Outbreak News Today

Delaware public health officials report investigating an outbreak of pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, in Kent County. The outbreak investigation began in June when the Division of Public Health (DPH) learned of cases occurring among the county’s Amish population. Pertussis is a reportable disease in Delaware, and notification to DPH of confirmed or suspected cases […]The post Delaware investigates pertussis outbreak among Amish population in Kent County appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

According to the Hellenic Center for Disease Control & Prevention (KEELPNO), from May 1, 2017 through Aug. 23, 2018, Greece recorded 3250 measles cases (1,880 being laboratory confirmed). Four deaths have been recorded. The highest frequency has been observed in South Greece. The outbreak mostly affects people of Greek nationality (mainly young Roma children, as well as Greek […]The post Measles in Greece tops 3,200 in 15 months appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

An estimated 700,110 children under 5 years old will be vaccinated against polio in nine provinces of Papua New Guinea in August 2018. The National Department of Health (NDOH) is mobilizing 4,964 polio workers who will be deployed to 49 districts. In the six provinces of Enga, Chimbu, Southern Highlands, Western Highlands, Jiwaka and Hela, […]The post Polio vaccination campaign in Papua New Guinea update appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The entire eligible population of Samoa will have been treated with the new triple drug regimen recommended by WHO for the treatment of lymphatic filariasis (LF), a disabling and disfiguring neglected tropical disease tomorrow. In 2017, WHO published guidelines on alternative mass drug administration (MDA) regimens to eliminate filariasis, in which IDA (that is, a combination […]The post Lymphatic filariasis: Samoa becomes the first country to implement the new triple drug regimen appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Minister of Health, Rodolfo Rocabado, said that everything is ready to develop the Vaccination Campaign against rabies this August 25 and 26 in the departments of Cochabamba and Beni. “This Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 we will carry out the rabies vaccination in Trinidad and Cochabamba so we hope to maintain or surpass the coverage […]The post Bolivia: Rabies vaccination campaign in Cochabamba and Beni departments appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the Virulent Newcastle Disease (vND) situation in California, the USDA has confirmed 117 cases of vND in backyard birds in California since mid-May: 84 in San Bernardino County, 16 in Riverside County, 16 in Los Angeles County and 1 in Ventura County. vND, formerly known as Exotic Newcastle Disease is a contagious and fatal […]The post Virulent Newcastle Disease update: 117 cases in four California counties appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Measles Massachusetts state health authorities confirmed a case of measles which was diagnosed at Lahey Hospital & Medical Center (LHMC) in Burlington this week. The individual, during their infectious period, was in a number of locations that could have resulted in exposures to other people (see below). Facility Location Dates and times Logan Airport Terminal B Boston […]The post Massachusetts: Measles case at Burlington hospital; 1st human West Nile virus cases reported appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Summary Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi infection) is increasingly recognized as a significant worldwide illness. This study provides insights into important immune mechanisms involved in Borrelia burgdorferi clearance in human Lyme disease. By studying B cell subsets in blood, robust plasmablast levels are found to predict more rapid resolution of clinical symptoms whereas poor plasmablast responses are associated with […]The post Lyme disease study: Robust B cell responses predict rapid resolution appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Out of an abundance of caution, the Loudoun County Health Department is informing people who were at two specific locations in Loudoun County on August 17 and August 20, 2018, that they may have been exposed to a person with measles. Health officials are mounting a coordinated effort to identify people who may have been […]The post Virginia: Possible measles exposure in Loudoun County appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Health officials in Collin County, Texas have confirmed a measles case in an unvaccinated person who traveled internationally. The person attended Plano West Senior High School between Aug. 14–16 during their infectious period. The individual also spent a limited amount of time, while contagious, at Whole Foods Preston Park Colonnade on Aug. 14, between noon and 1 […]The post Texas: Measles case reported in Collin County, individual not vaccinated appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Health officials in Duval County, Florida are reporting a human case of West Nile virus (WNV), the first in the county this year. Earlier this month, health officials issued an advisory after several sentinel chicken flocks have tested positive for West Nile virus. The City of Jacksonville Mosquito Control division and DOH-Duval continue surveillance and […]The post Florida: Human West Nile virus case reported in Duval County appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has presented the Tanzanian government with medicines and equipment for localized Ebola preparedness and the control of malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs). In a statement, the WHO said its Country Representative to Tanzania Dr Adiele Onyeze handed over Albendazole and Praziquantel tablets, Filariasis test kits, thermos-flash evolution thermometers, Ebola […]The post WHO donates critical disease control medicines to Tanzania appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

