Outbreak News Today

Diphtheria is a dangerous respiratory disease is caused by a potent toxin produced by certain strains of the bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheriae. Diphtheria is extremely contagious through coughing or sneezing. Risk factors include crowding, poor hygiene, and lack of immunization. Last year in the Americas, three countries reported cases of the vaccine-preventable disease–the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Venezuela. […]The post Diphtheria: Five countries in the Americas have reported cases appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In 2016, news about the Zika virus in Brazil made the headlines in Europe for the first time. With approximately 65 million people affected, it is one of the largest epidemics in the last few years. The Olympics additionally fuelled fears that the virus could spread globally. When the first cases of newborns with microcephaly, […]The post Brazil Zika outbreak: ‘May be coming to an end’ appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In June, The Southern Nevada Health District opened an investigation into two cases of Legionnaires’ disease reported in guests who stayed separately at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, NV in March and April. Now five months later, health officials say the case tally has risen to seven, with 29 additional suspected cases. According to […]The post Las Vegas: Rio Legionnaires’ disease outbreak rise to 7 confirmed appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Auckland, New Zealand has reported the most mumps cases since 1994 with the latest data showing 802 confirmed and probable cases reported this year. Auckland Regional Public Health Service (ARPHS) reports that around 80 percent of the current cases were not fully vaccinated. The New Zealand Ministry of Health says usually, a few cases occur each year in […]The post CDC issues travel notice for New Zealand as mumps cases in Auckland top 800 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the Legionnaires’ disease outbreak linked to Anaheim, CA and Disneyland, the Orange County Health Care Agency is reporting an additional three cases bringing the total number to 15, according to an OC Register report. Eleven out of the 15 cases involve people who visited Disneyland in September including one who worked there. Health […]The post Legionnaires’ disease: Additional cases linked to Disneyland visits appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

This week is World Antibiotic Awareness Week (Nov 13-19). It’s an annual observance to raise awareness of the threat of antibiotic resistance and the importance of appropriate antibiotic prescribing and use. Chair and Professor of Medical Laboratory Science at Texas State University, Rodney Rohde, PhD joined me to discuss a variety of issues concerning antibiotic resistance, […]The post Antibiotic resistance, the ‘post-antibiotic era’ and improving antibiotic stewardship appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

On Tuesday, Onondaga County Health Commissioner Dr. Indu Gupta reported that a case of active pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) was reported in an individual affiliated with the Public Service Leadership Academy (PSLA) at Fowler High School. It is not clear if the patient is a student or a staff member. Dr. Gupta explained, “While TB is less […]The post TB confirmed at Fowler HS in Syracuse appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A research team at The University of Texas at El Paso is one step closer to developing an effective human vaccine for cutaneous leishmaniasis, a tropical disease found in Texas and Oklahoma, and affecting some U.S. troops stationed in Afghanistan and Iraq. UTEP biological sciences doctoral student Eva Iniguez; her mentors Rosa Maldonado, Ph.D., and […]The post Cutaneous leishmaniasis: Researchers one step closer to vaccine appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

More measles cases have been reported in Dublin and Meath, according to Ireland health officials. The Health Service Executive (HSE) has confirmed that there are now 17 confirmed cases of measles. There are 12 confirmed cases in Dublin with most cases in North Dublin and a smaller outbreak of measles in Meath with five confirmed cases. Children […]The post Measles: Case count rises in Dublin and Meath appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

There is little that can introduce or reintroduce a infectious disease back to a country than the chaos that surrounds war and political and social instability. We see numerous examples of this today to include diphtheria, measles and malaria reappearance in socialist Venezuela or the humanitarian crisis that continues in South Sudan. However, no country […]The post Diphtheria returns to war-torn Yemen, More than 100 cases recorded appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Scabies is a common skin condition caused by the human itch mite. People get scabies when the mite burrows into the top layer of their skin to live and feed. When the skin reacts to the mite – which is so small that you would need a microscope to see it – an extremely itchy […]The post Scabies: Dermatologists offer recommendations on what to do if you contract the human itch mite appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

