Outbreak News Today

In an update on the E. coli outbreak at the Montessori of Alameda school in Portland, The Multnomah County Health Department said Wednesday that seven people have now been sickened by Escherichia coli bacteria at the school, six children and one adult. Health officials say all the illnesses occurred in one classroom. Four of the people are confirmed […]The post E. coli outbreak grows at Portland preschool appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Following reports of at least seven mumps cases at the University of Alabama, Auburn University health officials reported Tuesday a confirmed mumps case in a undergraduate student that lives off-campus. The school released the following letter concerning mumps: The risk of mumps can be significantly reduced with two measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccines, which most people […]The post Auburn University reports mumps case appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The mumps outbreak in Washington grew by another 38 cases during the past week putting the total at 624, according to health officials Wednesday. The outbreak has affected a dozen counties to date. Seventy-nine of the cases have been reported in Spokane County (270) and King County (222). After reporting the first case in mid-February, […]The post Mumps cases in Washington top 600 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

An inmate in the King County Jail system was recently diagnosed with infectious tuberculosis (TB) and officials say that some 66 inmates with ongoing exposure were identified, according to Public Health – Seattle & King County. The person came into contact with other inmates and staff at times between November 20, 2016 and March 1, 2017, mostly […]The post TB at King County Jail: 66 inmates exposed appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

RBR Meat Company, Inc., a Vernon, Calif. establishment, is recalling approximately 21,220 pounds of frozen pizza product that may be adulterated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced Wednesday. The supreme frozen pizza item was produced on Feb. 23, 2017. 50.6-oz. corrugated box containing 1 shrink wrapped […]The post Frozen pizza recalled due to Listeria potential appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) reported Wednesday that a confirmed measles case in a San Diego resident who traveled out of the country and may have exposed members of the public at two locations: Scripps Coastal Medical Center Urgent Care, 130 Cedar Rd., Vista, CA 92083 the following dates and […]The post San Diego health officials warn of possible measles exposure appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Unlike its viral cousins hepatitis A and B, hepatitis C virus (HCV) has eluded the development of a vaccine and infected more than 170 million people worldwide. Now, researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine report that a novel laboratory tool that lets them find virus mutations faster and more efficiently than ever before has identified a […]The post Hepatitis C mutations ‘outrun’ immune systems, lab study shows appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Last week, Drs. Anthony S. Fauci and Catharine I. Paules of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) expressed concern about the Brazil yellow fever outbreak and the potential for spread to the United States in a Perspectives piece for the New England Journal of Medicine. In the article they write: As we have seen with dengue, […]The post Europe reports increase in travel-associated yellow fever cases appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Public health officials are increasingly concerned over methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The bacteria have developed resistance to a number of treatments, even antibiotics of last resort in some cases. Now researchers report in ACS’ journal Bioconjugate Chemistry that a new class of compounds can treat MRSA skin infections in mice with no signs of acute […]The post Fighting MRSA with new membrane-busting compounds appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Korean Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) reported today (computer translated) a rotavirus outbreak that has sickened a number of newborns in the MizMedi Hospital nursery. Health officials report 7 out of 29 newborns were confirmed positive for rotavirus. The infected babies are being treated in isolation. The Gangseo-gu Public Health Center is undergoing epidemiological survey. Human and […]The post Seoul hospital: Confirmed rotavirus outbreak in newborn nursery appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Vietnam saw a 50 percent decrease in dengue fever in January 2017 compared to Jan. 2016, according to data released by the World Health Organization this week. In January 2017, there were 6,565 dengue cases reported (without deaths) from 41 out of 63 cities/ provinces in country. The number of cases decreased by 41.2% compared […]The post Vietnam reports 6500 dengue cases in January appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Vaccines are successful in preventing pandemic flu and reducing the number of patients hospitalised as a result of the illness, a study led by academics at The University of Nottingham has found. However, the research – the most comprehensive review undertaken in this area – also found that the effectiveness of vaccines can vary depending […]The post Pandemic flu: Vaccines effective in prevention depending on age appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Multnomah County Health Department is investigating multiple cases of Escherichia coli E. coli O157, also called E. coli O157. As of Monday, six people associated with Montessori of Alameda preschool have laboratory-confirmed Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli or E. coli. One is an adult and five are preschoolers. All of the confirmed cases have occurred […]The post Portland preschool hit with E. coli outbreak appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

