Outbreak News Today

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a Drug Safety Communication warning health care professionals to avoid prescribing fluoroquinolone antibiotics to patients who have an aortic aneurysm or are at risk for an aortic aneurysm, such as patients with a history of blood vessel blockages or aneurysms, high blood pressure, certain genetic conditions such as […]The post Fluoroquinolone antibiotics warning: Aortic aneurysm risk in certain patients appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Marburg virus is in the same family as Ebola and causes severe hemorrhagic fever in humans. Case fatality rates in Marburg outbreaks have ranged from 24% to 88%. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports laboratory confirmed cases have been reported in Uganda, Zimbabwe, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Angola, and […]The post Marburg virus reported for the first time in West Africa in fruit bats appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Buruli ulcer is a neglected tropical disease (NTD) resulting in debilitating skin lesions, disabilities and stigmatization. The current antibiotic treatment is long and has severe adverse side effects. Researchers from the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH) together with colleagues from Singapore have discovered a highly effective compound against Buruli ulcer which has […]The post Buruli ulcer: Swiss TPH researchers discover promising new drug candidate appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

University of Nebraska-Lincoln researchers may have identified a vaccine that would defend against Zika virus without producing antibodies. Researcher Eric Weaver described the finding as exciting and novel. He and his team are confident that future experiments will yield significant findings that could have profound impact on the field of vaccinology. Weaver is an assistant […]The post Zika vaccine: Nebraska researchers say potential vaccine would defend against Zika virus without producing antibodies appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In the United States it’s called acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) and across the pond in England it’s known as acute flaccid paralysis (AFP), but no matter what you call it, it is a rare but serious condition. It affects the nervous system, specifically the area of the spinal cord called gray matter, which causes the muscles and […]The post England reports increase in acute flaccid myelitis appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Lyme disease is the most common vector borne-disease in the United States with approximately 300,000 cases reported annually. It is caused by the spirochetal organism Borrelia burgdorferi. While the majority of the Lyme disease patients can be cured with 2–4 weeks antibiotic treatment, about 10–20% of patients continue to suffer from persisting symptoms. My guest today […]The post Lyme bacteria persister forms, antibiotics and essential oils with Dr. Ying Zhang appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The European Commission has granted marketing authorization for Dengvaxia®, Sanofi’s dengue vaccine. The marketing authorization follows the October 18, 2018, recommendation by the European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) to approve use of the dengue vaccine in European endemic areas. Dengvaxia® will be available in Europe to prevent dengue disease […]The post Europe: Sanofi’s dengue vaccine gets approved appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs reported today (computer translated) the first African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak in Guangdong Province in southern China. The outbreak was reported in a slaughterhouse in Xiangzhou District, Zhuhai City. 11 pigs were killed. Guangdong is the twenty-third province to report ASF. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs […]The post African Swine Fever spreads to Guangdong Province, China appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A report today from the Kenyan news source, The Star, talks of two teen boys from Bungoma County who had died from tetanus after receiving a circumcision. Apparently the circumcisions were performed by a “traditional circumsicor”, which has since gone missing. Town elder, Hosea Kisebe says they totally blame the circumscor for not advising the cut boys to […]The post Kenya reports deaths of two teens from tetanus post-circumcision appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Joining several other states that have declared hepatitis A (HAV) outbreaks in the past several years, Louisiana announced yesterday that a hepatitis A outbreak has been declared. The Louisiana Department of Health reports that most of the recent cases have been reported in Morehouse Parish; however, cases have been reported in other parts of the state. As of December 14, […]The post Hepatitis A outbreak declared in Louisiana appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Researchers from the Washington University School of Medicine demonstrated that their lipid nanoparticle (LNP)-encapsulated modified mRNA Powassan (POWV) vaccine induced potently neutralizing antibodies in mice. The study is published in the journal, Cell Reports today. Other highlights of the study is one dose of the mRNA vaccine protects against lethal Powassan virus challenge. It also neutralized other tick-borne flaviviruses. […]The post Powassan vaccine induces potently neutralizing antibodies in mice: Study appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Emergent BioSolutions Inc. today announced that Health Canada has approved the company’s New Drug Submission (NDS) for its anthrax vaccine, BioThrax® (Anthrax Vaccine Adsorbed). BioThrax is indicated for active immunization for the prevention of disease caused by Bacillus anthracis, in individuals 18 through 65 years of age, whose occupation or other activities place them at risk of exposure, regardless […]The post Anthrax vaccine, BioThrax, receives Health Canada nod appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Pima County, AZ health officials are reporting an increase in hepatitis A cases in 2018, prompting officials to try to increase vaccination among high risk groups. So far in 2018, there have been 22 confirmed hepatitis A cases in Pima County. This number represents a sharp increase compared to just 5 cases in 2017 and […]The post Hepatitis A cases up in Pima County, Health officials work to increase vaccination appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Orange County, New York health authorities are advising residents that as of Tuesday, December 18th there are six confirmed cases of measles in the County. Three of these cases have been laboratory confirmed in children who attend school in Orange County. The Health Department is working closely with the affected school(s) and individuals have been notified. […]The post New York: Six measles cases confirmed in Orange County appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a new report published in Expert Review of Vaccines, the Global Meningococcal Initiative (GMI) – a leading group of scientists, doctors and public health officials – warns that the incidence of meningococcal meningitis strains with resistance to traditional antibiotics is at risk of increasing worldwide. Over the past 50 years, vaccines that prevent some […]The post Meningococcal meningitis strains with resistance to antibiotics are at risk of increasing worldwide appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

