Outbreak News Today

Federal and several state health officials report investigating a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium infections linked to contact with pet hedgehogs. A common supplier of hedgehogs in this outbreak has not been identified. As of January 23, 2019, 11 people infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Typhimurium have been reported from eight states. One person has been hospitalized […]The post Multistate Salmonella outbreak likely linked to hedgehogs appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The investigational Ebola treatment mAb114 is safe, well-tolerated, and easy to administer, according to findings from an early-stage clinical trial published in The Lancet. Eighteen healthy adults received the monoclonal antibody as part of a Phase 1 clinical trial that began in May 2018 at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. […]The post Ebola treatment, mAb114, safe in adults appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Researchers from North Carolina State University have developed an algorithm that could give pig farms advance notice of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) outbreaks. The proof-of-concept algorithm has potential for use in real-time prediction of other disease outbreaks in food animals. PEDV is a virus that causes high mortality rates in preweaned piglets. The virus […]The post Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV): NC State researchers develop algorithm to predict outbreaks appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In July 2016, Venezuela reported it’s first diphtheria case since the 1990s. While the health minister, Luisana Melo attempted to deny the outbreak at the time, the numbers don’t lie. Since mid-2016 through the beginning of 2019, Venezuela has seen over 2,500 suspected cases and 1,500 gave been confirmed. In addition, tragically, some 270 people died […]The post Venezuela reports 270 deaths from diphtheria since outbreak began appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the measles outbreak in Clark County, Washington, local health officials reported an additional two confirmed cases bringing the outbreak total to 25 since the beginning of the year. A dozen other suspected cases are also being reported by health officials. The two new confirmed cases were being monitored by Public Health. […]The post Measles update: 25 confirmed cases, 12 suspected in Clark County appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

I just finished a must read book–a very important book in this day and age. It’s called Vaccines Did Not Cause Rachel’s Autism: My Journey as a Vaccine Scientist, Pediatrician, and Autism Dad. Author, Peter Hotez, MD, PhD joined me to discuss a number of important topics to include autism, the debunked vaccine-autism link, the huge public […]The post Vaccines, autism and a very important book appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Despite the resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases and public awareness of vaccine importance, why is it so challenging to boost population vaccination coverage to desired levels especially in the wake of declining vaccine uptake? A new study from Dartmouth College shows that past problems with vaccines can cause a phenomenon known as hysteresis, creating a negative […]The post Vaccines and hysteresis with Xingru Chen appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the gastrointestinal outbreak reported on a voyage earlier this month on Royal Caribbean’s vessel, Oasis of the Seas, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported Wednesday that the causative agent was indeed, norovirus. The outbreak on the cruise that began on Jan. 6 had to be cut short after […]The post Norovirus confirmed as cause of Oasis of the Seas outbreak appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

General Mills announced Wednesday a voluntary national recall of five-pound bags of its Gold Medal Unbleached Flour with a better if used by date of April 20, 2020. The recall is being issued for the potential presence of Salmonella which was discovered during sampling of the five-pound bag product. This recall is being issued out of an abundance […]The post Gold Medal flour recall: Salmonella risk appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Here is a look at some interesting infectious disease and health news, opinion and research reported across the globe: CDC Flu Update: Activity Remains Elevated in Most of the U.S. According to this week’s FluView report, seasonal influenza activity remains elevated in the United States and flu is widespread in most of the country. CDC also reported […]The post Infectious disease bric-a-bracs: Flu activity in the US, Q fever in British troops appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

