Outbreak News Today

Since the measles outbreak began in a daycare in Johnson County, Kansas in early March, 22 cases were confirmed, making it the largest measles outbreak in the Sunflower state in 30 years. Now after two incubation periods, or 42 days without a new case, Kansas health officials have declared the outbreak over. “We are happy and […]The post Kansas: Largest measles outbreak in three decades declared over appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) officials confirmed anthrax in one calf on a Jim Hogg County premises on June 1. This is the first anthrax case in Texas this year. The premises is located approximately 30 miles south of Hebbronville and has been quarantined. TAHC rules require proper disposal of affected carcasses and vaccination of […]The post Texas: Anthrax confirmed in Jim Hogg County calf, 1st case of 2018 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By Oscar Nkala Scientists at the Kenya Medical Research Institute (Kemri) have come up with a new drug they believe is much safer and superior to Fansidar in the management of malaria among pregnant women. KEMRI Centre for Global Health Research chief researcher Dr Simon Kariuki described the new drug, known as Dihydroartemisin-piperaquine, as a […]The post Kenyan researchers test new anti-malarial drug for pregnant women appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By Oscar Nkala The Botswana Ministry of Health and Wellness has warned the public of ‘potential safety issues’ arising from the use of anti-retroviral drug Dolutegravir (DTG) among pregnant women. In a statement, the government said a new study suggests the drug can affect neural tube development during the early stages of conception. Neural tube […]The post Botswana warns of pregancy-threatening side-effects of ARV drug Dolutegravir appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a viral haemorrhagic disease where up to 40% of people developing it die, it is remarkable that doctors still do not agree whether the only recognized treatment, an antiviral drug called ribavirin, makes a difference. In a new Cochrane Review a team of authors at LSTM, along with colleagues in London, The Philippines and […]The post Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever: Is ribavirin an effective treatment? Researchers say they don’t know appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A Todd County blood donor is South Dakota’s first human West Nile virus (WNV) detection of the season, the state Health Department reported. The person is in the 30 to 39 age group. “This individual was not ill but was detected through the routine screening of blood donations that takes place to make sure the […]The post South Dakota: 1st human West Nile virus case reported in Todd County appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In an update on the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) that began in early April, WHO Deputy Director-General for Emergency Preparedness and Response, Peter Salama reported the number of cases as of June 4 is as follows: 37 confirmed cases, 14 probable cases and 7 suspected cases for a total of […]The post Democratic Republic of the Congo: Ebola update, Preventing spread appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The East Tennessee Children’s Hospital in Knoxville is reporting treating a number of children during the past ten days for infection with E. coli. The patients, numbering around 10, are all under four years of age. The Knox County Health Department said the following concerning the outbreak: Due to possible contamination with E. coli & out […]The post Knoxville: E. coli outbreak linked to raw milk from Mascot farm appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up to the podcast last week, Malaria: A general introduction and Plasmodium vivax, I continue the series on the malaria species. On today’s show, Parasitology teacher and author, Rosemary Drisdelle, joins me to talk about the deadliest species of malaria, Plasmodium falciparum. P. falciparum can cause severe malaria because it multiples rapidly in the blood, and […]The post Plasmodium falciparum, cerebral malaria and blackwater fever appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up to a report last month, Sindh province health officials have reported the second Naegleria fowleri fatality of 2018, according to a Daily Times report. This case, like the previous, was reported in Karachi. The latest victim is a 16-year-old girl from North Nazimabad. Like in previous years, fingers are pointed at the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board […]The post Second ‘brain-eating amoeba’ death recorded in Karachi appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Taiwan health officials confirmed 2 additional Japanese encephalitis cases today. The two new cases respectively are an over 30-year-old male who resides in Linyuan District, Kaohsiung City and an over 50-year-old male who resides in Shuishang Township, Chiayi County. On May 27 and 28, they respectively developed symptoms and sought medical attention. Infection with Japanese encephalitis […]The post Taiwan reports two additional Japanese encephalitis cases appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Last month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported how vector-borne diseases, including tickborne diseases like Lyme have tripled in the past decade-plus. The Cary Institute’s Dr. Richard Ostfeld has been investigating how wildlife, land use, acorns, and climate change set the stage for tick-borne disease transmission over the past two decades. With a decrease in […]The post Lyme disease ecology: Ticks, wildlife and acorns appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Officials with Public Health England reported on newly published data today that revealed a 20 percent increase in 2017 compared to 2016. There were 7,137 diagnoses of syphilis reported in 2017 compared to 5,955 cases in 2016 and a 148 percent increase relative to 2008. The increase in syphilis follows a 10-year trend, with 78 percent of […]The post Syphilis cases up 20 percent in England appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Health officials in New South Wales (NSW) are reporting a significant decrease in new HIV diagnoses in Australian-born men who have sex with men early in 2018. The latest NSW Health data shows the number of new HIV diagnoses in Australian-born gay and bisexual men dropped by 48 per cent in the first three months of 2018 compared […]The post Australia: New HIV infections in gay men down by half in NSW appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Researchers at the University of Delaware, working with colleagues at Indiana University, have gained new insights into the virus that causes hepatitis B — a life-threatening and incurable infection that afflicts more than 250 million people worldwide. The discovery, which was published April 27 in the journal eLife, reveals previously unknown details about the capsid, or […]The post New findings on hepatitis B could lead to treatments appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By Oscar Nkala The number of cumulative Monkeypox cases in Cameroon has risen to 16 since the detection of the first two cases in the North-West region on April 30. In its latest analysis of the disease outbreak, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said nine new cases – including one confirmed – had been reported […]The post Monkeypox outbreak spreads to five regions in Cameroon appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By Oscar Nkala The World Health Organisation (WHO) has reported the outbreak of an undiagnosed disease that has affected 14, killed 8 and left 6 children under the age of 10 hospitalised since it was first detected in the Manafwa District of Eastern Uganda on May 23. In an epidemiological notice issued on June 4, […]The post Mystery feverish illness stalks children in Eastern Uganda appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

