Outbreak News Today

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The Brazil Ministry of Health is now reporting more than 1,000 deaths due to coronavirus disease, or COVID-19. Through Friday, 1068 deaths have been recorded. 77% occurred in people over 60 years of age and 74% of the total victims had at least one risk factor. São Paulo has reported the most deaths […]The post Brazil COVID-19 deaths top 1000, One million tests distributed appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said today they are concerned about the health of consumers who may self-medicate by taking ivermectin products intended for animals, thinking they can be a substitute for ivermectin intended for humans–prompting them to issue a safety alert. The FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine has recently become aware […]The post FDA warning: Ivermectin meant for animals are not for human treatment for COVID-19 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Today, the Ministry of Health in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) announced a new Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) case (see press release below). The new confirmed case was reported in a 26-year-old man in the city of Beni in the north eastern province of Nord-Kivu. The case occurred two days before […]The post Ebola case reported in DRC, 2 days before calling end to epidemic appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By Mariia Ovodiuk A novel study by Chinese investigators suggests that SARS-CoV-2 may have the ability to dissociate iron from the porphyrin and bond with porphyrin itself. The alterations in the hemoglobin function, investigators claim, can be the cause of the additional lung damage and respiratory distress. Moreover, the ubiquitous nature of the porphyrin in […]The post New mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis: Viral bonding with porphyrin and alteration of heme metabolism appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The National IHR Focal Point of Saudi Arabia reported 18 additional cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection in February 2020. The cases were reported from Riyadh (seven cases), Hafer Albatin (two cases), Najran (two cases), Eastern (two cases), Aljouf (one case), Makkah (one case), Hail (one case), Taif (one case) and Jeddah […]The post Saudi Arabia reports 18 additional MERS cases in February appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Health officials in Iceland say that data suggests that the outbreak of COVID-19 in the country is showing clear signs of deceleration, reporting 295 cases in the past week and 363 recoveries. Mr. Thorolfur Gudnason, Chief Epidemiologist in Iceland advises that the apparent success is precarious, and minor setbacks can change the outlook […]The post Iceland reports a slowing of COVID-19, ‘We anticipate being able to slowly ease the social distancing measures’ appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The Philippines Department of Health (DOH) reported an additional 206 coronavirus disease 2019, or COVID-19 cases Thursday, bringing the country total to 4,076. In addition, 21 more deaths were reported today putting the number of fatalities to 203. Also on Thursday, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) has started distributing the Personal Protective […]The post Philippines COVID-19 cases top 4,000, Update on PPE delivery appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

As COVID-19 testing becomes more widely available, it’s vital that health care providers and public health officials understand its limits and the impact false results can have on efforts to curb the pandemic. A special article published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings calls attention to the risk posed by overreliance on COVID-19 testing to make clinical and public […]The post COVID-19 testing: False-negative test results may lead to false sense of security appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A novel clinical trial developed by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine launched today at UPMC to address one of the most important debates during the COVID-19 pandemic: How should doctors decide between quickly adopting new therapies, such as the anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine, and waiting until they are tested in longer clinical […]The post UPMC led global trial fast tracks testing of hydroxychloroquine, other COVID-19 therapies appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews COVID-19 Nigerian health officials reported twenty-two new COVID-19 cases Wednesday evening, bringing the country case count to 276. The new cases were reported as follows: 15 in Lagos, 4 in the FCT, 2 in Bauchi, 1 in Edo states. Six total deaths have been reported to date. Measles Seven children have been killed […]The post Nigeria: COVID-19 update, Measles outbreak in Adamawa state appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Researchers have identified a total of four cases of newborn babies with COVID-19 infection in China. In all cases the babies experienced only mild symptoms with none requiring intensive care or mechanical ventilation according to research published in in the European Respiratory Journal today. The study was carried out by Dr Zhi-Jiang Zhang and colleagues at […]The post COVID-19 and newborns in China: Researchers say babies experienced mild symptoms appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The National Institute for Public Health Research (INSPI) in Ecuador are reporting 4,450 COVID-19 cases as of April 8. The bulk of the cases have been reported in Guayas province with 3047. Officials say that of the 4450 cases, 3744 are stable in home isolation, 178 are hospitalized in stable condition, 146 hospitalized with […]The post