The following background data are abstracted from Gideon www.GideonOnline.com and the Gideon e-book series. [1,2]

60 outbreaks of typhoid were reported during 1960 to 1999 – 54 of these (total 957 cases, 4 fatal) following exposure within the United States. Five drinking water-associated outbreaks of typhoid were reported during 1971 to 2006.

The best known clusters of typhoid fever in history were those ascribed to Mary Mallon (“Typhoid Mary”), a chronic carrier who was responsible for 9 outbreaks (54 cases, 4 fatal) in the New York area during 1900 to 1915.

A chronology of notable outbreaks:
1843 – Outbreaks of typhoid were reported in New York City and Boston.
1898 – An outbreak of typhoid was reported in Florida.
1909 – An outbreak of typhoid was reported in an “infant asylum” in Baltimore, Maryland.
1911 – An outbreak of typhoid was reported in Yakima, Washington.
1913 (publication year) – An outbreak of typhoid was reported in Illinois.
1913 (publication year) – An outbreak of paratyphoid fever in Massachusetts was ascribed to contaminated milk.
1936 (publication year) – An outbreak in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was associated with a supper.
1937 (publication year) – An outbreak was reported in Michigan.
1947 – An outbreak (4 cases) of typhoid in Alaska was associated with a commercial air flight.
1953 (publication year) – An outbreak of typhoid was reported in rural New York.
1956 – An outbreak of typhoid was reported in the Midwest.
1959 – An outbreak of typhoid was reported among migrant workers in Virginia.
1964 – An outbreak of typhoid fever was reported in Atlanta, Georgia.
1967 – An outbreak (31 cases) was reported among students at a university in California.
1970 – An outbreak (81 cases) of typhoid was reported among passengers aboard a British ship traveling to Canada and the United States.
1972 to 1973 – An outbreak (1,515 cases, 39 fatal) was reported in Mexico City in 1972; with an additional 667 cases during January to June 1973. A related outbreak (80 cases) was reported in the United States.
1973 – An outbreak (230 cases) of typhoid in Dade Country, Florida may have originated from water contaminated by a typhoid carrier.
1981 – An outbreak (80 cases) of typhoid at a restaurant in Texas was associated with contaminated “barbacoa” (a mixture of muscle, lips, ears, tongue, and eyes from steamed bovine heads).
1981 – An outbreak (6 cases) on an Indian reservation was linked to a typhoid carrier.
1981 – An outbreak (18 cases, 0 fatal) of typhoid in Michigan was assumed to be related to a typhoid carrier.
1986 – An outbreak at a restaurant in Maryland was caused by contaminated shrimp. {p 3384930}
1989 – An outbreak (43 cases) of typhoid at a hotel in New York was ascribed to contaminated orange juice.
1990 – An outbreak (17 cases) of food-borne typhoid followed a family gathering in Washington State. {p 2120571}
1990 – An outbreak (24 cases, 16 confirmed) was associated with a family picnic in Maryland.
1998 to 1999 – An outbreak (16 cases or more) of typhoid in Florida was ascribed to frozen mamey (a tropical fruit) imported from Honduras and Guatemala.
2000 – An outbreak (7 cases) in Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky occurred among men who have sex with men.
2000 – An outbreak (7 cases) of typhoid in New York City was traced to an infected restaurant employee.
2005 – An outbreak (2 cases) of typhoid in New York City was related to a carrier from Haiti.
2009 – An outbreak (3 cases) of typhoid was reported in Tennessee.
2010 – An outbreak (12 cases) of typhoid in California and Nevada was ascribed to ingestion of contaminated mamey fruit pulp imported from Guatemala.

