An ongoing outbreak in Istanbul reminds us that measles rates in Turkey have decreased significantly only during the past five years, in parallel with achievement of >90 vaccination coverage in the country (WHO estimates) [1,2] In the attached graph, measles rates (green line) are contrasted with vaccination coverage estimates.

References:
1. Berger SA. Infectious Diseases of Turkey, 2011. 420 pp. Gideon e-books, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/country/infectious-diseases-of-turkey/
2. Berger SA. Measles: Global Status, 2011. 386 pp. Gideon e-books, http://www.gideononline.com/ebooks/disease/measles-global-status/

Update: Posted in ProMED

Although vaccination coverage for major infectious diseases in Haiti was below that of other countries in the region, recent WHO estimates had shown some improvement in recent years. Most recent data are summarized in the following chart:

Also check out GIDEON’s free ebook: Infectious Diseases of Haiti

In view of a massive ongoing outbreak in Manila, the following chronology of published large outbreaks (>50 cases) of leptospirosis was abstracted from GIDEON. Outbreaks known to be associated with heavy rains or flooding are denoted by * A number of additional outbreaks have been associated with floods, but without specific mention of case numbers. Thus, a major outbreak in Krasnodar (Russia) in 1997 followed local flooding; as did epidemics in China during 1962 to 1963, 1966, 1973 to 1974 and 1984.

The Epidemiology module in GIDEON currently contains details of 8,910 Infectious Diseases outbreaks (Primary references are available on request)

Update: Reported in ProMED

346 INFECTIOUS DISEASES AND 7,316 OUTBREAKS INCLUDED IN NEW VERSION OF GIDEON ONLINE

– Features the most current information and decision support tools to assist medical professionals in diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases and bioterrorism agents–

LOS ANGELES, Calif., March 19, 2008 – GIDEON Informatics (www.gideononline.com) today announced a new version of its Web-based solution, with data on 346 infectious diseases, 7,316 outbreaks, 219 signs and symptoms and 80,000 medical notes. Providing comprehensive and accurate information on infectious diseases, GIDEON helps medical professionals worldwide improve the diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases.
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We have found a wonderful distribution partner, EBSCO publishing (EP). This means that new institutional subscribers will sign up for GIDEON directly with EP. Based on their preference, current institutional subscribers can renew with GIDEON or EP. New and renewal individual subscriptions will still be handled by GIDEON.

Check out http://www.epnet.com/gideon for more information.

The press release: GIDEON and EBSCO Publishing partner to offer wider access to GIDEON (PDF).