Outbreak News Today

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Brazil Health Ministry officials reported Thursday the distribution of 1.7 million doses of pentavalent vaccine to the various states. This in turn will be sent to the cities. The pentavalent vaccine provides protection against five diseases: diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenzae type b bacteria. The distribution of the vaccine was […]The post Brazil distributes 1.7 million doses of pentavalent vaccine to states appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The Carlos III Health Institute in Madrid said this week the flu epidemic wave of the 2019-2020 season has officially begun, according to the disease transmissibility levels. According to the latest weekly report of the Influenza Surveillance System in Spain, the flu season is characterized by a predominant circulation of the virus called […]The post Spain: Flu epidemic wave of the 2019-2020 season has officially begun appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Iceland health officials report an increase in the number of people diagnosed with confirmed influenza in recent weeks. Most people have had influenza A (H3), but at the end of November, influenza A (H1) pdm09 was confirmed for the first time this winter and for the past three weeks, this strain has been […]The post Iceland reports increase in flu cases appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews French health authorities (Santé publique France) report since December 2019, 179 compulsory declarations (DO) of collective food poisoning ( toxi-infection alimentaire collective-TIAC) ​​suspected of being linked to the consumption of raw shellfish, mainly oysters. The reports come from the majority of regions in mainland France. Seventy-seven percent of cases occurred since December 23, […]The post Raw oysters linked to food poisoning outbreak in France appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) is reporting the first flu-related pediatric death of the 2019-20 flu season in Chicago and Illinois. Overall, influenza activity is high and at its peak. Nationally, this flu season has resulted in a higher number of pediatric deaths earlier in the season compared to previous years and children continue to be […]The post Chicago reports 1st pediatric flu death of the season appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC) applauds House and Senate passage of the domestic priorities and international assistance appropriations minibus, H.R. 1865. H.R.1865 reauthorizes federal funding for the nation’s 55 poison control centers through FY 2024. Federal dollars comprise approximately 15% of funding for poison control centers, an important source to keep poison […]The post AAPCC Commends Passage of the Poison Center Network Enhancement Act appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Florida Department of Health in Brevard County (DOH-Brevard) issued a rabies alert for the area of Palm Bay 32907. This is in response to a stray cat that tested positive on 01/07/2020. All residents and visitors in Brevard County should be aware that rabies is present in the wild animal population and domestic animals […]The post Rabies alert issued for Palm Bay, Florida appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The Ministry of Health in Gaza report a measles outbreak in the Gaza Strip. The ministry said in a statement that the 1st case was recorded last June 2019, and the cases began to increase until the current month of December 2019, according to the Mashreq News in December. The World Health Organization […]The post Measles outbreak in the Gaza Strip appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Since mid-November 2019, an outbreak of Equine Herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) has been reported at the Remington Park Racetrack, in Oklahoma County. Through Jan. 10, 2020, the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture has reported 17 confirmed cases with approximately 120 horses exposed. As of Friday, an additional 2 horses were released from quarantine. These horses […]The post Oklahoma: Equine Herpesvirus outbreak at Remington Park Racetrack appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews New Mexico state health officials issued a Public Health Order Friday concerning syphilis testing of pregnant women in light of an increase in congenital syphilis in the state in recent years. According to the order issued by Kathyleen M. Kunkel, Cabinet Secretary of the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH), New Mexico currently […]The post Congenital syphilis: New Mexico issues a public health order increasing screening appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Officials in Zimbabwe report at least three human anthrax cases in the Mahusekwa, Marondera district in Zimbabwe, according to a IOL report. The three people are in a serious condition after eating meat from animals that died of anthrax. Marondera district’s veterinary officer, Dr Kramer Manyetu, said that upon investigation, it was established […]The post Anthrax: Three in serious condition in Zimbabwe appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Health officials in Hong Kong are reporting an additional case of human infection of rat Hepatitis E virus (HEV). According to the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health, the case involves a 17-year-old male. He was admitted to Hong Kong Children Hospital for management due to underlying illnesses in […]The post Hong reports additional Rat hepatitis E virus infection appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In an update on the cluster of pneumonia cases detected in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, we got additional information today from Chinese and Hong Kong authorities. The