King County, WA health officials are reporting a confirmed measles case in an adult resident who reported recent travel to Vancouver, Washington during part of the time he could have been exposed. Vancouver is in Clark County, where a measles outbreak, that as of yesterday 23 people have been affected, is occurring. “Measles is a highly […]The post Washington measles: Confirmed case in King County appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Thailand’s chikungunya outbreak that started last year in the southern part of the country continues into early 2019. During the whole of 2018, more than 2,000 cases were reported, mostly in the south. According to health officials this week, a total of 729 chikungunya cases were reported from 13 provinces, with Songkla, Pattani and Phuket feeling […]The post Thailand: Chikungunya, dengue and measles during the first 3 weeks of 2019 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the measles epidemic in Ukraine, health officials report an additional 3,450 cases (1,502 adults and 1,948 children) during the third week of 2019, bringing the total to 8,498 cases to date. In addition, three additional measles fatalities were reported last week, bring the death count to five. The highest rates of morbidity […]The post Ukraine: More measles deaths, many more cases appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Health officials in France are reporting four Salmonella Poona cases in infants whose strains are genetically linked. The babies, two months to ten months in age, were sickened between the end of August 2018 and the end of December 2018. Three babies were hospitalized for their salmonellosis and all have been released. Early investigations reveal a common food source […]The post France reports Salmonella Poona cases in infants, maybe linked to powdered milk appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In an update on the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the Ministry of Health reports 14 additional cases on Tuesday, bringing the total to 713 cumulative cases. The 14 new confirmed cases include 9 in Katwa, 2 in Mangurujipa, 1 in Biena, 1 in Butembo and 1 in […]The post DRC Ebola outbreak tops 700 cases appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today permitted marketing of a new test to aid in the diagnosis of a sexually-transmitted infection (STI) called Mycoplasma genitalium (M. gen.). This is the first test authorized by the FDA to test for the M. gen. bacterium, which is associated with inflammation of the urethra (non-gonococcal urethritis) in men and […]The post Mycoplasma genitalium test receives FDA okay appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Malaysian Ministry of Health reports there is much anti-vaccine propaganda on social media, which is influencing the public to reject life-saving vaccinations based on bad information. The Ministry of Health monitoring found that mothers who refused to give vaccines to their children after being affected by inappropriate information was disseminated is on the rise. The number […]The post Malaysia health officials battle anti-vaccine propaganda appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Los Angeles County Health Department (LAC DPH) has identified 2 cases of Enterobacter cloacae bloodstream infections in persons who received non-FDA approved stem cell injections, prompting the issuance of a health advisory to providers. In October 2018, a nationwide recall of a stem cell product distributed by Liveyon, LLC and processed by Genetech, Inc. was […]The post Enterobacter cloacae infections linked to unapproved stem cell injections in LA County appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Measles has struck the Korean peninsula as South Korean health officials say the outbreak has reached 30 cases since mid-December 2018, according to health officials (computer translated). The first case was reported in Daegu last month. As of this week, the Disease Control Headquarters has confirmed measles outbreaks in five provinces nationwide. Seventeen cases have […]The post Measles outbreak in South Korea appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Prions can infect both humans and animals, causing Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) in humans, mad cow disease in cattle, and chronic wasting disease in elk and deer. The infectious, misfolded protein particles often go undetected as they destroy brain tissue, causing memory loss, mobility issues, and ultimately death. Preclinical detection of prions has proven difficult, but […]The post Prion infection: New skin test detects infection prior to symptoms appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the measles outbreak in Clark County, WA, an additional confirmed case in a child was reported today by county health officials. This brings the total to 23 since Jan. 1. In addition, two suspect cases are under investigation. Twenty of the 23 cases were not vaccinated against measles. People who visited […]The post Measles outbreak rises to 23 in Clark County appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Children with a history of prior dengue virus infection had a significantly lower risk of being symptomatic when infected by Zika virus, according to a study in Nicaragua of more than 3,000 children aged 2 to 14 years. Experts have worried that prior dengue virus infection could exacerbate severe Zika disease. However, the new findings, […]The post Dengue Immunity May Be Protective Against Symptomatic Zika, Study Finds appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Here is a look at some interesting infectious disease and health news, opinion and research reported across the globe: From high to low malaria transmission in Zanzibar—challenges and opportunities to achieve elimination Substantial global progress in the control of malaria in recent years has led to increased commitment to its potential elimination. Whether this is possible in […]The post Infectious disease bric-a-bracs: Malaria elimination, anti-vaxxers appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Clark County health officials reported one additional confirmed measles case on Monday, bringing the outbreak total since the beginning of the year to 22. In addition, three suspect cases are being investigated. People who visited the following locations may have been exposed to measles from the most recent case: PeaceHealth Urgent Care – Memorial, 3400 Main St. 4:30 […]The post Measles in Vancouver, WA area: 22 confirmed, 3 suspected appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) is a clinical syndrome characterized by rapid onset of weakness of lower motor neuron type, including weakness of the respiratory and pharyngeal muscles, progressing to maximum severity within several days to weeks. AFP is a complex clinical syndrome with a broad array of potential etiologies that vary remarkably with age. In […]The post India: Acute flaccid paralysis cases down in 2018 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Brooke County, WV health officials report investigating a cluster of six Legionnaires’ disease cases. At this time, there is no link to any of the cases as a common source or location. Legionellosis is a bacterial disease of the lungs caused by Legionella pneumophila. The disease can range from a mild respiratory illness to severe pneumonia and death. […]The post Legionnaires’ disease cluster reported in Brooke County, WV appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Chinese agricultural officials reported (computer translated) an additional African swine fever (ASF) outbreak in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region (NHAR) in the northwest part of the country. This is the 25th region or province to record an ASF outbreak in China. The outbreak occurred on a farm in Wangyuan Town, Yongning County that had 57 pigs, in which […]The post China reports an African swine fever outbreak in Ningxia appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The New Zealand Health Ministry is calling on the public to remain vigilant for meningococcal disease as three confirmed cases were reported in the first week of 2019 and two more are under investigation. The confirmed cases were due to the B and C strains. In Northland, a targeted vaccination programme is underway after a local […]The post New Zealand: Health officials call on people to remain vigilant over meningococcal disease appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Just a few days since the measles outbreak in Clark County, Washington was declared a public health emergency, health officials have confirmed two additional cases. This brings the total outbreak cases to 21 since the beginning of the year. Twenty of the cases are in children with the bulk of them under the age of […]The post Vancouver, WA area measles outbreak: Two additional cases confirmed appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Pakistan closes out 2018 with two December wild poliovirus cases (with onset on the 16th and 25th) from Lakki Marwat district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and Bajour Agency in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas. This puts the total wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) cases to 10 for 2018. With the 21 WPV1 cases reported in Afghanistan last […]The post Pakistan records two additional polio cases for 2018 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Ministry of Health reports the measles vaccination campaign in the country has completed its fourth week and 63% of the vaccines had been administered as of Jan. 11. The country is carrying out a special vaccination for children between 15 months and under 10 years old at no cost, which is scheduled to end on February 8. […]The post Measles vaccination campaign continues in Costa Rica appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Health officials in Costa Rica continue to investigate the hepatitis A outbreak reported in the province of Puntarenas where 33 cases have been reported during the first 11 days of the year, according to the Ministerio de Salud (computer translated). Cases have been primarily reported in the following districts: Barranca (10), Oak (8) and Chacarita (7). Officials […]The post Costa Rica: Health officials investigate Hepatitis A surge in Puntarenas appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the hantavirus outbreak in Chubut in the Patagonia region of southern Argentina, health officials are reporting the 13th death in a woman from Trevelin, according to a Infobae report (computer translated). To date, the outbreak has grown to 29 confirmed cases (27 in Esquel, one in Bariloche and another in Chile) It is reported that […]The post Hantavirus outbreak in Argentina: 13th fatality reported appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A large, multi-center study refutes earlier suggestions that antiviral drugs for treating hepatitis C may lead to a higher recurrence of liver cancer. Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center studied the records of patients who had been successfully treated for liver cancer at 31 medical centers in North America, comparing those who were and were […]The post Liver cancer patients can be treated for Hep C infection appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