An outbreak of monkeypox has affected 19 and killed seven people during the first two months of 2017 in Likouala province in northern Republic of the Congo, according to the Congo Ministry of Health and Population (MOHP). The outbreak originated in Betou district on 16 January 2017 when the index case, a male hunter, developed illness. […]The post Monkeypox outbreak reported in Republic of the Congo appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

State Veterinarian Dr. Tony Frazier in consultation with Commissioner John McMillan today has issued a stop movement order for certain poultry in Alabama. “The health of poultry is critically important at this time,” said Dr. Frazier. “With three investigations of avian influenza in north Alabama on three separate premises we feel that the stop movement […]The post Suspect avian influenza investigated in North Alabama appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Dallas County Health and Human Services (DCHHS) is reporting 45 mumps cases in Dallas County for 2017. The bulk of the cases (35) are reported in students and teachers in Cedar Hill High School. Not all cases are Dallas County residents. Health officials have also identified 10 unrelated mumps cases in Mesquite, Dallas and DeSoto. Through […]The post Dallas County mumps outbreak rises to 45 cases appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In an update on the mumps outbreak in Kansas, officials with the Kansas Department of Health Environment (KDHE) puts the total case count to 70 in 16 counties, up from 56 cases/12 counties on Mar. 4. The counties most affected include Douglas, Crawford, Johnson and Riley, accounting for six out of 10 cases in the state. […]The post Kansas mumps outbreak reaches 70 cases in 16 counties appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Estimates suggest that 40 percent of eczema flares are treated with topical antibiotics, but findings from a study led by Cardiff University suggest there is no meaningful benefit from the use of either oral or topical antibiotics for milder clinically infected eczema in children. Eczema is a common condition, especially in young children, and affects […]The post Antibiotics not effective for clinically infected eczema in children appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Mumps Health officials in Auckland are reporting a “significant increase” in mumps cases this year. According to the Auckland Regional Public Health Service, there has been 25 cases reported to date in 2017, compared to just eight cases i this time last year. The Ministry of Health has confirmed other affected District Health Boards include […]The post New Zealand: Auckland mumps outbreak, LeaderBrand salad recall appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Frozen and freeze-dried products for Fecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT) are nearly as effective as fresh product at treating patients with Clostridium difficile (C-diff) infection, according to researchers at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) School of Public Health and Kelsey Research Foundation. A new study, which proves that a pill form […]The post C. diff treatment: Pill form of FMT could be effective and more convenient appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The SoyNut Butter Co. of Glenview, IL is expanding its recall of I.M. Healthy Brand SoyNut Butter and granola products. The recall now includes Dixie Diner’s Club brand Carb Not Beanit Butter because they may be contaminated with Escherichia coli O157:H7 bacteria (E. Coli O157:H7). E. coli O157:H7 causes a diarrheal illness often with bloody […]The post SoyNut Butter recall expands to include Carb Not Beanit Butter appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In an update on the measles outbreak in Romania since September 2016, the Romanian National Institute of Public Health reported 3,196 confirmed measles cases, including 16 fatalities, as of Mar. 3. In addition, several other EU Member States are reporting cluster of measles cases including Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Spain and Sweden. Last week, the Ministry of […]The post Romania measles update, Hungary reports nosocomial outbreak, Barcelona outbreak appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Public Health Agency of Canada announced today four additional Escherichia coli O121, or E.coli O121 cases in British Columbia. This brings the number of cases in the nationwide outbreak to 24. The 24 cases of E. coli O121 with a matching genetic fingerprint have been reported in four provinces: British Columbia (12), Saskatchewan (4), Alberta […]The post Canada: More E. coli O121 cases in British Columbia, Toronto mumps cases grow appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In February 2017, a new A(H7N9) virus — indicating high pathogenicity in poultry — was detected in three patients connected to Guangdong, China, as well as in environmental and poultry samples. This is an important development to be monitored, however, ECDC’s updated rapid risk assessment concluded that the risk of the disease spreading within Europe […]The post Highly pathogenic A(H7N9) virus mutation does not change risk to humans appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has identified a potential risk of Zika virus transmission starting on June, 15, 2016, to present in Miami-Dade County, Florida, that also could affect risk for residents of Broward and Palm Beach counties. CDC recently collaborated with the Florida Department of Health to conduct additional analysis of locally […]The post Zika risk with sperm donations in South Florida: CDC appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Dr. Christopher Basler, a professor in the Institute for Biomedical Sciences at Georgia State University, director of the university’s Center for Microbial Pathogenesis and a Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar in Microbial Pathogenesis, has received a five-year, $4.1 million federal grant to develop a drug targeting Ebola virus. “We still lack any approved drugs to […]The post Georgia State University receives $4 million grant to develop Ebola drug appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Scientists from the University of Liverpool have shown that phage therapy could offer a safe and effective alternative to antibiotics in the treatment of Cystic Fibrosis lung infections. Chronic lung infections caused by the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa are becoming increasingly difficult to treat due to antimicrobial resistance (AMR). With limited alternative therapeutic options available this […]The post Cystic Fibrosis: Phage therapy shown to kill drug-resistant Pseudomonas, according to study appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

