Outbreak News Today

In a relatively recent Johns Hopkins study, researchers have added to evidence that Trichomonas vaginalis (TV), the world’s most common curable sexually transmitted infection (STI), disproportionately affects the black community. A report of the findings, published March 15 in Clinical Infectious Diseases, highlights the major racial/ethnic disparities in TV infection in the United States population, calling on […]The post Sexually transmitted parasite, Trichomonas vaginalis, disproportionately affects the black community appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Rates of C. difficile infections have decreased 36% in hospitals across Canada, although the virulent NAP1 strain associated with severe illness and deaths is the most common strain, according to research published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) Clostridium difficile is the most common infectious cause of diarrhea in hospitalized patients in developed countries, causing severe illness and occasionally death. […]The post Canada: Clostridium difficile infections down by 36 percent in hospitals appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Following confirmation of a Rift Valley fever (RVF) outbreak in sheep on a farm in Jacobsdal area, Free State in May 2018, human and vector surveillance was conducted on the affected farm by Provincial Department of Health and National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD). Mosquitoes collected on the affected farm tested negative for RVF virus, suggesting […]The post Rift Valley fever: Human cases in South Africa appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Infectious disease pediatrician Nathaly Brito confirmed last week that the vaccine-preventable disease, diphtheria, has killed some 19 children at the pediatric hospital Menca de Leoni, in the state of Bolívar, since its reappearance in 2016, according to a Efecto Cocuyo report (computer translated). “Since the disease reappeared in June 2016 through April 2018, 121 cases of […]The post Venezuela: Bolivar hospital records 19 diphtheria deaths appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the suspect hantavirus case in a Belmont Park backstretch employee, The New York State Department of Health announced that testing performed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on clinical samples proved negative for hantavirus. This result followed a positive result for hantavirus at a commercial laboratory in California. NY health officials […]The post Belmont Park update: CDC rules out hantavirus, worker likely died of sepsis appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Pangasinan health officials are reporting a significant increase in dengue fever cases during the first five-plus months of 2018. From January 1 to June 11 this year, the Pangasinan Provincial Health Office (PHO) has recorded 1,398 dengue cases in the province. This compares with 592 cases during the same period last year or a 136 percent increase. […]The post Philippines: Pangasinan reports big increase in dengue appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Hong Kong Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health recorded a sporadic case of Streptococcus suis infection on June 5 affecting a 47-year-old woman with good past health. She had presented with fever, headache and dizziness since June 2. She had an episode of loss of consciousness on June 3 and was […]The post Hong Kong reports sporadic Streptococcus suis infection appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

New Jersey health officials are advising the public of a possible measles exposure in Burlington and Camden counties. The individual developed measles symptoms after international travel and visited a number of places these counties. The Department recommends that anyone who visited the locations listed below during the specified dates/times should contact a health provider immediately to discuss […]The post New Jersey officials warn of possible measles exposure appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Japan’s National International Health Regulations Focal Point (NFP) notified WHO of an ongoing outbreak of measles in Japan. From 1 January through 20 May 2018, 161 cases of measles were diagnosed, including 145 (90%) laboratory-confirmed cases. Cases were reported from the following prefectures: Okinawa (88 cases); Aichi (25 cases); Fukuoka (17 cases); Tokyo (11 cases); […]The post Japan measles outbreak: 161 cases reported in first five months appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Institute of Public Health of Serbia reported this week on the measles situation in the country. From Oct. 2017 through June 21, 2018, 5,598 measles cases were recorded, of which 2837 were laboratory confirmed at the Torlak Institute. During this time, 15 measles related deaths were registered. Thirty-three percent of the patients required hospitalization and of […]The post Serbia measles update: 33 percent of patients hospitalized appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Researchers at the RIVM and Wageningen University expect us to have more than 500,000 tick bites in June and July, half of the annual number of tick bites. “Every year in our data from tekenradar.nl we see a clear peak in June and July of the number of tick bite reports”, says Kees van den Wijngaard, epidemiologist […]The post Netherlands: Researchers expect half the annual tick bites in June and July appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In an update on the dengue fever epidemic on Reunion Island, health authorities report 325 additional cases during the week of June 4, bringing the outbreak total to 5,019. 102 people have required hospitalization and 13 people experienced severe dengue. Current weather conditions are still favorable for mosquitoes, especially in the lower parts of the island. […]The post Reunion dengue epidemic tops 5,000 cases for the year appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

