Outbreak News Today

Health officials in Thailand report a worsening of the measles outbreak in Yala as the case count is now up to 859, including 10 deaths since Sept. 1. This up from 341 cases and 5 deaths a couple of weeks ago. Most of the cases were seen in nine-month-old to five-year-old kids who had never been […]The post Measles outbreak grows in Yala, Thailand appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Zika virus has been detected in dead monkeys found in Brazil near São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo State, and Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais. The animals had been shot or beaten to death by locals who thought they had yellow fever. In fact, the monkeys were not bearers of that disease, but infection by […]The post Zika virus in dead monkeys in Brazil: Hosts for the sylvatic cycle? appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Health officials in Chile report investigating a possible case of primary amoebic encephalitis (PAM) in a young boy, according to local media (computer translated). The seven-year-old boy is hospitalized at the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit of the Carlos Van Buren Hospital in Valparaíso. The director of the Van Buren Hospital confirmed that they are still gathering […]The post Chile authorities investigate possible ‘brain-eating amoeba’ infection appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

For decades researchers have known that a bacterial disease in elk, bison and cattle in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem causes periodic abortions in these animals and chronic illness in humans drinking infected cow’s milk. The disease, called brucellosis, poses a financial concern for dairy producers and cattle ranchers, but its effects on the wild elk […]The post Brucellosis: Elk that test positive are less likely to be pregnant, according to study appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the diphtheria situation in Venezuela, UN health officials report that the number of diphtheria cases reported in Venezuela in 2018 year to date has hit the 800 mark, up 260 cases in three months. The diphtheria outbreak that began in July 2016 remains ongoing. Through mid-October, a total of 2,170 suspected cases […]The post Venezuela diphtheria case tally hits 800 in 2018 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Researchers from the Molecular Biology Institute of Barcelona (IBMB-CSIC) and the Institute of Biotechnology and Biomedicine (IBB-UAB) have discovered the mechanism by which the bacterium Mycoplasma genitalium (Mgen) adheres to human cells. This adhesion is essential for the onset of bacterial infection and subsequent disease development. The study, published in the journal Nature Communications, was led by Ignacio […]The post Mycoplasma genitalium: How it adheres to human cells appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The number of confirmed acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) cases in the United States has risen to 72 in 24 states, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These 72 confirmed cases are among the total of 191 reports that CDC received of patients under investigation (PUIs). CDC recently […]The post Acute flaccid myelitis: Confirmed cases rise to 72 in US appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a thoroughly uninformed statement during an interview on a Fox News program hosted by business reporter Charles Payne, a former ICE agent named David Ward in discussing the Central American migrant caravan said the following about a “public health issue”: “We have these individuals coming from all over the world that have some of the most […]The post Ill-informed, former ICE agent, David Ward speaks nonsense: Threat of smallpox and leprosy!? appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A rehab facility in Haskell NJ has been in the news cycle for the past week as they deal with an adenovirus outbreak. To date, 26 cases have been reported, primarily pediatric patients and nine have died. What is adenovirus and why the high percentage of deaths in this outbreak? Joining me to answer these questions […]The post Adenovirus: What is it and why the high percentage of deaths in the NJ outbreak? appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

I recently read a report from India about miners in certain areas of the country coming down with a condition called silicosis. Demand from India’s booming construction industry for granite, sandstone and other minerals has seen the commissioning of more and more stone quarries and people to work in the quarries. What is silicosis and […]The post Silicosis: What is it and how common is it in the US? appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In an update on the adenovirus outbreak at the Wanaque Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation in Haskell, health officials reported the ninth in a medically fragile child with respiratory illness. A total of 25 pediatric cases have been associated with this outbreak. A staff member at the facility — who has since recovered — also […]The post NJ rehab facility: 9th death reported appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Quite a number of news organizations reported recently of a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warning about not dressing your chickens in Halloween costumes (HERE, HERE and HERE for example); however, we could not locate this statement. This was due to the fact that the CDC never made such a statement. In the […]The post Did the CDC warn against dressing chickens in Halloween costumes? appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The number of measles cases are rising quickly in Rockland County as the case tally went from 15 confirmed cases one week ago, to 25 on Friday and as of Sunday, county officials said there are 33 