Outbreak News Today

With Every Kid Healthy Week kicking off today, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on 2017’s Best & Worst States for Children’s Health Care. In order to determine which states offer the most cost-effective and highest-quality health care for children, WalletHub’s analysts compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 28 […]The post Children’s Health Care: Vermont tops list as ‘Best state’, Nevada is worst appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) is calling on Chicago families to vaccinate themselves against whooping cough (pertussis) to help protect their infants as part of National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW), April 22-29. CDPH will remind families through a weeklong campaign of the importance of vaccinating against whooping cough, which is highly treatable, by hosting free vaccination clinics across four sites […]The post Chicago offers free whooping cough vaccine this week appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Theravance Biopharma, Inc. today announced that new preliminary data from the ongoing Telavancin Observational Use Registry (TOUR™) study are the focus of three poster presentations at the 27th European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID). TOUR, which has enrolled its target of 1,000 patients, is designed to report how VIBATIV® (telavancin) is being […]The post VIBATIV®: Theravance Biopharma reports new preliminary data from the ongoing TOUR study appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa (WHO/AFRO) announced today that Ghana, Kenya, and Malawi will take part in a WHO-coordinated pilot implementation programme that will make the world’s first malaria vaccine available in selected areas, beginning in 2018. The injectable vaccine, RTS,S, was developed to protect young children from the most deadly form […]The post Malaria vaccine: Ghana, Kenya and Malawi to take part in WHO pilot program appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care recommends against screening for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) in adults at low risk in a guideline published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal). “Given the lack of direct evidence that mass screening is beneficial and that patients identified by screening will either never develop symptoms of […]The post Hepatitis C: New Canadian guidelines recommend against screening low-risk adults appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Vaccines and antibodies could be transported and stored without refrigeration by capturing them in tiny silica ‘cages’, a discovery which could make getting vital medicines to remote or dangerous places much easier, cheaper and safer. Vaccines and many other medicines contain proteins which break down and become unusable at room temperatures, meaning they must be […]The post Tiny silica ‘cages’ could keep vaccines safe at high temperatures appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Though transmission of malaria was wiped out in the United States decades ago and infections are falling in parts of the developing world, malaria hospitalizations and deaths in the U.S. appear to be far more common than generally appreciated as a steady stream of travelers returns home with the dangerous mosquito-borne disease. That’s the key […]The post Malaria sickens thousands of American travelers every year appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Don’t wait until it threatens the life of someone you care about, learn what to look for and trust your instincts. World Meningitis Day is celebrated on the 24th of April each year to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of meningitis, the disease itself, and increasing knowledge of available vaccines. What is Meningitis? […]The post Meningitis - Rare But Potentially Fatal appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Today is the beginning of Medical Laboratory Professionals Week (MLPW) 2017. This week, April 23-29, provides the profession with a unique opportunity to increase public understanding of and appreciation for clinical laboratory personnel and the vital role they play in every aspect of health care. On today’s show we put together a great panel to discuss the ins-and-outs […]The post Lab Week 2017: A discussion panel appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

On Friday, Dr Catherine Spong, OB/GYN and Deputy director of NIH’s Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) did a Q&A during a Reddit AMA (Ask me anything) on the topic of Zika’s effects on child development. Here are some of the questions and answers: Redditor: What percentage of pregnancies where the mother has […]The post Zika’s effects on child development: A Reddit AMA with Dr Catherine Spong appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

