Outbreak News Today

In the first five months of 2017, Philippines health officials recorded nearly 41,000 dengue fever cases. During the same period of 2018, officials are reporting a 7 percent decrease. From 1 January to 26 May 2018, dengue cases nationwide now reach 37,959. There were 195 deaths recorded. Most affected group belong to the 10-14 years old […]The post Dengue fever cases down slightly in the Philippines appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Following reports from New Jersey last year and Virginia and West Virginia more recently, The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced this week that researchers have confirmed the presence of the Longhorned tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis) in Benton County, Arkansas. The tick, which is native to East Asia, is known to carry and transmit both viral and bacterial tickborne diseases, […]The post Arkansas the latest state to confirm the presence of the Longhorned tick appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Animal viral diseases and spillover to humans results in some of the most important and devastating infections and outbreaks known to humans. My guest today looks at a number of these zoonotic diseases with superb storytelling interwoven with history, virology and public health. The name of the newly published book is titled Animal Viruses and […]The post Animal Viruses and Humans: A discussion with author, Dr Warren Andiman appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Botswana Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food Security has confirmed a new outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in the Ngamiland District, about 1,500 km north-west of the capital Gaborone. In a statement issued on June 13, the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) said five cattle have since been quarantined after exhibiting suspicious symptoms consistent with […]The post Fresh FMD outbreak confirmed in north-western Botswana appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Toronto Public Health is advising anyone who consumed food or beverages at the Calii Love kiosk located at Union Station between May 14 and 29, and on June 8 and 9, between the hours of 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. on any of these dates, that they may have been exposed to hepatitis A. An […]The post Toronto: Officials warn of possible hepatitis A exposure for patrons of Union Station restaurant appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Kenya Ministry of Health reported this week on the outbreak situation in several counties throughout the country in 2018 to date to include cholera, measles, chikungunya and Rift Valley fever (RVF). Cholera A total of 4,954 cholera cases had been reported since the beginning of the year, including 75 deaths. Nineteen counties have been affected–Mombasa, […]The post Kenya reports on multiple outbreaks: Cholera, chikungunya and RVF appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Officials with Consolidated Waterworks in Terrebonne Parish say that the brain-eating amoeba, Naegleria fowleri, has been detected in the Pointe-aux-Chenes area. The sample point that tested positive is at the very end of the distribution in Pointe-aux-Chenes, ACR #160 4260 Highway 665. Consolidated Waterworks reports that the amoeba was not detected on Island Road. The parasite found found […]The post Louisiana: Naegleria fowleri detected in Pointe-aux-Chenes water appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A Red Cross medical specialist team has been deployed to work as part of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) emergency response to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). In a statement released on June 13, the IFRC said the team is made up of […]The post Red Cross medical experts join Ebola emergency response in DR Congo appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Ministry of Health in the West Darfur State of Sudan says 10 cases of measles have been confirmed in the region since the detection of the disease on June 2. West Darfur director of the Vaccination Department Abdallah Omar said the 10 patients were among 90 suspected cases that have since been isolated for […]The post Measles, undiagnosed fever outbreaks hit Sudan appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The decline in vaccination rates across communities has led to the resurgence of diseases like measles and mumps, and recent outbreaks have demonstrated the importance of an integrated infection prevention response, according to new research presented at the 45th Annual Conference of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC). In a 2017 measles […]The post Infection prevention: Measles and mumps outbreaks demonstrate the importance of an integrated response appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Idaho state health officials are reporting on the first confirmed human case of plague identified in the state since 1992. A child in southern Idaho’s Elmore County is currently recovering from the bacterial disease. Health officials say it is not clear whether the child was exposed to plague in Idaho or during a recent trip to Oregon. Plague […]The post Plague: Idaho reports first confirmed human case in decades appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In the final podcast in our short series on malarial parasites, we’re look at the two less common species–P. malariae and P. ovale. In addition, we will spend some time talking about the so called “monkey malaria”or the more common than we thought, Plasmodium knowlesi. Joining me is out go-to parasitology expert, author, Rosemary Drisdelle. […]The post Malaria series: Plasmodium malariae, P. ovale and the monkey malaria- Plasmodium knowlesi appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Researchers from the Enteric, Zoonotic and Vector-borne Diseases, Communicable Diseases, Emergency Preparedness and Response, Public Health Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, in a study published in PLoS One last week looked at the clinical manifestations