Outbreak News Today

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved a new indication for the previously FDA-approved drug, Zerbaxa (ceftolozane and tazobactam) for the treatment of hospital-acquired bacterial pneumonia and ventilator-associated bacterial pneumonia (HABP/VABP) in patients 18 years and older. The FDA initially approved Zerbaxa in 2014 to treat complicated intra-abdominal infections and for complicated urinary tract infections. “A […]The post Antibiotic, Zerbaxa, receives FDA approval for treating hospital-acquired pneumonia appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

India health officials have confirmed a Nipah virus case in Kerala state, almost exactly a year after an outbreak sickened 18 and killed 17 in 2018. Reports note that the 23-year-old college student is the patient and some 80 contacts are under surveillance. Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Harsh Vardhan announced that […]The post Nipah virus confirmed in Kerala, India appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The New York City Department of Health issued an tick-borne disease (TBD) advisory today, alerting physicians to be on the alert for patients with TBD. Locally acquired cases of Lyme disease and babesiosis continue to be reported from Staten Island, and smaller numbers have been reported from the Bronx. Isolated cases of locally acquired anaplasmosis […]The post New York City issues Tick-borne Disease Advisory appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Los Angeles’ Skid row area is overrun with trash and rats and feces and it is going to, if not already, cause a public health problem. LAPD employees contracting typhoid, flea-borne typhus increasing and celebrity physician, Dr Drew Pinsky predicting we’ll soon see bubonic plague! Typhus and plague are already endemic in California…so could Dr. […]The post Los Angeles: Typhoid and typhus and plague??, Oh my!! appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

