Outbreak News Today

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The measles outbreak that affected more than 300,000 people and killing more than 6,000 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) last year continues into 2020, albeit slowing. Since the beginning of the year, 20,475 measles cases and 252 deaths have been reported. The World Health Organization (WHO) says while the overall […]The post DRC reports 252 measles deaths since beginning of the year appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Level-3 travel notice for South Korea due to the widespread, ongoing outbreak. To date, South Korea has reported 833 cases and eight deaths. CDC recommends that travelers avoid all nonessential travel to South Korea.There is limited access to adequate medical care in affected […]The post COVID-19: CDC recommends that travelers avoid all nonessential travel to South Korea. appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews New York City health officials report since December 2019, three male infants were diagnosed with neonatal herpes following ritual Jewish circumcision, with the most recent case reported in January 2020. All three babies were admitted to the hospital for treatment and are recovering. Direct orogenital suction (DOS) during ritual Jewish circumcision (also known […]The post New York City: Three new cases of neonatal herpes following ritual Jewish circumcision reported appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Cocrystal Pharma, Inc., a clinical stage biotechnology company discovering and developing novel antiviral therapeutics, today announced that it has entered into a license agreement with Kansas State University Research Foundation (KSURF) to further develop certain proprietary broad-spectrum antiviral compounds for the treatment of Norovirus and Coronavirus infections. Under the terms of the agreement, Cocrystal has […]The post Cocrystal Pharma, Inc. Announces License Agreement with Kansas State University Research Foundation for Norovirus and Coronavirus Antiviral Compounds appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews In a follow-up on the COVID-19 situation in Italy, the Ministry of Health reports 219 people are infected with the new SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus in Italy. Of these 5 people have died and one person has recovered. These are the official figures communicated today at the noon conference by the Commissioner for the emergency […]The post Italy COVID-19 outbreak tops 200 cases, 5 deaths appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews In an update on the COVID-19 outbreak in Iran, the Head of Public Relations and Information Center of the Ministry of Health said the case count has risen to 66. Dr. Kianoosh Jahanpour said to reporters: the laboratory specimens of 8 patients in Qom, one person in Hamedan province, three people in Tehran, two […]The post Iran COVID-19 update, Iraq reports imported case appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Since the COVID-19 outbreak was first recognized around the beginning of the year, Thailand health officials have reported 35 confirmed cases, including two patients in critical condition. No deaths have been reported. From 3-23 January 2020, the Department of Disease Control (DDC) has been implementing its surveillance protocol by fever screening of travelers […]The post Thailand: COVID-19 situation and actions taken appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews South Korean health officials have reported more than 200 additional COVID-19 cases since our last report yesterday. With the 231 cases, the total confirmed has risen to 833. The death toll has also risen to seven. The outbreak continues to be centered on the southern city of Daegu; however, the geographic spread also […]The post COVID-19 outbreak in South Korea worsens, North Korea quarantine appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By: Candess Zona-Mendola of MakeFoodSafe Saint Louis University’s The University News reported this week that as many as 14 students are sick with apparent food poisoning symptoms after eating at the Jimmy Johns restaurant near campus on January 19th. Several students have been hospitalized. It appears that a Jimmy Johns food poisoning outbreak may be […]The post At Least 14 Sick at Saint Louis University, Jimmy Johns to Blame? appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Israeli health officials have reported (computer translated) the first COVID-19 case in a repatriated passenger from the Diamond Princess cruise ship that was quarantined in Japan. The remaining returning passengers tested negative today. The patient is in quarantine and under supervision and this is not an infection that took place in Israel.”, the […]The post Israel reports 1st COVID-19 infection, Return passenger from Diamond Princess appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The South Korea CDC reported in an update an additional 169 COVID-19 cases, bringing the outbreak total to 602, including five fatalities. This prompted government officials to raising the alert status in the country to “red”, the highest alert. The escalation in the alert level allows the government to send extra resources to […]The post COVID-19 outbreak tops 600 in South Korea, Country on ‘red alert’ appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews With the number of COVID-19 cases soaring in Italy in recent days, the government is instituting measures to contain the spread. On Sunday, The Council of Ministers, on the proposal of President Giuseppe Conte, approved a decree-law that introduces urgent measures regarding the containment and management of the epidemiological emergency from COVID-2019. The […]The post Italy COVID-19 case count now 79, Government introduces urgent measures appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Egypt, Algeria and Republic of South Africa are the African countries most at risk for coronavirus COVID-19 importation in the continent, due to high air traffic with the contaminated Chinese provinces. But these countries are also among the best equipped on the continent to quickly detect and deal with new cases. In other African countries, […]The post Egypt, Algeria and Republic of South Africa, main gates for coronavirus importation in Africa appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Chile health officials have confirmed three confirmed cases of autochthonous dengue fever reported on Easter Island. The three cases were females with ages ranging from 27 to 49 years. None had a travel history. For the first time in 2020, cases were identified as serotype 2 (DENV 2). Since 2009, no other serotypes […]The post Easter Island: 3 locally transmitted dengue cases confirmed appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The official news agency of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Emirates News Agency reported two additional COVID-19 cases in a husband and wife visitors from Iran. The couple are ages 70 and 64 and the initial case, the husband is in unstable condition and being treated in the intensive care unit. The last case brings the number of […]The post UAE: Two additional COVID-19 cases reported, appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the situation in Iran, Iran Ministry of Health reported 10 new positive COVID-19 cases with 1 new death. This brings the total numbers to 28 cases with 5 death to date. The breakdown of cases by city is as follows: 19 cases from Qom, 6 cases from Tehran, 2 cases from […]The post Iran COVID-19 cases increase to 28 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews A University of Queensland team has met a key milestone in their fast-tracked research to develop a vaccine for the coronavirus, COVID-19. In just three weeks, the team of researchers has created their first vaccine candidate in the laboratory and will move immediately into further development before formal pre-clinical testing. The proof-of-concept milestone comes […]The post COVID-19 vaccine: University of Queensland researchers make ‘significant step’ appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews During the COVID-19 update by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Friday, the Director for the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Dr Nancy Messonnier said the following: “I want to start with how we will be reporting our cases of COVID-19 beginning today and going forward. We are making […]The post COVID-19 in the US: CDC update appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews In a follow-up on the explosive growth of COVID-19 cases in South Korea, health officials in the country saw cases double once again in the past day. The official count from the South Korea CDC is now 433, with the bulk of the cases linked to clusters in Daegu (Shincheon Daegu Church) and […]The post COVID-19 cases in South Korea see rapid growth appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Temple University Student Health Services (SHS) has been notified that three Temple students have tested positive for mumps since the start of the Spring 2020 semester. The three students are no longer contagious. Student Health Services is not currently aware of any students who have the mumps and are contagious. School officials are working closely […]The post Three mumps cases reported at Temple appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Italian health officials reported at least 16 COVID-19 cases today- with 14 people infected with the coronavirus in Lombardy, while another two other cases have been identified in Veneto. In the Lombardy region, a 38-year-old man fell ill with the virus after meeting someone who returned from China in late January. Five doctors […]The post Italy COVID-19 cases rise significantly appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Iranian health officials reported (computer translated) an additional 13 COVID-19 cases and two deaths today. According to Dr. Kianoush Jahanpour, “Of the 13 cases, most are either residents of Qom or have had a history of traveling to Qom in recent days and weeks.” Of the 13 newly identified cases, 7 are in Qom, […]The post Iran reports 13 additional COVID-19 cases: 18 total cases, 4 deaths appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews During a press conference today, Health Minister Julio Mazzoleni announced the latest information on the dengue fever outbreak in Paraguay. “We want to start the conference with good news: the epidemic has slowed in the area of ​​Asunción and Central, at this time we have not reached peak and we are currently on […]The post Paraguay dengue outbreak tops 100K, Three dengue serotypes circulating now appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Central African Republic On 24 January, the Central African Republic Ministry of Health declared a national epidemic of measles. The World Health Organization reported from 1 January 2019 to 9 February 2020, a total of 5 724 suspected measles cases, including 83 deaths (case fatality ratio 1.45%) have been reported in 13 health […]The post Measles outbreaks in the Central African Republic, Ethiopia appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews In a follow-up report, the South Korea CDC reported (computer translated) an additional 100 COVID-19 cases today, bringing the total in the country to 204. The increase in cases in recent days center around a church in Daegu; however, cases are also reported in Seoul and other cities. Prime Minister Chung Se-kyun said […]The post South Korea COVID-19 cases double again, now up to 204 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Bay