Outbreak News Today

In a follow-up on the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), since early April a total of 39 Ebola virus disease cases have been reported, including 19 deaths (case fatality rate = 49%) and three health care workers. Two probable cases (positive on rapid diagnostic test) were reported on 13 May 2018. Of […]The post Ebola death toll reaches 19, WHO Director-General visits Democratic Republic of the Congo appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Public Health France and the national reference center for Escherichia coli (Pasteur Institute and Robert Debré Hospital, Paris) have identified seven cases of Escherichia coli infections , including six hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) cases in children under 3 years of age, according to health authorities (computer translated). Analysis of the samples from the sick children reveal the causative agent to […]The post E. coli outbreak sickens 7 children in France, linked to Reblochon cheese appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a travel notice recently for people traveling to Osa Peninsula in Puntarenas Province, Costa Rica, an area where malaria is not typically found, after a U.S. traveler contracted falciparum malaria while visiting there. The Osa Peninsula is at the southern part of Costa Rica bordering a part of […]The post Malaria in U.S. traveler to Costa Rica prompts travel warning appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Every now and then I come across a article published on the “professional” social media platform, LinkedIn, that seems like a good fit for this website. So I’ll contact the author for permission to publish, or syndicate it on outbreaknewstoday.com. On Saturday, a post on antibiotics and antibiotic stewardship caught my eye as I skimmed […]The post My strange experience with a LinkedIn member this weekend: Childish behavior and a bruised ego? appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Hong Kong Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health announced Saturday the investigation of a case of invasive Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) infection. The patient is a one-year-old boy with good past health. He has presented with fever, shortness of breath and wheezing since May 8 and was admitted to Tuen Mun […]The post Hong Kong reports invasive Hib infection in 1 year old appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) situation continues to be a serious public health problem in the Philippines as health officials reported 912 new HIV cases in March 2018. In fact, with a 140% increase in estimated annual new HIV infections from 2010 to 2016, UNAIDS said that the “the Philippines has become the country with the […]The post Philippines has the fastest growing HIV epidemic in Asia appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Following the confirmation of a new Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) last week, several African countries have taken steps to prevent Ebola from crossing their border and Nigeria is just one of several. Ebola in DRC: Outbreak update, Help on the way and why the DRC so often? The World Health Organization […]The post Nigeria issues Ebola public health advisory appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Nigerian health officials announced Thursday the end of the emergency phase of the 2018 Lassa fever outbreak. The 2018 outbreak, the largest Lassa fever outbreak recorded in the country, accounted for 423 confirmed cases, including 106 deaths since January. However, in the last six weeks, there has been a decline in the number of new cases of Lassa […]The post Nigeria Lassa outbreak no longer in the ‘national emergency’ phase appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Health officials in Angola have reported 21 cases of African trypanosomiasis, or sleeping sickness in the past two weeks, according to a Agencia Angola Press report. The cases, reported in the municipality of Banga, Cuanza Norte province, were detected during the prospecting campaign held by the Provincial Department of the Institute of Combat and Control of Trypanosomiasis […]The post Sleeping sickness: 21 cases detected during prospecting campaign in Cuanza Norte, Angola appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) is warning of the possibility of a severe dengue season in 2018 during Caribbean Mosquito Awareness Week 2018. This is because the pre-conditions of abundant mosquito vector levels still exist, and increased levels of dengue are being reported in Latin America and elsewhere. “Although dengue is not new to the Region, we need […]The post ‘Gear-up for the possibility of a major outbreak of dengue fever in 2018’: CARPHA on Caribbean Mosquito Awareness week appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The principal of Buxton Center Elementary School in York County, Maine, Kim O’Donnell, sent a letter to parents notifying them of a pinworm outbreak on Wednesday, according to a Press Herald report. O’Donnell encouraged parents of children with symptoms to contact their family physician. Pinworm is typically treated with either prescription or over-the-counter medication. The school is […]The post Pinworm outbreak reported at Maine elementary school appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up to a report last week, Peru health officials (computer translated) have recorded an increase in Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) cases during the first four months of 2018. According to Minister of Health, Silvia Pessah Eljay, 42 cases compatible with GBS have been reported to date. The statistics reveal an upward curve compared to the figures recorded […]The post Peru reports increase in Guillain-Barré syndrome cases in first four months appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) officials notified Auburn University Wednesday of plans to investigate a case of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) identified in a student enrolled