26 October 2012

Army Public Health Weekly Update

The Army Public Health Update is a collection of articles taken verbatim

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media coverage given to them. The articles do not necessarily represent

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Contents

U.S. MILITARY

 Army releases September suicide data

 Coccidioidomycosis, active component, U.S. Armed Forces, January 2000-June 2012

 Nearly 30% of vets treated by V.A. have PTSD

 New military apparel repels chemical, biological agents

GLOBAL

 Additive restores antibiotic effectiveness against MRSA

 How does the polio vaccine reach a remote corner of the world?

 Migratory birds’ ticks can spread viral haemorrhagic fever

 New opportunity for rapid treatment of malaria

 Progress toward global eradication of dracunculiasis — January 2011–June 2012

 Researchers develop antibodies to treat Ebola virus

 Study shows how obesity heightens cancer risk

 Tough TB responds to drug treatment

INFLUENZA

 Armed Forces Health Surveillance Center: DoD Influenza Surveillance Summary

 CDC: Weekly Influenza Surveillance Report

 European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control: Weekly Influenza Surveillance Overview

 German regulator recalls some Novartis flu vaccines

 Google.org: Flu Trends

 Naval Health Research Center: Febrile Respiratory Illness Surveillance Update

 USAPHC: U.S. Army Influenza Activity Report

VETERINARY/FOOD SAFETY

 China: Ebola antibodies found in Chinese bats

 Netherlands: Outbreak of Salmonella Thompson since July 2012

 U.S.: FDA documents voice doubts about voluntary approach on animal antibiotics
Vaccine Storage and 

Handling

A video on vaccine storage 

and handling from the 

CDC’s 2012 Epidemiology 

and Prevention of Vaccine 

Preventable Disease Series.

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WELLNESS

 Docs say choose organic food to reduce kids' exposure to pesticides

 Energy drink caffeine levels often stray from labels: study

 Hormone therapy not recommended for disease prevention: U.S. panel

 New breast cancer therapy tied to more complications

 NIH videos demonstrate behavior's role in personal health

 Partial sleep deprivation linked to obesity

 Wait longer between Pap tests, ob-gyns say

USAFRICOM

 Northwest Africa: Locust warning – food security

 Uganda faces fresh outbreak of hemorrhagic fever

USCENTCOM

 Afghanistan: Winter planning aims to save lives

USEUCOM

 Czech Republic: An invasive mosquito species Aedes albopictus, 2012

 Greece: In vulnerable Greece, mosquitoes bite back

 Greece: Malaria

 Italy: L'Aquila quake - scientists guilty of manslaughter

 United Kingdom: NHS hearing services 'being cut'

USNORTHCOM

 U.S.: 2012 was second worst year for West Nile virus

 U.S.: ACIP makes recommendations for Tdap, meningococcal vaccines

 U.S.: Boys hit puberty sooner now, study finds

 U.S.: Meningitis outbreak spreads to 18 states with South Carolina case

USPACOM

 India: Monsoon hits Tamil Nadu, claims 20 lives

 Indonesia: Chikungunya

 Myanmar: Demining moves a step closer

USSOUTHCOM

 Cuba: Sandy hits Cuba as category two hurricane

 Peru doctors 'to suspend strike over pay'

U.S. MILITARY

Army releases September suicide data

19 October - The Army released suicide data today for the month of September. During 

September, among active-duty soldiers, there were 15 potential suicides: one has been 

confirmed as suicide and 14 remain under investigation. For August, the Army reported 16 

potential suicides among active-duty soldiers. Since the release of that report, one case was 
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removed for a total of 15 cases: five have been confirmed as suicides and 10 remain under 

investigation. For 2012, there have been 146 potential active-duty suicides: 91 have been 

confirmed as suicides and 55 remain under investigation. Active-duty suicide number for 

2011: 165 confirmed as suicides and no cases under investigation. Defense.gov

Coccidioidomycosis, active component, U.S. Armed 

Forces, January 2000-June 2012

September 2012 - Coccidioidomycosis, also known as “Valley Fever,” is an infectious illness 

caused by inhalation of the spores of Coccidioides immitis or Coccidioides posadasii, which 

are naturally occurring fungi found primarily in the soil of large areas of the southwestern 

United States and Central and South America....Providers of health care to U.S. military 

members should consider coccidioidomycosis a potential cause of febrile, respiratory, 

infectious illnesses among those currently or previously exposed to endemic areas. Medical 

