International ProMed Updates: Armenia and Israel

[NicoleRussell]

Date: Thu, 16 Feb 2006
> From: Mary Marshall
> Source: Reuters alertnet, 15 Feb 2006 [edited]
> <http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L15707108.htm>
>
>
> A rare public appeal went out on Wednesday [15 Feb 2006] to Israeli
> pet owners to bring their dogs to donate blood to help save more than
> a dozen canines poisoned by toxic American pet food.
>
> Approximately 23 dogs have died in Israel in recent weeks from liver
> failure after eating Nutra Nuggets Performance, manufactured by the
> U.S.-based Diamond Pet Food company. Veterinarians say at least
> another 17 pets have been poisoned and that only a handful were
> expected to survive.
>
> At the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Hebrew University of Jerusalem,
> Beit Dagan, where 14 dogs are being treated for poisoning,
> veterinarians said dozens of people had brought in their pets to give
> blood after [the vets] made their appeal on Israeli television, radio
> and newspapers.
>
> The U.S. Food and Drug Administration ordered a recall of several
> Diamond Pet Food products in December [2005] after tests showed many
> bags were contaminated with aflatoxin, a potentially lethal chemical
> found on grains.
>
> Diamond estimated that more than 75 dogs died in the United States.
> Israel's Agriculture Ministry recalled the products in February
> [2006] after
> several dogs in Israel died.
************************************************************
Source: Information agency ARMINFO [translated by Mod.NR, edited]
> <http://www.arminfo.am/news_ru_130206_5.shtml>
>
>
> 4 people in Armenia affected by botulism
> ----------------------------------------
> A family of 4 people were poisoned with botulism. According to a
> correspondent from the Rescue Service of Armenia, on Fri 10 Feb 2006
> inhabitants of Chiva village were admitted to the Yehegnadzor
> city hospital. The ages of the family members were 34, 29, 19, and 13.
> All of them were hospitalized in the Erevan medical center in
> Armenia. Physicians say that their condition is moderately severe.
>
> --
> ProMED-mail
>

>
> [No information is given regarding the food source of the
> botulism, which is
> usually improperly canned food or dried or smoked fish -- see
> archives below.
> There is a map at <http://francarmenie.free.fr/Pays/map.gif>
> - Mods.LL/JW]
>
> [see also:
> 2005
> ----
> Botulism, canned food - Kyrgyzstan (Osh region) 20051219.3635
> Botulism, dried fish - Kazakhstan (Mangistauskaya) 20051017.3029
> Botulism, salted fish - Russia (Buryatia) 20051014.2998
> Botulism, canned food - Russia (Rostov) 20050712.1980
> Botulism - Russia (Komi) 20050705.1897
> Adult colonization botulism - Czech Rep. ex. Georgia (02): susp.
> 20050426.1159
> Adult colonization botulism - Czech Rep. ex Georgia: susp 20050420.1108
> Botulism, canned cucumbers - Russia (Samara) 20050228.0622
> Botulism, smoked fish - Russia (Rostov) 20050118.0167
> Botulism, dried fish - Ukraine (Zaporozhye) 20050220.0557
> Botulism during pregnancy - Kyrgyzstan (Chuysk) 20050218.0538
> 2004
> ----
> Botulism, dried fish - Ukraine (Kharkov) 20041030.2930
> Botulism, smoked fish - Russia (Buryatia) (03) 20040908.2508
> Botulism, smoked fish - Russia (Buryatia) 20040817.2278
> Botulism, dried fish suspected - Russia (Volgograd) 20040526.1424
> 2003
> ----
> Botulism, canned corn - Ukraine 20031121.2888
> 2000
> ----
> Botulism, foodborne - Russia 1999 20000229.0277
> 1999
> ----
> Botulism, human - Russia (Burjatija) 19990907.1576]
> ...................np/nr/ll/msp/jw

[bcfos1]

Anything Bot-tox in Russia around Rostov should be held as suspicious seeing that a rather large biological and chemical weapons factory is in that area.