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.

“Our discovery could be used to design new medicines”, says Pål Stenmark, Associate Professor at the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University. Dr Stenmark and his research team have determined the three-dimensional structure of the entire tetanus toxin protein. “We can now see the exact positions of the 20 000 atoms that build up […]The post Tetanus toxin discovery could be used to design new medicines appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Nigerian health officials are reporting outbreaks of hepatitis E and cholera in two different states in the country. Hepatitis E A hepatitis E outbreak has been reported in the north-east Borno State, according to the Nigeria Federal Ministry of Health. As of 17 June 2017, a total of 53 suspected hepatitis E cases with no fatality have […]The post Nigeria: Hepatitis E in Borno State, Cholera in Kwara State appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Tampa, FL-based dermatologist and founder of Forman Dermatology and Skin Cancer Institute, Seth Forman, MD joined me on the show to talk about the autoimmune condition, psoriasis. Dr. Forman discussed the types of psoriasis, the symptoms, triggers and diagnosis of of the condition. He also went over the several treatment options available. In addition, Forman talked […]The post Psoriasis: Oral treatment clinical trials appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The pathogen, Vibrio cholerae can colonize the surfaces, as well as the intestines of soft shelled turtles. This finding is strong evidence that soft shelled turtles in China, where they are grown for human consumption, are spreading cholera. The research is published in Applied and Environmental Microbiology, a journal of the American Society for Microbiology. […]The post Cholera bacteria can colonize soft shelled turtles, spreading disease in China appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Publix Super Markets is issuing a voluntary recall for Publix Tropical Medley Mix because it may be adulterated with Listeria monocytogenes. Publix received notification of the potential contamination from our supplier of dried apricot. The 5.7oz clear plastic containers of the mix were sold from Publix retail produce departments in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama, […]The post Publix: Possible Listeria prompts recall of Tropical Medley Mix appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Sri Lanka has reported nearly 70,000 dengue fever cases through today, including 210 deaths. This compares to approximately 24,000 cases during the same period in 2016. The country’s health minister, Rajitha Senaratne is blaming the surge in dengue on the piling up of garbage in parts of the country. “The situation could get worse if we […]The post Dengue outbreak blamed on garbage pile-up: Sri Lanka officials appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Following the report of the state’s first human plague case of 2017 nearly three weeks ago, health officials in New Mexico have reported two additional human plague cases in Santa Fe County. The most recent cases are in 52-year-old and 62-year-old females, health officials note. All three cases required hospitalization. There have been no deaths from plague in […]The post Human plague tally rises to three in Santa Fe County, New Mexico appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Officials with the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Animal Production and Health in Pretoria reported an outbreak of Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAI) H5N8 on a farm in Dipaleseng, Mpumalanga Province to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) today. According to the report, 25,000 birds died out of 243,000 susceptible birds. The following measures have been applied: […]The post South Africa: 25,000 birds killed in H5N8 avian influenza outbreak on Mpumalanga farm appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Researchers have identified a possible new treatment for gonorrhea, using a peptide that thwarts the infection-causing bacterium by interfering with an enzyme the microbe needs to respirate. The findings are especially important since Neisseria gonorrhoeae is considered a “superbug” due to its resistance to all classes of antibiotics available for treating infections. Gonorrhea, a sexually […]The post Gonorrhea: Possible new treatment uses peptide that interferes with respiratory enzyme appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In 2010, I did an email interview with Blastocystis Research Foundation (BRF) director, Ken Boorom on the parasite Blastocystis hominis and the work done by the BRF. Several years after that, I did an audio interview with Ken to catch up o the latest research and developments concerning the protozoan parasite that afflicts so many. […]The post Blastocystis: The latest research and developments appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The meningococcal meningitis C outbreak in Nigeria that began in mid-December 2016 in Zamfara State has been declared over, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) Friday. The Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) responding to the epidemic has stepped down as the outbreak has been in constant decline for eight weeks. In fact, in the […]The post Nigeria: After six months, meningitis outbreak over appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on a report two weeks ago on an outbreak of gastrointestinal illness linked to the Rifle Rodeo at the Garfield County Fairgrounds in Colorado, Garfield County health officials report receiving confirmation of the cause of illness from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment lab. Lab samples sent to the Colorado Department of Public […]The post Clostridium perfringens the cause of Rifle Rodeo outbreak appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Helminth infections and tuberculosis are two of the major health care problems worldwide and share a great deal of geographical overlap. Helminth infections are known to influence T cell responses in latent tuberculosis (LTBI). A new study published in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases whether helminth infections also modulate B cell responses in helminth-tuberculosis co-infection. Researchers from the National […]The post Strongyloides stercoralis-latent TB co-infection more susceptible to active TB: Study appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up to a report of a mumps outbreak in the greater Boston area earlier this month, the Boston Globe reports two individuals in the Harvard University community have been diagnosed with mumps. The report states that two cases were confirmed Thursday and one is connected to the Harvard Biolabs complex on Divinity Avenue in Cambridge. […]The post Harvard reports mumps cases, one case linked to Biolabs facility appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Health officials in Ventura County, CA are reporting an unusually high number of Shigella cases in the county. Interviews as part of the investigation has been determined that a number of the cases reported to have eaten at the Souplantation in Camarillo. Of the diners interviewed, there are a total of eight individuals with laboratory evidence […]The post Ventura County: Shigella increases linked to Souplantation in Camarillo appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Hong Kong health officials reported a sporadic case of necrotizing fasciitis due to Vibrio vulnificus infection affecting a 49-year-old male with underlying illnesses. He presented with bilateral feet and ankles pain and malaise since June 5. He attended the Accident and Emergency Department of a public hospital on June 6 and was admitted on the […]The post Hong Kong reports necrotizing fasciitis case due to Vibrio appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