Wuhan Municipal Health and Health Commission reported the following (computer translated): After the pathogen of “unknown cause of viral pneumonia” was initially determined to be a new type of […]The post China outbreak update: 1st death reported appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 In a follow-up on the polio situation in Sabah, Malaysia, the Ministry of Health reports two additional polio cases, bringing the case tally to three. The first case was a three-month-old boy from Tuaran, Sabah reported on Dec. 8. The child is still being treated in the hospital’s isolation room with respiratory […]The post Malaysia reports additional polio cases appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Wuhan City, China has been a focus for infectious disease and public health experts over the past month due to a pneumonia outbreak where the etiology is not quite clear. News keeps trickling in on this outbreak, but there is still a lot unknown. Hoping to shed some light on this outbreak today is Daniel […]The post China pneumonia outbreak and a novel coronavirus appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Boston city health officials reported a confirmed measles case in a Northeastern University student who lives in Boston. Exposures at Northeastern University occurred from January 3 through January 6, 2020. The student frequented many locations on campus including dormitories, dining halls and classrooms. Additional exposures to this individual may have occurred at the […]The post Measles advisory in Boston: Northeastern University student diagnosed appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews In the state of Pernambuco, in the Northeast region of Brazil, reported a significant increase in three arbovirus infections in 2019, according to a UOL report (computer translated). During the past year, 73,745 arbovirus infections were reported, compared to 28,257 dengue, Zika and chikungunya cases reported in 2018, or a 161 percent increase. […]The post Brazil: Pernambuco reports increase in arboviruses; dengue, Zika and chikungunya in 2019 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The number of dengue fever cases in Bangladesh dropped to 1247 in December 2019 in a year that saw more cases reported in the country than was seen since the first cases in 2000. The Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) closed out the record year with 101,354 cases and 164 […]The post Bangladesh: Record dengue year ends with 164 deaths appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Last fall, a 44-year-old man from Italy was bitten on his right hand by an aggressive dog on the Island of Zanzibar, Tanzania. The man did not receive any rabies vaccine before travelling. He got a rabies vaccine shortly after exposure, but no immunoglobulin, as it was not available. He died from rabies after […]The post Rabies and Travel Health with Dr. Jonas Nilsen appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Two countries in the world continue to report ongoing wild poliovirus transmission (WPV1)–Pakistan and Afghanistan. 2019 saw a big increase in WPV1 cases, particularly in Pakistan. During the past year, Pakistan saw it’s numbers of WPV1 cases rise to 134, more than 10 times the number reported in 2018, with cases distributed as […]The post Pakistan reports most polio cases in years in 2019 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews According to data from the General Department of Preventive Medicine with the Ministry of Health in VietNam, the number of dengue fever cases reported in 2019 was a significant increase compared to 2018. Since Jan. 1 through Dec. 14, 2019, there have been a total of 320,702 cases with 54 deaths reported, a […]The post Vietnam reports big increase in dengue fever in 2019 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A new Penn Medicine study puts researchers within closer reach of vaccines that can protect infants against infections by overcoming a mother’s antibodies, which are known to shut down immune defenses initiated by conventional vaccines. That hurdle largely explains why vaccinations for infectious diseases like influenza and measles not given until six to 12 months of age. Findings […]The post Researchers get closer to development of vaccine for infants appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Researchers in China say the pathogen that caused dozens of unexplained pneumonia cases in Wuhan, Hubei province, China has been “initially identified” as a new coronavirus. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports the new coronavirus was identified in a hospitalized person in Wuhan suffering from pneumonia. Chinese investigators conducted gene sequencing of the […]The post China: ‘Novel coronavirus’ preliminarily identified in pneumonia outbreak appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine is urging the public to get their flu vaccine as flu season intensifies. As of December 28, there have been more than 17,300 laboratory-confirmed cases and nine deaths statewide. “The flu is serious and can be deadly, which is why it is extremely important that Pennsylvanians […]The post Pennsylvania Health Secretary on the flu: ‘We are concerned with the growing amount of cases’ appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Health officials in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) reported one laboratory-confirmed case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in late December 2019. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the case is a 74-year-old male national who owns a camel farm located in Al Ain City, Abu Dhabi region in UAE where […]The post UAE reports MERS case in man from Abu Dhabi region appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Lancet Infectious Diseases recently published the results of an observational study led by researchers on Children’s Hospital Colorado Infectious Disease and Neurology teams, along with counterparts at the Centers for Disease Control and Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. The study was conducted from March 1 to November 30, 2018, and led to […]The post Enterovirus A71: Largest outbreak in the US discovered appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Lipari Foods has issued a voluntary recall of various Premo and Fresh Grab wedge sandwiches due to potential contamination of Listeria monocytogenes. Listeria monocytogenes is an organism, which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as […]The post Sandwich recall due to potential Listeria contamination appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Weight Control & Diabetes Research Center partners with U. of Alabama in $2.5M NIH study Can a wearable device that monitors what you eat help you lose weight? Researchers at The Miriam Hospital, in collaboration with several universities around the country, will seek to answer that question in a clinical trial funded with a $2.5 […]The post The Miriam Hospital to research new wearable device for weight loss appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Researchers from the universities of Regensburg, Munich, Giessen, and Freiburg, the Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine in Hamburg and the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI) provided new insights into human infections with Borna Disease Virus (BoDV-1) in a new study published in the Lancet Infectious Diseases this week. BoDV-1, which has long been known as the causative agent of […]The post Borna disease virus has to be considered as a potentially lethal zoonosis in endemic regions: Researchers appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The National Department of Health in Papua New Guinea has reported it’s third confirmed measles case in recent weeks. The cases include a three-year-old girl from Gulf province, a 23-year-old man from New Ireland province, and most recently, a five-year-old child from Boroko. Health Secretary Pasco Case said they are on a heightened […]The post Papua New Guinea records 3 measles cases appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The Costa Rica Ministry of Health reported Tuesday (computer translated) on the second ever Naegleria fowleri, or “brain-eating amoeba” infection in their history. The case is a 15-year-old who is presenting with a clinical picture of primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) remains in a serious state at the Liberia Hospital. The investigation into the […]The post Costa Rica reports Naegleria fowleri case, 2nd case in history appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Bacterial exposure has been identified as a potential environmental risk factor in developing ceeliac disease, a hereditary autoimmune-like condition that affects about one in 70 Australians. It is estimated that half of all Australians are born with one of two genes that cause celiac disease, and approximately one in 40 are likely to develop the […]The post Microbial exposure as a potential environmental factor in the development of celiac disease appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A novel nanoparticle vaccine that combines two major influenza proteins is effective in providing broad, long-lasting protection against influenza virus in mice, showing promise as a universal flu vaccine, according to a study by the Institute for Biomedical Sciences at Georgia State University. The double-layered nanoparticle vaccine contains the influenza virus proteins matrix protein 2 […]The post Universal flu vaccine research: Novel nanoparticle vaccine protects against 6 influenza viruses in mice appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews In late December 2019, antibiotic development and commercialization company, Melinta Therapeutics, Inc. initiated a voluntary Chapter 11 process to effectuate restructuring transaction while continuing normal-course operations. This caused a ripple effect of concern in the medical and public community. This followed just six months after Achaogen filed for bankruptcy. In this video, I […]The post Antibiotic challenges and the Melinta situation appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

White-nose syndrome, an often-fatal disease of hibernating bats, has been confirmed for the first time in a fringed myotis (Myotis thysanodes) in King County, Washington. This finding brings the total number of bat species confirmed with the disease in North America to 13. First seen in North America in 2006 in eastern New York, white-nose syndrome is a fungal […]The post King County, Washington: White-nose syndrome confirmed in a fringed myotis bat for the first time appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The number of measles fatalities in the world’s worst measles epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has topped 6,000, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The 6,000 deaths are part of the astounding 310,000 measles cases reported since January 2019. UN officials say this massive outbreak is due to […]The post Measles deaths in DRC top 6000 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a travel notice Monday for travelers to Wuhan, Hubei province, China due to the cluster of cases of pneumonia of an unknown etiology. Authorities say as of January 5, 2020, local, provincial, and national health commissions in China have reported a total of […]The post CDC issues travel notice for Wuhan, China due to pneumonia cluster appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By Amanda Rachel Brunetti Tuberculosis, caused by infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, is the top infectious cause of death in the world. An estimated 1.5 million people died of tuberculosis (TB) infection in 2018 alone. Transmission of M. tuberculosis (Mtb) is primarily airborne, occurring via the inhalation of respiratory droplets from persons with active infection. TB is […]The post Intravenous BCG immunization has proven higher efficacy than injection appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Health officials in the city of Wuhan in Hubei province, China are reporting (computer translated) a total of 59 patients with unexplained diagnosis of viral pneumonia have been reported as of Jan.5, including 7 critically ill patients. No fatal cases have been recorded. All patients are receiving treatment in isolation. 