Outbreak News Today

An outbreak of conjunctivitis, or “pink eye” has been reported in the canton of Garabito in Puntarenas province, according to a Costa Rica Star report. The infection has affected some 1,000 people in the municipality. It is suspected that the cause is viral; however, confirmation is pending. Pink eye, or Conjunctivitis, is a common eye ailment caused […]The post Costa Rica: Pink eye outbreak in Puntarenas province appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

One week ago in a joint statement from UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake and WHO Director-General Margaret Chan when the Yemen cholera outbreak topped 200,000 cases, it was stated, “We are now facing the worst cholera outbreak in the world.” About a week later, World Health Organization Representative in Yemen, Dr Nevio Zagaria said, “The geographical spread […]The post Yemen cholera cases top 250,000: ‘We are in a race against time’ appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Sri Lankan military troops have been deployed to destroy mosquito breeding sites in the country as record numbers of dengue fever cases continue to mount. According to a Malay Mail Online report, Troops, backed by police and health officials, have launched an intensive campaign to identify dengue hotspots to be sprayed with insecticides. Twenty five teams […]The post Sri Lanka dengue crisis: Military troops deployed, University of Moratuwa closed appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Three children are “gravely ill” with confirmed rabies in Serian District, Sarawak on the Malaysian state on Borneo, according to multiple media reports. The children, all seven years and younger, presented with symptoms of fever, abnormal behavior and aggression at times, and were afraid of water. As of Saturday, they were being treated at the Sarawak […]The post Rabies in Sarawak, Borneo: 3 children severely ill appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Hawaii State Department of Health (DOH) has confirmed fourteen (14) more cases of residents with the mumps, raising the total number of cases this year to 133. Eleven (11) cases are on Oahu, two (2) are on Kauai and one (1) is on Hawaii Island, representing that island’s first confirmed mumps case this year. […]The post Hawaii: Mumps confirmed on Big Island, Rat lungworm meeting in Lanai City appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Toronto Public Health is advising anyone who consumed food or beverages at O’Grady’s on Church restaurant located at 518 Church St. in Toronto between June 7 and June 23 that they may have been exposed to hepatitis A. An employee of the restaurant is a confirmed case of hepatitis A. While the risk is low, […]The post Hepatitis A warning issued in Toronto for patrons of O’Grady’s on Church appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Following the unveiling of Senate Republican leadership health care legislation last week, a number of conservative and moderate members either rejected the proposal or was not sure of support. U.S. Senator and physician Rand Paul said, “The current bill does not repeal Obamacare. It does not keep our promises to the American people. I will oppose it […]The post Rand Paul says no to insurance company bailouts, proposes formation of associations to purchase group health insurance appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Even if hospital workers practice perfect hand hygiene, MRSA can still spread among babies in the NICU, according to new research led by a Drexel University researcher. Neal D. Goldstein, PhD, assistant research professor in the Dornsife School of Public Health, and his team of researchers decided to look at how the complex patient care […]The post Perfect compliance with hand hygiene won’t completely eliminate the chance for MRSA to spread appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak in Likati Health Zone, Bas Uele Province in northeast Democratic Republic of the Congo remains stable and their are plans of declaring the outbreak over on Sunday, July 2. This follows a 42 day period since the last confirmed case tested negative for the second time. The 42 day period […]The post Ebola outbreak to be declared over July 2 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Baylisascaris procyonis is a roundworm found in the small intestines of raccoons. Humans get infected, albeit rarely (30-something cases have been reported; however, it is probably more common than documented), by accidentally ingesting eggs from the environment, from raccoon feces, contaminated water or fomites. The three most common disease manifestations of Baylisascaris are larval migrations through […]The post Raccoon roundworm: The rare and potentially lethal zoonosis appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

