Outbreak News Today

The New York State Department of Health reported an additional confirmed case of Powassan virus, this one in Dutchess County. This recently-confirmed case and three cases in Saratoga County from this past summer are the only confirmed cases of Powassan in New York State this year. Powassan virus is a rare viral disease that can cause symptoms ranging […]The post Powassan virus case reported in Dutchess County, 4th case in NY this year appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

New statistical simulations suggest that Northern Hemisphere flu pandemics are most likely to emerge in late spring or early summer at the tail end of the normal flu season, according to a new study published in PLOS Computational Biology by Spencer Fox of The University of Texas at Austin and his colleagues, Lauren Ancel Meyers (also at […]The post Flu pandemics are most likely to emerge in late spring or early summer: Study appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Today we learned that the Madagascar plague outbreak is spreading rapidly throughout the country with UN health officials now reporting some 1300 cases and more than 100 deaths since August. Last time I did a podcast on plague just a few short days ago, I gave a short history on the plague–the pandemic through current […]The post Plague: Transmission, pathology, diagnosis and treatment appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The large plague outbreak in Madagascar just keeps getting bigger as international health organization remain very concerned. According to the latest numbers from the World Health Organization (WHO), between 1 August and 19 October 2017, a total of 1,297 cases (suspected, probable and confirmed) including 102 deaths (case fatality rate 7.9%) have been reported. Of […]The post Madagascar plague outbreak nears 1300: ‘It is in many ways a multi-dimensional crisis’ appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Two veterinary students at the School of Veterinary Sciences of the National University of Asuncion in Paraguay have been infected with brucellosis and claim the faculty were aware that the animals were sick, according to a Ultima Hora report (computer translated). One student said in a statement that the authorities of the Faculty were aware that the […]The post Paraguay: Two veterinary students infected with Brucella at National University of Asuncion appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

BrightFarms is initiating a voluntary recall of packaged produce sold in Roundy’s Supermarkets due to the potential presence of E. coli at its Rochelle, Illinois (Ogle County) greenhouse farm. The affected BrightFarms branded products are sold at Mariano’s Markets in Illinois and Metro Market and Pick ‘n Save stores in Wisconsin. The recall includes the below salad […]The post E. coli prompts recall of spinach, kale and basil sold in Illinois and Wisconsin appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the yellow fever situation in Nigeria, local news source, The Independent reports that two cases of the mosquito borne viral disease, yellow fever have been reported in Plateau State. According to the report, Commissioner of Health in the state Dr. Kuden Kamshak Deyin said, “On the 3rd of October 2017, report of two suspected […]The post Yellow fever reported in Plateau State, Nigeria appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the foodborne disease outbreak in the small town of Columbia, LA, officials with the Louisiana Department of Health are reporting that 125 people have been identified with gastrointestinal illness, including three dozen hospitalizations. One death has been reported. Health officials are conferring with the pathologist conducting the autopsy and CDC to determine whether […]The post Salmonella, Clostridium and jambalaya, oh my! appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Department of Public Health HSE-East, has been notified of 2 confirmed cases of measles in North Dublin City. An Outbreak Control Team has been convened to investigate and control the spread of this potentially serious illness. The source of measles has not yet been identified. An alert has been sent to all Emergency Departments […]The post Ireland: Measles report in Dublin appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Trader Joe’s announced on Thursday that they were alerted the supplier of Trader Joe’s Kohlrabi Salad Blend (SKU#58614) that product with the date codes Best Before: OCT 14 2017, OCT 15 2017 and OCT 16 2017, sold in stores nationwide, may have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. No illnesses have been reported to date, and all potentially affected product has been […]The post Trader Joe’s Kohlrabi Salad Blend recalled due to Listeria potential appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

