Outbreak News Today

The number of plague cases have topped 1800 in Madagascar, including 1,111 pneumonic plague cases, according to new data released by WHO. From 1 August to 30 October 2017, a total of 1,801 suspected cases of plague, including 127 deaths (case fatality rate 7%), were reported. Of these, 1,111 (62%) were clinically classified as pulmonary […]The post Plague cases top 1800: ‘The epidemic indicators are in a decreasing phase’ appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A new study suggests that healthcare professionals (HCPs) should heed to their own advice: stay home when sick. Some four in 10 HCPs work while experiencing influenza-like illness (ILI), according to findings published in the November issue of the American Journal of Infection Control (AJIC), the journal of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC). As […]The post 40 percent of healthcare professionals work when sick: Survey appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Researchers from the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) Cochrane Infectious Diseases Group published two systematic reviews this week about the safety of mefloquine (Lariam) for preventing malaria in travellers. “Mefloquine is at least as effective as other options” says Dr Tickell-Painter, the lead author on both papers, “but patients and policy-makers also need reliable […]The post Malaria: Effectiveness and side effects of mefloquine examined in reviews appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In an update on the brucellosis outbreak reported among students at a Paraguay veterinary school, an Ultima Hora report Monday (computer translated) states that two additional cases have been confirmed, bringing the total to four students and professors. In addition, there are 44 people suspected of being infected with the bacteria. The report says upon […]The post Brucella outbreak at Paraguay vet school update appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Health officials in Saint Lucia, an island located in the eastern Caribbean Sea, have noted an increase of the bacterial infection, leptospirosis, and have advised the public. Officials say that although increases in the number cases of leptospirosis is not unusual after periods of heavy rains or flooding, it remains an issue of concern to health […]The post Saint Lucia reports increase of leptospirosis appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

There are three main genera of free living amoeba that infect humans — Acanthamoeba, Balamuthia, Naegleria that are are important causes of disease in humans and animals. The topic for today’s podcast will be one of them– Acanthamoeba. Acanthamoeba is a microscopic, free-living amoeba that can cause rare, but severe infections of the eye, skin, and central nervous system. Joining me to […]The post Acanthamoeba: A rare and potentially blinding parasite appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Detroit Health Department is investigating two separate cases of Hepatitis A. The first case is in connection with a Detroit resident who works at Firewater Bar and Grill located at 6521 John R. St. The second case involves another Detroit resident who works as a crew member at Little Caesars Pizza located at 12712 […]The post Detroit: Hepatitis A prompts warning to patrons of Firewater Bar and Grill and Little Caesars Pizza appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The number of confirmed and probable mumps cases at Syracuse University (SU) continue to rise with the latest count at 29 and 64, respectively. The surge in the contagious viral disease prompted local health officials last week to reverse course on whether to recommend a third “outbreak” dose of Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine. The […]The post Syracuse mumps cases continue to rise, How effective is 3rd MMR vaccine? appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In an update to the multistate outbreak of multidrug-resistant Campylobacter infections linked to Petland pet store puppies, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports an additional 12 cases, bringing the total to 67. The cases were reported from 15 states, with Ohio seeing the most cases at 24. About a quarter of the total cases required hospitalization […]The post Campylobacter outbreak up a dozen cases appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Vaxart, Inc., a privately-held, clinical stage biotechnology company developing oral recombinant vaccines administered by tablet rather than by injection, announced today that its H1 influenza oral tablet vaccine demonstrated similar protection against influenza virus as the market-leading injectable quadrivalent influenza vaccine (QIV) in a clinical trial. These results met the efficacy objectives of the Phase […]The post Influenza: Oral tablet vaccine shows promise in Phase 2 challenge study appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the locally-acquired malaria situation in Cape Verde, or Cabo Verde, the total number of cases reported in the city of Praia on Santiago Island has climbed to 343, including 40 new locally acquired malaria cases reported last week. One death has been reported. Most cases are reported in adult males and all cases […]The post Cabo Verde: More indigenous malaria reported appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Egg-Based Production Causes Virus to Target Bird Cells, Making Vaccine Less Effective According to a new study from scientists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI), the common practice of growing influenza vaccine components in chicken eggs disrupts the major antibody target site on the virus surface, rendering the flu vaccine less effective in humans. “Now […]The post Flu vaccines: Why egg-based vaccine production is causing problems appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