on the Auburn campus. ADPH and Auburn University are working closely to ensure that university students and employees will be screened quickly. The state and local health departments are […]The post Auburn student TB positive, health officials investigate appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Cholera The Uganda Ministry of Health is reporting is an active Cholera outbreak in parts of Kampala City. A total of 7 cases have been confirmed and are currently undergoing treatment at China-Uganda Friendship Hospital (CUFH), Naguru. Three of these cases are from one family residing in Mpigi District while the other four are from two families […]The post Uganda: Cholera outbreak in Kampala, Measles outbreak declared in 26 districts appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Cases update In an update on the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the World Health Organization (WHO) reports that as of Friday, 11 May 2018, there are a total of 34 cases, with 18 deaths (case fatality rate 52.9%), among which two cases are confirmed, 14 suspected and 18 […]The post Ebola in DRC: Outbreak update, Help on the way and why the DRC so often? appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Louisiana state health officials are investigating a confirmed case of measles in New Orleans. The illness was confirmed through laboratory testing in New Orleans resident who recently traveled out of the country. This case is not related to a positive measles case reported earlier in April of this year. In both cases, the individuals were […]The post Louisiana: 2nd measles case in New Orleans appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Researchers from the University of California, Irvine and Harvard University have discovered how the Clostridium difficiletoxin B (TcdB) recognizes the human Frizzled protein, the receptor it uses to invade intestinal cells and lead to deadly gastrointestinal infections. The findings, published Friday in Science, could pave the way for new C. diff antitoxins and also show potential for the development of […]The post Clostridium difficile research may help combat the deadly gastrointestinal infection appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Officials with the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department reported on the investigation of a hepatitis C exposure at MultiCare Good Samaritan Hospital in Puyallup. On April 30, MultiCare Good Samaritan Hospital in Puyallup announced a potential hepatitis C exposure. It involves 2,761 patients who visited that Emergency Department between Aug. 4, 2017 and March 23, 2018. The hospital is […]The post Washington: Hepatitis C exposure linked to Puyallup hospital appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that warns of a recent surge of tick-borne disease incidence in the United States was no surprise to Massachusetts State Public Health Veterinarian Dr. Catherine Brown and microbiology professor Stephen Rich, director of the Laboratory of Medical Zoology (LMZ) at the University of […]The post Lyme disease: Massachusetts researchers receive CDC grant for tick testing appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Malaysian Ministry of Health (KKM) announced one new human rabies case in Kampong Sandong, Kuching, Sarawak. This makes four human cases this year and 10 since last summer. The latest case is a child , a foreign national, age three (3) years nine (9) months. The results of the investigation found that the children had been […]The post Another human rabies case reported in Sarawak, Malaysia appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Identifying dengue fever “hot spots” can provide a predictive map for outbreaks of chikungunya and Zika — two other viral diseases that, along with dengue, are spread by the Aedes aegypti mosquito. PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases published the findings, the first confirmation of the spatial-temporal overlap for outbreaks of the three diseases, led by Emory University. […]The post Dengue ‘hot spots’ provide map to chikungunya and Zika outbreaks appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the measles outbreak in England, health officials have reported 440 laboratory confirmed measles cases in England since the beginning of the year. The increase in measles circulation is mainly associated with travel to and from Europe where there are large ongoing measles outbreaks, health officials note. London has seen the most lab-confirmed cases […]The post Measles reported throughout England, London with most cases appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Department of Health on Wednesday said it welcomes the three-man Dengvaxia panel ordered to be created by President Rodrigo R. Duterte. In a press conference on Tuesday, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the President would invite foreign pathologists in the country to clarify conflicting findings from the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) and the Public […]The post Philippines: Duterte orders three-man Dengvaxia panel appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In the United States, 149 people in 29 states have been infected with an outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7 . One death has been recorded. The outbreak has been linked to romaine lettuce from the Yuma, AZ growing region. Now Canadian health officials are reporting six illnesses of E. coli O157 with a similar genetic fingerprint to illnesses reported […]The post Canada reports E. coli cases linked to romaine lettuce appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A multistate outbreak of Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc) has been reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). As of May 7, 2018, CDC reports that there are 10 confirmed cases of associated with use of Medline Remedy Essentials No-Rinse Cleansing Foam (seven in Pennsylvania, one in New Jersey and two in California). These patients […]The