Although the incidence of pertussis in South America has remained low in recent years, disease rates in Chile remain slightly higher than those of neigboring countries [1-3] – see graph

Surprisingly, DPT vaccination uptake in Chile has continued to be relatively high for over two decades – see graph.

References:
1. Berger SA. Infectious Diseases of Chile, 2012. 383 pp, 90 graphs, 1546 references. Gideon e-books, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/country/infectious-diseases-of-chile/
2. Berger SA. Pertussis: Global Status, 2012. 40 pp, 506 graphs, 401 references. Gideon e-books, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/disease/pertussis-global-status/
3. Gideon graph tool at http://www.GIDEONonline.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/Gideon-Graphs.pps

Note reproduced on ProMED

Tick-borne encephalitis was first reported in Hungary in 1977. [1,2] The disease is most common in forested, hilly areas of the western and northern regions. Highest incidence is reported from western Hungary, west of the Danube; the region surrounding the Balaton extending to the Austrian and Croatian borders; the areas to the west and north of Budapest, along the border to the Slovak Republic.

High rates are reported in the areas surrounding Zala, Somogy, Vas (western Hungary) and Nograd (northern Hungary). Sporadic cases occur on the river Theil, the areas east of Miskolc. Disease rates correlate with proximity to a forested habitat within a 2500-meter radius of a town or village.

The incidence of TBE in Hungary has decreased somewhat since the 1990′s and continues to be similar to those of bordering countries – see graph. [3]

The second graph compares the incidence of TBE with those of other arthropod-borne diseases in Hungary.

Seroprevalence surveys:
26.5% of cattle, 7.0% of sheep, and 0.0% of horses in northeastern Hungary (2008 publication)

Notable outbreaks:
2007 – An outbreak (25 cases) was associated with consumption of raw goat milk.

References:
1. Berger SA. Infectious Diseases of Hungary, 2012. 406 pp, 131 graphs, 1336 references. Gideon e-books, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/country/infectious-diseases-of-hungary/
2. Berger SA. Tick-borne Encephalitis: Global Status, 2012. 57 pp, 45 graphs, 429 references. Gideon e-books, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/disease/tick-borne-encephalitis-global-status/
3. Gideon graph tool at http://www.GIDEONonline.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/Gideon-Graphs.pps

Dr. Steve Berger has been invited to demonstrate Gideon at the 9th Asia Pacific Travel Health Conference, to be held in Singapore during May 2 through May 5, 2012. His session will take place during Workshop 05 (“Resources in Travel Medicine”), on May 5, between 14:00 to 15:30. All Conference attendees will be offered a free copy of the new 2012 edition of Infectious Diseases of Singapore (395 pages, 111 graphs, 1,492 references). This is one of a series of Gideon e-books which summarize the status of every disease, in every country of the world.

Further information on the conference is available at:
http://www2.kenes.com/apthc/

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

Rates of Cryptosporidiosis in Australia are somewhat higher than those in New Zealand, and 7- to 8-fold those reported in the United States. (see graph) [3]

Infecting species:
- Sporadic cases of cryptosporidiosis are caused by Cryptosporidium hominis, C. parvum, C. andersoni and C. fayeri
- Cryptosporidium parvum has been detected in the Sydney water supply since 1998.
- Cryptosporidium canis has been recovered from dogs, and C. felis from cats – neither posing a significant public health risk to humans.
- Cryptosporidium sp. have been recovered from urban-adapted Common brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) and barramundi (Lates calcarifer)
- Cryptosporidium cuniculus has been identified in rabbits.
- Cryptosporidium fayeri, a species associated with marsupials, has been identified in a case of human infection.