6476 dengue cases have been confirmed since the beginning of the year on Reunion Island, 138 of which led to hospitalization. In addition, health officials have reported 20 cases of severe dengue fever, including 3 deaths. Health officials remind the public: Eliminate the water containers around his house and waste promoting larval breeding (empty saucers, […]The post Dengue fever: Reunion reports more cases, more deaths appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the E. coli O157:H7 outbreak in Sweden, the Norwegian Public Health Authority is now reporting 80 confirmed cases and approximately 50 suspect cases to date, according to a Folkhalsomyndigheten news release this week (computer translated). The cases have been reported from several counties, but mostly from Uppsala and Västra Götaland. “The development is expected because the […]The post Sweden E. coli update: 80 confirmed cases appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The New York State Department of Health announced yesterday that they have confirmed the first three human cases of West Nile Virus outside of New York City in Nassau, Westchester and Monroe Counties for a combined total of seven human cases to date in 2018. “At the Governor Cuomo’s direction, the Department of Health launched an […]The post New York: West Nile virus cases confirmed outside NYC appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Officials in Michigan have reported the first human West Nile virus (WNV) fatality of 2018 in a resident of Wayne County. Overall for the year, eight human cases have been reported– one resident of Berrien County, one resident of Kent County, one resident of Oakland County, and five residents of Wayne County. All but one have […]The post Michigan reports 1st human West Nile virus case of the year in Wayne County appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Philippines Department of Health (DOH) reports that the number of leptospirosis cases in the Metro Manila area is up more than 350 percent compared to last year. According to Health Secretary Francisco Duque, urbanization, congestion and a lack of public awareness along with heavy rains and flooding can lead to increases in the bacterial […]The post Philippines: Leptospirosis up 350 percent in Manila appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced today the addition of Lassa fever, chikungunya virus disease, rabies and cryptococcal meningitis to the list of tropical diseases. Applicants who submit applications for drug or biological products to prevent or treat these diseases may qualify for a tropical disease priority review voucher (PRV). A tropical disease PRV […]The post Lassa fever, chikungunya, rabies, and cryptococcal meningitis added to FDA tropical diseases list appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) doesn’t directly cause cancer, but infection with this common herpes virus brings an increased risk of some cancers, including fast-growing lymphomas. This week in mSphere, researchers report on a new drug that works by targeting EBV-positive tumors. In experiments on mice, the drug inhibited tumor development and metastases for EBV-related lymphomas. The findings […]The post Cancer: New drug that works by targeting EBV-positive tumors appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Democratic Republic of Congo has approved the use of four experimental Ebola treatments to manage the ongoing outbreak in the east of the country. At least 59 people have died, with 102 cases diagnosed since the outbreak was confirmed on August 1. Last week, the Ministry of Health approved the use of experimental monoclonal […]The post DR Congo approves four new Ebola treatments to contain outbreak appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Hong Kong health officials report investigating four additional autochthonous dengue fever (DF) cases, bringing the total cases to 23. The patients, residents of Cheung Chau, Yuen Long and Tseung Kwan O, had no international travel history during the incubation period. All were in Cheung Chau or the Lion Rock Park area during the incubation period. […]The post Hong Kong local dengue case count now 23 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

For the first time in five years, health officials in England are reporting a Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) case. The patient, a resident of the Middle East, was initially admitted to a hospital in Leeds and was transferred to Royal Liverpool Hospital. It is believed the patient have contracted the infection prior to traveling to the […]The post England reports imported MERS case appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the wound botulism situation linked to heroin use in Los Angeles County, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) has identified three additional suspect cases of botulism associated with the use of black tar heroin, bringing the total to six cases. Public Health is warning that black tar heroin in […]The post LA County: More wound botulism cases reported appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Antibiotics are among the most commonly prescribed medications in children, but they can lead to adverse drug events and should be used only when needed. From 2011-2015, antibiotic use in children led to nearly 70,000 estimated emergency room visits each year for allergic reactions and other side effects. The risk of a visit varied by […]The post Antibiotics led to nearly 70,000 estimated emergency room visits for kids in the U.S. each year: Study appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