One week after Canadian officials approved GlaxoSmithKline’s shingles vaccine, Shingrix, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gave the vaccine it’s approval. The FDA on Friday approved Shingrix (Zoster Vaccine Recombinant, Adjuvanted) for the prevention of shingles (herpes zoster) in adults aged 50 years and older. Shingrix is a non-live, recombinant subunit vaccine given intramuscularly in two […]The post Shingrix vaccine gets FDA nod for the prevention of shingles appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The number of confirmed and probable mumps cases at Syracuse University has grown by 10 since out last report earlier this week. According to SU Health Services, the total is now 60 (confirmed cases: 27, probable cases: 33) as of Thursday. Mumps is a contagious disease caused by a virus. A classic symptom of mumps […]The post Mumps cases continue rise at SU appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a travel notice today for the central African country of Chad because of a cholera outbreak that started in mid-August. The Ministry of Health of Chad has reported a cholera outbreak in Koukou and Goz Beida Districts in Sila Region and Am Timan District in Salamat […]The post CDC issues travel notice for Chad due to cholera outbreak appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Sa’ad Abubakar lll is assuring parents and caregivers across Nigeria, not to link the outbreak of the Monkey pox to immunization against vaccine-preventable diseases as government and partners, including World Health Organization (WHO) are working to rapidly contain spread of the disease. Sultan Abubakar Ill made the plea when […]The post Monkeypox: 74 suspected cases reported from 11 Nigerian states, Outbreak NOT linked to vaccines appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Yesterday we reported on cases of lethal Marburg virus in Eastern Uganda. Today, the World Health Organization (WHO) published the following news release offering additional details: WHO is working to contain an outbreak of Marburg virus disease (MVD) that has appeared in eastern Uganda on the border with Kenya. At least one person is confirmed […]The post Uganda: WHO provides details on Marburg virus situation appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The number of wild poliovirus (WPV) cases reported in 2017 remains down compared to last year, particularly in Pakistan where only five wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) cases have been reported year-to-date, compared to 15 during the same period last year. In Afghanistan, an addition WPV1 case was reported in Batikot district in Nangarhar province. Paralysis onset was […]The post Afghanistan reports new polio case, More cVDPV2 in Syria appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Texas Department of State Health Services has issued a Syphilis Alert for Lubbock County. The alert is due to an increase in syphilis cases in Lubbock. During September and October 2017, 30 cases of early syphilis have been reported compared to 17 cases during the same time period in 2016. The alert asks for physicians and other […]The post Syphilis alert issued for Lubbock County appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) today issued updated interim clinical guidance for health care providers caring for infants born to mothers with possible Zika virus infection during pregnancy. This update includes information that has become available since the August 2016 release of the previous guidance. Zika virus continues to be a public health threat […]The post CDC updates guidance for infants born to mothers with possible Zika virus infection during pregnancy appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Louisiana state health officials report investigating an outbreak of Salmonella poisoning possibly associated with a local fundraiser held on Monday, in Caldwell Parish. The fundraiser was supported by many local businesses throughout the community that purchased plates of jambalaya, which is the suspected cause. The Louisiana Department of Health urges anyone who purchased food from the […]The post Jambalaya suspected as source of Salmonella outbreak in Louisiana appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The number of plague cases has topped 900 in Madagascar, with more than 600 being pulmonary plague, country health officials reported today (computer translated). Official numbers from the health ministry put the total cases at 911 (612 pulmonary forms, 175 forms bubonic and 124 unspecified), including 95 fatalities. Of the total, 554 people have been treated and released […]The post Plague cases top 900 as Mormon missionaries ready to leave Madagascar appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up to a report less than two weeks ago, the provincial health department of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province in Pakistan has reported a cumulative total of 74,820 cases of suspected dengue fever since the outbreak was first reported in mid-July. This includes 15,828 laboratory-confirmed cases and 54 deaths. The district of Peshawar has reported the […]The post Dengue update in Pakistan appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) officials have confirmed Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in an elk located within the South-Central Texas CWD Zone. The elk was harvested on a high fenced premises with common management as a property where whitetailed deer were previously confirmed to have CWD. This case was detected as part of the ranch’s […]The post Chronic Wasting Disease reported in Texas elk appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Health officials in Uganda are reporting two Marburg virus fatalities in Kween District in the eastern part of the country. According to a post by the Uganda Virus Research Institute: Uganda Virus Research Institute has confirmed cases of the deadly Marburg virus in Kween District on the western slopes of Mt. Elgon in Eastern Uganda. Two people […]The post Marburg virus: Two deaths reported in Uganda appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The nationwide Salmonella outbreak linked to frozen raw breaded chicken products total has grown and expanded to additional provinces, according Canadian health officials. The Salmonella Enteritidis infections are now reported in six provinces with additional cases reported in British Columbia (1), Alberta (1), and Ontario (3), bringing the total to 18 cases of illnesses under investigation. Here […]The post Salmonella outbreak linked to frozen raw breaded chicken expands to Alberta, BC appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

