Outbreak News Today

Sporadic cases of the bacterial disease, anthrax, is responsible for the deaths of three animals at the Karingani Game Reserve in southwestern Mozambique, according to Dr Américo Da Conceicao, National Director, Veterinary Services, Ministry of Agriculture, Maputo, Mozambique last week. Two African elephants and one greater kudu (a woodland antelope) fell victim to Bacillus anthracis, the agent of anthrax. […]The post Anthrax kills two elephants, greater Kudu in Mozambique game reserve appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Vietnam has reported a large increase in dengue fever cases in 2017. As of last week, more than 90,000 cases have been reported, including two dozen deaths. The case count is up more than 60 percent compared to last year. The most affected areas include: An Giang, Binh Duong, Danang, Dong Nai, Dong Thap, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh […]The post CDC issues travel notice for Vietnam due to dengue outbreak appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

With gonorrhea infections continuing to climb, the Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) recently sent an alert to healthcare providers across the state encouraging them to promote prevention, testing and treatment with patients. The most notable case number increases have been in Laramie County with a 140 percent increase in 2017 over the same date in […]The post Wyoming gonorrhea: ‘The increase in Laramie County is particularly startling’ appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A 10-year-old Iraqi girl who arrived in Romania in July has become the 33rd measles fatality in the country since 2016, according to a local media account (computer translated). The National Center for Surveillance and Control of Communicable Diseases puts the total case count at 8937 from 41 counties through Aug. 25. The counties most affected include Timis county […]The post Romania measles count nears 9000, Iraqi girl is 33rd death appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Panhandle Health District (PHD) is alerting the public about an increase of gonorrhea cases in North Idaho. The five northern counties have seen a 115 percent increase in cases so far this year, compared to the same period in 2016. The sexually-transmitted disease (STD) is hitting young people, ages 20 to 29 especially hard. Gonorrhea […]The post Gonorrhea up 115 percent in Northern Idaho appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Hong Kong health officials are investigating a case of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) infection in a 28-year-old man with underlying medical illness. The case had developed diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain and fever since August 21. He was admitted to a private hospital for management on August 22. The patient has been in a stable condition all along. His stool specimen grew STEC […]The post Hong Kong investigates Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) case appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The treatment of Lyme disease is one of the most contentious issues in medicine with people coming from two very different sides of the topic. In his blog, My thoughts on the future of infectious disease and medicine, Infectious disease physician, Dr Steven LaRosa described some “soul searching” he did recently concerning “the sizable number of poor souls […]The post Lyme disease treatment: Some thoughts appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Misuse and overuse of antimicrobials is one of the world’s most pressing public health problems. Infectious organisms adapt to the antimicrobials designed to kill them, making the drugs ineffective. People infected with antimicrobial-resistant organisms are more likely to have longer, more expensive hospital stays, and may be more likely to die as a result of […]The post Antibiotic stewardship: A look at penicillin allergies appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In his blog, My thoughts on the future of infectious disease and medicine, Infectious disease physician, Steven LaRosa, MD writes in one post of 21 infectious disease “pearls” or teaching points concerning treatment and diagnosis of infections. During this interview, I ask Dr. LaRosa to expand on several of them (from the use of Vancomycin to the treatment […]The post Infectious disease ‘pearls’: Treatment and diagnostics appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Toronto Public Health has received laboratory confirmation that a resident in Toronto has tested positive for West Nile virus (WNV). This is the first human case testing positive for WNV in Toronto for 2017. WNV is mainly transmitted to people through the bite of an infected mosquito. “The risk of becoming ill from West Nile […]The post Toronto: First human case of West Nile virus of 2017 reported appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has declared an end to the measles outbreak of spring and summer 2017 today, with the last case identified on July 13. The outbreak that eventually sickened 79 people, mostly children under 10 years of age, began when the first case was identified April 11. Health officials say under standard public […]The post Minnesota measles outbreak declared over appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Toronto Public Health has seen an increase in the number of cases of Lyme disease acquired in the Rouge Valley area and is reminding residents to protect themselves against blacklegged tick bites and Lyme disease. “Avoiding tick bites and getting early treatment can prevent serious illness from Lyme disease,” said Dr. Eileen de Villa, Toronto’s […]The post Lyme disease: Locally acquired cases up in Toronto appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Montana Department of Livestock has reported a brucellosis case in a heifer within Montana’s Designated Surveillance Area (DSA). The brucellosis-infected animal was first identified during voluntary herd testing on a Madison County ranch. Infection was confirmed by the National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, IA by tissue culture following euthanasia of the animal. The ranch […]The post Montana: Brucellosis reported in Madison County heifer appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The number of mumps cases in the Hawaii outbreak has grown to 284 cases in 2017 to date and health officials say this could continue continue for a year or more. As of Thursday, Oahu has seen 254 cases, Kauai -24, Hawaii-5 and Maui-1. In all of 2016, Hawaii saw just 10 total cases of mumps. […]The post Hawaii mumps cases rise, Outbreak could continue another year appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Officials with Toronto Public Health report a confirmed measles case and are warning the public may have been exposed to measles in the following settings during the period of August 19-24, 2017 including: August 19 British Airways flight: • BA0099 direct flight that departed from Heathrow Airport in London, England at 5 p.m. and arrived at Toronto […]The post Toronto reports confirmed measles case appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Directorate-General for Health (DGS) in Portugal reported this week that the confirmed hepatitis A case count in the country has risen to 435 cases this year, according to a dnoticias.pt report (computer translated). The vast majority (88%) of cases were men, and in more than half the virus”had been acquired by unknown means”. The majority […]The post Portugal: Confirmed hepatitis A cases rise to 435 in 2017 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In response to the hepatitis A outbreak in San Diego County, health officials have issued new vaccination recommendations for both food handlers and those who work in health care as the county continues in the effort to get the outbreak under control. “This is a pro-active recommendation because the ongoing outbreak means that the risk to […]The post San Diego County hepatitis A outbreak: New vaccination recommendations issued appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The number of dengue fever cases continue to climb in Sri Lanka, but a much slower pace in the month of August. Sri Lanka health officials reported more than 40,000 cases in July and only 16,000 through Aug. 25. “Dengue cases have dropped in August and special dengue wards in hospitals are closing,” Health Minister […]The post Dengue epidemic waning in Sri Lanka, University of Jaffna Science Faculty closed until September appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Health officials in Zacatecas state in north-central Mexico are reporting 19 human cases of brucellosis in five municipalities, according to a El Sol de Zacatecas report (computer translated). Raúl Pinales Sarabia, coordinator of Sanitary Jurisdiction number IV says there are 3 cases registered in the municipality of Francisco R Murguía, 3 cases in the municipality of Juan Aldama, 3 […]The post Mexico: 19 Brucella cases reported in Zacatecas state appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Utah public health officials have reported two human West Nile virus (WNV) cases earlier this month and are reminding all residents to protect themselves from mosquito bites whenever they spend time outside. Positive mosquito pools have been identified in several Utah counties, including Box Elder, Cache, Carbon, Davis, Duchesne, Salt Lake, Uintah and Utah. While West […]The post Utah reports two human West Nile virus cases appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Last month, the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC) reported a case of a mosquito borne illness from the Jamestown Canyon virus (JCV) fro the first time. Now, a little over a month later, health officials are reporting two additional cases. According to a Maine Public report, state epidemiologist Dr. Siiri Bennett says it’s unclear […]The post Maine reports two additional Jamestown Canyon virus cases appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol said today the culling of all fowls in the avian flu-affected areas of San Luis in Pampanga and Jaen and San Isidro in Nueva Ecija had been completed. Piñol said the operation ensures the full containment of the spread of the dreaded avian influenza to the rest of the country, […]The post Philippines bird flu strain identified as highly-pathogenic H5N6 AI appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball today warned consumers in the Cayuga County, New York area not to consume “Old Fashioned Raw Milk Monterey Jack,” “Horseradish Monterey Jack,” and “Chipotle Adobo Monterey Jack” cheeses made by Ripley Dairy LLC, located at 66 West Cayuga Street, Moravia, New York due to possible Listeria contamination. […]The post New York: Possible Listeria contamination prompts warning about raw milk Monterey Jack cheese appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Nationally, 347 Cyclospora infections have been reported in individuals without a history of international travel in the United States since May 1, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In Los Angeles County, health officials are reporting an increase in the number of reported cases of Cyclospora cayetanensis infection nationally during summer 2017. Between […]The post Los Angeles reports increase in Cyclospora appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

