Outbreak News Today

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has confirmed 15 cases of measles in Michigan so far in 2018, the highest level the state has seen since 1994 when 26 cases were reported. Measles is a vaccine-preventable respiratory infection that can result in hospitalization, pneumonia, encephalitis and death. The illness has a 10–21 […]The post Michigan reports 15 measles cases in 2018, Highest number since 1994 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Here are the top five posts on Outbreak News Today for the week Nov. 3 through Nov. 9: 5. K-State rower, Samantha Scott, dies from rare Lemierre syndrome I address the question, What is Lemierre syndrome? in this short article after a Kansas State University student died suddenly. 4. Three measles cases reported in Spartanburg County: All children, all unvaccinated This […]The post Infectious disease news: Top 5 posts for the week Nov. 3- Nov. 9 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Mosquitoes of the genus Anopheles are well known as primary vectors of malaria. But a new study suggests that Anopheles species, including some found in the United States, also are capable of carrying and transmitting an emerging pathogen, Mayaro virus, which has caused outbreaks of disease in South America and the Caribbean. Mayaro virus — which can cause fever, […]The post Mayaro virus: Penn State researchers suggest spread into other areas of the world appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Mono County, California health officials are reporting a death of a child who contracted the “brain-eating amoeba”, Naegleria fowleri. According to a KOLO 8 report, The child who died last weekend, only described as being from Southern California, suffered a rare infection called primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) and tested positive for Naegleria fowleri. The child’s only known […]The post Naegleria fowleri death reported in California appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Uganda Ministry of Health (MoH), with support from the World Health Organization (WHO) has started vaccinating frontline health workers against the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD). The exercise, has began Wednesday in Ntoroko district and will initially be implemented in the five high risk districts ( Bundibugyo, Kabarole, Kasese, Ntoroko and Bunyangabu) bordering the Democratic […]The post Ebola: Uganda begins vaccinating frontline health workers appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a study of proteins historic in its scope, researchers at Oregon State University have pushed closer both to a vaccine for gonorrhea and toward understanding why the bacteria that cause the disease are so good at fending off antimicrobial drugs. The findings, published in Molecular and Cellular Proteomics, are especially important since the microbe, Neisseria […]The post Gonorrhea: Oregon State University researchers closer to a vaccine appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Greek health officials have reported nine autochthonous non-Plasmodium falciparum malaria cases since August. Case investigation of the nine introduced cases (eight P.vivax and one P.non-falciparum) suggests the following: one P.vivax case with probable exposure at the Municipal Unit of Tichero, Municipality of Soufli, Regional Unit (RU) of Evros, with onset of symptoms the week of 20-26/08/2018 one P.vivax […]The post Greece reports nine recent locally acquired malaria cases appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In an update on the measles outbreak in Israel, more than 1,400 measles cases have been reported in the country, with a large portion being from Jerusalem, according to an Haaretz report. The report notes, in October, there were almost 700 known cases. The most significant outbreaks were in ultra-Orthodox neighborhoods of Jerusalem, Beit Shemesh […]The post Jerusalem measles: Doctors ‘afraid they’re losing control’ appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In an update on the ongoing measles outbreak in the Republic of Serbia, Institute of Public Health of Serbia reported (computer translated) 23 additional measles cases in October–17 in Belgrade and six in Pancevo. This brings the total to 5764 cases, including 2912 laboratory confirmed, since October 2017, with nearly 5000 cases occurring in 2018 . The majority of patients […]The post Serbia reports 23 measles cases in past month appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Vancouver Coastal Health is warning customers about a sauce being prepared out of a home in Richmond, which could cause botulism. Betty’s King Sauce is considered unsafe because of the potential to grow Clostridium botulinum bacteria. Sales have been online from various social media accounts (Instagram, Facebook) and through a public website dating back to […]The post Vancouver: Public safety advisory issued over botulism risk with Betty’s King Sauce appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Adenoviruses are common viruses that can cause a range of illnesses. They can cause cold-like symptoms, sore throat, bronchitis, pneumonia, diarrhea, and pink eye (conjunctivitis). You can get an adenovirus infection at any age. People with weakened immune systems or existing respiratory or cardiac disease are more likely than others to get very sick from an adenovirus […]The post Adenovirus outbreaks in New Jersey: Two additional cases reported appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The State Department of Public Health (Sespa) confirmed on Sunday that a family of seven from Curralinho, Marajó contracted the parasitic infection, Chagas disease, after comsuming contaminated acai The seven include father, mother and children, according to a G1 Globo report (computer translated). According to Sespa, the diagnosed patients are already under treatment. Sespa also said he […]The post Brazil: Family of seven contract Chagas disease from acaí appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is reporting that of the 16 people under investigation for Acute Flaccid Myelitis (AFM) in Illinois this year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed three cases, classified one as probable AFM, and declared two not to be AFM cases. Ten cases remain under investigation. […]The post Acute flaccid myelitis in Illinois: 3 confirmed cases appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