New culture-independent tests are much more sensitive than traditional diagnostic methods in detecting the cause of infectious diarrhea, a significant problem that leads to nearly 500,000 hospitalizations and more than 5,000 deaths in the United States every year. But because these tests are so sensitive and may detect multiple organisms, infectious disease expertise may be […]The post New infectious diarrhea guidelines released by IDSA appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

British health officials are reporting an increased number of Legionnaire’s disease cases in travelers to Palmanova, in Mallorca, Spain. During the past month, 17 British travelers have returned from the area with the infection. Nick Phin, Deputy Director at Public Health England said: At this time, the source is under investigation and the Spanish authorities are leading the response to this […]The post Legionnaires’ disease cases reported in British travelers to Spanish town appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up to the plague situation in Madagascar, the Ministry of Health reported today (computer translated) that the new case count is now up to 878 nationwide, including 80 deaths. Plague is endemic on the Plateaux of Madagascar, including Ankazobe District where the current outbreak originated. There is a seasonal upsurge, predominantly of the bubonic form, […]The post Plague news: Updated Madagascar case counts, Seychelles samples test negative appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Nigeria has over 120 million people at risk nationwide for the mosquito borne parasitic disease, lymphatic filariasis. The most populous country in Africa follows only India as far as endemicity. Last week, the Carter Center announced after years of work, two states, Plateau and Nasarawa, have eliminated lymphatic filariasis as a public health problem- an incredible achievement. […]The post Lymphatic filariasis in Nigeria: The battle against the disfiguring parasitic disease appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Since the cholera outbreak began in October 2010, months after the Jan. 12, 2010 earthquake, 800,665 cases have been reported, including 9,480 deaths. This was the most recent data I reported on concerning the Haiti situation back in May. Since Apr. 27, 2017 through Oct. 17, 2017, Yemen has seen 845,912 cases and 2170 deaths, in […]The post Yemen cholera outbreak closes in on 850,000 cases appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The number of hepatitis A cases in San Diego County’s current local outbreak has grown to 507, according to the latest data published Tuesday. This includes an additional fatality bringing the total deaths associated with this outbreak to 19. Seven out of 10 people affected by the outbreak have required hospitalization for their illness. In […]The post San Diego County reports 19th hepatitis A death as six out of 10 cases are reported in the city appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Plague has a long and storied history throughout the centuries, rivaled by only smallpox. In this podcast, I look briefly at the three major plague pandemics-The Justinian Plague, the Black Death and the Modern Plague. In addition, I look at plague in more recent history as it still infects thousands and kills hundreds in several […]The post Plague: The pandemics and more recent history appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The US Virgin Islands (USVI) Department of Health is reporting a confirmed case of leptospirosis in the territory on St. Thomas, according to Health Commissioner Dr. Michelle S. Davis Friday. Dr. Davis said D.O.H.’s team of epidemiologists would investigate where the victim lives to determine how the disease was contracted. Like the cases reported in Puerto Rico, this […]The post US Virgin Islands: Leptospirosis case confirmed on St. Thomas appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Since the report of a yellow fever case in Kwara State, Nigeria in mid-September, the Government of Nigeria has launched a campaign to immunize 873,837 people against yellow fever in the states of Kwara and Kogi. The ten-day campaign began on Friday, 13 October 2017, and mobilizes more than 200 health workers and volunteers. It […]The post Yellow fever vaccination campaign launched in Nigeria appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Organic Spices, Inc. dba Spicely Organics of Fremont, CA is recalling 0.4 oz. Organic Tarragon Lot No. OTW100134 because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. The product was distributed in: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Washington and […]The post Spicely Organics Tarragon recalled due to Salmonella risk appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand, strict infection control measures are in place in some wards of the hospital to prevent the spread of Norovirus, a highly contagious vomiting and diarrhea bug. Chief Medical and Dental Officer John Gommans said Norovirus was circulating in the community. Patients, with the bug, had been admitted to hospital, and […]The post Norovirus prompts strict infection control measures at Hawke’s Bay Hospital appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The number of plague cases continue to grow on the island nation of Madagascar. According to the Ministere de la Publique Monday (computer translated), the case tally has exceeded 800 affecting 38 districts and 17 Regions of Madagascar. Of the 805 plague cases reported, 595 were pulmonary and 210 bubonic forms. In addition, they are now reporting 74 deaths, with […]The post Madagascar plague epidemic affects more than 800: Health ministry appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

