Although Listeria monocytogenes is a relatively uncommon cause of food-borne infection in the United States, this species is associated with a disproportionate mortality rate. In recent years, Salmonella and Listeria have been associated with more cases of fatal bacterial food related disease than any other agent, despite the the relative rarity of listeriosis as a disease. [1,2] In fact, case-fatality rates of the most common agent, Salmonella, have not paralleled increases in disease incidence. See graphs 1 and 2.

(See the Graph tool tutorial at http://www.GIDEONonline.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/Gideon-Graphs.pps )

References:
1. Berger SA. Infectious Diseases of the United States, 2011. 1030 pp, 464 graphs, 8237 references. Gideon e-books, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/country/infectious-diseases-of-the-united-states
2. Berger SA. Listeriosis: Global Status, 2011. 93 pp, 103 graphs, 487 references. Gideon e-books, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/disease/listeriosis-global-status/

Note disussed in Promed

Although national reporting was discontinued as of 1994, endemic typhus was once the most common rickettsial infection in the United States. [1,2] (see graph).

19,663 cases of endemic typhus were reported during 1944 to 1953; 812 during 1954 to 1963; 315 during 1964 to 1973; 588 during 1974 to 1983; and only 447 during 1984 to 1993. Disease rates peaked during the 1930′s and 1940′s. In fact, 787 military personnel acquiring the disease 15 fatal) during World War II – 497 of these infected in the United States. [1,2]

(See the Graph tool tutorial at http://www.GIDEONonline.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/Gideon-Graphs.pps )

References:
1. Berger SA. Infectious Diseases of the United States, 2011. 1030 pp, 464 graphs, 8237 references. Gideon e-books, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/country/infectious-diseases-of-the-united-states/
2. Berger SA. Endemic Typhus Group: Global Status, 2011. 50 pp, 34 graphs, 185 references. Gideon e-books, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/disease/endemic-typhus-group-global-status/

Reported in ProMED

Rates of legionellosis in Italy and surrounding countries have increased dramatically since 2000, while the number of travel-associated cases in Italy has almost tripled during this period. [1,2] See graphs:

A tutorial for the Gideon graph tool is available at http://www.GIDEONonline.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/Gideon-Graphs.pps

References:
1. Berger SA. Infectious Diseases of Italy, 2011. 472 pp, 111 graphs, 2235 references. Gideon e-books, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/country/infectious-diseases-of-italy/
2. Berger SA. Legionellosis: Global Status, 2011. 90 pp, 106 graphs, 755 references. Gideon e-books, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/disease/legionellosis-global-status/

This post has been discussed on ProMED

A recent outbreak in Viljandi belies the fact that rates of Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B in the Baltic region have been decreasing since the 1990′s. [1,2] See graphs:

(graph tool tutorial at http://www.GIDEONonline.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/Gideon-Graphs.pps )

The last major outbreak of Hepatitis A in Estonia was reported in 1998 (989 cases).

References:
1. Berger SA. Infectious Diseases of Estonia, 2011. 357 pp, 97 graphs, 887 references. Gideon e-books, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/country/infectious-diseases-of-estonia/
2. Berger SA. Hepatitis A: Global Status, 2011. 163 pp, 180 graphs, 1073 references. Gideon e-books, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/disease/hepatitis-a-global-status/

Note featured in ProMED: Note reproduced in ProMED

The following background data on leptospirosis in Sri Lanka have been abstracted from the Gideon web application (Gideon www.GideonOnline.com) and e-book series.l [1,2]

Time and Place:
Leptospirosis was first reported in Sri Lanka in 1953.
- Most cases are reported in Moneragala, Ampara, Matara, Balle and the Northwestern province.
- Highest risk is identified among paddy farmers and sugar cane plantation workers.

