Outbreak News Today

In a follow-up to the Q fever outbreak in Osorno Province, Los Lagos Region in southern Chile, officials now put the confirmed cases at 32–29 in Osorno and 3 in Llanquihue, according to a BioBio Chile report (computer translated). According to the latest epidemiological report, there are 167 cases classified as “suspicious and compatible with Q fever”. The disease emerged […]The post Chile Q fever update: 32 confirmed cases appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A Grosse Pointe Park, MI man, 63-year-old Arthur Rathburn was convicted this week by a jury on charges of wire fraud, transportation of hazardous material, and false statements in a scheme involving the distribution of body parts, some that tested positive for diseases, including HIV and hepatitis. United States Attorney Matthew Schneider stated, “The jury has delivered […]The post Michigan man, Arthur Rathburn, convicted for fraud scheme involving distributing infectious disease laden body parts appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Since the beginning of 2018, a total number of 107 suspected Lassa fever cases have been recorded in ten States: Edo, Ondo, Bauchi, Nasarawa, Ebonyi, Anambra, Benue, Kogi, Imo and Lagos States. As at 21st January 2018, the total number of confirmed cases is 61, with 16 deaths recorded. Ten health care workers have been […]The post Nigeria reports 16 Lassa fever deaths this year to date appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Regional Ministerial Health Secretariat confirms the first case of Hantavirus infection of the year in La Araucanía in central Chile, according to the results delivered by the Molecular Virology Laboratory of the Austral University of Valdivia. The patient is a 56-year-old male patient, residing in the rural area of the district of Victoria, according […]The post 1st hantavirus case of the year reported in The Araucanía Region appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Researchers have developed a universal vaccine to combat influenza A viruses that produces long-lasting immunity in mice and protects them against the limitations of seasonal flu vaccines, according to a study led by Georgia State University. Influenza, a contagious respiratory illness that infects the nose, throat and lungs, is among the leading causes of death […]The post Universal influenza A vaccine developed: Produces long-lasting immunity in mice appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

According to a Brazil Ministry of Health yellow fever update Tuesday (computer translated), Brazil recorded 130 cases of yellow fever in the country, of which 53 died in the period from July 1, 2017 to January 23 of this year. This compares with the period from July 2016 to January 23, 2017, when there were 397 […]The post Yellow fever in Brazil: 53 deaths since July 2017 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Texas state health officials issued a measles health advisory Tuesday due to an outbreak of the extremely contagious disease. The Texas Department of State Health Services reports an outbreak of six confirmed cases in Ellis County, just south of Dallas. Health officials say all of the individuals were unvaccinated. Last week, state health officials reported that […]The post Measles outbreak reported in Ellis County, Texas; All patients unvaccinated appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

More than four months after San Diego County Board of Supervisors ratified a local health emergency for the hepatitis A outbreak, they approved a motion ending it Tuesday. The decision was made after reporting no new cases associated with the local hepatitis A outbreak during the past four weeks. Health officials note that today’s action does not mean […]The post San Diego County ends local public health emergency over hepatitis A outbreak appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up to a report last week, during a news conference today in Kampala, Uganda, Minister of Health, Dr Jane Ruth Aceng reported additional cases of the serious viral infections in the country. “Since Aug. 2017, when suspected cases were reported, four cases of the Crimean- Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) have been confirmed and five cases […]The post Uganda health minister reports on more Rift Valley Fever, Crimean- Congo Hemorrhagic Fever appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up to a report last summer, Mars Ireland announced Monday that it is recalling a limited number of products due to the potential presence of Salmonella. The products were accidentally placed on the market after the company issued a recall in June 2017. The following candy products are affected: […]The post Candy recall: Mars Ireland recalls Galaxy bars, Maltesers Fun Size due to Salmonella potential appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

JustFoodForDogs (JFFD) of Los Alamitos, CA, is voluntarily recalling its Beef & Russet Potato, Fish & Sweet Potato and Turducken dog food meals in all sizes. JFFD uses 100% USDA and other restaurant grade ingredients in all of its pet food, and because the green beans used in these meals may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, the company […]The post California: JustFoodForDogs dog food recalled due to possible Listeria contamination appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Yemen is experiencing the worst diphtheria outbreak since 1989–716 suspected cases and 52 deaths to date– and the people at Save the Children warn that could get worse. The death toll from Yemen’s diphtheria outbreak is likely to rise if a Saudi-led naval blockade continues to prevent vital supplies from entering the country, Save the […]The post Yemen’s worst diphtheria outbreak in three decades appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