Area Lyme Foundation, a leading sponsor of Lyme disease research in the U.S., today announced the publication of new data finding that seven herbal medicines are highly active in test tubes against B. burgdorferi, the bacteria that causes Lyme disease, compared to the control antibiotics, doxycycline and cefuroxime. Published in the journal Frontiers in […]The post Lyme Disease: Johns Hopkins study shows select herbal medicines are highly active against Borrelia burgdorferi appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a travel notice for Japan this week due to the new coronavirus infection (COVID-19) outbreak. Many cases of COVID-19 have been associated with travel to or from mainland China or close contact with a travel-related case, but multiple instances of community spread have been […]The post Japan COVID-19 travel notice issued as cases near 100 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Officials in British Columbia reported on the sixth COVID-19 case in the province this week. In a joint statement from Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, and Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.’s provincial health officer, they said: “Today, we are announcing a new case of COVID-19 in British Columbia. A woman in her 30s is […]The post Canada: British Columbia reports 6th COVID-19 case, 9th in country appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In this October 2016 interview, I speak to University of Florida Associate Professor of Veterinary Entomology, Dr. Phil Kaufman about the screwworm and the situation in the Florida Keys that year. Kaufman talked about the biology of screwworm, the pathology demonstrated on an infected mammal, treatment, the devastating effects on the Key deer and prevention […]The post Screwworm outbreak in Florida 2016 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews In a follow-up on the mumps situation at Louisiana State University (LSU) in Baton Rouge, The LSU Student Health Center has confirmed 16 student cases of mumps, as of Feb. 20, up four cases in past week. Fifteen of the 16 students with mumps live off campus, according to LSU Media Relations Director […]The post LSU mumps: 16 cases to date appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

UT Southwestern Medical Center data scientists analyzing genetic sequences of the COVID-19 coronavirus have identified potential vulnerabilities that could help in vaccine development and further study of the infectious disease now spreading worldwide. Specifically, the researchers point to areas where the viral genome encodes T cell and B cell antigens that could stimulate a response from […]The post Data scientists ID potential vulnerabilities in the COVID-19 virus appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The Global Polio Eradication Initiative reported that Pakistan saw five additional wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) cases in the past week, bringing the total for 2020 to 17. The cases include four in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and one in Balochistan province. Pakistan reported 144 cases in 2019. This week, Secretary-General of the United Nations (UNSG) […]The post Pakistan reports 5 more polio cases, 39 million children slated for vaccination appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews In a follow-up on the COVID-19 situation in Iran, Iranian health officials reported (computer translated) three additional coronavirus cases, bringing the total to five, including two deaths. “Two people have tested positive for COVID-19 in Qom and one person in Arak, bringing the total of confirmed cases to five in Iran,” spokesman Kianush […]The post Iran reports three additional COVID-19 cases, total now 5 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews In a follow-up on the third ever Naegleria fowleri infection, and the second in 2020, in Costa Rica, the Ministry of Health reports the 4-year-old girl is “progressing satisfactorily”. Daniel Salas, the Minister of Health said the girl is “out of danger” and recovering thanks to prompt medical attention. On Wednesday, businessmen and […]The post Costa Rica: Child who contracted ‘brain-eating amoeba’ ‘progressing satisfactorily’ appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews South Korea The South Korea CDC has seen the number of COVID-19 cases soar over the past 48 hours from a few dozen to more than 100 today. The latest figures show there are now 104 confirmed cases, with the most recent cases being reported from Daegu, Gyeongbuk and Seoul. In the South […]The post South Korea COVID-19 cases top 100, 1st death; Japan reports 2 deaths from Diamond Princess appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews In a follow-up on the gastrointestinal outbreak among passengers and crew on the Princess Cruises Caribbean Princess, that returned 3 days early from its two week voyage last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports 30-plus illnesses. According to the CDC today, 371 of 3,035 passengers and 32 of 1,161 crew have been […]The post Caribbean Princess update: More than 400 cases reported appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Due to Zika virus, more than 1,600 babies were born in Brazil with microcephaly, or abnormally small heads, from September 2015 through April 2016. The epidemic took health professionals by surprise because the virus had been known since 1947 and was not linked to birth defects. As scientists scrambled to figure out what was going […]The post Why Zika virus caused most harmful brain damage to Brazilian newborns appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) reported an additional 115 confirmed Lassa fever cases the week ending Feb. 16, bringing the total during the first seven weeks of 2020 to 