Outbreak News Today

Vaxart, Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing oral recombinant vaccines administered by tablet rather than by injection, announced today that it has initiated a program to develop a coronavirus vaccine candidate based on its proprietary oral vaccine platform, VAAST. “Vaxart’s proprietary technology has been clinically proven in humans, and the ability to make an oral […]The post Coronavirus vaccine program initiated by Vaxart appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The Italy Ministry of Health declared a state of health emergency today (computer translated) over the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). The decision, made by the Council of Ministers, was made immediately after WHO declared the public health emergency of international concern Thursday. “In light of the WHO international emergency declaration, we have activated the […]The post Novel coronavirus: Italy declares state of emergency, 1st cases confirmed appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews India health officials reported the first confirmed novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) case Thursday. According to a Ministry of Health and Family Welfare statement: Positive case of Novel Coronavirus patient, of a student studying in Wuhan University, has been reported in Kerala. The patient has tested positive for Novel Coronavirus and is in isolation in […]The post India: 1st novel coronavirus reported in Kerala appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Thailand health officials reported (computer translated) five additional novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) cases– four in Chinese nationals and one in a Thai national. This brings the total to 19 cases in the Kingdom. The Thai patient is a taxi driver with no history of traveling to China, making this the first locally acquired case […]The post Thailand novel coronavirus case count now 19, 1st locally acquired case appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews In a follow-up on the first confirmed novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) case in the Philippines, the Philippine Government, upon the recommendation of Department of Health (DOH), has issued a temporary travel ban covering all travellers coming from Hubei Province of China. DOH will also be recommending the expansion of the travel ban coverage to […]The post Philippines issues temporary travel ban for Hubei Province, China appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Two cases of confirmed novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) have been reported in England. According to a statement from Chief Medical Officer, Chris Whitty: “We can confirm that two patients in England, who are members of the same family, have tested positive for coronavirus. The patients are receiving specialist NHS care, and we are using […]The post England: Two novel coronavirus cases confirmed appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The China National Health Commission has reported (computer translated) 1982 new confirmed cases from 31 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, which include 157 severe cases and 43 new deaths (42 cases in Hubei Province, Heilongjiang Province). As of January 30, the National Health and Health Commission […]The post China coronavirus: Official death toll tops 200 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews In a follow-up on recent stories on Nipah virus infections in Bangladesh (HERE, HERE), the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) has reported on their website, six Nipah virus infections, including four deaths in 2020 (see below). No other information is provided. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in the […]The post Nipah virus: Bangladesh IEDCR reports 6 cases, 4 deaths appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The Singapore Ministry of Health reported three additional confirmed, imported cases of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) infection in Singapore. This brings the total cases in Singapore to 13. The new cases include a 31 year-old female Chinese national from Wuhan, a 37 year-old female Chinese national from Wuhan and a 73 year-old female Chinese […]The post Singapore 2019-nCoV case count rises to 13 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The Malaysia Ministry of Health (MOH) announced that there is one additional case of 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) today. This brings the cumulative number of 2019-nCoV positive cases reported from 2020 to 2020 today there are eight cases; consisting of three cases previously reported in Patient-Under Investigation (PUI) 2019-nCoV infections and five cases […]The post Malaysia reports 8th 2019 novel coronavirus case appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews UN health officials have reported 114 confirmed measles cases since the beginning of 2019, which include 112 were detected in Argentina and 2 in Spain. The vast majority of cases (105) had no travel history or epidemiological link with imported cases. 105 cases were reported from the city of Buenos Aires and Buenos […]The post Argentina measles outbreak: 114 confirmed cases since early 2019 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine shows that infant vaccination against group B meningococcal disease (MenB) has resulted in a significant decline in cases of the disease in young children since the program was introduced in the United Kingdom. In September 2015, the UK became the first country to offer a […]The post UK: Meningococcal disease B vaccination in infants proves successful appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office Animal Control responded to North Galloway Road in Lakeland, in reference to a fight between a dog and a raccoon on Sunday. The owner of the Alaskan husky mix separated the two animals and dispatched the raccoon; Animal Control responded, retrieved the raccoon carcass, and sent it to the state laboratory […]The post Florida: First case of rabies in Polk County for 2020 reported appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director, Dr Robert Redfield announced today the first person-to-person novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in the United States. The case, from Chicago, Illinois, is the husband of the first novel coronavirus case in the state. The patient did not travel to Wuhan, China. He is currently in stable condition. […]The post Illinois reports 1st person-to-person novel coronavirus spread in US appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

