarity of botulism in tomatoes is related to the acidity of this vegetable. A lowered pH is thought to act through two mechanisms: enhanced susceptibility of C. botulinum spores to heat sterilization, and inhibition of germination of surviving spores. [4]

1. PopugailaVM, et al. Cases of botulism caused by preserved tomato juice. Gig Sanit 1972; 37:97-199
2. Shtein A, et al. Cases of botulism caused by domestically preserved tomatoes. Vopr Pitan 1969; 28: 92-93
3. Loufty MR,. et al. An outbreak of foodborne botulism in Ontario. Can J Infect Dis 2003; 14:206-209.
4. Bacterial food poisoning and botulism, in: Wilson GS, Miles A. Toply and Wilson’s Principles of Bacteriology, Virology and Immunity, 6th ed, London, Edward Arnold, 1975. pp. 2104-2105.

Also quoted in ProMED.

Quoted in ProMED:

Visceral leishmaniasis was 1st described in Brazil in 1934 and 1st reported from Rio de Janeiro state in 1977.

90 percent of cases are reported from the north (mouth of the Amazon) and eastern regions. The disease is endemic to Alagoas, Bahia, Ceara, Espirito Santo, Goias, Maranhao, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Para, Paraiba, Pernambuco, Piaui, Rio Grande do Norte, Roraima and Sergipe. Urban transmission was 1st reported in 1981, from Teresina (Piaui State). A large focus extends from Roraima into Venezuela and Guyana.

The reported incidence has increased from 164 cases (35 fatal) in 1980 to 3220 (223 fatal) in 2005; see graph . A total of 44 289 cases were reported during 1980 to 2000, 39 823 of these from the northeast. Brazil accounts for over 90 percent of cases in the New World.
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Recent events in Antananarivo highlight the fact that Africa - and particularly Madagascar - have accounted for most of the world’s plague deaths since the 1980’s. See graph of reported plague deaths and graph of rates per 100,000.

Update: Appeared in ProMED, with the following commentary:

Readers should link to the URLs above to observe the reported deaths due to _Yersinia pestis_ from Gideon.

The 1st graph compares worldwide statistics as compared to Africa and as compared to Madagascar. It illustrates that over the years 1994 to 2003, the African continent is the source of most of the world’s reported cases of plague deaths, and since the increased incidence of plague in Madagascar in 1996, a significant percentage of the plague deaths were reported from Madagascar.

The 2nd graph reports plague deaths from 5 African nations, Uganda, Tanzania, Namibia, Congo DR, and Madagascar. In the years 1996-2003, Madagascar reported more deaths than any of the other 4 nations with Congo DR 2nd. In 1996 and 1997, Tanzania reported the 3rd most plague deaths among the 5 nations, but from 1998-2003, Uganda has taken that role. - Mod.LL