UN health officials reported this week that the measles outbreak in Venezuela is ongoing with measles cases reported in all states and the Capital District. Since the summer of 2017 with the confirmation of the first measles case, health authorities report a total of 4,272 confirmed measles cases, including 62 deaths. In 2018 to date, 3,545 confirmed measles […]The post Venezuela measles outbreak: 3,500 lab-confirmed cases in 2018 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the measles outbreak in Ukraine, the Center for Public Health of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine reports there was a significant decrease in the incidence of measles last week. According to health officials, the operational data in the 33rd week of 2018, 615 people were infected with measles – 301 adults and […]The post Measles: Ukraine reports significant decrease in incidence, total cases near 30,000 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Health officials in Larimer County, Colorado report investigating a salmonella outbreak at La Luz Mexican Restaurant in Old Town Fort Collins. To date, six cases have been confirmed and additional cases are pending investigation and testing. Some of the confirmed cases have been hospitalized. La Luz has been proactive in collaborating with the Health Department to try and […]The post Salmonella outbreak linked to Old Town Fort Collins restaurant appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported the multistate outbreak of Cyclosporiasis linked to Fresh Express Salad Mix Sold at McDonald’s Restaurants has grown to 476 cases in 15 states. Illinois, Iowa and Missouri have reported the most cases at 246, 98 and 52, respectively. Twenty-one people required hospitalization for their […]The post Cyclospora: Outbreak linked to McDonald’s salads grow; Fresh Express forms panel appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

An increase in pertussis cases has been reported among children aged <5 years of age from the sentinel sites (Western Cape, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, North West and KwaZulu-Natal) which form part of a pneumonia surveillance programme, and particularly amongst infants 1 year and younger. An increase, which was limited to the Western Cape sites, was observed […]The post Whooping cough increase reported in South Africa appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The measles outbreak in North Dublin has risen by two additional cases, bringing the outbreak total in the inner city to 13 since last month. The Department of Public Health East reports transmission has occurred in Dublin hospitals and in households with poor vaccine uptake. In addition, they are now starting to see cases that acquired […]The post Dublin measles outbreak rises to 13 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Oregon state health officials have confirmed a second measles case this month. An individual who was diagnosed Sunday, August 19, had been in close contact with an individual diagnosed with measles on August 10. On August 10, OHA received confirmation of the first case of measles in a person who was infectious and spent time […]The post Oregon: 2nd measles case confirmed this month appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

European health officials are reporting a spike in locally transmitted West Nile virus (WNV) cases in southern and central parts of the continent. In fact, infections have sharply increased in 2018 as compared to the previous 4 years. A total of 401 autochthonous human WNV infections have been reported by European countries this year, as of 16 […]The post West Nile virus cases top 400 in parts of Europe appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the dengue fever situation in Hong Kong, the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health announced investigating two additional locally acquired dengue fever cases. The first additional case involves a 59-year-old male patient with good past health, who developed fever, headache, retro-orbital pain, myalgia and arthralgia since August […]The post Dengue: More local cases reported in Hong Kong appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the rabies outbreak situation in Sarawak, Malaysia, health officials are reporting an additional human rabies death in Sarawak, the 12th fatality since the outbreak started last summer. The case of rabies is a 44-year-old man from Jalan Matang, Kuching. Based on the information received, there was no history of dog bites or […]The post Malaysia: 12th rabies death reported in Sarawak appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A universal flu vaccine that protects people against most influenza strains is one step closer to reality, with a study from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. The candidate vaccine, described in Nature Communications this week, elicited a strong antibody response to a structure on the surface of flu viruses, called the hemagglutinin […]The post Universal flu vaccine one step closer to reality appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Malaysian Ministry of Health (MOH) is reporting a decrease in hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) cases in recent weeks. The number of weekly cases for August 12 to August 18, 2018 showed a decrease of 1,304 (25.4%) compared to the previous week (August 5 to August 11, 2018); that is 3,826 cases compared to […]The post Hand, foot and mouth disease in Malaysia: Decrease in cases reported appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is reporting that in 2017, 7,466 new cases of Valley Fever were reported, making 2017 the highest annual incidence reported in California since coccidioidomycosis became individually reportable in 1995. It was also the second consecutive record year for reported Valley Fever cases. Consistent with previous years, the highest coccidioidomycosis […]The post Valley fever: California reports highest annual number of new cases in 2017 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The landlocked Central African country of Chad has been battling a measles outbreak since early-May 2018. Since the beginning of the year, a total of 1,889 suspected cases of measles, including 72 deaths (case fatality ratio 3.8%) have been reported. Of these, 885 cases were investigated: 141 were laboratory confirmed, 419 had epidemiological links to confirmed cases and 28 […]The post Chad reports dozens of measles deaths since May appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the typhoid outbreak in Gweru City, Midlands Province in central Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe Ministry of Health and Child Care reports a total of 1,460 suspected cases, including eight deaths (case fatality ratio 0.6%). The neighborhood of Mkoba has been the most affected, especially Mkoba 15, 18 and 20. Other affected neighborhoods in Gweru are […]The post Typhoid death toll rises to 8 in Gweru City appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in North Kivu and Ituri provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) continues to evolve. According to the DRC Ministry of Health, a total of 96 cases of hemorrhagic fever were reported in the region, 69 confirmed and 27 probable. Fifty-five deaths have been reported, including 28 confirmed. […]The post Ebola cases rise in DR Congo, Immunization activities continue appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Health officials in Brazil are reporting two Chagas disease outbreaks in the northern state of Pará. According to a G1 Globo.com report (computer translated), two acute outbreaks of Chagas disease in the municipality of Acará, in the northeast of Pará. In all, there are 18 cases of disease, and one person died. According to Evandro Chagas Institute, the […]The post Brazil: Two Chagas disease outbreaks reported in Pará state appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

