MEDIA REPORTS OF HUMAN STREPTOCOCUS CASES LINKED TO

UNCLAS HANOI 001357 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/MLS, OES/IHA, MED STATE PASS TO HHS/OGHA (STIEGER/VALDEZ/BELL/HICKEY) CDC FOR OGHA (BLOUT/MCCALL) AND DIV-FLU (COX/MOHEN) USDA PASS TO APHIS, FAS (OSTA AND OCRA),FSIS BANGKOK FOR RMO, CDC (MALISON),USAID (MACARTHUR/BRADY) BEIJING FOR HHS HEALTH ATTACHE (ROSS) PHNOM PENH FOR CDC INFLUENZA COORDINATOR(BRADY) VIENTIANE FOR CDC INFLUENZA COORDINATOR (CORWIN) ROME FOR FAO E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: TBIO AMED EAGR KFLU VM SUBJECT: MEDIA REPORTS OF HUMAN STREPTOCOCUS CASES LINKED TO OUTBREAK OF BLUE EAR DISEASE IN SWINE ¶1. (U) Vietnamese media recently reported 42 human cases of disease caused by infection with Streptococcus suis, a bacterial infection that can be contracted after coming into direct contact with an infected pig or eating pork or blood from an infected pig. The bacteria can cause internal hemorrhage and high fever, in addition to meningitis or infection of the blood or heart. The disease can be fatal. ¶2. (U) Vietnamese media have reported two confirmed human deaths due to infections with S. suis. Vietnam health officials have reported cases throughout the country and have called for measures to increase surveillance at local levels. There have been recent improvements in diagnostic capacity for S. suis in Vietnam. (Note: Given our poor understanding of the background incidence of human S. suis infections, particularly in the North, it is difficult to say whether this represents a significant increase in incidence this year. End note.) ¶3. (U) These reports coincide with media reports of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) virus outbreak. More than 27,000 pigs in central Vietnam have reported succumbed to the virus, which is also known as "blue ear disease." While S. suis is not known to be directly related to PRRS, it is possible that the outbreak of PRRS has increased human contact with dead pigs and have therefore increased exposure to risk factors for S. suis infection. Most cases to date have had a confirmed occupational history of exposure to raw pork meat (e.g., slaughterhouse worker or commercial butcher) or similar contact. Mission Hanoi will continue to monitor the situation and will provide additional reports if necessary. MARINE