Outbreak News Today

About one month ago, Washoe County (NV) health officials reported the first human hantavirus case since 2006 in a patient from south Reno. Last week, health officials recorded the second case of hantavirus this year, an unusual occurrence because Washoe County has never recorded more than one case in any single year. In addition, this second case is the first […]The post Hantavirus: Washoe County records 2nd ‘unusual occurrence’ of the year, 1st death since 1995 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

GlaxoSmithKline announced Friday that Shingrix has been approved in Canada for the prevention of shingles (herpes zoster) in people aged 50 years or older. Shingrix is a non-live, recombinant subunit adjuvanted vaccine given intramuscularly in two doses. Shingles is caused by reactivation of the varicella zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. A person’s risk […]The post Shingles vaccine, Shingrix, receives approval in Canada appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In Syria, one new type 2 circulating vaccine-derived polio (cVDPV2) case has been reported this week. The case was reported in Mayadeen district, Deir Ez-Zor governorate, and had onset on 19 August. At the time of infection, the child was 19 months old, and no history of polio vaccination. The bulk of all cases continue […]The post Syria: Additional cVDPV2 case reported, Vaccines destroyed appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has announced a recall of ground beef packages sold by Bread & Butter Farm of Shelburne, Vermont that may have been contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. The recalled ground beef was produced by Vermont Livestock Slaughter and Processing, LLC, of Ferrisburgh, which is voluntarily […]The post E. coli prompts recall Bread & Butter Farm Ground Beef appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A student at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign campus has been confirmed to have meningococcal meningitis, according to the McKinley Health Center. The student is being treated at a local hospital. University officials are contacting friends and roommates of the student to identify others at risk. Meningitis means inflammation of a membranous covering of the brain […]The post Meningococcal meningitis case reported in University of Illinois student appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Aside from inflicting devastating natural disasters on often vulnerable communities, climate change can also spur outbreaks of infectious diseases like Zika , malaria and dengue fever, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. “Climate change presents complex and wide-reaching threats to human health,” said Cecilia Sorensen, MD, […]The post Climate change may accelerate infectious disease outbreaks: Colorado researchers appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

With a large hepatitis A outbreak reported in parts of the state, affecting hundreds of people, Governor Jerry Brown Jr. issued an emergency proclamation that allows the state to increase its supply of hepatitis A vaccines in order to control the current outbreak. Immunizations from the federal vaccine program have been distributed to at-risk populations in affected […]The post Hepatitis A: California governor declares state of emergency appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

As many of you know, I’ve been doing a series on the podcast titled Parasites 101. I thought I’d something similar with virology and viruses and I reached out to who I feel is clearly one of the best virologists and virology educators to help me out with this. So here is the 1st episode […]The post ‘What is a virus?’ and other questions answered appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