After reporting more than 7,000 additional cholera cases in the past day, health officials report the case tally in the Yemen epidemic has reached 200,420 suspected cholera cases, including 1,310 deaths since Apr. 27. Earlier this week it was reported that the King Salman Centre for Humanitarian Aid and Relief agreed to donate millions of dollars to support the […]The post Yemen: Cholera epidemic tops 200,000 cases since late April appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A journal article published in the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene warns the fight against Zika virus (ZIKAV) is not a 100-m race, but rather a marathon in which science and public health need to work hand in hand for the benefit of our peoples. “The Americas had the unfortunate distinction of being a […]The post Zika in the Americas: ‘Future epidemic waves remain likely’ appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Hawaii State Department of Health (DOH) has confirmed fifteen (15) more cases of Oahu residents with the mumps, raising the total number of cases this year to 119. The new cases involved eight (8) adults and seven (7) children. None of the cases required hospitalization and all are recovering. DOH is investigating the new […]The post Hawaii reports additional 15 mumps cases appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) reported the first human case of West Nile virus (WNV) in 2017. The reported case is in Forrest County. The MSDH only reports laboratory-confirmed cases to the public. In 2016, Mississippi had 43 WNV cases and two deaths. “While WNV can occur any time of the year, we […]The post Mississippi: 1st human West Nile virus case reported in Forrest County appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Toxins produced by three different species of fungus growing indoors on wallpaper may become aerosolized, and easily inhaled. The findings, which likely have implications for “sick building syndrome,” were published in Applied and Environmental Microbiology, a journal of the American Society for Microbiology. “We demonstrated that mycotoxins could be transferred from a moldy material to […]The post Sick building syndrome: Fungal toxins easily become airborne appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

For many Americans, the warmer weather of summer means more time spent outside: More gardening and yard work, more hikes in the woods, more backyard barbecues. But for this year in particular, some experts predict warmer weather will lead to more ticks. That potential boom in ticks could lead to another boom–in Lyme disease, a […]The post Treating Lyme disease: When do symptoms resolve in children? appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published an article in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) titled “Serious Bacterial Infections Acquired During Treatment of Patients Given a Diagnosis of Chronic Lyme Disease — United States” This article received a lot of attention in the media. However, not everyone was thrilled with […]The post Lyme advocate discusses CDC MMWR Chronic Lyme article appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) announced this week that a healthcare worker who is employed by Hudson Headwaters has been confirmed to have measles. In addition to working at Hudson Headwaters, the infected individual spent time at a Saratoga County Home Depot, a Saratoga Springs Restaurant, and a Warren County medical practice […]The post Measles exposure risk in Eastern New York appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Zamboanga City health officials are reporting a increase in dengue fever cases prompting them to warn of an imminent outbreak. Based on data from the City Health Office, dengue cases for the months of April and May were significantly higher, registering 130 and 188 cases, respectively, as opposed to 97 and 127 cases reported last […]The post Dengue cases up in Zamboanga City appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In Seminole County, Florida, health officials are reporting a Shigella outbreak linked to an Altamonte Springs day care, according to an WFTV report. The numbers of people affected, including children was not disclosed. Health officials say it could take weeks, possibly months to pinpoint the source the source. “Our epidemiology team works to contact whoever […]The post Florida: Shigella outbreak in Altamonte Springs, Mumps in Hillsborough County appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Prairie dogs in the wild are less likely to succumb to plague after they ingest peanut-butter-flavored bait that contains a vaccine against the disease, according to a U.S. Geological Survey study published yesterday in the journal EcoHealth. In an effort to increase populations of endangered black-footed ferrets and conserve the prairie dogs they rely on for […]The post Plague in prairie dogs: Oral vaccine reduces outbreaks in colonies appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

