Outbreak News Today

The Chinese National Health Commission reported on an additional human case of avian influenza A(H5N6) in Jiangsu. This brings the total cases to 23 in China since 2014. The case involved a 10-year-old girl from Suzhou in Jiangsu. She developed symptoms on October 29 and was hospitalized on November 3. She is now in a […]The post H5N6 avian influenza: Chinese girl hospitalized in serious condition appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are investigating a multistate outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 (E. coli O157:H7) infections linked to romaine lettuce. The CDC reports that 32 people in 11 states have been infected with the same outbreak strain of E. coli. There are two individuals […]The post E. coli outbreak linked to romaine lettuce affects 2 in Illinois appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

New Hampshire state health officials say that two people in the state have been identified as being linked to a multistate outbreak of E. coli O157. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is warning people to avoid eating romaine lettuce amid an outbreak of a dangerous strain of E. coli bacteria that has sickened 32 people in […]The post New Hampshire reports two E. coli cases as part of multistate outbreak appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A yellow fever vaccination campaign was rolled out yesterday in Nigeria, in which some 26 million people will be targeted through Dec. 1. The vaccination will be for people within 9 months to 44 years cohort. “Immunizing more than 26 million people is a massive undertaking,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa. “But […]The post Nigeria rolls out massive yellow fever vaccination campaign appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A global team of investigators has identified a key protein involved in Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS), a serious and sometimes fatal respiratory disease, according to research published in the journal Nature. Specifically, a cell-surface receptor protein called protocadherin-1 (PCDH1), commonly associated with human asthma, is responsible for facilitating lung cell infection and triggering HPS. For decades, […]The post Hantavirus: USAMRIID researchers identify protocadherin-1 essential for lung cell infection appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The State of Rio registered 36,102 cases of chikungunya in the period from January to November 13 this year, according to a G1 Globo report (computer translated). Of these patients, 16 died with complications of the disease. These cases, and the number of Zika and dengue cases this year, 2,223 and 13,886, respectively, has prompted health authorities […]The post Brazil: 36K chickungunya cases reported in Rio state this year appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The number of confirmed measles cases in the Lisbon and Tagus Valley region has risen to 15, including two children, according to a local media report (computer translated). Five confirmed cases are in the municipality of Oeiras, all adults, the remaining ten confirmed, among them two children, are in the municipality of Cascais. On Wednesday, […]The post Portugal: Measles cases rise in Lisbon area appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Jackson County Department of Public Health (JCDPH), along with other agencies are investigating a Legionnaires’ disease outbreak associated with Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort. There were three cases reported in persons who visited the property in May—November 2018. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) considers a Legionnaires’ disease outbreak as occurring when there are two […]The post North Carolina officials investigate Legionnaires’ disease outbreak at Cherokee casino appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

On this Thanksgiving holiday weekend, I put together a show on two of the most important and interesting topics in medical history–the 1918 influenza pandemic and the yellow fever outbreak in the United States in the 18th and 19th centuries. These are older; however, very informative interviews. To discuss the 1918 influenza pandemic is historian […]The post Medical history: 1918 influenza pandemic, Yellow fever in the US in the 18th and 19th centuries appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Through the first week in November 2018, a total of 446,150 cases of dengue were reported (incidence of 45.9 cases per 100,000 population), including 240 deaths, according to UN officials. 171,123 were laboratory-confirmed and 2,164 (0.49%) were classified as severe dengue. 13 countries in the Americas reported an increase in cases nationally or in parts of […]The post Dengue in the Americas: Increase in cases reported in some countries appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported a norovirus outbreak onboard a recent voyage of Holland America’s cruise ship, Volendam. According to officials, 77 passenger and crew were sicked during the November 3-18 voyage. Specimens have been collected, tested onboard, and found to be positive for norovirus. The specimens will be sent […]The post Norovirus outbreak reported on Holland America’s ‘Volendam’ appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

New research has taken a step towards understanding how highly pathogenic influenza viruses such as deadly bird flu infect humans. Researchers at Griffith’s Institute for Glycomics and the University of Hong Kong have revealed specific sugar molecules – Sialylated O-glycans – that are present in the respiratory tract are key receptors for influenza viruses, particularly […]The post Bird flu: Griffith researchers closer to understanding how virus takes hold in humans appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Brooklyn In an update on the measles outbreak in Brooklyn’s Orthodox Jewish community, health officials have reported an additional five cases. Since October, there have been 29 confirmed cases of measles in the Orthodox Jewish community in Brooklyn. The initial child was unvaccinated and acquired measles on a visit to Israel, where a large outbreak of the […]The post New York area measles: Brooklyn, Rockland County appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Ministry of Health (MOH) recorded 13 more new cases of Ebola bringing the cumulative number of cases is 386. Of this total, 339 are confirmed and 47 are probable. In total, there were 219 deaths (172 confirmed and 47 probable). Of the new cases in the Katwa Health Zone, five are family […]The post Ebola update: 5 family members in Katwa infected as outbreak total mounts appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