On Wednesday, President Donald J. Trump announced the formation of the President’s Coronavirus Task Force. Members of the Task Force have been meeting on a daily basis since Monday. At today’s meeting, which the President chaired, he charged the Task Force with leading the United States Government response to the novel 2019 coronavirus and with keeping […]The post Drs. Fauci, Redfield on the President’s Coronavirus Task Force appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Japan The National Institute of Infectious Diseases today reported (computer translated) three cases of infectious diseases associated with the new coronavirus. One is a patient and two are asymptomatic pathogen carriers. These were Japanese who were returned to Japan yesterday on a charter flight from Wuhan, and a new coronavirus was detected as […]The post Japan, France report additional novel coronavirus cases appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

First identified in 2012, the MERS-coronavirus is capable of causing severe and often fatal pneumonia. There are no effective treatments for MERS. Researchers from the German Center for Infection Research (DZIF) at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin recently identified a cellular recycling process known as autophagy as a potential target in the fight against MERS. Autophagy-inducing […]The post MERS coronavirus: Certain licensed drugs part of new treatment strategy appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Philippines The Philippines Department of Health (DOH) confirmed today the first imported novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) case. The patient is a 38-year-old Chinese woman who arrived in the Philippines from Wuhan, China via Hong Kong last January 21, 2020. The patient sought consult and was admitted in one of the country’s government hospitals last […]The post Philippines reports 1st novel coronavirus case, China death toll rises to 170, 1st case in Tibet appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Experts in population mapping at the University of Southampton have identified cities and provinces within mainland China, and cities and countries worldwide, which are at high-risk from the spread of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV). A report by the University’s WorldPop team has found Bangkok (Thailand) is currently the city most at risk from a […]The post Bangkok most at risk from a global spread of novel coronavirus: Study appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The Finland National Institute of Health and Welfare (Terveyden ja hyvinvoinnin laitos, or THL) reported today a traveler has been diagnosed with Wuhan coronavirus infection at the Central Hospital of Lapland. He is currently in isolation. The traveler comes from Wuhan, China. This is the first confirmed case in Finland. More novel coronavirus news “It was to […]The post Finland reports 1st imported novel coronavirus case appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The Carter Center announced today that a provisional total of 53 cases of Guinea worm disease were reported in 2019, up from 28 cases reported in 2018. The campaign against the disease, also called dracunculiasis, has taken on additional complexity in recent years with the rise of infections in animals, primarily dogs in […]The post Guinea worm disease: 53 cases reported in 2019, Vast majority in Chad appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The Hong Kong Centre for Health Protection (CHP) reports investigating two additional imported cases of novel coronavirus infection. This brings the confirmed, imported case total to 10. More novel coronavirus news The two cases involve a couple from Wuhan in Hubei Province, who are a 72-year-old man and a 73-year-old woman. They took […]The post Novel coronavirus: Hong Kong cases now 10 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews In a follow-up on the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) situation in Japan, the National Institute of Infectious Diseases reported today on a case in a patient who is reported a history of contact with a traveler from Wuhan. The patient, a 40 year old woman from Osaka, was reported to have been in contact […]The post Japan reports second locally acquired novel coronavirus, country total now 8 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Student Health at the University of North Carolina-Greensboro (UNC Greensboro) have reported a confirmed mumps case in the UNC Greensboro community. Any individual who was determined to be a close contact through their investigation has already been contacted and no mass immunization clinics are planned. Symptoms of mumps include: low grade fever, headache, […]The post Mumps case reported at UNC Greensboro 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 95 confirmed cases in the week ending Jan. 26. This brings the total confirmed Lassa fever cases in 2020 to 258, including 41 deaths. The new cases reported last week were reported from […]The post Lassa fever: Nigeria reports nearly 100 cases in past week appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The Japan National Institute of