Outbreak News Today

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Health officials in the city of Houston are reporting a significant increase in congenital syphilis cases, prompting a new campaign emphasizing importance of prenatal care, syphilis testing for expectant mothers. According to their data, the number of congenital syphilis cases among pregnant mothers in Houston and Harris County more than doubled from 2017 […]The post Houston: Congenital syphilis up 121 percent, ‘My Prenatal Promise’ campaign launched appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews British Columbia Health officials in British Columbia have reported a second 2019 novel coronavirus case in the province. In a joint statement from Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, and Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.’s provincial health officer: “We are announcing a second presumptive positive case of novel coronavirus in B.C. “The second person who […]The post British Columbia reports 2nd novel coronavirus case, China death toll now 563 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Victoria Health Chief Health Officer, Dr Brett Sutton announced two additional imported measles cases in the southeast Australian state. The latest cases are in travelers from Nepal and the Philippines. These are the second and third cases reported in Victoria in 2020 to date. These cases were infectious on their return flights to […]The post Australia: 2 additional measles cases reported in travelers to Melbourne appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Louisiana State University Officials with the Louisiana State University (LSU) Student Health Center confirmed five student cases of mumps Tuesday. The first confirmed mumps case at the University was presented at the Student Health Center on Friday, according to Rebecca Fontenot, director of wellness and health promotion at the Student Health Center. College […]The post Mumps: LSU reports 5 cases, College of Charleston reports 1st case in weeks appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Los Angeles County health officials are reporting a local measles outbreak. This outbreak includes four County residents, who were exposed to an unimmunized, international visitor who was infectious with measles while in Los Angeles County. The following public places were visited by the confirmed case: 1/26/2020: CVS Pharmacy, 11941 San Vicente Blvd., LA […]The post Los Angeles reports measles outbreak, 5 people affected appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Wisconsin health officials report the confirmation of the first case of 2019 novel coronavirus in the state. The patient is an adult with a history of travel to Beijing, China prior to becoming ill and was exposed to known cases while in China. The individual is isolated at home, and is doing well. […]The post Wisconsin reports confirmed novel coronavirus case appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews In a statement Tuesday, the Belgium Ministry of Health (FPS Public Health) announced (computer translated) the first case of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in the country. The infected person was one of nine people who arrived from Wuhan on Sunday evening. The individual was transferred Tuesday evening to Saint-Pierre University Hospital in Brussels. According […]The post Belgium reports 1st novel coronavirus case appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews In a follow-up on the Lassa fever outbreak in Nigeria, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) reported an additional 104 confirmed cases the week ending February 2, bringing the outbreak total for 2020 to 365 confirmed cases. Of this total, six additional fatalities were reported. This brings the total to 365 confirmed […]The post Lassa fever: Nigeria reports another 104 confirmed cases appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The Hong Kong Centre for Health Protection (CHP) reported investigating three additional cases of novel coronavirus infection, taking to 18 the number of confirmed cases so far in Hong Kong. A spokesman for the CHP said, “According to our preliminary epidemiological investigations, the three additional confirmed cases will be classified as local infection […]The post Hong Kong records 3 additional local 2019-nCoV infections, China update appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The Philippines Department of Health (DOH) reported today on the third confirmed 2019-nCoV Acute Respiratory Disease (2019-nCoV ARD) case in the country. The patient is a 60-year-old female Chinese who arrived in Cebu City from Wuhan, China via Hong Kong last January 20, 2020, and traveled to Bohol thereafter. On January 22, the patient […]The post Philippines reports 3rd novel coronavirus case appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Off the coast of Yokohama, Japan, the Japanese Ministry of Health completed the first phase of health screening of all guests and crew onboard Diamond Princess today and 10 people have tested positive for Novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). These 10 persons, who have been notified, will be taken ashore by Japanese Coast Guard watercraft […]The post Princess Cruises: 10 confirmed novel coronavirus cases reported on Diamond Princess vessel appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency use authorization (EUA) today to enable emergency use of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) 2019-nCoV Real-Time RT-PCR Diagnostic Panel. To date, this test has been limited to use at CDC laboratories; today’s authorization allows the use of the test at any CDC-qualified lab […]The post Novel coronavirus: FDA issues Emergency Use Authorization for the first diagnostic test appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Infectious disease researchers at The University of Texas at Austin and other institutions in Hong Kong, mainland