During the first half of 2017, Thailand has reported approximately 17,000 dengue cases, including 27 deaths, according to the Bureau of Epidemiology of the Ministry of Public Health. Cases were reported in all 77 Thai provinces. Of the total, more than 9,200 cases were classified as dengue fever, 7,300 cases, including eight deaths were attributed to […]The post Thailand reports 17,000 dengue cases in first half of 2017 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The National Health and Family Planning Commission of China reported six additional human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) during the week of June 23 to 29. The three male and three female patients, aged from 4 to 72, had onset from June 11 to 23. Four of them are from Yunnan and one each from Guizhou and Shanxi. Among […]The post China report 6 additional human H7N9 ‘bird flu’ cases in past week appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Hong Kong Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health announced they are investigating a local case of Japanese encephalitis (JE) and again urged the public to avoid going to rural areas from dusk till dawn when the vector which breeds in large water bodies such as rice paddies is most active. The male […]The post Hong Kong investigates local transmission of Japanese encephalitis appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Northern Mariana Islands are a U.S. commonwealth (CNMI) in the Pacific Ocean. It consists of 14 islands with Saipan being the largest. The World Health Organization announced recently that the island chain has reduced hepatitis B infection among children to less than 1%. The Northern Mariana Islands have a strong hepatitis B vaccination program which […]The post The Northern Mariana Islands battle with hepatitis B in children successful appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In April, Pakistani health officials reported the first death due to Naegleria fowleri infection of the year in Tando Allah Yar in Sindh province. Today, a second fatality was reported in a 55-year-old Karachi resident, according to a local media account. Naegleria fowleri (commonly referred to as the “brain-eating amoeba”), is a microscopic amoeba which […]The post Pakistan: Second Naegleria fowleri death reported in Sindh appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

State and local health officials are investigating an outbreak of Salmonella infections involving patrons of Cilantro Fresh Mexican Grill, a restaurant at 1158 Whalley Ave. in New Haven, Connecticut. Cilantro’s owner is cooperating with public health officials and has voluntarily closed the restaurant while the investigation is conducted. Salmonella bacteria are one of the most common […]The post New Haven, Connecticut Cilantro’s linked to salmonella outbreak appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Food and Drug Administration recently approved a new antibiotic into the arsenal for treating serious acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI). Its called delafloxacin and goes by the trade name, Baxdela and its manufactured by Melinta Therapeutics. Assistant Professor of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, James McKinnell, M.D. joined me […]The post Antibiotics: Skin infections and the FDA approval of Baxdela appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Since the beginning of 2017, an epidemic of hepatitis A has affected gay and bisexual men in France and the number of cases is increasing in many French regions and throughout Europe. Health officials in France have reported 771 cases of acute hepatitis A through May 31 this year, with 279 cases reported in May alone. […]The post France reports nearly 800 hepatitis A cases in first five months of 2017 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

California health officials reported this week that newly published data shows that new hepatitis C cases are increasing among young adults. Between 2007 and 2015, newly reported hepatitis C infections increased 55 percent among men 20-29 years of age and 37 percent among women in the same age group. These data are consistent with increases […]The post Hepatitis C: California reports increase in young adults appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

New multicenter research, which included Vanderbilt University Medical Center investigators, could change treatment approaches to simple skin abscesses, infections often caused by Staphylococcus aureus (staph) bacteria. The study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, shows that adults and children who have simple abscesses five centimeters or smaller in diameter have higher cure rates if the abscess […]The post Antibiotics effective for treatment of simple abscesses: Study appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By age 2, most children have been infected with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which usually causes only mild cold symptoms. But people with weakened immune systems, such as infants and the elderly, can face serious complications, including pneumonia and — in some cases — death. Now, scientists studying the virus, led by researchers at Washington […]The post RSV discovery provides potential target for vaccines, treatments appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Routine drinking water testing by the Louisiana Department of Health has confirmed the presence of Naegleria fowleri, an ameba that occurs naturally in freshwater, in Ouachita Parish’s North Monroe Water System and Terrebonne Parish’s Schriever Water System. The tap water is safe for residents to drink, but the Department urges residents to avoid getting water […]The post Louisiana: Naegleria fowleri amoeba found in drinking water in Ouachita Parish appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Health officials in Shelby County, TN announced the laboratory confirmation of three individuals diagnosed with Legionnaires Disease. With the reported cases, health officials began an investigation and have temporarily closed the aquatics facilities of The Guest House at Graceland, 3600 Elvis Presley Blvd., 38116. “We are working collaboratively with the Tennessee Department of Health on this […]The post Memphis: Legionnaires’ disease outbreak reported at Graceland appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Canadian health officials announced the investigation into an outbreak of locally acquired Cyclospora infections in two provinces. According to the investigation to date, a total of 20 cases have been reported in two provinces: British Columbia (5) and Ontario (15). Individuals became sick between May and early June of this year. The source of the outbreak has not been […]The post Cyclospora outbreak reported in Ontario, British Columbia appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Lyme disease expert, Clinical Director for the Division of Infectious Diseases and Professor of Medicine at Johns Hopkins, Dr. Paul Auwaerter joined me to answer questions about Lyme disease diagnostic testing, treatment, chronic Lyme disease and Lyme literate physicians. Related: Lyme advocate discusses CDC MMWR Chronic Lyme article Lyme Madness author, Lori Dennis, for the full […]The post Lyme: Q & A with Paul Auwaerter, MD appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the polio outbreak in Syria, five new cases of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) were reported in the past week, bringing the total of cVDPV2 cases to 22, according to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI). All cases had onset of paralysis between 3 March and 25 May. Twenty-one of […]The post Polio: Additional cases reported in Syria appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Covenant Health yesterday mailed letters to 1,307 patients who may have been exposed to Hepatitis B and C through an infection control breach that occurred during individual insulin training sessions at the Grey Nuns and Misericordia Community Hospitals Diabetes Education Centres, between 2013 and early 2016. The risk to the individuals being notified is considered […]The post Infection control breach prompts notification letters to Covenant Health patients appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A multi-institutional team of investigators reported this week in Science Translational Medicine on a new antiviral drug candidate that inhibits a broad range of coronaviruses, including the SARS and MERS coronaviruses. The findings support further development of the drug candidate for treating and preventing current coronavirus infections and potential future epidemic outbreaks. Coronaviruses are a genetically diverse […]The post New antiviral drug candidate inhibits a broad range of coronaviruses, including the SARS and MERS appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Ministry of Public Health and Population of Yemen has recorded a total of 39,688 suspected cholera cases and 183 associated deaths during the period 22 to 27 June 2017. According to a World Health Organization Daily Epidemiology update today, 231,364 suspected cholera cases and 1,439 deaths have been recorded since April 27. The overall case-fatality […]The post Cholera epidemic: 40,000 new cases reported in Yemen during past week appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The use of acupuncture to treat pain dates back to the earliest recorded history in China. Despite centuries of acupuncture, it’s still not clear why this method of applying and stimulating tiny needles at certain points on the body can relieve pain. Recent studies have raised additional questions, with some finding acupuncture reduced chronic pain […]The post Acupuncture elevates nitric oxide, encouraging release of analgesic substances appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

