Outbreak News Today

A measles outbreak investigation can be a very expensive task as was demonstrated in the Minnesota outbreak earlier this year when some 79 mostly children were infected costing the health department $2.3 million during the five-month outbreak. Recently in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), an analysis was published looking at the Public Health […]The post The cost of measles: A CDC review appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

According to the South African National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), sporadic listeriosis cases are reported in the country. The first documented outbreaks of listeriosis were in 1977. Between August 1977 to April 1978, 14 cases were reported in the Johannesburg area. In 2017, the NICD reports a total of 557 laboratory-confirmed listeriosis cases from all provinces […]The post South Africa reports Listeriosis outbreak, most cases in Gauteng province appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a correspondence to ProMED Mail, officials with the Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital in Kathmandu are reporting the first ever case of rat-bite fever (RBF) in Nepal. According to the message: On 3 Dec 2017, a 56-year-old female from Panauti municipality, (Kavrepalanchok district) visited our hospital (out-patient department, Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital) presenting […]The post Nepal reports 1st ever case of rat-bite fever appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Ministry of Health (MOH) in French Polynesia has officially confirmed at least three cases of Salmonella in Taravao, and a “suspect” case that has resulted in death, according to a MOH press release in late November (computer translated). These infections were reported to the Bureau de veille sanitaire between 20 and 28 November. Above all, […]The post Tahiti: Salmonella cases reported in Taravao appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is alerting the public to a recall of Comforts FOR BABY Purified Water with Fluoride with certain sell by dates, sold by Kroger in various affiliated stores, due to potential mold contamination. The Kroger Company has recalled Comforts FOR BABY Purified Water with Fluoride Added 1 GAL (3.78 L) […]The post Kroger: Mold prompts recall of Comforts FOR BABY Purified Water with Fluoride appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The current and unprecedented outbreak of plague in Madagascar, which started on Aug 1, has been contained, according to the Ministry of Health of Madagascar last Monday. However, because plague is endemic in Madagascar and the plague season lasts from September to April, more cases of bubonic and sporadic pneumonic plague are expected to be reported […]The post Madagascar MOH officially announces the containment of the acute urban pneumonic plague outbreak appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Treating neurocysticercosis (NCC), an infection of the brain with tapeworm larvae, often leads to inflammation and seizures when the parasites in the brain die. Now, researchers have reported in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, using an animal model, that pretreatment with the anti-tumor necrosis factor drug etanercept (ETN) is a viable strategy to manage this post-treatment […]The post New neurocysticercosis treatment investigated appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Yemenis face serious mental health risks, but the issue is being neglected, says a new study released today by Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health and the Sana’a Center for Strategic Studies, Columbia Law School’s Human Rights Clinic. The groups announced the start of a groundbreaking new joint project to research and improve mental […]The post Suicides, depression and PTSD: All concerns in war-torn Yemen appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A research team at the University of Kent has established the first long-term cultivation system at a laboratory scale for the parasite Cryptosporidium, one of the world’s worst and most common causes of diarrhea and death from diarrhea. Cryptosporidium causes the diarrheal disease Cryptosporidiosis, which is usually spread by contaminated water supplies. The important role […]The post Cryptosporidium cultivation system will transform research on parasite appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Mumps is a contagious viral illness, characterized by fever, headaches, and swollen salivary glands under the jaw (pictured). Meningitis, encephalitis, permanent hearing loss, and other serious complications can also occur. During the past five years, Alaska received an average of <1 case report per year. However, State of Alaska DHSS puts the case count in Anchorage at […]The post Mumps cases up big in Anchorage, Alaska appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the diphtheria re-emergence in Yemen, UN health officials say the outbreak of the vaccine-preventable disease has grown to 197 cases, including 22 deaths mostly children and young adults – in the last three months. Most diphtheria cases and deaths have been reported in Ibb governorate but the outbreak is spreading fast, already […]The post Diphtheria’s alarming comeback in war torn Yemen: Nearly 200 cases appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the measles outbreaks reported in the cities of Leeds, Liverpool and Birmingham, Public Health England (PHE) reports that the outbreaks are linked to travel to other areas of Europe and advise the public to ensure vaccinations are up to date prior to traveling this Christmas season. As of 29 November 2017, […]The post England measles outbreaks linked to ongoing large outbreaks in Europe: PHE appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Just days after Middlesex-London Health officials reported an invasive group A streptococcus (iGAS) outbreak that has resulted in nine fatalities in 2017, Toronto health officials have confirmed 10 group A streptococcus deaths this year, according to a CBC report Saturday. Toronto Public Health (TPH) says 115 cases of iGAS have been reported in 2017. This figure includes the 18-month-long […]The post Toronto officials report 10 deaths due to a group A streptococcus in 2017 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Ministry of Heath has declared a national outbreak of whooping cough, as a total of 1,315 cases have been reported since the beginning of 2017. “Babies under one year old are most vulnerable to the disease and often catch it from older siblings, their parents or family members and friends,” said Ministry of Health […]The post New Zealand: National outbreak of whooping cough declared appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease affecting more than 250 million people worldwide – despite the scale of infection and the existence of a cheap and effective treatment, this disease of poverty and its patients remain highly neglected. Now, researchers have established a strong link between a genital form of schistosomiasis and a highly increased risk of […]The post Female Genital Schistosomiasis: treating schistosomiasis to reduce HIV transmission appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