Infectious Diseases in Tokyo has reported the seventh novel coronavirus case (2019-nCoV). The patient, a female in her 40s, is a resident of Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, and was reported to have reported a stay in Wuhan when he visited a medical institution on January 27. She came […]The post Japan reports 7th 2019-nCoV case appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Administration of zinc acetate lozenges to common cold patients did not shorten colds in a randomized trial published in BMJ Open. Eight controlled trials previously reported that zinc lozenges reduced the duration of the common cold, but several other trials did not find benefit. Variation in the types of zinc lozenges has been proposed as one […]The post Zinc lozenges did not shorten the duration of colds: Study appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Malaysia update The Malaysia Ministry of Health reports three new cases of 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), bringing the country total to seven. The seven consist of three cases previously reported in 2019-nCoV Patient-Under-Investigation (PUI) cases and four cases previously in close contact. All of these 2019-nCoV positive cases are Chinese citizens. From January […]The post Malaysia records 3 additional novel coronavirus cases, China case count nears 6000 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The British Columbia Centre for Disease Control today reported the first confirmed case of 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). In a joint statement today, Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, and Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.’s provincial health officer (PHO) said, “The person is a male in his forties and a resident in the Vancouver Coastal Health region. […]The post Canada: 1st confirmed 2019-nCoV in British Columbia appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews In a follow-up on a report yesterday of a locally-acquired novel coronavirus, or 2019-nCoV case in Bavaria, Germany, The Bavarian Ministry of Health (computer translated) was informed on Tuesday evening that three other people in Bavaria had been infected with 2019-nCoV. These patients are also employees of the company from the district of […]The post Germany reports 3 additional novel coronavirus cases in Bavaria appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Recently, scientists have detected Marburg virus in fruit bats in Sierra Leone, marking the first time the deadly virus has been found in West Africa. The article was published in the journal, Nature Communications last week. Joining me today to discuss Marburg virus and the discovery in Sierra Leone is Tracey Goldstein, PhD. Dr Goldstein […]The post MARBURG Virus detected in fruit bats in Sierra Leone appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews In a follow-up on a report from earlier this month, the 15-year-old teen who contracted the parasite, Naegleria fowleri, from the thermal springs of Guayabo de Bagaces has died from the infection Monday, according to a Tico Times report. The case was first reported by the Ministry of Health on January 7. This […]The post Naegleria fowleri: Costa Rica teen dies from lethal parasitic infection appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has reported (computer translated) the country’s first locally acquired novel coronavirus case (2019-nCoV) Tuesday. Officials announced the eighth case today, a male in his mid 50s and husband of the fifth 2019-nCoV case in the country. Earlier, Germany and Japan reported locally-acquired cases. At present, the […]The post Taiwan: 1st locally-transmitted novel coronavirus case reported appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Two Nipah virus death are reported in Bangladesh, according to a Prothom Alo report (computer translated). No officials statements have been posted by the IEDCR. Professor Mirzadi Sabrina, director of the Government’s Institute of Pathology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), said in the first light on Wednesday that three IEDCRs have been identified […]The post Bangladesh: Two Nipah virus deaths, according to local media report appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The Government of American Samoa is reporting three additional confirmed measles cases, bringing the total to 15. The latest cases are a 27-year-old woman and two boys, aged 12 years and six months respectively, according to a RNZ report. Subscribe to Outbreak News TV on YouTube An initial public health emergency was declared […]The post Measles in American Samoa: 3 additional cases reported appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Officials in Sri Lanka say they have the first confirmed case of novel coronavirus in a Chinese tourist. According to a Reuters report, “A Chinese lady, who is in her 40s, arrived on the 19th as a tourist and fell ill on the 25th and was confirmed as having the coronavirus following a […]The post 1st novel coronavirus case confirmed in Sri Lanka appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Two additional novel coronavirus cases have been reported in Japan, bringing the case total in the country to six, according to a Japan Times report. One of the new cases reported Tuesday is a bus driver in his 60s who drove two groups of Chinese tourists visiting Japan from Wuhan earlier this month. […]The post Japan coronavirus count now 6, 1st case not linked to China travel appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Thailand update Health officials in Thailand reported (computer translated) an additional six confirmed novel coronavirus cases, bringing the country’s tally to 14. Nine cases continue to be hospitalized, while five have been released. Dr. Sukhum Kanchanaphimai, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Public Health said that The Ministry of Public Health