Outbreak News Today

January is Schistosomiasis Awareness and Mass Drug Administration month in the Philippines, according to the Department of Health Calendar 2018. Schistosomiasis, also known as bilharzia, is a disease caused by parasitic worms. More than 200 million people are infected worldwide. In terms of impact this disease is second only to malaria as the most devastating […]The post Philippines: January is Schistosomiasis Awareness month appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Two El Toro Mexican Restaurants in the Tacoma, WA area were recently closed by local health officials due to a suspected norovirus outbreak, according to the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department. As of yesterday afternoon, 232 ill customers from the 5716 N. 26th St. in Tacoma location and four at the restaurant’s University Place location, 3820 Bridgeport Way W. have been reported. […]The post Suspected norovirus prompts closure of two Tacoma area restaurants appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Indiana University and state and local health officials are investigating a confirmed case of measles on the Bloomington campus. The university is working with the Monroe County Health Department and the Indiana State Department of Health to identify and directly notify anyone who may have been in close contact with the student and to implement […]The post Indiana University: Measles confirmed on Bloomington campus appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Two vaccines that the World Health Organization lists as priority vaccines for prequalification and that are made by Chinese vaccine manufacturers – bivalent Oral Poliomyelitis Vaccine (bOPV) and hepatitis A vaccine (HAV) – have just received prequalification by WHO. Prequalification means that WHO has given the vaccine its stamp of approval in safety and efficacy […]The post Polio and Hepatitis A vaccines made in China are prequalified by WHO appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the cholera outbreak in Zambia, health officials, with help from WHO and partners, commenced a cholera vaccination campaign today to vaccinate residents of Lusaka. Two million doses of the oral cholera vaccine from the Gavi-funded global stockpile were delivered to Zambia in January, enough to immunize 1 million people. According to Health Minister […]The post Cholera vaccination campaign begins in Lusaka: ‘One of the worst outbreaks in years’ appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

An experimental treatment developed from cattle plasma for Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) coronavirus infection shows broad potential, according to a small clinical trial led by National Institutes of Health scientists and their colleagues. The treatment, SAB-301, was safe and well tolerated by healthy volunteers, with only minor reactions documented. The first confirmed case of […]The post Experimental MERS treatment shows broad potential in trial appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Many experts say a flu pandemic is clearly on the horizon, so the question is– Are we ready for a flu pandemic? My guest today says- not so much -as he outlined in a NY Times op-ed earlier this week. CIDRAP director, Michael Osterholm PhD joined me to discuss his views on why he believes […]The post The flu pandemic clock is ticking: Are we ready? appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O157:H7 (STEC O157:H7) outbreak in the United States, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), several states, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration continue to investigate a multistate outbreak of 24 STEC O157:H7 infections in 15 states. This is up seven cases. Health officials say the likely source of […]The post E. coli outbreak in US: Likely source is leafy greens appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

For the second time in a year, a noted physician has come out publicly equating Donald Trump’s behavior to late stage or neurosyphilis. If you remember last February, infectious disease physician, Dr. Steven Beutler wrote a piece in the New Republic speculating that neurosyphilis may be the cause of Trump’s “bizarre, volatile behavior”. Listen: The Donald Trump neurosyphilis […]The post Swedish bacteriologist ‘jokes’ about Trump and late stage syphilis appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Evershing International Trading Company is recalling 16 ounces Coconut Tree Brand Frozen Shredded Coconut (Item number 331223, UPC 05216-44081) because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, according to an Food and Drug Administration announcement last week. This recall is limited to Lot SE07A1, but the lot number is only printed on the case. […]The post Salmonella prompts recall of frozen shredded coconut appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

With a mortality rate of up to 88 percent, Marburg virus can rip through a community in days. In 2005, an outbreak of Marburg virus struck a pediatric ward in the country of Angola. With no treatment available, doctors struggled to help as the virus killed 329 of 374 infected patients. Now, scientists at The […]The post Marburg treatment: Researchers discover how MR191 targets and neutralizes the virus appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

