Outbreak News Today

According to the Ministry of Health today, from July 1, 2017 to February 15 of this year, 409 cases of yellow fever were confirmed in the country, 183 in São Paulo, 157 in Minas Gerais, 68 in Rio de Janeiro and 1 in the Federal District. There were also 118 deaths throughout the country, 44 […]The post Brazil yellow fever update appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

According to the 2017-2018 Influenza Season Update for the week ending on February 10th, flu activity in Connecticut remains high and widespread. Statewide emergency department visits attributed to the flu have increased another tenth of a percent over last week to 14.3%, which is the highest weekly level observed in Connecticut since the 2009 H1N1 […]The post Connecticut reports 14 more influenza-associated deaths last week appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) is reminding Hoosiers that influenza activity continues to be high and widespread across Indiana and is urging people to take precautions against the illness, which has claimed 167 Indiana lives so far this flu season. According to ISDH’s weekly influenza report, emergency departments and outpatient providers continue to […]The post Indiana: Influenza activity continues to be high and widespread appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

New diagnostic methods and treatments – including fecal transplantation – will help improve the care of patients with Clostridium difficile (C. diff.), a deadly bacterial infection that can occur after antibiotic use, according to updated guidelines released by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) and Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) and published in the […]The post Clostridium difficile guidelines: New recommendations include Fecal Transplantation, Molecular testing appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

CABI scientists have joined an international team of experts who suggest that the large-scale management of a range of some invasive plants could hold the key to reducing the spread of deadly malaria. Dr Arne Witt and Dr Sean Murphy worked with scientists from the University of Illinois, The Ohio State University and the Fundación para el Estudio […]The post Management of invasive plants could prevent spread of deadly malaria, scientists suggest appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is reporting two laboratory-confirmed cases of Legionnaires’ disease among Illinois Veterans’ Home residents. Both residents are at the Illinois Veterans Home Quincy (IVHQ) and are doing well. After learning of the lab-confirmed cases, IVHQ engineering staff immediately removed faucets from the residents’ rooms and collected water samples and […]The post Legionnaires’ Disease confirmed in two Quincy Veterans’ Home residents appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up to the consumer advisory for chicken salad sold at Fareway stores in Iowa, which is being linked to multiple Salmonella cases, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) issued a public health alert Wednesday out of an abundance of caution due to concerns about illnesses reported in the state of […]The post Public health alert issued for 5 states for possible Salmonella tainted ‘Fareway Chicken Salad’ appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the Lassa fever outbreak in Nigeria, nineteen new confirmed cases were recorded from seven States– Edo (3), Ondo (7), Bauchi (2), Nasarawa(1), Ebonyi(2) Kogi(2) and Taraba(2) with six new deaths in confirmed cases from four states Ondo (2), Edo(1), Bauchi (2), and Nasarawa (1), according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control […]The post Nigeria reports 19 new confirmed Lassa fever cases in past week appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Officials with San Diego County announced Tuesday that several ticks collected in routine trapping from Lopez Canyon trail in Sorrento Valley have tested positive for tularemia. Officials from the County’s Vector Control program urged people to protect themselves and their pets from ticks when hiking or walking in grassy, backcountry areas, on trails and in […]The post Ticks test positive for tularemia in San Diego County appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

With the officials number of norovirus cases at 199, as of Feb. 13, according to the Korea Center for Disease Control (KCDC), the World Health Organization (WHO) published a Norovirus Questions and Answers on Wednesday: What is norovirus? Norovirus is a common viral infection that causes diarrhoea and vomiting. This mild to moderate illness generally […]The post WHO issues ‘Norovirus Q & A’ as Olympics outbreak continues appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Health officials in Butte County, CA report investigating a suspected case of wound botulism in a resident who injected themselves with black tar heroin. Confirmation testing is ongoing. The source of the heroin is unknown at this time and the patient remains hospitalized and on a ventilator. Black tar heroin has been an issue in […]The post Wound botulism case linked to ‘black tar heroin’ being investigated in Northern California appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Chagas Disease (caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi) and strongyloidiasis (caused by the helminth S. stercoralis) are neglected tropical diseases that share a similar epidemiological burden and result in chronic infections with high morbidity and mortality. In this retrospective study, the authors evaluated the association between Trypanosoma cruzi infection and strongyloidiasis in a cohort of Latin American […]The post Combined screening for T. cruzi and Strongyloides recommended in Latin American migrants in Europe: Study appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Chinese National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC) reported confirming a human case of avian influenza A (H7N4). According to the NHFPC, this is the first case of human infection with avian influenza A (H7N4) in the world. The case involved a 68-year-old female patient living in Liyang in Changzhou of Jiangsu Province who developed symptoms […]The post China reports 1st known human H7N4 avian influenza case appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