While plague cases continue to be reported in Madagascar, health officials say the situation is improving as evidenced by 16 previously affected districts reported no new confirmed or probable cases of pulmonary plague during the past two weeks, which is creating some optimism. “This is the beginning of the end of the epidemic if we maintain […]The post Madagascar plague situation improving: ‘This is the beginning of the end of the epidemic, if we maintain vigilance’ appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Researchers at the University of Maryland and Duke University have designed a novel protein-sugar vaccine candidate that, in an animal model, stimulated an immune response against sugars that form a protective shield around HIV. The molecule could one day become part of a successful HIV vaccine. “An obstacle to creating an effective HIV vaccine is […]The post HIV vaccine candidate: Spurs animals to produce antibodies against protective sugars of multiple HIV strains appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The number of cryptosporidium cases in Lucas County, OH is up dramatically this year and health officials are finding few commonalities between the cases and have not yet located its origin, according to a Toledo Blade report Friday. There has been 123 cases reported to date in 2017 compared to 36 during the same period last […]The post Ohio: Toledo area reports increase in ‘crypto’ cases: ‘It’s hard to figure out what is going on’ appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Scientists may finally understand how the rabies virus can drastically change its host’s behavior to help spread the disease, which kills about 59,000 people annually. A new study published in the journal Scientific Reports shows how a small piece of the rabies virus can bind to and inhibit certain receptors in the brain that play a crucial […]The post Rabies research: Scientists show how the virus induces frenzied behaviors appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the suspected plague situation on Seychelles, the World Health Organization (WHO) published the following news release that includes a timeline, public health response anda risk assessment: On 10 October 2017, the Seychellois Ministry of Health notified WHO of a probable case of pneumonic plague. The probable case had visited Madagascar and […]The post Seychelles: No confirmed plague, all contacts discharged appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Officials with Public Health – Seattle & King County are investigating an outbreak of gastroenteritis with vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea associated with Subway restaurant located in Normandy Park. Last week, health officials learned of eight people from two separate groups who became ill after eating food from the restaurant on October 22, 2017. While laboratory confirmation is not available, symptoms […]The post Washington: Norovirus outbreak linked to Normandy Park Subway appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The populations found in the Americas of Plasmodium vivax, one of the main human malaria parasites, are as genetically diverse as those found in Southeast Asia, where malaria transmission is much more frequent. Because P. falciparum, the predominant species of malaria parasite, displays low genetic diversity in the Americas compared with other regions, scientists believed the same […]The post Plasmodium vivax in the Americas is more genetically diverse than previously thought appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Chilean authorities are seeking international advice after dozens of people in the southern part of the country contracted the infection, Q fever, according to a Cooperativa report (computer translated). Undersecretary of Health, Jaime Burrows, explained that the 43 patients are inhabitants of the region of Los Lagos and Los Ríos, in southern Chile, and twenty […]The post Dozens sickened with Q fever in southern Chile outbreak appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Lymphatic filariasis is a parasitic disease that is transmitted to humans, like malaria and yellow fever, via a mosquito bite. However, unlike those acute infections, lymphatic filariasis may not manifest itself for years or decades after the initial infection. The worms affect the lymphatic system in the body. The lymphatic system is responsible for removing waste […]The post Kenya: Man with severe elephantiasis has successful reduction surgery (Video) appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

