Outbreak News Today

In a follow-up on the imported measles situation in Brazil, the Ministry of Health reported this week that the 910 cases of measles have been confirmed in Amazonas, 5,630 remain under investigation. In addition, the state of Roraima has confirmed 296 cases of the disease and 101 are still under investigation. All the cases are imported […]The post Brazil’s imported measles situation grows, USNS Comfort headed to Colombia to provide relief appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Alachua, Florida biologics contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), Ology Bioservices, Inc., announced this week that it was awarded an Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) to support the Joint Project Manager Medical Countermeasure Systems (JPM-MCS), a component of the Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense (JPEO CBRND) for advanced biologics manufacturing […]The post Florida company wins $8.4 Million Defense Department award to produce Anti-Ebola Medical Countermeasure appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A new study from researchers at the Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) on the primary mosquito vector of Plasmodium knowlesi, or monkey malaria will publish in the next issue of PLOS One. The research led by Prof. Dr Chua Tock Hing and his research team is based on the research done for the past five years on the primary vector (Anopheles balabacensis) […]The post Monkey malaria research: Strong linkages between landscape change, disease ecology and human health help to explain the emergence in Sabah appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says there is no multi-state outbreak in the country currently, responding to several media accounts that there was a national outbreak. “There is NO current multi-state #measles outbreak in US, the tweet notes. “Some recent media reports misinterpreted CDC data. Number of US-reported cases in 2018 is […]The post CDC: There is NO current multi-state measles outbreak in US appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Barbados health officials are reporting an increase in syphilis in pregnant women in recent years. The health ministry is now seeing an abnormally high rate of syphilis in pregnant women and, by extension, an increase in the number of babies born at risk for congenital syphilis. Statistics show a rise from the average one or two […]The post Barbados reports syphilis increase in pregnant women appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