165368 C. Corporation, doing business as Long Phung Food Products, a Houston, Texas establishment, is recalling an undetermined amount of ready-to-eat pork products that may be adulterated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. The ready-to-eat pork patty rolls were produced on various dates from May 21, […]The post Vietnamese pork patty rolls recalled due to possible Listeria contamination appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Reductions in malaria cases have stalled after several years of decline globally, according to the new World malaria report 2018. For the second consecutive year, the annual report produced by WHO reveals a plateauing in numbers of people affected by malaria: in 2017, there were an estimated 219 million cases of malaria, compared to 217 million […]The post Malaria cases plateau after several years of decline globally: WHO appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A University of Maryland (UMD) student died recently from a adenovirus related infection, according to Director of the University Health Center, David McBride. Local media have identified the student as UMD freshman, Olivia Paregol. The statement states: We learned of an isolated case of a student with Adenovirus on November 1. Since then, we have […]The post Maryland: College freshman dies from adenovirus infection appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Researchers have developed a model that predicts which of the viruses that can jump from animals to people can also be transmitted from person to person–and are therefore possible sources of human diseases. The study, published recently in PLOS One, identified several viruses that are not yet known to spread among humans but may have that […]The post Animal viruses: New model predicts which may spread among humans appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A measles outbreak in Colombia has prompted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to issue a travel notice last week. Between March and October this year, Colombia has reported 129 confirmed measles cases. Of the 129 confirmed cases, 45 were imported, 75 were import-related (25 cases of secondary transmission among persons coming from Venezuela […]The post Measles outbreak in Colombia prompts CDC travel notice appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the first known human case of Rat hepatitis E virus (rat HEV) in the world, the South China Morning Post reports the 2nd human case in a 70-year-old Hong Kong woman. The Department of Health confirmed that the second patient was a retiree with underlying illnesses and a suppressed immune system. Both patients […]The post Hong Kong reports 2nd human case of rat hepatitis E appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Ticks are hardy little brutes that can go as long as a year without a meal. Now scientists at the University of Cincinnati say the hungrier ticks are, the harder they try to find you or other hosts. The findings could have implications for the spread of tick-borne disease such as Lyme or Rocky Mountain […]The post ‘Starved ticks are more likely to look for a host’: University of Cincinnati scientists appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the measles outbreak in Ocean County, NJ, the Ocean County Health Department is now reporting additional confirmed and suspect measles cases. According to a health department news release, there are now 14 confirmed measles cases and 13 potential cases under investigation. Vaccination is encouraged and those children involved with exposure to a […]The post Ocean County measles outbreak: 14 confirmed, 13 potential cases under investigation appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Sepsis Alliance, the nation’s leading sepsis organization, released When A Loved One Has Sepsis: A Caregiver’s Guide, a free downloadable resource to help friends and family support and care for loved ones with sepsis and sepsis survivors. Sepsis, the body’s life-threatening reaction to an infection, affects 1.7 million people a year in the United States. Due to […]The post Sepsis Alliance releases guide for family members who care for loved ones with sepsis and sepsis survivors appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the Japan rubella outbreak, the case count through Nov. 11 has topped the 2,000 mark for the first time in five years. According to the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 2,032 cases have been reported in the country. More than 700 cases were reported in Tokyo. Rubella is a contagious disease caused by […]The post Rubella cases top 2,000 in Japan appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A team of Clemson University researchers wants to protect humans and other mammals from the debilitating and even deadly effects of African sleeping sickness. James Morris, a Clemson professor in the College of Science’s department of genetics and biochemistry, said that studying the cause of the disease is vital because, although the transmission of African sleeping sickness […]The post Trypanosoma brucei: Clemson researchers unravel some mysteries of the parasite appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

US federal, state and Canadian officials are investigating a multistate outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 (E. coli O157:H7) infections linked to romaine lettuce. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says thirty-two people infected with the outbreak strain of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O157:H7 have been reported from 11 states since October. Thirteen […]The post E. coli outbreak affects dozens in 11 states, CDC advises against eating romaine lettuce appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