If you think only infants suffer from eczema, think again. The uncomfortable, itchy rash that most people relate to babies and young children occurs frequently in adults. Although many adults with atopic dermatitis (commonly known as eczema) develop the disease in childhood and carry it through life, a large number are first diagnosed in adulthood […]The post Eczema: New treatments help those with mild, moderate and severe cases appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Westchester County Department of Health is recommending that individuals who ate or drank at bartaco, a restaurant in Port Chester, between October 14th and October 23rd receive preventive treatment against Hepatitis A, a viral illness that affects the liver. The health department learned on October 25th that an employee with the illness worked at the […]The post Hepatitis A: Patrons of Port Chester restaurant warned of possible exposure appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In what is a very rare occurrence in the United States, a resident from Highlands County, Florida has died from rabies likely following a bat bite, according to local media accounts. The Florida Department of Health says the bite victim did not seek treatment/undergo post-exposure treatment protocols. “It is important to avoid direct contact with wildlife,” […]The post Rabies: Highlands County, Florida resident dies, Bat bite suspected appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up to a report last week, Ireland health officials reported two additional confirmed measles cases in the Dublin and Meath areas, bringing the total to seven. The Measles Outbreak Control Team continues to investigate and advise on measures to control the further spread of this potentially serious illness. Alerts regarding measles have been […]The post Measles update: Two additional cases reported in Dublin area appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Health officials have reported an additional fatality due the “brain-eating amoeba”, Naegleria fowleri in a male resident from North Karachi, according to a local news source. This brings the deaths due to the parasite to six for the year. The report notes: Millions of Karachi residents remain most at risk from the bug since the […]The post Karachi: Another ‘brain-eating amoeba’ death reported, 6th of year appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Researchers at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine, with colleagues in Brazil, report that the Zika virus is transmitted from mother to fetus by infected cells that, ironically, will later develop into the brain’s first and primary form of defense against invasive pathogens. The findings are published in the current online issue […]The post Zika: Discovery may explain how virus is transmitted from pregnant women to their unborn children appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The number of confirmed monkeypox cases has risen to nine, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). According to The Minister of State for Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, six additional monkeypox cases were confirmed from the following states: two cases each in Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom States, one in Enugu State and one in the Federal […]The post Monkeypox update: 9 confirmed cases reported in Nigeria appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) outbreak in Uganda, the Ministry of Health reported in an update Thursday that the number of cumulative cases has grown to 9 – two confirmed, four suspected, three probable cases. Six cases have been ruled out. In Kween district, health officials managed to get a high risk […]The post Marburg outbreak: Uganda Health Ministry puts case tally at 9 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Local and state public health officials continue to investigate a large hepatitis A outbreak in southeastern Michigan. Recently, there has been a concerning increase in confirmed hepatitis A cases among men who have sex with men (MSM). As part of the ongoing investigation, residents are encouraged to be aware of the associated risk factors, and […]The post Michigan hepatitis A outbreak: Increase among MSM reported recently appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

We’ve seen a number of reports on the case/death counts in Madagascar due to the plague outbreak–both from local health and global health officials with sometimes dramatically different numbers. In the latest report from WHO, we see that total cases and deaths now stand at 1309 suspected cases of plague, including 93 deaths (7%). Of these, […]The post New cases of pneumonic plague has continued to decline in all active areas across Madagascar appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Senator Sue Serino (R, C, I-Hyde Park) and Senator Kemp Hannon (R-Nassau) today released a comprehensive report aimed at combatting the spread of Lyme and tick-borne diseases (TBDs) in the state. Based on the findings presented at a public hearing convened by the senators, the report highlights the immediate need for a statewide action plan, […]The post Lyme and tick-borne diseases in New York: State Senators call for statewide action plan appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A study led by Dr William Hentley from the University of Sheffield’s Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, suggests that leaving worn clothes exposed in sleeping areas when travelling may facilitate the dispersal of bed bugs. Bed bugs have recently undergone a global resurgence, which has been partly attributed to an increase in low cost […]The post Bed bugs: Travelers dirty laundry facilitates dispersal appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

New York City health officials have reported an additional Legionnaires’ disease case in the downtown Flushing cluster, bringing the total cases to 13. The vast majority have been relased from the hospital and no deaths have been reported. Of the more than four dozen cooling towers in the area sampled, ten contained Legionella DNA in preliminary […]The post Flushing: Additional Legionnaires’ disease case reported in cluster appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Western Sydney Local Health District (WSLHD) Public Health Unit is reporting three cases of Legionnaires’ disease in residents of Oatlands Garden Retirement Village. All cases occurred in older men. Two were diagnosed on 19 October and have since been discharged from hospital, and the other was diagnosed yesterday and is in a stable condition in […]The post Legionnaires’ disease cluster reported at NSW retirement community appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Georgia state and local health officials report that norovirus has been identified as the etiology of the rash of gastrointestinal illnesses in recent weeks on the campus of Georgia Tech. Norovirus was confirmed in samples by both the Fulton County Department of Health and Wellness (FCDH) and Emory University on Wednesday. Stamps Health Services say it is […]The post Norovirus identified as GI illness spreading at Georgia Tech appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In 2016, an estimated 90 000 people died from measles – an 84% drop from more than 550 000 deaths in 2000 – according to a new report published today by leading health organizations. This marks the first time global measles deaths have fallen below 100 000 per year. “Saving an average of 1.3 million lives […]The post Measles deaths drop below 100,000 globally for the first time: WHO appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

At least 17 people, including several children have contracted the parasitic infection, trichinosis, after eating smoked brown bear cub in Kataiga village in the Tomsk region of Russia, according to a Tass report (computer translated). “The fact of poisoning is confirmed, 12 people were hospitalized, one victim was taken to Tomsk to SibGMU clinics.” All in all, there […]The post Trichinosis outbreak linked to brown bear meat in Tomsk, Russia appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Outpatient antibiotic use is a primary risk factor for acquiring Clostridium difficile infection in the community, reinforcing the need for appropriate prescribing in this setting, a new study published in Open Forum Infectious Diseases confirms. The findings also suggest that a recent visit to the emergency department, independent of antibiotic use, may also be a risk factor […]The post Clostridium difficile infection primary risk factor is outpatient antibiotics: Study appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