On Friday, the New York State Department of Health announced that it is investigating a suspected case of hantavirus in Nassau County. Preliminary findings received on June 20 suggest that a Belmont Park backstretch employee may have died from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome following exposure to rodent excretions in the backstretch area not open to the […]The post Belmont Park worker dies of suspected hantavirus: New York health officials appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Some 73 passengers and crew on a current Holland America Cruise lines, Zaandam voyage have been stricken with symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea. The outbreak was reported just four days into June 18 to July 2 Alaskan voyage. The vessel was docked in Juneau Friday. Approximately 2,000 people are onboard the 800 foot ship. The etiology of […]The post Holland America’s cruise ship, ‘Zaandam’, hit with outbreak, investigation ongoing appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Dirofilaria repens is a filarial nematode that affects dogs and other carnivores. As with other filaria species, mosquitoes transmit infectious microfilariae. Humans may become infected as aberrant hosts which usually manifest as a single subcutaneous nodule. However, subcutaneous migration of the worm may be seen. Infections have been reported from various regions of the world, mainly from Europe, […]The post Mosquito-borne parasite, Dirofilaria repens, found migrating in woman’s face appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) reported this week on a advance notification of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus-1 (cVDPV1) in Papua New Guinea. Following identification last month of an Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) case from which VDPV type 1 had been isolated, genetic sequencing of two VDPV1s from two non-household contacts of the AFP case, has now […]The post Polio news: cVDPV1 confirmed in Papua New Guinea appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Additional cases of Virulent Newcastle Disease (vND) in backyard birds in San Bernardino County have been confirmed. Bird owners in Southern California are responding to outreach provided over the past several days related to the disease, and have reported sick birds. This make 17 confirmed cases in San Bernadino County and one in LA County […]The post California: More Newcastle Disease cases confirmed in San Bernardino County birds appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Influenza A (flu A) hijacks host proteins for viral RNA splicing and blocking these interactions caused replication of the virus to slow, according to new research published in Nature Communications by Kristin W. Lynch, PhD, chair of the department of Biochemistry and Biophysics in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, and doctoral student […]The post Penn study reveals new therapeutic target for slowing the spread of flu virus appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Ireland health officials are advising the public to get vaccinated with two doses of a Measles-containing vaccine to protect themselves and their families before the holiday season because of an on-going Measles outbreak Europe. There is an ongoing outbreak of measles throughout Europe including the United Kingdom where thousands of cases and dozens of deaths have […]The post Measles: Get your family vaccinated before holiday– Ireland health officials appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Health officials in Jefferson County, CO are reporting a rabbit found in the Golden/Lakewood area (near South Table Mountain Park) has died from tularemia, an uncommon, but serious, infectious disease. This is the first positive case of tularemia in an animal in Colorado in 2018, and the first positive case of tularemia in an animal in […]The post Colorado: Tularemia confirmed in rabbit in Golden area appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Ohio state health officials declared a statewide community outbreak of hepatitis A after observing an increase in cases linked to certain risk factors since the beginning of 2018. To date, 79 outbreak cases have been reported, including 58 people requiring hospitalization in two dozen counties. Montgomery, Lawrence and Lucas counties have reported the most cases with […]The post Hepatitis A outbreak declared in Ohio appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has confirmed a second case of measles in Michigan for 2018. This case is unrelated to Michigan’s first case which occurred in March. Both cases were the result of exposure outside of the country, emphasizing the higher risk of measles during international travel and the importance […]The post Michigan reports 2nd measles case of 2018 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a total of 144 laboratory-confirmed cases of Cyclospora infection were reported in people who reportedly consumed pre-packaged Del Monte Fresh Produce vegetable trays containing broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, and dill dip from 4 states (Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin and Iowa). Six of these people have been hospitalized, and no deaths […]The post Cyclospora outbreak: 144 cases confirmed in four states appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) says 3,139 people have been vaccinated in three Ebola infected health zones of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The overall total stands at 61 cases, including 38 confirmed, 14 probable, and 9 suspected illnesses. The fatality count held steady at 28. “The epidemiological situation in the affected health zones, however, […]The post Over 3,000 people vaccinated in Ebola-infected regions of DR Congo appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The World Health Organization (WHO) says the Malawian government should consider quickly adopting the new typhoid vaccine Typbar-TCV as the new routine treatment for the disease. WHO