Surveillance Monthly Report

Nearly 30% of vets treated by V.A. have PTSD

21 October - The Department of Veterans Affairs has quietly released a new report on posttraumatic stress disorder, showing that since 9/11, nearly 30 percent of the 834,463 Iraq and 

Afghanistan War veterans treated at V.A. hospitals and clinics have been diagnosed with 

PTSD. Veterans’ advocates say the new V.A. report is the most damning evidence yet of the 

profound impact multiple deployments have had on American service men and women 

since 9/11. Troops who’ve been deployed multiple times to Iraq and Afghanistan are more 

than three times as likely as soldiers with no previous deployments to screen positive for 

PTSD and major depression, according to a 2010 study published by the American Journal 

for Public Health. Daily Beast

New military apparel repels chemical, biological agents

17 October - Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) 

scientists and collaborators are developing a new military uniform 

material that repels chemical and biological agents using a novel 

carbon nanotube fabric. The material will be designed to undergo a 

rapid transition from a breathable state to a protective state. The 

highly breathable membranes would have pores made of a few-nanometer-wide vertically 

aligned carbon nanotubes (CNT) that are surface modified with a chemical warfare agentresponsive functional layer. Response to the threat would be triggered by direct chemical 

warfare agent attack to the membrane surface, at which time the fabric would switch to a 

protective state by closing the CNT pore entrance or by shedding the contaminated surface 

layer. R&D

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GLOBAL

Additive restores antibiotic effectiveness against MRSA

22 October - Researchers from North Carolina State University have increased the potency 

of a compound that reactivates antibiotics against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus 

aureus (MRSA), an antibiotic-resistant form of Staphylococcus that is notoriously difficult to 

treat. Their improved compound removes the bacteria’s antibiotic resistance and allows the 

antibiotic to once again become effective at normal dosage levels. NC State chemist 

Christian Melander had previously proven the effectiveness of a 2-aminoimidazole 

compound in reactivating antibiotics against resistant bacterial strains. However, the original 

compound was not potent enough. In his latest work, described in a paper appearing in 

Angewandte Chemie, Melander, research assistant professor Roberta Worthington and 

graduate student Tyler Harris have solved the potency issue, bringing them one step closer 

to in vivo testing. NC State University

How does the polio vaccine reach a remote corner of the 

world?

24 October - In the past week, we've had a lot to say about 

polio — from its history in the U.S. to vaccination efforts in 

Nigeria and Pakistan. Why do we care so much about 

disease that has essentially disappeared from most of the 

world? Because we seem to be right on the verge of 

wiping out polio globally, making it just the second disease to be completely eliminated 

from the world. Polio cases have plummeted in the past 25 years, from an estimated 

350,000 in 1988 to only 171 cases so far in 2012. But as NPR's Jackie Northam tweeted last 

week: For polio "'this close' is akin to being 'kinda pregnant'. You need to eradicate polio, 

full stop." To do that, kids in the most rural corners of Pakistan and Afghanistan must be 

inoculated, not once, but multiple times. NPR

Migratory birds’ ticks can spread viral haemorrhagic 

fever

22 October - A type of haemorrhagic fever (Crimean-Congo) that is prevalent in Africa, Asia, 

and the Balkans has begun to spread to new areas in southern Europe. Now Swedish 

researchers have shown that migratory birds carrying ticks are the possible source of 

contagion. The discovery is being published in the US Centers for Disease Control and 

Prevention journal Emerging Infectious Diseases. Uppsala Universitet
New opportunity for rapid treatment of malaria

24 October - Malaria causes up to 3 million deaths each year, 

predominantly afflicting vulnerable people such as children under five and 

pregnant women, in tropical regions of Africa, Asia, and Latin America. 

Treatments are available for this disease, but the Plasmodium parasite is 

fast becoming resistant to the most common drugs, and health authorities 

say they desperately need new strategies to tackle the disease. This new potential treatment 

uses molecules that interfere with an important stage of the parasite's growth cycle and 

harnesses this effect to kill them. The impact is so acute it kills ninety per cent of the 

parasites in just three hours and all those tested in laboratory samples of infected human 

blood cells, within twelve hours. The research was carried out by chemists at Imperial 

College London and biological scientists from the research institutions Institut Pasteur and 

CNRS in France. Their work is published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy 

of Sciences (PNAS). Imperial College London

Progress toward global eradication of dracunculiasis —

January 2011–June 2012 

26 October - Dracunculiasis (Guinea worm disease) is caused by Dracunculus medinensis, a 

parasitic worm. Approximately 1 year after initial infection from contaminated drinking 

water, the worm emerges through the skin of the infected person, usually on the lower limb. 