More than 20,000 cholera cases have been confirmed in the Lake Chad Basin states of Nigeria, Niger and Cameroon since January. In its latest epidemiological analysis of the regional cholera outbreak, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said 255 deaths have been reported since January. “This is 8 times more than the average cholera case-load […]The post Cholera threats persists in West Africa’s Lake Chad Basin appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Delaware General Health District reported this week that the outbreak of gastrointestinal infection linked to a local Chipotle Mexican Grill was due to the C. perfringens toxin. Although food samples tested negative for C. perfringens bacteria, the stool samples tested positive for the toxin that C. perfringens forms in the gastrointestinal tract. A specific food has not been able to be […]The post Clostridium perfringens food poisoning linked to Ohio Chipotle outbreak appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Ugandan government says effort to eliminate river blindness (onchocerciasis) have suffered setbacks from recurrent cross-border transmissions from neighboring South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Addressing a meeting held to evaluate progress towards the elimination of river blindness in Kampala recently, Uganda Onchocerciasis Elimination Expert Advisory Committee head Dr Edridah Muheki said long-running […]The post Cross-border transmissions from DRC, South Sudan stall Ugandan bid to eliminate river blindness appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Hawaii state health officials reported this week on a new confirmed case of rat lungworm disease in a toddler from East Hawai‘i. Laboratory results confirmed evidence of the rat lungworm disease parasite (Angiostrongylus cantonensis) in the child’s spinal fluid. This is the third confirmed case of rat lungworm disease contracted on Hawai‘i Island this year and […]The post Hawaii report additional rat lungworm case in Big Island appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the situation with locally acquired dengue fever cases in Hong Kong, The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) has reported an additional three local cases of dengue fever, bringing the total to seven. All three of the new cases tested positive for dengue virus serotype 1 upon laboratory testing. “The CHP is highly concerned about […]The post Hong Kong dengue fever: Officials ‘highly concerned’ about recent local cases appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the rabies outbreak in Sarawak, Malaysia, The Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH) is reporting an additional human rabies case 49-year-old farmer from Sri Aman Division. According to health officials, he was bitten by his dog in January 2018 and did not seek treatment afterwards. On August 11, 2018, he was hospitalized at Serian Hospital for […]The post Malaysia: Additional rabies case reported in Sarawak appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Connecticut state health officials reported this week on the first human West Nile virus (WNV) cases of 2018. The patients, residents of Fairfield and Newington, who are between 60-79 years of age, became ill during the last week of July with encephalitis, were hospitalized, and are recovering. One remains hospitalized. Laboratory tests confirmed the presence […]The post Connecticut reports 1st West Nile virus cases of the year appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Dutchess County health officials are reminding the public about tick bite prevention in light of a confirmed Powassan virus case in the county. The individual contracted the virus in the late spring, and is currently recovering at home. “Although risk of contracting any tick-borne disease peaks in June and July, ticks may be active in Dutchess […]The post New York: Powassan virus confirmed in Dutchess County appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Helminthic parasites, like hookworm and liver flukes (schistosomiasis), affect an estimated 1 billion people worldwide. Infection from hookworm and schistosomiasis result in a combined loss of as much as 92 million disability-adjusted life years annually. Little progress has been made to relieve this global burden and eradicate these parasites until now. A partnership between the […]The post Parasite vaccines: Lessons learned while developing vaccines for hookworm and schistosomiasis appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A teenager who traveled with her parents from Asia to Vancouver, British Columbia and later on a Norwegian Cruise Lines, Norwegian Jewel voyage to Seward, Alaska was infected with measles prompting health alerts to be issued. The girl began experiencing cold-like symptoms while travelling in Thailand approximately one week prior to boarding the cruise ship on Aug. 6. […]The post Measles alert in Vancouver, Norwegian Cruise Lines and Alaska appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the Lower Washington Heights Legionnaires’ disease cluster, New York City health officials announced the investigation is now closed. There have been no new cases added to the cluster in the last three weeks. The likely source of the cluster has been identified. After extensive epidemiologic investigation, sampling of cooling towers, and molecular […]The post NYC: Legionnaires’ disease cluster investigation over: 27 cases and one death appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Ghanaian government says tuberculosis patients incur median costs of up to US$4,455 per treatment episode, including direct medical and non-medical costs. The revelations are contained in a report that details the results of a national survey to establish the economic burden faced by households with TB patients. The report said two-thirds of TB-impacted households […]The post Ghana assesses the median costs of TB epidemic appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved the first generic version of EpiPen and EpiPen Jr (epinephrine) auto-injector for the emergency treatment of allergic reactions, including those that are life-threatening (anaphylaxis), in adults and pediatric patients who weigh more than 33 pounds. Teva Pharmaceuticals USA gained approval to market its generic epinephrine auto-injector in […]The post EpiPen: 1st generic version receives FDA approval appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Humanitarian medical organization Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has opened an Ebola treatment center in Mangina, the epicenter of the latest cholera outbreak in North Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In a statement released in New York on August 16, MSF said 37 patients are currently hospitalized in the treatment facility. Of these, 31 […]The post MSF opens specialized Ebola treatment center in North Kivu appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A person on my Facebook page, Infectious disease news, who frequently posts anti-vaccine comments and links to certain posts placed a link to a article from a website called Natural News. The author, SD Wells, asks the question and gives his or her answer in a piece called– Which has killed more people, measles or the […]The post A ridiculous measles vaccine article examined appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on a report earlier this week, Pinellas County, FL health officials have reported two additional confirmed measles cases, bringing the total to three. The newest cases were also unvaccinated and were acquired locally, health officials note. These are the first measles cases reported in Pinellas County in two decades. The Florida Department of […]The post Florida: Measles outbreak in Pinellas County appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Pakistan’s Field Epidemiology & Disease Surveillance Division (FEDSD) at the National Institute of Health (NIH) in Islamabad issued two health advisories this week over prevention and treatment of typhoid fever and Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) ahead of Eidul Azha. More than 2,000 extensively drug-resistant (XDR Typhoid) have been reported from different areas of the country, especially from […]The post Pakistan issues health alert’s over drug-resistant typhoid and Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Mathematics can help public health workers better understand and influence human behaviours that lead to the spread of infectious disease, according to a study from the University of Waterloo. Current models used to predict the emergence and evolution of pathogens within host populations do not include social behaviour. “We tend to treat disease systems in […]The post Human behavior plays a big role in the spread of infectious diseases: How math helps appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