confirmed cases of measles in the county and five more suspected cases are under investigation. Some 2,000-plus people have […]The post Measles cases continue to rise in Rockland County appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Since the cholera outbreak that started in 2010 after the massive earthquake in Haiti, the Ministry of Health has recorded 819,350 suspected cholera cases, including 9,786 deaths. Health officials say that as of mid-October 2018, Haiti reported (computer translated) 3,350 cases, including 38 deaths– a significant drop from 2017 when 13,681 cholera cases including 159 deaths. Yale […]The post Haiti cholera update: Cases down significantly in 2018 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Markham, Ontario food company, Sofina Foods Inc Friday recalled Janes brand Pub Style Chicken Burgers from the marketplace due to possible Salmonella contamination. The affected product is described below: Consumers should not consume the above recalled product. Check to see if you have recalled products in your home. Recalled products should be thrown out or returned […]The post Food recall: Janes Pub Style Chicken Burgers pulled due to possible Salmonella appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

On today’s show, I look at a wide range of important infectious disease news to include hepatitis A and the current situation in Florida and Pinellas County in particular. In addition, I look at the deadly adenovirus outbreak in a New Jersey rehab facility. With Halloween just a few days away, the Centers for Disease […]The post Outbreak News This Week Radio Show 10-28-18 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Swiss health officials have reported a Listeria outbreak that began in June 2018, according to an RTS report (computer translated). The Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) has identified 12 cases across the country, two of which are fatal. “What is unusual is that it is all cases of the same subtype of bacteria (serotype 4B). […]The post Switzerland: Listeria outbreak affects 12 since June appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the adenovirus outbreak at the Wanaque Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation in New Jersey, state health officials report that lab tests have confirmed another medically fragile child with adenovirus as part of an ongoing outbreak investigation at the Wanaque Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation in Haskell. A total of 25 pediatric cases […]The post Adenovirus outbreak update: 25 pediatric cases, including eight deaths appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The director of the Research Institute for the Study of Leprosy, Viktor Duyko (computer translated) reports seven Astrakhan patients being treated for leprosy. “Seven new cases have been identified in our region. Six are the sick for the first time, and the seventh is a relapse in a patient who is under observation”, said Duyko. All patients are elderly […]The post Leprosy outbreak in the Lower Volga appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Ministry of Health, the Costa Rican Social Security Fund and the National Animal Health Service (SENASA) report a case of human rabies. The individual was bitten on August 15 when handling a bat while walking in the Canton of Dota. After the bite by a bat, he did not seek medical attention but proceeded to clean the wound. […]The post Costa Rica reports rare human rabies case appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Brazil Ministry of Health reports 2,425 confirmed measles as of Oct. 22. Currently, Brazil is facing two outbreaks of measles: in Amazonas there are 2,000 confirmed cases and in Roraima with 332 confirmed cases of the disease. The outbreaks are related to importation, as the genotype of the virus (D8) that is circulating in the country […]The post Amazonas state reports 2,000 measles cases appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the record dengue fever season in Bangladesh, the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control, & Research (IEDCR) reported an additional 600+ cases in the past ten days. This brings the total to 8,079, as of Oct. 24. The previous highest was 6,232 in 2002. Dengue fever is an infectious disease carried by mosquitoes and caused by any of four related dengue viruses. […]The post Dengue cases top 8,000 in Bangladesh appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Scientists investigating how the human immune system defends against malaria have uncovered a rare phenomenon: antibodies working together to bind to a vulnerable spot on the parasite. The new research, published recently in Science Advances, shows that antibodies working together can result in a protein on the parasite’s cell surface locking it into a spiral conformation, […]The post Scripps researchers capture images of antibodies working together against malaria appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Georgia state health officials are reporting an increase in mumps cases in 2018. Since the beginning of the year, 125 cases have been reported. This is higher than the 121 cases reported in 2017 and more than double the 58 total cases reported during the 10 years prior. Three outbreaks have occurred in various settings including […]The post Mumps increase reported in Georgia appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Minnesota Board of Animal Health has confirmed a case of H5N2 low pathogenic avian influenza (H5N2 LPAI) in a commercial turkey flock in Kandiyohi County. The disease was detected during routine surveillance testing of the flock of 10,000 13-week-old turkey toms on October 19. This farm includes an additional three barns housing 10,000 birds […]The post Minnesota: H5N2 avian influenza detected in Kandiyohi County turkey flock appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The