Pain and secondary bacterial wound infection can cause temporary or permanent disability 

that disrupts work and schooling for the entire family. In 1986, the World Health Assembly 

(WHA) called for dracunculiasis elimination (1) and the Guinea Worm Eradication Program, 

supported by The Carter Center, World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations 

Children’s Fund (UNICEF), CDC, and other partners, was coalesced to assist ministries of 

health of endemic countries in meeting this goal. At that time, an estimated 3.5 million 

cases occurred annually in 20 countries in Africa and Asia (1,2). This report updates 

published (3,4) and previously unpublished surveillance data reported by ministries of 

health and describes progress toward global dracunculiasis eradication. Morbidity and 

Mortality Weekly Report

Researchers develop antibodies to treat Ebola virus

18 October - Researchers say they're making progress toward a treatment for the dreaded 

Ebola virus, which recently caused outbreaks in equatorial Africa. Experiments with 

monkeys using laboratory-engineered disease-fighting agents called monoclonal antibodies 

show promise in treating infection with the highly lethal disease. U.S. government and 

private industry researchers have developed a drug that contains a cocktail of monoclonal 

antibodies against Ebola. A monoclonal antibody is a disease-fighting protein engineered to 

target and disarm a specific virus, bypassing natural antibodies produced by the body’s 

immune system. Dubbed MB-003, the anti-Ebola cocktail contains three monoclonal 

antibodies that attach themselves to three different sites on the surface of the deadly virus. 

The pathogen, unable to evade the multiple attacks, withers away. VOA
Study shows how obesity heightens cancer risk 

17 October - In addition to being a known risk factor for diabetes, morbid obesity causes 

higher death rates in severely overweight cancer patients, regardless of their diet. Scientists 

have new evidence that excess fat stimulates and supports tumor growth. Experts say up to 

25 percent of cancer cases occur in morbidly obese individuals. And, for reasons not fully 

understood, tumors appear to be more aggressive and therapy less effective in patients 

with excess fat tissue. But researchers at the University of Texas Health Science Center at 

Houston may have found the reason at the molecular level. They say expanding fat tissue 

cells emit hormones and growth factors, called adipokines, that promote the growth of new 

blood vessels which nourish and promote tumor growth... VOA

Tough TB responds to drug treatment 

22 October - An antibiotic used to treat severe infections 

shows promise against a very resistant and deadly form of 

tuberculosis. XDR-TB is resistant to at least four of the 

drugs used most often against the disease. Extensively 

drug resistant tuberculosis – or XDR-TB – is still considered 

rare, although cases have been reported in nearly 80 countries. Health officials believe the 

number of XDR-TB cases is underreported because there’s no specific test for it. It can be 

cured, but the odds against that happening are often quite high. It can kill quickly, 

especially if a person is co-infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Dr. Ray Chen, a staff 

clinician at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, says XDR-TB is the next 

step after MDR-TB, or multi-drug resistant tuberculosis, which is a lot more common. VOA

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INFLUENZA

Armed Forces Health Surveillance Center: DoD Influenza 

Surveillance Summary

25 October 2012:

 Overall, influenza activity remains low in the MHS and ranges from low to moderate in 

the overseas DoD laboratory surveillance network. So far this season, circulating 

subtypes include influenza A/H1, A/H3, and B. 

 The influenza vaccination coverage for the DoD (Active Duty component only) is 

approximately 71%. AFHSC DoD Influenza Surveillance Summary

CDC: Weekly Influenza Surveillance Report

During week 41 (7-13 October 2012), influenza activity remained low in the United States.