On Tuesday, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) announced an increase in the number of new Valley Fever cases reported from local health departments in California through October 31, 2017, compared with the number of cases reported for the same period in 2016. From January 1 through October 31, 2017, 5,121 provisional cases of Valley Fever […]The post California reports an increase in Valley fever this year appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Today on the podcast we’ll look at the parasitic lung fluke, Paragonimus. Parasitology teacher and author, Rosemary Drisdelle joins me to discuss the life cycle, the geography of a couple of the species and how people contract this food borne trematode, or fluke. In addition, we talk about disease and symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of […]The post Paragonimus: A look at this parasitic lung fluke appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass) University Health Services (UHS) reported a second case of bacterial meningitis that was diagnosed this weekend in a student who lives in a residence hall. This student is in stable condition in an area hospital. This follows a confirmed case Meningitis serogroup B infection from late October. The most recent case’s serotype […]The post UMass reports 2nd meningitis case appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Since the Lassa fever outbreak in Nigeria began in Dec. 2016, a total of 914 suspected cases and 121 deaths have been reported, according to the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC). As of last week, the outbreak is still active in 5 states (Ondo, Edo, Lagos, Plateau and Bauchi). Two new confirmed cases were reported from […]The post Lassa fever in Nigeria: Outbreak is active in 5 states appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

According to UN and Madagascar health officials, from 7 to 10 November 2017, 86 confirmed, probable and suspect cases of plague (73 pneumonic and 9 bubonic) were reported. While the number of new cases and hospitalizations of patients due to plague is declining in Madagascar, the World Health Organization anticipates additional cases to be reported until […]The post Madagascar: The number of new cases of pneumonic plague has steadily declined since mid-October appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A new paper in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute finds that testing for cervical cancer using HPV testing in addition to the Pap smear is unlikely to detect cancer cases that wouldn’t be found using HPV testing alone. The main goal of cervical screening programs is to detect and treat precancer before cancer develops. Cytology-based […]The post HPV testing is better than the Pap test at detecting cervical cancer appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A 76-year-old woman is the fifth fatality linked to a Legionnaires’ disease outbreak in Lisbon, Portugal. According to a Spanish news source (computer translated), the number affected by the bacterial outbreak has risen to 46 since late October. The San Francisco Javier Hospital in Lisbon is the focal point of the outbreak, particularly the two cooling […]The post Lisbon Legionella outbreak claims 5th life appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Since the first case of yellow fever was reported in Ifelodun LGA in Kwara State, Nigeria in mid-September, the outbreak has expanded to a number of states, according to the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC). A yellow fever (YF) outbreak is currently active in Nigeria with three states recording confirmed cases (Kwara, Kogi, and Zamfara). However, […]The post Nigeria yellow fever update: 15 confirmed cases since September appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Since October, health officials on Trinidad and Tobago have reported a total of 15 cases and two fatalities at the San Fernando General Hospital prompting calls for the public to take measures to protect themselves from the potentially lethal bacterial infections. The risk of the infectious disease Leptospirosis is especially high in flood situations, such as after […]The post Leptospirosis reported in Trinidad and Tobago, MOH advises public on reducing risk appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the hepatitis A outbreak reported in southeastern Michigan, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) continues to see an elevated number of hepatitis A cases in the area. Since the beginning of the outbreak in August 2016 through Nov. 7, 2017, 495 cases have been recorded, including 19 deaths. Eighty-four percent […]The post Southeast Michigan hepatitis A outbreak nears 500 cases, 20 deaths appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

On the Sunday, Nov. 12 airing of the Outbreak News This Week Radio Show, several important topics were covered to include Clostrifium difficile infection (CDI), pandemic preparedness and a look back at the 2003 monkeypox outbreak in the United States. November is Clostridium difficile Awareness Month and infectious disease physician, Steven LaRosa, MD joined me for a segment […]The post C. diff Awareness Month, Pandemic preparedness on Outbreak News Radio appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

While the peak of the dengue fever outbreak in Fiji is long past, the number of cases recorded this year are triple what they were in 2016 during the same period. According to a Fiji Village report, Acting National Advisor for Communicable Diseases, Doctor Aalisha Sahu-Khan said 2,699 dengue cases have been reported year-to-date, while 889 were […]The post Dengue cases triple in Fiji in 2017 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