More than half of the severe listeriosis cases in the European Union belong to clusters, many of which are not being picked up fast enough by the current surveillance system, suggests a new article published in Eurosurveillance. The large-scale study looked into listeriosis epidemiology through whole genome sequencing and found that this method, when implemented at […]The post Most Listeria outbreaks remain undetected: EU study appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The last case of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) reported in Nigeria was on Aug. 21, 2016 in Borno State. This has prompted Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole to declare recently, “Nigeria will become a polio free country sooner than later”. National Primary Health Care Development Agency Executive Director Dr. Faisal Shuaibu said, “This is unprecedented; this […]The post Nigeria: No wild poliovirus in two years appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Since June 28, more than 50 animals (cattle, sheep and equines) spread over 23 distinct zones have died of anthrax in the Hautes-Alpes, according to the Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur regional health agency ARS (computer translated). To date, 13 municipalities have been impacted: Montgardin, La Batie-Neuve, La Rochette, Chorges, Théus, La Freissinouse, Romette, Ancelle, Saint-Léger-les-Mélèzes, Sainte-Eusebe-en-Champsaur, Rambaud, Saint- Etienne-le-Laus […]The post Animal anthrax outbreak in the Hautes-Alpes, France appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Infectious diseases are caused by pathogenic microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, parasites or fungi; the diseases can be spread, directly or indirectly, from one person to another. Zoonotic diseases are infectious diseases of animals that can cause disease when transmitted to humans. Infectious disease medicine requires an extensive understanding of the way in which bacterial, […]The post Infectious diseases: Some select ‘pearls’ with Sandra Gompf, MD appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The China National Health Commission reported an additional human case of avian influenza A(H5N6) in Guangxi today. The case involved a 42-year-old man from Laibin in Guangxi. He developed symptoms on August 10 and was hospitalized on August 15. He is now in a serious condition. The patient had contact with live poultry before the onset […]The post China: Human H5N6 avian influenza case reported in Guangxi appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

At least 50 children have been orphaned since the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the North Kivu region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) was confirmed on August 1, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has revealed. To date, there at least 44 deaths and 78 confirmed or probable cases of Ebola in the region. […]The post Children hard-hit by current Ebola outbreak in DR Congo – UNICEF appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

According to the World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe, over 41,000 children and adults in the WHO European Region have been infected with measles in the first 6 months of 2018. The total number for this period far exceeds the 12-month totals reported for every other year this decade. So far, the highest annual […]The post Measles in Europe: ‘We are seeing a dramatic increase in infections and extended outbreaks’ appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Chagas disease, caused by infection with a parasite called Trypanosoma cruzi (T cruzi), causes chronic heart disease in about one third of those infected. Over the past 40 years, Chagas disease has spread to areas where it had not traditionally been seen, including the United States, according to a new American Heart Association scientific statement published in […]The post American Heart Association Scientific Statement: Chagas disease has spread outside of Latin America appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the leptospirosis situation in Israel, the Israeli Ministry of Health is now reporting 253 suspected leptospirosis cases, 32 of which were tested positive for leptospirosis. Officials say water samples taken from the streams Zavitan and Meshushim were also tested positive. All other water samples from potentially contaminated sites, released yesterday, are still being […]The post Israel leptospirosis update: 32 cases reported appeared first on Outbreak News Today.