It appears that the 2017-2018 influenza season will be a rough one based on early reports. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported in their most recent Weekly Influenza Report that influenza activity increased sharply in the United States. In fact, widespread influenza activity was reported by 46 states. With this season’s flu vaccine showing […]The post Flu season: Manufacturers say they have ‘sufficient’ Tamiflu, Relenza appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Taeniasis is a parasitic disease due to infection with tapeworms belonging to the genus Taenia. Three tapeworm species cause taeniasis in humans, Taenia solium, Taenia saginata and Taenia asiatica. On today’s show, I will be talking to my guest, Parasitology teacher, author and friend of the show, Rosemary Drisdelle about the beef tapeworm, Taenia saginata. Parasites: Tales of Humanity’s […]The post Taenia saginata: The beef tapeworm appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The latest report from the Global Polio Eradication Initiative shows that 21 wild poliovirus cases were reported in 2017 from two countries–Afghanistan and Pakistan. The question some are asking is –Is 2018 the year we make history and see zero cases of polio? Rotary International has been integral in this amazing success in the battle […]The post Rotary International and the battle against polio appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Taiwanese health officials reported today of a confirmed chikungunya case in Filipino worker. The patient, a 29-year-old male, was detected with fever upon arrival in Kaohsiung International Airport on Jan 2. According to the epidemiological investigation, the case traveled alone and was originally planning to work in southern Taiwan after arriving on January 2. When […]The post Taiwan report chikungunya case in Filipino worker appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a travel notice Monday for Indonesia after a number of countries reported measles in returning travelers. Health officials in Australia, Canada, and Taiwan have reported several cases of measles in travelers returning from Indonesia, including the island of Bali. Measles is a disease caused by a […]The post Travel health: Measles in Indonesia prompts CDC notice appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

According to the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH), reported cases of gonorrhea are increasing quickly in Iowa. Preliminary Iowa data indicate 3,600 cases of gonorrhea in 2017. This would be a 145 percent increase since 2013. There were 2,600 cases reported in 2016. In Iowa, increases are occurring in both women and men and […]The post Iowa: Gonorrhea cases ‘increasing quickly’, disproportionate rates found in African Americans appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a news release Monday, The Director-General of WHO, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus outlined his vision for a Madagascar free of plague epidemics during a three-day visit to the island nation that started on 7 January 2018. “Madagascar can make plague epidemics a thing of the past through strategic investments in its health system – including better access […]The post Madagascar can make plague epidemics a thing of the past: WHO Director-General appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Replacing the popular contraceptive shot known as DMPA with alternative methods of contraception could help protect women in sub-Saharan Africa and other high-risk regions from becoming infected with HIV, according to a comprehensive review of available evidence published in the journal Endocrine Reviews. “Human studies suggest DMPA use may raise the risk of HIV infection in […]The post DMPA use may raise the risk of HIV infection in exposed women: Study appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Health officials in the Bio Bio Region of Chile are reporting a large outbreak of Salmonella that has affected scores of people, according to local media (computer translated). The outbreak has been linked to homemade mayonnaise from the local “Dulce y Salado” in the city of Lota. The Seremi de Salud Bío Bío confirmed 174 cases of […]The post Chile reports largest Salmonella outbreak in years, linked to homemade mayonnaise appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Fads and movements on what we do and don’t put in our bodies seem to plague the US and latest one has originated out of California. There has been a huge demand in Silicon Valley for very expensive “raw water”. Raw water is supposedly unfiltered, untreated, unsterilized spring water according to a NY Times report. […]The post Raw water: ‘In defiance of everything science tells us’ appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up report on the measles outbreak in the Dublin and Meath areas of Ireland, 22 confirmed measles cases have been reported since the first two cases were reported in October. Most cases have occurred in the Dublin area (n=13) and nine in the North East (Meath (n=6), Cavan (n=1), Louth (n=2). Most cases […]The post Ireland measles outbreak: No new cases in Dublin in weeks appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Three cases of a suspected viral hemorrhagic fever, epidemiologically linked by time and place, were reported from Yirol East county, in the Eastern Lakes State, South Sudan, according to the National Ministry of Health. All three cases ended in death. No etiology has been identified to date. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the following details of the […]The post South Sudan: Suspected viral hemorrhagic fever cluster reported in Eastern Lakes State appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the Utah hepatitis A outbreak, health officials have reported 124 cases in the current outbreak. The onset of illness ranges from May through Dec 2017. Several cases have been linked by investigation and/or viral sequencing to a national outbreak of hepatitis A involving cases in California and Arizona. More than half the […]The post Utah hepatitis A outbreak up to 124 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Repeated vaccination for influenza in older adults reduced the severity of the virus and reduced hospital admissions, found new research published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) A team of Spanish researchers looked at the effect of repeated influenza vaccinations in the current and 3 previous seasons in people aged 65 years and older admitted to […]The post Flu shots: Repeated influenza vaccination helps prevent severe flu in older adults appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Salt Lake County health officials announced that customers of the 7-Eleven convenience store at 2666 West 7800 South in West Jordan who used the restroom at the store or consumed certain items on specific dates should contact the health department for information about receiving an injection to prevent hepatitis A. This possible exposure affects only this single 7-Eleven […]The post Utah: Hepatitis A warning for patrons of Salt Lake County 7-Eleven appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