For the fourth time this year, Florida health officials are reporting a human West Nile virus (WNV) case. On Friday, the Florida Department of Health in Volusia County (DOH-Volusia) confirmed a case of WNV infection. While none of the county’s sentinel chickens have tested positive for antibodies to the virus, this single case increases the […]The post Florida reports 4th West Nile virus case, this one in Volusia County appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

An increase this year in the number of cases of flea-borne typhus across multiple areas of the state is prompting the Texas Department of State Health Services to remind people to take precautions to prevent contracting the disease. A health alert issued today asks providers to consider a diagnosis of flea-borne typhus for people with fever and […]The post Typhus increase prompts Texas health alert appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

For the first time since May, San Luis Obispo County (SLO) health officials have reported a death due to the fungal infection, Valley Fever, or coccidioidomycosis, making it the sixth of the year. According to local media, tThe latest person to die of the disease was a man who lived south of the Cuesta Grade. He died […]The post San Luis Obispo County: 6th Valley fever death of 2017 reported appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

For the first time in several months, Chinese health authorities are reporting a human case of avian influenza A(H7N9). This is from Yunnan province. The 64-year-old male patient from Kunming, who was known to have contact with dead poultry, had onset on November 21 and was in a serious condition. “This is the first human case […]The post China reports H7N9 avian influenza case in Yunnan province appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Officials in La Libertad, Peru are carrying out a fumigation campaign in the District Municipality of Chocope, Ascope province after the presence of the agent of plague, Yersinia pestis, was confirmed in fleas found on sewer rodents, according to a El Comercio report (computer translated). In addition, the National Institute of Health (INS) issued a report […]The post Peru: Plague infected fleas found in sewer rats in La Libertad appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

During the past decade, 2016 saw the most Vibrio vulnificus cases in Florida topping out at 46. That record didn’t last long as state health officials have reported 48 cases in 2017 to date. Counties reporting the most cases include Collier with 5 and Hillsborough and Lee counties with 4 each and Brevard, Citrus, Escambia, […]The post Florida reports the most Vibrio vulnificus cases in a decade appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

We first reported on giant African snails (Lissachatina fulica) in Cuba in 2014 in the Havana municipality of Arroyo Naranjo, which was unknown to the island before that. A more recent article published in the Spanish language news source, La Jornada (computer translated), thousand of the snails were reported in the Metropolitan Park of Havana. On Thursday, Outbreak […]The post Cuba: Giant African snails proliferating in the area of Miramar, Havana appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Montserrat and Saint Kitts and Nevis were today certified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as having eliminated mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis. “This elimination is the result of our strong political commitment to public health and of making the health of mothers, children and families a […]The post Caribbean: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Montserrat, and Saint Kitts and Nevis eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Washington state health officials are reporting a Salmonella outbreak that sickened 18 people in several counties and in Oregon. Eighteen people from King (5), Mason (1), Pierce (1), Snohomish (7), Thurston (1), and Yakima (1) counties and two individuals from Oregon have been diagnosed with Salmonella. The outbreak is linked to pre-cut watermelon, cantaloupe, or fruit mixes […]The post Pre-cut watermelon, cantaloupe linked to Salmonella outbreak in Washington, Oregon appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Detroit health officials are investigating two cases of hepatitis A in employees of a McDonald’s and the Greektown Casino. On Tuesday, health officials announced investigating a Hepatitis A case in connection with a Detroit resident who works as a crew member at McDonald’s in Detroit located at 2889 West Grand Blvd. They issued the following […]The post Detroit: Hepatitis A cases investigated at McDonald’s, Greektown Casino appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Millions of children in the poorest countries could soon be protected against typhoid fever following the Gavi Board’s approval today of a support window for typhoid conjugate vaccines (TCVs). “Typhoid fever imposes a dramatic burden on children in the poorest nations affecting countries, communities and families,” said Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Gavi Board Chair. “This disease […]The post Typhoid vaccine to be introduced in endemic countries: Gavi appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Philippines Department of Health (DOH) announced today that they will will be putting the dengue vaccination program on hold following a preliminary briefing on updated information on the dengue vaccine, Dengvaxia, received from Sanofi Pasteur on Wednesday. Based on the report, the Dengue vaccine has shown consistent and sustained benefit for those who were previously […]The post Philippines: Dengue vaccination program put on hold after new information appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Mathematical models have proven the risk of the on-going pneumonic plague epidemic in Madagascar spreading elsewhere in the world is limited, with the estimated number of exported cases staying below 0.1 person in each country between August 1 and October 17. The study also estimated the epidemic’s basic reproduction number, or the average number of […]The post Madagascar pneumonic plague epidemic: Global risk is very low appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