El Paso County Public Health confirmed Wednesday, June 21 that a wild rabbit in northeast Colorado Springs died of tularemia infection, and are asking residents to remain cautious around wild animals. The rabbit was tested after a resident in northeast Colorado Springs, near Austin Bluffs Parkway and Stetson Hills Boulevard, found several dead wild rabbits […]The post Tularemia confirmed in Colorado Springs rabbit appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A new study suggests that Red Cross volunteers potentially averted more than 10,000 cases of Ebola during the 2013-2016 West Africa outbreak. The study measures for the first time the amazing impact of safe and dignified burial (SDB) teams, and highlights the incredibly important role of community health workers during a health emergency. According to […]The post Ebola: Safe burials linked to averting 10,000 cases in West Africa outbreak appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

While more than 13,000 cases of Chikungunya viral disease were reported in Brazil in 2015, scientists had never before detected the virus in a captured mosquito in this country. Now, researchers reporting in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases have identified a mosquito–caught in the Brazilian city of Aracaju–that’s naturally infected with the East-Central-South-African (ECSA) genotype of […]The post First Chikungunya-infected Aedes aegypti mosquitos found in Brazil appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Researchers from the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have developed an evidence-informed checklist that outlines action steps for medical and public health officials to assess and strengthen the resilience of their community’s health sector to high-consequence infectious disease (HCID) events. The checklist bridges a planning […]The post Improving preparedness and response based on lessons learned from Ebola cases in four U.S. cities appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Dallas County Health and Human Services (DCHHS) is reporting the first case of imported Dengue virus in Dallas County for 2017. The 54-year-old resident of Dallas was infected during recent travel to India. “Dallas County residents traveling to countries where these viruses are endemic should take precaution when traveling,” said Zachary Thompson, DCHHS director. “Dengue […]The post Dallas reports 1st travel-associated dengue fever case of 2017 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The New York City Health Department announced Thursday that it has identified a cluster of Mycobacterium abscessus/chelonae skin/soft tissue infections associated with cosmetic surgery performed in the Dominican Republic. There have been eight cases identified in New York City and two in Connecticut this year. All 10 of these patients reported having undergone cosmetic procedures […]The post Medical tourists to the Dominican Republic contract Mycobacterium infection associated with cosmetic surgery appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A pair of scientists at The University of Texas at El Paso is one step closer to developing the first ever clinical Chagas disease vaccine. Researchers Rosa Maldonado, Ph.D., and Igor Almeida, Ph.D., both faculty in the Department of Biological Sciences, recently were granted a patent for “Mucin-Associated Surface Protein As Vaccine Against Chagas Disease.” […]The post Chagas disease: UTEP scientists granted patent for first ever vaccine appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The right wing of the 8th floor of the University Hospital of Maracaibo (HUM) has been closed and isolated with 17 employee/patients with suspected or confirmed diphtheria, according to a El Pitazo report (computer translated). Outside of the 8th floor, 485 employees had been vaccinated against the disease on Tuesday.The hospital remains on alert as the contagion […]The post Diphtheria outbreak at the University Hospital of Maracaibo in Venezuela appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

When an American nurse working in West Africa became ill with Lassa fever and was evacuated to the U.S. for treatment in 2016, it provided a rare opportunity. With the consent of the patient, researchers were able to closely study, for the first time, how his immune system responded, including the persistence of Lassa virus […]The post Lassa fever: 2016 US patient offers info on immune response, persistence in semen appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The life-threatening African trypanosomiasis, also called sleeping sickness, is caused by protozoa of the species Trypanosoma brucei. A team at the Biocentre of the Julius-Maximilians-Universität (JMU) Würzburg in Bavaria, Germany, studies the pathogens and has now reported exciting news: The trypanosomes have a so far unknown enzyme which does not exist in humans and other […]The post Sleeping sickness parasite enzyme discovery could lead to treatments appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Just months after New Hampshire health officials reported a gonorrhea outbreak, the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services says the state is experiencing an outbreak of syphilis. The number of reported cases in New Hampshire for 2017 is about double that of previous years. From January through May of this year, forty-two cases of […]The post Syphilis cases double in New Hampshire appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

One million cholera vaccine doses have been approved to be shipped to Yemen, according to an Associated Press report. The report states: WHO said the 1 million doses for Yemen were approved on June 15 by the International Coordinating Group, which manages vaccine stocks and includes the Red Cross, Doctors Without Borders, UNICEF, and Gavi, the […]The post Yemen: 1 mil cholera vaccines headed to the country as death toll tops 1,200 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

At least 47 guests at the Weston Hotel in Nairobi have tested positive for cholera, according to a Kenya’s The Nation report. Attendees of a science conference entitled, “The Kenya International Scientific Lung Health Conference” are affected, according to conference organizer, Dr George Nyale. Dr Nyale said contingencies are available to include on-site testing and stand-by […]The post Nairobi: Cholera sickens dozens at Weston Hotel appeared first on Outbreak News Today.