586, well over 200 more cases than was reported during the same period in 2019. In addition, 18 deaths in confirmed cases […]The post Nigeria: Lassa fever deaths top 100, 1st case in Lagos appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Iranian health officials reported earlier today of the first two COVID-19 cases in the country in the city of Qom. They later confirmed that both the patients died, according to a Tehran Times report. Kianush Jahanpur, Head of Public Relations and Information Center, Ministry of Health and Medical Education confirmed the news on […]The post Iran COVID-19: 2 dead in Qom appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a travel notice for Hong Kong today due to the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak. CDC says many cases of this new coronavirus infection (COVID-19) have been associated with travel to or from mainland China or close contact with a travel-related case, but multiple instances […]The post COVID-19: CDC issues travel notice for Hong Kong, 2nd death reported appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 Fiji health officials issued an alert today due to a travel associated measles case from the Philippines. According to officials, a 35-year-old female traveled from the Philippines arriving into Nadi Airport on FJ360 via Singapore on 9th of February 2020. She was well during health screening at Nadi airport but developed symptoms of measles […]The post Fiji reports imported measles case from the Philippines appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 The Japan Ministry of Health reported today on an additional 79 passengers and crew onboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship testing positive for novel coronavirus. Positive cases were confirmed in 621 of the 3,011 people tested (including 322 asymptomatic pathogen carriers). The vessel, which arrived at Yokohama Port on February 3, reported its […]The post Diamond Princess COVID-19 cases top 600 on last day of quarantine appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 The Equine Disease Communication Center reported Tuesday on a coronavirus case in a Maricopa County, Arizona, The 5-year-old gelding showed symptoms of anorexia, fever and laying down last week and is currently recovering. This appears to be an isolated case. This is a case of equine Coronavirus (ECoV) and does not effect humans. […]The post Equine coronavirus case reported in Maricopa County horse appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 Diamond Princess The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released an update on Diamond Princess Cruise Ship in Japan Tuesday. Here is what they said: We commend the extraordinary efforts by the Government of Japan to institute quarantine measures onboard the Diamond Princess. While the quarantine potentially conferred a significant public health benefit […]The post COVID-19: CDC statement on Diamond Princess, More cases in Japan, China deaths top 2,000 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

While sifting through the archives I stumbled across several old radio interviews that I never published as podcasts. This interview from March 2014 with founding dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, Dr Peter Hotez was on the spread of the neglected tropical disease, the parasitic disease, Leishmaniasis and […]The post Leishmaniasis spread in the Middle East during war and conflict appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The COVID-19 outbreak is spreading and growing rapidly since first seen less than two months ago, prompting many governments, including the United States, to ban or significantly restrict travel to and from China. While travel bans are frequently used to stop the spread of an emerging infectious disease, what do we know about their effectiveness? Joining […]The post Travel Bans and Disease Outbreaks: Are they effective? appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 The Public Health Agency of Catalonia in Girona reports investigating an outbreak of mumps in the Gironès and Pla de l’Estany regions. According to a El Pais report (computer translated), since the beginning of the year more than a hundred people were infected and the number continues to grow. In all of 2018, […]The post Spain: Mumps outbreak in Girona, Catalonia appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Researchers at the National Institutes of Health found evidence that specific immune cells may play a key role in the devastating effects of cerebral malaria, a severe form of malaria that mainly affects young children. The results, published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, suggest that drugs targeting T cells may be effective in treating […]The post Cerebral malaria: NIH study supports new approach for treatment appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 A student at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette has been diagnosed with mumps, the University and the state Office of Public Health confirmed Monday. UL Lafayette, in cooperation with the Office of Public Health, is monitoring the situation to ensure the health and safety of the University community, and will provide updates […]The post University of Louisiana at Lafayette reports mumps case in student appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

People who rely on social media for information were more likely to be misinformed about vaccines than those who rely on traditional media, according to a study of vaccine knowledge and media use by researchers at the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania. The study, based on nationally representative surveys of nearly […]The post Vaccines: People exposed to content on social media more likely to be misinformed appeared first on Outbreak News Today.