References:
1. Berger SA. Infectious Diseases of the United States, 2013. 1119 pages, 470 graphs, 11030 references. Gideon e-books, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/country/infectious-diseases-of-the-united-states/
2. Berger SA. Typhoid and Enteric Fever: Global Status, 2013. 258 pages, 401 graphs, 728 references. Gideon e-books, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/disease/typhoid-and-enteric-fever-global-status/

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Rates of psittacosis in Argentina have been increasing in recent years, with current levels similar to those encountered in the United States during the outbreaks of 1954 to 1956. [1,2] See graph [3]:

References:
1. Berger SA. Infectious Diseases of Argentna, 2013. 447 pages, 103 graphs, 2145 references. Gideon e-book series, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/country/infectious-diseases-of-argentina/
2. Berger SA. Ornithosis: Global Status, 2013. 38 pages, 30 graphs, 212 references. Gideon e-book series, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/disease/ornithosis-global-status/
3. Gideon Graph Tool, see tutorial at http://www.GIDEONonline.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/Gideon-Graphs.pps

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The following background data on Q-fever in Spain are abstracted from Gideon www.GideonOnline.com and the Gideon e-book series. [1,2]

Time and Place:
The first cases of Q-fever in Spain were reported in 1950. Q-fever rates are highest in the Basque region (accounting for 60% of community-acquired pneumonias) and Navarre. Pneumonia is the predominant clinical presentation in the north, and hepatitis in the south. Ten outbreaks were registered during 1981 to 1985. 130 cases of Q-fever were reported in the Basque Country during 1981 to 1984; and 1,261 cases in Gipuzkoa (Basque Country) during 1984 to 2004.

Rates of Q-fever in Spain have been decreasing for over 25 years – see graph:

Prevalence surveys:
5% of community-acquired pneumonia in Palma de Mallorca (1992 to 1994)
18.5% of community-acquired pneumonia (2006 to 2007)
30% of patients with fever exceeding 7 days
20.1% of women with spontaneous abortion vs. 9.7% of controls (Burgos, 2009 to 2010)
13.7% of patients hospitalized with fever lasting 1 to 4 weeks (Grenada, 2000 to 2005)
3% of ovine flocks in northern Spain (1999 to 2003)
22% of sheep flocks in the Basque Country (2009 publication)
5.1% of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), 4.3% of wild boar (Sus scrofa), 9.1% of European hare (Lepus europaeus), 11% of vultures (Gyps fulvus) , 14% of black kites (Milvus migrans) and 0% of associated ticks (Basque region, 2010 publication)

Coxiella burnetii has been detected in ticks (Haemaphysalis punctata) in the Basque Country (2003 to 2005)

Seroprevalence surveys:
50% of persons in rural Soria Province (1996 to 1999)
38.5% of adults in the rural Basque Country (1993 publication)
40.6% of adults in Leon Province (1996 publication)
48.6% of adults in Eastern Cantabria (1998 publication)
10.02% to 11.02% of veterinary students in Zaragoza (2000 publication)
15.3% of the population of Valles Occidental (2006 publication)
23.1% of blood donors in Albacete (2007 publication)
11.8% of sheep, 8.7% of goats and 6.7% of beef cattle in semi-extensive grazing systems in northern Spain (2010 publication)
30% of herds and 6.76% of cattle in the Madrid region (2012 publication)

Notable outbreaks:
1982 – An outbreak (42 cases) of Q-fever was reported in Valmaseda, Basque region.
1990 – An outbreak (30 cases) was reported in Billabona and Zizurkil, Guipuzcoa.
1998 – An outbreak (14 cases) related to sheep was reported in Soria Province.
2003 – An outbreak (60 cases) was reported in Asturias.
2006 (publication year) – An outbreak (22 cases) was associated with a visit to a school farm.
2012 (publication year) – An outbreak was reported in flock of sheep.

