Outbreak News Today

In a follow-up on the syphilis outbreak in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, a NewsOK report states that the number of syphilis cases are “about 80 residents infected over the past few months”. The report notes that drug abuse is one of the driving factors for the largest syphilis outbreak in recent state history as the state is seeing […]The post Oklahoma County syphilis update: ‘The largest syphilis outbreak in recent state history’ appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the typhoid outbreak in Auckland, New Zealand, the Auckland Regional Public Health Service (ARPHS) reports one additional person has been identified as a possible case of typhoid and testing is now being carried out. Until the result of this latest testing is known the number of confirmed cases remains at 10. […]The post Auckland typhoid update: Additional suspect case being tested appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Global Health Innovative Technology Fund (GHIT Fund), a unique Japanese public-private partnership formed to battle infectious diseases around the globe, today announced 11 new investments totaling US$23 million* that could help deliver a range of new innovative therapies for a host of debilitating conditions. This latest round of targeted support includes funding for a […]The post GHIT Fund Invests in Late-stage Trial for Child-friendly “Snail Fever” Medicines–One of the Most Debilitating and Widespread Parasitic Diseases in Africa appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

About half of all women will experience urinary tract infections in their lifetimes, and despite treatment, about a quarter will develop recurrent infections within six months of initial infection. A new study at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis has uncovered a trigger of recurrent UTI infections: a type of vaginal bacteria that […]The post Gardnerella vaginalis may trigger recurrent UTIs: Study appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the measles outbreak in Italy this year, the number of cases reported to date in 2017 already surpasses the total number reported in the country in all of 2016. According to the latest bulletin of the Higher Institute of Health (ISS) via Italian media (computer translated), 1,010 individuals contracted the disease […]The post Italy measles outbreak tops 1,000 cases appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Earlier this month, European health officials reported on a several hepatitis A outbreaks linked to adult men who have sex with men (MSM). One of the 13 countries affected is Portugal, where since January, 105 hepatitis A cases were reported, according to Portuguese media (computer translated). “In the past year in Europe we began to see […]The post Portugal reports hepatitis A outbreak, most cases in Lisbon appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Just as there were reports of three confirmed travel-related measles cases in Toronto, Peel Public Health announced they were investigating a confirmed case of measles in a child from Mississauga. Members of the public may have been exposed to measles in a number of settings in Mississauga during the period of March 25-27, 2017. Anyone who was […]The post Measles confirmed in Mississauga appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Five simple medical tests together provide a broader and more accurate assessment of heart-disease risk than currently used methods, cardiologists at UT Southwestern Medical Center found. Combined, results from the five tests – an EKG, a limited CT scan, and three blood tests – better predict who will develop heart disease compared with standard strategies […]The post Heart disease risk: Five simple tests appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A study, published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, describes a new treatment pathway for antibiotic resistant bacteria and infectious diseases with benefits for patients and health care providers. Researchers from the University of Birmingham and Newcastle University found that the unusual approach of removing antibodies from the blood stream reduced […]The post A new treatment for antibiotic resistant bacteria and infectious disease appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Last week, we reported on the unusual situation of two locally acquired hantavirus cases in King County, Washington during the past four months. The husband of the Redmond hantavirus survivor contacted and introduced me to his news website, HantaSite.com , which he set up in response to his wife’s case and to document his investigations and theories […]The post Seattle, hantavirus and an interesting transmission theory appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The World Health Organization (WHO) Thursday congratulated the Republic of the Marshall Islands on eliminating lymphatic filariasis — also known as elephantiasis — as a public health problem. Lymphatic filariasis is a mosquito-borne disease that damages the lymphatic system, leading to severe disfigurement, pain and disability. For people affected by this disease, the impacts of […]The post Marshall Islands eliminates lymphatic filariasis appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

According to Nigerian health officials, the meningococcal meningitis outbreak in the country has now claimed 328 lives to date, mostly affecting states in the part of Nigeria which fall within the African Meningitis Belt. The Federal Ministry of Health situation report from Friday says that 90 local government areas in 16 states of the federation have so […]The post Nigeria: Meningitis outbreak grows, Vaccine shortages reported appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Sigma Alimentos Congelados, which produces burritos under the Menu Del Sol brand name, is voluntarily recalling 201 cases of frozen beans and cheese burritos because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with […]The post Menu Del Sol burritos recalled due to Listeria risk appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