While Lyme disease cases in Maine appear steady according to 5-year averages through September (1,039 cases YTD), another tick-borne disease has seen a dramatic increase in the past five years. The bacteria infection, anaplasmosis has seen an increase in Maine from 94 cases reported in all of 2013 to 411 cases reported through September, according […]The post Maine reports more than 400 anaplasmosis cases through September appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Hong Kong Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health are appealing to parents, schools/institutions and healthcare professionals for heightened vigilance against scarlet fever (SF) as its activity has been increasing in the past few weeks. According to the CHP’s surveillance data, the weekly number of SF cases increased from 37 in the week […]The post Scarlet fever spikes prompt appeals for ‘heightened vigilance’ in Hong Kong appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Manifestations of Zika virus (ZIKV) infection differ drastically. Sometimes they are catastrophic, most notably when they cause microcephaly in some babies born to infected mothers. At other times, they are mild and fleeting, suggesting that unknown factors temper Zika infections’ severity. Recently, dengue virus emerged as a prime suspect because it shares many genetic and […]The post Prior dengue exposure shows ‘cross-protection’ against Zika: Study appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Risk of blood clots increases with the amount of time spent watching television, even if people get the recommended amount of physical activity, according to preliminary research presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2017, a premier global exchange of the latest advances in cardiovascular science for researchers and clinicians. “Watching TV itself isn’t […]The post Blood clots: Increased TV viewing raises risk appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A 28-year-old woman from Poti, Georgia has become the second human anthrax fatality of the year, according to a Russian news source (computer translated). Epidemiologist of the regional laboratory of the Ministry of Health of Georgia, Mak Gabunia said the individual was late in seeking medical attention, contributing to her death. Vacation Home Rentals in […]The post Georgia reports 2nd human anthrax death of 2017 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Mundo Sano Foundation are working to make an essential antiparasitic medicine for treatment of Chagas disease widely accessible to children. Treatment with benznidazole in the early stages of infection can cure the Chagas disease, but currently very few people are able to access diagnosis and treatment services. “We […]The post Making Chagas disease drug widely accessible to children: WHO and Mundo Sano Foundation appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

American University American University officials say they have been notified of an additional case of mumps by the DC Health Department (DC DOH), bringing the total to seven. The new suspected case is a student who resides in Leonard Hall and has been isolated. Of the seven Mumps cases reported, two cases now have laboratory […]The post American University reports additional mumps cases, Syracuse outbreak update appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Hawaii State Department of Health (DOH) continues to investigate an increasing number of cases of mumps infection statewide. As of Nov. 9, 557 confirmed cases of mumps have been reported in 2017 in Honolulu, Hawaii, Kauai and Maui counties. The disease has been confirmed in children and adults, both vaccinated and unvaccinated. Nearly 60% of […]The post Hawaii: More mumps cases reported appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The problems in Yemen continue to get worse as they face the largest humanitarian crisis and the worst food crisis in the world. In addition to the largest outbreak in the world, a cholera outbreak that has sickened more than 920,000 and killed about 2,200, the Nov. 6 closure of the Yemen’s airspace, sea and land ports by […]The post Yemen crisis: Closure of access increases risk of measles, diphtheria, polio and worsening of cholera outbreak appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Philippines has reported a more than 40 percent decrease in dengue cases nationwide in 2017 to date compared to the same period in 2016. During the first nine months of the year, health officials have reported a total of 97,287 dengue cases including 526 deaths. This number is 41.8% lower (167,102) than that for the […]The post Cebu dengue cases just a half of 2016 numbers appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

On Thursday, Dynavax Technologies Corporation announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved HEPLISAV-B [Hepatitis B Vaccine, Recombinant (Adjuvanted)] for prevention of infection caused by all known subtypes of hepatitis B virus in adults age 18 years and older. HEPLISAV-B is the first new hepatitis B vaccine in the United States in more than 25 years and the […]The post Hepatitis B vaccine: HEPLISAV-B is 1st approval in US in 25 years, 1st two-shot vaccine appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

About a dozen people in the Anaheim, CA area, or visitors to the area in September were diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease, according to Orange County health officials. This follows a report in late October when eight cases were being investigated. Of the 11 total that have been diagnosed with the bacterial infection, eight have a history […]The post Legionnaires’ disease outbreak in Anaheim, possible links to Disneyland appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) is working closely with Montebello Costco Wholesale to alert consumers of a possible low risk of hepatitis A exposure associated with butchered meat and seafood products that may have been contaminated by a worker with hepatitis A. This hepatitis A case does not appear to […]The post LA County: Possible Hepatitis A Exposure at Montebello Costco appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Thursday approved Merck’s PREVYMIS™ (letermovir) once-daily tablets for oral use and injection for intravenous infusion. PREVYMIS is indicated for prophylaxis of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and disease in adult CMV-seropositive recipients [R+] of an allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT). CMV is a common and potentially serious viral […]The post FDA approves CMV prevention drug, PREVYMIS, for adult stem cell transplant patients appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the Q fever outbreak in southern Chile, assistant sub-secretary of Public Health, Cristian Herrera said the situation has worsened and the case count has risen to 56, according to a local media report (computer translated). Those infected are dairy workers in Puerto Octay, Los Lagos region, who contracted the infection through contact with cows […]The post Q fever: More cases reported in Chile outbreak appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