References:
1. Berger SA. Infectious Diseases of Spain, 2013. 575 pages, 194 graphs, 3284 references. Gideon e-books, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/country/infectious-diseases-of-spain/
2. Berger SA. Q-fever: Global Status, 2013. 78 pages, 58 graphs, 1035 references. Gideon e-books, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/disease/q-fever-global-status/

Note featured on ProMED

The following background on Barmah Forest Disease in Australia is abstracted from Gideon www.GideonOnline.com and the Gideon e-book series. [1,2]

Barmah Forest disease virus was first isolated from mosquitoes (Culex annulirostris) in the Barmah Forest, Northern Victoria in 1974. Human infection was subsequently reported along the south coast of New South Wales during the mid-1980′s; in Queensland during 1988 to 1989; in the Northern Territory in 1992 ; and in southwestern Western Australia in 1993. A new focus was described in Gippsland (Victoria) during 1993 to 1994. The number of localities reporting Barmah Forest Disease increased during 1996 to 1998, and again during 1999 to 2001.

Disease incidence has increased somewhat since 2000, with most cases reported from Queensland and New South Wales. In the following chart, I have contrasted incidence data for Barmah Forest disease with those of a similar illness, Ross River disease [3]

Seroprevalence surveys:
6.5% of healthy adults in Queensland.
11.3% of horses in Brisbane, 1.2% of dogs, 10.7% of bushtail possum (Trichosaurus volpecula) , 1.5% of cats, 0% of flying foxes (1977 to 1999) 8

Vectors:
- The known vectors are Ochlerotatus vigilax, Culex annulirostris, Ae. (Oc.) camptorhynchus, Ae. normanensis and Coquillettidia species.
- Aedes notoscriptus is considered an additional potential vector.
- BFD virus has also been recovered from Aedes vigilax in eastern Australia (2005 to 2008)

Wallabies and kangaroos serve as reservoirs for the virus; however, antibody is also present in cattle and horses.

Related viruses:
- Similar local illnesses have been ascribed to Trubanaman and Gan Gan viruses (Bunyaviridae); and Kokobera, Stratford and Edge Hill viruses (Flaviviridae).
- A single human case of Edge Hill virus infection has been described.
- A case of Kokobera fever was reported from Darwin in 1998.
- Kokobera virus has been isolated from Culex annulirostris in the Northern Territory and northern Queensland.
- Kokobera virus was isolated from 18 of 25,351 Cx. annulirostris tested in Cape York in 1998.

Notable outbreaks:
1992 to 1994 – An outbreak (22 cases) of Barmah Forest disease was reported in the south-west of Western Australia.
1995 – An outbreak (135 cases) was reported along the south coast of New South Wales.
2002 – An outbreak (47 cases) was reported in Victoria.
2002 to 2003 – An outbreak (297 cases) was reported in Queensland.
2005 to 2006 – An outbreak (1,895 cases) was reported.

References:
1. Berger SA. Infectious Diseases of Australia, 2013. 540 pages, 162 graphs, 3364 references. http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/country/infectious-diseases-of-australia/
2. Berger SA. Australo-Pacific Arboviruses: Global Status, 2013. 32 pages, 20 graphs, 307 references. http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/disease/australo-pacific-arboviruses-global-status/
3. Gideon Graph Tool, see tutorial at http://www.GIDEONonline.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/Gideon-Graphs.pps

Note featured on ProMed

The following background data on botulism in Argentina are abstracted from the Gideon e-book series. [1,2]

Most cases of botulism in Argentina are related to home-canned vegetables, airtight packed food with inappropriate refrigeration, and aerosols. Rates of food-borne botulism have remained fairly constant for the past 20 years, and as in many other countries are exceded by those of infant botulism – see graph [3] Virtally all cases of infant botulism have been caused by type A botulinum toxin.

Prevalence surveys (Clostridium botulinum spores):
7.5% of commercial chamomile tea samples (Mendoza, 2008 publication)
1.1% of rural commercial honey samples (Mendoza and San Luis Provinces, 1997 publication)
14.6% of soil samples in Entre Rios (2003 publication)
23.5% of soil samples from five regions (2005 publication)

Linden flower (Tilia spp) tea, a household remedy used as an infant sedative, has also been implicated as a source of Clostridium botulinum.

A single case report of wound botulism was published in 2000.

Notable outbreaks:
1920 to 1926 – Two outbreaks (total 8 cases) of botulism were reported.
1974 – An outbreak (11 cases, 3 fatal) was ascribed to cheese spread.
1979 – An outbreak (9 cases) was ascribed to home-canned vegetables.
1982 – An outbreak (1 case) in Mendoza was ascribed to pickled trout.
1998 – An outbreak (9 cases, none fatal) of type A botulism among Buenos Aires bus drivers was ascribed to matambre (meat roll).
2011 – An outbreak (2 cases) was reported among members of a family from Chile who had eaten in a restaurant in Argentina.

References:
1. Berger SA. Infectious Diseases of Argentina, 2013. 447 pages, 103 graphs, 2145 references. Gideon e-books, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/country/infectious-diseases-of-argentina/
2. Berger SA. Botulism: Global Status, 2013. 85 pages, 90 graphs, 645 references. Gideon e-books, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/disease/botulism-global-status/
3. Gideon Graph Tool, see tutorial at http://www.GIDEONonline.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/Gideon-Graphs.pps

Note featured in ProMED

The 2013 edition of GIDEON eBooks has been released. This new edition includes distribution maps for each disease. A example of the distribution map of Tuberculosis is included below.

The entire series now contains 105,467 pages of text, graphs and maps in 419 eBooks.

The GIDEON eBook titles are divided into two series.

The country series, offers a complete text devoted to the Infectious Diseases of every individual country. In addition there are 2 other eBooks. Infectious Diseases of the World covers the worldwide status of every disease including distribution maps. Infectious Diseases and Bioterrorism includes all Infectious Diseases related to Bioterrorism and related notes.

The disease series, explores each individual Infectious Disease and includes a distribution map for each disease.

The eBooks can be ordered by individuals directly and downloaded as PDF files, which can be used on computers and tablets such as kindles, ipads and nooks.
Librarians can order GIDEON eBooks through EBSCOhost.

Distribution map of Tuberculosis with disease rates by country:

The following background on angiostrongyliasis in Taiwan was abstracted from Gideon www.GideonOnline.com and the Gideon e-book series. [1,2]

=Time and Place:
- Angiostrongyliasis was first reported in Taiwan in 1945.
- The disease is most common among children, with highest rates during the summer rainy season.
- Infection is often diagnosed among Thai laborers who ingest raw snails (Ampullarium canaliculatus, Achatina fulica).
- Angiostrongyliasis has been reported in a child who raised snails (Ampullarium canaliculatus) as pets.
- 125 cases of angiostrongyliasis were reported in southern Taiwan during 1968 to 1969, with highest rates among Aboriginals.
- 37 cases (2 fatal) were treated at a hospital in Kaohsiung during 1991 to 2009.

Prevalence surveys:
12.3% to 29.4% of Ampullarium canaliculatus snails from irrigation canals in southern Taiwan (2011 publication)
29.6% of rats (Rattus norvegicus and Suncus murinus) in Kaohsiung (1996 publication)

Notable outbreaks:
1985 – Outbreaks (13 cases in 2 outbreaks) were reported.
1998 – An outbreak (8 cases) was reported among Thai laborers in Kaohsiung.
1999 – An outbreak (9 cases) was reported among Thai laborers in Kaohsiung.
2004 (publication year) – An outbreak (5 cases) among native Taiwanese was ascribed to ingestion of contaminated vegetable juice.
2009 – An outbreak (4 cases) was reported among workers who has ingested raw snails.

