Risk factors for brucellosis in Samarqand Oblast, Uzbekistan

SummaryObjectivesThis study was conducted to identify the potential risk factors for human brucellosis infection in Samarqand, Uzbekistan.MethodsClinically identified cases admitted to different hospitals during 2004–2006 (N=144), and age-, sex- and residence-matched control patients (N=288) with other unrelated conditions, were included in this study. Structured questionnaires were completed and consent forms signed. Patients and controls were tested on site for Brucella infection by standard tube agglutination test and culture. Statistical analyses were performed with Stata software for univariate and multivariate analysis.ResultsAmong the 144 patients with confirmed brucellosis, 137 (95.1%) owned farm animals, 135 (93.8%) were from rural areas, and 119 (82.6%) were enrolled during the animal breeding season. Multivariate analysis indicated that brucellosis was highly associated with contact with aborted animals (adjusted matched odds ratio (AMOR) 87.19, 95% confidence interval (CI) 9.36–911.85; p<0.001), slaughtering/butchering animals (AMOR 35.35, 95% CI 6.25–199.77; p<0.001) in the household, consumption of raw milk (AMOR 54.13, 95% CI 1.98–1476.13; p=0.018), and being in a family that had brucellosis sharing the same exposure (AMOR 15.93, 95% CI 1.37–184.97; p=0.027).ConclusionsTo reduce the burden of brucellosis in Samarqand Oblast, veterinary services should be improved. Also public health education programs should be increased. Implementing these measures will minimize exposure to infected farm animals and reduce the risk of infection

A growing global network’s role in outbreak response: AFHSC-GEIS 2008-2009

A cornerstone of effective disease surveillance programs comprises the early identification of infectious threats and the subsequent rapid response to prevent further spread. Effectively identifying, tracking and responding to these threats is often difficult and requires international cooperation due to the rapidity with which diseases cross national borders and spread throughout the global community as a result of travel and migration by humans and animals. From Oct.1, 2008 to Sept. 30, 2009, the United States Department of Defense’s (DoD) Armed Forces Health Surveillance Center Global Emerging Infections Surveillance and Response System (AFHSC-GEIS) identified 76 outbreaks in 53 countries. Emerging infectious disease outbreaks were identified by the global network and included a wide spectrum of support activities in collaboration with host country partners, several of which were in direct support of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) International Health Regulations (IHR) (2005). The network also supported military forces around the world affected by the novel influenza A/H1N1 pandemic of 2009. With IHR (2005) as the guiding framework for action, the AFHSC-GEIS network of international partners and overseas research laboratories continues to develop into a far-reaching system for identifying, analyzing and responding to emerging disease threats

Zoonotic Transmission of Avian Influenza Virus (H5N1), Egypt, 2006–2009

A lower case-fatality rate may have been caused by a less virulent virus clade