Reported rates have increased dramatically since 2006 – see graph:

(graph creation tool demo at http://www.GIDEONonline.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/Gideon-Graphs.pps)

Prevalence surveys:
13.5% of patients with febrile illness (Galle, 2007)

Seroprevalence surveys:
24.3% of patients with acute febrile illness (Kandy, 2010 publication)
27.1% of patients with febrile illness (Galle, 2007)
20.3% of cattle and 17.5% of rodents (Kandy, 2011 publication)

References:
1. Berger SA. Infectious Diseases of Sri Lanka, 2011. 364 pp, 71 graphs, 1063 references. Gideon e-books, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/country/infectious-diseases-of-sri-lanka/2. Berger SA. Leptospirosis: Global Status, 2011. 148 pp, 165 graphs, 834 references. Gideon e-books, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/disease/leptospirosis-global-status/
See discussion at ProMED

Mexico is one of only eight countries which mandate reporting of cysticercosis on a national level. The following background data are abstracted from the Gideon e-book series. [1,2]

Cysticercosis in Mexico: Incidence and rates per 100,000, see graph:

Prevalence surveys:
Neurocysticercosis is found in 0.4 to 3.5% of autopsies (1980′s) and accounts for 25% of cerebral mass lesions.
Cerebral cysts are identified in 50% of late-onset epileptics (1990)
Six percent of cerebral CT scans are positive for this disease (Yucatan, 1989 to 1994).
0.49% of the Indian rural population of Chiapas are seropositive (1976 publication)
1.5% of persons in the Yucatan are infested by Taenia solium, and 3.7% are seropositive toward the parasite (1996 to 1997).
1.2% of persons in rural Guererro are infested and 3.26% are seropositive (1998)
0.5% of military personnel in Mexico City are infested and 12.2% are seropositive (1999 publication)
43.8% of the population of Cuentpec, Morelos are seropositive, and 9% have neurocysticercosis (2006 publication)
12.2% of military personnel in Mexico City are infested by Taenia solium (1999 publication)

Additional notes:
261 fatal cases were reported in 1990; 293 in 1996.
124 fatal cases were reported in California during 1989 to 2000 – of which 72.6% were Mexican immigrants.
Ten percent of Mexican pork is contaminated by Taenia solium – 23% in the Yucatan (1996 to 1997).

References:
1. Berger SA. Infectious Diseases of Mexico, 2011. 446 pp, 128 graphs, 1655 references. Gideon e-book series, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/country/infectious-diseases-of-mexico/
2. Berger SA. Cysticercosis: Global Status, 2011. 25 pp, 8 graphs, 261 references. Gideon e-book series, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/disease/cysticercosis-global-status/

The incidence of viral hepatitis in Bulgaria has actually decreased in recent years [1-3] See graph:

Nevertheless, disease rates in Bulgaria remain slightly higher than those in neighboring countries.

Graphs are generated using an interactive online system – see GIDEON Graphs

References:
1. Berger SA. Infectious Diseases of Bulgaria, 2011. 68 pp, 101 graphs, 967 references. Gideon e-books, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/country/infectious-diseases-of-bulgaria/
2. Berger SA. Hepatitis A: Global Status, 2011. 163 pp, 180 graphs, 1073 references. Gideon e-books, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/disease/hepatitis-a-global-status/
3. Berger SA. Hepatitis B: Global Status, 2011. 327 pp, 405 graphs, 1517 references. Gideon e-books, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/disease/hepatitis-b-global-status/

Note reproduced in 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

Notwithstanding an ongoing outbreak in northern Bohemia, the Czech Republic has managed to reduce mumps to levels comparable to those of the United States. In the following graph, I have contrasted rates per 100,000 population for these two countries:

Graph generation system outlined in [1])

Note that a precipitous decline in mumps in the Czech Republic followed the introuction of widespread MMR vaccination in 1987. [2,3]

1. Gideon Graphs module tutorial Gideon Graphs
2. Berger SA. Infectious Diseases of the Czech Republic, 2011. 424 pp, 139 graphs, 1192 references. Gideon e-books, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/country/infectious-diseases-of-the-czech-republic/
3. Berger SA. Mumps: Global Status, 2011. 157 pp, 187 graphs, 390 references. Gideon e-books, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/disease/mumps-global-status/

Reproduced by ProMED

A recent post in ProMED highlights the fact that rates of Hepatitis C in Scotland are more than seven-fold higher than those of neighboring countries, and twenty-fold those reported in the United States. [1,2] See graph

References:
1. Berger SA. Infectious Diseases of Scotland, 2011. 403 pp, 140 graphs, 1233 references. Gideon e-books, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/country/infectious-diseases-of-scotland/
2. Berger SA. Hepatitis C: Global Status, 2011. 164 pp, 160 graphs, 1500 references. Gideon e-books, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/disease/hepatitis-c-global-status/

Update: Posted in ProMED