Several countries in the Asia-Pacific region are dealing with outbreaks of diseases that pose significant health risks to humans and animals.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, a mysterious disease has sickened over 376 people since late October, with death counts ranging from 67 to 143. The main symptoms include fever, headache, runny nose, breathing problems, and anemia.
Meanwhile, researchers in Vietnam reported that using clinician audit and feedback reports boosted adherence to antibiotic prescribing for children hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia. The study found a 32% increase in the rate of appropriate prescribing.
In another development, officials in Vietnam’s Long An province confirmed a human H5N1 case involving an 18-year-old man who is hospitalized in Ho Chi Minh City. Authorities are waiting on further sequencing results to characterize the N gene.
The country reported its last human H5N1 case in March and has been linked to sporadic human cases, but none involving human-to-human transmission. Health officials in Vietnam are urging caution due to the risk of disease spread through environmental contamination.
In Canada, a fourth case of chronic wasting disease (CWD) was confirmed in British Columbia, with officials calling for immediate action to stem transmission of the fatal neurodegenerative disease. The BC Wildlife Federation is urging dedicated funding and increased testing to detect and contain the disease.
Source: https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/misc-emerging-topics/dr-congo-probes-outbreak-deadly-mysterious-flu-illness