Human infection with avian influenza A (H5N8) – the Russian Federation
On 18 February 2021, the National IHR Focal Point for the Russian Federation notified WHO of detection of avian influenza A(H5N8) in seven human clinical specimens. These are the first reported detection of avian influenza A(H5N8) in humans. Positive clinical specimens were collected from poultry farm workers who participated in a response operation to contain an avian influenza A(H5N8) outbreak detected in a poultry farm in Astrakhan Oblast in the Russian Federation. The laboratory confirmation of the seven specimens were performed by the State Research Centre for Virology and Biotechnology VECTOR (WHO H5 Reference Labora...
Source: WHO Disease Outbreaks - February 26, 2021 Category: Infectious Diseases Tags: news Source Type: news

Ebola virus disease – Guinea
On 14 February 2021, the Ministry of Health (MoH) of Guinea informed WHO of a cluster of Ebola Virus (Source: WHO Disease Outbreaks)
Source: WHO Disease Outbreaks - February 17, 2021 Category: Infectious Diseases Tags: news Source Type: news

Rift Valley fever – Kenya
Rift Valley fever (RVF) has been reported in Kenya in humans in Isiolo and Mandera counties and in (Source: WHO Disease Outbreaks)
Source: WHO Disease Outbreaks - February 12, 2021 Category: Infectious Diseases Tags: news Source Type: news

Ebola virus disease – Democratic Republic of the Congo
On 7 February 2021, the Minister of Health of the Democratic Republic of the Congo declared an outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) after the laboratory confirmation of one case in Butembo, North Kivu Province. The case was a 42-year-old female living in Masoya Health Area, Biena Health Zone. She was a spouse of an EVD survivor, who has been followed up and whose biological samples have tested negative since 28 September 2020. On 25 January 2021, the case presented with nasal bleeding. From 25 January to 1 February, she reportedly received outpatient care in Ngubi health center. From 1 to 3 February, she was admitted to ...
Source: WHO Disease Outbreaks - February 10, 2021 Category: Infectious Diseases Tags: news Source Type: news

Influenza A (H3N2) variant virus – United States of America
On 13 January, 2021, a child under 18 years of age in Wisconsin developed respiratory disease. A respiratory specimen was collected on 14 January. Real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing conducted at the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene indicated a presumptive positive influenza A(H3N2) variant virus infection. The specimen was forwarded to the Influenza Division of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on 21 January for further testing. On 22 January, CDC confirmed an influenza A (H3N2)v virus infection using RT-PCR and genome sequence analysis. Investigation into the...
Source: WHO Disease Outbreaks - February 5, 2021 Category: Infectious Diseases Tags: news Source Type: news

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) – The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Between 1 June through 31 December 2020, the National IHR Focal Point of Saudi Arabia reported four additional cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS-CoV) with one associated death. The cases were reported from Riyadh (two cases), Taif (one case), and Al-Ahsaa (one case) Regions. The link below provides details of the four reported cases. (Source: WHO Disease Outbreaks)
Source: WHO Disease Outbreaks - February 1, 2021 Category: Infectious Diseases Tags: news Source Type: news

Influenza A(H1N2) variant virus – Brazil
On 15 December 2020, the Brazil Ministry of Health reported the second confirmed human infection with influenza A(H1N2) variant virus [A(H1N2)v] in Brazil in 2020. (Source: WHO Disease Outbreaks)
Source: WHO Disease Outbreaks - January 4, 2021 Category: Infectious Diseases Tags: news Source Type: news

Cholera – Togo
From 11 November to 28 December, 2020 a total of 67 suspected cholera cases presenting with diarrhea and vomiting, including two deaths a case fatality ratio (CFR: 3%) were reported from the municipalities “Golfe 1” and “Golfe 6” in Lomé, Togo. A total of four health areas (Katanga, Adakpamé, Gbétsogbé in Golfe 1, and Kangnikopé in Golfe 6) in the affected municipalities reported at least one case. On 17 November, cholera was confirmed by culture in the laboratory of the National Institute of Hygiene (INH) in Lom é, Togo and WHO was informed. On 19 November, the Minister of Health, Public Hygiene and Univers...
Source: WHO Disease Outbreaks - January 4, 2021 Category: Infectious Diseases Tags: news Source Type: news

SARS-CoV-2 Variants
SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, has had a major impact on human health globally; infecting a large number of people; causing severe disease and associated long-term health sequelae; resulting in death and excess mortality, especially among older and vulnerable populations; interrupting routine healthcare services; disruptions to travel, trade, education and many other societal functions; and more broadly having a negative impact on peoples physical and mental health. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, WHO has received several reports of unusual public health events possibly due to variants of SARS-CoV-2....
Source: WHO Disease Outbreaks - December 31, 2020 Category: Infectious Diseases Tags: news Source Type: news

Yellow fever – Senegal
From October to December 2020, a total of seven confirmed cases of yellow fever (YF) have been reported from four health districts in three regions in Senegal. (Source: WHO Disease Outbreaks)
Source: WHO Disease Outbreaks - December 29, 2020 Category: Infectious Diseases Tags: news Source Type: news

Yellow fever – Guinea
Between 6 November and 15 December 2020, 52 suspected cases of yellow fever (YF), including 14 (Source: WHO Disease Outbreaks)
Source: WHO Disease Outbreaks - December 23, 2020 Category: Infectious Diseases Tags: news Source Type: news

SARS-CoV-2 Variant – United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
On 14 December 2020, authorities of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland reported to WHO that a new SARS-CoV-2 variant was identified through viral genomic sequencing. This variant is referred to as SARS-CoV-2 VUI 202012/01 (Variant Under Investigation, year 2020, month 12, variant 01). (Source: WHO Disease Outbreaks)
Source: WHO Disease Outbreaks - December 21, 2020 Category: Infectious Diseases Tags: news Source Type: news

SARS-CoV-2 Variant – United Kingdom
On 14 December 2020, authorities of the United Kingdom (UK) reported to WHO that a new SARS-CoV-2 variant was identified through viral genomic sequencing. This variant is referred to as SARS-CoV-2 VUI 202012/01 (Variant Under Investigation, year 2020, month 12, variant 01). (Source: WHO Disease Outbreaks)
Source: WHO Disease Outbreaks - December 21, 2020 Category: Infectious Diseases Tags: news Source Type: news

SARS-CoV-2 mink-associated variant strain – Denmark
Since June 2020, Danish authorities have reported an extensive spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, on mink farms in Denmark. (Source: WHO Disease Outbreaks)
Source: WHO Disease Outbreaks - December 3, 2020 Category: Infectious Diseases Tags: news Source Type: news

Acute hepatitis E – Burkina Faso
Between 8 September and 24 November, 2020, the North-Central region of Burkina Faso reported a (Source: WHO Disease Outbreaks)
Source: WHO Disease Outbreaks - November 27, 2020 Category: Infectious Diseases Tags: news Source Type: news