Prevalence surveys:
2.2% of HIV-positive MSM, 0.6% of HIV-negative MSM and 3% of controls (Sydney, 2003 to 2006)
0.8% of stool samples from symptomatic and asymptomatic subjects (Sydney, 2008 to 2009)
24.5% of pre-weaned sheep (Western Australia, 2009 publication)
22.3% of pre-weaned calves (Western Australia and New South Wales, 2010 publication)
58.5% of dairy and beef calves with diarrhea (Cryptosporidium spp., 2011 publication)
8.5% of fecal samples from animals living in Sydney water catchments (Cryptosporidium spp., 2011 publication)
71.4% to 81.3% of fecal samples from lambs in southern Western Australia (2011 publication)
9.3% of western grey kangaroos (Macropus fuliginosus) in Western Australia – 25% of these identified as Cryptosporidium fayeri (2011 publication)

Notable outbreaks:
1991 (publication year) – An outbreak of cryptosporidiosis was reported among children in Adelaide.
1994 to 1995 – Outbreaks (70 cases) were reported in the Sutherland area of Sydney during September 1994 to January 1995 – 17 of these acquired from a swimming pool.
1998 – An outbreak (161 cases confirmed) was reported in The Australian Capital Territory – 60% related to two public swimming pools.
1998 – Outbreaks related to swimming pools was reported in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.
2001 – An outbreak (47 cases) in Tasmania was ascribed to animal contact at an agricultural show.
2002 (publication year) – An outbreak was associated with drinking unpasteurized milk.
2005 – Outbreaks (180 cases, approximate) were associated with swimming pools in New South Wales.
2008 – An outbreak in Sydney was associated with a swimming pool.
2009 – An outbreak (1,141 cases) was associated with swimming pools in New South Wales.
2009 – An outbreak (628 cases during January to March) was reported in Sydney.

References:
1. Berger SA. Infectious Diseases of Australia, 2012. 515 pp, 160 graphs, 2930 references, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/country/infectious-diseases-of-australia/
2. Berger SA. Cryptosporidiosis: Global Status, 2012. 77 pp, 47 graphs, 995 references. Gideon e-book series, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/disease/cryptosporidiosis-global-status/
3. See Gideon graph tool at http://www.GIDEONonline.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/Gideon-Graphs.pps

Featured on ProMED

The ability to graph data is an indispensable tool in Epidemiology. As of 2011, GIDEON follows reports concerning incidence, mortality and other numerical input for 347 individual diseases in 231 countries. The relevant spread sheets contain over 30,000 individual data sets, containing 550,000 individual data points. All data sets are updated on a continual basis. Users of GIDEON can view and compare any graph or group of graphs using a friendly interactive menu. An overview of this system is available in powerpoint format at the following link: GIDEON Graphs

As part of our recent ongoing effort to give GIDEON a newer, more functional look, we’ve added Updates and Contents Tabs.

Updates

GIDEON is updated every several days and each update includes a summary of what’s new. It consists of  3 sections: Index, What’s New and Maps.

• Index: Left side tree with the most current and prior updates sorted by date.
• What’s New: The list of items updated with links directly to the relevant content.
• Maps: A map that displays the Outbreak (red dot) and Country (blue dot) notes that have been updated. Clicking on the dots and the relevant disease links directly to the note.

Updates was formerly a link called “What’s New”. A summary automatically appears in blog posts and on twitter, so please subscribe for the latest updates.

Contents

Contents is a table of contents and statistical summary of all the GIDEON content, that is current with each update. It consists of  3 sections: Content Lists, Item content and Synonyms.

• Content lists: Content summary and GIDEON modules and sub-modules in a tree format
• Item content: For each item in the tree, displays content list. For example, Infectious Diseases – Diseases, displays a list of all the Infectious Diseases with links directly to those diseases.
• Synonyms: Shows lists of related synonyms for item if they exist. In the example above, all the Infectious Disease synonyms are listed, linked to the diseases in GIDEON. In the case of Drugs and Vaccines, the trade names are listed.

Contents and Updates will display in GIDEON’s application if you’re logged in, otherwise as part of the website.
Some screenshots below:

GIDEON’s redesigned Microbiology module has been launched (screenshot). Following the update of the GIDEON Diagnosis module, we’ve implemented many of the new features in Microbiology, including

• New tabs
• Suggestions
• Dynamic identification
• Usability improvements

New tabs

The new tabs in Microbiology replace the older radio buttons and make it easier to reach each function. For each category: Bacteria, Mycobacteria and Yeasts there is easy access to Identify or Lists.