confirms 6 new cases […]The post Thailand novel coronavirus count now 14, No cases in the Philippines to date appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announced that it is immediately committing $10 million in emergency funds and corresponding technical support to help frontline responders in China and Africa accelerate their efforts to contain the global spread of 2019-nCoV. The foundation is committing $5 million to the 2019-nCoV response in China and is already working […]The post Gates Foundation commits $10 million to contain the global spread of 2019-nCoV appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Health officials in Germany are reporting (computer translated) the first confirmed novel coronavirus (2019-NoCv) case in the country. The patient is from the district of Starnberg in Bavaria. According to the “Task Force Infectiology” of the State Office for Health and Food Safety (LGL), the patient is clinically in good condition. He is […]The post Germany reports 1st novel coronavirus case in Bavaria appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The Uganda Ministry of Health confirmed an outbreak of yellow fever in Moyo District in West Nile region and Buliisa District in Hoima region. According to the World Health Organization, there are two confirmed cases in Moyo district. Both cases traveled from South Sudan for work purposes and later presented with symptoms of fever, […]The post Uganda reports yellow fever outbreak appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Over the course of 2019, the landlocked African country of Burundi has seen a progressive increase in the number of malaria cases reported across the 46 districts of the country. The country of some 12 million people saw a cumulative total of 8,892,300 cases and 3,294 deaths in 2019. This is a 88 […]The post Malaria: Burundi reports an 88 percent increase in cases in 2019 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews In a follow-up on a report Saturday, officials in Ontario, Canada confirmed that the wife of the province’s first case of Wuhan novel coronavirus has tested positive for the virus at Ontario’s public health laboratory. Since arriving in Toronto with her husband, this individual has been in self-isolation. “We are working alongside Toronto Public […]The post 2nd confirmed 2019-NoCv case in Toronto appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced today critical actions to advance development of novel coronavirus medical countermeasures. As with any emerging public health threat, the FDA will collaborate with interagency partners, product developers, international partners and global regulators to expedite the development and availability of medical products needed to diagnose, treat, mitigate and […]The post Novel coronavirus medical countermeasures: FDA announces key actions to advance development appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Merck announced today the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a New Drug Application (NDA) for DIFICID® (fidaxomicin) for oral suspension, and a supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) for DIFICID tablets for the treatment of Clostridioides (formerly Clostridium) difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD) in children aged six months and older. DIFICID is a macrolide antibacterial […]The post Clostridioides difficile antibiotic, DIFICID, receives FDA approval for treating children aged six months and older appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The Cambodia Ministry of Health reported in a press release (see below) the first confirmed case of novel coronavirus. The case was detected Monday in a 60-year-old Chinese man who arrived from Wuhan on last Thursday. Officials say three family members who accompanied him tested negative for the virus. Cambodia is just the […]The post Novel coronavirus case reported in Sihanoukville, Cambodia appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Officials with Queensland Health are reporting a confirmed case of measles in Brisbane’s South. The individual spent time at the following locations while unknowingly being contagious. Flight Quantas QF 52 (Singapore to Brisbane) flight that arrived at Brisbane airport at 6 am on Friday 17 January 2020. In the Brisbane international airport area from […]The post Measles case reported in Brisbane appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A new treatment developed by researchers at Aston University and Birmingham Children’s Hospital has been found to completely kill a bacterial infection that can be deadly to cystic fibrosis patients and other chronic lung conditions such as bronchiectasis. The findings, which are published in the journal Scientific Reports, show that scientists from Aston University, Mycobacterial Research […]The post Cystic fibrosis: New treatment found to kill Mycobacterium abscessus infection appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Taiwan The Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) announced the fifth imported case of 2019 Novel Coronavirus infection (2019-nCoV) in Taiwan. The case is a 50-year-old female who resides in middle part of Taiwan. She went to Wuhan, China for work in the second half of October of 2019 and had neither history of […]The post Taiwan reports 5th imported novel coronavirus case, HKU experts estimate more than 40K cases in Wuhan appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Australia The New South Wales Department of Health (NSW Health) reports three cases of novel coronavirus (2019-NoCv) today. Two other cases are under investigation. Two of the men have been to Wuhan, China. The remaining case, also a man, has had direct contact with a person who has been diagnosed with the new […]The post Australia: 2019 Novel coronavirus confirmed in three in NSW, Death toll rises to 80 in China appeared first on Outbreak News Today.