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.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 Diamond Princess In a follow-up on the situation onboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship quarantined in Yokohama Port, Japan health officials report (computer translated) an additional 88 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total to 542. 681 passengers and crew were tested, of which 88 were positive and the bulk were asymptomatic. The quarantine […]The post Japan: Diamond Princess update, Health minister urges public to avoid crowds appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A new paper published in the journal BMJ Case Reports shows this entirely preventable viral infection can affect many different organs in the body. Measles is a highly contagious respiratory viral infection, the symptoms of which include fever, cough, conjunctivitis, and an extensive rash all over the body. Measles is entirely preventable as the vaccine used […]The post Measles complications can be many and varied, and more serious than people might realize: Study appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 In an extraordinary session Monday, the Chamber of Deputies (computer translated) sanctioned the bill “That declares a state of sanitary emergency throughout the territory of the Republic of Paraguay in the face of the dengue epidemic”; this, for a period of 90 days. The regulations are referred to the Executive Branch. The proposal, coming […]The post Dengue epidemic prompts ‘state of sanitary emergency’ in Paraguay Senate; Sent to Executive appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 Taiwan Today, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) announced two more cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). One of the cases is a female in her 80s (21st case) while the other case is a male in his 30s (22nd case). The two patients are family members of 19th and 20th cases announced […]The post Taiwan, Hong Kong and China COVID-19 update appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews In a follow-up on the chikungunya outbreak in Ethiopia, UN health officials say no cases of the mosquito-borne disease have been reported since Dec. 8, 2019. From late July 2019 to Dec. 8, 2019, Ethiopia saw a total of 54,908 suspected cases–most in Dire Dawa City Administrative City. Chikungunya is a viral disease […]The post Ethiopia chikungunya: No cases reported since early December appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 From the beginning of the year through January 26, 2020, 222 monkeypox cases were reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The majority of cases have been reported from the provinces of Sankuru (31%), Bas-Uele (18%), Equateur (15%) and Mai-Ndombe (9%). Four deaths have […]The post DRC reports more than 200 monkeypox cases in January appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 The World Health Organization (WHO) is reporting a Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) in Uganda. The patient is a 23-year-old male, a lumber jack, from Kagadi district who developed a fever on January 7 and had self-medication for malaria without improvement. He has no history of getting in contact with slaughtered animal meat […]The post Uganda reports Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever case in Kagadi district appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Mayor of the commune of Mont-Organisé , in North-East department, said today (computer translated) that Typhoid fever is raging because of the poor quality of the water consumed by the population. “Several cases of typhoid, but also of malaria, are registered in Mont-Organisé, because the question of water constitutes a crucial problem in Mont-Organisé”, […]The post Haiti reports typhoid outbreak in North-East appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the UN, in the Philippines, since the Department of Agriculture confirmed the first African swine fever (ASF) outbreak started on 25 July 2019, there have been outbreaks in twelve provinces/cities on Luzon Island. On 1 February, the first outbreaks on southern Mindanao Island were […]The post African swine fever update: The Philippines and Indonesia appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 The Japan Ministry of Health reported (computer translated) 99 additional COVID-19 infections among people aboard the cruise ship Diamond Princess. This brings the total positive cases to 454 of the 1,723 people tested. The cruise ship Diamond Princess, which arrived at Yokohama Port on February 3, is undergoing quarantine at sea. The quarantine […]The post Japan: 99 additional COVID-19 cases reported on Diamond Princess, American evacuees update appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The Ministry of Health with the Government of Tonga have reported three additional measles cases, bringing the total to 659 confirmed and suspected cases since the outbreak began in early October 2019. All reported cases were from the island of Tongatapu. Of the three new cases, one case is in an infant aged […]The post Tonga measles: Case tally now 659 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Thailand Thailand health officials reported a new COVID-19 case, the 35th to date, in a 60-year-old Chinese woman whose family members earlier contracted the virus. So far, of the 35 cases, 