Outbreak News Today

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Officials with Public Health England (PHE) reported yesterday that due to several reasons, the United Kingdom has lost it’s WHO measles elimination status. In 2017 the World Health Organization declared that the UK had eliminated measles. However, that elimination status has not been maintained. WHO defines measles elimination as the absence of circulating […]The post Measles in the UK: ‘Elimination status’ is lost appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Measles update The Public Health Center of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine reported an additional 203 measles cases this past week, 138 adults and 65 children. Most of the new cases were reported in the Kyiv, Odessa, Chernivtsi and Kharkiv areas. Since the beginning of the year, 57,301 people became ill with […]The post Ukraine: Measles update, New tetanus case in Lviv appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Florida state health officials reported an additional 72 hepatitis A cases last week, bringing the outbreak total since January 2018 to 2,814 cases. In addition, 31 deaths have been reported through July 31. Since the beginning of the year, Pasco (374), Pinellas (344) and Volusia (208) counties have reported the most cases. Florida […]The post Florida hepatitis A outbreak rises by 72 cases appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Polio The Philippines has been declared polio-free since October 2000. However, the country is currently at high-risk for poliovirus transmission. For the past years, vaccination coverage for the third dose of the Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) has fallen below 95%, the target required to ensure population protection against polio; the surveillance on Acute […]The post Philippines update: Polio vaccine coverage, TB response and dengue epidemic appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Xenleta (lefamulin) to treat adults with community-acquired bacterial pneumonia. “This new drug provides another option for the treatment of patients with community-acquired bacterial pneumonia, a serious disease,” said Ed Cox, M.D., M.P.H., director of FDA’s Office of Antimicrobial Products. “For managing this serious disease, it is important […]The post New antibiotic, Xenleta, receives FDA approval to treat community-acquired bacterial pneumonia appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The China National Health Commission reported a human case of avian influenza A(H5N6) today. The case involved a 59-year-old female from Beijing. She was hospitalised on August 11. She is now in a critical condition. Avian influenza is caused by those influenza viruses that mainly affect birds and poultry, such as chickens or […]The post H5N6 avian influenza case reported in Beijing appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews In a follow-up on the rise of human West Nile virus cases in Maricopa County, Arizona this year, health officials report an additional 16 cases. This brings the case tally to 123 to date. This compares with the seven cases reported to date last year and 24 cases seen in all of 2018. […]The post West Nile virus: Maricopa County case count rises appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Officials with the Auckland Regional Public Health Service have reported some 100 additional measles cases during the past week. On August 13, officials were reporting 410 cases and this morning the total has risen to 507 with some 50 cases reported just over the weekend. Nationally, New Zealand’s measles total has reached 639 cases, […]The post Auckland measles top 500 cases appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews From the beginning of the year through July, Brazil health authorities have reported 97,900 probable cases of chikungunya in the country. This is up from 72,000 cases reported during the same period in 2018. Southeast and Northeast regions represent the highest incidence of the mosquito-borne viral disease, with Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande […]The post Chikungunya: Brazil reports nearly 100K cases through July appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The states of Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul and Paraná, with support from the Ministry of Health, are beginning to carry out this month, a schedule of actions to intensify surveillance and vaccination against yellow fever in the Southern Region, according to the Brazil Health Ministry. The measure is preventive and seeks […]The post Brazil to intensify surveillance and vaccination against yellow fever in the Southern Region appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews In a follow-up on the human Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) case reported in Massachusetts last week, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) today announced that laboratory testing confirmed the second case of EEE virus infection, in a male between the ages of 19-30 from eastern Worcester County. This is the second human […]The post Massachusetts reports 2nd human EEE case appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews A confirmed case of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) involving a 42-year-old businessman dealing in cattle has been reported from Kasagama Subcounty, Lyantonde District. A specimen obtained from the deceased case-patient tested positive for CCHF virus by RT-PCR at the Ugandan Virus Research Institute (UVRI) on 31 July 2019. A total of 50 contacts […]The post Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever case reported in Uganda appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The Uganda Ministry of Health is