As winter approaches, increasing cases of infectious diseases like respiratory infectious disease have been reported globally. In China, the healthcare systems of many provinces remind people to pay attention to infectious diseases that more often occur in winter. These diseases include the flu, chickenpox, scarlet fever, and norovirus gastroenteritis, which can be easily spread from […]The post China: Protecting yourself from common infectious diseases in winter appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Hawaii Department of Health (DOH) is investigating two cases of hepatitis A in Kauai residents. Symptoms began from November 2017, and investigation is ongoing. The strain of the virus in both cases appears to be the same one currently circulating in California. “As our investigators continue their work, we want to remind Hawaii residents […]The post Hawaii: Two hepatitis A cases reported in Kauai residents appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported in their most recent Weekly Influenza Report that influenza activity increased sharply in the United States. In fact, widespread influenza activity was reported by 46 states. In Arizona, health officials report influenza activity is at record levels in the state and there are several hospitals statewide experiencing long […]The post Arizona: ER wait times long as flu activity reaches record levels appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

An old drug supercharged by University of Queensland researchers has emerged as a new antibiotic that could destroy some of the world’s most dangerous superbugs. The supercharge technique , led by Dr Mark Blaskovich and Professor Matt Cooper from UQ’s Institute for Molecular Bioscience (IMB), potentially could revitalise other antibiotics. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria – superbugs – […]The post Battling ‘superbugs’: Re-engineering existing drugs to overcome bacterial resistance appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The same proteins that mount a potent immune response to Zika viral infection can also harm the placenta and fetal development, according to a Yale-led study published in Science Immunology. Zika researchers had established that these antiviral proteins, known as type I interferons, were required to fight Zika infection in mothers. But it was not clear […]The post Zika immune response: Type 1 interferons can also harm the placenta and fetal development appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Department of Health of Valle del Cauca temporarily closed the Davita SAS hemodialysis services following an Ralstonia pickettii that has infected scores since December, according to an El Pais report (computer translated). According to the investigations carried out by the Inspection, Surveillance and Control Group of the Departmental Health Secretariat, on December 11, 2017, Davita […]The post Colombia: Ralstonia pickettii contamination prompts closure of Davita hemodialysis service appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In this podcast from a Outbreak News This Week Radio Show interview from Jun. 2016, we examine the ABCs of the extremely contagious viral disease, measles. I am joined by registered nurse, infection control specialist and a freelance writer, Erin Archer Kelser. Erin discusses the history of measles in the United States, symptomology, complications, the vaccine and […]The post Measles: The ABCs of this very contagious viral disease appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Officials at Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Gothenburg, Sweden have reported an additional three cases of measles , including one case that could have exposed others, according to a news release Friday (computer translated). This brings the total measles cases at the hospital to 15. Most of the 15 confirmed cases are adults and are believed to have been […]The post Measles: More cases reported at Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

For the first time since last November, Chinese health authorities are reporting a human case of avian influenza A(H5N6). The patient was a three-year-old girl from Sanming City, Fujian province who had contact with live poultry before the onset of symptoms. The patient had recovered after medical treatment and her close contacts remain asymptomatic. The case was confirmed positive for H5N6 […]The post H5N6 avian influenza confirmed in Fujian province, China child appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The dangerous bacterial infection, Melioidosis, is one of seven communicable diseases they will be keeping their eye on in 2018. The National News Bureau of Thailand reports that the Department of Disease Control (DDC) is predicting 100 deaths from Melioidosis this year and 3,000 people infected. Health officials are encouraging farmers to thoroughly cleanse themselves after coming into contact […]The post Thailand: Health officials predict 100 Melioidosis deaths in 2018 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Hawaii Department of Health is reporting that the current outbreak is the worst in decades and those affected are not primarily young children. The very large outbreak is affecting primarily adults and adolescents in Hawaii– Adults between the ages of 20 and early 40s and adolescents 10 years old and above, health officials note. In […]The post Hawaii mumps outbreak: ‘By far the worst in several decades’ appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