On the Sunday, Jan. 21 Outbreak News This Week Radio Show we look at the rabies death in Florida and the rabies immune globulin brand director with Kedrion Biopharma, Peter Costa, MPH joined me to discuss rabies and the things that must be done if you’re exposed. I also go over the influenza situation in Florida […]The post Outbreak News Radio: Rabies exposure; Prepared for a flu pandemic? appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Vietnam health officials reported an increase of some 63,000 dengue fever cases in 2017 over the year before, although less dengue-related fatalities were reported. In 2017, 184,741 cases of dengue were reported in Vietnam, including 32 deaths. This compares with 122,020 cases/43 deaths in 2016. The country reported very sharp spikes in July and August last […]The post Vietnam reports increase in dengue cases in 2017 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A major review by UNSW Sydney medical researchers has identified strong evidence that a virus called Enterovirus D68 is the cause of a mystery polio-like illness that has paralysed children in the US, Canada and Europe. The study, by a team led by UNSW Professor Raina MacIntyre, Director of the NHMRC Centre for Research Excellence […]The post Enterovirus D68 the likely cause of mystery polio-like illness: Sydney researchers appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The World Health Organization (WHO) is reporting a Lassa fever outbreak in Benin in four individuals who developed symptoms while residing in Nigeria and subsequently travelled to Benin. Three of the cases were fatal. The index case was a 35 year-old male residing in Nigeria but originally from Nadoba village in Togo, which borders the […]The post Lassa fever: Four cases reported in Benin via Nigeria appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Three family members contracted suspected foodborne botulism, resulting in the deaths of the father and mother, according to the the Nigerian Centres for Disease Control (NCDC). Fish appears to be the common food source. The event descriptions of the two fatalities is provided by the World Health Organization (WHO): The woman, a 47 year-old, presented […]The post Botulism outbreak kills two in Nigeria appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the flu situation in the United Kingdom this season, seasonal flu activity levels have continued to increase in the last week across the UK but various indicators show the rate of increase is slowing, according to a Public Health England (PHE) report. The statistics show over the last week there has been […]The post UK health officials: This is the ‘most significant’ flu season as far as hospital admissions since 2011 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In what is being described as “The Teddy Roosevelt effect,” a deadly fungus in the Pacific Northwest may have arrived from Brazil via the Panama Canal, according to a new study led by the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen). Cryptococcus gattii — which until a 1999 outbreak in British Columbia’s Vancouver Island was considered primarily a […]The post Cryptococcus gattii: How did it end up in the Pacific Northwest? appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Ukraine is rated as the worst in Europe as far as measles-vaccination coverage with the Ukraine Health Ministry saying that the coverage was below 50 percent in recent years. During all of 2017, 4782 cases of measles were registered. In the first two weeks of 2018, The Ukraine Health Ministry (computer translated) has already put the […]The post Measles outbreak in Ukraine: 1285 cases in first two weeks of 2018 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Sato Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. obtained marketing and manufacturing approval for the oral antifungal agent NAILIN Capsules 100mg containing the active ingredient fosravuconazole L-lysine ethanolate (fosravuconazole) for the treatment of onychomycosis in Japan on January 19, 2018. Sato Pharma and Eisai Co., Ltd. are jointly providing information on its proper use. Fosravuconazole, the active ingredient of […]The post Oral antifungal drug, NAILIN, receives approval for treatment of onychomycosis in Japan appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a travel notice Friday for the country of Serbia due to a measles outbreak. According to Serbia’s Institute for Public Health (computer translated), since Oct. 2017, 1,227 measles cases have been reported through Jan. 19. Measles is a disease caused by a virus that is spread […]The post CDC issues travel notice for Serbia over measles outbreak appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The government of Minas Gerais state in southeastern Brazil decreed Saturday a public health emergency situation in three regional state for six months because of yellow fever. The measure covers the regional health units of the municipalities of Belo Horizonte, Itabira and Ponte Nova – 94 cities in total, according to a Jornal do Brazil report […]The post Minas Gerais declares yellow fever ‘state of emergency’ appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

