Outbreak News Today

A new study by researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine has identified an innovative strategy for treating influenza, and perhaps other infectious diseases as well. Scientists showed that a small protein called retrocyclin-101 (RC-101) could potentially improve the symptoms and mortality associated with the flu and possibly other types of infectious illness […]The post Maryland researchers identify protein that could improve the symptoms and deaths associated with the flu appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

This week we got the latest data on sexually transmitted infections from a CDC’s annual Sexually Transmitted Disease Surveillance Report which told of some serious problems we’re having with STDs in this country. More than two million cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis were reported in the United States in 2016, the highest number ever. […]The post Totally preventable: Congenital syphilis on the rise in the US appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the typhoid outbreak linked to the European Rainbow gathering that took place recently, European health officials report eight cases linked to the event as of Sep. 21– France (three confirmed cases), Germany (two confirmed cases), the Czech Republic (one confirmed case), Croatia (one confirmed and three probable cases) and Italy (one confirmed […]The post Europe typhoid update: More cases, poor hygiene conditions during the event reported appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Vi-conjugate typhoid vaccine, the only typhoid vaccine that can be used in infants, represents a new tool to help control typhoid A new typhoid vaccine has proven safe, highly immunogenic and could prevent more than half of typhoid infections according to a new study published in The Lancet. The study is a phase 2b trial […]The post Typhoid vaccine could halve infection rate: Study appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The number of cholera cases in Yemen have exceeded 750,000 since late April and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) predicts an even more dire scenario–one million cases by years end. “Considering the figures I was given in the past, we could be to one million at the end of the year,” ICRC Yemen delegation […]The post Yemen tragedy: Cholera cases could reach 1 million, ICRC speech to UN appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the situation in Maryland with the influenza virus strain H3N2v (variant flu) linked to exposure to swine, The Maryland Department of Health now puts the case tally at 37 presumptive positive and confirmed cases (including 2 hospitalizations). Patients reported exposure to swine at one of three agricultural fairs during the week […]The post Influenza A (H3N2v): Maryland case count rises appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

New Hampshire health officials have recorded the second human Jamestown Canyon virus (JCV) case of the year in an adult from Goffstown. This follows a case confirmed in mid-August in Hanover. It is likely that this case was acquired in New Hampshire, but due to recent travel, location of exposure is not certain. “As we head into the […]The post New Hampshire reports 2nd Jamestown Canyon virus case appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Iowa health officials have reported the first death associated with the mosquito borne viral disease, West Nile virus (WNV) of the year in a middle-age adult (41 to 60 years of age) woman from southwest Iowa. In 2017, seven Iowans have been diagnosed with West Nile virus and three additional cases are under investigation. Last year, there […]The post Iowa reports 1st West Nile virus death of 2017 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

On the latest airing of the Outbreak News This Week Radio Show, I am joined by the Founder of MRSA Survivors Network, Jeanine Thomas to discuss MRSA, World MRSA Day and to tell her personal story as a MRSA survivor. To learn more, to get involved and/or to donate, visit MRSA Survivors Network In the second half, I discuss hepatitis A […]The post MRSA survivors, hepatitis A and Medicare for all appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) outbreak in Iran since March, officials report the number of cases have surpassed 120 in the past six months from 13 different provinces, according to the Mehr news agency. Of this total, eight deaths have been recorded since March. Case have been reported in Sistan and Baluchestan, Fars, Kermanshah, […]The post Iran reports 120 CCHF cases in six months, Tehran spared so far appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In an update on the plague situation in Madagascar, in the past five weeks 104 cases have been reported, with half (52) cases being pneumonic plague, according to a World Health Organization (WHO) update. Of the 104 cases, 20 were fatal for a case-fatality rate on more than 19 percent. Pneumonic plague has been detected […]The post Plague in Madagascar update: More than 100 cases, half are pneumonic plague appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