Malawi representative Aziza Mwisongo said typhoid remains highly endemic in Malawi with more than 16,000 being reported annually. She attributed the high prevalence rate of the disease to […]The post Malawi advised to quickly adopt new typhoid vaccine appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Tennessee State Veterinarian is advising all horse owners to be alert as Potomac horse fever has been confirmed in a horse in Davidson County. Freshwater snails are the source of the bacteria that causes Potomac horse fever. Horses may be exposed when drinking from creeks or rivers, and can then suffer from colic, fever, and […]The post Potomac horse fever case reported in Davidson County appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Chattanooga-Hamilton County Health Department is reporting an increase in hepatitis A cases. As of June 22, 2018, there have been 5 confirmed cases of hepatitis A infection in Hamilton County, Tennessee in the past two months. Health officials say 0 to 1 case is reported annually. Nashville: Metro Public Health to offer hepatitis A vaccines at […]The post Tennessee: Increase in hepatitis A cases reported in the Chattanooga area appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Health officials in England continue to report additional measles cases in the country this year. Between 1 January 2018 and 18 June 2018 there have been 643 laboratory confirmed measles cases in England. Cases were reported in most areas with London (225), the South-East (137), West Midlands (82), South-West (79), and Yorkshire and Humberside (74) reporting […]The post England health officials advise on MMR vaccine before Europe travel as measles count continues to rise appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo Ministry of Health (MoH) and the World Health Organization (WHO) made an announcement this week concerning the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak: Slightly over a month into the response, further spread of EVD has largely been contained. However, the announcement was made with cautious optimism. Health officials remind us there should be […]The post DR Congo Ebola outbreak has been ‘largely contained’: WHO appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Kenyan Department of Veterinary Services has shut down abattoirs and quarantined all livestock in the Tana Delta area following a Rift Valley Fever outbreak that has affected at least 20 goats. Tana Delta County director of Veterinary Services Anthony Kinyua said the first cases, which were confirmed on Monday, were from the Dhidhe Ade […]The post New Rift Valley Fever outbreak among people and goats in Kenya appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Using two experimental anti-malarial vaccines, which work in different ways, can greatly reduce the number of malaria infections in animal studies. Experimental vaccines, which independently achieve 48% and 68% reductions in malaria cases, can achieve 91% reduction when combined. Presently, each vaccine is at a different stage of human trials, and there have not been […]The post Malaria: Combining experimental vaccines could reduce cases by 91 percent appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Measles The measles outbreak in Ukraine increased by 1,401 cases in the past week (560 adults and 841 children), bringing the total for the year to 21,894 (8,557 adults and 13,037 children) for the first 24 weeks of 2018. Most of the cases have been reported from Lviv (only 3428 people: 1,042 adults and 2,286 children), Zakarpattya (only […]The post Ukraine measles cases continue to climb, 2nd diphtheria case reported appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Since our update on the dengue fever situation in Thailand two weeks ago, the Bureau of Epidemiology, Ministry of Public Health, Thailand has reported an addition five dengue related fatalities, bringing the death toll to 24, as of June 18. From Jan 1 through June 18, a total of 19804 dengue cases were reported from all […]The post Thailand dengue death toll rises to 24 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is reporting the first confirmed human case of West Nile virus in Illinois for 2018. A Chicago resident in her 60s became ill in mid-May. “Because the case occurred earlier in the season than we typically see human cases of West Nile virus in Illinois, IDPH requested additional […]The post West Nile virus case reported in Chicago resident, 1st case in Illinois for 2018 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In Nashville today, health officials reported an additional 10 hepatitis A cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 26 since December 2017. For the first time during the outbreak, two cases have been confirmed among those experiencing homelessness. “We are moving forward in our campaign to reach as many as possible among the […]The post Nashville: Metro Public Health to offer hepatitis A vaccines at this weekend’s PRIDE Festival appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Iowa state health officials report investigating an increasing number of Cyclospora infections. Since the beginning of the year, 22 Cyclospora infections have been reported in nine Iowa counties. Three of the cases in northeast Iowa are associated with an outbreak also impacting Wisconsin and Minnesota (associated with vegetable trays sold at Kwik Trip, Kwik Star […]The post Iowa investigates increase in Cyclospora cases appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Lyme disease cases among children are on the rise in western Pennsylvania, according to researchers from Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC. The findings are published online today in Clinical Infectious Diseases. Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne infection in the United States and the geographic expansion of Lyme disease has been identified by state […]The post Western Pennsylvania goes from a Lyme-naïve to Lyme endemic appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