20 are still hospitalized and 15 have recovered and been released, according to the Ministry of Public Health (computer translated). In addition, […]The post Thailand reports 35th COVID-19 case, China total tops 70K appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Health officials with the Philippines reported a cumulative 15,817 dengue fever cases, including 45 deaths through February 7 this year. This is 42 percent lower as compared to the 27,245 cases of the same period in 2019. In 2019, the Philippines saw more than 400,000 total cases and 1,600-plus fatalities. Subscribe to Outbreak […]The post Philippines records 15K dengue cases in first weeks of 2020 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 France France’s health ministry, or the Sante publique France has reported an additional COVID-19 case in the country. As of today, the national epidemiological situation reported 12 confirmed cases, including 6 cases grouped in the Alps. A death has been reported in France since 02/14/20 in a confirmed case diagnosed at the end of […]The post France records 12th COVID-19 case, More cases in Singapore appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 In a follow-up on the two COVID-19 patients in Chicago, Illinois (HERE and HERE), the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH), Cook County Department of Public Health (CCDPH) and Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) announced this weekend the two Chicago area patients were released from home isolation late yesterday, following U.S. Centers […]The post Two Chicago COVID-19 patients released from home isolation appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 The Maine Centers for Disease Control (Maine CDC) saw a sharp increase in hepatitis A cases from 2018 to 2019– climbing from nine in 2018 to 45 in 2019. Twelve cases were linked to a foodborne outbreak in Aroostook County that ended last summer. Another 12 were in Kennebec County and six were […]The post Maine reports fivefold increase in hepatitis A cases last year appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Taiwan death The Taiwan CDC reported today (computer translated) on on two additional COVID-19 infections–number 19 and 20, including the first death. The first case is a male in his 60s, with a history of hepatitis B and diabetes. He had no recent overseas travel history, and no known contact with COVID-19 confirmed […]The post Taiwan reports 1st COVID-19 death, Fauci comments on possibility of a pandemic appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews With all the attention about COVID-19 in Singapore, and worldwide for that matter, Singapore saw 400 dengue fever cases during the week ending Feb. 8. During the first six weeks of 2020, 2,129 dengue cases have been reported, a 60 percent increase over last year at this time. In 2019, some 16,000 dengue […]The post Singapore reports over 2,000 dengue cases in first 6 weeks appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 Japanese health authorities reported (computer translated) today that testing of people onboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Yokohama Port revealed 70 additional COVID-19 cases. To date, a total of 1,219 people were tested, with 355 testing positive for the virus, including 111 asymptomatic carriers. In China, officials reported an additional 2,009 COVID-19 […]The post Diamond Princess COVID-19 case total rises to 355, 2,000 additional cases in China appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is cautioning pet owners not to feed their pets one lot of Aunt Jeni’s Home Made frozen raw pet food after a sample collected from a store in the District of Columbia tested positive for Salmonella. In January 2020, the FDA collected one retail sample of Aunt Jeni’s […]The post Salmonella prompts FDA warning over Aunt Jeni’s frozen raw pet food appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 The Teresina Municipal Health Foundation released instructions for health providers (computer translated) in light of several confirmed melioidosis cases in Piauí state in 2019. Five laboratory confirmed cases, including one death were reported prompting the FMS Health Surveillance Directorate to recommend Hospital Infection Control Commissions, to the Hospital Surveillance Centers, public and private […]The post Brazil: Melioidosis cases in Piauí state prompt instruction for providers appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is reporting strangles on premises in two counties this week. In Marion County, one premise was placed under quarantine on 2/10/2020. Four of the 20 horses on the premises are showing clinical signs of Strangles. Confirmatory test results are pending. In Alachua County, two premises […]The post Florida: Strangles reported on Marion and Alachua county premises appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 To add to a report earlier on the first COVID-19 case in Egypt, and in Africa, the Africa CDC released a statement saying the patient is male, 33 years old, of foreign origin and is currently receiving treatment at an isolation centre in Egypt. The 17 contacts of the patient have tested negative, […]The post Egypt COVID-19 case: More details appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Merck announced Friday that four African countries, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Burundi, Ghana, and