reporting an increase in malaria cases in 2019. The cases of malaria have increased by over 400,000 cases when compared with 2018 and 2019 from about 1 million cases in June 2018 to 1.4 million in June 2019 (40% increase). However, it is worth noting that cases […]The post Uganda reports malaria upsurge: 40 percent increase appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Finland’s National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) report an increase in cases of infection with the protozoan parasite, Cryptosporidium. In 2018, 348 cases of cryptosporidiosis were reported to the Registry of Infectious Diseases, an increase of almost 20 times compared to the early 2010s when an average of 19 (5-78 cases per year) […]The post Finland reports increase in Cryptosporidium infections appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews In an update on the chikungunya situation in Thailand, the Ministry of Health reports that since the beginning of the year through August 4, 5,996 cases from 44 provinces have been reported, an increase of some 1,500 in about one month. Pattani has reported the highest incidence, followed by Ranong, Phuket, Tak […]The post Thailand chikungunya case tally nears 6,000 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Health officials at the Government Fever Hospital in Hyderabad, Telangana state, India are reporting a surge in cases of the vaccine-preventable disease, diphtheria. According to a Times of India report, during the past two months they have seen 240 cases reported from Hyderabad, including seven death in just the past month. Cases are […]The post India: Diphtheria surge in Hyderabad appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Taipei dengue Taiwanese health officials reported the first local transmission of dengue fever in Taipei this year. It was a 30-year-old male from Jian’anli in Da’an District. He had no history of recent travel. In response to the first case of local dengue fever in Taipei, the health unit has conducted risk assessment, […]The post 1st local dengue case reported in Taipei, More measles in Taiwan appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews With 839 dengue fever cases reported in the past 24 hours, the epidemic in Bangladesh this year has essentially doubled the number of cases reported in the country in the past decade. Since the beginning of the year, 51,476 cases have been reported through August 17, including more than 33,000 cases in August […]The post Bangladesh dengue outbreak tops 50,000 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Republic of Congo Health officials are reporting a declining trend in chikungunya cases in the Republic of Congo. The Ministry of Health declared an outbreak in February and more than 11,000 cases have been reported from 43 health districts across 10 of the country’s twelve departments. The outbreak peaked in April with most […]The post Chikungunya: Declining trend in Congo, Outbreak reported in Dire Dawa, Ethiopia appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare has reported the first human West Nile virus (WNV) cases of the year, both in Washington County. A resident over the age of 30 was diagnosed with West Nile virus neuroinvasive disease. Another resident over the age of 60 was diagnosed with West Nile virus fever. […]The post West Nile virus cases reported in Idaho, 1st cases of 2019 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews For the first time since 2017, Washoe County, Nevada has reported a hantavirus case. The case was confirmed in a south Reno resident. As of this report, there is no status on the patient. Hantavirus is a rare respiratory disease that can cause illness in humans. The disease is spread by breathing in […]The post Nevada: Hantavirus case confirmed in South Reno appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In this look at the week-in-review for Ebola and the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, I look at the new cases reported in the 3rd DRC province, South Kivu. In addition, other big news was narrowing of two Ebola drugs that preliminary studies show promising results. Related podcasts: Ebola, PHEIC and […]The post Ebola news this week: 3rd province to report cases, Two EVD drugs show favorable results appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Singapore has experienced several dengue epidemics in the past ~20 years and it appears that 2019 is one of those years. In this podcast, I look at the current situation (surpassing 10,000 cases this week) and a little on some recent historical trends. Related podcasts: Global measles: The numbers are staggering The Vaccine Mom talks […]The post Singapore dengue cases top 10K in 2019 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews For the first time in twenty years, the Eastern European country of Belarus has reported an animal anthrax case. Earlier this week, Dr. Ivan Smilhin, Deputy Minister, Director, Veterinary and Food Supervision, Ministry of Agriculture and Food in Minsk, Belarus reported the case of equine anthrax to the World Organisation for Animal Health. […]The post Anthrax: Belarus reports 1st case in two decades appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The Myanmar Ministry of Health and Sports are reporting more than 10,000 dengue fever cases during the first seven months of 2019. From the beginning of the year through July 27, 10,757 cases have been recorded and 48 deaths. Ayeyarwady region has seen the most cases with 1,974 cases and five deaths, followed […]The post Myanmar dengue cases top 10,000, Ayeyarwady region reports the most appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Officials with the Southern Nevada Health District are informing individuals and the public of a