About 1.5 million people died of tuberculosis (TB) in 2017, making it the most lethal infectious disease worldwide. A growing rise in drug-resistant TB is a major obstacle to successfully treating the illness. Now, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and Umea University in Sweden have found a compound that prevents […]The post TB: Researchers find compound that reverses isoniazid resistance appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 In Brazil, the Agricultural Defense Secretariat of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply reports (computer translated) the confirmation of an atypical case of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), or Mad Cow disease, in Mato Grosso. This disease occurs spontaneously and sporadically, and is not related to the ingestion of contaminated food. It […]The post Mad Cow disease detected in Mato Grosso beef cow appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 Fourteen people, 13 students and one teacher, from the School of the Arts (SOTA) in Singapore contracted the mosquito-borne viral infection, chikungunya, while in Thailand, according to a Straits Times report. They were on an overseas service learning trip to Thailand’s Ratchaburi province. After being treated at the provincial hospital, some students […]The post Singapore: School of the Arts students contract chikungunya on Thailand trip appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In today’s news brief, I follow-up on yesterday’s show with more on sexually transmitted infections. In a research letter published online in JAMA Pediatrics, we find that fewer than 60% of young women diagnosed with sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the emergency department fill prescriptions for antimicrobial therapy to treat these conditions. STIs are rising […]The post STD issues: Not filling prescriptions and condom use appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Müller UK is recalling Cadbury Dairy Milk Cheesecake and Cadbury Dairy Milk Caramel Cheesecake dessert products as a precaution due to the possible presence of Listeria monocytogenes in the products. Product details Cadbury Dairy Milk Cheesecakes Pack size 2 x 85g Use by 5 June, 6 June, […]The post UK: Cadbury Dairy Milk desserts recalled due to Listeria risk appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A 8-year-old girl from Southern California is recovering from a bacterial infection called rat-bite fever, something she likely contracted via her pet rat’s saliva. The girl named Cali was treated at Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego, according to a CBS-8 report. Her mom said that Cali came down with high fever and a horrible […]The post Rat-bite fever: S. California girl recovering, contracted from rat saliva appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 Officials with the Spokane Regional Health District (SRHD) confirmed two cases of mumps in Eastern Washington University students on Thursday and a third case was identified Friday in a student who had been in close contact with one of the other confirmed cases. Two of the three students were fully immunized against […]The post Mumps reported at Eastern Washington University appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 The Thailand Department of Disease Control (DDC) reports that from January 1st to May 27th, 23,622 dengue fever cases, including 30 deaths have been recorded, local media reports (computer translated). This compares with 17,302 patients and 21 confirmed deaths reported during the same period last year. Most patients were in the central […]The post Thailand dengue outbreak: ‘Increased risk of dengue as rainy season begins’ appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 Health officials in Taiwan are reporting (computer translated) six additional locally transmitted dengue fever cases in Sanmin District, Kaohsiung City. This brings the total indigenous transmission in Taiwan to eight, all cases have been in Kaohsiung City. The latest cases include 3 women and 3 men, aged between 40 and 70, living […]The post Dengue local transmission rises in Kaohsiung City, Taiwan appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Fewer than 60% of young women diagnosed with sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the emergency department fill prescriptions for antimicrobial therapy to treat these conditions, according to a research letter published online May 28, 2019, by JAMA Pediatrics. Adolescents make up nearly half of the people diagnosed with sexually transmitted infections each year. According to the […]The post Sexually transmitted infections: Many adolescents not filling prescriptions after diagnosed appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the measles outbreak in Saint John region, New Brunswick, health officials report there have been 12 confirmed cases of measles in the Saint John region as of June 1, 2019. In addition, a case of measles is in the Hampton High School community and linked to a previous confirmed case at […]The post New Brunswick: Saint John measles outbreak spreads to 2nd high school appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the African swine fever (ASF) situation in Hong Kong, a second case was reported Friday in a slaughterhouse in the New Territories, bordering China’s southern province of Guangdong. In a back-and-forth with reporters, Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan had the following to say to their questions: Reporter: Professor […]The post African swine fever: Hong Kong confirms second case appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDEsk @bactiman63 Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) reported that a white-tailed doe found killed in Libby, MT in the northwest corner of the state, tested positive for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). This is the first time CWD has been detected in the wild, west of the Continental Divide in Montana. CWD is a […]The post Chronic Wasting Disease reported in deer in Libby, Montana appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Tragic and Preventable! Congenital syphilis, or syphilis in a fetus or infant at birth, is a horrible disease resulting in devastating health outcomes, including stillbirth. Live-born infants with congenital syphilis may manifest abnormalities of the central nervous system, bones and joints, teeth, eyes, and skin. And it’s on the rise in the US. I take […]The post Congenital syphilis on the rise in the US: Tragic and Preventable! appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 The Iceland Chief Epidemiologist (computer translated) now recommends vaccinating pregnant women for pertussis, or whooping cough. The vaccine is a combination vaccine with diphtheria and tetanus. Vaccination should be free of charge for women, such as influenza vaccination during pregnancy. Pertussis is quite common in Iceland, despite the fact that it is […]The post Iceland: Pertussis vaccine recommended for pregnant women appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By Robert Herriman @bactiman63 Three anthrax outbreaks have been reported in the Maseru district of Lesotho, which have affected dozens of cattle, prompting warnings from South Africa authorities. Lesotho is a landlocked country encircled by South Africa. Last week, Dr Gerard Relebohile Mahloane, Director General of Veterinary Services, Livestock Services, Ministry of Agriculture and Food […]The post Anthrax outbreaks in Lesotho, dozens of cattle killed appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report the first A(H1N1)v virus infection in the US for 2019 in Michigan. The patient, an adult > 65 years of age, was infected with an influenza A(H1N1) variant (A(H1N1)v) virus. The patient was hospitalized, and completely recovered from their illness. While no exposure […]The post Michigan reports first A(H1N1)v virus infection in the US in 2019 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 In a follow-up on the rabies case in Sarawak, Malaysia, The Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH) reports the patient, a 26-year-old man from Kuching, had died from the disease. With this new case, the number of rabies cases in Sarawak since the epidemic was announced on July 1, 2017 was 18 cases; […]The post Rabies follow-up: Latest patient dies in Malaysia appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 In a follow-up on the Legionnaires’ disease outbreak in the Evergem area, Flanders, Belgium, health authorities say the national reference center found a genetic similarity between a Legionella sample from one of the sampled companies and the Legionella samples from 5 patients, noting that this is a very strong scientific argument to […]The post Legionnaires’ disease update: Belgium authorities close in on the source appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported in an update today that ten more people infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella have been reported, bringing the total to 27 people. Two people have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported. Six more states are included in this investigation (CA, IN, KS, MI, OR, […]The post Salmonella infections linked to pet hedgehogs update appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Seattle Children’s Hospital shut down several operating rooms recently after routine air testing demonstrated the mold, Aspergillus was found in some of our operating rooms and equipment storage rooms at the main hospital campus. If Aspergillus is present in an operating room, there is a small chance it could cause a surgical site infection. The […]The post Seattle Children’s: Aspergillus found in some operating rooms appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Do you like science and medicine? Do you like history? On today’s show, you’ll get a great dose of both. I talk to the author of the very informative book, Between Hope and Fear: A History of Vaccines and Human Immunity, Michael Kinch, PhD. Dr. Kinch is a professor and Vice Chancellor at Washington University […]The post Medical history: Vaccines and Immunity appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 Dengue fever In a follow-up on the dengue situation in Singapore, health officials are reporting the 4th dengue – related fatality of the year in a 63 year-old-man. The number of dengue fever cases reported to date (4237 as of this writing) have already exceeded the total for all of 2018 by […]The post Singapore: 4th dengue fatality reported, Monkeypox quarantine over appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