of reported Lyme disease cases in Ontario, Canada: 2005-2014. Here are some of the findings: During the study period, 1,230 cases due […]The post Canada: Study looks at clinical manifestations of Lyme disease in Ontario appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Hepatitis A outbreaks have struck a number of cities and states since the beginning of 2017 to include San Diego and other areas of California, Detroit and other areas of Michigan, Kentucky,especially Louisville, Utah and West Virginia. In fact, since Jan 2017, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) received more than 2,500 reports of […]The post Hepatitis A: CDC received 2,500 reports since 2017 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Charity organisation Caritas Congo Asbl has donated two mobile vehicle units for active tuberculosis screening to facilitate the outreach programmes of the National Tuberculosis Control Program (PNLT) in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In a statement, the organisation said the two vehicles were handed over to the PNLT directorate in Kinshasa by its executive secretary […]The post DR Congo gets two new mobile testing units for TB appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Norwegian government has provided the World Health Organisation (WHO) emergency response to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo with ‘Epi-Shuttle’ single-patient units that are designed for the safe transportation of patients to isolation wards, while offering emergency treatment services. In a statement, the Norwegian government said medical preparedness and swift responses […]The post Norway donates Epi-Shuttle patient isolation units to DRC Ebola response appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Officials with the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) is currently investigating a case of apparent wound botulism in a 21-year-old female from Doña Ana County. The suspected source of infection is contaminated black tar heroin. The patient injected black tar heroin under the skin, also known as “skin popping.” The woman is currently hospitalized. This […]The post New Mexico investigates suspect wound botulism case due to black tar heroin injection appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Costa Rican government issued a health, or sanitary alert Monday due to the increase in the number of imported malaria cases reported from Nicaragua, Panama, and parts of South America and Africa, according to a Nacion report (computer translated). According to Daniel Salas, director of the Directorate of Health Surveillance of the Ministry of Health, […]The post Costa Rica issues malaria health alert appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Despite efforts to eradicate it, syphilis is on the rise. Until now, most health agencies focused on treating infected people and their sex partners but new discoveries may make a vaccine possible, UConn Health researchers report in the 12 June issue of mBio. The World Health Organization estimates that 10.7 million people between the ages of […]The post Syphilis: UConn researchers identify exterior proteins on the bacteria that could serve as vaccine targets appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The number of confirmed and compatible measles cases in the Philippines has increased in 2018 to date despite the launching of a measles vaccination campaign earlier this year. As of May 20, the Philippines has seen 3,644 total lab confirmed (921) and compatible measles cases, while in 2017, 1,224 cases were reported, according to a WHO […]The post Philippines reports increase in measles in 2018 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The World Health Organization (WHO) reported today on the ongoing measles outbreak in Brazil. From 1 January through 23 May 2018, there were 995 reported cases (Amazonas State, n=611, and Roraima State n=384). Of these cases, 114 have been laboratory confirmed (30 in Amazonas and 84 in Roraima), including two deaths. Eighty three cases were discarded […]The post Brazil measles outbreak update, many confirmed cases reported among Venezuelans appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Caito Foods is voluntarily recalling fresh cut watermelon, honeydew melon, cantaloupe and fresh-cut mixed fruit containing one of these melons, produced at the Caito Foods facility in Indianapolis, because these products have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. Use or consumption of products contaminated with Salmonella may result in serious illness. It can also produce serious and […]The post Fresh cut melon recalled due to Salmonella risk appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) reported last week on a possible case of the tickborne viral disease caused by Bourbon virus in an adult resident of St. Louis County. The individual has recovered. While initial testing was negative for Heartland and Bourbon virus, due to clinical symptoms and in an abundance of […]The post Missouri officials investigate possible Bourbon virus case in St. Louis County appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

There is some great public health news coming out of Paraguay–Country officials report they received news that the effort made for several years is paying off–The World Health Organization (WHO) has certified Paraguay as having eliminated malaria. In 2016, WHO identified Paraguay as one of 21 countries with the potential to eliminate malaria by 2020. Through the […]The post Paraguay is certified malaria-free: First South American country to eradicate the disease appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

