Emerging Infectious Diseases Journal

Highlights: Emerging Infectious Diseases, Vol. 18, No. 9, September 2012

1. Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 Virus among Healthy Show Pigs, United States, Gregory C. Gray et al.

Because animals can transmit some diseases to people, it is wise to be cautious around animals that carry these diseases. But how do you know which animals are carrying disease? Sometimes they appear perfectly healthy. A study of 57 apparently healthy show pigs at a 2009 US state fair found that almost 20% were carrying influenza virus and at least four were carrying the 2009 pandemic virus. Of concern is the possibility that different types of influenza virus—pandemic, swine, avian—could combine in pigs and emerge as new viruses that then spread to humans. Swine workers, veterinarians, and other persons with pig contact may be at high risk of infection with pig influenza and should receive seasonal influenza vaccines, use personal protective equipment when working with healthy pigs, and limit their contact with sick pigs. Regular monitoring of influenza virus among pigs and testing of sick persons who have been exposed to pigs are needed.

Contact
Gregory C. Gray
Department of Environmental and Global Health
College of Public Health and Health Professions
University of Florida, Box 100188
Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
352-273-9449
gcgray@phhp.ufl.edu

2. Trends in Meningococcal Disease in the United States Military, 1971–2010, Michael P. Broderick et al.

When you consider the risks undertaken by US military personnel, do you include risk for disease? Public health officials do. Military personnel are at risk for infectious disease because of crowding, the rigors of physical training, and sometimes unhygienic field conditions. Meningococcal disease (usually manifested as bacterial meningitis or blood-borne infection) can be rapidly fatal. It has historically affected the military more than the general US population. One hundred years' worth of data support this trend from as long ago as World War I. However, in 1970, a policy requiring vaccination of military recruits started lowering the rate of infection, although the rate remained higher than that for the general population. Since 1982, improvements in vaccines have lowered rates even further. As a result of these vaccination efforts, the meningococcal disease rate among military personnel has reached a historic low, which now matches that of the general population.

Contact:
Michael P. Broderick, via
Naval Health Research
Center Public Affairs Officer
nhrc-pao@med.navy.mil

3. Multiple-Insecticide Resistance in Anopheles gambiae Mosquitoes, Southern Côte d’Ivoire, Constant A.V. Edi et al.

Preventing malaria used to seem as simple as killing the vector, the mosquito; however, a recent study shows that this concept is now anything but simple. The highly effective use of insecticide-treated bed nets and indoor insecticide spraying is being challenged by mosquito resistance to insecticides. In West Africa, populations of this mosquito vector are now resistant to all 4 classes of insecticide approved for this use. And no new classes of insecticide are anticipated until 2020, at the earliest. Development of newer classes of insecticide is crucial because if resistance continues unchecked, the hard-earned progress in malaria control in Africa could be quickly reversed.

Contact:
Hilary Ranson
Vector Group
Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK
hranson@liverpool.ac.uk

4. Novel Vectors of Malaria Parasite in the Western Highlands of Kenya, Jennifer Claire Stevenson et al.

The main method of malaria control is based on a simple premise: avoid mosquito bites by killing the mosquitoes. This concept relies on spraying insecticides indoors and sleeping under insecticide-treated bed nets because it is assumed malaria mosquitoes spend most of their time indoors and feed at night. That is, until now. A recent study has identified new species of mosquitoes that prefer to be outdoors and to feed earlier in the evening. These behavior patterns could render current control practices ineffective. New malaria control methods need to be developed according to the specific behavior of all the different vectors.

Contact:
Jennifer Claire Stevenson
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine - Faculty of Infectious Diseases
Department of Disease Control
Keppel Street
London WC1E 7HT, UK
jennifer.stevenson@lshtm.ac.uk, or jstevenson@kemricdc.org

 

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES