Emerging Infectious Diseases最新文献

Latin America is experiencing an unprecedented dengue outbreak, causing an increased health burden. We document the cocirculation of dengue viruses 1–4 in Putumayo, a remote, underserved region at the border between Ecuador and Colombia. Dengue circulation in this largely unexplored territory represents a threat to public health in Putumayo and neighboring areas.

We conducted a survey for domestic cat hepadnavirus, an analog of human hepatitis B virus, in the endangered felid species Iberian lynx. Results revealed specific antibodies in 32.3% of serum samples and DNA in 0.5% of available liver samples. Phylogenetically, the virus segregated apart from other Europe strains of the virus.

We report a cluster of infections with genetically related toxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae linked to an outbreak among asylum seekers in Switzerland that subsequently affected patients without known exposure. This discovery highlights the importance of rapid, interdisciplinary outbreak investigations and regular vaccination status assessment, especially in elderly populations with waning immunity.

During September–October 2021, group B Streptococcus bloodstream infections surged among patients hospitalized in Hong Kong. Of 95 cases, 57 were caused by the hypervirulent strain sequence type 283, which at the time was also found in freshwater fish and wet market environments and thus poses a transmission threat.

We describe an outbreak of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) caused by Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C in Fiji. We created surveillance case definitions and collected data by using standard investigation forms. Bacterial identification, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, and PCR were performed in Fiji. Molecular testing was conducted at the Microbiological Diagnostic Unit in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. During January 2016–December 2018, a total of 96 confirmed or probable IMD cases were reported. Of case-patients, 61.5% (59/96) were male and 38.5% (37) female, 84.4% (81) were indigenous people of Fiji, and 70.8% (68) were children <15 years of age. Annual incidence increased from 1.8/100,000 population in 2016 to 5.2/100,000 population in 2018. Serogroup C multilocus serotype 4821 that is resistant to ciprofloxacin was prevalent (62.1%, 41/66). Public health measures, which included targeted mass vaccination with monovalent meningitis C vaccine, were effective in controlling the outbreak. We observed a rapid decline in meningitis C cases in subsequent years.

Mammarenaviruses are noteworthy zoonotic pathogens, and the main reservoirs are rodent species. We report the detection of a novel mammarenavirus in 6/183 (3.3%) in necropsied European hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) collected in Italy. The whole-genome sequence obtained for 4 strains reveaed a marked genetic diversity but a monophyletic origin.

We show that human myxovirus resistance protein 1 (MxA) suppresses replication of highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) viruses isolated from mammals in vitro and in MxA-transgenic mice. However, H5N1 can evade MxA restriction through replacement of individual viral polymerase complex components from a human-adapted MxA-resistant strain in vitro.

Escherichia coli producing OXA-48–like carbapenemases (OXA-EC) is considered a high-risk pathogen spread primarily in the community in low- and middle-income countries and nosocomially in high-income countries. We investigated the emergence and spread of OXA-EC in Israel, a high-income country with strong carbapenemase-directed infection control in healthcare institutions, by conducting a population-based study using data and isolates from the national surveillance system. A total of 3,510 incident cases of OXA-EC occurred during 2007–2023. During 2016–2023, annual cases rose from 41 to 1,524 and nonnosocomial cases rose from 39% to 57%. Sixty-three sequenced isolates belonged to 20 sequence types (STs) and had 3 bla_OXA alleles (bla_OXA-244, bla_OXA-48, and bla_OXA-181); 71% were chromosomally encoded, and 29% were plasmid-encoded. Nosocomially and non–nosocomially acquired isolates belonged to the same STs and alleles. Most outbreaks involved multiple STs and could only partially be explained by plasmid dissemination. Measures for confronting OXA-EC might need reconsideration.

We collected social contact data in Greece to measure contact patterns before (January 2020) and during the COVID-19 pandemic (March 2020–October 2021) and assess the effects of social distancing over time. During lockdowns, mean daily contacts decreased to 2.8–5.9 (mean prepandemic 20.4). Persons >65 years of age retained the fewest contacts during the pandemic (2.1–4.1). Compared with the first lockdown (March–April 2020), the second lockdown (November–December 2020) and third lockdown (April 2021) showed higher numbers of contacts (incidence rate ratio 1.50 [95% CI 1.27–1.76] in second lockdown and 2.19 [95% CI 1.86–2.58] in third lockdown). In 2021, an increase in contacts was apparent, which persisted during the April 2021 lockdown among persons 18–64 years of age. Our study provides evidence of the waning observance of physical distancing. Effective risk communication alongside targeted social distancing could offer alternatives to repeated lockdowns.