New research findings could turn perceptions of the already despised bed bug from nuisance pest into medically important threat. A study from North Carolina State University shows that histamine levels are substantially higher in homes infested by bed bugs than in pest-free homes, and that these histamine levels persist for months – even if the […]The post Bed bug histamines are substantial, persistent in infested homes appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In this radio interview from March 2015, my guest reminds us all that bedbugs are “still out there” despite the recent lack of media attention. Assistant professor of entomology at the Kansas State University Research and Extension Center, Sarah Zukoff, PhD joined me to answer some of the most common questions concerning these nuisance creatures: Where are bedbugs found?, […]The post Bedbugs 101: An interview with Sarah Zukoff, PhD appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up to a report last week, University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh (UW-Oshkosh) said a total of 140 people self-reported norovirus-like symptoms Sunday and Monday. They follow by saying the number of cases is not cause for alarm. The University will not cancel classes or close campus due to a norovirus outbreak. Custodial crews are working around […]The post More norovirus reported at UW-Oshkosh, ‘Number of cases is not cause for alarm’ appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) and the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) today jointly issued a consumer advisory for chicken salad sold at Fareway stores. The chicken salad, which is produced and packaged by a third party for Fareway, is implicated in multiple cases of salmonella illness across Iowa. Preliminary test results […]The post Chicken salad sold at Fareway stores linked to Salmonella cases in Iowa appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In this episode in the series, Parasites 101, I talk to Parasitology teacher and author of the book, Parasites: Tales of Humanity’s Most Unwelcome Guests, Rosemary Drisdelle about the protozoa Cryptosporidiosis (or “Crypto” for short). Rosemary answers the question, “How common is it”, along with discussing the symptoms, risk factors, diagnosis and treatment of the parasite. […]The post The parasite best known as ‘Crypto’ appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In recent weeks, two high profile individuals– a televangelist and the newly appointed Health commissioner of Milwaukee, WI–made very troubling anti-vaccine statements that garnered critiques by health experts. Charismatic televangelist Gloria Copeland basically told followers to skip the flu shot in favor of prayer and Milwaukee’s new Health commissioner, Dr Patricia McManus, the person responsible for […]The post Troubling statements about vaccines: Gloria Copeland and Milwaukee’s Patricia McManus appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up to the Lassa fever outbreak in Nigeria, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced today that it is increasing it’s response as the continues it’s spread in the country. Between 1 January and 4 February 2018, nearly 450 suspected cases were reported in 17 states, of which 132 are laboratory confirmed Lassa fever. Of […]The post Nigeria Lassa outbreak: WHO scales up response appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Health officials in Thailand are urging people who work with animals– veterinarians, staff at pet hospitals and animal labs, and caretakers of strays–to ensure they are vaccinated against rabies as the number of animal cases have steadily been rising since 2015. According to The Nation, there were 330 reported cases of rabies-affected animals in 2015, 614 […]The post Thailand reports increase in animal rabies appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Korea CDC (KCDC) reported today the results of the epidemiological investigation of norovirus that occurred to wide range of people at the Horeb Odaesan Youth Training Centre from Feb 3. and reported that is likely due to contaminated water used for cooking. Among the people who use the facility, 1,014 people were examined and, 94 people […]The post Norovirus at Horeb Training Centre linked to contaminated water, Outbreak nears 200 cases appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Since early Sep. 2017, Namibia has reported 643 hepatitis E cases, including 50 that are laboratory confirmed. Three women died post-delivery. Most cases have been reported from informal settlements within the capital, Windhoek, with 332 (52%) cases reported from Havana and 168 (26%) from Goreagab informal settlements. An estimated 89% of the population of these two […]The post Namibia hepatitis E outbreak tops 600 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) and the Cleveland County Health Department are investigating a confirmed case of measles in Norman located in Cleveland County. This is the first confirmed case in Oklahoma since 2015. Measles was identified in a person who had returned to Oklahoma after international travel. Measles is a highly contagious respiratory disease and […]The post Oklahoma: Measles case confirmed in Norman appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