possible measles exposure at several sites along the Las Vegas strip. This measles case was reported in a visitor. Because measles can be highly contagious, the Health District is advising people who may have been exposed to review […]The post Measles: Potential exposure reported at different locations on the Las Vegas strip appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Singapore health officials apparently issued a memo for physicians recently due to an increase in locally acquired typhoid fever. According to the memo, posted on the Etern Medical Facebook page, as of August 13, 15 local cases have been confirmed from July 13 through August 2. All the patients were hospitalized and stable, […]The post Singapore reports 15 local typhoid cases since mid-July: Published memorandum appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Health officials in Weld County, Colorado reported a mass die-off this week at a prairie dog colony in the rural southwest part of the county. The risk of public exposure is low due to the colony being located on private property. Colorado reports seeing increased plague activity this year. Plague: An interview with […]The post Plague: Weld County prairie dog colony die-off, Colorado is seeing increased activity appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews In a follow-up on the report of a Heartland virus case reported in a Kankakee County, Illinois resident last year, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) collaborated with the Illinois Natural History Survey Medical Entomology Laboratory (INHS MEL) and Kankakee County Health Department to conduct the first environmental health investigation to a […]The post Heartland virus detected in ticks from Kankakee County, Illinois appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews New Jersey health officials are responding to a hepatitis A outbreak related to a food handler at the Mendham Golf and Tennis Club (MGTC), a members only club. There are 23 confirmed cases including one individual who is seriously ill, officials note. Hepatitis A is an immediately reportable condition to the State Health Department […]The post New Jersey: 23 sickened with hepatitis A, linked to Mendham Golf and Tennis Club appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The number of dengue fever cases in the Americas has surpassed 2 million, higher than the annual totals reported during the most recent two years . Nicaragua is one of the countries reporting the most cases, seeing 55,289 cases year to date, following only Brazil and Colombia. MedicalSupplyDepot.com– Save On Respiratory Machines Now! […]The post Nicaragua has the highest dengue incidence in Latin America appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The global polio total has increased by five in the past week as Pakistan reported additional wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1). The five cases were reported in Bannu district (3) and one each in Charsadda district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and South Waziristan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. This brings the total WPV1 cases in Pakistan […]The post Pakistan reports 5 additional polio cases, Benin sees first ever cVDPV case appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Thailand health officials reported an additional 4,500 dengue fever cases during the past week, which has brought the total case tally to 49,174 cases with 64 deaths, according to a Chiang Rai Times report. This has prompted the Health Minister to order preventive measures against dengue fever to include requiring the healthcare sector […]The post Thailand dengue case count nears 50,000 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A breakthrough in monkey malaria research by two University of Otago scientists could help scientists diagnose and treat a relapsing form of human malaria. Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease that affects humans and other animals with more than 200 million cases annually, particularly in Asia, the Pacific and South America. Symptoms include fever, tiredness, […]The post Relapsing malaria: University of Otago’s monkey malaria research could lead to treatments appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Officials in the Western Visayas region of the Philippines are calling the dengue fever situation in the region and the country “alarming” as the case count continues to rise. Since the beginning of the year through July 20, 23,330 dengue cases have been reported in the Western Visayas, the highest in the country. […]The post Dengue epidemic: Western Visayas situation called ‘alarming’ appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Myanmar is now the 7th Asian country to report confirmed African swine fever (ASF) cases. Chief Veterinary Officer Director General, Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department with the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, Dr. Ye Tun Win reported the cases to the World Organization of Animal Health Wednesday. According to Dr Win, ASF virus […]The post Myanmar reports confirmed African Swine fever appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The Florida Department of Health is urging residents to take steps to stop the spread of hepatitis A, which is on the rise in Florida and in parts of the United States. Health officials in Martin County are confirming 32 cases of hepatitis A and 5 deaths associated with complications from the virus. “Our […]The post Florida: Martin County ‘widespread activity’ of hepatitis A appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The Southern Nevada Health District is reporting on the increasing incidence of hepatitis A in Clark County this year. During the