At the end of September 2018, an international traveler arrived in Rockland County with a suspected case of the measles. There have been additional cases of measles from international travelers to Rockland, exposing more people to measles. People who are unvaccinated risk getting infected with measles and spreading it to others. These cases are presently […]The post Measles in Rockland County: 55 cases, Increased school exclusions appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the Massachusetts hepatitis A outbreak, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) says since April 2018, 141 cases of acute hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection have been reported. Outbreak cases have been reported in individuals with recent experience of homelessness, unstable housing, and/or substance use disorder. Three deaths have been attributed to […]The post Hepatitis A outbreak continues to grow in Massachusetts appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Two new cases of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) have been reported this week in Pakistan. Both cases are from FATA province, with onset of paralysis on 1 September and 7 October respectively. The total number of WPV1 cases in 2018 in the country now stands at eight. Including the 19 cases reported in Afghanistan, […]The post Pakistan reports two additional polio cases, Global total rises to 27 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The hepatitis A outbreak in West Virginia topped the 1,000 case mark in late August. Since that time, an additional 750 or so cases have been reported. As of Friday, the West Virginia Bureau for Public Health has reported 1,774 outbreak cases since March, including five deaths. More than half required hospitalization. The increase in cases has […]The post West Virginia hepatitis A outbreak update appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the Legionnaires’ disease outbreak in Lower Washington Heights in Manhattan, New York City health officials report a doubling of cases in the past month. Thirty-two people have been diagnosed with the infection since late September, including one fatality. Officials continue to investigate the outbreak and test cooling tower water samples in […]The post Legionnaires’ update: 32 cases and one death in Lower Washington Heights appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that an emergency use authorization (EUA) has been issued for a rapid, single-use test for the detection of Ebola virus (Zaire ebolavirus). The test, called the DPP Ebola Antigen System, is used with blood specimens, including capillary “fingerstick” whole blood, from individuals with signs and symptoms of Ebola virus disease (EVD) […]The post Ebola ‘fingerstick’ test receives FDA emergency use authorization appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Researchers from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine have shown that a single “cocktail” of three pill-based anti-parasite medications is significantly more effective at killing microscopic larval worms in people diagnosed with lymphatic filariasis, commonly known as elephantiasis, than other standard two-drug combinations previously used in the global effort to eliminate this infectious disease. […]The post Lymphatic filariasis: Single 3 pill ‘cocktail’ more effective at killing microscopic larval worms appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Utah public health officials have confirmed a Utah resident died from rabies earlier this month. It is suspected exposure to a bat was the source of infection. This is the first Utah resident to die from rabies since 1944. In Utah, people and animals are most likely to come into contact with rabies through exposure […]The post Rabies death reported in Utah, First since 1944 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Measles In a follow-up on the measles situation in Spartanburg County, SC, The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) is now reporting a doubling of measles cases in the county, bringing the total to six. Individuals who had measles visited local urgent care facilities while they were infectious. If you visited AFC at 1667 […]The post South Carolina: Measles cases rise in Spartanburg County, First flu-related death reported appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Two cases of meningitis B have been confirmed in students at the University of Bristol. Both students, who are friends, have been receiving treatment in hospital in Cardiff and are recovering well, University officials said. Public Health England’s (PHE) health protection team has worked with the University to identify close contacts of the cases (students who share […]The post Meningitis B confirmed in two students at the University of Bristol appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) and the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) are investigating a hepatitis A outbreak. So far in 2018, Pennsylvania has had 81 hepatitis A cases reported to date which is an 80% increase in cases reported from the same time period in the previous 5 years. Allegheny County has had eight […]The post Pennsylvania, Allegheny County investigate hepatitis A outbreak appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the Ocean County, New Jersey measles outbreak, New Jersey state health officials report two additional confirmed measles cases, bringing the total to six. These individuals could have exposed others to the infection while in Ocean County between Oct. 28 and Nov. 1. Health officials warn anyone who visited the following locations may […]The post Ocean County measles outbreak rises to six appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A science fair experiment by a Schwenksville, Pennsylvania teen discovered high concentration parasite eggs in the soil of a number of Montgomery County parks and led to a poster abstract at this year’s IDWeek 2018. The research comes from 13-year-old Devyn Stek, a student at St. Teresa of Calcutta School in Schwenksville, about an hour outside […]The post Pennsylvania: School science fair project finds Toxocara eggs in Montgomery County parks appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