About 40% of the affected patients with Huntington’s disease -a neurodegenerative pathology- show depression symptoms, even in early stages before the apparition of the typical motor symptoms of the disease. An altered function of Cdk5 kinase -an essential enzyme in several cell signalling pathways- could explain the physiopathology of the depressive-like behaviour in Huntington’s disease, […]The post Huntington’s disease: Searching for the origins of the depressive symptoms appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Antibiotics prescribed by dentists as a preemptive strike against infection are unnecessary 81% of the time, according to a study published today in JAMA Network Open. The findings are important because dentists are responsible for 10% of all antibiotic prescriptions written in the United States. Antibiotics prescribed when not warranted expose patients to the risk […]The post Antibiotics prescribed by dentists unnecessary eight out of 10 times: Study appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By Robert Herriman @bactiman63 The number of dengue fever cases in Honduras has exploded in 2019 with the numbers as of May 11 topping the total for all of 2018. Year-to-date, Honduras has reported 8017 total dengue cases, including 24 deaths during the first 4 1/2 months. In all of 2018, 7942 cases and 3 […]The post Honduras dengue epidemic tops 8,000 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 The Florida Department of Health in Alachua County says twelve students at the University of Florida in Gainesville have come down with the mumps. Local media report officials saying, “So it’s curious because these are individuals who are vaccinated, and that’s what we are seeing nationwide”. Officials say it is still unclear […]The post University of Florida reports mumps outbreak appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 Mr Ri Kyong Gun, Director of the Veterinary and, Ministry of Agriculture, Anti-Epizootic Department in Pyongyang, North Korea reported to the World Organisation for Animal Health of an outbreak of African swine fever (ASF). The outbreak occurred at Buksang cooperative farm, Ri, Usi, Chagang-Do where 77 cases were reported on a farm […]The post African swine fever strikes North Korea farm appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 US measles cases The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported today that the number of measles cases reported in the United States has risen to 971 through May 2019. This is the greatest number of cases reported in the U.S. since 1994, when 963 cases were reported for the entire […]The post Measles: Cases top modern record, Chicago launches measles vaccine finder appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Queensland Health has been notified of the first locally acquired case of dengue fever in Rockhampton in decades. A full outbreak response is being enacted by the Central Queensland Public Health Unit, in partnership with Rockhampton Regional Council. The individual has no history of overseas travel or travel to North Queensland, where dengue outbreaks are […]The post Queensland: Rockhampton dengue fever, 1st local transmission in decades appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 In an update on the global polio situation, at the twenty-first meeting of the Emergency Committee under the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR) regarding the international spread of poliovirus, the Committee unanimously agreed that the risk of international spread of poliovirus remains a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) and recommended […]The post Polio: Pakistan transmission continues to be widespread, Iran reports additional WPV1 environmental sample appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 The Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH) is reporting an additional human rabies case in a 26-year-old man from Kuching, Sarawak. The victim had a history of being scratched by his pet dogs, but did not seek treatment for it. The status of rabies immunization of these two animals is unknown. By mid-March […]The post Rabies: Additional human case reported in Sarawak, Malaysia appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a bipartisan effort to improve research, prevention, diagnostics, and treatment for tick-borne diseases, U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Tina Smith (D-MN) recently introduced the Ticks: Identify, Control, and Knockout (TICK) Act. Senator Angus King (I-ME) is an original cosponsor. “To knock out Lyme and other tick-borne diseases, we need a unified approach with leadership […]The post Lyme disease: Sens. Susan Collins, Tina Smith introduce TICK Act appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) reports a case of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) in a 50-year-old woman from McKinley County who was hospitalized and has since returned home. HPS is a severe respiratory illness is caused by the Sin Nombre virus and can be deadly. In New Mexico, deer mice are the main carriers […]The post New Mexico reports 1st hantavirus case since 2017 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