China and France have concluded there is a high probability that the deadly Wuhan coronavirus spread beyond Wuhan and other quarantined cities before Chinese officials were able to put a quarantine in place. At least 128 cities in […]The post Early spread of coronavirus extends far beyond China’s quarantine zone: University of Texas at Austin researchers appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The first ever treatment for preventing a group of viruses from causing potentially lethal infections has been tested in a phase I clinical trial, and was found to be safe and able to neutralise the viruses, according to results from 40 patients published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases journal. The trial was conducted in healthy participants and […]The post Hendra and Nipah virus treatment found safe and effective in Phase I clinical trial appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Hong Kong The Hong Kong Hospital Authority reported (computer translated) the first death from a novel coronavirus infection in Hong Kong. The 39-year-old male was the 13th confirmed case. The Hospital Authority said it remains to be seen whether the cause of death is related to chronic illness. Chief Executive Manager (Quality and Standards) […]The post 2019 Novel coronavirus update: Hong Kong death, Thailand cases rise appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The Liberia Ministry of Health reports an increase in Lassa fever cases since the beginning of the year. In just the week ending Jan. 26, the country saw 10 confirmed cases. Since the beginning of 2020, the West African country reported a cumulative total of 55 suspected cases has been recorded across the […]The post Liberia reports increase in Lassa fever appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The Australia Department of Health reports twelve confirmed cases of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) as of today. The twelve cases have been reported in New South Wales (4), Victoria (4), South Australia (2) and Queensland (2). The Australian Government remains vigilant about this virus and how it is developing. They have in place border, […]The post Australia: 2019-nCoV cases at 12 in four states appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The India Ministry of Health announced Monday the third novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in Kerala state in the southern part of the country. According to a statement: Third positive case of Novel Coronavirus patient, has been reported in Kerala. The patient has a travel history from Wuhan in China. The patient has tested positive […]The post India reports 3rd novel coronavirus case, Kerala declares ‘state of calamity’ appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Army scientists working with partners from industry and academia have developed an experimental treatment that protects animals from Sudan virus, which is closely related to Ebola. Their work is published online today in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. There are six distinct species of ebolaviruses, which collectively pose a significant threat […]The post Ebola: First-ever experimental Sudan virus specific antibody treatment protects animals appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The World Health Organization (WHO) reported today on an outbreak of chikungunya in Kenya.From the end of 2019 through the end of Jan. 2020, 109 total cases have been reported, with 11 cases confirmed. The outbreak has affected Hagadera Sub County in Garissa County in eastern Kenya. Chikungunya is a viral disease transmitted […]The post Kenya reports chikungunya outbreak appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews On Saturday, Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc just signed a decision declaring the 2019 novel coronavirus (nCoV) an epidemic in Việt Nam, according to a Viet Nam News report. The declaration notes the starting date of the epidemic as January 23, when the first cases were confirmed in the country. The scope of […]The post Vietnam: 2019 novel coronavirus declared an epidemic, 8th case reported appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Merck today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted for review a supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) for RECARBRIO™ (imipenem, cilastatin, and relebactam) to treat adult patients with hospital-acquired bacterial pneumonia and ventilator-associated bacterial pneumonia (HABP/VABP) caused by certain susceptible Gram-negative microorganisms. The application has received Priority Review by the FDA, […]The post Antibiotics: FDA Accepts For Review Supplemental New Drug Application for RECARBRIO™ appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Seqirus, a global leader in influenza prevention and pandemic response, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved AUDENZ™ (Influenza A (H5N1) Monovalent Vaccine, Adjuvanted) to help protect individuals six months of age and older against influenza A (H5N1). AUDENZ is the first-ever adjuvanted, cell-based influenza vaccine designed to protect against influenza […]The post H5N1 influenza vaccine, AUDENZ™, receives FDA approval appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By Jon Bilbatua Spanish Minister of Health, Salvador Illa, declared the first coronavirus case in Spain. The case was confirmed by Carlos the Third Institute’s microbiology team and it is located in La Gomera, an island from the Canary archipelago. The affected person, a tourist from Germany, had close contact with a Chinese origin businesswoman […]The post First confirmed coronavirus case in Spain in La Gomera, Canary Islands appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The fifth and sixth 2019-Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) cases in California were reported late Sunday from San Benito County in the Bay area. According to health officials, the confirmed cases are related; husband and wife, and both are 57 years of age. The husband recently traveled from Wuhan, China the wife did not. Therefore, […]The post 2019 Novel Coronavirus: More cases reported in California, San Benito County reports 2 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

