Outbreak News Today

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 Health officials in New Zealand continue to report additional measles cases this year with 1576 confirmed cases of measles notified across New Zealand through Sep. 27. Auckland has been especially hard hit reporting the bulk of cases in the country with 1307. In addition, a report from the Auckland regional coordination centre for the measles […]The post Measles in New Zealand: Two unborn children die from complications in Auckland appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews In a follow-up on the Cyclospora outbreak linked to fresh basil from Siga Logistics de RL de CV of Morelos, Mexico, federal health officials say the outbreak appears to be over. As of September 27, 2019, 241 people with laboratory-confirmed Cyclospora infections and who reported eating fresh basil had been reported from 11 states; exposures […]The post Cyclospora outbreak linked to basil is over, 241 cases reported appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 New Mexico health officials report investigating seven mumps cases at the Torrance County Detention Facility. Mumps is a highly contagious disease that is spread through the air and by droplets of saliva or mucus from the mouth, nose, or throat of an infected person, usually when the person coughs or sneezes. The virus […]The post New Mexico reports 7 mumps cases at Torrance County Detention Facility appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 Earlier this month, Philippines health officials reported two confirmed cases of vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (VDPV2)–one in a 3-year-old girl from Lanao del Sur in the southern Philippines on September 14 and a 5-year-old boy from Laguna confirmed on September 19. These are the first polio cases reported in the country in nineteen […]The post Philippines polio situation update: Vaccination campaigns and surveillance appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 In a follow-up on the Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) situation in Michigan, state health officials now report nine human EEE cases from six counties–Barry, Calhoun, Kalamazoo (3), Van Buren, Berrien (2) and Cass. Three deaths are among the nine cases. In addition to the human cases, EEE has also infected 27 animals (5 […]The post Michigan EEE update: 9 human cases in six counties appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Antibiotic-resistant pathogens can be spread via washing machines. This has been proven by hygienists at the University of Bonn for a children’s hospital in which a Klebsiella oxytoca type was repeatedly transmitted to newborns. Fortunately, no dangerous infection occurred. The source was a conventional washing machine used to launder the clothes of the newborns. This case draws […]The post Antibiotic-resistant Klebsiella oxytoca spread via washing machines: Study appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Iowa state health officials have reported 23 cases of severe respiratory illness associated with vaping to date. Of the 23 Iowa cases, ages range from 17 to 60 and 18 have reported the use of THC. Mirroring national statistics, most of the cases (78%) have been male. All Iowa cases have recovered. There are 805 […]The post Iowa reports 23 vaping-related illnesses appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Georgia Department of Health identified the state’s first death from a vaping-associated illness. The patient had a history of heavy nicotine vaping, but no reported history of vaping THC. To date, officials have identified nine cases, including the death, of vaping-associated illness in Georgia, and other possible cases are being reviewed. All patients were […]The post Georgia officials report 1st vaping death appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Florida state health officials have reported the first death linked to Lung Injury Associated with E-Cigarette Use, or Vaping. Health officials offered no information concerning the case but did note that 27 vaping illnesses have been reported through Sep. 24. There are 805 lung injury cases reported from 46 states and 1 U.S. territory. Twelve deaths […]The post Florida: 1st vaping death reported appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The number of dengue fever cases reported to date in the western hemisphere has eclipsed 2.5 million cases, surpassing the 2.415 million cases reported in 2015. According to the latest data from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), 2,508,799 cases have been reported, including 1,035 deaths. This is the highest number of cases […]The post Dengue in the Americas tops 2.5 million cases, A record year? appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Malaysian health officials report the number of dengue fever cases have surpassed 100,000 for 2019 to date. Through Sep. 29, 100,803 cases have been reported with Selangor state reporting more than half with 55,908 cases. This is followed by Kuala Lumpur (11,615) and Johor (8,610). In addition, 143 dengue fatalities have been reported […]The post Malaysia dengue cases top 100,000 for 2019 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews While more attention, but not nearly enough, has been given to the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), in 2019 to date, the number of fatalities due to measles has been more than double the EVD total. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports (computer translated) 183,837 […]The post Measles deaths are double Ebola deaths in DRC in 2019 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Officials in Timor-Leste, an island country just north of Australia, became the 10th country to reported an outbreak of African swine fever (ASF). According to a meeting of the Council of Ministers this week (computer translated), the Acting Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Fidelis Leite Magalhães, made a presentation to the Council concerning the […]The post Timor-Leste is the latest country to report African swine fever appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Health officials in France have reported two locally-transmitted dengue fever cases from two departments in the past week. In Alpes-Maritimes department in southeast France, officials reported (computer translated) a case in Vallauris. The individual had no recent travel history and has since recovered. A few days later, The Préfecture of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region […]The post France reports two autochthonous dengue cases appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews North Carolina state health officials have reported seven confirmed mumps cases at two schools–Elon University and High Point University. Officials are working with student health services at the schools to coordinate response measures, including vaccination of susceptible groups. “Anyone who thinks they might have mumps should contact their physician and have appropriate laboratory […]The post North Carolina: Mumps reported at Elon University and High Point University appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Officials with the Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County reported an additional local transmission of dengue fever. This brings the total in Miami-Dade to five and six statewide. Health officials say the local cases do not appear to be related. Dengue is a virus spread through mosquito bites through the Aedes mosquitoes which also […]The post Dengue in Florida: Miami-Dade County reports 5th local case appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Los Angeles County health officials reported an additional confirmed case of measles in a resident who recently traveled and became ill with measles shortly after returning to Los Angeles County. Other people may have been exposed to measles since public locations were visited by the person with measles while infectious. The potential public […]The post Los Angeles reports 17th measles case of 2019 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The dengue fever outbreak occurring in Central America is “unprecedented”, according to Head of Health at International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) Regional Office for the Americas, Dr Maria Franca Tallarico. A combination of seasonal rains and warming temperatures are being blamed for dengue’s rapid spread–creating more stagnant pools […]The post Dengue in Central America: ‘The size of this outbreak is unprecedented’ appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By Candess Zona-Mendola of MakeFoodSafe The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has announced an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease potentially linked to the Mountain State Fair in North Carolina. As of today, there are 32 confirmed illnesses and one person has died. According to the health agents, “The source of the outbreak is under […]The post 32 Sick and 1 Dead in Legionnaires Outbreak Linked to Mountain State Fair appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Scientists have confirmed for the first time that bacteria can change form to avoid being detected by antibiotics in the human body Studying samples from elderly patients with recurring urinary tract infections, the Newcastle University team used state-of-the art techniques to identify that a bacteria can lose its cell wall – the common target of […]The post Antibiotic resistance cause identified: ‘Bacteria can change form to avoid being detected’ according to researchers appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Maryland state health officials report investigating a cluster of salmonella infections in individuals who all reported eating at Moby Dick House of Kabob restaurant, which has multiple locations in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia. During the past two weeks, nine confirmed cases have been reported in Maryland. The exact cause of […]The post Salmonella outbreak in Maryland linked to Moby Dick House of Kabob hummus appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A new type of vaccine that can be stored at warmer temperatures, removing the need for refrigeration, has been developed for mosquito-borne virus Chikungunya in a major advance in vaccine technology. The findings, published in Science Advances, reveal exceptionally promising results for the Chikungunya vaccine candidate, which has been engineered using a synthetic protein scaffold that […]The post Chikungunya: New vaccine technology removes the need for refrigeration and delivers potent results appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today expanded the approval of Mavyret (glecaprevir and pibrentasvir) tablets for an eight-week duration for the treatment of adults and children ages 12 years and older or weighing at least 99 pounds who have chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 infection and […]The post Hepatitis C treatment: Mavyret approved as first eight-week treatment appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported updated numbers today on the confirmed and probable cases of lung injury and deaths associated with e-cigarette product use, or vaping. Through Sep. 24, 805 confirmed and probable patient cases of lung injury associated with e-cigarette product use, or vaping, were reported by 46 states and the […]The post Vaping lung disease: More than 800 cases, 12 deaths appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) reported today on the 12th confirmed human Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) virus infection in a woman in her 70s from Hampden County. Health officials also corrected the death toll. Based on an incorrect report filed by a hospital, DPH has been notified that the fourth death was […]The post EEE: Massachusetts reports 12th human case appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Pakistan reported an additional four wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) cases during the past week. Three cases were reported from Lakki Marwat district and one from Torghar district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. This brings the total cases to 66 in 2019 to date. This compares to seven this time last year and 12 cases […]The post Pakistan reports 4 additional polio cases, Battling anti-vaccination propaganda on social media appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Dengue outbreak Since the beginning of the year, more than 85,000 dengue fever cases have been reported by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). In addition, the officials death toll has risen to 75, although unofficial totals are reported at more than 160. Dengue fever is a painful, debilitating mosquito-borne disease caused […]The post Bangladesh dengue outbreak tops 85K, West Nile Virus reported for the first time appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Officials with Ottawa Public Health reported the first human West Nile virus (WNV) case of the year. Ottawa Public Health reminds all residents to continue to protect themselves from mosquito bites. Culex pipiens, the northern house mosquito – the mosquito most responsible for spreading West Nile virus infection – prefers to live and […]The post Canada: 1st human West Nile virus case reported in Ottawa appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Vaxart, Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing oral recombinant vaccines that are administered by tablet rather than by injection, today announced positive topline results from the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 1b safety, immunogenicity and interference study with its oral tableted bivalent norovirus vaccine in healthy adults. The study met all primary endpoints for safety and […]The post Norovirus: Vaxart’s oral vaccine met all primary/secondary endpoints in Phase 1b study appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Officials with the St. Clair County Health Department are reporting a chickenpox (varicella) outbreak at Marysville High School. Marysville school district officials have been working closely with the Health Department to identify approximately 37 susceptible, unvaccinated students. Letters from the Health Department were given to the district to help with parent notification. In […]The post Chickenpox outbreak reported at E. Michigan school appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Massachusetts health officials reported the 11th human Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) virus infection in a man in his 70s from Worcester County. In addition, the health department was notified by a hospital of a death from EEE of an Essex County resident, the 4th of the year. “Although mosquito populations are declining at this […]The post Massachusetts reports 11th human Eastern Equine Encephalitis case, 4th death appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Costa Rica health officials are reporting (computer translated) a mumps outbreak affecting several prisons across the country. Through Sept. 20, 164 cases of mumps have been reported with 48 still in isolation. The affected prisons include: CAI Jorge Arturo Montero (Reforma): 4 cases, all remain in isolation. CAI Gerardo Rodríguez (San Rafael de […]The post Costa Rica reports mumps outbreak in prisons appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Philippines health officials are urging parents to ensure that their children receive all the necessary vaccinations on a timely basis. This call comes after the DOH reported an increase in diphtheria this year to date. From January 2019 – September 2019, there have been 167 cases and 40 deaths compared to 122 cases […]The post Philippines reports increase in diphtheria in 2019, prompts calls to ensure children are vaccinated appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Swedish Public Health officials (Folkhalsomyndigheten) are reporting (computer translated) an outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium since the beginning of the month. To date, 36 cases from 10 counties have been linked with whole-genome sequencing. Most cases have been reported from Västra Götaland, Jönköping, Halland and Dalarna. Ill persons are found in all age groups, […]The post Sweden reports Salmonella outbreak, dozens affected appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Connecticut health officials announced that the second person to be diagnosed with Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) this year in Connecticut has passed away. The patient, an adult resident from Old Lyme, was hospitalized with encephalitis in mid-September and is the second human fatality from the virus in Connecticut since 2013. This has prompted […]The post Connecticut reports 2nd EEE death, Governor Ned Lamont advises public appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The hepatitis A outbreak in Michigan began in August of 2016 and more than three years on, state and local public health officials continue to investigate outbreak cases. Since the outbreak began, Michigan has reported 920 hepatitis A cases. Eighty percent of those individuals have been hospitalized and 30 have died. In addition, […]The post Michigan investigating hepatitis A outbreak 3 years later appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews North Carolina state and local health officials report investigating multiple cases of Legionnaires’ disease reported in individuals who attended the NC Mountain State Fair in Fletcher, NC, Sept. 6–15, 2019. “We don’t yet know whether people might have been exposed to Legionella bacteria at the NC Mountain State Fair,” said State Epidemiologist Dr. […]The post Legionnaires’ Disease cases in people who attended NC Mountain State Fair appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Officials with the Binder Park Zoo in Calhoun County, MI sadly reported that a Mexican gray wolf pup died after being infected with Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE). The Battle Creek zoo says tests are also pending on a second gray wolf pup that died the day before. According to the zoo, the Mexican gray wolf […]The post EEE the cause of death of gray wolf pup at Michigan zoo appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Bureau of Laboratories has confirmed Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) in an adult resident of Calhoun County. Eight cases of EEE have now been confirmed in residents of Barry, Berrien, Calhoun, Cass, Kalamazoo, and Van Buren counties, including three deaths. “The increasing geographic spread […]The post Michigan reports 8th human EEE case appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Texas officials reported a large anthrax outbreak in 2019 affecting some 20 premises in five counties. My guest today was in the area over the summer to take a closer look at this outbreak. Joining me is University of Florida Associate Professor of Medical Geography and returning guest, Jason Blackburn, PhD. Other podcasts with Dr […]The post Texas anthrax: A look at the 2019 outbreak appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Bavarian Nordic A/S today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved JYNNEOS™ (Smallpox and Monkeypox Vaccine, Live, Non-replicating) (MVA-BN®, liquid-frozen) for prevention of smallpox and monkeypox disease in adults 18 years of age and older determined to be at high risk for smallpox or monkeypox infection. JYNNEOS is the only approved […]The post Smallpox and Monkeypox vaccine, JYNNEOS™, receives FDA approval appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Health officials in Thailand issued a warning on the need to take precautions against chikungunya fever as hundreds of cases are still being reported. Between January 1 and September 23 this year, 7,704 cases have been reported from 51 of Thai provinces, up from 7,481 cases one week prior. Pattani, Ranong, Tak, Phuket […]The post Thailand chikungunya: Cases continue to rise, Preventive measures encouraged appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The Taiwan Department of Disease Control (CDC) reported today (computer translated) the first imported case of extensively drug-resistant (XDR) typhoid fever in the country. The patient, a 30-year-old male traveled to a number of countries during the incubation time including Pakistan, which has battling an outbreak of XDR typhoid for several years. According […]The post Typhoid fever: Taiwan reports 1st imported XDR typhoid in traveler to Pakistan appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews In a follow-up on the chikungunya outbreak in Dire-Dawa, Ethiopia, health officials report an additional 5,500 cases in the week ending September 15, bringing the outbreak total to 40,340 since late July. Cases have been reported from all kebeles, or neighborhoods in the Dire Dawa city administration, which has a population of 335,000. […]The post Chikungunya: Ethiopia outbreak tops 40,000 cases appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Toronto health officials are reporting receiving lab results confirming that a bat found in the city tested positive for rabies. This is the first confirmed case of rabies in an animal in Toronto since 2016. Rabies is a viral infection that affects the nervous system of warm-blooded animals, including humans. If it is […]The post Toronto reports 1st animal rabies case in 3 years appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The dengue outbreak continues in Sri Lanka and health officials warn that say it is mainly due to the current south-west monsoon. Through September 24, the country has reported 48,495 total cases with more than 10,000 in the capital city region of Colombo, followed by Gampaha with nearly 8,000 cases. Approximately 46.7 % […]The post Sri Lanka: Colombo dengue cases top 10K, South-west monsoon behind the rise in cases appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Pennsylvania state health officials have reported a decrease in Lyme disease cases in 2018 after seeing a steady rise since 2012. A total of 10,208 cases were reported last year after seeing a record high in 2017 with 11,900 cases. Lyme has risen annually since 2012 when 5,033 cases were reported. Last year, […]The post Pennsylvania reports decrease in Lyme disease in 2018 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews School officials with the College of Charleston reported three individuals tested positive for mumps. Based on these three cases, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) has labeled this situation as an outbreak. In an effort to prevent the spread of mumps on campus, the College of Charleston, in partnership […]The post College of Charleston: Health officials declare mumps outbreak appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The University of Maryland reported three students who have been identified with Salmonella, two confirmed at outside medical facilities and one at the University Health Center. According to Dr. David McBride, Director of the University Health Center says the source of the infection is not yet clear – two of the three individuals have […]The post Salmonella cases reported at the University of Maryland appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Brazil’s health ministry announced (computer translated) the purchase of large supplies of the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine (MMR) in the wake of a surge in measles cases. They purchased 114% more of the number of MMR vaccine doses for 2019 and 2020 compared to 2018, from 30.6 million to 60.2 million and […]The post Brazil ramps up MMR vaccine purchase while facing measles surge appeared first on Outbreak News Today.