I recently read of this Loyola University News Orleans Parasitology professor who took a half-dozen of her undergraduate students to Almolonga, Jutiapa, Guatemala to assist and teach villagers, using an ecohealth approach, how to improve their homes in order to avoid contracting Chagas and other diseases. I got the opportunity to talk to Hutchinson Distinguished Professor of Biological […]The post Chagas disease: An interview with Patricia Dorn, PhD appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The salmonella outbreak that sickened and hospitalized 12 people who ate pork and Ascot pies from The Pork Pie Shop in Victor Harbor, South Australia has been linked to the raw egg wash which was applied to the pies after they had been cooked, according to SA Health officials today. SA Health’s Director of Food and Controlled Drugs […]The post Salmonella outbreak at The Pork Pie Shop linked to raw egg wash appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Cidara Therapeutics, Inc., a biotechnology company developing novel anti-infectives including immunotherapies, today announced that the company has received a grant for up to $6.9 million from CARB-X (Combating Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria Accelerator) to advance the development of its antibiotic immunotherapy, CD201, for the treatment of life-threatening multi-drug resistant (MDR) Gram-negative bacterial infections. CD201 is the first […]The post Cidara Therapeutics Awarded $6.9 Million Grant from CARB-X to Advance Development of its First CloudbreakTM Antibiotic Immunotherapy appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The China National Health and Family Planning Commission reported today that 17 additional human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9), including three deaths, were recorded from March 24 to 30. The 14 male and three female patients, aged from 35 to 81, had their onset from March 6 to 24. The cases were six cases from Hunan, […]The post China: 17 additional H7N9 avian flu cases reported appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is alerting consumers to Meridian Medical Technologies’ voluntary recall of 13 lots of Mylan’s EpiPen and EpiPen Jr (epinephrine injection) Auto-Injector products used for emergency treatment of severe allergic reactions. This recall is due to the potential that these devices may contain a defective part that may result in […]The post EpiPen recalled due to potential defective part appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Vaccinations have begun in a multi-site Phase 2/2b clinical trial testing an experimental DNA vaccine designed to protect against disease caused by Zika infection. The vaccine was developed by government scientists at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). NIAID is leading the trial, which […]The post Phase 2 Zika vaccine trial begins in U.S., Central and South America appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NSW Health has renewed its calls for people in western Sydney to take advantage of free measles shots available at their GP following the detection of four measles cases in the area. Three infants and a young adult from the western Sydney region, and a young adult from Queensland who spent time in far northern […]The post Potential measles outbreak in western Sydney appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Ten people in Auckland, New Zealand have been hospitalized due to a typhoid outbreak, according to local health officials Friday. The Auckland Regional Public Health Service (ARPHS) is tracing people who have been in contact with the confirmed cases and is following usual protocols to control the spread of the disease. ARPHS has alerted the […]The post New Zealand: Typhoid outbreak sickens 10 in Auckland appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Health officials in Toronto have confirmed three measles cases in the city that are linked to travel. Toronto Public Health (TPH) is encouraging everyone to check their vaccination status and ensure they are vaccinated against measles. Measles, also called rubeola, is a very contagious viral infection. Measles spreads when a person infected with measles virus […]The post Measles reported in Toronto, Mumps update appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Filarial nematodes–microscopic, thread-like roundworms–currently infect up to 54 million people worldwide and are the leading cause of disability in the developing world. Now, researchers reporting in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases have described the relationship between one species of the worm, Brugia malayi, and a bacteria, Wolbachia, that lives in the worm’s body. The symbiotic relationship, […]The post Researchers profile symbiotic relationship between bacteria and filarial nematodes appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In an update on the multistate outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 (STEC O157:H7) infections linked to I.M. Healthy brand SoyNut Butter products, the Centers fro Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports an additional six more ill people from four states. This brings the total outbreak cases to 29 in 12 states with the addition of Florida, Illinois, […]The post Florida, Illinois, and Massachusetts: The newest states affected by E. coli outbreak appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The number of cholera cases reported by the Ministry of Health in Somalia has reached a cumulative 17 211 cases and 388 deaths with a case fatality rate of 2.25%, which is nearly 4 times as many as were recorded for the same period in 2016, and surpasses the total number of cases recorded in […]The post Somalia: Cholera cases top 17,000 in 2017 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