This afternoon, Santa Clara County health officer, Dr. Sara Cody announced via a Facebook video that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notified them of a second confirmed novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) case. The case, an adult female that is not connected to the first case in the county, is from China and arrived […]The post Santa Clara County, California: 2nd novel coronavirus case confirmed appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Sri Lanka reported more than 100,000 dengue fever cases in 2019, one of the most active dengue years on the island country. Health officials continue to see high numbers of dengue fever during the beginning of 2020. During January, health officials saw 8,435 cases, including more than 1000 cases in Colombo and Trincomalee […]The post Sri Lanka reports more than 8,400 dengue cases in January as Wolbachia project starts this month appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews On Friday, the Ontario Ministry of Health announced the Province’s third confirmed case of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). The newly confirmed case, a female in her 20s and a student at Western University, arrived asymptomatic in Toronto on January 23, 2020 and was transported to London by way of a private vehicle. On January […]The post Canada: 3rd novel coronavirus case reported in Ontario appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The Bavarian Ministry of Health reported (computer translated) Sunday about a eighth novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) case in the country. According to the State Office for Health and Food Safety (LGL), it is a 33-year-old man who lives in the city of Munich. He is an employee of the company from the district of Starnberg, […]The post Germany: Munich man is country’s 8th novel coronavirus case appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews On Friday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Palforzia [Peanut (Arachis hypogaea) Allergen Powder-dnfp] to mitigate allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, that may occur with accidental exposure to peanuts. Treatment with Palforzia may be initiated in individuals ages 4 through 17 years with a confirmed diagnosis of peanut allergy and may be continued […]The post Peanut allergies: FDA approves Palforzia for children appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Brazil reported 18,073 confirmed measles cases since January 1, 2019,accounting for 88 percent of the 20,430 confirmed cases reported in the Americas in 2019, according to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). Of this total, 15 deaths were reported (19 total measles deaths were reported in the Americas region). By the end of […]The post Brazil accounts for 88% of the total confirmed measles cases in the Americas in 2019 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews In Pakistan, an additional six wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) cases were reported this week–three with onset in 2019 and three for 2020–bringing the WPV1 count to four for 2020. The six cases were reported from Sindh province (4) and one each from Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces. 139 WPV1 cases were reported […]The post Pakistan polio cases rise to 4, Three countries halt vaccine-derived polio outbreaks appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Health officials in Bomet County, Kenya report 18 people from a local village have been hospitalized for suspected anthrax, according to a Standard Media report. Patients were admitted to various hospitals in Bomet and Kericho counties. “The villagers were brought to the hospital in the morning and are currently undergoing treatment and observation,” […]The post Kenya: Suspected anthrax send 18 to hospital in Bomet County appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The Philippines Department of Health (DOH) reported today on the first novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) death outside of China. Two patients have been confirmed with the virus in the country– the previously-announced 38-year-old Chinese female and her companion, a 44-year-old Chinese male. Both patients were admitted for isolation and supportive treatment at San Lazaro […]The post Philippines confirms 1st novel coronavirus pneumonia death outside China appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews In a follow-up on the dengue fever outbreak in Paraguay, the Ministry of Health now reports 35,801 suspect cases through the fourth week of 2020, three times the number of cases reported in all of 2019 (11,811). 927 cases are confirmed. All neighborhoods in Asunción register notifications of suspicious cases, to a greater […]The post Paraguay reports 35K dengue cases in January appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The Swedish Public Health Authority reported Friday (computer translated) the first imported novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) case in Jönköping County. The case is a woman who visited the Wuhan area in China, and who had symptoms in the form of cough, after arriving in Sweden. She landed in Sweden on January 24 and was then […]The post Sweden reports 1st imported novel coronavirus case appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) made some updates to their website concerning Lyme disease mother to fetus transmission and Lyme disease and pregnancy this week. In a question and answer format, federal officials made the following updates: Are there other ways to get Lyme disease? Untreated Lyme disease during pregnancy […]The