On Friday, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed by the Department of Health (DOH) and Johnson and Johnson Philippines to assist the Soil-transmitted Helminthiasis Control Program of the DOH. J&J will provide the program a total of 46,000,000 tablets of Mebendazole medicine. This will be used to deworm all five to twelve year old school children enrolled […]The post Philippines National Deworming Program: J&J donates 46 million mebendazole tablets appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The New York City (NYC) Health Department has noted an increase in hepatitis A cases among men who have sex with men (MSM) who did not report international travel. Typically, the NYC Health Department receives 0-3 reports of non-travel related hepatitis A cases in MSM. As of March 8, 2017, five cases of hepatitis A […]The post NYC reports increase in hepatitis A in gay men appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The anti-vaccine movement is a disturbingly growing phenomenon in the United States and across the globe, despite the enormous evidence of disease averted and lives saved though the decades. According to a new study in the journal, AIMS Public Health, Dr. S. Jay Olshansky, professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at the University of Illinois at Chicago […]The post Anti-vaccine movement: Hayflick’s thoughts appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the “black urine disease” outbreak, which affected some 50 people in Bahia state, Brazil from December to January, has been determined not to be due to a bacteria or virus, instead it is due an intoxication after eating fish, according to Brazilian researchers as reported in a Globo.com report (computer translated). This […]The post Black urine disease in Brazil linked to eating fish, called Haff disease according to study appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at the Hospital Materno Infantil de Brasília (HMIB) in Brazil remains closed after three newborns died, according to Correio Braziliense report (computer translated). The alert came after three babies died in less than a week. They were admitted to the NICU. An eight-day-old girl was confirmed positive for Serratia bacteria. […]The post Brazil: Hospital Materno Infantil de Brasília (HMIB) NICU closed due to Serratia risk appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In an update on the yellow fever outbreak in Brazil, the Pan american health Organization (PAHO) reports since the beginning of the outbreak in December 2016, there were 1,500 cases of yellow fever reported, including 371 confirmed, including 241 deaths of which 127 are confirmed. There is a 34 percent case fatality rate (CFR) among confirmed cases. According to […]The post Yellow fever outbreak update: Cases increase in Espírito Santo appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