FluView
European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control:

Weekly Influenza Surveillance Overview

During week 41 (8-14 October 2012), all 24 reporting countries experienced low intensity of 

clinical influenza activity, 20 countries notified no geographic spread. Three countries 

reported increasing trends. Weekly Influenza Surveillance Overview

German regulator recalls some Novartis flu vaccines

25 October - Germany's vaccination agency said on Thursday that some anti-influenza 

vaccines produced by Novartis should not be used and that the Swiss drugmaker had 

agreed to recall them. The Paul-Ehrlich Institute said some lots of flu vaccines Begripal and 

Fluad would be recalled. Italy on Wednesday banned the sale and use of anti-influenza 

vaccines produced by Novartis pending tests for possible side effects after small particles 

were found in some of the injections, prompting authorities in Switzerland to also take 

precautionary steps. Germany's Paul-Ehrlich Institute said the recall was a precautionary 

measure and that no small particles had been found in the products in Germany. Reuters

Google.org: Flu Trends

25 October – Estimates of flu activity based on flu-related Internet search queries indicate 

that the level of flu activity in the United States ranges from low to moderate. Google.org 

Flu Trends

Naval Health Research Center: Febrile Respiratory 

Illness Surveillance Update 

For the week ending 20 October 2012:

A cluster of influenza A/H1N1(09) cases were identified at MCRD Parris Island, continuing 

into early October. 

Adenovirus 

 Vaccination against types 4 and 7 adenovirus was instituted at all basic training centers 

by mid-November 2011 (week 45). 

 FRI rates and the proportion of FRI cases positive for adenovirus have decreased 

markedly since vaccine was reintroduced. 

 Type 14 adenovirus is present at MCRD Parris Island.

FRI surveillance at all eight U.S. military basic training centers indicated FRI rates were at or 

below expected values. NHRC Febrile Respiratory Illness Surveillance Update 

USAPHC: U.S. Army Influenza Activity Report

13 October – Current influenza and influenza-like illness activity is low in US Army and 

civilian populations. All beneficiaries aged 6 months and older should receive this year's 

influenza vaccine, unless medically exempted. USAPHC U.S. Army Influenza Activity Report

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VETERINARY/FOOD SAFETY

China: Ebola antibodies found in Chinese bats

23 October - Bats in China have been found to harbor antibodies to Ebola viruses, the first 

such evidence of filovirus infection in the country, researchers reported in the Virology 

Journal. Chinese and Australian researchers developed an enzyme-linked immunosorbent 

assay (ELISA) for Ebola using the recombinant nucleocapsid protein and conducted a 

seroprevalence survey among Chinese bats. The researchers collected 843 wild bats from 

various provinces in mainland China from 2006 to 2009. They found that 32 of 843 serum 

samples contained Ebola antibodies and that 10 of 16 were further confirmed by western 

blot test. They conclude, "To our knowledge, this is the first report of any filovirus infection 

in China." CIDRAP

Netherlands: Outbreak of Salmonella Thompson since 

July 2012

25 October - An ongoing outbreak of salmonellosis due to Salmonella Thompson is 

affecting the Netherlands. Between 2 August and 19 October 2012, 866 cases were 

confirmed. Their median age was 44 years (range: 0–95 years), 63% were female and 36% 

were hospitalised. A matched case–control study suggested smoked salmon as the vehicle. 

Salmonella Thompson was confirmed in four of nine batches of smoked salmon from one 

producer. A recall of all concerned smoked salmon products was executed starting end of 

September. Eurosurveillance

U.S.: FDA documents voice doubts about voluntary 

approach on animal antibiotics

24 October - Internal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) documents obtained by an 

advocacy group show that the agency has some doubts about its voluntary strategy for 

reducing the use of antibiotics in food animals, according to the group, Public Employees 

for Environmental Responsibility (PEER). The voluntary approach, unveiled in April, 

encourages drug companies to change the labels of certain antibiotics to stop growthpromotion uses. PEER had asked the FDA for documentary evidence supporting its 

confidence in the voluntary strategy. The agency initially didn't respond, but recently 

provided documents under the threat of a lawsuit, according to PEER. The group, which 

posted some documents on its Web site, says they contradict rather than support the FDA's 

optimism about the voluntary strategy. One FDA memo says, "We recognize that the 

voluntary strategy has certain limitations in that (1) it lacks specifically defined/mandated 

timeframes, (2) its success is dependent on drug sponsors deciding it is in their best interest 

to work cooperatively with the agency, and (3) FDA collects insufficient data on drug use...to 

measure the effectiveness of the strategy." Another memo states that the FDA has 
"regulatory options" in case the voluntary approach doesn't work, but the agency blanked 

out the options in the document. PEER attorney Kathryn Douglass said in a press release, "In 

the foot-thick stack of materials FDA surrendered there is not a shred of evidence that 

industry is working to phase-out injudicious use of these drugs." CIDRAP

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WELLNESS

Docs say choose organic food to reduce kids' exposure to 

pesticides

22 October - For the first time, the nation's pediatricians 

are wading into the controversy over whether organic food 

is better for you – and they're coming down on the side of 

parents who say it is, at least in part. It's worth buying 

organic to avoid pesticide residues, at least in some foods, 

says the American Academy of Pediatrics in a report released today. Contrary to what the 