New York City health officials recently announced a recently recognized invasive tick species now found in parts of the United States was for the first time in New York City. The tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis, also known as the longhorned tick, was found in the southern section of Staten Island. The tick is primarily found on livestock and wild […]The post New York City: Longhorned tick found on Staten Island appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The epidemiological situation of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in North Kivu province is as follows: A total of 66 cases of hemorrhagic fever were reported in the region, 39 confirmed and 27 probable. 36 suspected cases are under investigation . 9 new confirmed cases, including 6 in Mandima and 3 in Mabalako Total deaths are […]The post Ebola outbreak in North Kivu: Case count grows appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Today’s topic is hot with 3 major papers in the last few months, that is the viral hypothesis of Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) was estimated to affect 35.5 million people worldwide in 2010 and is expected to affect 115.4 million people by 2050. Four members of the Human Herpes Virus family have been associated […]The post Alzheimer’s Disease: The need to test the viral hypothesis appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the red tide situation in Southwest Florida, Governor Rick Scott issued Executive Order 18-221 earlier this week declaring a state of emergency due to impacts of red tide in Collier, Lee, Charlotte, Sarasota, Manatee, Hillsborough and Pinellas counties. Governor Scott said, “As Southwest Florida and the Tampa Bay area continues to feel the devastating […]The post Florida red tide: Gov. Scott issues an emergency order appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Paraguay has succeeded in interrupting the vector transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi in the home, the parasite that causes Chagas disease. This was verified last week by a group of international independent experts convened by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). There are now 18 countries in the region, including Paraguay, that have achieved this on […]The post Paraguay: Chagas vector transmission interrupted in the home appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Hong Kong health officials are reporting four locally transmitted dengue fever cases, the first of the year. The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) investigation includes the following: The first case involves a 17-year-old male patient with good past health, who developed fever, sore throat, myalgia and arthralgia since August 7. He was admitted to Hong […]The post Dengue fever: Hong Kong confirms first local transmissions of 2018 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A new study from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill found that substandard and falsified medicines, including medicines to treat malaria, are a serious problem in much of the world. Here to talk about this serious issue in more detail is Sachiko Ozawa, Ph.D. Dr Ozawa is a health economist and associate professor […]The post Fake medicines in developing countries: An interview with Dr Sachiko Ozawa appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the polio situation in Papua New Guinea, a new polio case was reported this week by the National Department of Health of Papua New Guinea (NDOH) and the World Health Organization (WHO) in a 22-month old girl from Eastern Highlands Province. This is the fourth case in the country, following confirmation of two cases […]The post Papua New Guinea reports 4th polio case appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A recent Reuters article on the problem with Venezuela’s measles outbreak crossing the Brazilian border said the following: Brazil complained on Thursday that Venezuela was doing nothing to stop the spread of an outbreak of measles in Brazil and other neighboring countries that has been sparked by an exodus of Venezuelans fleeing economic collapse. This […]The post Totalitarian governments spawn infectious disease outbreaks that place other countries at risk appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Israeli health officials are reporting 27 leptospirosis cases up to now, about half of them had been hospitalized. Hundreds more who visited the streams are expected to be examined, the ministry said. The bacterial infection has been linked to swimming in streams in the southern Golan Heights. Health officials advise the public if their body temperature exceeds 38 […]The post Golan Heights: Dozens sickened by leptospirosis appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

New Jersey health officials have reported the first human West Nile virus (WNV) case in Hunterdon County. There are two other reports under investigation. The state saw eight cases, including two fatalities in 2017. The most recent Vector- borne Surveillance Report also reports 180 mosquito pools from 19 counties have tested positive for WNV. This is 55 […]The post New Jersey reports 1st human West Nile virus case of 2018 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Mobile County Health Department (MCHD) reported Monday on the second case of Vibrio in 2018. The species has been identified as Vibrio vulnificus. The exposure took place while swimming in either Mobile Bay or Gulf of Mexico waters. Necrotizing fasciitis — an infection that results in the death of the body’s soft tissue — was not […]The post Alabama: Mobile County reports 2nd Vibrio case appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Norwegian health authorities are warning people who are particularly vulnerable to Vibrio infections to take precautions while swimming as a number of serious bacterial infections have been recorded. This summer, six people have been severely ill with wound infection due to bacteria in seawater (five Vibrio and one Shewanella). The infection has occurred after swimming in the […]The post Vibrio and Shewanella: Norway health officials warn of swimming in the warm waters appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Since October 2017, the Republic of Serbia has reported a total of 5715 cases of measles through Aug 10, of which, 2875 were laboratory confirmed at the Torlak Institute. In addition, the total number of registered deaths due to complications caused by measles is 15. The majority of patients (94%) are non-vaccinated, incomplete vaccinated or unknown vaccine status. […]The post Serbia measles: 5,700 cases in 10 months appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) says 6,382 autochthonous cases of Dengue fever have been confirmed in the French overseas territory of Reunion since January. The Reunion is the southern-most member of the European Union and one of many islands in the Indian Ocean off the coast of East Africa. Its neighbours […]The post Dengue fever infects 6,300 people in Reunion appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Health officials in Pinellas County, Florida are reporting a confirmed, locally acquired measles case in an unvaccinated child. Florida Department of Health in Pinellas County (DOH-Pinellas) continues to investigate the source of the infection. “We are continuing to investigate, but we would like families to know that their children could be exposed to diseases like measles […]The post Measles case confirmed in Pinellas County, Florida appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A Kaiser Permanente study of more than 80,000 children born over a 4-year period showed that the prenatal Tdap vaccination (tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis) was not associated with increased risk of autism spectrum disorder in children. The study was published today in Pediatrics. “Infants are at the highest risk of hospitalization and death among any population […]The post Vaccines: Kaiser Permanente study finds Tdap vaccination for pregnant women does not increase risk of autism appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