We’ve discussed the use and misuse of antibiotics and antibiotic stewardship a number of times on this show and today we are going to look at the use of vancomycin. Infectious disease physician, Steven LaRosa, MD joins me to talk about vancomycin, evaluating the need to use it, the use of a loading dose and […]The post Antibiotics: How to optimize the use and dosing of Vancomycin appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Global Lyme Diagnostics (GLD) launched it’s ground breaking Lyme diagnostic in 2017 and is now excited to announce the launch of their tick-borne coinfections diagnostic tests. This additional coinfection panel gives physicians and patients the ability to test for the most common tick-borne diseases in addition to Lyme disease, including Anaplasma, Babesia Microti, Babesia Duncani, Bartonella […]The post Tickborne Coinfection Testing now offered by Global Lyme Diagnostics appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Health officials in Marin County, CA are reporting an increase in cases of pertussis, or whooping cough this year. During the first three months of 2018, we have had 65 confirmed cases. This compares with 30 cases in 2016 and 44 cases in 2017. Whooping cough has a natural cycle with peaks every three to five […]The post California: Marin County reports increase in pertussis this year appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

San Diego County health officials urged pet owners who let their animals outside to remember to protect their pets — and themselves — from fleas after a county resident has recovered from a relatively rare but potentially deadly form of typhus. They say a North Park woman was hospitalized in May but has fully recovered after contracting […]The post San Diego: Typhus reported in North Park woman, prompts health warning appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is currently coordinating national surveillance activities for possible cases of vitamin K-dependent antagonist coagulopathy associated with synthetic cannabinoids use. Since the index case was identified in Illinois on March 3, 2018, state health departments have reported 202 cases, including five deaths. Case patients have been identified in […]The post Synthetic cannabinoids and bleeding multistate outbreak tops 200 cases appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

South Korean health officials are reporting strengthened control measures in response to three confirmed measles cases at Hanlim Arts School in Seoul to prevent further spread of the disease. Following initial reports of a suspected case on May 8th, there have been reports of six subsequent suspected cases, three of which have been confirmed as of […]The post South Korea: 3 confirmed measles cases reported at Hanlim Arts School appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Officials with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene issued a tickborne disease advisory last week for city clinicians to be on the alert for patients with tickborne diseases. Recent travel to upstate NY, Long Island, and other parts of New England should prompt consideration of tickborne diseases. A history of a tick bite […]The post New York City issues Tickborne Disease Advisory appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the Escherichia coli ( E. coli ) O26 outbreak linked to the consumption of raw milk reblochons produced at the Cruseilles (Haute-Savoie) site of Chabert, French health officials are now reporting 14 children aged one to five years included in the investigation. As of May 31, 6 children with HUS were infected with the same strain of E. coli 026, […]The post France E. coli update: Number of cases double appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