University of Hawaii vaccine researcher Axel Lehrer, PhD, has received a nearly $6.3 million grant to test whether the Ebola vaccine formula he has developed will protect against two additional viruses in the same family. The Ebola vaccine UH has created is “heat stable,” which means it does not need refrigeration, and could be easily […]The post Hawaii researchers awarded $6 million to develop trivalent Ebola vaccine appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Maryland Department of Health has presumptively identified the influenza virus strain H3N2v (variant flu) in five Maryland residents who had close contact with pigs at the Anne Arundel County Fair and The Great Frederick Fair. None of the five infected people has developed serious illness or has been hospitalized. The investigation into variant flu […]The post Maryland H3N2v flu cases total 20 presumptive positive and confirmed cases appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA is a bacteria that is resistant to many common antibiotics. It can cause a variety of problems ranging from are skin infections and sepsis to pneumonia to bloodstream infections. Monday is World MRSA Day, a day to raise the awareness of MRSA around the globe and to activate survivors, […]The post A conversation with MRSA Survivors Network founder, Jeanine Thomas appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the plague outbreak in Madagascar, the Ministry of Public Health now reports that the plague epidemic is affecting 17 districts in the country, according to local media (computer translated). The report states that the case count is nearing 100 since August 1. Five fatalities have been reported. Both pneumonic and bubonic […]The post Plague spreading in Madagascar, 17 districts affected appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

An Hawaii Island infant (Puna District) who likely accidentally consumed a slug or snail has become the state’s 17th Angiostrongyliasis case of the year, according to The Hawaii State Department of Health (DOH). “This is an extremely unfortunate incident, with the infant currently hospitalized and receiving care,” said Aaron Ueno, Hawaii Island District Health Officer. “While the […]The post 17th rat lungworm case reported in Hawaii infant appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A new CDC study published today in Clinical Infectious Diseases reported that vaccination with whooping cough vaccine, Tdap, during the third trimester of pregnancy prevented more than three out of four (78 percent) cases of whooping cough (also known as pertussis) in babies younger than two months. However, only 49 percent of pregnant women who delivered between fall 2015 […]The post Vaccines: Tdap administered during the third trimester prevents 78 percent of pertussis in young infants appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the mumps situation at Syracuse University, the school announced Wednesday that the men’s lacrosse team would not be participating in the Deyhontsigwa’ehs The Creator’s Game, Lacrosse Weekend, out of an abundance of caution. At least one member of the men’s lacrosse team is confirmed to have mumps. “After much discussion, and out […]The post Syracuse lacrosse: Mumps prompts pull-out from weekend games appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Children under two years are more likely to be admitted to hospital with influenza if they have an older sister or brother, according to research published Thursday in the European Respiratory Journal. Flu can be serious in very young children because it can cause lung infections and breathing difficulties. It can also cause a very high […]The post Having an older sibling poses risk of serious flu for babies and toddlers appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

First, what is rabies and how do you get it? Rabies is an acute viral infection that is transmitted to humans or other mammals usually through the saliva from a bite of an infected animal. It is also rarely contracted through breaks in the skin or contact with mucous membranes. It has been suggested that […]The post Rabies: What You Need to Know appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

There have been five confirmed cases of measles notified in Victoria in the last two weeks. Two initial cases acquired their illness locally, the third case was infected in Romania, and two new cases, cases four and five, were contacts of cases one and two. The source of the infection is unknown at this point. […]The post More measles in Melbourne appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

MIT researchers have developed a paper-based test that can diagnose Zika infection within 20 minutes. Unlike existing tests, the new diagnostic does not cross-react with Dengue virus, a close relative of the Zika virus that can produce false positives on many Zika tests. This test could offer an easy-to-use, cheap, and portable diagnostic in countries […]The post MIT researchers develop rapid Zika test appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Ministry of Health of the Kingdom of Cambodia reports on an outbreak of trichinellosis in Chak Tav village, Meanrith commune, Sandan district, Prey Lang area of Kompong Thom province, according to a health department news release (computer translated). After receiving the information of the outbreak, the health ministry immediately sent an Emergency Response Team of […]The post Trichinellosis outbreak sickens 33, kills eight in central Cambodia appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Following the newly published statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Tuesday, which report more than two million cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis were reported in the United States in 2016, the highest number ever, California’s “Top Doc” says sexually transmitted infections in her state are “increasing at a concerning rate”. […]The post STDs in California are increasing at a concerning rate: CDPH appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