For the first time, the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed the presence of virulent Newcastle disease in a small domestic flock of backyard exhibition chickens (250) in Utah County, Utah. This case is believed to be connected to the current outbreak of virulent Newcastle disease in […]The post Newcastle disease confirmed in Utah flock appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Here is a look at some interesting infectious disease and health news reported across the globe: “Semenly” Harmless Back Pain: An Unusual Presentation of a Subcutaneous Abscess We report, with review of the literature, the case of a patient who developed a subcutaneous abscess after intravenously injecting his own semen in an attempt to treat longstanding back […]The post Infectious disease bric-a-bracs: Semen injections, Rascism allegations at WHO and African trypanosomes appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

On today’s show on have two great interviews. First, Metabiota’s director of epidemiology, Patrick Ayscue, DVM joins me to discuss their predictions for the industries that are most likely to be impacted by a healthcare crisis in 2019. In addition, the Agricultural Program Manager with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, Gary Flory joins me for a […]The post Outbreak News This Week Radio Show 1-20-19 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Since officials in Pima County, AZ reported the hepatitis A outbreak last November, the number of cases continue to rise into 2019. Since November 1, 2018, there have been 34 cases linked to the outbreak, including 20 since the New Year. 27 of these cases have resulted in hospitalization. Typically, Pima County reports less than […]The post Arizona: Hepatitis A outbreak in Pima County appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