Ecuador reports rise in COVID-19, Receives 200,000 tests appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Between 27 March and 2 April 2020, one new case of human infection with avian influenza A(H9N2) virus was reported to WHO in the Western Pacific Region. The case is a 3-year-old female from Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, China, who had a history of environmental exposure to domestic poultry before onset of symptom. She […]The post H9N2 avian influenza case reported in Guangdong, China child appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Currently, there are no effective medicines or vaccines available to treat or prevent COVID-19. For this reason, restrictive public health measures such as isolation, physical distancing, and quarantine have been used in a number of countries to reduce transmission of the virus. Isolation refers to the separation of people with symptoms from others, whereas quarantine […]The post Quarantine: How effective alone or in combination with other public health measures to control coronavirus? appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin are being used to treat and prevent COVID-19 despite weak evidence for effectiveness, and physicians and patients should be aware of the drugs’ potentially serious adverse events, states a review in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal). “Physicians and patients should be aware of several rare but potentially life-threatening adverse effects of chloroquine and […]The post COVID-19 treatment: Potential harms of chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Health officials in Poland are reporting 5,000 COVID-19 cases as of April 8, including 136 fatalities. The Polish government announced this week that PLN 200 million (Polish zloty) will go to Polish entrepreneurs and scientists who work on diagnostics, treatment and prevention of viral diseases. European funds under the Fast Path “Coronavirus” competition will […]The post Poland: COVID-19 cases reach 5,000, PLN 200 million for fighting coronavirus appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The Malaysia Ministry of Health (MOH) reported 156 new coronavirus disease 2019, or COVID-19 cases today, bringing the country total to 4,119. From the latest information reported to the National Crisis Preparedness and Response Center (CPRC), there are two more cases of COVID-19 related deaths were reported making the cumulative number of COVID-19 […]The post Malaysia: Coronavirus cases top 4,000, Number of cases recovered exceeds new cases appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Human clinical trials may begin on an antiviral compound which was discovered and developed by Emory University and shows promise as a potential treatment for COVID-19. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved an Investigational New Drug application by Drug Innovation Ventures at Emory (DRIVE), LLC, wholly owned by Emory University, for EIDD-2801. […]The post COVID-19 antiviral: FDA oks human clinical trials for EIDD-2801 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Today, Turkey Minister of Health Fahrettin Koca announced there were 76 additional COVID-19 fatalities in the past 24 hours, bringing the total fatalities to 725. He also announced that of the more than 20,000 tests performed in the past day, more than 3,000 were positive. To date, 34,109 total coronavirus cases have been reported. […]The post Turkey COVID-19 death toll now 725, ‘Bed occupancy rate has not reached 50 percent yet’ appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Italy was the main origin of the individuals who first brought the novel coronavirus to Brazil, according to a study by Brazilian researchers in collaboration with colleagues in the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States. The COVID-19 pandemic arrived in Brazil between February and early March. “In contrast with China and other countries, where […]The post Brazil: More than half of COVID-19 cases by early March came from Italy appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Case counts The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Brazil rose to 12,345, including 581 deaths. São Paulo has reported the most cases and deaths of all Brazilian states. Only the states of Acre and Tocantins do not have confirmed deaths from COVID-19. Indigenous territories The BBC reports infections have now spread across […]The post Brazil: Updated COVID-19 case counts, Risk to indigenous peoples, Social distancing appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews At the end of the day on Monday, the Florida Department of Health reported 305 additional positive COVID-19 cases (289 Florida residents and 16 non-Florida residents) bringing the state total to 13,629 cases. While Florida’s testing has increased over the past week, the percent of those testing positive for COVID-19 overall is 11 […]The post Florida COVID-19: 11 percent of testing is positive, HHS announces more funding for states appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Both surgical and cotton masks were found to be ineffective for preventing the dissemination of SARS-CoV-2 from the coughs of patients with COVID-19. A study conducted at two hospitals in Seoul, South Korea, found that when COVID-19 patients coughed into either type of mask, droplets of virus were released to the environment and external mask […]The post Neither surgical nor cotton masks effectively filter SARS COV-2: Study appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews During the week ending March 15, health officials in the Democratic Republic of the Congo reported an additional 73 suspected cases of monkeypox, bringing the total to 1,471 suspected cases including 18 deaths were reported in the country. The majority of cases were reported from the Provinces