During the first twelve weeks of 2016, Malaysia health officials reported more than 35,000 dengue fever cases. A look at the number of dengue cases during the same period this year, we see roughly a 37 percent decline reporting only 22,000 cases. Same with dengue related fatalities. There have been a total of 50 deaths related […]The post Malaysia dengue cases, deaths down in early 2017 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Recently, the Pepperdine Health Center reported and advised students on increased numbers of norovirus cases in Southern California. According to a report on the Pepperdine Graphic, an email was sent out to the campus last week concerning a confirmed norovirus case at the school. We are aware of a few students who have had stomach/intestinal […]The post Norovirus reported at Pepperdine University appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Two cases of locally transmitted Zika virus infection in Singapore have been confirmed at Simon Place. Both cases are residents in the vicinity and from the same household. The Zika cluster was notified on Tuesday, 28 March 2017, and vector control operations are being carried out in the vicinity. Residents and stakeholders are urged to […]The post Singapore investigates 1st Zika cluster of 2017 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The mumps cluster on the campus of Louisiana State University (LSU) has grown to 26 cases as of Wednesday, according to state health officials. In addition, a case was reported in the Baton Rouge area separate from the campus. The LSU Student Health Center advises students with swollen and tender salivary glands under the ears […]The post LSU sees more mumps on campus appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A team of researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) has uncovered hidden vulnerabilities on the surface of the dengue virus. This novel discovery means that scientists can now develop strategies to target these weak spots for treatment of dengue, and possibly other closely related diseases like Zika, influenza and chikungunya. Led by Associate […]The post Dengue virus: Singapore researchers uncover hidden vulnerabilities appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Since January, Public Health — Seattle & King County has reported at least 39 people with illness suggestive of norovirus (nausea, vomiting and diarrhea) after eating raw oysters at one of several restaurants or private events in King County (see below). The oysters served at each of the meals in the table below were harvested from different growing areas/bays […]The post Consumption of raw oysters linked to dozens of suspect norovirus illnesses in Seattle area appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The viruses hepatitis B and C may both be associated with an increased risk of Parkinson’s disease, according to a study published in the March 29, 2017, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. The hepatitis virus affects the liver. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention […]The post Parkinson’s disease: Hepatitis B and C viruses may be linked to increased risk appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human services has confirmed Michigan’s first measles case of 2017 in southeast Michigan. The individual was hospitalized, and is currently recovering. The case is related to exposure during international travel and underscores the importance of following all vaccine recommendations. “Immunizations are the best way to protect our families and […]The post Michigan: 1st confirmed measles case of 2017 reported appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Hepatitis B and C kill more than 20,000 people every year in the United States. A new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine presents a strategy to eliminate these diseases as serious public health problems and prevent nearly 90,000 deaths by 2030. “Viral hepatitis is simply not a sufficient priority in […]The post Eliminating 90,000 hepatitis B and C deaths by 2030: Prevention, screening, treatment, and creative financing for medicines appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Since we last reported on the ongoing outbreak of norovirus and gastrointestinal illnesses linked to raw and undercooked oysters from British Columbia in mid-February, the number of outbreak cases have risen by 100, according to The Public Health Agency of Canada Tuesday. As of March 27, a total of 321 clinical cases of gastrointestinal illness linked […]The post Norovirus outbreak linked to BC oysters continues to grow appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A Purdue University study shows that the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes can live inside the tissue of romaine lettuce, suggesting that conventional post-harvest sanitization practices might not be sufficient to kill the potentially lethal pathogen. Research led by Amanda Deering, clinical assistant professor in the Department of Food Science, showed that the bacteria could live within […]The post Listeria bacteria can hide inside tissue of romaine lettuce: Purdue researchers appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Heroin use and heroin use disorder have increased significantly among American adults since 2001, according to new research conducted at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health. The portion of Americans using heroin has climbed five-fold in the last decade, and clinically defined heroin dependence has more than tripled. Increases were greatest among males, whites, […]The post Heroin use rises significantly among young whites appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The McLean County Health Department has confirmed a mumps outbreak at Illinois State University as of Tuesday, March 28, 2017. A mumps outbreak, as defined by the Illinois Department of Public Health, requires at least three related cases of mumps. Mumps is a contagious viral infection of the salivary glands that is spread through saliva […]The post Illinois State University mumps outbreak confirmed appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Two people have died from rabies in the town of Cauayan, Negros Occidental province prompting the declaration of an outbreak, according to a Philippines media account. The victims, men in their 60s from different villages, die in the past week from rabies post-dog bites. To make matters worse, the family of one of the victims killed the […]The post Philippines: Rabies outbreak declared in Negros Occidental town appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