An investigational oral antibiotic called zoliflodacin was well-tolerated and successfully cured most cases of uncomplicated gonorrhea when tested in a Phase 2 multicenter clinical trial, according to findings published today in the New England Journal of Medicine. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, sponsored the clinical […]The post Investigational oral antibiotic, zoliflodacin, cured most cases of uncomplicated gonorrhea in Phase 2 trials appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

African swine fever, or ASF, appeared for the first time in China over the summer and since that time, more than 50 outbreaks of ASF have been reported in domestic pigs in 13 provinces of China. Back in September, the UN warned at the time that the swine fever situation was “just the tip of […]The post African swine fever, China and the risk to the US appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Federal and state health officials report investigating a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Agbeni infections. To date, five illnesses were reported from three states: Maryland, Ohio, and Wisconsin. None of the ill people were hospitalized, and none died. The investigation is ongoing to determine if these illnesses are linked to Duncan Hines cake mix. On November […]The post Salmonella outbreak sickens five people in three states, Duncan Hines cake mix investigated to determine link appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Paraguay was certified as having eliminated malaria from its territory in June of this year and several others–Argentina, Belize, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Mexico and Suriname are potentially on their way to achieving elimination by 2020. Other countries, especially Venezuela, have recorded an increase in the number of cases of malaria, which puts at […]The post PAHO on malaria: ‘Efforts must be stepped-up where incidences of the disease have increased’ appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Researchers have identified a compound that strongly inhibits botulinum neurotoxin, the most toxic compound known. That inhibiting compound, nitrophenyl psoralen (NPP), could be used as a treatment to reduce paralysis induced by botulism. Botulinum neurotoxin is considered a potential bioweapon because there is no FDA-approved antidote. The research is published in Applied and Environmental Microbiology, a […]The post Botulinum toxin: Researchers discover potential antidote for most poisonous bacterial toxin appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) reports that of the five suspected cases of Acute Flaccid Myelitis (AFM) this year, three have been confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), while the other two have been determined to not be cases. Of the three confirmed cases, two are from the *Northwest region of the state, […]The post Arkansas reports 3 confirmed Acute Flaccid Myelitis cases appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In North Carolina, health officials have reported an increase in hepatitis A cases in 2018–64 through October, compared to a 5-year average of 41. In addition, the state is in the middle of an ongoing outbreak that has sickened 37. On Tuesday, state health officials reported the first hepatitis A death linked to this outbreak. […]The post North Carolina reports 1st hepatitis A fatality linked to ongoing outbreak appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Health officials warned of a potential measles exposure yesterday after receiving confirmation about two measles cases in Oakland County residents. The cases arrived on a flight at Detroit Metro Airport (DTW) on Oct. 23 at approximately 5:00 p.m. Oakland County officials advise individuals who were possibly exposed to watch for symptoms for 21 days after the exposure. […]The post Detroit: Measles warning issued, Two confirmed cases appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Nearly 2.4 million Americans – 1 percent of the adult population – were living with hepatitis C from 2013 through 2016, according to new CDC estimates published today in the journal Hepatology. Medications that cure hepatitis C offer the hope of eliminating the disease in the U.S., yet, today’s report suggests that millions are infected and have not […]The post Hepatitis C in the US: 2.4 million Americans living with it appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a troubling statement concerning the current Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) director, Dr. Robert Redfield suggested that this could become endemic. He noted that international public health experts need to consider the possibility that it cannot be brought under control and […]The post CDC Director Redfield on Ebola outbreak: ‘Need to consider the possibility that it cannot be brought under control” appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Officials with the University of Colorado-Boulder have reported a 19-year-old male student from CU Boulder has been diagnosed with meningococcal meningitis. The student is in fair condition at Boulder Community Hospital. Boulder County Public Health officials are investigating this case. Officials are reaching out to those who have been in close contact with the patient. Meningococcal meningitis […]The post University of Colorado-Boulder: Student diagnosed with meningococcal meningitis appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A study, published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases, estimates that about 33,000 people die each year as a direct consequence of an infection due to bacteria resistant to antibiotics and that the burden of these infections is comparable to that of influenza, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS combined. It also explains that 75% of the burden of disease […]The post Europe: Antibiotic resistant bacterial infections linked to 33,000 deaths annually appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Prior to 2018, the most human West Nile virus (WNV) cases Connecticut health officials reported in a year was 21 in 2012. However, the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) has reported 22 cases in 2018 to date, the highest case count on record. Fairfield County saw 11 WNV cases, followed by Hartford (5), Middlesex […]The post Connecticut reports most West Nile virus cases in a year in 2018 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By Jacob Tyson Lady Mary Wortley Montagu was born in 1689 and is most esteemed and accredited for her accounts and publishing’s relating to the Ottoman Empire and more specifically on the women of the Ottoman Empire. However, Lady Montagu is also a very influential character in the early efforts of treating smallpox with a […]The post Lady Montagu: A Pioneer of The Early Vaccine appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

There are currently 47 confirmed cases of measles in Rockland with 10 suspected cases under investigation. The Rockland County Department of Health is holding a FREE MMR Vaccine Clinic Tuesday, November 6, from 1 pm to 6 pm at the Darden Center, located at Dr. Berg Lane, Spring Valley, NY 10977. People will be triaged (checked) before entering […]The post Rockland County measles update: 47 cases, 10 under investigation appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Conagra Brands is collaborating with health officials in connection with a positive finding of Salmonella in a retail sample of Duncan Hines Classic White cake mix that may be linked to a Salmonella outbreak that is currently being investigated by CDC and FDA. While it has not been definitively concluded that this product is linked to the outbreak and […]The post Duncan Hines: Four cake mixes recalled due to potential Salmonella appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the Israel measles outbreak, Israeli media reports the outbreak tally has more than 1,300 cases since the beginning of 2018, including some 750 cases in Jerusalem. At least one toddler has died. This has prompted the health ministry to start an aggressive vaccination campaign , particularly in several haredi neighbors in Jerusalem and Beit Shemesh, […]The post Measles outbreak: More cases in Israel, Mobile vaccination clinics dispatched appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

When I recently saw headlines from various Australian and US media of a man named Sam Ballard who died years after eating a slug on a dare, the story sounded somewhat familiar. I dug around the archives and found that in 2010, I wrote an article about Sam’s case on the now defunct, examiner.com. I […]The post Australian man, Sam Ballard, dies eight years after an ‘eating slug’ dare appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Vermont health officials are investigating a shigellosis outbreak at the Wake Robin retirement community in Shelburne. To date, 67 cases have been reported with one third testing positive for the bacterium. Wake Robin is collecting data to pinpoint the source of the outbreak, and has closed the group dining hall until the outbreak has subsided. Clinical manifestations […]The post Vermont officials investigate Shigella outbreak at Wake Robin Community appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Florida Department of Health in Pinellas County (DOH-Pinellas) has identified a positive case of hepatitis A in a food service worker in St. Pete Beach. Following lab confirmation on November 1, DOH-Pinellas immediately began conducting an epidemiological investigation and today determined the individual worked at Toasted Monkey located at 6110 Gulf Blvd between October […]The post St. Pete Beach: Hepatitis A reported in Toasted Monkey employee appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In an New Jersey adenovirus outbreak update, the number of adenovirus cases linked to an outbreak at the Wanaque Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation in Haskell has risen to 30. To date, a total of 29 pediatric adenovirus cases have been associated with this outbreak. In addition, a staff member at the facility — who has since […]The post New Jersey: More adenovirus at Haskell and Voorhees facilities appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A new study by the University of Birmingham has found that seven in every eight children who have their tonsils removed are unlikely to benefit from the operation. Researchers analysed the electronic medical records of over 1.6 million children from more than 700 UK general practices dating between 2005 and 2016. They found that out […]The post UK Study: The vast majority of children’s tonsillectomies are unnecessary appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In the latest on the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak in the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the DRC health ministry has reported a total of 300 cases of hemorrhagic fever in the region, 265 confirmed and 35 probable. 186 total deaths have been reported. The World Health […]The post DR Congo Ebola outbreak reaches 300 cases appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

An outbreak of yellow fever has been confirmed in the Wolaita Zone of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ (SNNP) Region of Ethiopia, located in the south-western part of the country. Since the index case in late August, 35 suspected yellow fever cases have been reported in two woredas of Wolaita Zone in the SNNP […]The post Ethiopia yellow fever outbreak: 10 deaths reported appeared first on Outbreak News Today.