More than 200 diphtheria cases have been reported in the Americas year-to-date, with Venezuela and Haiti accounting for all but one, according to UN health officials. Since July 2016, Venezuela has seen 447 suspected diphtheria cases (324 in 2016 and 123 in 2017), of which 51 were laboratory confirmed, including 7 deaths [Anzoátegui (2 fatal cases), […]The post Diphtheria in the Americas: Venezuela and Haiti appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In early 2015, a mosquito borne virus that few people heard of began it’s spread through the immunologically naive population of Latin America and the Caribbean. In 2016, 5,102 cases were reported in the U.S., including 224 locally acquired. There were 36,079 cases reported in U.S. territories. So far in 2017, the numbers are down […]The post What’s happened to Zika? Is the outbreak in the Americas over? appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Officials with the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) report receiving approximately 30 reports of people ill with a possible foodborne illness since Friday. To date, we have four confirmed cases of salmonella. At this point, epidemiological information suggests that the Chuck Wagon Restaurant in Stuttgart, AR is the likely site of the outbreak. The ADH is […]The post Salmonella outbreak possibly linked to Stuttgart, AR restaurant appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the Candida auris situation in the United States, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) put the case tally at 112 as of July 31. The combined cases of New York and New Jersey accounts for 100 of the cases. Candida auris is an emerging fungus that presents a serious global […]The post Candida auris cases rise to 112 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Scotland health officials are reporting an increase in syphilis cases, in fact, overall incidence of infectious syphilis in Scotland was at its highest level since implementation of the current surveillance system in 2002/2003. A total of 356 diagnoses of infectious syphilis were reported during 2016 a 13% increase on that reported in 2015 (316) and the […]The post Syphilis cases up 13 percent in Scotland appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Montezuma’s revenge – Aztec Two Step – whatever nicknames it may be called, if you’ve experienced it, you know exactly what I’m talking about. Traveler’s diarrhea is the most common medical issue that people complain of while traveling in less developed countries. One of parasitic causes of travelers diarrhea is amebiasis, caused by the protozoan […]The post Parasites 101: Entamoeba histolytica appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

After the Zika epidemic, which began in 2015, and the outbreak of yellow fever early in 2017, Brazil runs a serious risk of being afflicted by Oropouche, another virus that is widely distributed throughout South and Central America and the Caribbean. Oropouche has adapted to urban environments and is moving ever closer to Brazil’s major […]The post Oropouche virus could emerge and cause a public health problem appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) offices are receiving reports of dead deer in scattered areas of the state. The timing and details of the reports are all indicative of hemorrhagic disease (HD). HD occurs at varying levels of severity each year in Tennessee’s deer herd. The catch-all term for this disease is hemorrhagic disease (HD), […]The post Virus linked to dead deer in Tennessee appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

French health officials reported two confirmed autochthonous chikungunya cases earlier this month, according to an ARS news release (computer translated). The cases were reported in the department of Var in Southern France. The first case who lives in Cannet-des-Maures in the Var district and works in the Alpes-Maritimes district had onset of symptoms on 1 August. The […]The post France reports two locally transmitted Chikungunya cases in the south appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A cattle herd in southeastern Pennington County, South Dakota was hit by anthrax recently, according to state officials. State Veterinarian Dr. Dustin Oedekoven says that at least 9 adult cattle died suddenly last week in the herd, which had not been vaccinated against anthrax. Anthrax spores survive indefinitely in contaminated alkaline soils and nearly all […]The post Anthrax: Nine cattle dead in South Dakota appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the “crypto” situation in Lubbock, TX, the City of Lubbock Health Department reports more than 40 cases in the last 30 days compared to 25 cases reported in all of 2016. Cryptosporidiosis is caused by the cryptosporidium parasite, and there are an estimated 750,000 cases in the United States every year. Crypto […]The post Lubbock reports 40 cryptosporidium cases in past month appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Officials with the Metro Public Health Department are reporting a human West Nile virus (WNV) case in an individual from Davidson County. Health officials note the individual is expected to recover from the illness. In addition, batches of mosquitoes collected from 13 locations have tested positive for WNV. The Health Department’s Pest Management staff will visit areas […]The post West Nile virus case reported in the Nashville area appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

During the past month, 172 additional people have become ill from Salmonella infections in the current multistate, multi-strain outbreak linked to live poultry in backyard flocks ( chicks and ducklings, from multiple hatcheries), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported yesterday. The outbreak strains of Salmonella (S. Braenderup, S. Enteritidis, S. Hadar, Salmonella I 4, [5],12:i-, S. Indiana, S. Infantis, S. Litchfield, S. […]The post Salmonella Infections Linked to Live Poultry nears 1000 cases appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) situation in Syria, three new cases were officially reported in the past week, according to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI). This brings the total to 33. Onset of paralysis of these cases is between 3 March and 10 July. Thirty-one of the cases are from […]The post Syria polio cases rise to 33 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Wisconsin state health officials have reported the year’s first confirmed human cases of West Nile virus (WNV) in residents of Oconto and Fond du Lac Counties. The majority of WNV human cases in the state occur during the months of August and September. However, the risk of contracting WNV and other mosquito-borne illnesses is present anytime mosquitoes are […]The post Wisconsin reports 1st human West Nile virus cases of 2017 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

