Sporadic case of bat rabies in the United Kingdom

On 28 September 2002 a sporadic case of a lyssavirus in a Daubenton’s bat (Myotis daubentonii) was detected in the United Kingdom (UK) using the fluorescent antibody test, as reported in this week’s Communicable Disease Report (1). Further tests on the bat sample were performed, including a rabies tissue culture inoculation test and pan lyssavirus polymerase chain reaction. These confirmed the presence of a lyssavirus.

Illness in military personnel in Bagram, Afghanistan

Between 13 and 19 May, 29 cases of vomiting, diarrhoea, and fever affected British military staff in Bagram, Afghanistan, as reported in this week’s Communicable Disease Report (1). The illness had a short incubation period and mainly affected staff in the field hospital. Three patients were classified as seriously ill, with circulatory collapse (Glasgow coma score 4). Due to the difficult conditions in Bagram, 10 of them were brought back to the United Kingdom (UK) for medical care in National Health Service (NHS) hospitals.

Immunisation against meningococcal meningitis for haj and Umrah

This year’s recommendations by the Department of Health (DH) for England for immunisation against meningococcal meningitis for pilgrims planning to travel to Mecca on haj or Umrah were reported in last week’s Communicable Disease Report (1). An outbreak of meningococcal serogroup A infection occurred among pilgrims on the haj pilgrimage of 1987, resulting in outbreaks in other countries including the United Kingdom (UK).

England’s Chief Medical Officer announces first national strategy against infectious disease

The Chief Medical Officer for England, Professor Sir Liam Donaldson, has published the first ever national strategy for combating infectious disease, as reported in last week’s Communicable Disease Report (1). Getting ahead of the curve – a strategy for combating infectious disease <www.doh.gov.uk/cmo/idstrategy/index.htm> outlines a strategy that is radical in including infection control in the wider remit of health protection

Latest prevalence data of HIV and hepatitis B and C infections in the UK in 2000 published

Transmission of HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C in the United Kingdom (UK) is continuing, according to the latest results from the Public Health Laboratory Service Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre’s unlinked anonymous prevalence monitoring programme published in the Communicable Disease Report (1-4).