People who have recently been found to have drug-resistant bacteria in their urine or stool samples have a greatly increased risk of developing a bloodstream infection that is also resistant to certain antibiotics, according to a study presented at the 27th European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID). Sepsis affects an estimated 30 […]The post Drug-resistant bacteria in patients’ urine or stools raise risk of drug-resistant sepsis appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A study that evaluated an investigational dosage of once-daily ledipasvir 45 mg/sofosbuvir 200 mg (LDV/SOF) in children aged six to 11 years infected with the Hepatitis C virus (HCV), found that 99% of children (n=89/90) had undetectable levels of HCV-RNA 12 weeks after treatment. The study, presented at The International Liver Congress™ 2017 in Amsterdam, […]The post Investigational dose of oral interferon-free treatment can cure hepatitis C in children appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Oregon Zoo is reporting the fourth case of tuberculosis, or TB in an Asian elephant in recent years. The 34-year-old, Sung-Surin, or “Shine” tested positive for the disease on Wednesday and veterinarians started her on an appropriate treatment regimen. Zoo officials say Shine has shown no signs of illness and is otherwise in good health. The zoo […]The post Tuberculosis: Oregon Zoo reports ‘Shine’ is TB positive appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The number of measles fatalities in the Romanian outbreak has grown to 22, according to health officials. Between Jan. 2016 and Apr. 14, 2017, Romania has reported 4,793 cases of measles with infants and young children most affected. Thirty-eight of the 42 districts have reported cases with Caras Severin (West part of the country, at the border […]The post Romania reports 22 measles deaths in current outbreak appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the rat lungworm cluster in Hawaii, state health officials confirmed an additional two new cases of individuals with rat lungworm illness on Hawaii Island. In addition, four related cases are considered highly probable based on clinical indications, a common discrete exposure, and symptoms consistent with the illness. All six cases are adults […]The post Hawaii rat lungworm: Two additional cases reported, linked to drinking tainted homemade kava appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Shelby County Health Department (SCHD), along with the Tennessee Department of Health (TDH), recently confirmed the first human case of West Nile Virus (WNV) in Shelby County. The reported case is also the first human case confirmed in the state of Tennessee. At this time, WNV has not been detected in any ZIP codes […]The post Tennessee: First human case of West Nile Virus reported in Shelby County appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Yemen is experiencing more than it’s share of problems in recent years and infectious diseases are among them, including rabies. The Yemeni Ministry of Health (MOH) reported that 12,000 people were bitten by stray dogs in 2016, resulting in 41 human rabies fatalities that were mostly children, according to a Buyemen.com report (computer translated). And […]The post Yemen reported 41 human rabies deaths in 2016, Experiencing a ‘severe shortage’ of vaccines appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Public Health Officials in Pueblo confirmed a wild rabbit tested positive for tularemia. The rabbit appeared to have no contact with people and was collected from the Kirkwood Drive area in Pueblo West, Colorado. “Pueblo residents are advised that tularemia-causing bacteria may be present in some of the mammals – especially rabbits, rodents, and hares […]The post Tularemia in Colorado: Wild rabbit tests positive in Pueblo appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

McCain Foods USA, Inc. announced today it is voluntarily recalling retail, frozen hash brown products that may be contaminated with extraneous golf ball materials, that despite our stringent supply standards may have been inadvertently harvested with potatoes used to make this product. Consumption of these products may pose a choking hazard or other physical injury […]The post Choking hazard: Hash browns recalled due to ‘extraneous golf ball materials’ appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Frito-Lay today announced it is voluntarily recalling select Jalapeño Flavored Lay’s Kettle Cooked potato chips and Jalapeño Flavored Miss Vickie’s Kettle Cooked potato chips due to the potential presence of Salmonella in the seasoning. Salmonella is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others […]The post Frito-Lay recall: Jalapeño Flavored Potato Chips pulled due to Salmonella risk appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In China, the Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control announced that since Jan. 2017, the city has seen 13 human H7N9 avian influenza cases to date, according to a City CDC news release (computer translated). Of the 13 cases reported, seven are considered locally acquired, while the remainder are classified as imported cases. This […]The post Beijing reports 13 cases of H7N9 avian influenza in 2017 to date appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Kansas health officials are now reporting 120 mumps cases in the state, affecting 21 counties to date. Of the counties reporting the most cases, Marshall has reported 21 cases. This is followed by Riley and Johnson Counties with 17 each and Douglas and Crawford counties reporting 16 and 15 cases, respectively. Ten cases experienced complication […]The post Kansas reports 120 mumps cases in 21 counties appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the measles outbreak in Hennepin County, MN, The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has reported an additional confirmed measles case, bringing the total cases to 12. In addition, health officials offer the following details on the outbreak: All of the cases are currently in Hennepin County. All of the cases are confirmed […]The post Measles in Hennepin County, Mumps at University of Minnesota appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is alerting consumers that the brownie mix dessert included in the breaded chicken nugget meal trays produced by Conagra Brands, Inc., a Marshall, Mo. establishment, may be contaminated with Salmonella. FSIS is issuing this alert, which affects 110,817 pounds of frozen meals, out of […]The post Banquet TV dinner: Salmonella risk in brownies prompts health alert appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Officials with the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) report an overall 10 percent increase in sexually transmitted infections in 2016. This includes a 30 percent increase in new syphilis cases and a 25 percent increase in new gonorrhea cases compared to 2015. The data is published in the MDH’s annual sexually transmitted disease (STD), HIV and hepatitis surveillance […]The post STDs, hepatitis C cases increase in Minnesota, Increase seen in drug users appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