First in some troubling news out of Europe, The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) ruled last Wednesday that vaccines can be blamed for causing illnesses even if there is no scientific proof . Jurist.org reports: The decision comes out of a case that was appealed from France’s Court of Cassation regarding a man who […]The post Romania and Italy measles update, EU court ruling on vaccines appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Skagit County health officials reported a hantavirus case in a resident late last week, making it the fourth case in Washington state this year. Though the patient has fully recovered, Public Health officials warn that the disease can be deadly. Infection can cause respiratory distress, called Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome. Hantavirus is carried by deer mice […]The post Hantavirus reported in Skagit County, Washington appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States and melanoma is the most dangerous type. In fact, Melanoma kills an estimated more than 10,000 people in the US annually. Board-certified dermatologist and founder of Forman Dermatology and Skin Cancer Institute in Tampa, Seth Forman, MD joined me for a discussion on the […]The post The ABCs of melanoma appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The parasitic infection, Chagas disease, was first discovered in 1909 by Brazilian physician Carlos Chagas. According to the World Health Organization, an estimated more than 10,000 people die every year from clinical manifestations of Chagas disease, and more than 25 million people risk acquiring the disease. It is caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, and the disease is […]The post A look at the neglected tropical disease, Chagas disease appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Despite the potentially severe consequences of illness and even death, only about 40 percent of adults in the United States receive flu shots each year; however, researchers believe a new self-administered, painless vaccine skin patch containing microscopic needles could significantly increase the number of people who get vaccinated. A phase I clinical trial conducted by […]The post Flu vaccine via microneedle patches generate robust immunity, safe in first human clinical trial appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In Maharashtra State in west-central India is reporting an outbreak of H1N1 influenza, resulting in 260 deaths, according to local media. Despite recommendations earlier this year, state authorities have yet to procure the vaccine. In Andhra Pradesh state in India’s southeastern coast has reported 6,000 malaria cases. Visakhapatnam and East Godavari districts have registered a large number of cases in the State. As […]The post India: H1N1 influenza in Maharashtra, Malaria in Andhra Pradesh appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

At least five men from Kodipunjuvalasa of Araku Valley Mandal in Visakhapatnam district in the state of Andhra Pradesh have contracted confirmed cutaneous anthrax, according to Indian media. The five patients were admitted to the hospital and treated Sunday with boils that developed on their hands and fingers. It is reported that they consumed the meat of a goat […]The post India: Cutaneous anthrax outbreak in Visakhapatnam appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The number of Lassa fever cases in the current outbreak in Nigeria has grown to 501 suspected cases including 104 deaths through June 9. The World Health Organization reports the outbreak in Nigeria shows a declining trend of outbreaks. The outbreak that started in Dec. 2016 has affected 17 states, with nine states still active in […]The post Nigeria Lassa fever outbreak tops 500 cases, still active in 9 states appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Orlando-based specialty pharmaceutical company, Profounda announced it has received the US Food and Drug Administration’s Orphan Drug Designation for the use of Impavido (miltefosine) to treat Granulomatous Amebic Encephalitis (GAE) caused by the free-living amoeba, Balamuthia . The Balamuthia amoeba is one cause of GAE. The amoeba is thought to enter the body when soil or […]The post Balamuthia: Profounda receives Orphan Drug Designation to use miltefosine for treatment appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