Stanford University study on organics a few weeks back suggested, the pediatricians say 

when it comes to feeding kids, relying on federal standards for pesticide residue isn't good 

enough. The pediatricians are worried because babies of female farm workers in California 

showed small but significant developmental and motor delays when their mothers were 

exposed to pesticides at levels similar to those deemed acceptable in conventionally grown 

produce while pregnant. No studies have been done to see if exposure to similar levels of 

pesticides from simply eating produce would cause similar problems. But since early 

childhood exposure to lead and other toxins at very low levels is now known to be harmful, 

the pediatricians think caution is in order. NPR

Energy drink caffeine levels often stray from labels: study

25 October - Energy drinks do not always divulge how much caffeine they contain, and 

when an amount is listed on a label, it is not always accurate, Consumer Reports magazine 

has found. According to a study released on Thursday by the magazine, 11 of the 27 topselling energy drinks in the United States do not specify the amount of caffeine in their 

beverages. Of the 16 drinks that did list a specific caffeine amount, five had more caffeine 

per serving than was listed and the average amount over was more than 20 percent. Reuters

Hormone therapy not recommended for disease 

prevention: U.S. panel

22 October - The risks of taking hormone therapy to prevent heart disease and osteoporosis 

in post menopausal women far outweigh the benefits and such treatment is not 

recommended, according to new guidelines from an influential panel of U.S. health advisers. 

The guidelines from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, published on Monday in the 
Annals of Internal Medicine, reaffirm the group's 2005 guidelines recommending against 

the treatment. They apply only to hormone therapy for prevention of chronic disease. They 

do not apply to the use of hormones to treat symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes 

or vaginal dryness, or to women under age 50 who have had a hysterectomy. Reuters

New breast cancer therapy tied to more complications

22 October - Women about to have breast cancer surgery may want to pay extra attention 

to the radiation treatment they could be offered afterward. A new study shows a new and 

increasingly popular treatment called brachytherapy is tied to more wound and skin 

complications than the standard radiation technique. Yet as many as one in six women on 

Medicare, the government's health insurance program for people over 65, end up getting 

the new therapy following breast-conserving surgery, researchers found. "We were very 

surprised to see that brachytherapy is as commonly used as it is, particularly given that 

there is no clear evidence that it offers better cancer outcomes," said Dr. Cary P. Gross of 

Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut. His findings were published 

Monday in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Reuters

NIH videos demonstrate behavior's role in personal 

health

22 October - Habit, education, and environment all affect our behavior and our health. The 

National Institutes of Health's Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (OBSSR), 

today released four videos highlighting outstanding behavioral and social science research 

on mindless eating, risk-taking, diabetes management, and the evolution of skin 

pigmentation. The videos, called Research Highlights, are available on both the OBSSR 

website (www.obssr.od.nih.gov/video/) and the NIH YouTube channel 

(http://www.youtube.com/user/NIHOD) and feature prominent researchers describing their 

work and its implications for society. NIH

Partial sleep deprivation linked to obesity

24 October — Evidence linking partial sleep deprivation to energy imbalance is relevant to 

weight gain prevention and weight loss promotion. A new study published October 24in the 

Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics bases this finding on an extensive review 

of literature published over a fifteen-year period. More than 35 percent of American adults 

are obese and more than 28 percent sleep less than six hours a night... The research team 

evaluated articles published between 1996 and 2011 to determine the role of partial sleep 

deprivation on energy balance and weight regulation. As part of its methodology, the team 

constructed a series of comparative tables detailing individual study populations, study 

designs, energy intake, energy expenditure, and measurements of the hormones ghrelin, 

leptin, insulin, glucose, and cortisol. Analysis of these characteristics identified a set of 

patterns, including reduced insulin sensitivity, increases in ghrelin, and decreases in leptin 

among partially sleep-deprived individuals. Changes in ghrelin and leptin influenced energy 

intake among the study populations. ScienceDaily
Wait longer between Pap tests, ob-gyns say