Suggestions

GIDEON’s Microbiology Compare function, until now, has ranked phenotypic tests which are most likely to impact the Identification list. Now, the top four tests which are most likely to focus and shorten the list of possible organisms are displayed and dynamically updated as each new test result is entered. Clickable boxes which allow the user to enter a “yes”, “no” or “unknown”, appear and enlarge each time the mouse passes near a test.

Dynamic identification

The Identify button has been eliminated! Now, the Identification list is automatically updated as test results are entered. This feature demonstrates the effects of each new test result as it is entered.

The familiar buttons: Compare, Why Not, Open case, Save case, Remove All, Print, Email are all in the Identification list area.

Usability improvements

Updated lists

The organism lists have been updated to extend the length of the screen. The organisms can be selected by clicking the check boxes to their left and then Compared. Clicking on expands the list of synonyms.

Collapsible windows

Windows in Identify, such as Suggestions and Phenotypic Tests can be minimized and hidden. For example to not see suggestions, click on the minimize button  to the left title.

Mouse overs
More mouse-overs have been added: Clickable boxes expand as you mouse over them, and display clear symbols to select “yes” or “no.”

Phenotype
You can now click on the tests  in the Phenotype window.

Quick sorting
Identification results can be sorted alphabetically or by probability easily by clicking the column title.

Window resizing
Changing vertical window size expands size of Phenotypic tests and Identification list sub-windows in Identify and Organism list. This is a great feature for larger monitors.

Previous version
Click “Original Microbiology” to use the older interface.

Update: See video demonstration

Following up on the post announcing the new GIDEON diagnosis module, there is now a video demonstration by Dr. Steve Berger:

Wishing you all a happy 2010!

GIDEON’s redesigned Infectious Diseases Diagnosis module has been launched (screenshot). There are many new features, including

• Suggestions
• Dynamic diagnosis
• Usability improvements

Suggestions
Until now, GIDEON’s Diagnosis Compare function has ranked signs and symptoms which are most likely to impact the Differential Diagnosis list. Now, the top four clinical findings which are most likely to focus and shorten the list of possible diseases are displayed and dynamically updated as each new sign or symptom is entered. Clickable boxes which allow the user to enter a “yes”, “no” or “unknown”, appear and enlarge each time the mouse passes near a perspective finding.

Dynamic diagnosis

The Diagnose button has been eliminated! Now, the differential diagnosis list updates automatically as you enter signs and symptoms. This feature demonstrates the effects of each new sign or symptom as it is entered.
The First case scenario list still appears below the diagnosis list.
The familiar buttons: Compare, Why Not, Open case, Save case, Remove All, Print, Email are all in the Diagnosis Results area.

Usability improvements

Country and incubation period in symptom list
Country name and Incubation period have been appended to the Clinical Presentation list.  Now, whenever you indicate a country name, or dates of exposure, the Differential diagnosis list instantly re-adjusts accordingly.

Collapsible windows
Windows, such as Suggestions and Clinical Summary can be minimized and hidden. For example to not see suggestions, click on the minimize button to the left title.

Mouse overs
More mouse-overs have been added: Clickable boxes expand as you mouse over them, and display clear symbols to select “yes” or “no.”

Clinical Summary
You can now click on the signs and symptoms in the Clinical Summary. Clicking on Country will display “Worldwide”. Clicking again displays the country.

Quick sorting
Diagnosis results can be sorted alphabetically or by probability easily by clicking the column title.

Resize window
Changing vertical window size expands size of Clinical presentation and Diagnosis results sub-windows. This is a great feature for larger monitors.

Previous version
Click “Original diagnosis” to use the older interface.

One of the most important functions of GIDEON is to help users prepare scientific articles, teaching material and other publications (see the Fingerprint case of the month). A new feature now allows users to create custom-designed charts which compare the features of two or more diseases, drugs or pathogens.

For comparison of key clinical and epidemiological features of infectious diseases, in the Diseases tab, click on a disease (step 1 in the image below), and – while holding down the control button – click on other diseases of your choice. Now click on the Compare button (step 2).

Choosing diseases to compare

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