For the first time, a collaborative team led by The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston has shown that a potential Zika vaccine quickly can protect fetuses against infection as well as protect males against testicular infection and injury. It also prevents a lowered sperm count after one vaccination. The findings are currently available […]The post Developing Zika vaccine blocks mother-to-fetus transmission and protects against testicular damage in mice appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission recently confirmed a rare case of rabies in a deceased deer in Cherokee County. The Commission received multiple reports of dead deer around water sources and dying deer having trouble standing up, no fear of humans and lack of coordination. Rabies, hemorrhagic disease and Chronic Wasting Disease can exhibit similar […]The post North Carolina confirms rare case of rabies in dead deer appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Just about one month after seeing the first Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) case on the year in Cumberland County, New Jersey agriculture officials report a second case in a 9-year-old Atlantic County mare. The horse had not been vaccinated against EEE for two years and is undergoing treatment. The onset of the illness was Sept. 17, 2017. […]The post Eastern Equine Encephalitis: New Jersey reports 2nd case of 2017 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The number of people sickened with paratyphoid fever in Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand has grown to six, according to the latest information from the Hawke’s Bay District Health Board. All the patients required hospitalization for their illnesses and all are recovering. Some of the patients have consumed mussels from Napier’s Ahuriri area. Medical Officer of Health Nick Jones said, “It’s […]The post New Zealand: 6 paratyphoid cases reported in Hawke’s Bay appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Taiwan health officials are reporting a cluster of shigellosis, or bacillary dysentery cases in travelers to Bali. According to the CDC: In early September 2017, an over-30-year-old male who resides in northern Taiwan traveled to Bali, Indonesia with 18 tour group members. On the following day the case returned, he sought medical attention after developing […]The post Shigella cluster in Taiwan, linked to Bali travel appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In the latest installment of the Parasites 101 series on the podcast, Parasitology teacher and author of Parasites: Tales of Humanity’s Most Unwelcome Guests, Rosemary Drisdelle joined me to discuss the protozoan parasite, Dientamoeba fragilis. “The unflagellated human flagellate”, D. fragilis is a pathogenic protozoan parasite with a world-wide distribution. Interestingly, a resistant cyst stage has not been demonstrated […]The post Dientamoeba fragilis: ‘The unflagellated human flagellate’ appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A point-of-care diagnostic test that may be able to determine within 15 minutes whether a patient has been infected with the bacterium that causes anthrax is moving forward in research and development with the support of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR). A three-year, $8.1 […]The post Anthrax: HHS advances point-of-care diagnostic test appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up to a report on the measles outbreak in Uganda, UN health officials say the country has reported 552 and one death since the outbreak was declared April 8. The case breakdown shows 309 cases from Kampala and 243 from Wakiso, with mostly young children being affected. Three-quarters of the confirmed cases were unvaccinated. The […]The post Uganda measles outbreak tops 550 cases since April appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Patients infected by both human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) are at specific risk of end-stage liver disease and greater risk of cardiovascular diseases and cancer. In addition, HIV infection accelerates the progression of chronic hepatitis C to fibrosis and development of cirrhosis and end-stage liver disease. In these HIV-HCV co-infected patients, […]The post Coffee drinking benefits for HIV-HCV patients: Study appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Latest U.S. data reveal threat to multiple populations More than two million cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis were reported in the United States in 2016, the highest number ever, according to the annual Sexually Transmitted Disease Surveillance Report released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The majority of these new diagnoses (1.6 […]The post CDC: ‘STDs are a persistent enemy, growing in number, and outpacing our ability to respond’ appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Last week, 17 new cases of West Nile virus (WNV) were reported in Los Angeles County, including three deaths among elderly patients who died due to neuro-invasive West Nile virus infection. The total number of WNV cases and deaths in Los Angeles County this year is 98 cases and six deaths. This has prompted Public […]The post Los Angeles County: West Nile virus increases prompt public health warning, campaign, ‘It’s Not Just A Bite’ appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Results from a Phase 3 efficacy study in India of the Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd.’s rotavirus vaccine BRV-PV (known as ROTASIIL®) were published in the journal Vaccine. The study showed the vaccine to be safe, well tolerated, and to provide significant efficacy against severe rotavirus gastroenteritis. In 2013, an estimated 47,100 rotavirus deaths occurred […]The post India: Rotavirus vaccine reduced severe rotavirus diarrhea by 40 percent in Phase 3 study appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In this podcast, which is a short segment from a comprehensive interview about sepsis I had with infectious disease physician, Steven LaRosa, MD this past weekend on the radio show, I pulled out an interesting segment on his views of what laboratory tests he found useful in the diagnosis of sepsis. In the segment, LaRosa […]The post Laboratory testing and sepsis appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Cyclospora outbreak investigations are notorious for being very difficult to pinpoint the vehicle and/or the source. I remember talking to Iowa Dept. of Public Health (IDPH) Medical Director and State Epidemiologist, Dr. Patricia Quinlisk on the radio show during the 2013 outbreak and listened to her describe the investigation saying she was optimistic that investigators will be […]The post Cyclospora cases top 1,000, No source identified appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Taiwan health officials reported the death of a 30-year-old woman who contracted dengue fever during a recent trip to Vietnam. The woman from northern Taiwan travel to Vietnam, which is experiencing a a significant increase in dengue this year, in late August. In early September, she subsequently developed fever, fatigue, headache, muscle ache, joint paint and […]The post Taiwan: Woman dies from dengue contracted in Vietnam appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