References:
1. Berger SA. Infectious Diseases of Taiwan, 2012. 440 pages, 109 graphs, 1979 references. Gideon e-books, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/country/infectious-diseases-of-taiwan/
2. Angiostrongyliasis: Global Status, 2012. 25 pages, 2 graphs, 330 references. Gideon e-books, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/disease/angiostrongyliasis-global-status/

Note featured on ProMED

Infants account for most cases of botulism reported in the United States. Although the ratio of infant / food-borne cases was fairly constant prior to 1999, subsequent trends appear to signal a parallel increase in infant and decrease in food-borne botulism. [1,2] See graph [3]

References:
1. Berger SA. Infectious Diseases of the United States, 2012. 1089 pages, 467 graphs, 9760 references. Gideon e-books, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/country/infectious-diseases-of-the-united-states/
2. Berger SA. Botulism: Global Status, 2012. 84 pages, 89 graphs, 599 references. Gideon e-books, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/disease/botulism-global-status/
3. Gideon Graph Tool, see tutorial at http://www.GIDEONonline.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/Gideon-Graphs.pps

The following background data are abstracted from Gideon www.GideonOnline.com and the Gideon e-book series. [1,2]

Time and Place:
The first indigenous case of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) in South Africa was reported in 1981 – fatal infection acquired in Transvaal.
- At the time of the report, 7% of persons in the area were found to be seropositive.
- Highest incidence is reported in the Karoo, the Western Free State, the Northern Cape and North West Province.
- Most patients are farmers, farm laborers, hunters or abattoir workers.
- 101 cases were reported during 1981 to 1992; 81 during 1993 to 2010.
- 16 outbreaks were reported among animals during 1981 to 1986.
- Imported cases were reported in 1985 (from Democratic Republic of Congo) and 1986 (from Tanzania).

CCHF: Reported cases and deaths per year – see graph [3] :

Seroprevalence surveys:
100% of giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis), 54% of rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simium and Diceros bicornis), 46% of eland (Taurotragus oryx), 19.5% of buffalo (Syncerus caffer), 22% of kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros), 17% of zebra (Equus burchelli), 6.0% of domestic dogs, 13.7% of hares, 1.7% of rodents and 0% of primates (South Africa and Zimbabwe, 1987 publication)
28% of cattle (1987 publication)

Vectors:
- The principal vector is Hyalomma truncatum.
- H. marginatum rufipes and H. m. turanicum have also been incriminated.

Notable outbreaks:
1984 – An outbreak (5 cases, 1 fatal) of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever was reported in Orange Free State.
1985 – An outbreak (6 cases, 1 fatal) was reported at a hospital near Cape Town, among health-care workers who had contact with an index patient or his secretions.
1996 – An outbreak (32 suspect cases, 17 confirmed; one fatal) was reported at an ostrich abattoir in Oudtshoorn (Western Cape).

References:
1. Berger SA. Infectious Diseases of South Africa, 2012. 436 pages, 95 graphs, 1942 references. Gideon e-books, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/country/infectious-diseases-of-south-africa/
2. Berger SA. Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever: Global Status. 2012. 36 pages, 18 graphs, 505 references. Gideon e-books, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/disease/crimean-congo-hemorrhagic-fever-global-status/
3. 3. Gideon Graph Tool, see tutorial at http://www.GIDEONonline.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/Gideon-Graphs.pps

Note featured on ProMED

Although childhood vaccination has registered considerable success during the past three decades, Afghanistan continues to lag behind other nations in the region. In the following charts I have contrasted WHO estimates of vaccine uptake in Afghanstan with those of bordering countries. [1-3]

References:
1. Berger SA. Infectious Diseases of Afghanistan, 2012. 326 pages, 37 graphs, 1239 references. Gideon e-books, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/country/infectious-diseases-of-afghanistan/
2. Berger SA. Pertussis: Global Status, 2012. 340 pages, 506 graphs, 401 references. Gideon e-books, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/disease/pertussis-global-status/
3. Gideon Graph Tool, see tutorial at http://www.GIDEONonline.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/Gideon-Graphs.pps

Note featured on ProMED