During a recent airing of the Dr Bill Your Radio MD radio show in the Tampa area, host, Dr William Handelman’s guest, Dr David Forman gave his thoughts on vegans and the shortage of amino acids in that diet: “I want to make a comment on amino acids. This is for people listening now that are vegan–if […]The post Vegans and essential amino acids appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the mumps outbreak at Syracuse University, school health officials put the total cases at 50– confirmed and probable cases at 24 and 26, respectively. The University is taking aggressive action to educate the campus community about prevention and treatment and says there is no reason to be alarmed. Based on the […]The post Syracuse reports 50 confirmed and probable mumps cases appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Oral human papillomavirus infection, or HPV, is common among U.S. men, affecting about one in nine, overall. The prevalence is much higher among men who have had many lifetime oral sexual partners, men who reported having sex with men, and men with concurrent genital HPV infection. The findings are published in Annals of Internal Medicine. HPV […]The post Oral HPV common among US men, affecting about one in nine appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up to the suspected monkeypox outbreak in several state in Nigeria, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) reports having received laboratory confirmation for Monkeypox virus from three cases Yenagoa LGA in Bayelsa State. Confirmation was performed by the WHO Regional Laboratory in Dakar, Senegal. There were 17 suspect cases from the state; however, 12 tested […]The post Nigeria monkeypox update: Three confirmed cases, suspect cases reported from 8 states appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NSW Health is urging people aged between 20 and 50 years to have the free, safe measles vaccine after the 29th person in the state was diagnosed with the highly infectious disease. The latest person to contract measles is the fifth case connected to the Sutherland Shire outbreak and was in the following locations while […]The post Australia: NSW Health reports 29th measles case appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Burkina Faso Ministry of Health declared a dengue fever outbreak on Sep. 28 after seeing a dramatic increase in the incidence of the mosquito borne viral disease in the country, especially around the districts of Ouagadougou, the capital city since early August. Between the beginning of the year and Oct 8, a cumulative total of 2,298 (suspected, […]The post Burkina Faso declares dengue outbreak appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The plague outbreak has caught the attention of the world due to it’s large numbers, early appearance, number of pulmonary cases and location. Between 1 August and 13 October 2017, a total of 711 cases (suspected, probable and confirmed) including 64 deaths (case fatality rate 9.0%) have been reported from 37 (32.5%) out of 114 […]The post Pneumonic plague cases top 500 in Madagascar outbreak appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology and the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, have found several previously unknown genes that make bacteria resistant to last-resort antibiotics. The genes were found by searching large volumes of bacterial DNA and the results are published in the scientific journal Microbiome. The increasing number of infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria is […]The post Identification of new antibiotic resistance genes: Study appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Since Jan. 2016, some 19,000 measles cases were reported in Europe, including 44 deaths ( In 2016, 12 deaths occurred in Romania and one in the UK. In 2017, 31 deaths were reported from Romania [22], Italy [4], Bulgaria [1], Germany [1], Portugal [1], France [1] and Spain [1].) The list of countries affected is […]The post Measles in Europe: Nearly nine out of 10 cases reported were unvaccinated appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Once again (2015, 2016) Selangor state is reporting the most dengue fever accounting for some 50 percent of the national total. Through October 15, Malaysia has seen about 73,000 cases to date and 40,000 cases are from Selangor state. This includes 159 dengue related fatalities across the country, 59 in Selangor. Deputy Health Minister Dr […]The post Malaysia: Selangor reports 40K cases of dengue, Poor waste management blamed appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Management at Kruger National Park is advising visitors to the Park about the risk of malaria and precautionary measures to be taken. Although there is some risk throughout the year, the annual high malaria season (September to May) has started, and above-average numbers of cases have been reported from areas surrounding the Park in the Limpopo and […]The post South Africa: Malaria in Kruger National Park, Pretoria appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Anthrax has been detected in dead hippos floating in the Okavango River, officials in Botswana said. This follows an outbreak of the disease in neighboring Namibia. Recently it was reported that more than 100 hippos had died in the Bwabwata National Park, in the northeastern part of the country, with anthrax the suspected cause. The […]The post Anthrax outbreak reported in Botswana appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the suspected plague situation in Seychelles, the Ministry of Health released an update on Saturday morning describing the current situation. As of Oct. 14, a total of 13 people remain admitted in isolation including the index “probable” case who is currently stable and asymptomatic. The other 12 patients in the hospital remain stable on treatment […]The post Seychelles ‘plague’ update: 13 people remain in isolation appeared first on Outbreak News Today.