No abstract

Precise knowledge of the natural history of cystic echinococcosis (CE) in humans remains somewhat arcane. The aim of the present study was to determine whether aspects of the natural history of established human infection with Echinococcus granulosus could be investigated by using a cross-sectional approach, in a community where CE was endemic. A mass ultrasound-screening survey, coupled with a questionnaire to record all previous surgical histories related to CE, was carried out amongst the primarily transhumant Berber people of the Mid Atlas mountains in Morocco. During two periods of intensive screening, of 10 days in May 2000 and 11 days in May 2001, 11,612 people, representing > 98% of the local population, were checked. One hundred and twenty six (1.1%) of the subjects--75 (59.5%) of the 6864 females investigated and 51 (40.5%) of the 4748 males--were found ultrasound-positive for CE. Overall, 14.1% of the CE cases detected were children aged 1-15 years (who made up 44% of the study population). Most (77.4%) of the ultrasound-positive subjects investigated were also found seropositive for CE. The frequency of a past history of surgery for CE increased with subject age (P = 0.024), 125 (1.1%) of the subjects being recorded as having had such surgery. The frequency of surgery for pulmonary CE was relatively constant in all age-groups, indicating that infection can occur at any time. The frequency of abdominal CE increased with age (R2 = 0.8102). Assuming that the incidence of infection remains fairly constant over time and that the longer a person spends in this endemic area the more likely it is that he or she will develop CE, then a progression from active through transitional to inactive CE should occur. The cysts observed by ultrasound in the present study were categorized, as type 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, according to the new, standardized, ultrasound classification of CE developed by the World Health Organization (WHO). There was a clear exponential decline in the frequency of the various cyst types, from type 1 (the most frequent) to type 5 (the rarest). This decline validates the assumptions made, about the natural history of established CE, by those who developed the WHO's classification. The classification should therefore be invaluable to surgeons and clinicians, when they have to consider treatment options for patients with the various types of CE, and to policy makers trying to establish the economic costs of treating CE in endemic settings.

Although Plasmodium vivax is the only cause of malaria cases detected in Turkey, an increase number of imported P.falciparum cases have begun to be observed recently. Sanliurfa is a province located at Southeastern region of Turkey where malaria is endemic and also one of the two largest malaria epidemics of Turkey was experienced with 84.345 cases in 1994. As this region has borders with countries like Iraq, Iran and Syria, cross border migration caused an increase in imported cases. In addition, climate change, alteration in temperature and humidity due to the Southeastern Anatolian Irrigation Project have led an increase in suitable breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Since new indigenous malaria cases, except imported ones are not detected in Sanliurfa nowadays, there is not enough data on the malaria epidemiology in this region including recent years. The aim of this study was to evaluate the epidemiological data in connection with malaria cases observed in Sanliurfa which is a critical region for this infection for a 11-year-period, between the years of 2001 to 2011, retrospectively. Data obtained from the Malaria Control Unit of the Communicable Diseases Division of Sanliurfa Provincial Health Directorate were analized in terms of frequency of the cases, distribution of the cases in years and months, demographical characteristics, the source and species distribution of the parasite and the locations of the disease. A total of 1.149.196 blood smear samples have been examined during 11-year-period as part of surveillance programme and 4394 (0.4%) of them were positive for Plasmodium spp. The agent was P.vivax in 99.9% (4391/4394) of the cases, while in three cases (0.07%) who were diagnosed after 2010, it was P.falciparum. Of the patients 2351 (53.5%) were male and 2043 (46.5%) were female (p> 0.05), whose age ranging from 3 months to 80 years (mean age: 19.21 ± 16.12 years). The frequencies of the cases according to the age groups 0-11 months, 1-4 years, 5-9 years, 10-14 years and 15 years were as follows; 2.5%, 15.1%, 18%, 13.9% and 50.5%, respectively. The detection of Plasmodium spp. in the samples examined in 2002 (1244/110.533; 1.1%) was the highest, and in 2011 (1/50.981; 0.002%) was the lowest. The distribution rates of 4394 cases according to the years between 2001 to 2011, were found as 25.4%, 28.3%, 17.8%, 10.9%, 8.9%, 5.6%, 1.4%, 1.4%, 0.2%, 0.009% and 0.02%, respectively. Of all cases, 80.6% were autochthonous and 19.4% were imported. Most of the cases were detected in Siverek county with a rate of 71.4%, followed by Ceylanpınar (13.5%) and Viranşehir (6.6%) counties. Although malaria cases were detected throughout the year in Sanliurfa in respect to the climate, the highest numbers were recorded in September (832/4394; 18.9%) and November (1054/4394; 24%). This study emphasized that malaria cases due to local transmission declined to zero in Sanliurfa like the recent situation in Turkey. However, P.falciparum malaria cases are being reported due to the travels to endemic countries or migrations ...