New Jersey Department of Health is investigating four Acinetobacter baumannii cases in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of University Hospital in Newark. The Department first became aware of this bacterial infection on Oct. 1 and two Department teams have been closely monitoring the situation. Those department teams, which have been at the facility last […]The post Acinetobacter baumannii cases investigated at Newark hospital NICU appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the adenovirus outbreak at the Wanaque Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation in Haskell, the New Jersey Department of Health reports an additional medically fragile child with respiratory illness died. The Department of Health does not currently have laboratory confirmation of adenovirus in this child, so the total number of confirmed adenovirus cases associated […]The post Eighth death reported at Haskell, NJ facility appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The New Jersey Department of Health is warning residents about a confirmed case of measles—a highly contagious disease— who could have possibly exposed others to the infection while in Ocean County between October 13 and October 21, 2018. Testing at CDC has confirmed the infection. The individual developed symptoms after international travel to Israel, where […]The post New Jersey: Measles case confirmed in Ocean County appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Here are the top five posts on Outbreak News Today for the week Oct. 20 through Oct 26: 5. Prion expert: ‘A link between consumption of squirrel brain and human prion disease is unjustifiably speculative’ In a follow-up to a report of a poster presented at IDWeek2018 concerning a relatively recent case of vCJD linked to the consumption of squirrel […]The post Infectious disease news: Top 5 posts for the week Oct. 20-Oct. 26 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Norwegian Institute of Public Health has reported two cases of Clostridium perfringens infection in Oslo. The patients reported injected heroin via syringes. Both of the sick have had serious infections at the site and were admitted to hospital in late September and early October 2018. They have predominantly injected heroin. It is suspected that heroin contaminated […]The post Oslo: Clostridium perfringens infections linked to heroin injection appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The City of Albuquerque Environmental Health Department and the New Mexico Department of Health have determined that a species of mosquito called Aedes aegypti is now being collected in the Rio Grande bosque area of Albuquerque. This is the first time that this mosquito vector capable of transmitting Zika, dengue, chikungunya and other diseases has […]The post Aedes aegypti mosquito first detected in Albuquerque appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Polio outbreaks in several countries has prompted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to issue travel notices for Nigeria, Somalia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Papua New Guinea and Syria. Each country, with the exception of Syria, has reported a number of vaccine-derived polio cases this year–Papua New Guinea (18), Nigeria (17), DRC […]The post Polio prompts travel notices for Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, more appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) has been a big health news topic in the United States this year with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently reporting 62 confirmed cases in 22 states. To date, it is still not clear what the causative agent is although we know that some enteroviruses have been implicated […]The post Acute flaccid myelitis in Canada: ‘A confirmed increase of cases above the annual average has not been seen’ appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

According the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there has been approximately 2,000 human West Nile virus (WNV) cases year to date. Of the 44 states that have reported human cases, none are reporting more than Nebraska. The Nebraska Department Health and Human Services (DHHS), Division of Public Health has […]The post West Nile in the US: Nebraska reports most cases appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), working closely with local health departments, has identified two separate clusters of Legionnaires’ disease cases. One cluster involves residents in McHenry and Lake Counties, while the other involves residents at Warren Barr South Loop nursing home in Chicago. “The two recently identified clusters of Legionnaires’ disease are not […]The post Legionnaires’ disease: Two separate clusters identified in Illinois appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The third UNICEF-chartered plane has arrived at Mitiga airport, Tripoli, completing the delivery of a total 4.7 million doses of Measles, Rubella and Polio vaccines, as well as 2.75 million doses of Vitamin ‘A’ supplement, syringes and safety boxes. These supplies will be essential in Libya’s National Vaccination Campaign run in coordination with the World […]The post Libya: More vaccines arrive in Tripoli appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Hillsborough County health officials are reporting a positive case of hepatitis A (Hep A) in a food service worker in Ybor City. The individual worked at Hamburger Mary’s Bar and Grille located at 1800 East 8th Avenue in Tampa between October 4 – 20. The Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County says if you frequented […]The post Ybor City: Hamburger Mary’s worker test positive for hepatitis A appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By: Jory Lange Utah public health officials are investigating a spike in E. coli cases, possibly part of an emerging E. coli