FDA recall Adam Bros. Farming, Inc. of Santa Maria, California is recalling red leaf lettuce, green leaf lettuce and cauliflower harvested on November 27 through 30, 2018 out of an abundance of caution, because it may be contaminated with Escherichia coli O157:H7 bacteria (E. Coli O157:H7). None of the recalled product has tested positive for […]The post Adam Bros. initiates recall of lettuce, cauliflower: E. Coli O157:H7 risk appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

FDA recall Inspired Organics, LLC has issued a voluntary recall of Organic Almond Butter due to potential contamination of Listeria monocytogenes. Listeria monocytogenes is an organism, which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as […]The post Listeria risk prompts recall of almond butter appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the measles outbreak in Rockland County, New York, health officials report that as of Friday, 95 confirmed measles cases have been reported. In addition to measles, county health officials are now reporting another vaccine preventable disease, pertussis, or whooping cough. Rockland County Executive Ed Day and County Health Commissioner Dr. Patricia […]The post Rockland County: Whooping cough and measles update appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the Legionnaires’ disease outbreak at the University of Wisconsin Hospital in Madison, hospital officials tell WKOW in Madison that there have been 14 cases, including three deaths as of Monday. According to a spokesperson for the hospital, the people who died had other serious, life-threatening conditions that may have contributed to their […]The post Legionnaires’ disease update at University of Wisconsin Hospital appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A new study from the Wellcome Sanger Institute, the MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research and collaborators and published in the Journal Hepatology of the discovery of three new hepatitis C virus (HCV) strains circulating in the general population in sub-Saharan Africa. Researchers say the new strains could inform hepatitis C treatment and vaccine development worldwide. To investigate HCV in […]The post Hepatitis C: Three new strains found in Africa appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the Acute Flaccid Myelitis (AFM) situation in the United States in 2018, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports an additional seven confirmed cases, bringing the total to 165 in 36 states. The 165 cases is the most reported since the 2014 outbreak year. Texas has seen the most […]The post AFM cases rise by 7 in the US: CDC appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Florida state health officials have reported 39 Vibrio vulnificus cases through Dec. 14, down from last year’s total of 50. Of this total, nine fatalities have been reported. Lee County saw the most with four cases, while nine counties reported two cases each. Deaths were reported from Hillsborough (2), Dade, Indian River, Jackson, Okaloosa, Sarasota, […]The post Vibrio vulnificus in Florida in 2018 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