While the last dengue outbreak in the Caribbean region occurred 10 years ago, The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) says disease modelling predicts that another regional outbreak of dengue may occur in the near future, prompting officials to advise countries to implement enhanced measures to reduce mosquito breeding and prevent the spread of disease. In 2018, […]The post Caribbean advised to prepare for dengue outbreak appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The National Institute for Communicable Diseases in South Africa are advising travellers returning from the southern African region should be aware of a number of infectious disease risks related to travel to include malaria, cholera, typhoid, African tick bite fever, East African trypanosomiasis and various mosquito-borne viruses (e.g. dengue, chikungunya, West Nile). Malaria is the most […]The post South Africa issues alert for travelers to the southern African region appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Here are the top five posts on Outbreak News Today for the week Jan. 12 through Jan. 18: 5. The Naegleria fowleri interviews The Top 5 post of the week was a collection of radio show and podcast interviews on the topic of the brain-eating amoeba, Naegleria fowleri. 4. Naegleria fowleri: Australian officials issue warning A precautionary warning from […]The post Infectious disease news: Top 5 posts for the week Jan. 12- Jan. 18 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the human rabies situation in Sarawak, Malaysia, health officials have reported one more human rabies case and fatality. The new case was an 80-year-old woman from Kampung Sg. Du’uh, Jalan Kuching-Serian, Serian, Sarawak who received scratches from her dog while breaking up a fight with their cat. The victim had washed the […]The post Malaysia reports another human rabies death in Sarawak appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Earlier this week, Senate Minority Leader, Chuck Schumer of New York made a statement concerning the shortage of the popular shingles vaccine, Shingrix and seemed to link it to the current government shutdown. “To think that in the midst of a shingle shot vaccine shortage across Central New York, that the FDA is shutdown, is a […]The post Shingrix shortage: Is Schumer linking it to the shutdown? appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In mid-December, the Louisiana Department of Health declared an outbreak of hepatitis A virus (HAV). At that time, a couple dozen outbreak cases were reported. Since that time, the number of outbreak hepatitis A cases have about doubled. As of January 18, 2019, Louisiana has 47 reported cases of outbreak HAV infection. Eight out of 10 […]The post Louisiana hepatitis A outbreak update appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

2018 was a bad year for measles in the United States according to preliminary data from federal health officials. In 2018, 349 individual cases of measles were confirmed in 26 states and the District of Columbia. This is the second-greatest number of annual cases reported since measles was eliminated in the U.S. in 2000. (The […]The post Measles in the United States 2018: 2nd most cases since 2000 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the measles outbreak in Clark County, WA, local health authorities have reported three additional confirmed measles cases, including the first adult case of the outbreak, bringing the total outbreak cases to 19. In addition, another seven suspected cases are being reported. Sixteen (84%) of the cases were unvaccinated, while the remaining […]The post Measles in Clark County: Public health emergency declared appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a travel notice today over the yellow fever outbreak in Nigeria. The Nigeria Centers for Disease Control has reported an ongoing outbreak of yellow fever beginning in September 2017. By the end of November 2018: Fourteen states had reported more than 55 laboratory-confirmed cases of yellow […]The post CDC: ‘Those never vaccinated against yellow fever should avoid travel to Nigeria during the outbreak’ appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Here is a look at some interesting infectious disease and health news reported across the globe: Vaccine researchers are preparing for Disease X Last year the World Health Organisation published a plan to accelerate research into pathogens that could cause public-health emergencies. One priority was the bafflingly named “Disease x”. The x stands for unexpected, and represents concern that the next […]The post Infectious disease bric-a-bracs: Preparing for Disease X, Zika diagnostics appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The world has been repeatedly plagued by infectious disease outbreaks, including SARS and MERS coronaviruses, avian influenza viruses, and Zika virus. A team at the Medical Faculty of The University of Hong Kong (HKUMed) led by Professor Yuen Kwok-yung and Dr Shuofeng Yuan of the Department of Microbiology, has discovered a novel broad-spectrum antiviral drug […]The post Novel broad-spectrum antiviral drug discovered by HKU researchers appeared first on Outbreak News Today.