New Mexico state health officials are reporting two confirmed cases of tularemia in 2019 among two residents of Santa Fe County: a 57-year-old man and a 72-year-old woman. “Tularemia can cause serious illness in both people and pets, so I would encourage people in Santa Fe County to follow precautions to avoid getting infected,” said Department […]The post Tularemia: New Mexico reports two human cases in Santa Fe County appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Cargill’s animal nutrition business is expanding its voluntary recall of select Southern States® feed due to aflatoxin levels that exceed FDA’s action levels. This is an expansion of the recall initiated May 6, 2019 and is the result of Cargill’s internal investigation that identified additional products containing an ingredient provided from the same supplier referenced in […]The post Aflatoxin levels prompt recall of Cargill Southern States® feed appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By News Desk @bactiman63 Typhoid A Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) employee has contracted Salmonella typhi and one other employee has Salmonella typhi-like symptoms. Both work at the Central Division, which patrols downtown L.A., including Skid Row, according to a KABC report. “Officers worry enough about being shot or injured policing the streets of Los […]The post Los Angeles: Typhoid in LAPD employee, Measles update, Syphilis advisory appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

East Brunswick, New Jersey company, Heritage Pharmaceuticals Inc. announced the recall of Amikacin Sulfate Injection, USP, 1g/4 mL (250mg/mL), Lot: VEAC025, Expiry Date: October 2019 and Prochlorperazine Edisylate Injection, USP, 10mg/2mL (5mg/mL), Lot: VPCA172, Expiry Date: April 2020, to the consumer level. The voluntary recall is being initiated due to microbial growth having been detected […]The post Amikacin Sulfate and Prochlorperazine Edisylate recalled due to sterility issues appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 In a follow-up on the measles situation in Okmulgee County, Oklahoma, the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) and the Okmulgee County Health Department have identified three additional cases of measles in Okmulgee County. All three cases are close contacts of the initial case from May 15. There have now been a […]The post Oklahoma: 3 additional measles cases reported in Okmulgee County appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The experimental antiviral drug remdesivir completely protected four African green monkeys from a lethal dose of Nipah virus, according to a new study in Science Translational Medicine from National Institutes of Health scientists and colleagues. First identified in 1999 in Malaysia, Nipah virus is an emerging pathogen found primarily in Bangladesh and India. The virus is spread […]The post Nipah virus: Ebola antiviral, Remdesivir, effective against infection in monkeys appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 In a follow-up on the dengue fever outbreak in Palau, the Palau Ministry of Health reported an additional nine cases last week, bringing the total 196 cases since December 2018. There have been 117 serotyped cases of DENV-3. The last recorded cases of DENV-2 in Palau were from November of 2018 There […]The post Palau dengue outbreak closes in on 200 cases appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

North Dakota’s state veterinarian is reminding livestock producers to vaccinate their animals against anthrax. Dr. Susan Keller says that with the precipitation which has fallen in much of the state, conditions are right for the disease to occur. An effective anthrax vaccine is readily available, but it takes about a week for immunity to be […]The post Anthrax: North Dakota officials remind ranchers about vaccination appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 The World Health Organization (WHO) reports assisting Nigeria health authorities distribute medications to treat Lymphatic filariasis (LF) across 520 Nigerian Local Government Areas (LGAs). Lymphatic filariasis affects over 120 million people in 73 countries throughout the tropics and sub-tropics of Asia, Africa, the Western Pacific, and parts of the Caribbean and South […]The post Nigeria: Lymphatic filariasis treatments distributed across country appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 In a follow-up on a report from April, the World Health Assembly approved last week, the designation of a World Chagas Disease Day–A day which aims to raise public awareness of this neglected tropical disease (NTD) that affects mainly poor people. World Chagas Disease Day will be observed on 14 April, each […]The post World Chagas Day approved by World Health Assembly appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By Robert Herriman @bactiman63 Two people in #Mongolia who died from #plague in late April after reportedly consuming raw marmot meat. Some were skeptical of this transmission route; however, here I present three studies that discuss the transmission of #Yersinia pestis via consuming plague tainted animals. Summertime Water Safety: Naegleria fowleri Rat hepatitis E infections […]The post Can plague be transmitted via the foodborne route? appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By Robert Herriman @bactiman63 Today, both the New York City Department of Health and the NY State Department of Health released updated measles numbers, just following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) release of national data on Monday. New York state accounts for 860 cases between the outbreak in the Brooklyn/Queens area and […]The post More measles in New York appeared first on Outbreak News Today.