outbreak in Utah. Utah Department of Health epidemiologist Kenneth Davis says, “It’s about a 50 percent increase than what we were expecting.” Investigators are working to identify a source. Many of the people […]The post Emerging E. Coli Outbreak in Utah appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus have found multiple genetic variants within the FUT2 gene that makes some people especially susceptible to middle ear infections. “Middle ear infections are very common in kids,” said the study’s lead author, Regie Santos-Cortez, MD, PhD, associate professor of Otolaryngology at the University of Colorado School […]The post Ear infections: Gene linked to increased susceptibility appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Nigeria health officials reported an additional 10 suspected monkeypox cases during the past month, according to a recent Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) Situation Report. The ten new suspected cases of monkeypox were reported from Ebonyi (4), Rivers (2), Bayelsa (4) states. A total of 86 cases have been reported in 2018 from 16 […]The post Nigeria reports 10 additional suspected monkeypox cases appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Pakistan saw two additional cases of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) in the past week, bringing the total in the country to six. According to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, the new cases were reported from greater Karachi, Sindh (with onset of paralysis on 22 September) and Khyber district, FATA province (with onset of paralysis on 25 […]The post Pakistan reports two additional polio cases appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

This week, 60 high-level public health and MERS practitioners, researchers, and experts met in Abu Dhabi to establish a pool of experts that can be deployed rapidly during any future outbreaks, as well as share and discuss the latest evidence, best practices, and lessons learned on MERS. Since the identification of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) in […]The post MERS experts team being established for rapid deployment appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Greece reported a reemergence of measles in 2017 with 1,027 cases, according to the latest data from the Hellenic Statistical Authority. The increase in cases began in August 2017 and has continued through 2018. Since the beginning of the year, Greece has seen 3258 measles cases in 2018 (1,885 lab confirmed). The highest frequency has been observed […]The post Greece reported more than 1,000 measles cases in 2017 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Officials in Tharaka-Nithi County, in central Kenya are reporting an outbreak of suspected anthrax that sickened eight and killed one, according to a Daily Nation report. It is reported that all nine people contracted the dangerous bacterial infection from contacted with a tainted cow. According to one man’s account–“The animal was almost dying when we slaughtered […]The post Suspected anthrax death reported in Kenya appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Israel Ministry of Health is reporting an increase in measles cases this year with six out of 10 cases being reported from the Jerusalem area. According to an Haaretz report this week, the number of people diagnosed in Israel with measles has spiked since the start of the year to 882, an increase of some […]The post Israel measles outbreak: More than 500 cases in Jerusalem appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Rockland County officials will be holding measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine clinic today in response to the measles outbreak in Rockland County, with 15 confirmed cases to date. The county Department of Health is investigating six additional measles cases. The clinic will be Friday, October 26, from 9:30 am to 11:30 am at the Darden Center, located […]The post Measles in Rockland County: More cases, vaccine clinics appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A diagnosis of naturally acquired anthrax has been confirmed in the death of 13 livestock on a farm near Fort St. John. The animals are thought to have contracted the disease from exposure to dormant anthrax spores in the soil of a feeding site, which is no longer being used. No further losses on the […]The post Anthrax in British Columbia: 13 livestock on a farm near Fort St. John dead appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Alaska health officials report as of Oct. 22, 75 cases of infectious syphilis have been reported to the Alaska Section of Epidemiology (SOE) during 2018. This is the largest syphilis outbreak to have occurred in Alaska in at least four decades. Eighty-five percent of cases were in Anchorage and nearly nine out 10 were reported in men. […]The post Alaska reports largest syphilis outbreak in four decades appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In 2017, there were over 144,000 diagnoses of the sexually transmitted infections (STIs), chlamydia or gonorrhea, in people aged 15 to 24, which turns out to be a case of chlamydia or gonorrhea is diagnosed in a young person every 4 minutes in England. There were approximately 420,000 diagnoses of STIs in England in last year and of […]The post England: ‘A case of chlamydia or gonorrhea is diagnosed in a young person every 4 minutes’ appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the hepatitis A outbreak in Kentucky, state health officials report over 2,000 confirmed, probable and suspect cases of acute hepatitis A, a liver disease caused by hepatitis A virus since August 2017. As of mid-October, 2,159 cases have been reported, including 14 fatalities. Jefferson County reports the most cases with 626. Of this […]The post Kentucky hepatitis A outbreak tops 2,000 cases appeared first on Outbreak News Today.