After a brutal dengue season earlier this year in Vietnam, the numbers of cases are steadily decreasing. Through Oct. 15, the country has reported 152,924 cases of dengue, including 30 deaths. While the number of cases are higher than previous years, a definite downward trend is being seen. For example, in the two most recent weeks […]The post Vietnam dengue tally tops 150,000, Downward trend continues appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

More than 104,095 cholera / acute watery diarrhea (AWD) cases and 1562 deaths (Case Fatality Rate: 1.5%) have been reported in 12 of 21 countries of Eastern and Southern Africa Region (ESAR) since the beginning of 2017. These countries include; Angola, Burundi, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Somalia accounts […]The post Cholera outbreaks in 12 Eastern and Southern African countries appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A typhoid outbreak that began in June in the North Korean province of Ryanggang, on the China border, has the country’s health officials struggling to contain the spread of the disease, according to a North Korea Now report. While there is scant detail on the outbreak, the report notes that typhoid related deaths are increasing among the […]The post North Korea battles typhoid outbreak in Ryanggang Province appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The New York City Health Department is investigating a community cluster of Legionnaires’ disease cases in downtown Flushing, Queens. A total of 12 patients have been confirmed with Legionnaires’ disease in the area in the past two weeks. Most patients had serious underlying health conditions. The patients range in age from early 30s to late […]The post Legionnaires’ disease cluster reported in downtown Flushing, Queens appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on our initial report of leptospirosis in Puerto Rico post Hurricane Maria, the state epidemiologist for Puerto Rico, Dr. Carmen Deseda said at least 76 cases of suspected and confirmed leptospirosis, including a handful of deaths, have now been reported a month after Hurricane Maria struck and devastated the island. Two deaths involved leptospirosis confirmed […]The post Leptospirosis cases rise in Puerto Rico, May become more prevalent appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

State and local health officials in Virginia continue the Salmonella outbreak investigation linked to the Chincoteague Chili Chowder Cook Off, which was held in late September. The Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services (DCLS) in Richmond, Virginia, first identified Salmonella javiana in human specimens that were submitted by healthcare providers and health officials from event attendees who reported […]The post Virginia: Salmonella detected in Crab Shack Clam Chowder, 180 sickened to date in outbreak appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In recent years, hospitals nationwide have been reporting an increase in life-threatening illnesses resulting from a deadly fungal infection caused by the yeast Candida auris that can enter the bloodstream. This yeast is difficult to identity and often does not respond to commonly used antifungal drugs, leading to high mortality. According to the latest data from the […]The post Candida auris: Rutgers researchers awarded $300K to study fungal pathogen appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

On today’s podcast, my special expert guest, Parasitology teacher and author of Parasites: Tales of Humanity’s Most Unwelcome Guests, Rosemary Drisdelle and I continue our look into the wonderful world of human parasites sticking with the intestinal nematodes–Trichuris trichiura or whipworm. Along with the other soil-transmitted helminths we’ve discussed, hookworms, and Ascaris lumbricoides, they infect more than 1.5 billion people globally, or 24% […]The post Parasites 101: Whipworm appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

An Australian teen was recently diagnosed with a parasitic infection that she contracted some six years ago, according to a Yahoo Australia news report today. According to the report, Carly Goff contracted the then unknown parasite after eating undercooked fish while on vacation in Fiji. The parasite was recently identified as the parasitic nematode, Gnathostoma. According to the […]The post Gnathostomiasis identified as cause of Australian teen’s illness years after infection appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Picture a brand-new, unsharpened pencil. The graphite at its core can’t be used for writing until a pencil sharpener chews away its wooden tip. Now picture microcin B17, an antibiotic that kills E. coli bacteria. Before being activated, it lies embedded in a structure called a prodrug, like the core of an unsharpened “molecular pencil.” […]The post Discovery of ‘molecular pencil sharpener’ could lead to new antibacterial agents and drugs to combat toxins appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Onondaga County Health Department had previously not recommended a third measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) booster vaccination for the Syracuse University (SU) community, but things have changed. Health officials are now working with SU and the New York State Department of Health in planning clinics to offer a booster dose of the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) […]The post Mumps outbreak: Syracuse University to offer MMR booster as case count climbs appeared first on Outbreak News Today.