22 October - Most women can wait three to five years between Pap tests to screen for 

cervical cancer, according to guidelines released Monday by the American College of 

Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). The recommendations fall in line with two 

separate sets of guidelines released earlier this year - one by the American Cancer Society 

and other medical groups, and another from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, a 

government-backed panel. All of the new recommendations mark a further shift away from 

annual Pap testing, which was once the standard advice. Now ACOG and the other groups 

say most women ages 21 to 29 should have a Pap test no more than every three years. For 

women ages 30 to 65, the best option is to have a Pap test, along with a test for human 

papillomavirus (HPV), every five years; otherwise, a Pap test alone every three years is 

"acceptable." Reuters

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USAFRICOM

Northwest Africa: Locust warning – food security

25 October - Swarms of desert locusts are likely to migrate to 

Algeria, Libya, Mauritania and Morocco in the coming weeks 

from West Africa and the Sahel region, says the UN Food and 

Agriculture Organization (FAO), which urges the four countries 

to prepare for pest control. Clouds of adult locusts are 

developing in Chad and are about to form in Mali and Niger after plentiful rains during the 

June-September rainy season favoured the breeding of two generations of locusts and 

increased their population 250 times. When they migrate to northwestern African countries, 

they are “expected to arrive in areas where there has been recent rainfall and with green 

vegetation... there could be impacts on associated livelihoods,” Keith Cressman, FAO’s 

senior locust forecasting officer, told IRIN. Prevailing winds and past trends make it likely 

that the swarms, once formed, will fly to Algeria, Libya, southern Morocco and northwestern 

Mauritania, he said in a statement on 23 October. IRIN

Uganda faces fresh outbreak of hemorrhagic fever

24 October - Uganda is struggling to contain the spread of the deadly Marburg virus, just 

weeks after an outbreak of Ebola killed at least 16 people. Last week, health officials 

declared an outbreak of the rare and deadly Marburg virus, a type of hemorrhagic fever 

similar to Ebola. Five people have died so far, six have been placed in isolation and over 

150 more are being monitored for symptoms. One of the cases is being treated in the 

capital, Kampala. The outbreak comes just two weeks after Uganda was declared free of 

Ebola earlier this month. At least 16 people died of Ebola, a virus which in the past has killed 

hundreds. VOA

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USCENTCOM

Afghanistan: Winter planning aims to save lives

25 October - After last year’s Afghan winter - the harshest in 15 

years - killed dozens of displaced children in urban settlements, 

government and aid agencies in Afghanistan are preparing 

themselves for the coming winter. As of 30 September 2012, the 

UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) reported 445,856 persons 

internally displaced due to conflict. Many of these live in informal settlements in and around 

Kabul, but their numbers can be hard to track. The UN Office for Coordination of 

Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is compiling data on the size of the settlements, where the 

deaths occurred, to scale up its winter assistance stocks accordingly, the deputy head of the 

Afghanistan office, Arnhild Spence, told IRIN. The Afghan National Disaster Management 

Authority is in the process of collecting and consolidating data on preparedness measures 

which the various line ministries are undertaking in the provinces. IRIN

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USEUCOM

Czech Republic: An invasive mosquito species Aedes 

albopictus, 2012

25 October - Between July and September 2012, seventeen larvae of the invasive mosquito 

species Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus (Skuse) were discovered using 60 ovitraps at four study 

sites alongside two main road exits in South Moravia, Czech Republic. This is the first report 

of imported Ae. albopictus in the Czech Republic. The findings highlight the need for a 

regular surveillance programme to monitor this invasive species throughout western and 

central Europe. Eurosurveillance

Greece: In vulnerable Greece, mosquitoes bite back

22 October - Just when it seems things couldn't get any worse 

for Greece, the exhausted and indebted country has a new 

threat to deal with: mosquito-borne diseases. Species of the 

blood-sucking insects that can carry exotic-sounding tropical 

infections like malaria, West Nile Virus, chikungunya and dengue 

fever are enjoying the extra bit of warmth climate change is bringing to parts of southern 

Europe. And with austerity budgets, a collapsing health system, political infighting and 

rising xenophobia all conspiring to allow pest and disease control measures here to slip 

through the net, the mosquitoes are biting back. Reuters
Greece: Malaria

19 October - Cases of malaria continue to be reported in Greece. Some new cases have

occurred in areas of Greece where malaria had not been previously reported. Cases of 

malaria have been reported from the Attica, Karditsa, Laconia, Viotia, and Xanthi regions of 

Greece. Cases have occurred in the cities of Evrotas, Marathon, Markopoulo, and Selino. No 

cases have been reported in Athens. The Hellenic (Greek) CDC and the European CDC are 

improving surveillance for malaria cases. In affected areas, mosquito control has been 

intensified, health care providers have been educated, and the public has been informed.