of: Sankuru (817 cases, 56%), Equateur […]The post Monkeypox: Cases continue rise in DRC appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A new trial led by the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania will evaluate whether the drug hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) can benefit people infected with COVID-19, as well as whether taking the drug preventatively may help people avoid infection altogether. The study, called Prevention and Treatment of COVID-19 with HCQ (PATCH), is currently […]The post Hydroxychloroquine evaluated to treat, prevent COVID-19: University of Pennsylvania trial appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The measles outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) continues from 2019’s large outbreak. During the first 12 weeks of 2020, a total of 42,143 suspected cases have been reported, with 527 deaths (case fatality ratio 1.3%). As of 22 March 2020, there has been a total of 353,551 cases and […]The post DRC measles cases top 42,000 in 2020 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

RedHill Biopharma Ltd., a specialty biopharmaceutical company focused on gastrointestinal diseases, today announced that it has received authorization from the Italian National Institute for Infectious Diseases and Central Italian Ethics Committee (EC) for an expanded access program (EAP) allowing immediate compassionate use of its investigational drug, opaganib (Yeliva®, ABC294640), in Italy for patients with confirmed […]The post RedHill Biopharma Announces Approval of Compassionate Use of Opaganib for COVID-19 in Italy appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Red Cross is seeking people who are fully recovered from COVID-19 and may be able to donate plasma to help current patients with serious or immediately life-threatening COVID-19 infections, or those judged by a healthcare provider to be at high risk of progression to severe or life-threatening disease. People who have fully recovered from […]The post Red Cross seeks plasma donations from recovered COVID-19 patients appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Today, German health authorities reported that the number of COVID-19 cases in the country has exceeded the 100,000 mark, reaching 100,123, the fourth country to do this. Federal states reporting the most cases include Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia and Baden-Wuerttemberg. 1,584 deaths have been reported, a 1.58% fatality rate. A total of 37 million […]The post Germany COVID-19 cases top 100,000 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Officials with the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota announced that they will be releasing a coronavirus serology test Monday, April 6. The antibody test will determine whether a person has been infected. Testing currently available, known as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, can pick up the presence of viral nucleic acid. This involves […]The post COVID-19 antibody test: Mayo Clinic to release test Monday appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Nadia, a 4-year-old female Malayan tiger at the Bronx Zoo, has tested positive for COVID-19, according to the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Bronx Zoo. She, her sister Azul, two Amur tigers, and three African lions had developed a dry cough and all are expected to recover. This positive COVID-19 test for the tiger was […]The post COVID-19: Tiger at the Bronx Zoo tests positive appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy announced today and additional 3,482 new positive COVID-19 cases, bringing the state total to 37,505. The most cases have been reported from Bergen (6187), Essex (4082), Hudson (3924) and Passaic (3227) counties. The number of deaths have increased to 917. On Thursday, Governor Murphy signed Executive Order No. 113, […]The post New Jersey reports 3500 additional COVID-19 cases appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Philippines health officials report in an update today that the COVID-19 case count has risen to 3246, including 152 deaths. Of the total confirmed cases across the country, more than half are reported from from the National Capital Region (NCR). The Department of Health announced twelve Chinese medical experts arrived in Manila today […]The post Philippines COVID-19 update: Chinese medical experts arrived in Manila appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

South Australian researchers working with Oracle Cloud technology and vaccine technology developed by local company Vaxine Pty Ltd are testing a vaccine candidate against the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic. The team is headed by Nikolai Petrovsky, Flinders University Professor and Research Director at Vaxine. His team has tapped Oracle for technical collaboration, […]The post SARS-CoV-2 vaccine progress moving rapidly: Flinders University appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In response to the call of the General Secretary, the President, the Prime Minister of Vietnam for the whole country’s participation in supporting COVID-19 fight and under the drastic guidance of Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung; on April 3, 2020, Vingroup announced its decision to produce (invasive and non-invasive) ventilators of all types and body […]The post Vietnam: Vingroup Starts to Produce Ventilators and Body Thermometers appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews On Saturday, Costa Rica health officials reported a cumulative 435 COVID-19 cases in the country, including two deaths. There are 212 women and 223 men, of whom 404 are Costa Rican and 31 foreigners, ranging in ages from one to 87. Positive cases are registered in 55 cantons of the seven provinces. In […]The post Costa Rica: 435 COVID-19 cases, Private sector and NGO help appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Health officials in New Orleans, Louisiana have reported 3,966 coronavirus disease 2019, or COVID-19 cases to date, including 153 deaths. The City of New Orleans encourages essential businesses in the area to review their human resource policies related to COVID-19 exposure, sickness, and return to work. The rate of infection in New Orleans […]The post New Orleans COVID-19 case count nears 4000, Jazz great Ellis Marsalis dies appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