First it was malaria and diphtheria, now in Venezuela’s Bolivar state measles has reared it’s ugly head. According to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), between the last week of August and the first of October, Bolivar State reported 570 cases of Measles, specifically in nine parishes of the Caroní municipality, of which 217 are fully […]The post Measles outbreak strikes Bolivar state, Venezuela appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Ellie, a 46-year-old Asian elephant at the Saint Louis Zoo, has tested positive for tuberculosis (TB). Zoo veterinarians and the elephant care team are preparing to start her on an appropriate treatment regimen. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Missouri Department of Agriculture and local agencies have been informed about Ellie’s test results, and the […]The post Saint Louis Zoo: Ellie the elephant tests positive for tuberculosis appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Lyme disease remains the most commonly reported vectorborne disease in the United States with confirmed cases were reported from 48 states and the District of Columbia during the period of 2008-2015, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Surveillance Summary published today. During 2008–2015, a total of 275,589 cases of Lyme disease were […]The post Lyme disease: 14 states classified as ‘high incidence’ appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Rift Valley fever virus, transmitted by mosquitoes, is responsible for outbreaks in livestock in Africa and can also be fatal in humans. Scientists from the Institut Pasteur and the CNRS, working with the University of Göttingen, have characterized the mechanism used by the virus to insert one of its envelope proteins into the host cell […]The post Rift Valley fever virus: An infection mechanism identified appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

WHO continues to support the Ministry of Public Health and other national authorities in Madagascar to monitor and respond to the outbreak of plague. Since mid-October 2017, there has been a decline in the overall incidence of the disease and the number of patients hospitalized due to plague infection across the country. From 7 […]The post Madagascar plague outbreak tops 2,000 cases: WHO appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the Legionnaires’ disease outbreak at the São Francisco Xavier Hospital in Lisbon, the General Directorate of Health (DGS) is now reporting the number of people affected by the Legionella outbreak is up to 41 people as of Thursday. Two fatalities have been reported to date and five people are still being treated in intensive […]The post Legionnaires’ disease outbreak grows linked to Lisbon hospital appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Obstructive sleep apnea(OSA) may put elderly people at greater risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease (AD), according to new research published online in the American Thoracic Society’s American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. In “Obstructive Sleep Apnea Severity Affects Amyloid Burden in Cognitively Normal Elderly: A Longitudinal Study,” researchers report that biomarkers for amyloid beta […]The post Sleep Apnea may increase risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A measles outbreak has been reported by health officials in Ukraine. The most recent data in 2017 shows that as of the end of July, Ukraine has reported 1,386 cases of measles, compared to 10 cases in the same period in 2016. Most cases of measles were reported in the Ivano-Frankivsk (637) and Odessa regions (526). […]The post Ukraine measles outbreak prompts CDC travel notice appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

November is Clostridium difficile Awareness Month . The C. diff foundation says over 41 individuals lose their life to a Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) in the United States of America alone every day — It has no boundaries — It can be acquired by anyone – at any location and at any age. Infectious disease […]The post Clostridium difficile awareness: A discussion with Steven LaRosa, MD appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Philippines reported more than 200,000 dengue fever cases during the past two years (2015 and 2016) being among the highest in Asia. However, there is some good news in 2017. During the first nine months of the year, health officials have reported a total of 97,287 dengue cases including 526 deaths. This number is 41.8% […]The post Dengue cases near 100,000 in the Philippines, dramatic decrease from last year appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The vaccine that protects against cancer-causing types of human papillomavirus (HPV) also prevents an uncommon but incurable childhood respiratory disease, according to a new study published in The Journal of Infectious Diseases. The findings suggest that the chronic and difficult-to-treat condition, recurrent respiratory papillomatosis, is disappearing in Australian children as a result of the nation’s highly […]The post HPV Vaccine Also Prevents Uncommon Childhood Respiratory Disease, Study Suggests appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Ohio health officials are advising the public, despite the colder weather, to take precautions to prevent tick bites as a steady increase in the tick-borne infection, Lyme disease has been seen in recent years. The Ohio Department of Health is reporting 241 cases of Lyme disease in 60 counties so far in 2017. Cases of Lyme […]The post Ohio reports steady increase in Lyme disease in past 5 years appeared first on Outbreak News Today.