With an extreme abundance of caution, and with the care and concern of pets top of mind, Redbarn Pet Products, LLC of Long Beach, CA is voluntarily recalling a single product, Redbarn’s 7-inch Bully Stick three pack, because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. Salmonella can affect animals eating the products and there is risk […]The post Redbarn dog chews recalled due to Salmonella appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Penn State University Health Services (UHS) is reporting that four cases of mumps have been confirmed on the University Park campus. All of the students were isolated in accordance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Pennsylvania Department of Health protocols and recommendations, and UHS staff have been in touch with those who have […]The post Penn State reports 4 mumps cases at University Park appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Cases of the sexually transmitted infection, syphilis, has tripled between 2011 and 2017 in Argentina, according to data from the Ministry of Health. In 2011, Argentina saw 3,875 syphilis cases and six years later in 2017, the country reported 11,709, mostly in young adults, according to a BAE Negocios report (computer translated). Syphilis is a sexually-transmitted disease (STD) that can […]The post Argentina sees Syphilis cases triple since 2011 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

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South Korea health officials have reported an additional 38 confirmed norovirus cases since our last report Saturday, bringing the outbreak total to 177. According to the Korea Centers for Disease Control (KCDC), 68 of the 177 have been released from quarantine in full health and have returned to work. Media outlet tries to link Olympic norovirus […]The post Olympics norovirus outbreak rises to 177 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In the largest study to date on children in a low/middle income country, new research in Ghana finds that the timing of a measles vaccine in an overall vaccination schedule can have a profound impact on child survival rates beyond protecting against measles infection. The findings, published today in open access journal Frontiers in Public Health, […]The post Measles vaccine: Study shows all-cause mortality is significantly lower when it’s a child’s most recent immunization appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

According to Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE), a food allergy is a serious and potentially life-threatening medical condition affecting up to 15 million Americans. One in every 13 children has a food allergy—that’s about 2 in every U.S. classroom. And every 3 minutes, a food allergy reaction sends someone to the emergency room. Scott Riccio, […]The post Food allergies: An interview with Scott Riccio appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Lupus Foundation of America says lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease that can damage any part of the body. Their research estimates that at least 1.5 million Americans have lupus. The actual number may be higher; however, there have been no large-scale studies to show the actual number of people in the U.S. living with lupus. […]The post Lupus: An interview with Amy Yalden appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Last summer, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that Bhutan and Maldives achieved a important goal ahead of time–the elimination of measles. However, in the WHO South-East Asia Region, some 5 million children miss their measles vaccination every year, which prompted six countries in the region–Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nepal and Thailand–to share their immunization challenges and […]The post India, Thailand and other Southeastern Asian countries meet to speed up measles elimination appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Several times over the years I see media outlets use hyperbolic and sensationalized headlines and stories in serious topics in the world of outbreaks and infectious diseases. Whether it be about plague or Ebola, this type of news story inevitably occurs. The latest come from the Sunday Express in the UK–the news source that frequently […]The post Media outlet tries to link Olympic norovirus outbreak to North Korea bio-attack appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

One human H7N9 avian influenza case was reported in Zhongshan City, Guangdong province, China, according to a Guangdong Provincial Health and Family Planning Commission news release Saturday (computer translated). Surveillance showed no evidence of H7N9 virus changes in human infectivity, virulence and interpersonal transmission. Experts suggest that the overall mortality rate of H7N9 patients is about 30-40%, annual […]The post H7N9 avian influenza infection reported in Guangdong province appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A suspected anthrax outbreak in the Black Sea coast city of Trabzon, in northeastern Turkey has affected 73 people, killing one, according to the Turkish news source, Hurriyet Daily News. A anthrax-tainted cow was butchered in the city’s Akçabat district and the meat was distributed to neighbors. The Trabzon Governor’s Office said an investigation was launched into […]The post Turkey: Suspected anthrax outbreak kills one, infects dozens appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Northwestern Health Unit (NWHU) has been notified of cases of mumps in some communities in the region. Mumps is a viral illness that can be prevented by vaccination. There is no treatment for mumps. The unit typically hears of one or two mumps cases each year, but this year, that number is more than 20 […]The post Mumps cases up in northwestern Ontario appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