International travelers who are going to any area of the state of São Paulo, Brazil should get vaccinated against yellow fever, according to updated recommendations issued by the World Health Organization (WHO)’s last week. Travelers should get the vaccine at least 10 days before traveling. This recommendation takes into account recent yellow fever activity in […]The post Yellow fever vaccine recommended for travelers to São Paulo; Netherlands report imported case appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Chrysomya bezziana, the Old World screw-worm, is a primary myiasis-producing fly that attacks a wide range of warm-blooded animals throughout Africa, the Indian sub-continent, and Southeast Asia from Taiwan in the north to Papua New Guinea in the south. On Friday, Dr Him Hoo Yap, Chief Veterinary Officer, Director General, Deputy CEO, Regulatory Programmes and Operations, […]The post Screwworm infestation at Singapore Zoo now resolved appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Tularemia is an infectious bacterial disease that is life-threatening for rodents, rabbits and hares, but which can also infect humans and dogs. While contact with contaminated blood or meat makes hunters a high-risk group, the frequency of infections among hunting dogs has not been much studied. Researchers from Vetmeduni Vienna have now confirmed a relevant […]The post Tularemia: Hunting dogs as possible vectors for the infectious disease appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up to a report earlier this week, The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is reporting a second confirmed case of measles. This case of measles is unrelated to the case IDPH reported on January 14, 2018. Health officials say it is important to note that these two individuals did not become infected while […]The post Illinois: Unrelated second confirmed case of measles reported, NO outbreak at O’Hare appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the meningococcal disease case in a student from Linus Pauling Middle School in Corvallis, Benton County, OR officials are now reporting that the case is unrelated to the string of meningococcal disease cases seen at Oregon State University (OSU) over the past 15 months or so. Instead of the serogroup B […]The post Meningococcal disease C confirmed in Linus Pauling student, different from OSU cases appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Senator and Dr. Rand Paul of Kentucky along with Senators Ed Markey (Massachusetts), Maggie Hassan (New Hampshire), and Susan Collins (Maine) introduced legislation this week to expand access to treatment for opioid addiction called the Addiction Treatment Access Improvement Act of 2018. The legislation codifies a 2016 regulation that expanded the number of patients qualified physicians […]The post Opioids treatment: Sens. Paul, Markey, Collins and Hassan introduce Addiction Treatment Access Improvement Act of 2018 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

San Diego County health officials have recorded a record number of influenza deaths this season and a California deer mouse caught in routine trapping in the Santa Ysabel area has tested positive for hantavirus. Flu deaths A total of 142 flu deaths have been reported through Jan. 13, 2018, the highest ever since the County began […]The post San Diego: Record number of flu deaths, 1st hantavirus positive mouse of 2018 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Officials with the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) are advising “jungle trekking” tourists to seek medical attention this winter season if they develop fever and headache due to the risk of two vector borne diseases–scrub typhus and malaria, according to a The Nation report. Though the two diseases occur year-round, the numbers of cases rise during […]The post Thai health officials issue scrub typhus warning for ‘jungle trekkers’ appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported influenza activity increased in the United States during the second week of January. Forty-nine out of 50 states are reporting widespread influenza. This includes Florida where state health officials say flu activity is high and continues to increase. Officials say a review of historical data indicate current […]The post Florida flu: Increases observed in all regions appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

It is easier to spread the influenza virus (flu) than previously thought, according to a new University of Maryland-led study released this week. People commonly believe that they can catch the flu by exposure to droplets from an infected person’s coughs or sneezes or by touching contaminated surfaces. But, new information about flu transmission reveals […]The post Flu study: ‘We found that flu cases contaminated the air around them with infectious virus just by breathing, without coughing or sneezing’ appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In 2017, there were only 20 villages with cases of Guinea worm disease in two countries, both in Africa, compared to 23,735 villages in 21 countries on two continents in 1991. From January through December 2017, there were 30 indigenous Guinea worm cases reported provisionally in isolated areas of Chad and Ethiopia, the Carter Center […]The post Guinea worm disease: 30 cases reported in 2017, a slight increase appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Federal and state health officials announced the investigation into a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Montevideo infections sickening eight people in three states–Wisconsin (5), Illinois (2) and Minnesota (1). Epidemiologic evidence indicates that raw sprouts served at Jimmy John’s restaurants are a likely source of this multistate outbreak. Ill people in this outbreak report eating raw sprouts on sandwiches served […]The post Salmonella outbreak linked to raw sprouts served at Jimmy John’s appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The internet is flooded with stories about a sushi loving guy and his 5 ft. tapeworm in Fresno, CA that was discussed on a podcast recently. Often when you think of the parasite risk with raw sushi, you often think of the roundworm, Anisakis sp. However, in this case it appears the young patient was infected with […]The post Sushi and parasites: Low risk, but still exists appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Department of Health (DOH) reported that it has extended assistance to 27 Dengvaxia-vaccinated schoolchildren aged between 11 and 16 years old from Central Luzon. The types of assistance given include ambulance service to transport patients dengue screening tests for out-patient consults and hospitalization through Philhealth and the DOH Medical Assistance Program for patients who […]The post Pampanga: Assistance given to more than two dozen Dengvaxia-vaccinated children appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Since the last update last week on the norovirus outbreak linked to two El Toro Restaurant locations in the Tacoma, WA area, more than 100 additional cases have been reported. According to the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department, a total of 542 cases–520 from the Tacoma location and 22 suspect cases from the University Place location. There is lab […]The post Norovirus update: El Toro outbreaks account for more than 500 cases appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