After reporting 99 confirmed measles cases since March, Okinawa health officials have declared an end to the outbreak. In a message from the Director General Department of Public Health and Medical Care for the Okinawa Prefectural Government, Yasushi Sunagawa, the director states: On March 20, 2018, the existence of a measles patient was reported, making it the first […]The post Okinawa declares end to measles outbreak appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) says the cholera outbreak in the Nigerian state of Adamawa may mutate into a West African regional public health hazard unless urgent measures are taken to suppress it locally and prevent it spreading across the border into Cameroun. In its latest epidemiological report on the Adamawa cholera outbreak, the WHO […]The post Nigerian cholera outbreak may spread into Cameroon, says WHO appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

At least 1 200 new cancer cases are confirmed in Botswana annually, and yet the country has only one centre for comprehensive cancer treatment, President Mokgweetsi Masisi has said. Speaking at the ‘Happy Hearts’ cancer fund-raising and awareness dinner hosted recently by the Cancer Association of Botswana in Gaborone, Masisi said the world has to […]The post Case overload strains Botswana’s single cancer treatment facility appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Kenyan health authorities in the north-eastern Wajir County have banned the movement of cloven-hoofed animals and the consumption of meat and milk following a localised outbreak of Rift Valley Fever (RVF) that has killed at least 4 people and 40 domestic animals. The RVF outbreak has killed 4 people and at least 40 domestic animals, […]The post Rift valley fever kills 4 people, 40 animals in north-eastern Kenya appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Sri Lanka health officials have reported an increase in the number cases of the bacterial disease, leptospirosis during the first five months of 2018. From Jan-May 2017, authorities reported 1,022 cases; however, for the same period in 2018, 1,525 cases were reported. The districts seeing the most leptospirosis cases year-to-date include Kalutara, Ratnapura, Moneragala and Gampaha. For Colombo district […]The post Sri Lanka reports increase in leptospirosis cases appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Malaysia Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH) reported this week on the current Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) situation, which shows an increase in the number of cases. In fact, the number of cases in most states has surpassed the alert level. As of May 26, 2018, the number of cases reported was 21,644 […]The post Malaysia reports increase in Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Researchers from the University of Mauritius have shown that factors such as family size, type of diet, multi-usage of towels, among other factors, impact the growth of pathogens on kitchen towels, potentially causing food poisoning. The research is presented at ASM Microbe, the annual meeting of the American Society for Microbiology, held from June 7th […]The post Kitchen towels and the factors that contribute to the growth of potential pathogens appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up to recommendations published in April 2017, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued updated recommendations on management and reporting of Shigella infections that have been treated with ciprofloxacin or azithromycin and resulted in possible clinical treatment failure. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues to identify an increasing number of Shigella isolates that […]The post Shigella infections treated with ciprofloxacin or azithromycin: CDC recommendations updated appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In the Republic of Kazakhstan, 60 cases of meningococcal infection have been registered since the beginning of 2018, including 21 cases among children under 14 years. 13 of them ended with death: Almaty – 6 cases, in Almaty region – 4 cases, in South Kazakhstan – 2 cases and in Kyzylorda region – 1 case, according to […]The post Kazakhstan Health Ministry: 60 meningococcal infections year to date appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

State health officials in Wisconsin and Minnesota are reporting an increase in the parasitic infection, cyclosporiasis, prompting an investigation. To date, 11 ill patients in Wisconsin and three in Minnesota have reported purchasing a vegetable tray from a Wisconsin or Minnesota Kwik Trip location prior to their Cyclospora illness. The Del Monte vegetable trays sold at Kwik […]The post Cyclospora cases in Wisconsin and Minnesota linked to Del Monte vegetable trays appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A new study has found that the majority of residents in a rural village of Vietnam harbored multi-drug-resistant (MDR), colistin-resistant E. coli bacteria. Colistin is typically used as a last-resort treatment when there are no other therapy options available. The research is presented at ASM Microbe, the annual meeting of the American Society for Microbiology, held from […]The post Multi-drug-resistant (MDR), colistin-resistant E. coli bacteria pervasive in Vietnam village appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Since the confirmation of the first measles case in mid-2017 through the beginning of May, there were 2,154 confirmed measles cases; 727 in 2017 and 1,427 to date this year. The outbreak is ongoing with cases reported in 17 states and the Capital District. Most of the suspected cases have come from the state of Bolivar, […]The post Measles: Venezuela reports more than 2,000 cases in past year appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Venezuelan Society of Public Health reported this week (computer translated) the following worrying information: From an unofficial, reliable source, it was known of the existence of at least 4 cases of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) identified in Delta Amacuro state, Venezuela in the La Playita del Volcán, Juan Millán Parish, of the Tucupita Municipality whose inhabitants belong to […]The post Acute flaccid paralysis due to suspected polio unofficially reported in Venezuela: Society of Public Health appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Venezuelan regional newspaper, El Impulso reported this week in an investigative report (computer translated), an outbreak of the bacterium, Serratia marcescens among