With tick-borne diseases on the rise in the Empire State–approximately 8,000 cases of Lyme disease, 700 cases of anaplasmosis, 400 cases of babesiosis, 100 cases of ehrlichiosis, and 30 cases of other tick-borne illnesses reported to the Department of Health annually, not to count the unreported, it’s a huge public health issue in the state […]The post New York: Gov Cuomo proposes Lyme working group, Wadsworth to work on improving diagnostics, treatment appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The successes of vaccines in the battle with infectious diseases is quite clear with the dramatic drop in measles deaths, the elimination of smallpox and the near elimination of polio, just to name a few. However, there is a growing anti-vaccine movement despite this and my guest, Dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at […]The post The growing anti-vaccine movement: A discussion with Dr Peter Hotez appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Antibiotic resistance, Sexually transmitted diseases,Vaccine preventable diseases and septic shock. These important infectious disease topics and others were featured in a recent “Year-in-review”article on Forbes entitled, Infectious Disease Roundup 2017 — The Year In Review . The author, infectious disease physician Judy Stone, MD, joined me to give her thoughts– scientific, medical and political– on these issues. Read […]The post Infectious diseases Year-in-review 2017 with Dr Judy Stone appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

For the first time in three years, Latvia has reported confirmed measles cases, according to a Delfi report (computer translated). Four cases of measles infection among adults have been laboratory confirmed reports the Center for Disease Prevention and Control (SPKC). All the patients are hospitalized for their illness. The report doesn’t state ages or vaccination […]The post Latvia reports first measles cases since 2014 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

AuroMedics Pharma is voluntarily recalling one lot of Ampicillin and Sulbactam for Injection USP, 1.5 g in a Single-Dose vial (equivalent to 1 g ampicillin as the sodium salt plus 0.5 g Sulbactam as the sodium salt), to the hospital level. Lot AFO l 17001-A, Expiry date Dec 2018 has been found to contain glass […]The post AuroMedics Ampicillin and Sulbactam for Injection lot recalled over glass particles appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

At least three Chagas disease cases have been reported from the southernmost municipality of Lábrea in Amazonas state, Brazil, according to a globo.com report (computer translated). Amazonas Health Surveillance Foundation (FVS-AM) and the Municipal Secretariat of Health of Labrea (Semsa-Lábrea) are investigating the cases to determine if the disease was contracted through the consumption of contaminated acai. According […]The post Chagas cases linked to possible contaminated acai reported in southern Amazonas appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Japan health officials saw the number of syphilis cases double from 2015 to 2016, with some 4500 cases reported. Now, the National Institute of Infectious Diseases recently reported that in 2017, the number of cases of the sexually transmitted infection has easily topped 5000 with 5534 cases through Dec. 17 (Excel). Tokyo has seen the most cases […]The post Syphilis cases top 5500 in Japan appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Los Angeles County health officials have reported the first case of sexually transmitted Zika infection in a resident of Los Angeles County. A male resident, who traveled to Mexico, developed symptomatic Zika infection in early November. His female partner, who did not travel, subsequently developed symptomatic Zika infection after his return to Los Angeles County. […]The post Los Angeles: 1st sexually transmitted Zika infection reported appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A team of researchers at the University of California San Diego has developed macrophage “nanosponges” that can safely absorb and remove molecules from the bloodstream that are known to trigger sepsis. These macrophage nanosponges, which are nanoparticles cloaked in the cell membranes of macrophages, have so far improved survival rates in mice with sepsis. This […]The post Sepsis news: Macrophage ‘nanosponges’ can remove ‘triggers’ appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Since November 2016, Mesa County, CO health officials have been reported 17 cases of pertussis, or whooping cough, prompting calls to to ensure the public is up-to-date on DTaP and Tdap vaccination to avoid getting sick. Mesa County saw just one case during the same period last year. The vast majority of cases reported are under […]The post Colorado: Mesa County reports increases in whooping cough appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Yemen World Health Organization (WHO) spokesman, Tarik Jasarevic announced today that the diphtheria case count in war-torn Yemen has risen to 471 cases , killing 46 since mid-August 2016. “The overall case fatality ratio is 10 percent,” he said. The hardest hit Yemeni provinces include Ibb and Hudaydah. The diphtheria outbreak is just one portion of the worst […]The post Diphtheria cases rise in Yemen, Bangladesh appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The New Mexico Corrections Department (NMCD) is collaborating with epidemiologists at the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) to investigate two confirmed cases of chickenpox at the Otero County Prison facility. Two inmates tested positive for varicella (chickenpox) last Friday .The Corrections Department has adopted NMDOH’s recommendations for limiting the spread of disease in the […]The post New Mexico: Health officials work to contain chickenpox at Otero County Prison appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Achaogen, Inc., a late-stage biopharmaceutical company developing innovative antibacterials addressing multi-drug resistant (MDR) gram-negative infections, announced this week that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted for review the Company’s New Drug Application (NDA) for plazomicin for the treatment of complicated urinary tract infections (cUTI), including pyelonephritis, and bloodstream infections (BSI) due to […]The post Investigational drug, Plazomicin, for treating multi-drug resistant (MDR) gram-negative infections gets FDA Priority Review appeared first on Outbreak News Today.