On March 28, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) to treat adult patients with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) and primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS). This is the first drug approved by the FDA for PPMS. Ocrevus is an intravenous infusion given by a health care professional. “Multiple sclerosis can have […]The post FDA approves Ocrevus to treat Primary Progressive MS appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the mumps situation at Chapman University in Orange, CA, the Orange County Health Care Agency says four confirmed and three probable cases of mumps have been reported in students at the school. Six of the seven are law school students, one is an undergraduate student. Symptoms onset dates range from January 26 […]The post Mumps tally grows at Chapman University appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the Escherichia coli O121, or E.coli O121 outbreak that has affected several Canadian provinces, The Public Health Agency of Canada announced yesterday the outbreak has been linked to Robin Hood All Purpose Flour, Original. There have been 25 cases of E.coli O121 with a matching genetic fingerprint reported in four provinces: British Columbia (12), […]The post Canada E. coli outbreak linked to Robin Hood flour, recall issued appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

HIV is a master of disguise. The virus uses a shield of sugar molecules, called glycans, to hide from the immune system and block antibodies from attacking it. Now scientists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) have developed a method to analyze the glycan shield on HIV’s protective outer glycoprotein, developed as a potential HIV […]The post HIV: TSRI develop new method to ‘fingerprint’ the ‘master of disguise’ appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Brazil is carrying out mass vaccination campaigns for yellow fever in the states of Minas Gerais, Espirito Santo, Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Bahia, while strengthening surveillance and case management throughout the country since an outbreak of sylvatic yellow fever began in January. More than 18.8 million doses of vaccine have been distributed, in […]The post Brazil yellow fever update: Nearly 500 confirmed cases appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Due to the sustained increase in the number of mumps cases being identified across the Edmonton Zone, Alberta Health Services (AHS) is expanding the scope of the outbreak to include the entire Edmonton Zone. Previously, the outbreak had been declared specific to the University of Alberta only. For the duration of the outbreak, all persons […]The post Edmonton mumps outbreak declared appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Two weeks ago, we reported on the increase of imported yellow fever in Europe after health officials reported a travel-associated case of yellow fever in the Netherlands in March 2017 in a traveler to Suriname. On Tuesday, the World Health Organization released the following details on the case: On 9 March 2017, the National Institute for Public Health […]The post Netherlands imported yellow fever update: 1st case in Suriname since 1972 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Following recent reports on this website concerning the measles situation in Europe HERE, HERE and HERE, the World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe released the following press release, Measles outbreaks across Europe threaten progress towards elimination: Over 500 measles cases were reported for January 2017 in the WHO European Region. Measles continues to spread within and […]The post WHO update on European measles outbreak appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Dupixent (dupilumab) injection to treat adults with moderate-to-severe eczema (atopic dermatitis). Dupixent is intended for patients whose eczema is not controlled adequately by topical therapies, or those for whom topical therapies are not advisable. Dupixent can be used with or without topical corticosteroids. “FDA’s approval of Dupixent […]The post Eczema: FDA approves Dupixent injection appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Blood-sucking flies can act as ‘flying syringes’ to detect emerging infectious diseases in wild animals before they spread to humans, according to research published in the journal eLife. The discovery has significant implications for our ability to control the global outbreak of new and re-emerging infections such as the Ebola and Zika viruses. Seven new […]The post Blood-sucking flies can detect emerging zoonotic diseases: Study appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) has awarded The Carter Center a grant of US$800,000 to help support an initiative to eliminate blinding trachoma in Mali and Niger. Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter; Ambassador (ret.) Mary Ann Peters, the Center’s CEO; and Dr. Walid Mehalaine, head of OFID’s Grants and Technical Assistance Unit, gathered […]The post Carter Center awarded $800,000 grant for Blinding Trachoma Elimination in Mali, Niger appeared first on Outbreak News Today.