children admitted at Agustín Zubillaga Pediatric Hospital in Barquisimeto, Lara state, in northwestern Venezuela. According to the report, between January and March of 2018, there were 28 confirmed cases of severe infection by the bacteria (mostly […]The post Venezuela: Serratia marcescens kills 11 children at Barquisimeto hospital appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Since the beginning of May 2018, thirteen cases of an unusual salmonella type (S. Typhimurium MLVA 2-17-NN-211) have been identified by the Public Health Authority’s microbial monitoring program, according to the Public Health Agency of Sweden, aka Folkhalsomyndigheten (computer translated). The type has so far been identified in seven counties in persons reported to be infected […]The post Sweden investigates outbreak of ‘unusual’ salmonella type appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Romanian health officials reported an additional 109 measles cases from the period of Jun 4-Jun 8 in 14 counties and in Bucharest, according to a National Center for Communicable Disease Control and Control report (computer translated). This brings the number of confirmed cases since 2016 to 13,871. In addition, 55 measles related fatalities were reported during this […]The post Romania measles cases continue to climb appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is reporting 60 cases from five states– Illinois (6), Indiana (11), Michigan (32), Missouri (10), and Ohio (1). The CDC investigation indicates pre-cut melons, including fruit salads, are a likely source of this multistate outbreak. Thirty-one people have been hospitalized. The CDC has indicated there have been […]The post Salmonella sickens dozens in the Midwest, linked to pre-cut melons appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the hepatitis A outbreak in Louisville, KY, city health officials report 432 cases and 3 associated deaths since the outbreak was declared in Nov. 2017. The Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness continues to work to control an outbreak of acute hepatitis A that has centered in the city’s homeless, […]The post Louisville hepatitis A outbreak: Hundreds of cases, 3 deaths appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the hepatitis A outbreak in Nashville, TN, Metro Public Health Department (MPHD) officials today reported two new hep A cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 16 since December 2017. Large hepatitis A outbreaks have occurred since early 2017 in several states, including ongoing outbreaks in California, Utah, Kentucky, Indiana and […]The post Hepatitis A: Additional cases confirmed in Nashville appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Since the first Virulent Newcastle Disease (vND) was confirmed in San Bernardino County, California on May 24, a total of a dozen have been reported in the county. Virulent Newcastle disease has not been found in commercial poultry in the United States since 2003. The first case was reported in Los Angeles County on May 17, followed […]The post Newcastle disease: A dozen cases confirmed in San Bernardino County in past two weeks appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

French health officials are reporting 368 additional dengue fever cases during the most recent week, bringing the outbreak total on the island of Reunion to 4292 laboratory confirmed or probable cases since the beginning of the year. Eighty-two people required hospitalization and 10 people were diagnosed with severe dengue. The average age of these hospitalized cases is […]The post Reunion dengue outbreak continues with 368 additional cases appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In an update on the dengue fever situation in Thailand, the Bureau of Epidemiology, MoPH, Thailand is reporting (computer translated) a total of 14,973 cases from 77 provinces through June 4. This is an increase in about 4,500 cases in the past two weeks. In addition, four more dengue-related deaths have been reported bringing the total […]The post Thailand dengue update, Phuket continues to be hardest hit province appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today filed a complaint against Innovative BioDefense, Inc. of Lake Forest, California, and Colette Cozean, the company’s president and chief executive officer, to prohibit them from selling Zylast topical antiseptics with claims that they are effective against infection by pathogens such as norovirus, rotavirus, flu virus, Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus […]The post Zylast hand sanitizer effective against MRSA, Ebola? FDA says not proven, complaint filed appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Toronto health officials announced the investigation of a lab-confirmed case of measles in an adult who recently travelled abroad. Members of the public may have been exposed to measles in the following settings: • May 30 Ukraine International Airlines flight PS423 that departed from Boryspil International Airport in Kiev, Ukraine at 9:25 a.m. and arrived at […]The post Toronto investigates imported measles case appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Ukrainian health officials reported yesterday that because of the large number of adults infected with measles this year, the government made the decision to fund free vaccines for adults at risk, according to the Ministry of Health. Since the beginning of the year, 40% of all patients are adults. In particular, it refers to the spread of […]The post Ukraine measles outbreak near 20,000 cases, 40 percent in adults appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Mucus and other airway secretions that are expelled when a person with the flu coughs or exhales appear to protect the virus when it becomes airborne, regardless of humidity levels, a creative experiment conducted by the University of Pittsburgh and Virginia Tech discovered. The results, published in today’s issue of the Journal of Infectious Diseases, refute […]The post Airborne flu virus protected by mucus: ‘Just as infectious at all humidity levels’ appeared first on Outbreak News Today.