National Institutes of Health scientists and their colleagues have found evidence of the infectious agent of sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) in the eyes of deceased CJD patients. The finding suggests that the eye may be a source for early CJD diagnosis and raises questions about the safety of routine eye exams and corneal transplants. Sporadic […]The post Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease: Research suggests the eye may be a source for early diagnosis appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

New Mexico state health officials report investigating an outbreak of hepatitis A in Bernalillo County. Four confirmed acute cases in adults have been reported since late October. To control this outbreak and prevent further spread, New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) recommends the vaccination of people in the affected area experiencing homelessness or those who inject […]The post Hepatitis A outbreak reported in Albuquerque appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Emergent BioSolutions Inc. and Valneva SE announced this week positive interim results for the Phase 1 study evaluating VLA1601, their vaccine candidate against the Zika virus. The highly purified inactivated vaccine candidate, VLA1601, met the study’s primary endpoint showing a favorable safety profile in all doses and schedules tested. VLA1601 was also immunogenic in all treatment groups and induced […]The post New Phase 1 Zika vaccine trial meets primary endpoint appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Miami-Dade County, FL health officials reported a autochthonous, or locally acquired dengue transmission in the community. The Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County (DOH-Miami-Dade) is working in conjunction with Miami-Dade County’s Mosquito Control and Habitat Management Division which has implemented its response protocol to eliminate breeding and adult mosquito activity in the area of the […]The post Dengue: Locally-acquired case reported in Miami-Dade County, Florida appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Officials with Duke University announced they are working to contact individuals who may have come in close contact with a Duke undergraduate recently admitted to the hospital with a confirmed case of bacterial meningitis. Duke Student Health has also been working closely with the Durham County Health Department, which defines close contact as direct exposure to the […]The post Duke student hospitalized with bacterial meningitis appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

European health officials reported more than 1,400 Salmonella cases since 2012 in 18 countries in an ongoing outbreak linked to Polish eggs. In total, 1,412 Salmonella Enteritidis cases have been found associated with this outbreak: 532 confirmed and 166 probable cases since 1 February 2017 and 343 historical-confirmed and 367 historical-probable cases between 2012 and 31 January […]The post Polish eggs linked to multi-country outbreak of Salmonella in Europe update appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Rockland County NY health officials reported on the measles outbreak in an update today. As of November 19, 2018, there are 75 confirmed reported cases of measles in Rockland County. At the end of September 2018, an international traveler arrived in Rockland County with a suspected case of the measles. Per protocol, the Rockland County Department […]The post Measles outbreak in Rockland County: Confirmed case tally rises to 75 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The cholera outbreak in Cameroon is persisting and the Far North Region has shown a rapid increase in incidence cases in the last two weeks. From 2-9 November 2018, the Far North Region recorded 106 new suspected cholera cases, while North Region recorded 12. Four new deaths were reported in the Far North during this […]The post Cholera outbreak in Far North Region of Cameroon appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

CDC Director Robert R. Redfield, M.D., announced today the establishment of an Acute Flaccid Myelitis (AFM) Task Force (Task Force) to aid in the ongoing investigation to define the cause of, and improve treatment and outcomes for, patients with AFM. The AFM Task Force will bring together experts from a variety of scientific, medical, and […]The post Acute Flaccid Myelitis Task Force formed as confirmed case count tops 100 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Health officials in Buncombe County, NC are reporting a varicella (chickenpox) outbreak at Asheville Waldorf School. As of Friday, 36 students have come down with the contagious viral infection. This is the largest outbreak of chickenpox in North Carolina since a vaccine for the virus became available in 1995. Local media reports the school has one of the highest vaccination […]The post North Carolina: Chickenpox outbreak reported at Asheville school appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