From the beginning of the year through mid-September, 167 confirmed measles cases have been reported from three countries. In the United States, 119 people from 15 states (California, Florida, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, and Washington) were reported to have measles. To date in 2017, 45 cases […]The post Measles in the Americas through mid-September appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Just days following the H3N2v influenza outbreak linked to the pigs at the Charles County Fair, The Maryland Department of Agriculture, Maryland Department of Health and the Frederick County Health Department report investigating 11 cases of influenza in pigs recently exhibited at The Great Frederick Fair. Preliminary tests show that the pigs are infected with influenza A, but […]The post ‘Swine flu’ detected in pigs at The Great Frederick Fair appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A Karachi man is the sixth recorded death due to Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) in Pakistan this year-to-date. According to a local media report, the 52-year-old man fell ill following Eidul Azha after helping with slaughtering animals in his locality. The CCHF fatalities this year include four Quetta residents died at the Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) […]The post Pakistan reports 6th CCHF death this year appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The number of dengue fever cases in Vietnam near 125,000 through mid-September 2017, a more than 40 percent increase over the same period in 2016. This includes 29 fatalities. The good news is health officials do say the number of new dengue cases has declined nearly 24 per cent nationwide over the past four weeks. […]The post Vietnam: Dengue cases near 125,000 in 2017 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

According to the Sepsis Alliance, sepsis has been named as the most expensive in-patient cost in American hospitals costing billions each year with forty percent of patients diagnosed with severe sepsis not surviving. September is Sepsis Awareness Month and infectious disease physician and returning guest, Steven P. LaRosa, MD joined me for a comprehensive discussion on this very important […]The post Sepsis: An interview with Steven LaRosa, MD appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Region of the Americas has eliminated maternal and neonatal tetanus (MNT), a disease that used to be responsible for the deaths of more than 10,000 newborns every year in the Americas. The elimination of the disease was declared this year in Haiti, which made it possible to reach the regional goal. MNT is the […]The post Maternal and neonatal tetanus eliminated in the Americas appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

An gastroenteritis outbreak in the municipality of Quezon in southern Palawan has prompted a declaration of a “state of emergency”, according to a Philippine News Agency report. According to the municipal disaster risk reduction and management office (MDRRMO), at least 727 people suffering from diarrhea have been treated in the town’s only hospital since July, when […]The post Diarrhea outbreak kills four in Palawan, prompts ‘state of emergency’ appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A highly drug resistant malaria “superbug” from western Cambodia is now present in southern Vietnam, leading to alarming failure rates for dihydroartemisinin (DHA)-piperaquine — Vietnam’s national first-line malaria treatment, leading malaria scientists warn. The spread of this dominant artemisinin drug resistant P falciparum C580Y mutant malaria parasite lineage across the entire Mekong Sub-region is a serious threat to […]The post Malaria ‘superbug’ spreads to Vietnam: ‘This could severely jeopardize malaria elimination efforts’ appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A Legionnaires’ disease outbreak at a northern Spain resort has affected at least a dozen people and killed one this summer, according to a local media report (computer translated). The outbreak occurred at a resort in Lierganes, Cantabria, which prompted the closure of part of the facility. Save up to 40% off tours & activities in […]The post Spain: Legionnaires’ disease outbreak at Cantabria resort sickens a dozen, one dead appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the yellow fever situation in Kwara state, Nigeria, the two patients diagnosed with yellow fever in Oro-Ago in Ifelodun Local government area of Kwara state are now medically stable, according to a Sundiata Post report. Dr Khadeejah Kamaldeen of the Kwara State Epidemiology Unit said the state government needed more support from […]The post Nigeria: Yellow fever patients in Kwara stable, Measles in Kebbi appeared first on Outbreak News Today.