UAlberta researchers created a new synthetic virus that could lead to the development of a more effective vaccine against smallpox. The discovery demonstrates how techniques based on the use of synthetic DNA can be used to advance public health measures. Virologist David Evans and his research associate Ryan Noyce produced an infectious horsepox virus, which […]The post Synthetic horsepox virus could lead to a better smallpox vaccine: U of A researchers appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Maine Centers for Disease Control (Maine CDC) released the end-of-year data for 2017 reportable diseases recently and we find that the three common tickborne diseases–Lyme disease, babesiosis and anaplasmosis-are all up from the year prior. Concerning Lyme disease, 1787 cases were reported, a record high, up from 1464 in 2016. This is also well […]The post Lyme disease, other tickborne infections up in Maine in 2017 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A Corvallis, Oregon middle school student is hospitalized and recovering from meningococcal disease, according to to school officials this week. On Sunday, January 14, 2018, a Linus Pauling student was hospitalized with a confirmed case of meningococcal disease. The Benton County Health Department is investigating this case thoroughly with the support of the Corvallis School District and […]The post Oregon meningococcal disease: Linus Pauling Middle school student hospitalized appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Scientists working to control a human outbreak of monkeypox virus (MPXV) in Nigeria performed genetic sequencing of patient samples, revealing that the outbreak likely originated from a source within the country. Their results emphasize the value of local surveillance for the early detection of viral spillovers and the need for advanced genetic characterization to help […]The post Nigeria monkeypox: ‘Index case appears not to be imported’ appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In just a matter of a few days, the Listeriosis outbreak, described as the ” largest documented listeriosis outbreak South Africa has ever experienced”, has grown by 19 cases, with a new outbreak total of 767 laboratory-confirmed listeriosis cases as of Jan. 16. The National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) now puts the death toll at 81. New […]The post South Africa: More Listeriosis cases and deaths, What’s being done? appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Health officials in Davao City in the southern Philippines are reporting a recent increase in measles cases, according to a SunStar report yesterday. The report notes that 16 measles cases were confirmed by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) in Manila and health officials say another 222 suspected cases based on symptoms. The first case […]The post Davao City reports increase in measles appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The University of Pennsylvania’s large animal hospital, New Bolton Center in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, is under a self-imposed equine quarantine for Equine Herpes Myeloencephalitis (EHM). New Bolton Center has canceled all elective, equine appointments pending further instructions from the regional state veterinarian. New Bolton Center will receive equine or camelid (also susceptible to Equine Herpesvirus […]The post University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center under equine quarantine due to horse virus appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up in the rapidly spreading diphtheria outbreak in Yemen, Communications and media officer for the World Health Organization (WHO), Ms. Fadela Chaib said at a press briefing Tuesday that the current numbers are 678 probable diphtheria cases and 48 associated deaths reported with a case fatality rate of 7 percent. Nineteen governorates out of 23 were […]The post UN briefing on Yemen crisis: Diphtheria cases continue to rise, cholera decreasing appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Sadly, as many of you may know, a 6-year-old Eustis, Florida boy lost his battle with rabies earlier this week after contracting the lethal virus through a scratch from a bat. A Orlando hospital and the team of providers attempted the experimental Milwaukee protocol in an attempt to save his life but unfortunately it fell […]The post Rabies: What should you do if you’re exposed? appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Yesterday, GeoVax Labs, Inc. announced the publication of its manuscript entitled “A Single-Dose of Modified Vaccinia Ankara Expressing Ebola Virus Like Particles Protects Nonhuman Primates from Lethal Ebola Virus Challenge” in the peer-reviewed open access journal Scientific Reports by Nature Research, which shows that a single intramuscular (IM) dose of GeoVax’s Ebola vaccine (GEO-EM01) provided 100% protection in […]The post Ebola vaccine study results published: 100% protection in Ebola challenged rhesus macaques appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Some 59 children have died from a combination of measles and malnutrition in the remote Asmat region, Papua province, Indonesia, according to a Daily Sabah report. The Associated Press reports that Indonesian health authorities are struggling to battle the measles outbreak due to a lack of access to remote areas, insufficient personnel and the high mobility […]The post Indonesia: Measles kills dozens of toddlers in Papua appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Eastern Health is advising the public of an increase in cases of parotitis and mumps in the eastern region of Newfoundland and Labrador. Since December 2017, there have been 19 cases of parotitis reported by physicians in the eastern region. Parotitis is the swelling of the parotid or salivary glands on one or both sides […]The post Canada: Mumps increases reported in eastern Newfoundland appeared first on Outbreak News Today.