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Source: WHO, Event Information Site for IHR National Focal

Event Updates: 18 December 2019 to 24 December 2019

Event Updated Country Hazard Disease Event Description IHR Assess
2019-12-24 Malaysia Infectious Polio-myelitis, Acute Paralytic, Vaccine Associated On 6 December 2019, the National IHR Focal Point of Malaysia informed WHO of the detection of cVDPV1 in Sabah, Malaysia, following confirmation by the WHO  Regional Reference Laboratory (RRL) at the Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory (VIDRL) in Australia. The case is a 3-month-old male Malaysian citizen, from Damat Village in Tuaran District, Sabah State, Malaysia, who developed fever on 26 October 2019, followed by seizures on the 30th October 2019 and a rectal swab sample was taken from the baby on that day. The baby was diagnosed as having Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) on 8 November 2019.  

The virus was found to be genetically linked to the strain that was recently isolated from an AFP case detected in Basilan, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), Philippines (confirmed on 22 November). This VDPV type 1 is therefore classified as circulating VDPV type 1(cVDPV1), between Basilan, BARMM, Phillipine and Sabah, Malaysia.

Initial investigations, showed no apparent travel history to the Philippines, but had given history of receiving frequent visitors from the Phillipines to the family house. The possible source of infection is still under investigation.

WHO currently assesses the risk of the spread of cVDPV1 within the country and regionally as high due to the population movement both within the country and within the region

WHO does not recommend any restriction on travel and/or trade based on the information available for the current polio event.

 None /Not applicable
2019-12-24 Mali Infectious Yellow Fever From 3 November to 8 December 2019, three laboratory-confirmed cases of yellow fever including two deaths (CFR 67%) were detected through the national surveillance system. On 3 December 2019, the cases tested yellow fever IgM and RT-PCR positive at the Institute Pasteur Dakar.  The first case is a 15-year-old girl from the village of Nanakenieba, district of Kati, region of Koulikoro. The second and third cases are a 17 and 25-year-old men from Cote d’Ivoire, from the villages of Wogouna and Keregouna, in the district of Bouguimi; Sikassso Region. In addition, there are 9 suspected and 3 probable cases reported from the Bouguimi district, including a total of 3 deaths among the probable cases in this district. Eight health areas of Bouguimi health district have been affected, with Manankoro (4) and Mafelé (3) reporting the highest number. One suspected case is pending for confirmation by the Institute Pasteur Dakar laboratory.  

 

On 5 December 2019, a yellow fever outbreak was declared in two different regions in Mali after 14 years since the last outbreak in 2005.

 Based on available information, WHO assesses the overall risk as high at the national level, moderate at the regional level, and low at the global level.

WHO advises against the application of any travel or trade restrictions on Mali. Yellow fever vaccination is routinely recommended for international travellers over the age of 9 months coming to Mali.

 Public Health Risk
2019-12-18 Qatar Infectious Corona-virus Infection On 5 December 2019, the National IHR Focal Point for Qatar reported three (3) laboratory-confirmed cases of MERS-CoV to WHO. Index case is a 67-year-old unemployed female national living in DOHA. She has no history of contact with dromedary camels nor recent travel. The source of her infection is under investigation. Follow up and screening of 7 household contacts and 40 healthcare worker contacts is ongoing and two asymptomatic secondary cases were identified   

From 2012 until 2019, the total number of laboratory-confirmed MERS-CoV infection cases reported globally to WHO is 2497 with 858 associated deaths. The global number reflects the total number of laboratory-confirmed cases reported to WHO under IHR to date. The total number of deaths includes the deaths that WHO is aware of to date through follow-up with affected member states.

WHO does not advise special screening at points of entry with regard to this event nor does it currently recommend the application of any travel or trade restrictions.

 Public Health Risk

  *A public health risk is something that is (or is likely to be) hazardous to human health or could contribute to a disease or an infectious condition in humans.