New WHO data reveal that an estimated 325 million people worldwide are living with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The WHO Global hepatitis report, 2017 indicates that the large majority of these people lack access to life-saving testing and treatment. As a result, millions of people are at risk […]The post An estimated 325 million people worldwide are living with chronic hepatitis B virus or hepatitis C virus infection: WHO appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Results from a study presented today found that the incidence of HEV RNA in asymptomatic blood donors from Germany is higher than previously reported. The study, presented at The International Liver Congress™ 2017 in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, showed that 0.11% of donations tested were HEV RNA positive (15 out of 13,441 donors) and that one […]The post Hepatitis E: Blood donor screening reveals incidence is higher than previously reported appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Scientists at the Center for Infection and Immunity (CII) at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health report elevated levels of a pathogen responsible for the tick-borne disease babesiosis in Suffolk County, New York, where rates are the highest in the state. Results are published in the journal mSphere. Researchers developed and employed a method […]The post Tick-borne disease: New lab test detects 5 pathogens and findings from Columbia study appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Lyme disease is among the most common vector-borne illnesses in North America, Europe, and some parts of Asia. A spirochete bacterium called Borrelia burgdorferi causes the disease, and blacklegged ticks (Ixodes scapularis) are responsible for the majority of North American transmissions. Commonly known as deer ticks, blacklegged ticks exhibit two-year life cycles with the following […]The post Periodic model predicts the spread of Lyme disease appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

With the number of measles outbreaks growing in European countries like Romania, Germany and Italy, health officials with the US Army are advising military families stationed and traveling on the continent. According to a Stars and Stripes report, Col. Rodney Coldren, a doctor and chief of epidemiology and disease surveillance for Public Health Command Europe […]The post US Army health officials warn military families of measles outbreak in Europe appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health reports that there have been eight cases of meningococcal disease confirmed this year through March, including one death. Health officials remind residents, especially those with increased risk, to stay up-to-date on the recommended meningococcal vaccine to help prevent invasive meningococcal disease (IMD). For the most recent person […]The post LA County reports 8 meningococcal disease cases through first three months appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

There is a rapid self-test for dengue fever being marketed in the Philippines that according to the manufacturer, you can get results in 20 minutes or less. The test is called the LABit DX Dengue NS1 Ag test and is made by PHILAB Holdings, Corp. Lazada.com.ph is selling the test online for P570, or about $11.50 in US dollars. It is […]The post Dengue rapid screening test sold in the Philippines, get results in 20 minutes appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up to a report last week of a suspected anthrax outbreak among hippos in the Binga District of Zimbabwe, health officials the Ministry of Health and Child Care has recorded nine cases of suspected human cutaneous anthrax from the individuals who ate meat from dead hippos at Mlibizi in Binga. Matabeleland North health officials […]The post Anthrax: Nine suspected human cases in Zimbabwe, linked to eating hippo appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the measles outbreak in Hennepin County, Minnesota, state health officials report the number of cases have risen to 11, as of Wednesday. The 11 cases have been reported in children ages 1 to 5 and nine of the cases are confirmed to be unvaccinated. Nine of the confirmed cases are Somali […]The post Minnesota: Measles outbreak rises to 11 in Hennepin County appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Fungi are a potential goldmine for the production of pharmaceuticals. This is shown by researchers at Chalmers University of Technology, who have developed a method for finding new antibiotics from nature’s own resources. The findings – which could prove very useful in the battle against antibiotic resistance – were recently published in the journal, Nature […]The post Fungi a ‘potential goldmine’ for the production of new antibiotics appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the measles outbreak in Italy, health officials have reported 1603 measles cases since the beginning of the year through Apr. 16, according to the Ministero della Salute today. Italy reported 840 cases in all of 2016 and only 250 in 2015. Of this total, 88 percent, or more than 1400 cases were […]The post Italy measles outbreak tops 1600 cases in 2017 to date appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a health advisory Tuesday describing the identification of emerging Shigella strains with elevated minimum inhibitory concentration values for ciprofloxacin and outlines new recommendations for clinical diagnosis, management, and reporting, as well as new recommendations for laboratories and public health officials. Current interpretive criteria provided by the Clinical […]The post CDC issues Shigella health advisory appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