Anthrax is a notifiable disease in Turkey. In order to control the human disease, animal foci are being monitored and prevention and control activities are being implemented by the Ministry of Health in coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. The objective of our study was to evaluate the national surveillance data and control activities in the last decade. A total of 1174 anthrax cases and 9 deaths have been reported. Anthrax was frequent in eastern provinces and in big cities where large animal movements were significant. The incidence rate was 1.5 times higher in males than in females. The disease was more common in the 30–64 age group. The number of cases increased in the summer and autumn seasons. Human anthrax is still being reported though in decreasing numbers in Turkey. A collaborative control programme continues to be needed.

Amaç: İstilacı sivrisinek türleri tüm kıtalarda büyük problem olup birçok alanda sivrisinek kökenli ciddi hastalık salgınlarına neden olabilmektedir. Avrupa Kıtasındaki son araştırmalar, pek çok otonom chikungunya vakalarının, istilacı Aedes albopictus ve Aedes aegypti türleri ile ilişkili olduğunu göstermiştir. Bu türlerin ve diğer istilacı Aedine sivrisinek türlerinin kapsamlı şekilde izlenmesi, muhtemel salgınları önlemek ve zamanında müdahale etmek için gereklidir. Bu çalışma, Doğu Karadeniz bölgesinde izleme ve kontrol çalışmalarının başarısı üzerine odaklanmıştır. Yöntem: İzleme çalışması 2016-2017 vektör aktif sezonda ve üç şehirde ECDC ve CDC yönergelerine göre gerçekleştirilmiştir. Kontrol çalışmaları, 2017 vektör aktif sezonun ikinci yarısında T.C. Sağlık Bakanlığı Zoonotik ve Vektörel Hastalıklar Dairesi denetimi altında gerçekleştirilmiştir. Larva kontrolü için IGR, Bti/ Bs karışımı ile sıvı Bti kullanılmıştır. Ergin kontrolü için farklı pyrethroidler, nikotini taklit eden maddeler ve doğal ürünler kullanılmıştır. Popülasyon dalgalanmaları ABSTRACT Objective: Invasive mosquito species are a huge problem worldwide and can cause serious mosquito borne disease epidemics. Recent surveys in Europe revealed that many autocthonous cases of chikungunya are related to the invasive Aedes albopictus and Aedes aegypti species. Extensive surveillance of these species and other invasive Aedine mosquito species is required for the prevention and timely response to possible outbreaks. This study focuses on surveillance and control operation success in the Eastern Black Sea region of Turkey. Methods: This surveillance study was performed during the 2016-2017 vector active season. Three cities were surveyed according to ECDC and CDC guidelines. Control operations were performed during the second half of the 2017 active season under the supervision of the Turkish Ministry of Health's Zoonotic and Vectorborne Diseases Department. IGR, a Bti/Bs mix and liquid Bti were used for larval control. Different pyrethroids, nicotine mimics and natural products were used for