During the week ending on August 13, Nigeria reported an additional 10 confirmed Lassa fever cases as the incidence continues to increase despite ongoing efforts to control the disease. The new cases were reported from the following states: Lagos (4), Edo (2), Plateau (2), Ondo (1), and Ogun (1). One individual died in Lagos. Since the resurgence […]The post Nigeria reports 10 new Lassa fever cases appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Mother’s milk, which consists of a complex and continually changing blend of proteins, fats and sugars, helps protect babies against bacterial infections. In the past, scientists have concentrated their search for the source of its antibacterial properties on the proteins it contains. However, an interdisciplinary team of chemists and doctors at Vanderbilt University have discovered […]The post Mother’s milk helps protect babies against bacterial infections like Group B Strep: Study appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Five students from Sangmyung University’s Cheonan Campus in South Chungcheong Province contracted typhoid while in India last month, according to the Korean Centers for Disease Control. Two dozen students and teachers visited among other places, the city of New Delhi, as part of the school’s overseas education program in late July. Five students were diagnosed with […]The post South Korea: 5 Sangmyung University students contract typhoid in India appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Rates of international travel continue to grow substantially. This increasing globalization in travel increases the risk of travel-related illnesses and other health exposures; therefore, health care professionals need to accurately advise travelers about these potential risks. Associate Professor of Family Medicine and Global Health at the University of Washington and recognized expert in Tropical medicine, Christopher […]The post Travel health and medicine issues appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A malaria outbreak in the capital city of Praia, Cape Verde has prompted federal health officials to issue a travel notice for the archipelago off the northwest coast of Africa. Recently, there has been a substantial increase in malaria in Praia on São Tiago Island (also known as Santiago Island). Public health authorities in Cape Verde […]The post Malaria prompts travel notice for Praia, Cape Verde appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The cholera outbreak in Yemen is overwhelmingly affecting rebel-controlled areas due to Saudi-led airstrikes and blockades, according to a letter by researchers from Queen Mary University of London (QMUL), published in The Lancet Global Health. Their new analysis finds that eight out of ten of Yemen’s cholera deaths occur in rebel-controlled areas. The researchers combined WHO’s […]The post Yemen’s Saudi-led coalition is responsible for the ‘worst cholera outbreak in the world’ appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Nigerian health officials are investigating, what is described as a “strange illness”in Kogi State, the week prior, something similar was reported in Kwara State . The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control’s (NCDC) Surveillance Team immediately contacted the State Epidemiology Teams of both States. Preliminary findings from the States showed that some cases presented with symptoms that fits […]The post Nigeria: ‘Strange illness’ reported in Kogi State, Lassa ruled out appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Cholera The first round of an Oral Cholera Vaccination (OCV) campaign in four priority counties of South Sudan with active transmission of cholera, has successfully concluded despite security and access challenges in some areas, the World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa (WHO/AFRO) reports. The vaccination campaign started on the 29 July, 2017 to 4 August, […]The post South Sudan: Oral Cholera Vaccination campaign concludes, Malaria deaths top 4,000 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Florida Department of Health (DOH) has reported the second death due to Vibrio vulnificus in the state this year. The case occurred in Brevard County and officials are still investigating how the individual contracted the bacterium. The other fatality reported this year was in Orange County. To date, DOH has reported 17 cases, including […]The post Florida reports 2nd Vibriosis death of 2017 in Brevard County appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Vietnam The number of dengue fever cases in Vietnam spiked by some 10,000 cases in the past week. Tran Đac Phu, head of the ministry’s preventive medicine department, said the country had recorded 90,626 dengue cases since the beginning of 2017, a year-on-year rise of 67.8 per cent, including 24 fatalities, local media reports. This is […]The post Dengue updates for Vietnam and Sri Lanka appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the multistate Salmonella outbreak linked to Maradol papayas, 34 additional cases were reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to be added to the investigation. In addition, cases have now been reported in Missouri and Tennessee, bringing the number of states affected to 21 and two additional Salmonella strains, Agona, […]The post Salmonella outbreak: More cases, more states, more strains appeared first on Outbreak News Today.