It appears an anthrax-tainted cow served at a feast resulted in some 100 people being treated for the bacterial infection at the Longisa County Referral Hospital in Bomet, according to a Kenyan news source. As of this report, anthrax has not been confirmed in the cow or the patients. Seven people were admitted to the hospital in serious […]The post Kenya: 100 people treated for anthrax in Bomet appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

According to the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), The Tick-Borne Disease Working Group was established by Congress in 2016 as part of the 21st Century Cures Act to provide subject matter expertise and to review federal efforts related to all tick-borne diseases, to help ensure interagency coordination and minimize overlap, and to examine research priorities. DHHS […]The post Tick-Borne Disease Working Group to hold first meeting next month appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a New England Journal of Medicine perspective, experts from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, and the World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza in Melbourne discuss how the process of preparing seasonal influenza vaccines in eggs may contribute to their […]The post Flu vaccines: The shortcomings and the need for a ‘universal’ vaccine appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the meningococcal disease situation at the University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass), state and federal health officials have determined that the two cases of meningococcal illness on campus originated from a single strain of genetically identical organisms. For this reason, this meningococcal disease should be considered an outbreak. University Health Services (UHS) recommends that […]The post Meningococcal disease outbreak at UMass: Vaccine clinics start tomorrow for Bexsero appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up to the hepatitis A outbreak in Utah, state public health has identified 95 confirmed cases of hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection; many among persons who are homeless and/or using illicit drugs, since the beginning of the year. 87 are outbreak-associated cases. Sixty-six of the cases, or nearly 76 % were reported from Salt […]The post Utah hepatitis A outbreak update: 75 percent from Salt Lake County appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Small amounts of artificial vanilla extract, also known as vanillin, are in a wide range of products, from baked goods to perfumes. But vanillin’s versatility doesn’t stop there. In a recent mouse study reported in ACS’ Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, researchers report that this compound could also prevent or reduce psoriatic skin inflammation. Psoriasis […]The post Vanillin can prevent or reduce psoriasis: Study appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

During the week ending Nov 25, Nigerian health officials reported 14 new confirmed monkeypox cases in the outbreak that began in September, bringing the total confirmed cases to 56. According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the new cases were reported in the following states: Benue (1), Cross River (3), Edo (1), FCT (2), Imo […]The post Monkeypox: 14 additional cases reported in Nigeria outbreak appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Health officials in Nova Scotia are advising the public to check their vaccination status and be mindful of how to prevent spreading and catching of the mumps virus as the number of cases have risen to 13 in the Halifax area. “We currently have a growing cluster of mumps cases in the Halifax area and […]The post Mumps cluster reported in Halifax appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In the most recent update from the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), they reported seven new circulating vaccine derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) cases–four from Mayadeen and three from Boukamal districts, Deir Ez-Zor governorate. This brings the total cases to 70 this year in Syria–Mayadeen (55), Boukamal (11) and one each in Deir Ez-Zor, Tell […]The post The battle against Vaccine derived poliovirus in Syria appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Takeda Pharmaceuticals today announced that its purified, inactivated, alum-adjuvanted, whole Zika virus vaccine candidate (TAK-426) has progressed into a Phase 1 clinical trial, approximately 15 months after Takeda received a contract to develop a Zika vaccine from the Department of Health and Human Services; Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response; Biomedical Advanced […]The post Takeda’s Zika virus vaccine candidate progresses into Phase 1 clinical trial appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