From the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA): People newly diagnosed with cancer, particularly blood cancers, and those treated with chemotherapy have a greater risk of developing shingles, according to a new study in The Journal of Infectious Diseases. The findings may help guide efforts to prevent the often painful skin condition in cancer patients through the use […]The post Cancer Patients Face Higher Risk for Shingles, New Vaccines Hold Promise for Prevention appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the development of Valneva’s Lyme Disease vaccine candidate, VLA15, the company announced today that it is entering Phase 2 Clinical Development. The overall Phase 2 objective for VLA15 is to determine the optimal dosage level and schedule for use in Phase 3 pivotal field efficacy studies, based on immunogenicity and safety data The Phase […]The post Lyme Disease vaccine candidate enters Phase 2 clinical development appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Health officials in Oman are reporting at least three locally acquired dengue fever cases, prompting them to step up surveillance. Dr Said al Mukhaini, head, Malaria Epidemiology and Vector-borne diseases section, in the Ministry of Health (MoH) said to the Muscat Daily that 33 dengue cases were reported this year. “Of 33 cases, 30 were imported. […]The post Oman reports locally transmitted dengue appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Ukraine health officials report an additional 2,611 measles cases the week ending Dec. 8, including 847 adults and 1,764 children. Since the beginning of 2018, 44,937 people (17,418 adults and 29,519 children) have contracted measles in Ukraine, including 15 deaths. The highest figures have been reported in Lviv (totaling 10,232 people: 2,871 adults and 7,361 children), Ivano-Frankivsk (4,828 people: 1,293 […]The post Measles outbreak in Ukraine: 2,600 additional cases reported appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Tocantins State Department of Health in Central Brazil is reporting 14 confirmed Chagas disease cases after a family consumes contaminated juice in Aparecida do Rio Negro, according to a Globo.com report (computer translated). All the infected are from the same family and drank the juice of the bacaba, a type of palm tree from the Amazon. […]The post Chagas: 14 infected in Tocantins, Linked to juice made from bacaba appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

On today’s show, I look at a recent study from the Journal of Wildlife Management that looks at the population estimates and management options for introduced rhesus macaques in Florida. When you talk about rhesus macaques, that invariably leads into discussion about the dangerous virus for humans that get infected, herpes B. I spend a little time on […]The post Outbreak News This Week Radio Show 12-16-18 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Philippines health officials have reported an increase in the vaccine preventable disease, diphtheria, in four regions of the country, while nationally, cases have decreased in 2018. Bicol, Davao, Soccsksargen and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) all saw increases in diphtheria in 2018. Nationally, the archipelago saw a decrease in diphtheria cases and deaths in 2018–147 […]The post Philippines: Diphtheria cases up in Bicol, Davao; Nationally cases down appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Malaria cases in South Africa are increasing as expected during the summer months. As at the end of October 2018, more than 16,000 cases with 110 deaths have been reported. This is fewer than during the large upsurge in malaria seen in the 2017- 2018 season, but still more than the average over the 10-year […]The post South Africa warns of seasonal malaria increases appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the hepatitis A outbreak in Florida, state health officials reported 100 cases in the month of November. This brings the total this year to 413 in 30 counties. The central Florida region has the highest hepatitis A activity levels so far this year. In 2018, 95% of cases have likely been acquired […]The post Florida reports 100 hepatitis A cases in November appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Of the 34 million people worldwide with HIV, and the 200 million with schistosomiasis, the majority live in Africa– where millions of people are simultaneously infected with both diseases. Now, researchers reporting in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases have shown that schistosomiasis infections are associated with increased HIV onward transmission, HIV acquisition in HIV negative women with urogenital […]The post Schistosomiasis treatment may be a cost-effective way to reduce HIV infections appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the measles epidemic in Madagascar, the Ministry of Health reports that the number of measles cases in the current outbreak has topped 10,000. According to a Midi-Madagasikara report (computer translated), 10,294 cases have been reported from 44 districts in Madagascar in the past three months. 20 of the 22 regions of the country […]The post Madagascar measles outbreak tops 10,000 cases, Rubella outbreak also reported appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

For the third time this week, the Saudi Arabia Ministry of Health has reported a patient ill with Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). The most recent case is a 53-year-old man who is hospitalized from Riyadh. Health officials note he had contact with camels–the World Health Organization says current scientific evidence suggests that dromedary camels are a major […]The post Riyadh man is 3rd MERS case reported this week appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Health officials in Igembe, Meru County have issued a warning to the public concerning consuming uninspected meat after four people died from anthrax in Nyambene. Igembe Deputy County Commissioner (DCC) James Kosgei said, “During this festive season a lot of slaughtering takes place both in designated abattoirs and in homesteads but both should seek the services of relevant veterinary […]The post Kenya: Anthrax warning in Igembe after four deaths reported appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The bacterium that causes syphilis, Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum, can be present in semen at high enough concentration to transmit the disease, suggests new research led at the University of Washington School of Medicine. In most cases, people contract syphilis from contacting genital sores of an infected individual. The question of whether the bacteria could also be spread via […]The post Syphilis transmitted through semen? appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Here are the top five posts on Outbreak News Today for the week Dec. 8 through Dec. 14: 5. Plague count grows in Madagascar The number 5 post for the week was an update on the plague situation in Madagascar since August. 4. Australia: NSW health issue cryptosporidiosis warning NSW Health issued a warning for people to be vigilant about the […]The post Infectious disease news: Top 5 posts for the week Dec. 8- Dec. 14 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