post Burkholderia cepacia outbreak linked to Medline Remedy Essentials No-Rinse Cleansing Foam appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The germ that causes garden-variety strep throat gets most of its bad rap for the misery of swollen tonsils and missed school days, but this wily pathogen has a lesser known, darker side. The bacterium, known as Streptococcus pyogenes, is also the leading cause of serious flesh-eating disease, known as necrotizing fasciitis, which occurs in as […]The post Flesh-eating disease: How Streptococcus pyogenes hijacks neurons to avoid immune destruction appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), a World Health Organization (WHO) report states from 4 April through 9 May 2018, a total of 32 Ebola virus disease cases (among which two are confirmed, 18 probable and 12 suspected cases) were reported from Bikoro health zone, Equateur province, […]The post Ebola outbreak update: 18 deaths reported in DRC appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Health officials in Riverside County, California say they’ve reached a “critical point” with the number of syphilis infections, particularly in the Coachella Valley, where the rate of infection is nearly three times the rate countywide. The surge in syphilis has prompted a collaboration of Riverside County health officials, medical providers, community groups and others to tackle […]The post California: Surge of syphilis reported in Palm Springs, Riverside County appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department (SWNPHD) has confirmed the second positive rabies case in Southwest Nebraska for the year. The rabies exposure is with a horse in Chase County. “Rabies in horses occurs with less frequency than in dogs or cats, “explains Melissa Propp, Disease Surveillance Coordinator. “The only way to diagnose rabies is with […]The post Nebraska reports rabies in Chase County horse appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Florida (1), Texas (1), North Dakota (2), and Minnesota (see below) have joined 25 other states reporting sick people in the multistate E. coli O157:H7 outbreak linked to tainted romaine lettuce, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) update. In Minnesota, ten cases of E. coli O157 infection in residents have recently been identified and linked […]The post Texas, Minnesota now reporting E. coli cases in multistate outbreak appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Ukraine Center for Public Health of the Ministry of Health reported an additional 1078 people affected by measles: 479 adults and 599 children in the most recent week. Since the beginning of the year, 13,883 people were affected by measles – 5,603 adults and 8,280 children. During this time, eight people died of the complications of the […]The post Measles in Ukraine: Cases among adults increase appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Prophylactic mass vaccination programmes are not a realistic option in the battle to prevent new Ebolavirus outbreaks, a University of Kent-led research team has shown. The findings come as the World Health Organisation has announced a new Ebola virus outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The team analysed the prospects for various Ebolavirus vaccines […]The post Ebola: Mass vaccinations will not prevent outbreaks according to University of Kent researchers appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Last week, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) met in Washington, DC to discuss the current status of Chagas, as well as future management of the disease. Progress has been made with vector transmission of Chagas interrupted in 17 out of 21 affected countries in the Americas, and screening for the disease in blood banks universalized. “The region […]The post Chagas disease: PAHO says future of the fight must now focus on maintaining achievements and preventing congenital transmission appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

As the title of the podcast indicates and as regular listeners know, the majority of the time I focus of infectious diseases. However, I do like to dedicate air time to other important health issues, and today’s topic is indeed important and unfortunately, all too common– and thats skin cancer. In fact, skin cancer is […]The post Skin Cancer Awareness Month: A discussion with Dr Edi Kaminska appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A 40-year-old Karachi man is the first fatal victim of the “brain-eating amoeba”, Naegleria fowleri, in Sindh province this year, according to a Dawn.com report. The news report does not explain how the man contracted the lethal parasite. In 2017, six people died from Naegleria infection. Naegleria fowleri (commonly referred to as the “brain-eating amoeba”), […]The post Pakistan: 1st Naegleria fowleri death reported this year in Karachi appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In an update on the epidemic of dengue fever on the island of Reunion, French health officials report an additional 356 cases in the past week, bringing the total to 2598 laboratory confirmed or probable cases reported since Jan. 1. Their has been 62 hospitalizations to date, including nine cases of severe dengue. Dengue is a […]The post Dengue in Reunion update: 2600 cases in 2018 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Wisconsin health officials are encouraging residents to take care to avoid tick and mosquito bites as the weather gets warmer. Both ticks and mosquitoes can transmit various illnesses. Lyme disease, which is spread by ticks, and West Nile virus, which is transmitted by mosquitoes, account for most of the disease spread by ticks and mosquitoes in Wisconsin. Concerning Lyme disease, […]The post Wisconsin reports more than 4,000 Lyme disease cases in 2017, most ever in one year appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Officials with Texas State University in San Marcos are reporting several confirmed and probable mumps cases in students. Two students have been diagnosed with mumps and two other students are probable cases of mumps. Three of the cases are related due to close contact. Based on a mumps incubation period of 12-25 days, new cases of […]The post Texas State University reports mumps cases appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In our running series on parasites, we’re going to look at another tapeworm–The dwarf tapeworm or Hymenolepis nana. Joining me is parasitology expert, author and friend of the show, Rosemary Drisdelle. Fasciola hepatica: The sheep liver fluke Dicrocoelium dendriticum: The lancet liver fluke Paragonimus: A look at this parasitic lung fluke Clonorchis sinensis: The Chinese liver […]The post Hymenolepis nana: The dwarf tapeworm appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Lyme disease season is here. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Lyme disease is the most commonly reported vector-borne illness in the United States, and 300,000 Americans are infected with Lyme disease each year. May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month and today we’ll be discussing Lyme disease prevention, signs and symptoms, […]The post Lyme Disease Awareness Month: Prevention, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo declared a new outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in Bikoro in Equateur Province today (8 May). The outbreak declaration occurred after laboratory results confirmed two cases of EVD. The Ministry of Health of Democratic of the Congo (DRC) informed WHO that two out of five […]The post Ebola confirmed in Democratic Republic of the Congo appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Toronto Public Health (TPH) is investigating a lab-confirmed case of measles in an infant who recently travelled abroad. Members of the public may have been exposed to measles in the following settings: April 29 Saudia Airlines flight: • Flight SV0759 that departed from Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi, India at 8 p.m. and arrived at […]The post Toronto reports confirmed measles case in infant appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Researchers from the National Institute for Infectious Diseases ‘Lazzaro Spallanzani’, IRCCS, Rome, Italy highlight the possibility of sexual transmission of dengue virus in a man returning from Thailand to Italy where Dengue virus RNA was persistently detected in semen samples up to 37 days post-symptom onset, in a recent study in the journal Eurosurveillance. According to the […]The post Study looks at possibility of sexual transmission of dengue appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

This year, Nigeria has reported the largest Lassa fever outbreak recorded in the country. From 1 January 2018 to 29 April 2018, there have been 1,891 suspected cases and 116 deaths (case fatality rate 6.1%) reported from 21 states. Of the suspected cases, 420 were confirmed positive, 10 were classified as probable, 1 460 tested […]The post Nigeria: Lassa outbreak remains stable appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Officials in Okinawa prefecture have reported additional measles cases that bring the outbreak total to 91 since March. This includes one case reported at a US military facility on the island. In addition, cases have spread off Okinawa as a Aichi Prefecture ( Honshu Island) teenager was diagnosed with measles following a trip to Okinawa last month. The […]The post Okinawa measles outbreak grows in numbers, spreads appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH), the Pottawatomie County Health Department and Citizen Potawatomi Nation Health Services are investigating possible exposures to a person with measles. Measles was identified in a person from another state who had visited the Shawnee area in April. Measles is a highly contagious respiratory disease. The virus many remain airborne up […]The post Oklahoma reports possible measles exposure in Shawnee appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Peru Ministry of Health announced (computer translated) an investigation into a cluster of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) in the city of Trujillo in the La Libertad Region in the northwestern part of the country. Eight cases of an acute neurological syndrome compatible with the Guillain-Barré syndrome has been reported between April 21 and May 1 at the Bethlehem Hospital in […]The post Peru alert: Guillain-Barré syndrome cases investigated in Trujillo appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Health officials in South Africa have issued a health alert due to recent diphtheria cases reported in KwaZulu-Natal Province. Since Mar 30, three diphtheria cases, aged 20, 11 and 10 years, have been reported. Two of the cases were confirmed toxin-producing Corynebacterium diphtheriae, while another case was classified as probable. This resulted in two fatalities. A cluster of respiratory […]The post South Africa: Diphtheria alert issued in KwaZulu-Natal Province appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Measles has been confirmed in a Fresno County adult resident. This individual traveled out of state where infection occurred. After returning to California they developed the symptoms and may have exposed others during the visit to a local urgent care center and at the emergency room at Clovis Community Medical Center (CCMC). Measles is a […]The post California: Measles case confirmed in Fresno County appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Officials in Pennsylvania are warning employees, customers and visitors to two locations in Williamsport, Lycoming County and Port Trevorton, Snyder County, that an individual with a confirmed case of measles visited two local stores and may have exposed others to the disease. The individual with the confirmed case of measles was part of a tour bus […]The post Pennsylvania: Health officials warn of possible measles exposure in Williamsport, Port Trevorton appeared first on Outbreak News Today.