An estimated 1 in 10 medical products circulating in low- and middle-income countries is either substandard or falsified, according to new research from WHO. This means that people are taking medicines that fail to treat or prevent disease. Not only is this a waste of money for individuals and health systems that purchase these products, […]The post Fake drugs: 10 percent of medicines in developing countries are counterfeit appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

GenePOC Inc announced today that its Clostridium difficile assay, GenePOC™ CDiff, for use on the revogene™ instrument, received clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The GenePOC CDiff test targets the toxin B gene of toxigenic C. difficile strains in unformed stool specimens obtained from patients suspected of having C. difficile infection (CDI). […]The post C. diff assay receives FDA clearance appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Nine children have been confirmed positive for measles in Birmingham, prompting local health officials to call on the public to get vaccinated, according to a local media report. Public Health England (PHE) West Midlands tweeted earlier today that they are working with the Birmingham City Council to ensure the word gets out about the MMR […]The post Measles outbreak reported in Birmingham appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

GSK and Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) today announced the submission of a new drug application (NDA) by GSK to the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), seeking approval of single-dose tafenoquine for the radical cure (prevention of relapse) of Plasmodium vivax (P. vivax) malaria in patients 16 years of age and older. If approved, tafenoquine […]The post Malaria drug: GSK seeks FDA approval of single-dose tafenoquine to treat Plasmodium vivax malaria appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The San Diego County Board of Supervisors on Monday extended the local hepatitis A health emergency for another two weeks amid continuing signs the outbreak is slowing down. The Board is required to review the need for continuing the emergency, which was declared on Sept. 1, every 14 days. Public health officials told the board […]The post San Diego sees overall downward trend in hepatitis A, health emergency extended appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Three villagers from Tak Province in northwestern Thailand are being treated as suspect anthrax cases after consuming tainted goat from allegedly from neighboring Myanmar, according to local media reports. This prompted a team from Mae Sot Hospital in Tak to investigate. It was reported that the people had anthrax-like small blisters or bumps on their hands and […]The post Thailand: Suspected anthrax linked to goat meat appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Last month, a human rabies case and fatality was reported in Highlands County, the first human case of rabies acquired in Florida since 1948. Today, the Florida Department of Health reported that from Jan. 1 to Sep. 30, 60 animal rabies cases were reported across the state. Twenty-six cases were reported in raccoons, followed by bats (16), […]The post Florida reports 60 animal rabies cases through September appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Following cases of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) reported this spring and summer, the Mauritania Ministry of Health has reported an addition CCHF case last week in a 48-year-old male farmer from Haye Sakin community in Dar Nairn, at the outskirt of the capital city, Nouakchott. He fell sick on Nov. 11 and was later treated and discharged last week. […]The post Mauritania: CCHF case reported outside of Nouakchott appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Since the beginning of Oct. 2017, Zimbabwe has seen more than 1,000 typhoid fever cases in and around the capital city of Harare. According to WHO, the initial case of typhoid fever was confirmed on 17 September 2017 and the outbreak was detected in the densely populated Mbare suburb on 1 October 2017. The disease […]The post Zimbabwe: More than 1,000 typhoid cases reported in Harare area, cases declining appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Since the beginning of the year, the Liberia Ministry of Health has reported a total of 70 suspected Lassa fever cases including 21 deaths (case fatality rate 30%) from nine counties in Liberia. Out of this, 28 cases have been confirmed as Lassa virus infection, including 10 deaths from six counties. Health officials reported the most recent […]The post Liberia: Lassa fever reported in Bong County appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In 2015, Malaysia reported more than 120,000 dengue fever cases and some 320 deaths. Last year, the numbers dropped to just a hair above 100,000 and about 230 deaths. In both years, dengue was the number one rated infectious disease in the country. As 2017 comes to a close, the numbers are yet lower than […]The post Dengue still #1 infectious disease in Malaysia despite recent drop in cases appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the meningococcal disease situation at Oregon State University (OSU) in Corvallis, Benton County health officials are reporting that an additional student is being treated for meningococcal disease, the fifth case in the past year. According to health officials, the undergraduate student entered the hospital Friday and is reported to be in good condition. The […]The post Oregon State University reports 5th meningococcal disease case in past year appeared first on Outbreak News Today.