Outbreak News Today

Ugandan health minister Dr Jane Ruth Aceng has dismissed claims by the World Health Organization (WHO) that her country is affected by the Zika virus as false, baseless and misleading. Responding to a recent WHO health advisory which warned pregnant women against travelling to Uganda due to a higher risk of contracting the Zika virus, […]The post Uganda challenges WHO over inclusion in ‘high-risk’ Zika virus categorization appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Federal Government of Nigeria says 115 people from across 21 states have died of Lassa fever since the disease outbreak was confirmed in January this year. In its latest epidemiological situation update on the Lassa fever outbreak, the government said 2,115 suspect cases were reported in the period between 1 January and 8 July, […]The post Over 100 killed in Nigerian Lassa fever outbreak since January appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The recent polio outbreak reported in Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea has prompted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to issue a notice for travelers to that country. The outbreak in Papua New Guinea is attributed to circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus (cVDPV), a marker of poor oral polio vaccine (OPV) coverage. CDC recommends a single […]The post CDC issues travel alert for Papua New Guinea due to polio outbreak appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is coordinating with local health departments across the state to investigate cases of legionellosis this summer. To date in 2018, there have been 135 confirmed cases of legionellosis reported in 33 counties compared to 107 confirmed cases during the same timeframe in 2017. Confirmed cases include […]The post Legionnaires’ disease cases up in Michigan appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services in collaboration with local public health agencies across Missouri is investigating cases of cyclosporiasis that appear to be linked to eating McDonald’s salads. A total of seven cases from Missouri report having eaten at McDonald’s restaurants prior to becoming ill. Additional cases in Missouri and other states […]The post Cyclospora: Missouri reports seven cases linked to McDonald’s salads appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Last month, a vaccine-derived poliovirus type 1 (VDPV1) case was confirmed in a child from Morobe Province. Papua New Guinea has not had a case of wild poliovirus since 1996, and the country was certified as polio-free in 2000. Starting tomorrow, a polio immunization campaign will kick off in Morobe, Madang and Eastern Highlands provinces of Papua New […]The post Papua New Guinea to start polio immunization drive appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A nurse in Vietnam’s northern province of Hưng Yên may be charged for a starting a genital warts outbreak that has affected scores of children. The outbreak that began last summer, is believed started by treatment provided by Hoang Thi Hien, 49 at her unlicensed home clinic in Khoai Chau District. When families questioned the outbreak, it prompted […]The post Vietnam: Nurse may be charged for spreading genital warts to scores of children appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Hong Kong health officials report investigating an imported cholera case in a 25-year-old female patient who traveled to Malaysia. The patient traveled to Malaysia from June 30 to July 3 and developed diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting since July 3. She was admitted to Union Hospital on July 8 and was discharged on July 10. […]The post Hong Kong reports imported cholera case from Malaysia appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Kentucky Department for Public Health (DPH) has now reported 1,094 cases of hepatitis A in the current outbreak. Of this total, 57 percent, or 628 people required hospitalization and eight died. The outbreak, declared last November, is easily the largest in the country and primarily affects the homeless and drug users. Viral sequencing has linked […]The post Kentucky hepatitis A outbreak tops 1,000, West Virginia tops 500 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Officials with the Gerencia Regional de Salud Lambayeque have reported (computer translated) on a human plague death, the first such death in two decades in the region. A 42-year-old man died on July 6 from septicemic plague; which later became complicated with a pneumonic plague, health officials note. The bacterium was acquired via a flea bite during […]The post Plague death reported in Lambayeque, Peru appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Three people died from the complications of dengue fever in the city of Florida in Camagüey Province in central Cuba, according to a Diario de Cuba report (computer translated). Participants in a recent epidemiological meeting said that the medical authorities of the province, the largest in the country, confirmed that there are at least seven people […]The post Dengue responsible for three deaths in Camagüey Province, Cuba: Report appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The number of Coccidioidomycosis, or Valley fever cases are being reported as increased numbers during the first half of the year, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data. Through week 27 of 2018, 7,237 cumulative cases have been reported, compared to 5,109 during the same period in 2017. The vast majority of cases, 98 percent,were […]The post Valley fever cases up in the US in first half of 2018 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The New York City Health Department are investigating a community cluster of 14 confirmed cases of Legionnaires’ disease in the Lower Washington Heights area of Manhattan. Health officials are investigating these cases and testing the water from all cooling tower systems in this section of Washington Heights. Ages of the individuals ranged from under 40 to over […]The post Legionnaires’ disease cluster reported in Manhattan neighborhood appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the Cyclospora outbreaks linked to McDonald’s salads, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, along with state and local officials, are investigating the multi-state outbreak of the parasitic infection. McDonald’s has voluntarily stopped selling salads at affected restaurants across 14 states and the CDC […]The post McDonald’s salads and Cyclospora: FDA and company statements appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued an alert for Japanese Encephalitis (JE) on Friday, July 6th in response to mosquito surveillance results in South Jeolla Province confirming Culex tritaeniorhynchus, the main vector of JE. Culex tritaeniorhynchus is a small, dark brown mosquito that is active at night and found mainly around puddles […]The post S. Korea issues Japanese Encephalitis alert appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Norway health officials are reporting (computer translated) a marked increase in cases of central nervous system infections caused by enterovirus in June. Of the tests that are typed, echovirus 30 is most commonly detected, a relatively common type of enterovirus. There was a outbreak last year; however, officials say the outbreak this year is more […]The post Norway reports increase in enterovirus infections, Echovirus 30 most common appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the diphtheria situation in Ukraine, the Center for Public Health of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine is reporting new case (computer translated), the fourth case of diphtheria in country, which was recorded in the Chernihiv region. The case is a a 11-year-old boy who presented with a swollen neck and a […]The post Diphtheria: 4th case reported in Ukraine appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

On Wednesday, July 11, 2018, the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services confirmed Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) in a 13-year old, unvaccinated, female chestnut draft mix located in Onslow County, North Carolina. This is the second case of EEE in North Carolina for 2018. This follows reports of a EEE case in Richmond County […]The post North Carolina reports 2nd EEE case of the year appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A new species of tick has found its way to North Carolina. Recent tick surveys sent to the U.S. Department of Agriculture found the Longhorned tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis) on an opossum in Polk County. The tick has been previously identified in Arkansas, New Jersey, Virginia and West Virginia. “We are working with the USDA, N.C. […]The post North Carolina: Longhorned tick found in Polk County appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the multistate outbreak of Salmonella Mbandaka infections linked to Kellogg’s Honey Smacks cereal, federal health officials report an additional twenty-seven ill people from 19 states, bringing the outbreak total to 100 cases from 33 states, as Colorado and Florida report their first cases. Of the total cases, 30 people required hospitalization for their illness and […]The post Multistate Salmonella outbreak linked to Kellogg’s Honey Smacks cereal grows to 100 cases appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In an update on the Vibrio parahaemolyticus outbreak reported initially in Maryland last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced late yesterday they are now investigating a multistate outbreak of Vibrio parahaemolyticus infections linked to eating fresh crab meat imported from Venezuela. To date, the outbreak has sickened 12 people from 3 states (Maryland, Pennsylvania and […]The post Vibrio parahaemolyticus outbreak affects 12, linked to eating fresh crab meat imported from Venezuela appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Health officials in France have reported the third measles fatality of 2018 in a 17-year-old immunocompromised girl from the region of New Aquitaine. Overall, there has been a decrease in the number of new weekly cases and has stabilized with an average of 40 reported weekly cases. As of July 08, 2018, 2646 cases reported since November […]The post France reports 3rd measles death of 2018 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Officials with Public Health France have reported an additional 158 biologically confirmed and probable dengue fever cases in one week, bringing the total laboratory confirmed or probable cases to 5,970 since the beginning of the year. This includes 124 hospitalizations and 17 cases of severe dengue. Despite the entry into the southern winter, the epidemic continues […]The post Dengue epidemic in Reunion near 6,000 cases appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Death due to cardiovascular disease is on the rise in India, causing more than one quarter of all deaths in the country in 2015 and affecting rural populations and young adults the most, suggests a study published today in The Lancet Global Health. This work is the first nationally representative study to measure cardiovascular mortality in […]The post India: Cardiovascular disease deaths rising, especially in rural areas and young adults appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