I tried my hand at doing a Facebook Live for the 11-18-18 show with guest Steve Smelski. The Outbreak News This Week Radio Show, the first and only radio program dedicated to infectious disease and health news and information, airs every Sunday at 1 pm ET in the Tampa Bay area on AM 1380 The Biz and online at http://1380thebiz.com/ VIDEO: Lab detection of Naegleria fowleri (A must […]The post Naegleria fowleri/ Jordan Smelski Foundation interview with Steve Smelski on Facebook Live appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Agriculture officials in Victoria, Australia reported responding to positive identification of anthrax in a sheep on a property near Swan Hill over the weekend. Victoria’s Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr Charles Milne, said the affected property had now been quarantined and appropriate biosecurity protections were in place. Anthrax is caused by a naturally occurring bacteria, Bacillus anthracis, […]The post Anthrax detected in sheep on Swan Hill farm appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has adopted a positive scientific opinion of fexinidazole, the first all-oral treatment that has been shown to be efficacious for both stages of sleeping sickness. This approval is a result of clinical trials led by the non-profit research and development organization DNDi and […]The post Oral sleeping sickness drug, fexinidazole, approved by European agency appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Parents who decline to get their child vaccinated against the flu may be exposed to a limited range of information, a new national poll suggests. And depending on which sources parents turn to the most, inaccurate information may influence their decision about flu vaccine for their child. Annual flu vaccination is recommended for all children […]The post Flu shots for children: Four in 10 parents base their decisions on what they read and hear appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

An outbreak of measles in Israel, where over 1,000 cases have been reported since September, has prompted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to advise travelers to the country to make sure they are vaccinated against measles with the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine. As of Nov. 5, the Israel Ministry of Health has […]The post CDC issues travel notice for Israel due to measles outbreak appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A second confirmed measles case has been confirmed in Lowell, MA on Saturday, according to a WCVB TV report. This is the second case this month in Lowell. The Lowell Health Department reported a pediatric patient who was at Lowell Community Health Center (Lowell CHC) on Thursday, November 8. Both cases were reported from the Lowell […]The post Massachusetts: 2nd measles case reported in Lowell appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Quaker Oats Company, a subsidiary of PepsiCo, Inc., today announced a voluntary recall of a small quantity of Cap’n Crunch’s Peanut Butter Crunch cereal due to the potential presence of Salmonella. While the potentially affected product only reached five specific Target stores and is limited to 21 boxes of one variety with two Best Before […]The post Cap’n Crunch: Peanut Butter Crunch sold in select Target stores recalled due to Salmonella appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up to the recent Legionnaires’ disease clusters in Illinois, state and county health officials are investigating a cluster of three cases at McHenry Villa, an independent senior living community. Public health officials confirmed the third case this week. McHenry Villa is notifying residents, the residents’ identified contact, and staff. All three cases had outside […]The post Illinois: Another Legionnaires’ disease cluster reported appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the local transmission of dengue fever in Spain, a young man from Barcelona was diagnosed with dengue fever in Catalonia earlier this month. The patient had no recent travel history. Health authorities have reported that this first autochthonous case in Catalonia and the sixth in Spain. However, they have assured that the risk […]The post Dengue fever: Autochthonous case reported in Catalonia appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Colombian Agricultural Institute (ICA) confirmed seven cases of rabies in bovine and equine animals in Urrao, Southwest Antioquia. This prompted the Ministry of Health to declare a departmental epidemiological alert due to the fact that some bulls, cows and horses infected with the virus have attacked other animals, according to a RCN Radio report (computer translated). “These facts oblige the departmental agency […]The post Rabies alert issued in northwest Colombia appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The FDA is reminding parents and caregivers not to give honey to infants or children younger than one year of age. This includes pacifiers filled with or dipped in honey. The FDA has received reports from the state of Texas that four infants have been hospitalized with botulism. All four infants had used pacifiers containing honey. These pacifiers were […]The post Do not give honey to infants, including honey pacifiers: FDA appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Ethiopian Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners, today started a second vaccination campaign to protect high-risk populations against yellow fever. More than 1.3 million people will be protected in this seven day campaign, which follows a smaller, more focused campaign in October. The vaccination campaign uses doses […]The post Ethiopia: Yellow fever vaccination campaign, 1.3 million people targeted in next week appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Here are the top five posts on Outbreak News Today for the week Nov. 10 through Nov. 16: 5. Measles outbreak in Thailand: More than 1,500 cases in the South The measles outbreak in the southern provinces of Thailand continues to grow. 4. Brazil: Family of seven contract Chagas disease from acaí A family of seven from Curralinho, Marajó contracted […]The post Infectious disease news: Top 5 posts for the week Nov. 10- Nov. 16 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Outbreak News This Week Radio Show is prerecorded every Thursday and airs Sundays at 1 pm ET in the Tampa Bay area and worldwide streaming. I don’t typically put out the podcast of the show until after the show airs; however, I wanted for people to hear this particular show ahead of time. I was […]The post Naegleria fowleri and the Jordan Smelski Foundation for Amoeba Awareness appeared first on Outbreak News Today.