With Halloween about two weeks away, people are getting prepared putting together the most detailed costumes, much different than when I was a kid, I might add. While they are transforming themselves into goblins and ghouls using all manner of costume, one item needs to be looked at with some caution–that’s novelty contact lenses. There are […]The post Halloween costumes: The health risks of novelty contact lenses appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the Vibrio vulnificus situation in Florida in 2017, eight additional cases and two deaths have been reported in the past two weeks. According to Florida Department of Health data, as of Oct. 13, 41 cases have been reported from 20 counties. In addition, two additional fatalities have been reported- one each […]The post Vibrio vulnificus deaths reported in Monroe, St. Johns counties as state case count tops 40 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The number of plague cases are closing in on 700 cases, according to the latest World Health Organization (WHO) update. Between 1 August and 12 October 2017, a total of 684 cases (suspected, probable and confirmed) including 57 deaths (case fatality rate 8.3%) have been reported from 35 out of 114 districts in the country. Of […]The post Plague cases near 700 in Madagascar, testing shows sensitivity to antibiotics appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Millions of Nigerians no longer are at risk of a disfiguring tropical disease, thanks to a pioneering partnership between the Federal Ministry of Health and The Carter Center. The partners have eliminated lymphatic filariasis as a public health problem in two states in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country and the seventh-largest in the world. “This […]The post Nigeria: Lymphatic filariasis eliminated in Plateau and Nasarawa states appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Usutu virus, a flavivirus of African origin, was first detected in Austria in 2001, when it caused a severe bird die-off, mainly of blackbirds. The virus was active in the eastern part of Austria until 2005, killing many blackbirds, but also other songbirds. During 10 subsequent years no Usutu virus associated bird mortality was observed […]The post Human Usutu virus infections are more prevalent than previously thought appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the plague outbreak in Madagascar, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) announced they will be deploying a treatment centre to provide urgent care for hundreds of people in Madagascar who have been infected with plague. A full medical team will be deployed along with the 50-bed […]The post Plague treatment center deployed to Madagascar appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The plague outbreak in Madagascar continues to grow as the countries Health Ministry reported Thursday that 35 Districts were now affected by the plague epidemic. As of Oct 12, 561 reported cases of plague were recorded, 415 of which were pulmonary, 145 of bubonic forms and another case that is unspecified, according to a Flash Bulletin published yesterday. […]The post Plague death toll now 57, 10 million Euros needed in outbreak battle appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Health officials in New South Wales (NSW) are warning recent visitors to Sokyo restaurant at The Star in Sydney that a staff member has been diagnosed with hepatitis A. Dr Vicky Sheppeard, Director of Communicable Diseases at NSW Health, said the risk of anyone developing the infection is considered low and there is no ongoing risk to […]The post Sydney: Hepatitis A issued for patrons of Sokyo restaurant appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Over 2017, the Thunder Bay District Health Unit has seen an increase in the number of cases of invasive group A streptococcal (IGAS) infections in the community. This infection develops when the bacterium Streptococcus pyogenes gets into the blood, joints, lungs, or lining of the brain. Streptococcus pyogenes also causes more common diseases, like strep throat and minor skin infections. Anybody can get […]The post Canada: Increase of invasive Group A Strep reported in Thunder Bay appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A 70-year-old Kent County woman was briefly hospitalized with West Nile virus (WNV) and is now recovering at home. The case is the first lab-confirmed human WNV case reported in 2017. There were no cases in 2016. The mosquito-borne illness can become serious and the Division of Public Health (DPH) reminds people to take precautions […]The post West Nile virus: Delaware reports 1st human case since 2015 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Florida Department of Health has reported the first locally acquired Zika virus infection of 2017 in Manatee County. Health officials say a couple traveled to Cuba. One partner was ill with symptoms consistent with Zika shortly after travel. Based on the details revealed through a thorough investigation, evidence suggests one partner acquired Zika while in […]The post Florida reports 1st locally acquired Zika case of year in Manatee County appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the dengue outbreak in Vietnam, data released by the General Department of Preventative Medicine of the Ministry of Health is showing a downward trend after a large spike earlier this year. As of Oct. 5, there were 143,254 cases of dengue reported in Viet Nam including 30 deaths. Week to week (38 […]The post Vietnam reports downward trend in dengue cases appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the anthrax outbreak in Bwabwata National Park in Namibia that killed scores of hippos, local media now report that approximately 20 buffalo were counted during an aerial assessment. In a statement this week, the Environment Ministry said that the authorities are working around the clock to find an appropriate action to take. […]The post Namibia anthrax update: 20 buffalo killed in outbreak appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

During a news conference Wednesday, the governor of Puerto Rico, Ricardo Rosselló said there are two confirmed cases of leptospirosis in Canovanas, in the northeast of the island, 20 days after Hurricane Maria, according to a Yahoo Noticias report (computer translated). Rosselló noted a total of 10 people have come down with suspected cases of leptospirosis. To […]The post Leptospirosis cases reported in Puerto Rico post-Hurricane Maria appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