post Lyme disease and pregnancy: CDC website updates appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Nigerian health officials are battling a Lassa fever outbreak in early 2020 where more than 250 confirmed cases and 40 deaths have been reported. Country and global officials say an annual upsurge in the number of reported Lassa fever cases is a usual occurrence at this time of the season in Nigeria, but does that […]The post Nigeria battles Lassa fever appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The Masschusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) has reported the first case of the 2019 novel coronavirus in the state today. The case is a man returning from Wuhan, China who is in his 20s and lives in Boston. DPH and the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) were notified by the US Centers […]The post Boston: Novel coronavirus case reported in Massachusetts appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews In this video, I look at some of the latest news and numbers, one month into the 2019 Novel coronavirus epidemic (2019-nCoV). Tonga continues to report measles cases Russia reports first imported novel coronavirus cases CDC estimates 10,000 flu deaths to date Bavaria, Germany: 7th locally acquired novel coronavirus case, China case count […]The post Novel coronavirus update: One month in…. appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The outbreak of measles in Tonga that began in early October 2019, continues into late January as five additional cases were reported, including two cases which were included retrospectively, during the last week of the month. All cases are from the island of Tongatapu. As of January 29, 652 confirmed or suspected cases […]The post Tonga continues to report measles cases appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Russia media have reported the first two imported novel coronavirus cases (2019-nCoV) in the country Friday in Chinese citizens. The cases were detected in the Tyumen region and the Trans-Baikal Territory. Both cases are now under treatment and completely isolated. Beginning today, flights between Russia and China will be closed, with the exception […]The post Russia reports first imported novel coronavirus cases appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports widespread flu activity in 49 states and Puerto Rico and and, after falling during the first two weeks of the year, increased over the last two weeks. High flu activity is expected to continue for weeks. They estimate that so far this season there […]The post CDC estimates 10,000 flu deaths to date appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Bavaria, Germany The Bavarian Ministry of Health (computer translated) informed a third time late Friday evening about the current development of the new corona virus in Bavaria. A ministry spokesman said in Munich that, according to the State Office for Health and Food Safety (LGL), another coronavirus case in Bavaria had been confirmed. It […]The post Bavaria, Germany: 7th locally acquired novel coronavirus case, China case count update appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Health officials in South Cotabato in the southern Philippines report monitoring a resurgence of suspected chikungunya cases in the past several weeks in Tampakan town. The municipal government of Tampakan has so far reported at least 40 suspected chikungunya cases in Puroks 3, 4 and 7 of Maltana. Jose Baroquillo, mosquito-borne diseases coordinator […]The post Philippines: Increase in chikungunya reported in South Cotabato appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Health officials in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) reported an additional two (2) laboratory-confirmed cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in January. The two cases, both men in their 50s from Abu Dhabi, were reported on January 9th and 13th. Since the first MERS case was reported in UAE in July […]The post United Arab Emirates reports two additional MERS cases appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Health officials in Santa Clara County, California received confirmation today from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that an adult male resident of the county has tested positive for the novel (new) coronavirus. This is the third case reported in California and the seventh case confirmed in the United States. The […]The post California reports 3rd novel coronavirus case, Public Health Emergency declared in US appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

As well as sequencing the whole genome of coronavirus 2019-nCoV, the Institut Pasteur continued to work on the samples taken from the first confirmed cases. The quality of these initial samples enabled rapid cell-culture isolation of the new virus. The Institut Pasteur’s scientists now have access to the virus responsible for the infection. The isolation […]The post Institut Pasteur isolates strains of coronavirus 2019-nCoV detected in France appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a travel notice this week for the West African country of Benin due to a meningococcal disease outbreak. An outbreak of meningococcal disease has been reported in Banikora District in northwest Benin, on the border with Burkina Faso. As of mid-January, 77 cases and 13 deaths have […]The post CDC travel notice for Benin: Meningococcal disease outbreak appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Japan’s National Institute of Infectious Diseases reported (computer translated) today on an additional novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) case. The case, a woman in her 20s who worked as a bus guide in Chiba Prefecture, and had no overseas travel history within 2 weeks prior to the onset date. This is the third locally acquired […]The post Japan reports 3rd locally acquired 2019-nCoV case, this case from Chiba appeared first on Outbreak News Today.