An adult person has been confirmed positive for measles in Stockholm County, according to a Stockhoms lans lansting release (computer translated). The person arrived at Danderyd Hospital by ambulance on August 2 and was isolated and sampling confirmed measles. The assessment at the present time is that there is no connection to previous measles cases in the county. When […]The post Sweden: Measles case reported in Stockholm appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the West Nile virus (WNV) situation in Romania, the National Center for Communicable Disease Surveillance and Control reported (computer translated) since the start of surveillance on May 2, 2018, 23 meningitis / meningo-encephalitis have been reported due to West Nile virus infection and a death in the case of a 79-year-old patient who […]The post Romania reports human West Nile virus death appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

According to a World Health Organization (WHO) news release dated June 29, 2018: WHO received confirmation of a human case of dracunculiasis (guinea-worm disease) in Angola – a country not known to have had any cases in the past. “The patient is an 8-year-old girl from Cunene Province. Signs of worm emergence in April this year […]The post Guinea worm infection reported in Angola: WHO appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Earlier this month, we reported on a West Bend, WI who lost both hands and his lower legs due to sepsis from an infection with the bacterium, Capnocytophaga canimorsus, presumably from a lick from his own dog. Now, Milwaukee’s WISN TV is reporting a recent fatality due to the same bacterial infection. According to the report, Sharon Larson, […]The post Milwaukee women loses life due to Capnocytophaga infection appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo Ministry of Health (MOH) has provided updated information on the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak in North Kivu province that shows there is now a total of 49 cases of hemorrhagic fever have been reported in the region, 22 confirmed and 27 probable. 53 suspected cases are under investigation. One […]The post Ebola update: 49 confirmed and probable cases appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In Germany, 41 cases of tularemia were reported in 2016. The infections are mainly due to direct contact with infected animals or with insect vectors like ticks and mosquitos. Because contaminated foods occasionally cause tularemia outbreaks, the BfR has assessed the health risks of F. tularensis in foods of plant and animal origin, taking into account the […]The post Francisella tularensis infections from foods unlikely appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the hepatitis A outbreak in Nashville, Tennessee, the Metro Public Health Department (MPHD) report confirming 74 cases of hepatitis A since December. MPHD continues to work with the Tennessee Department of Health (TDH), as well as other Metro Departments and community organizations in response to the outbreak. Work continues to reach three at-risk […]The post Nashville hepatitis A outbreak rises to 74 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

South Carolina state health officials are reporting a confirmed case of measles in a resident who lives in Georgetown County. The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) received the report from a local health care provider. This is the second confirmed case of measles in South Carolina since 1990. The previous case was in […]The post South Carolina reports 1st measles case in 20 years appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Since August 3, Tri-County Health Department (TCHD), the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and Arapahoe County, have been investigating Salmonella among people who attended the Arapahoe County Fair, or 4-H events associated with the fair, from July 21 to July 29. Nine cases of Salmonella have been identified so far. The source of […]The post Colorado: Salmonella outbreak linked to Arapahoe County Fair appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Florida Department of Health in Volusia County (DOH- Volusia) recently reported a human Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) case. Health officials note that this is the first case seen in the county in 15 years. This is the second human EEE case (One case in Taylor County in May) reported in Florida this year. In July, […]The post Florida: Volusia County reports first human Eastern Equine Encephalitis case in 15 years appeared first on Outbreak News Today.