South Australians are being warned not to eat alfalfa sprout products produced by Adelaide business SA Sprouts, after several people became ill with Salmonella Havana. SA Health’s Chief Medical Officer and Chief Public Health Officer, Professor Paddy Phillips, said there had been 21 recent confirmed cases of Salmonella Havana, including seven people who were hospitalised. […]The post Australia: Alfalfa sprouts linked to salmonella outbreak appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

On Tuesday, New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced a new, groundbreaking public-private research collaboration to advance the diagnosis and treatment of tick-borne diseases. The New York State Department of Health Wadsworth Center Laboratory and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. – a leading biotechnology company that invents life-transforming medicines for people with serious diseases, will collaborate to potentially develop […]The post New York: Wadsworth Center Lab, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals take aim at Lyme in new collaboration appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

While the number of dengue fever cases reported nationally in the Philippines is down in 2018 compared to last year, two provinces, Cavite and Negros Occidental are reporting significant increases of 79 and 47 percent, respectively. In Cavite, the Provincial Health Office’s (PHO) Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (PESU) reported Tuesday that the number of dengue fever cases […]The post Dengue cases up in Cavite, Negros Occidental appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

On today’s show we discuss a most interesting parasite, the soil transmitted helminth, Strongyloides stercoralis. This parasite is more commonly found in areas that are relatively warm and moist, in rural areas, and areas associated with agricultural activity, but it can occur anywhere. Strongyloidiasis can be severe and life-threatening in persons who are immunosuppressed where forms of […]The post Strongyloides stercoralis: Severe and life-threatening infection in the immunosuppressed appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By Marcos Vinicius Malveira de Lima The number of confirmed cases of toxoplasmosis in Santa Maria, in the Central Region of Rio Grande do Sul, rose to 569, according to a report released Monday (June / 2018) by the municipal and state health departments. According to the document, of the confirmed cases, 50 are pregnant women. […]The post Brazil: Santa Maria reports 569 confirmed cases of toxoplasmosis, of which 50 are pregnant women appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Nigeria and Africa on track to eradicating poliomyelitis, according to Nigeria’s Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole during an announcement at the African Regional Commission for Certification for Poliomyelitis Eradication (ARCC) meeting in Abuja. “Our decision to host this meeting today is anchored on our resolve to liberate Nigeria and indeed Africa from the scourge of poliomyelitis. […]The post Nigeria reports no polio in 22 months, on track to eradicating the disease appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

At least 10 people have died of cholera in a new outbreak that has affected 60 more people in the Niger State of central Nigeria. In a short statement, the Niger State government health department said the outbreak is confined to the Bida local government area. Most of the patients are admitted at two hospitals […]The post Ten dead, 60 hospitalized as fresh cholera outbreak hits Nigeria appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported an increase in cholera, acute watery diarrhoeas, measles, undiagnosed influenza-like illnesses and severe acute respiratory illness in Somalia in 2018. In its latest epidemiological country report, the WHO said of the 4,835 disease outbreak alerts received since December last year, 671 were confirmed as true. “The highest […]The post Disease burden haunts Somalia as multiple outbreaks spread appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Public Health Agency of Canada is collaborating with provincial and territorial public health partners, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Health Canada to investigate an outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis infections in nine provincial and territorial jurisdictions with cases of human illness linked to poultry, including frozen raw breaded chicken products. Currently, there are 68 cases of Salmonella Enteritidis […]The post Canada salmonella outbreak grows: 68 cases in nine provinces appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Officials with the Hawai‘i Departments of Health (DOH) & Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) say that the three tragic deaths of endangered Hawaiian monk seals on O‘ahu due to toxoplasmosis is very sad and could have been entirely preventable. Health Director Dr. Bruce Anderson said, “The only thing certain about toxoplasmosis is that there are far more […]The post Toxoplasmosis: Death of monk seals ‘entirely preventable’ appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Media in Wales are reporting a rare case of cowpox infection in a 15-year-old boy from the Wrexham-Cheshire border. This is the first such case in Wales in over a decade. Apparently, the boy contracted the viral disease, which presented as lesions on his hands and later to his arms and feet, after feeding calves. He was […]The post Wales teen contracts rare cowpox infection appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Wake County, NC health officials have reported a confirmed measles case in an individual that showed symptoms of the disease over the weekend after returning from international travel. People may have been exposed to measles at the following locations, dates and times: WakeMed Physician Practices in the WakeMed Garner Healthplex Friday, June 8 from 11 a.m. […]The post North Carolina: Measles case confirmed in Wake County appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In the category of something “flying under the radar”… Remember several months ago when the much of the media (one example) was covering the study published in November 2017 issue of American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene that reported hookworm disease in rural, Lowndes County, Alabama? In April 2018, the Alabama Department of Public Health released a […]The post Alabama: Health officials say recent study ‘fails to prove hookworm infection’ appeared first on Outbreak News Today.