During a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) flu outbreak update Friday, CDC Acting Director Dr. Anne Schuchat gave us the news nobody wanted to hear–the latest tracking data indicate that influenza activity is still on the rise overall, in fact, we may be on track to beat some recent records. Schuchat said, “In the past five […]The post Schuchat on flu outbreak: ‘We may be on track to beat some recent records’ appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Amid skyrocketing rates of syphilis, particularly among young people and men-who-have-sex-with-men, AHF deploys a frank and graphic image of syphilis sores in its latest STD prevention billboard campaign. AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) is launching its latest outdoor advertising campaign with new billboards warning that “Syphilis is Serious” going up around Los Angeles starting the week […]The post ‘Syphilis is Serious’: AHF raises alarm with new billboard appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the Mombasa, Kenya chikungunya outbreak, health officials report today that the outbreak has been contained. The outbreak that started in mid-December 2017 resulted in 453 cases, of which 32 were confirmed, according to the health ministry. LISTEN: Chikungunya: An interview with Dr Roger Nasci Chikungunya is a viral disease transmitted by the bite […]The post Mombasa chikungunya outbreak contained: Officials appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Officials with the Zamboanga City Health Office 101 suspected measles cases in January, which represents a significant increase (1343 percent) compared to Jan. 2017, according to a Zamboanga Today report. Sangali and Calarian barangays (villages) reported the most cases. The number of measles cases reported exceeds outbreak threshold levels and health officials will strengthen advocacy campaigns to help convince […]The post Zamboanga reports 1300% increase in measles last month appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The number of confirmed norovirus cases reported at the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in PyeongChang, South Korea has risen by 11, including seven security staff at the Horeb Youth Centre, bringing the outbreak total to 139. While the source of the outbreak has not been pinpointed, the PyeongChang Organizing Committee for the 2018 Olympic & Paralympic […]The post Norovirus outbreak rises by 11, KCDC implements many measures appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the Raws for Paws recall, Minnesota health and agriculture officials report investigating two cases of Salmonella Reading infection in two Twin Cities children. The children became ill in January after the raw ground turkey food for pets was fed to pets in their home. The Salmonella strain found in the children is the same as was […]The post Minnesota investigates two human Salmonella cases linked to Raws for Paws pet food appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Guinea Ministry of Health reported Wednesday (computer translated) on the first Lassa fever case/death in a resident in more than two decades. The Guinea resident sought out medical care in Liberia in early January and died and was buried in Liberia soon after. The Guinea government says they are investigating the case and 28 contacts are […]The post Guinea reports 1st Lassa fever case since 1996 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Since the end of January, the State Serum Institute has investigated a disease outbreak of contagious hepatitis caused by hepatitis A virus infections, according to Fødevarestyrelsen (computer translated). The outbreak thus includes 14 patients, seven women and seven men aged 17-79 years. Patients have become ill from December 2017 onwards. Patients are resident throughout the country and 13 […]The post Denmark investigates hepatitis A outbreak, dates suspected appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Allegheny County health officials reported a confirmed measles case in an Allegheny County resident. The resident diagnosed with measles was potentially contagious from January 17-25, 2018. During that time, the individual was on the Carnegie Mellon University campus and also rode Port Authority of Allegheny County buses between Oakland and Squirrel Hill multiple times during that […]The post Measles confirmed in Pittsburgh area appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Pennsylvania has been the land of Lyme disease, reporting the most cases in the country for more than 10 consecutive years. Governor Tom Wolf, in his 2018-2019 budget, is proposing $2.5 million to implement recommendations from the 2015 Lyme Disease in Pennsylvania Report, issued by the Task Force on Lyme Disease and Related Tick-Borne Diseases. The initiative […]The post Pennsylvania: Gov. Wolf proposes $2.5 million to battle Lyme disease appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

An 18th confirmed case of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus (cVDPV) was reported this week in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), according to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative this week. A circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) case from Ankoro district, Tanganyika province, with onset of paralysis on 20 November 2017. The total number of officially reported cVDPV2 cases in the DRC […]The post DRC reports 18th circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus case of 2017 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh (UW-Oshkosh) and The Winnebago County Public Health Department are reporting an increase number of people on the campus affected by norovirus. As of Thursday, approximately 40 students have reported norovirus-like symptoms. Most of the affected students live in residence halls. Campus officials are asking faculty, staff and students to self-report if symptoms are present. Norovirus can cause […]The post University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh reports norovirus outbreak, dozens affected appeared first on Outbreak News Today.