On the third day of the 68th session of the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Committee for the Western Pacific, it was announced that two countries in the Region—New Zealand and the Republic of Korea—have just become the first to be confirmed as having eliminated the diseases, measles and rubella. When countries have strong immunization programs—that […]The post New Zealand and South Korea eliminate measles appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Fiji Ministry of Health and Medical Services reports treating at least 13 people who had been diagnosed with typhoid, according to local media. A Public Health Team based at Levuka Hospital is working with the communities on Moturiki Island to create awareness and facilitate counselling on the precautionary measures which include safe water, sanitation and hygiene, […]The post Fiji typhoid outbreak reported on Moturiki Island appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The World Health Organization (WHO) received one new laboratory-confirmed human case of influenza A(H5N1) virus infection reported from Indonesia. The patient was a child who had illness onset on 1 September 2017. He was hospitalized on 5 September and on 10 September, a sample collected from the patient tested positive for A(H5N1) virus. The patient passed […]The post Indonesia reports H5N1 avian influenza death appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the Madagascar plague outbreak, the Ministere de la Publique reported an additional 51 news plague cases today, bringing the total cases since August to 500. On Oct. 11, 29 new pneumonic plague cases were reported, while and additional dozen bubonic plague cases were reported. 10 suspect cases were also recorded. In […]The post Madagascar plague outbreak case count reaches 500 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has today announced a change to its advice about eating eggs – infants, children, pregnant women and elderly people can now safely eat raw or lightly cooked eggs that are produced under the British Lion Code of Practice. The revised advice, based on the latest scientific evidence, means that people […]The post Raw eggs OK for infants, pregnant women: British authorities appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Noroviruses are the leading cause of non-bacterial gastroenteritis in the world and are estimated to cause 267 million infections and 20,000 deaths each year. This virus causes severe diarrhea, nausea, and stomach pain. Although often referred to as the “cruise ship” virus in the United States, noroviruses are an expensive and serious public health problem […]The post Norovirus can escape the immune system by hiding in rare gut cell appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The mumps outbreak affecting Syracuse University (SU) students has grown to at least 13 cases, according to the Onondaga County Health Department. The outbreak began the last week of August. According to Health Commissioner Dr. Indu Gupta, the students were diagnosed in a timely manner and have been isolated to prevent any further spread of the disease. […]The post Mumps cases rise in SU students appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In an update on the plague outbreak in Madagascar, the number of cases of the lethal bacterial infection has shot up to 449, an increase in 62 cases since our last report yesterday, according to the Ministere de la Publique (computer translated).. In addition, the death count has grown to 48. A breakdown of the types of […]The post Plague cases continue rapid rise in Madagascar appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

To date we’ve covered several different types of parasites on the podcast–protozoa, tapeworms and roundworms.On today’s episode of Parasites 101 on Outbreak News Interviews, we’ll be looking another soil transmitted helminth–the hookworms. Joining me as always to answer some questions about the hookworm is Parasitology teacher and author of Parasites: Tales of Humanity’s Most Unwelcome […]The post Parasites 101: Hookworms appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency announced today the 18th hepatitis A related death in the current local outbreak. Since the beginning of the year, 490 hepatitis A cases have been reported with 70 percent of those infected requiring hospitalization for their illness. The majority of people who have contracted hepatitis […]The post Hepatitis A outbreak: 18th fatality reported in San Diego area appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Seychelles Ministry of Health reported today that a man who traveled to Madagascar has tested positive for plague. Dr Jude Gedeon, Public Health Commissioner confirmed that a 34 year old man has been infected with the plague. The man who travelled to Madagascar, arrived in Seychelles on Friday 6th October 2017, at which point he […]The post Seychelles: Traveler to Madagascar tests plague positive, Hospital to set up isolation unit appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Zika virus is mutating so fast in Brazilian patients that different serotypes of the pathogen could appear in the near future, as is already the case with dengue virus. This would hinder the production of a vaccine and impair the effectiveness of the diagnostic tests already developed. The alarm was sounded by Edison Luiz Durigon, Full […]The post Zika virus mutations may result in new serotypes: Brazil researcher appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Global Lyme Alliance (GLA), the leading 501(c)(3) dedicated to conquering Lyme disease through research, education and awareness, today announced that it has partnered with Ionica Sciences, an Ithaca, New York biotechnology company to accelerate the development of a highly sensitive Lyme disease diagnostic test. The new test, called IonLyme™, targets Lyme disease bacterial proteins and is poised […]The post Lyme testing: Ionica Sciences and Global Lyme Alliance partner to develop IonLyme appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the monkeypox situation in Nigeria, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) is now reporting 31 suspected cases across 7 States – Bayelsa, Rivers, Ekiti, Akwa Ibom, Lagos, Ogun and Cross River States. Samples have been collected from each suspected case for laboratory confirmation. Results are still awaited. So far, there have been […]The post Monkeypox: 31 suspected cases reported in seven Nigerian states, public asked to ‘remain calm’ appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