SIGA Technologies, Inc. (SIGA), a commercial-stage pharmaceutical company focused on the health security market, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved oral TPOXX® (tecovirimat) for the treatment of smallpox to mitigate the impact of a potential outbreak. TPOXX, a small-molecule antiviral treatment for smallpox, is the first therapy specifically approved for […]The post Smallpox treatment, TPOXX, receives FDA approval appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Central and West African regions are under siege from a cholera outbreak that has infected over 1,000 people in Nigeria, Cameroun, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Congo-Brazzaville. In its latest epidemiological update report for the two regions which also suffer from the impacts of ongoing civil and political strife, the […]The post Cholera outbreaks haunt Central and West Africa appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Herpes Virus family consist of a number of viruses–herpes simplex-1 and 2, cytomegalovirus (CMV), Varicella Zoster Virus (VSV) and Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV). EBV infects about nine out of 10 people and a good number will develop infectious mononucleosis (IM) Despite this, my guest today, infectious disease physician, Steven LaRosa, MD calls EBV “The red-headed step child […]The post Epstein-Barr Virus: The red-headed step child of the Herpes Virus family appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Leptospirosis is a bacterial zoonotic disease caused by the corkscrew shaped organism, Leptospira. It goes by several other names depending on the locale; mud fever, swamp fever, sugar cane and Fort Bragg fever, among others. It is a disease of both humans and animals. On July 5th, the Philippines Department of Health declared a leptospirosis outbreak […]The post Philippines: Manila Leptospirosis outbreak update with Dr. Ted Herbosa appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Vaxart, Inc. a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing oral recombinant vaccines that are administered by tablet rather than by injection, announced publication of the comprehensive results of the previously disclosed Phase 1 clinical trial with its norovirus oral tablet vaccine in the Journal of Clinical Investigation Insight. The paper by Leesun, Kim, et al., “Safety and immunogenicity […]The post Norovirus vaccine: Oral tablet Phase 1 clinical trial results published appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Malaysia health officials are reporting a 28 percent increase in cases of the viral disease, hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) during the first six months of 2018. As of June 30, 2018, the number of cases reported was 27,296 cases compared to just 21,303 cases in the same period in 2017, officials report. With the […]The post Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease cases up 28% in Malaysia this year appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Tennessee Department of Health continues to investigate an outbreak of illness after receiving more than 500 reports of gastrointestinal illness among visitors to the CLIMB Works Zipline Canopy Tour in Gatlinburg. Testing is underway to try to identify the causes of the illnesses. Multiple patients who visited the facility since June 15, 2018 have […]The post Gatlinburg: GI outbreak sickens hundreds linked to CLIMB Works Zipline Canopy Tour appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) is investigating an increase in Cyclospora infections that appear to be connected to consumption of McDonald’s salads. The Illinois Department of Public Health has noted a similar increase in cases associated with the product. “This summer there have been several clusters of Cyclospora illness associated with various foods […]The post Iowa reports 15 cyclospora cases linked to McDonald’s salads appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has received confirmation of approximately 90 cases of cyclosporiasis, an intestinal illness caused by the microscopic Cyclospora parasite. Cases have been reported in counties across Illinois with people becoming ill starting in mid-May. The initial investigation indicates a link to consumption of McDonald’s salads produced for McDonald’s […]The post McDonald’s salads linked to Cyclospora cases in Illinois appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) today released an updated website for healthcare providers about myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). The new site is designed specifically with clinicians in mind and offers information about how physicians can better assess and help their patients manage the illness. CDC’s new ME/CFS web content includes information about how ME/CFS presents and […]The post Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS): CDC releases updated website appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Nigeria faces a huge cancer problem with an estimated 72,000 out of the 102,000 cases confirmed annually dying due to the lack of adequate treatment facilities. Addressing the 19th annual general meeting of the Islamic Medical Association of Nigeria, Nigerian pathologist Professor Abdulmumini Rafindadi said the principal causes of cancer remain smoking and alcohol consumption. […]The post Huge cancer burden holding down Nigeria appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Bay Area Lyme Foundation, a leading nonprofit funder of innovative Lyme disease research in the U.S., today announced the results of the first citizen-scientist study to evaluate the prevalence of disease-carrying ticks throughout the United States. Conducted through a partnership with Northern Arizona University and Colorado State University and published in the peer-review journal PLOS ONE, the study is based […]The post Ticks found in 83 counties where not previously recorded: Citizen-Scientist Study appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Zimbabwean government says farmers have lost more than 3 000 cattle to a wave of tick-borne diseases recorded around the country between November 2017 and May 2018. Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) director Josphat Nyika said farmers lost cattle to theileriosis, (also known as January disease), babesiosis, heartwater and anaplasmosis. In response, the DVS […]The post Zimbabwe loses 3,000 cattle to tick-borne diseases appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The California Department of Food and Agriculture are reporting more cases of virulent Newcastle disease (VND) in backyard birds in southern California. This brings the total to 43 confirmed cases since May in three counties–San Bernardino (40), Riverside (2) and Los Angeles (1). vND has not been found in commercial poultry in the U.S. since 2003. The […]The post Newcastle disease in California: More cases reported, Quarantine imposed in San Bernardino County and Riverside County appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Indiana state health officials are reporting the state’s first death related to a multi-state outbreak of hepatitis A, a highly contagious disease of the liver. The outbreak has caused nearly 4,000 illnesses in 10 states and resulted in multiple fatalities nationwide. Since November 2017, the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) has confirmed 214 outbreak-related cases of […]The post Hepatitis A death associated with the Indiana outbreak confirmed appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Health officials in England report more measles cases in the current outbreak, 170 additional cases in the past five weeks. This brings the total to 757 laboratory confirmed measles cases in England since the beginning of the year. This includes 268 cases in London. In addition, the South-East (161), South-West (118), West Midlands (85) and Yorkshire and Humberside […]The post Measles outbreak tally in England now 750 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Larimer County, CO health officials confirmed the first human case of tularemia in a county resident in 2018. The patient developed swollen lymph nodes, and may have been exposed while gardening at home. Soil can be contaminated by tularemia-causing bacteria from the droppings or urine of sick animals, most often rabbits. When a person mows, blows leaves, […]The post Tularemia: Human case reported in Larimer County, CO appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A four-year-old quarter horse stallion in Richmond County was euthanized after contracting the first case of Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis in North Carolina this year. EEE is a mosquito-borne disease that is preventable in equine by vaccination. This is the first case of EEE in North Carolina this year. EEE causes inflammation or swelling of the […]The post North Carolina reports 1st EEE case of 2018 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Nigerian government have launched the first round of a two-phased oral vaccination program against the cholera outbreak in Adamawa State. In a statement released on June 10, the WHO said the campaign will run from June to June 17, targeting high-risk wards in the Mubi North, Mubi South […]The post WHO rolls out cholera vaccination program in Nigeria’s Adamawa State appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Kenyan government has launched a polio immunization campaign that seeks to reach at least 2,416,750 children under 5 years of age in 11 counties across the country. Lamu County Health Department Chief Health Officer Said Bwanamkuu said the exercise began on Tuesday July 10 and will end on Sunday, July 16. Apart from the […]The post Kenya: Over 2 million children targeted in polio immunization campaign appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

On Tuesday, Wisconsin state health officials and the La Crosse County Health Department announced the first documented death from Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) in the state. “We are saddened to learn of this death and encourage Wisconsin residents to take steps to protect themselves and their families from tick bites while enjoying the outdoors,” said Karen McKeown, […]The post Wisconsin reports 1st documented Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever death appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Officials with Nelson Marlborough Health are reporting an increase in campylobacteriosis cases during the past month. 24 cases have been notified to the Medical Officer of Health in the past four weeks, compared to a range of 6-16 cases in the same period over the previous five years. A number of known risk factors for campylobacteriosis have been […]The post New Zealand: Campylobacter cases increase in Nelson Marlborough appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Health officials in Yangpu District, Shanghai are reporting a norovirus outbreak that sickened some forty students at the University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, according to a local media report. Norovirus was confirmed by laboratory testing in both vomit and feces samples. The university said it has disinfected all canteens, classrooms, dormitories and other public spaces, and also […]The post China: Norovirus outbreak at Shanghai university appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today is requiring safety labeling changes for a class of antibiotics called fluoroquinolones to strengthen the warnings about the risks of mental health side effects and serious blood sugar disturbances, and make these warnings more consistent across the labeling for all fluoroquinolones taken by mouth or given by injection. “The use […]The post Antibiotics: FDA updates warnings for fluoroquinolones appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Measles Ukrainian health officials recorded an additional 1,021 measles cases in the past week, bringing the total cases for the year to 25,008. Of this total, 10,085 adults and 14,923 children have been affected. Most people suffered from measles in Lviv (only 4412 people: 1377 adults and 3035 children), Transcarpathian (total 2840 people: 521 adults and 2319 […]The post Ukraine measles and diphtheria update appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

North Reading, MA health officials are reporting an outbreak consisting of 39 confirmed and suspect salmonella cases linked to a local restaurant. Director of Public Health Robert F. Bracey, along with North Reading Town Administrator Michael P. Gilleberto and Police Chief/Public Safety Director Michael P. Murphy report that a restaurant in town has been ordered […]The post Massachusetts: Salmonella outbreak linked to North Reading’s Kitty’s Restaurant appeared first on Outbreak News Today.