CDC

Italy: L'Aquila quake - scientists guilty of manslaughter

22 October - Six Italian scientists and an ex-government official have been sentenced to six 

years in prison over the 2009 deadly earthquake in L'Aquila. A regional court found them 

guilty of multiple manslaughter. Prosecutors said the defendants gave a falsely reassuring 

statement before the quake, while the defence maintained there was no way to predict 

major quakes. The 6.3 magnitude quake devastated the city and killed 309 people. BBC 

News

United Kingdom: NHS hearing services 'being cut'

22 October – NHS hearing services are being scaled back in 

England, an investigation by campaigners suggests. Data 

obtained by Action on Hearing Loss from 128 hospitals 

found more than 40% had seen cuts in the past 18 months. 

In particular, the study found evidence of rises in waiting 

times and reductions in follow-up care. The report is the latest in a growing number to have 

suggested front-line care is being rationed as the health service struggles with finances. The 

NHS is in the middle of a £20bn five-year savings drive. The government believes the 

savings can be made by increasing productivity. But in the past year reports have suggested 

everything from hip and knee operations to eye surgery is being cut. BBC News

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USNORTHCOM

U.S.: 2012 was second worst year for West Nile virus

19 October - The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported that as of 

Oct. 16, there have been 4,531 human cases of West Nile virus (WNV) 

reported, reaching a death toll of 183, making this year's outbreak the 

second worst in six years. Of all the WNV cases, 51 percent were 

classified as being neuroinvasive diseases, such as meningitis or 
encephalitis, while 49 percent were non-neuroinvasive. In total, 48 states have reported the 

infection in people or animals and nearly 70 percent of all the cases have come from eight 

states: Texas, California, Louisiana, Mississippi, Illinois, South Dakota, Michigan and 

Oklahoma, and nearly a third of the cases can be attributed to Texas. Private MD News

U.S.: ACIP makes recommendations for Tdap, 

meningococcal vaccines

24 October - A federal panel today recommended that all pregnant women receive the 

tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap) vaccine during each pregnancy and that infants at 

increased risk receive four doses of a newly approved meningococcal combination vaccine. 

The federal Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP), whose 

recommendations are usually accepted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 

(CDC), made the Tdap recommendation on a 14-0 vote (with one abstention) and the 

meningococcal shift on a 13-1 vote, also with one abstention. The Tdap step expands the 

ACIP's June 2011 recommendation that, among pregnant women, only those who have not 

had the Tdap vaccine should receive it. CIDRAP

U.S.: Boys hit puberty sooner now, study finds

20 October - American boys are entering puberty at a younger age now than they did 

several decades ago, new research reveals. Specifically, investigators discovered that males 

are showing the first signs of sexual maturity six months to two years earlier, with blacks 

having a significant head start relative to whites and Hispanics. The study does not pinpoint 

what exactly is driving the trend toward earlier puberty, nor does it identify an underlying 

mechanism that might explain any racial differences. However, the finding builds on what 

most experts consider definitive research from the 1990s, which confirmed that American 

girls are also entering puberty at a younger age today than in decades past. Medline Plus

U.S.: Meningitis outbreak spreads to 18 states with South 

Carolina case

25 October - The deadly outbreak of fungal meningitis tied to 

tainted steroid medications from a Massachusetts company 

expanded to 18 states on Thursday with South Carolina 

reporting its first probable case of the disease. New England 

Compounding Center of Framingham, Massachusetts, shipped 

the steroid to 23 states and all but five of those states now have reported cases of rare 

fungal meningitis. The five states which have not reported cases are California, Nevada, 

West Virginia, Rhode Island and Connecticut. Reuters

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USPACOM

India: Monsoon hits Tamil Nadu, claims 20 lives

21 October - The North-East monsoon lashes Tamil Nadu and leaves twenty persons dead 

during the two-day rains that lashed various parts of the state. Tamil Nadu Chief minister J 