163 close contacts […]The post SARS, MERS ruled out in China pneumonia cluster appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews In a follow-up on the malaria epidemic in the African country of Burundi, health officials report a cumulative total of 8,571,897 malaria cases including 3,170 deaths (case fatality ratio 0.04%) across the country of some 12 million people. This is a 93 percent increase in the number of malaria cases compared to the […]The post Burundi malaria epidemic reaches 8.5 million cases, Travel alert issued appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently issued travel notices for the African countries of Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) due to ongoing outbreaks of monkeypox. In Nigeria, continues to report sporadic cases of monkeypox since September, 2017. More than 100 suspected and confirmed cases were reported […]The post Travel health: Monkeypox outbreaks in Nigeria, DRC appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The Malaysia Ministry of Health received a report about a food poisoning incident involving PAST kindergarten teachers throughout the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur attending a training course at a center in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur on Jan. 5. Course participants presented with symptoms of vomiting, stomach ache and diarrhea and are being treated […]The post Food Poisoning outbreak in Kuala Lumpur appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the diphtheria outbreak in Alsunta locality in South Darfur State, Sudan, the Ministry of Health in South Darfur State is now reporting 80 cases of confirmed diphtheria, including 10 deaths in Alsunta locality, according to an 3 Ayin report (computer translated). Health authorities attributes this recent resurgence of diphtheria cases in […]The post Diphtheria update in South Darfur, Sudan appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews In a follow-up on the measles situation in Argentina, the Ministry of Health has reported 97 cases in 2019, according to a Infobae report (computer translated). Most of the cases were reported since late August representing the largest measles outbreak in the country since the elimination of the endemic circulation of the virus, […]The post Argentina reports nearly 100 measles cases in 2019 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The Bahia Department of Health (Sesab) reported 67,373 probable cases of dengue as of December 10, representing an increase of 622.6% over the same period of 2018, in which 9,323 probable cases were reported, according to a Infosaj report (computer translated). In addition, 85 deaths from dengue were reported during this period. In […]The post Brazil: Bahia state reports 622 percent dengue increase in 2019 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Officials with NSW Health are reporting five measles cases in people who hadn’t travelled outside Sydney. All five people first developed symptoms between Christmas and New Year’s Day and there may be other people infected with measles who haven’t yet seen a doctor or been tested. One is a Queensland resident who is […]The post Sydney: 5 locally acquired measles cases reported appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs (IDVA) and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) are investigating a single case of Legionnaires’ disease in a resident at the Illinois Veterans Home – Quincy (IVHQ). The resident has received medical treatment and is recovering at IVHQ. No other cases have been identified and IVHQ continues to […]The post Illinois: Legionnaires’ Disease reported at Quincy Veterans home appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Dengue 2019 Singapore’s National Environmental Agency (NEA) has reported 15,999 dengue fever cases through Dec. 28, 2019, making this the highest dengue tally in three years. It still did not match 2013 when more than 22,000 cases were seen. In addition, at least 20 dengue-related fatalities have been reported. NEA reports that the […]The post Singapore report 16,000 dengue cases in 2019, Pneumonia case with travel history to Wuhan appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Plague is not just a disease of historical record, it’s presence around the world still exists. However, the good news is in recent years, the number of global plague cases has dropped significantly as compared to a decade or so before. Dr Terence Lam with the Hong Kong Centre for Health Protection (CHP) […]The post Plague: Global cases down significantly, Madagascar accounts for majority appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The Philippines has seen it’s largest dengue fever outbreak in recent memory reporting more than 414,000 cases and 1,500 deaths during the first 11 months of 2019. In Iloilo province in the Western Visayas region of the country, health officials saw a large increase in cases in 2019 and a dengue outbreak was […]The post Dengue: Iloilo looks to lift outbreak declaration with decrease in new cases appeared first on Outbreak News Today.