An international team led by University of British Columbia researcher Dr. Josef Penninger has found a trial drug that effectively blocks the cellular door SARS-CoV-2 uses to infect its hosts. The findings, published today in Cell, hold promise as a treatment capable of stopping early infection of the novel coronavirus that, as of April 2, has […]The post Trial drug can significantly block early stages of COVID-19 in engineered human tissues appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Today, the Florida Department of Health (Department) highlighted the state’s most recent milestone in the fight to stop the spread of COVID-19 – the successful testing of more than 100,000 Floridians. Florida is now the state with the second-highest number of tested individuals. Only New York has tested more individuals. Governor Ron DeSantis said, […]The post COVID-19: Florida becomes 2nd state to test more 100,000 people appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Health officials in Bangladesh report battling a measles outbreak amidst the current COVID-19 outbreak in the country. Officials say an outbreak of measles has claimed the lives of 8 children and infected more than 300 people in Sajek union, Baghaichhari Upazila in Rangamati District. This has prompted a call for humanitarian assistance in Rangamati and Bandarban. […]The post Bangladesh reports measles outbreak in Sajek amid COVID-19 outbreak appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The Brazil Ministry of Health reported today that the number of coronavirus disease 2019, or COVID-19 cases in the country is now 10,278. There were 1,222 new confirmations in 24 hours. The number of deaths has also increased, now there are 432. Most are in São Paulo, which has seen 260 deaths and leads […]The post Brazil COVID-19 case count tops 10,000, ‘There are MANY more’ writes Rio doctor appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a new study, researchers identified the most common characteristics of 85 COVID-19 patients who died in Wuhan, China in the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic. The study reports on commonalities of the largest group of coronavirus patient deaths to be studied to date. The paper was published online in the American Thoracic Society’s American […]The post New study identifies characteristics of patients with fatal COVID-19 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Health officials in Mexico are reporting a measles outbreak that has affected 101, including 87 cases in Mexico City, according to a La Silla Rota report. The outbreak began in North Reclusorio in Mexico City on February 23, and state health officials reported on March 21 that the number of cases had grown to […]The post Measles outbreak in Mexico City appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Spain’s Ministry of Health reported an additional 7026 COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, bringing the country’s epidemic total to 124,736 cases. The Autonomous communities of Madrid and Catalonia have reported the most cases with 36,249 and 24,734, respectively. The Minister of Health, Salvador Illa, assured this week in his appearance at the […]The post Spain reports 7000 COVID-19 cases in past 24 hours appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews On Friday, New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo reported in a daily press conference that 10,482 additional cases of novel coronavirus were confirmed, bringing the statewide total to 102,863 confirmed cases in New York State. This includes more than 57,000 cases in New York City. The city has also reported nearly 1900 deaths. […]The post New York COVID-19 cases top 100K, Javits Center used for COVID-19 patients only appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Worried you or your family member might have COVID-19? The University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) has launched a groundbreaking mobile app to screen large groups of individuals who are concerned that they may have COVID-19 and to help first responders and other health care providers determine a person’s likelihood of carrying the disease. UNMC […]The post University of Nebraska develops a COVID-19 screening mobile app appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The Florida Department of Health reports this evening the total case count in the state has eclipsed 10,000. As of Friday, 10,268 total cases have been reported with 9,925 reported in Florida residents. Officials say while Florida’s testing has increased over the past week, the percent of those testing positive for COVID-19 overall […]The post Florida COVID-19: Cases top 10,000, StrongerThanC-19 website appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews There were five additional wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) cases reported this past week in two of the remaining endemic countries–Pakistan and Afghanistan. In Pakistan, four cases of WPV1 case were reported: one in Sindh and three in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. This brings the number of 2020 cases to 36 in the country. […]The post Polio: Five additional WPV1 cases reported in Pakistan and Afghanistan appeared first on Outbreak News Today.