With the onset of the rains, there has been an increase in the number of Cholera cases reported in Nigeria in the last three weeks prompting the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to issue a public health advisory. While endemic in Nigeria, there have been confirmed outbreaks of Cholera in Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Kano, […]The post Nigeria issues cholera public health advisory appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In an update on the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak in Equateur Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the case counts as of June 1 are as follows: 37 confirmed cases, 13 probable and seven suspected for a total of 57 cases, including 25 deaths since early April 2018. The outbreak remains localized to the three […]The post Ebola outbreak: Case counts, Africa CDC Deploys Teams appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the mumps situation at the University Park campus of Penn State University, Penn State University Health Services (UHS) is reporting nine new mumps cases since May 1, including four in the last week. With the Pennsylvania Special Olympics and summer camps expected to bring large numbers of visitors to campus this week and […]The post Penn State: 31 mumps cases this year appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Health officials have confirmed that a Placer County resident who recently died tested positive for hantavirus. The resident likely contracted the virus from rodents in a private residence in the Lake Tahoe region where the resident lived and worked. Health officials do not believe the public is at ongoing risk from the source of infection […]The post Hantavirus: Placer County resident dies, likely contracted in the Lake Tahoe region appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on a previous report on measles in the Central African country of Chad, a measles outbreak has been declared on 30 May in five districts of Chad (Bokoro, Gama, Ati, Am dam and Goz Beida), where 474 cases and 18 deaths have been reported. Medecins Sans Frontières is conducting a Measles outbreak investigation […]The post Chad: Measles outbreak declared, only 25% of children vaccinated appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Wichita Falls, TX city and county officials reminded the public, as we head into summer, about protecting yourself and your children from the “brain-eating amoeba”, Naegleria fowleri. The City of Wichita Falls Public Works Department and the Wichita Falls – Wichita County Public Health District are once again teaming up to caution citizens who will […]The post Texas: Wichita Falls cautions public about amoeba awareness appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Shri J P Nadda today reviewed the ground situation with the Health Minister of Kerala and took stock of the public health measures in the affected areas. On directions of the Union Health Minister, a multi-disciplinary Central Team led by Director, National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) including […]The post Nipah outbreak: India health minister reviews situation, Kerala Gov’t issues health advisory appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS), Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP), Minnesota Department Agriculture (MDA), and local health departments are investigating at least four cases of salmonellosis affecting three Wisconsin residents and one Minnesota resident. All four of the patients received frozen breaded chicken products at a […]The post Wisconsin, Minnesota report Salmonella cases linked to frozen breaded chicken products at a Ruby’s Pantry appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In an update on the multistate outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 infections linked to romaine lettuce, federal health officials report an additional 25 cases, bringing the total to 197 ill people from 35 states. States reporting double digit number of cases include California (45), Pennsylvania (24), Minnesota (12), Idaho (11) and New York (10). Eight-nine people out of 187 […]The post E. coli outbreak: Death toll rises to 5 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up to a May 20 report, The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service confirmed four additional cases of virulent Newcastle disease in backyard birds in San Bernardino County, California. Virulent Newcastle disease has not been found in commercial poultry in the United States since 2003. No […]The post Newcastle disease: More cases confirmed in San Bernardino County appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By Oscar Nkala Tissue samples taken from at least 100 cattle have tested positive for infection as a new outbreak of the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) spreads across north-eastern Zambia. In a disease outbreak alert sent to the government-run National Agricultural Information Services (NAIS) on May 31, Provincial Veterinary Officer Dr Wilson Katumbi said of the […]The post Fresh FMD outbreak hits 100 cattle in north-eastern Zambia appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By Oscar Nkala The Namibian government has released a new epidemiological update report indicating that the number of laboratory-confirmed Hepatitis E cases has risen to 11 in the period between January and May. The Hepatitis E outbreak has been confined to the north-central Omusati region since its detection on January 9 this year. According to […]The post Hepatitis E cases on the rise in Namibia appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Sri Lanka health officials have reported 20443 suspected dengue cases during the first five months of 2018. In 2017, the country saw a massive number of dengue cases with 186,101 suspected cases, including 320 deaths. This was the largest dengue outbreak experienced by the country for last three decades. The highest numbers of dengue cases were reported during the 29th week of […]The post Sri Lanka reports more than 20,000 dengue cases appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A 21-year-old woman from Kampung Koran Bari, Serian, Sarawak has become the 5th human rabies case/fatality of 2018. The new case, confirmed on May 31, had a history of being bitten by her own dog in the right arm while trying to bathe the dog on April 20, 2018. The case had received a wound treatment […]The post Malaysia reports 5th human rabies case in Sarawak this year appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Alaska Section of Epidemiology (SOE) is reporting a significant increase in gonorrhea cases that is occurring concurrently with a national trend of increasing sexually transmitted disease rates. In 2017, 2,190 gonorrhea cases were reported to SOE; the incidence rate was 297 cases per 100,000 persons, representing a 51% increase compared to 2016. Preliminary data indicate that Alaska’s […]The post Alaska reports big increase in gonorrhea, consistent with national trend appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Since its epidemic peak in late March, the number of measles cases have steadily declined in France. According to Public Health France this week, 80 new cases were reported bringing the total to 2364 cases reported since November 6, 2017. 83 departments in the country have reported at least 1 case with 22% of reported […]The post France reports decline in measles cases appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Since the beginning of 2018, 3,756 cases of dengue fever have been confirmed by the city and hospital laboratories of Reunion. The number of cases reported this week slightly decreases (297) but confirms the continuation of the epidemic in the west [Saint-Paul (56% of cases), Le Port (9%), Saint-Leu (6%) and Possession communes (6%)] and the […]The post Dengue epidemic continues in Reunion, slight decrease in cases appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

An outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) has been reported in the Northern Cape Province in the Springbok area after movement of pigs from the Kimberley area. This falls outside of the ASF controlled areas of the country. The Northern Cape Provincial Veterinary Services are doing follow-up investigations and control measures are being applied for […]The post South Africa: African swine fever outbreak reported in Northern Cape appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The rates of infection following colonoscopies and upper-GI endoscopies performed at U.S. outpatient specialty centers are far higher than previously believed, according to a Johns Hopkins study published online this month in the journal Gut. Johns Hopkins researcher Susan Hutfless led a team that plumbed medical data from the year 2014 and determined that patients who underwent one […]The post Infection Rates After Colonoscopy, Endoscopy: Johns Hopkins study finds some outpatient centers have infection risks 100 times higher than expected appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In an update from Kerala health officials, the number of confirmed cases and deaths has risen to 17 and 15, respectively. Twelve deaths have been reported from Kozhikode while three were reported from Malappuram. Nipah virus: An introduction In the current outbreak, acute respiratory distress syndrome and encephalitis have been observed. This is the first NiV […]The post Nipah update: 15 confirmed deaths in Kerala appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the Salmonella outbreak among schoolkids in Flanders, Belgium, The Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (AFSCA) now reports 225 children suspected of becoming ill due to Salmonella contamination in 38 schools in East and West Flanders(computer translated). Salmonella infection was laboratory confirmed in 129 children from 26 different schools; it is also strongly […]The post Belgium: Salmonella outbreak rises to 225 in East and West Flanders appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

On today’s show, I talk about Lyme disease, the effects of climate change on the tickborne illness and issues of Lyme medical and public policy with the author of the book, Lyme: The First Epidemic of Climate Change, Mary Beth Pfeiffer. Check out more at The First Epidemic Zika, West Nile, Lyme and other vector-borne diseases […]The post Lyme disease: Climate change and public policy appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Global Lyme Alliance (GLA), the leading nonprofit dedicated to conquering Lyme and other tick-borne diseases through research, education and awareness, today announced it has awarded approximately $1.2 million in research grants to 10 researchers at leading academic and medical institutions across the country. To date GLA has committed more than $10 million to more than 50 research projects. “Our 2017-18 grantees […]The post Global Lyme Alliance Awards $1.2 Million in Lyme Disease Research Grants for 2018 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The mortality rate in Puerto Rico rose by 62% [95% confidence interval (CI) 11% to 114%] after Hurricane Maria, according to a new study led by researchers from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The study was conducted in January and February 2018, in collaboration with colleagues from Carlos Albizu University in Puerto Rico […]The post Puerto Rico death toll post-Hurricane Maria underestimated: Harvard researchers appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up to reports of the confirmation of Longhorned ticks recently in New Jersey and Virginia, the National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) confirmed Haemaphysalis longicornis (longhorned) tick’s presence in West Virginia last week. Ticks samples were collected from cattle on two separate premises in Hardy County. These farms are located on the border with […]The post Longhorned Tick found in West Virginia appeared first on Outbreak News Today.