first six months of the year, 49 outbreak-associated cases have been reported. Since Nov. 2018, , there have been 83 hepatitis A cases associated with this outbreak. Nearly nine out of 10 […]The post Las Vegas area hepatitis A outbreak appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews On Wednesday, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Pretomanid Tablets in combination with bedaquiline and linezolid for the treatment of a specific type of highly treatment-resistant tuberculosis (TB) of the lungs. Pretomanid in combination with bedaquiline and linezolid is approved for treating a limited and specific population of adult patients with […]The post TB drug: FDA approves Pretomanid Tablets, MSF says must be affordable appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The World Health Organization (WHO) reported on some new measles surveillance data this week and we see some astounding numbers of the vaccine-preventable disease across the globe. In this podcast, I look at the global situation and the outbreaks in Europe, Africa, Asia and the United States. Got Smallpox? Merchandise Related […]The post Global measles: The numbers are staggering appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews In Madagascar, there is a “plague season” which occurs every year, usually between September and April. Well, we’re not even half way through August and 13 suspected human plague cases have been reported in the matter of a few days–Faratsiho (9), Arivonimamo (3) and one in Ambatomirahavavy, according to a L’Express report (computer […]The post Plague off to an early start in Madagacar appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews One week after the Philippines Health Secretary, Francisco Duque III declared a national dengue epidemic in the country when the tally was 146,062 cases, health officials now report an additional 20,000-plus cases. According to the DOH-Epidemiology Bureau, about 167,606 dengue cases were recorded from January 1 to July 27, 2019. DOH Undersecretary Eric […]The post Philippines dengue epidemic rises, increased cases can be expected through October appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Taiwan health officials are reporting the first case of local dengue fever in New Taipei City this year. The patient is a 40-year-old man in Xiujingli, Zhonghe District with no recent history of travel. The case is has recovered and been released from the hospital. The Department of Disease Control started the relevant prevention […]The post 1st local dengue case reported in New Taipei City as Taiwan total reaches 70 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Health officials in El Paso, Texas are reporting two West Nile virus (WNV) related fatalities recently. The patients are a woman in her early 50’s and a man in his early 80’s. Both had underlying conditions. This is the first time a WNV death has been recorded in the city in four years. […]The post Texas West Nile virus: El Paso records two deaths appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Head lice affect about six to 12 million children, ages three to 12, each year in the United States. Although head lice are not known to carry disease, dermatologists from the American Academy of Dermatology say an infestation can cause some uncomfortable symptoms. Knowing how to spot the signs of head lice early can help […]The post Head lice infestation: How to spot the signs appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Globally, measles cases are being reported at higher numbers through the mid-point of 2019, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The latest preliminary reports reveal in the first six months of 2019, reported measles cases are the highest they have been in any year since 2006 and there have been almost three […]The post Measles: Number of cases up 3-times last year worldwide, Europe sees nearly 90K in 6 months appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Toronto health officials reported Tuesday the first human West Nile virus (WNV) case of 2019 in an adult resident. “As we head into late summer, we know that residents and visitors to Toronto are maximizing their time outside to enjoy the weather and outdoor activities. We encourage everyone to take the appropriate precautions […]The post West Nile virus reported in Toronto, 1st case of 2019 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews On the website, I’ve been following the Rift Valley Fever (RVF) outbreak on the island of Mayotte for months and it appears to be coming to an end. In this video, I look at the latest from Mayotte, some geographical and historical information about RVF and some proactive research being done at Colorado […]The post Rift Valley Fever: Mayotte epidemic coming to a close?, CSU proactive research appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By Taryn Chapman at The Vaccine Mom Pockets of unvaccinated people have left many children exposed to the most contagious and potentially deadly disease–the measles. I’m going to add some interesting facts that you may not know about the measles at the end of this article so stay tuned. First, a piece of information that may just […]The post Measles induced ‘immune amnesia’ appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A new study analyzing samples from patients with and without acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) provides additional evidence for an association between the rare but often serious condition that causes muscle weakness and paralysis, and infection with non-polio enteroviruses. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, funded […]The post Enterovirus antibodies detected in acute flaccid myelitis patients appeared first on Outbreak News Today.