Jayalalithaa, who reviewed the arrangements to tackle the northeast monsoon has ordered 

officials to provide `2.5lakh each as compensation to the kin of the dead. She has also 

announced help to those who've suffered injuries or loss of livestock or property. The 

victims, including women, were killed in incidents such as electrocution and lightning 

strikes. The CM asked ministers to visit their districts regularly and take stock of the 

situation, as rains are expected to continue till December-end. NewsX

Indonesia: Chikungunya

25 October - The head of the District Health Office (DKK) Sukoharjo, Dr Guntur Subiyantoro, 

asks city residents to be wary of mosquitoes from other areas or urbanizations due to an 

outbreak of chikungunya disease in 2 villages bordering the Klaten [regency]. According to 

DKK data there are 41 patients with diseases caused [transmitted] by mosquitoes. That 

number includes 25 Ngemplak villagers and 16 Pucangan villagers, both areas in the 

Kartasura, Sukoharjo district. On Wed 17 Oct 2012, the official stated that, "people 

suspected of having chikungunya [virus infections] in both villages were located in the 

region bordering Klaten." Furthermore, Guntur said the allegations were based on routine 

community action in 2 villages where people were accustomed to fogging or fumigation. 

Meanwhile, the villagers still do not have these activities on the border. "A healthy lifestyle is 

practiced by citizens. Residents were routinely eradicating mosquito larvae." In the 

meantime, Dr Guntur ordered that the public be aware of the spread of mosquito-borne 

chikungunya and dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) as the rainy season arrives. "If people 

want fogging please report that to DKK. Also drain the bathtub and discard the water in 

catchment areas." ProMED-mail

Myanmar: Demining moves a step closer

22 October - A major Norwegian demining NGO says it is 

ready to begin mine-clearing in southeastern Myanmar once it 

receives a green light. “As soon as we get the go-ahead from 

both the government and relevant ethnic groups, we can start 

doing a survey, and then clearance,” Andreas Indregard, 

country director for NGO Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA) in Myanmar, told IRIN. “From our 

side, we’re ready to act.” On 26 September NPA signed an agreement with the Burmese 

government for the clearance of landmines in Kayah State (eastern Myanmar), Karen and 

Mon states, as well as the Tanintharyi and Bago regions (all in southern Myanmar). "But for 

each area covered by our MoU [memorandum of understanding], we need all relevant 

groups in the area to agree," Indregard said, adding: "Mine action is a new kind of 

intervention in Myanmar, and it takes a little bit of time to get everyone on board." 
Currently there is no organized demining activity in Myanmar and no one is sure if and 

when it may begin. In June the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) reportedly made its first 

visit to Myanmar in a decade and discussed the possibility of mine clearance with senior 

officials. IRIN

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USSOUTHCOM

Cuba: Sandy hits Cuba as category two hurricane

25 October - Sandy has reached south-east Cuba and strengthened into a strong category 

two hurricane. The hurricane was carrying maximum sustained winds of 175km/h (110mph) 

as it hit land just west of Santiago de Cuba, said the US-based National Hurricane Center 

(NHC). On Wednesday, one man was killed as Sandy swept over Jamaica. A hurricane watch 

is in place in the Bahamas, and Florida has been placed on tropical storm watch. The NHC 

said wind gusts of up to 183km/h had been reported in Santiago de Cuba. It warned the 

hurricane was bringing heavy rain which could "produce life-threatening flash floods and 

mudslides, especially in areas of mountainous terrain". Forecasters said up to 300mm (11 

inches) of rain was expected to fall in some areas of eastern Cuba, Haiti and the Dominican 

Republic. Some mountainous areas of the Caribbean could see up to 500mm. BBC

Peru doctors 'to suspend strike over pay'

21 October - Thousands of doctors in Peru have agreed to 

suspend a strike that has left many poor people without 

medical care for more than a month. The leader of the 

doctors' union, Cesar Palomino, said they would return to 

work while they consider government proposals for a pay 

rise. The doctors had complained that their pay was not increasing despite strong economic 

growth in Peru. The strike caused huge backlogs in hospitals and clinics. Peruvian media 

reported that the decision was taken shortly after the government threatened to cut the 

doctors' pay unless they returned to work. Some 1.5m medical appointments were missed 

because of the strike, the BBC's Mattia Cabitza reports from the Peruvian capital, Lima. BBC 

News

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