Zambia, have approved the Ebola Zaire Vaccine, ERVEBO. Approvals by these African countries signify continued, groundbreaking progress in advancing the future of global public health preparedness against Zaire ebolavirus disease, made possible by the unprecedented collaboration between the World Health […]The post Ebola vaccine, ERVEBO, approved in 4 African countries appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews In Singapore, the Ministry of Health (MOH) has confirmed and verified five additional cases of COVID-19 infections. Of these, three are linked to the cluster at Grace Assembly of God, one is linked to the cluster at Seletar Aerospace Heights construction site and the other case is linked to a previous case. To […]The post COVID-19: Singapore reports 5 additional cases, total now 72 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews In this video, I look at the current situation with the dengue fever outbreak in the South American country of Paraguay. Philippines: 17th polio case reported since September 2019 France reports COVID-19 death, 1st in Europe Pennsylvania: Syphilis rates highest in more than 20 years University of New Hampshire reports mumps on campus […]The post Dengue fever: Paraguay outbreak update appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The Philippines Department of Health (DOH) reported today on the 17th confirmed polio case in the country since September 2019. The new case is a one-year-old boy from Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija. The patient manifested with fever and sudden onset weakness of the left lower limb. The case was detected through surveillance of […]The post Philippines: 17th polio case reported since September 2019 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews French health officials have reported the first death due to the new coronavirus. The case is a 80-year-old Chinese tourist who has been hospitalized for some three weeks. To date, France has reported 11 confirmed COVID-19 cases- 7 men, 4 women, and median age: 48 years (cases aged 9 to 81). The eleven […]The post France reports COVID-19 death, 1st in Europe appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Pennsylvania state health officials are encouraging residents get tested for sexually transmitted infections to stay healthy and prevent the spread as the numbers rise in the state. Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine said, “Sexually transmitted diseases are serious diseases that impact many Pennsylvanians each year. “It is essential that all residents are aware […]The post Pennsylvania: Syphilis rates highest in more than 20 years appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The Executive Director of the University of New Hampshire Health & Wellness, Kevin Charles said in an update on mumps Friday the four cases of confirmed mumps and two probable remains limited to individuals who had close contact with one another and the risk to the larger community is low. School officials are […]The post University of New Hampshire reports mumps on campus appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) was notified Friday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that an adult male who traveled to Maui from Jan. 28 to Feb. 3 and to Oahu from Feb. 3-7 has been confirmed for COVID-19. The individual is a Japanese national who developed severe symptoms, sought medical […]The post Hawaii: COVID-19 positive individual traveled to Maui and Oahu appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The coronavirus probably has a stronger ability to spread than the World Health Organization has estimated so far. This according to a review of previous studies of the coronavirus’ transmissibility performed not least by researchers at Umeå University in Sweden. “Our review shows that the coronavirus is at least as transmissible as the SARS virus. […]The post WHO underestimates the spread of the coronavirus: Swedish researchers appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The US Emabassy in Japan announced today that the Department of State, working closely with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and other partner agencies, will provide a chartered aircraft to bring Diamond Princess passengers directly from Japan to the United States. According to an email to American passengers and crew […]The post Diamond Princess: US government to evacuate Americans appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population and the World Health Organization (WHO) released a joint statement Friday (computer translated) announcing the first confirmed positive case of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) in Egypt. Dr. Khaled Al-Mujahid, Minister of health and population for public information, and the ministry’s official speaker, explained that the ministry […]The post Africa coronavirus: Egypt records first COVID-19 case appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The Malaysia Ministry of Health (MOH) announced two additional COVID-19 cases Saturday. The 20th case involved a 27-year-old Chinese citizen who arrived in Malaysia on February 1, 2020 for his business. On February 12, 2020, he was on his way to Thailand and returned to Malaysia on February 13, 2020. He was diagnosed […]The post Malaysia reports two additional COVID-19 cases, brings total to 21 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.