McMaster researchers have found a new way to treat the world’s worst infectious diseases, the superbugs that are resistant to all known antibiotics. The discovery of an effective combination therapy has the potential to change medical practice for the treatment of the drug resistant infections which the World Health Organization (WHO) last week identified as […]The post Antiprotozoal drug, Pentamidine, used with antibiotics effective against ‘superbugs’: McMaster research appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A novel vaccine developed by scientists at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, protected cattle from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection, according to research published online in npj Vaccines on March 8. The research was conducted by a team of experts at NIAID, the Pirbright […]The post NIAID investigational vaccine protects cattle from RSV, provides model for developing an effective human RSV vaccine appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Animal health officials with the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection are urging all poultry owners, regardless of size, to increase biosecurity efforts now that two strains of avian influenza have been found in the Mississippi flyway. This comes after a highly pathogenic (H7) strain was found in a Tennessee commercial chicken flock […]The post Wisconsin: H5N2 avian flu found in Barron County commercial turkey flock appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up to a previous report concerning a mumps outbreak at Southeast Missouri State University at Cape Girardeau, school health officials are now reporting 36 confirmed reports of Southeast students infected with mumps. This is up from 15 reported about one week ago. The University continues to receive reports of students presenting to their health care provider […]The post Mumps cases more than double at Southeast Missouri State University appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The LSU Student Health Center, working with the Louisiana Department of Health, has confirmed several student cases of the mumps. Because mumps is a contagious disease, the University is providing the information listed below for your health and safety. Students with swollen and tender salivary glands under the ears or jaw on one or both […]The post LSU reports ‘several’ mumps cases in students appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In 2009, Toronto saw a record number of mumps cases with 33 (27 confirmed and 6 probable) for the entire year; however, that dubious record appears to be in jeopardy. Through Thursday, 31 confirmed cases of mumps have been reported in the city, according to Toronto Public Health (TPH). Mumps for the most part has been a […]The post Toronto mumps outbreak on record-setting pace appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a ReliefWeb update (computer translated) Friday on the measles outbreak in Guinea in West Africa the report notes that the measles outbreak that was declared one month ago has grown to affect 2,100 children since January. “We are admitting new children every day,” said Doctor Karim Assani, a pediatrician at the N’Zérékoré Regional Hospital […]The post Guinea measles outbreak: 2,100 children infected since January appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Leonard Hayflick was described to me by Professor S. Jay Olshansky of the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health, in an email as a “living legend in the infectious disease world”. Dr. Hayflick is the creator of the cell strain WI-38, which has been and is still used in the development of a myriad of […]The post Vaccines, the WI-38 cell strain and 10 million lives saved: A conversation with Dr. Leonard Hayflick appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has reported 56 mumps cases from 12 counties as of their latest update on Mar. 4. State and local health departments are working closely together to identify cases and implement appropriate isolation and exclusion policies to prevent further spread of mumps. Crawford and Douglas Counties have recorded the most […]The post Kansas: 56 mumps cases to date, many linked to attending wrestling tournaments appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LAC DPH) is investigating two clusters of mumps cases occurring in adult men. As of Thursday, five confirmed and two likely cases of mumps in adult men have been reported; the majority have been in HIV uninfected men who have sex with men. Contact investigations are ongoing. Health officials […]The post Mumps clusters investigated in Los Angeles appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Authorities in Tanzania are reporting an anthrax outbreak in the Northern District of Hai, in which at least 36 people were infected with the serious bacterium after consuming anthrax-tainted cow, according to a Premium Times report. Hai District council executive director, Yohana Sintoo confirmed the outbreak saying it affected three villages of Sanya Station, and Tindigani in Kia […]The post Anthrax outbreak in Tanzania: Three dozen people infected after eating tainted cow appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

According to a World Health Organization (WHO) disease outbreak news update Friday, we learn of Lassa fever news in the African countries of Benin, Togo and Burkina Faso: Benin and Togo, exported from Benin On 20 February 2017, the Ministry of Health of Benin notified WHO of a Lassa fever case in Tchaourou district, Borgou Department, Benin, […]The post West Africa: Lassa fever updates for Benin, Togo and Burkina Faso appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Following the large mumps season in 2016 when 5,311 cases were reported, the highest number in a decade, it seems the viral disease continues to climb during the beginning of 2017. According to the most recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data on mumps, 1,242 mumps cases have been reported through Mar. 4. The […]The post Mumps: The number of cases in the US is well over 1,000 in first 2 months of 2017 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Local transmission of Zika virus in four countries has prompted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is issue advisories for travelers to Angola, Guinea-Bissau, Maldives and Solomon Islands. Local transmission means that mosquitoes in the area have been infected with Zika virus, spreading it to people. CDC reminds travelers the best way to avoid Zika […]The post Zika: CDC issues travel notices for Angola, Solomon Islands, others appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Alabama Department of Public Health officials recorded four additional cases of mumps among The University of Alabama community since Feb. 24, 2017, bringing the total to seven. While these additional cases have been discovered and the potential for exposure to the virus still exists, ADPH officials say they are optimistic that the cases will not […]The post Mumps cases rise by four at the University of Alabama appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a screwworm update from Florida Department of Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam today, USDA, National Veterinary Services Laboratories, in Ames, Iowa, has confirmed 17 cases of screwworm since infestation was first detected. The latest positive case was collected from a Key deer on Munson Island and confirmed on Jan. 10. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Florida Department of […]The post Florida screwworm eradication update: 140 million sterile flies released appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NSW Health is alerting recent travellers to Bali to watch for measles symptoms after two people – a Sydney resident and a Brisbane resident – returned to Australia infected with the disease. Both travellers were on Virgin Airlines flights from Denpasar, Bali, to Sydney on two days last week. The Sydney resident was infectious in […]The post Two Australian travelers from Bali return with measles appeared first on Outbreak News Today.