University of Florida researchers have found rat lungworm, a parasitic nematode that can cause meningitis in humans and animals, in five Florida counties. Rats and snails in Alachua, Leon, St. Johns, Orange and Hillsborough counties tested positive for the parasite, according to a study in PLoS ONE by researchers in the UF College of Veterinary Medicine and […]The post Rat lungworm found in 5 Florida counties appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A new study suggests that most people with acute conjunctivitis, or pinkeye, are getting the wrong treatment. About 60 percent of patients nationwide are prescribed antibiotic eye drops, even though antibiotics are rarely necessary to treat this common eye infection. Of the patients filling antibiotic prescriptions, 20 percent filled prescriptions for antibiotic-steroid eye drops that […]The post Many ‘pink eye’ infections treated unnecessarily with antibiotics: Study appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Florida Department of Health in Orange County (DOH-Orange) has enlisted the assistance of mosquito fish in the fight against mosquitoes. Known as Gambusia holbrooki in the scientific world, their common name is the eastern mosquito fish. This native Florida aquatic species has been the focus of a DOH-Orange Environmental Health Community Initiative. Introduced into […]The post Orlando: Health officials enlist ‘mosquito fish’ in battle against mosquito appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Starting Saturday, health officials with the Southern District Health Board in New Zealand will be offering chickenpox, or varicella vaccine to children aged 15 months and 11 years free of charge. This comes as the health board is dealing with chickenpox outbreaks at several schools in Otago and Southland. According to Naomi Gough, Medical Officer for Public Health […]The post New Zealand: Southern district to offer free chickenpox vaccine appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The government of Brazil has donated 15,000 doses of human rabies vaccine to Haiti, with the support of the Pan American Foot-and-Mouth Disease Center (PANAFTOSA) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). The rabies vaccines are intended to protect humans after they have been exposed to rabies. The vaccines arrived this week in the Haitian […]The post Eliminating rabies in Haiti: Brazil donates 15,000 doses of rabies vaccine appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) is a severe, sometimes fatal, respiratory disease in humans caused by infection with a hantavirus. Since 1993, some 700 cases of Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome have been reported in the United States, with 36 percent resulting in death. State Public Health Veterinarian for the New Mexico Department of Health, Dr. Paul Ettestad joined me […]The post Hantavirus: An interview with Dr Paul Ettestad appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

There has been a cumulative 80 laboratory confirmed dengue fever cases reported in the United States and five US territories as of June 19, according to recently published provisional ArboNet data. Of the 80 cases, 43 were determined to be travel-associated, while 37 were locally transmitted. All of the local transmission cases were reported from […]The post Dengue fever: 80 cases reported in US and territories in 1st six months of 2017 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The owner and head pharmacist of New England Compounding Center (NECC) was sentenced today to nine years in prison in connection with the 2012 nationwide fungal meningitis outbreak, the Department of Justice announced Monday. Barry Cadden, 50, of Wrentham, Massachusetts, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to serve 108 months in […]The post NECC owner, Barry Cadden, gets 9 years in prison over 2012 nationwide fungal meningitis outbreak appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a joint statement from UNICEF and WHO last week, officials said, “The rapidly spreading cholera outbreak in Yemen has exceeded 200,000 suspected cases, increasing at an average of 5,000 a day. We are now facing the worst cholera outbreak in the world.” During the past two months, 218,798 suspected cholera cases and 1,400 deaths have been […]The post Yemen cholera death toll rises to 1400 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC) is investigating a travel-associated confirmed case of measles in Franklin County; currently there are no other cases reported or under investigation in Maine. This case was confirmed at the Maine Health and Environmental Testing Laboratory. The last reported measles case in Maine was in 1997. […]The post Maine reports 1st measles case since 1997 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

At least seven people from four Canadian provinces have been sickened with Salmonella Enteritidis, which The Public Health Agency of Canada says frozen raw breaded chicken products are the source of the infections. Cases have been reported from British Columbia (1), Alberta (4), Ontario (1) and New Brunswick (1). Two people have been hospitalized. No deaths have been […]The post Salmonella outbreak: Frozen raw breaded chicken products linked to illnesses appeared first on Outbreak News Today.