La Granja INC of Doraville, Georgia is recalling 4000 units of Hand crafted Paleteria, Mango Flavored Ice cream, because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella Enteritidis, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy individuals may […]The post Salmonella Enteritidis risk prompts recall of Mango popsicles appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The meningococcal meningitis numbers keep piling up in parts of Nigeria as officials now put the case count at 8,057 suspected cases and 745 deaths as of Monday, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). 230 cases are laboratory confirmed. Neisseria meningitidis serotype C. was the commonest cause of meningitis among all samples testing positive; […]The post Nigeria meningitis case count tops 8000 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

After remaining stable for several years, cases of syphilis are on the rise in Volusia County, according to the Florida Department of Health (DOH) in Volusia County. For the third consecutive year, syphilis rates have trended higher. In 2014, the department reported 30 syphilis cases. That rate more than doubled to 80 in 2016. “The […]The post Florida: Syphilis cases up in Volusia County appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the measles situation in Portugal, the head of the Directorate-General for Health in Portugal, Francisco George said the measles case tally has risen to 21 confirmed cases, and another 18 under investigation, according to Portuguese media (computer translated). The focus of this outbreak is due, George explained, to a group of children […]The post Measles cases rise in Portugal, Teen death reported appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In an update on the yellow fever outbreak in Brazil, since the beginning of the outbreak in December 2016 through Apr. 12, 2017, there were 2,422 cases of yellow fever reported, including 623 confirmed, and 326 deaths (209 confirmed). The case fatality rate (CFR) is 34% among confirmed cases. According to the probable site of infection,the […]The post Yellow fever: No new cases in Minas Gerais in a month appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Health officials in Qatar have reported an additional Middle East Respiratory syndrome (MERS) case in 2017 in a 25-year-old patient, according to a news release (computer translated). This is the second case reported in Qatar in less than a month and the 20th case since the coronavirus was first detected in 2012. Prior to the […]The post Qatar reports 2nd MERS case in a month appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

While more than 90 percent of Oregon children are vaccinated against pertussis, this protection is not enough to stop pertussis from spreading when those choosing not to vaccinate share social networks, schools or other connections, according to a new study by the Oregon Immunization Program. “The Timing of Pertussis Cases in Unvaccinated Children in an […]The post Unvaccinated children spread pertussis across communities during an outbreak, new study finds appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A new Purdue University-developed technology concept could provide pest control companies with a more effective way to control termites and prevent associated damage. The technology works by targeting the termite’s resistance genes that help the insect fight off a known fungus that can effectively eliminate termites. “Termites damage approximately 600,000 homes in the U.S. each […]The post Termite control: Purdue develops insecticide and fungus combination, could be more effective appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Viruses that specifically kill bacteria, called bacteriophages, might one day help solve the growing problem of bacterial infections that are resistant to antibiotic treatment. Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine and the Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center have determined that phages can effectively reduce bacterial levels and improve the health of mice that […]The post Bacteriophages: Viruses that specifically kill bacteria can potentially be used to combat ‘superbugs’ appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the mumps outbreak at Southeast Missouri State University at Cape Girardeau, MO, the Campus Health Clinic now reports the University has received 51 confirmed reports of Southeast students infected with mumps. The University continues to receive reports of students presenting to their health care provider or the Campus Health Clinic with symptoms of […]The post Mumps: Southeast Missouri State University puts case count at 51 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

For the human body to mount an immune response to a viral infection, host cells must identify the viral invader and trigger a signaling pathway. This signal then prompts the immune system to attack and subdue the pathogen. Using the dengue virus (DENV) as a model, researchers from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount […]The post Researchers identify tactic Dengue virus uses to delay triggering immune response appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The health district of Mbaïki in Lobaye prefecture has confirmed one case of monkeypox, according to a Journal De Bangui report (computer translated). According to Dr. Honoré Yangana, head of health district of Mbaïki, the case was confirmed in a child on Apr. 12: “Considering the signs that the patient presented, we suspected the monkeypox virus. We took the sample […]The post Monkeypox reported in Mbaïki, Central African Republic appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

WHO reports remarkable achievements in tackling neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) since 2007. An estimated 1 billion people received treatment in 2015 alone. “WHO has observed record-breaking progress towards bringing ancient scourges like sleeping sickness and elephantiasis to their knees,” said WHO Director-General, Dr Margaret Chan. “Over the past 10 years, millions of people have been […]The post One billion people treated for NTDs in 2015 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.