An outbreak of Zika virus infection in Rajasthan, India and surrounding states has prompted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to issue a travel notice for the region. Zika is endemic (regularly found) in India. However, there is an unusual increase in the number of Zika cases in Rajasthan and surrounding states. Over 280 cases […]The post Zika in Rajasthan, India prompts CDC travel notice appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Schistosomiasis, which is caused by parasitic flatworms, affects nearly 210 million people worldwide, primarily in Africa, Asia, and South America, and is responsible for about 200,000 deaths each year, according to the World Health Organization. A research team from Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) and several international organizations looked at tea infusions made from two species of […]The post Artemisia tea infusions used in the treatment of Schistosomiasis: A look at the study appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

For more than 20 years, scientists at Scripps Research have chipped away at the challenges of designing an HIV vaccine. Now new research, published in Immunity, shows that their experimental vaccine strategy works in non-human primates. The new study shows that rhesus macaque monkeys can be prompted to produce neutralizing antibodies against one strain of […]The post HIV: Experimental vaccine protects rhesus macaques from infection appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Philippines health officials have reported an increase in dengue fever cases year-to-date in 2018, according to latest Department of Health (DOH)-Epidemiology Bureau data. From the beginning of the year through mid- November, health officials say there were 179,540 dengue fever cases nationally, a 33 percent increase compared to the 135,166 cases reported during the same period in 2017. […]The post Philippines report increase in dengue in 2018 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) situation in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Ministry of Health (MOH) reports a second case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) for the month of December. The patient is a 45-year-old man from Sajir, who is hospitalized with the infection. He had camel contact, a […]The post Saudi Arabia reports 2nd MERS case of December appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

On Thursday, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced romaine lettuce that was harvested outside of Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Barbara Counties in California after Nov. 23 doesn’t appear to be related to the current outbreak. In addition, hydroponically- and greenhouse-grown romaine also doesn’t appear to be related to the current outbreak. A positive […]The post FDA narrows source of tainted romaine, 7 added to outbreak total appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has been notified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that Michigan has a confirmed a second case of acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) in 2018. The confirmed case is a child from Oakland County. The state’s first AFM case was confirmed Dec. 5 and […]The post Oakland County child is Michigan’s second AFM case appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Vermont Departments of Fish & Wildlife and Health report the bobcat that bit two women yesterday in Hartford, VT, and a third person the day before has tested positive for rabies. All of the individuals bitten are receiving post-exposure medical treatment, which can prevent rabies. Two women were attacked by a bobcat in Hartford […]The post Vermont: Bobcat that attacked three tests positive for rabies appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Colorado state health officials are reporting an increase in cases of syphilis in newborns, or congenital syphilis. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment reports a total of 18 cases of congenital syphilis from 2013 through October 2018, with an accelerating trend in recent years. In Colorado there was one case in 2013, rising to five in […]The post Colorado reports an ‘accelerating trend’ of congenital syphilis cases in recent years appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Health officials in Hernando County, FL reported today on a positive case of hepatitis A in a food service worker from the Zig Zag Scallop Restaurant located at 4417 Calienta Street in Hernando Beach. The Florida Department of Health in Hernando County (DOH-Hernando) says if you frequented this restaurant December 1 – 3, and have not […]The post Hernando Beach: Zig Zag Scallop Restaurant worker test positive for hepatitis A appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Del Monte Foods Inc. announced a recall of 64,242 cases of FIESTA CORN Seasoned with Red & Green Peppers due to under-processing. These deviations were part of the commercial sterilization process and could result in contamination by spoilage organisms or pathogens, which could lead to life-threatening illness if consumed. It is important to note that […]The post Del Monte ‘Fiesta corn’ recall: Under processing, ‘ could lead to life-threatening illness’ appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Since the first adenovirus cases were reported last month in students at the University of Maryland (UMD), including the death of freshman, Olivia Paregol, school officials report an increase in cases among the student population. According to Director, University Health Center, David McBride, MD yesterday, there have been 35 confirmed cases of UMD students who […]The post Adenovirus: Dozens of University of Maryland students test positive appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Benin health officials announced this week of three Lassa fever cases (2 confirmed, 1 probable) reported in the municipality of Parakou in Borgou Department in the northern part of the country. According to local press (computer translated), the department head of the department of public health, Dr. Emmanuel Obolli Job said the cases all come from the village […]The post Benin: Lassa fever cases confirmed in Parakou appeared first on Outbreak News Today.