On Friday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a travel notice for people going to Madagascar due to the outbreak of plague on the island nation. Although bubonic plague occurs nearly every year in Madagascar, an unusual outbreak of plague pneumonia is occurring in geographically widespread areas, including in heavily populated cities […]The post CDC issues travel notice for Madagascar due to plague outbreak appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Between 31 August and 26 September 2017, the national IHR focal point of Saudi Arabia reported nine additional cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), including four deaths. In addition, four deaths from previously reported cases were reported. Among the nine newly reported cases, one was associated with a MERS cluster in Dawmet Aljandal City, […]The post Saudi Arabia reports nine additional MERS cases in past month appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Madagascar Health Ministry (computer translated) reported over the weekend new plague counts for the country and it show the number of cases have risen to 343, including 42 deaths as of Oct. 7. In the capital and largest city of Antananarivo with a population of some 1.6 million people, 142 cases and more than a […]The post Madagascar plague deaths rise to 42 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services is warning residents of a statewide outbreak of sexually transmitted gonococcal (GC) infection – commonly called gonorrhea. Reported cases of gonorrhea climbed from 1,115 in 2015 to 1,454 in 2016, a 31 percent increase. Cases are continuing to increase in 2017. During the first 6 months of […]The post Alaska reports 31 percent rise in gonorrhea cases, ranked 4th in US appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The number of Vibrio vulnificus infections in Florida jumped to 33 cases as of Oct. 2, according to Florida Department of Health data. That’s an increase in 10 cases since our last report on Sept. 21. The breakdown of cases by county is as follows: Collier (5), Lee (4), Hillsborough (3), Sumter (3), two each […]The post Vibrio cases jump to 33 in Florida appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The summer of 2017 appears to be “pink eye”, or conjunctivitis season in the Americas with a number of countries in Central and South America and the Caribbean reporting increases of the eye infection. Now joining the Bahamas, Brazil, Costa Rica, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin, Suriname, and the […]The post Belize is the latest Central American country battling a ‘pink eye’ outbreak appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In the city of Peshawar in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa of Pakistan a dengue outbreak is ravishing the city. Since mid July, about 55,000 cases, including 50 deaths have been reported in the city, the most in the country since the 2011 outbreak in Lahore that sickened more than 200,000 following the 2010 floods. […]The post Pakistan: Dengue outbreak in Peshawar appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

To date more than a dozen human monkeypox cases have been reported in the southern Nigerian states of Bayelsa and Rivers. Now the Nigerian news source, The Premium Times reports that an additional case has been reported in neighboring Akwa Ibom State. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) first reported on the outbreak in Bayelsa on Thursday […]The post Monkeypox reported in another south Nigeria state appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A suspected anthrax outbreak has killed some 107 hippopotami at a north-eastern Namibia game park, according to media reports. The outbreak at Bwabwata National Park in Namibia’s Zambezi region began one week ago when ten hippos died. According to Bwabwata National Park deputy director Apollinaris Kannyinga, “We suspect an anthrax outbreak, but our veterinary is still yet to confirm that.” This is […]The post Africa: Possible anthrax outbreak kills 100 hippos in Namibia park appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

U.S. Olympic and Paralympic athletes and staff who traveled to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for the 2016 Summer Games did not become infected with Zika virus but did test positive for other tropical, mosquito-borne viral infections, including West Nile Virus, Dengue Fever and Chikungunya. Results from the University of Utah Health-led study will be reported at IDWeek, […]The post 2016 Rio Games: Olympic and Paralympic athletes and staff not infected with Zika, other viruses implicated appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) along with the Allegan County Health Department (ACHD) report that a child who had visited the recent Allegan County Fair has tested positive for the H3N2 variant (H3N2v) influenza. The fair took place September 8-16, 2017. The incubation period (the time it takes from exposure to […]The post Michigan reports 1st Influenza A H3N2 Variant case of 2017 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Yakima Health District has been informed by the Washington State Department of Health that two bird flocks exhibited at the Central Washington State Fair in Yakima tested positive on September 28 for low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI). LPAI is sub-set of “bird flu” with a low potential to cause serious illness, not the highly […]The post Washington: Bird flu advisory issued in Yakima appeared first on Outbreak News Today.