Outbreak News Today

The China National Health and Family Planning Commission reported 22 additional human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9), including three deaths during the past week. The 15 male and seven female patients, aged from 15 to 79, had their onset from February 19 to March 4. The cases were four cases each from in Henan and Jiangxi, […]The post More human H7N9 avian flu cases reported in China appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Hong Kong health officials reported today a case of Streptococcus suis infection in a 57-year-old man. The patient with underlying illness, has presented with fever, headache, vomiting, dizziness and painful swelling of his right elbow since March 7. He sought medical attention from the Accident and Emergency Department of Queen Elizabeth Hospital on March 9, and was […]The post Hong Kong reports Streptococcus suis infection appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Tennessee state veterinarian confirms that a flock of chickens at a commercial poultry breeding operation has tested positive for low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI). This chicken breeding operation is located in Giles County, Tenn. The company that operates it is a different company from the one associated with the recent detection of highly pathogenic […]The post Tennessee reports bird flu on second farm appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Researchers have known that part of the challenge in treating penicillin-resistant infections lies in understanding the way bacteria inactivate penicillin antibiotics. The enzymes that do this, beta-lactamases, chop up the antibiotics rendering them useless. One particularly problematic group of bacterial beta-lactamases, metallo-beta-lactamases (MBLs), is able to destroy even the newest penicillins. MBLs are often made […]The post Antibiotic combo effective against CRE 81% of time: Study appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

You’re much more likely to get a flu shot if your doctor makes the appointment for you, Rutgers researchers have discovered. A Rutgers study has found that doctors who take a proactive stance and schedule flu shots for patients can dramatically increase vaccination rates. In the study, published in the journal Behavioral Science and Policy, […]The post Rutgers study: People 3x more likely to get vaccinations if doctor makes the appointment appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

According to a World Health Organization (WHO) update, at the end of February 2017, a total of 1916 laboratory-confirmed cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), including 702 deaths (case–fatality rate: 36.6%) were reported globally. Of these, Saudi Arabia reported a total of 1561 laboratory-confirmed cases, including 633 deaths (case–fatality rate: 40.6%). During the […]The post Saudi Arabia: MERS cases up in 2017 to date appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Oregon Health Authority has verified that two confirmed cases of E. coli O157 infection are part of a national outbreak linked to a brand of soynut butter, and epidemiologists are advising consumers to discard the product immediately. A total of 16 cases in nine states have been identified as part of the outbreak, which […]The post Oregon: SoyNut Butter sampled at home of Clackamas County siblings positive for E. coli appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Federal and state health officials are investigating a multistate Listeria monocytogenes outbreak that has to date sickened six people in four states, including two fatalities since Sep. 2016. The breakdown of cases by state are as follows: New York (3), Connecticut (1), Florida (1) and Vermont (1). All six people were hospitalized, and two people from Connecticut […]The post Listeria outbreak: Two deaths reported, Vulto Creamery soft raw milk cheese the likely source appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

People with asthma are likely to have worse symptoms when they get the flu because they have weaker immune systems, new Southampton research has shown. A study led by Dr Ben Nicholas, of the University of Southampton, and published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, assessed lung samples from asthmatics and healthy volunteers. […]The post Asthma sufferers more likely to have bad flu symptoms appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Dallas County health officials reported in an update Wednesday that the number of students and teachers at Cedar Hill High School have been identified as mumps cases. Not all cases are Dallas County residents. Dallas County Health and Human Services (DCHHS) is reporting 39 mumps cases in Dallas County for 2017. In addition, DCHHS has a separate total […]The post Dallas area: 30 mumps cases at Cedar Hill High School appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

New York City health officials are reporting a case of neonatal herpes contracted during a ritual Jewish circumcision. This is the first such case reported in 2017. The infant was the full-term product of an unremarkable gestation and delivery. He was circumcised by a mohel on the 8th day of life. On day 15 of […]The post Neonatal herpes linked to ritual Jewish circumcision reported in New York City appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In response to Vulto Creamery’s recall of soft wash- rind raw milk cheeses, Whole Foods Market is voluntarily recalling the products from nine stores in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine and New York out of an abundance of caution. The cheeses have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. Listeria monocytogenes is an organism which can […]The post Listeria risk prompts Whole Foods Market cheese recall in several Northeast stores appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

With three confirmed cases of mumps at Barrington High School, the Lake County Health Department is now calling the cluster of confirmed and probable cases in the area an outbreak. In addition to the three confirmed cases at Barrington High School, there is an additional unrelated, confirmed case in Barrington. There are also seven probable […]The post Mumps: Suburban Chicago school experiencing outbreak appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The unusually large outbreak of yellow fever now occurring in rural Brazil deserves careful attention by world health authorities, notes Anthony S. Fauci, M.D., director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), one of the National Institutes of Health. Writing in a Perspectives piece for the New England Journal of Medicine, Dr. […]The post International travel: Brazil yellow fever could spread and pose serious disease-control challenges warns NIH appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Tulsa Health Department (THD) is currently investigating an outbreak of mumps in Tulsa County. There have been 8 cases identified, 5 of which have been laboratory confirmed. One of the confirmed cases is a student at the 7th Grade Center at Owasso Public Schools. THD health officials are following standard disease investigation and response protocols […]The post Oklahoma: Mumps outbreak reported in Tulsa appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

CSRA Inc. today announced that a plague vaccine being developed by its subsidiary, DynPort Vaccine Company LLC (DVC), was granted Orphan Drug Designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). DVC is developing the recombinant rF1V plague vaccine on behalf of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). The vaccine will be used for pre-exposure prophylaxis […]The post Plague vaccine granted Orphan Drug designation from FDA appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A seventh New South Wales (NSW) resident has contracted measles since the beginning of the year, prompting health officials to urging people to vaccinate against measles and watch for symptoms. Dr Vicky Sheppeard, Director Communicable Diseases NSW Health, said people should particularly watch for symptoms if they were in the same locations as the latest […]The post Sydney: Measles case reported in traveler to Thailand appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Many professionals in the biological remediation industry deal with the threat of histoplasmosis very seriously. Guidance documents from the CDC outline the conditions where materials and waste are potentially contaminated with Histoplasma capsulatum. So where does that leave the remediation industry and how do we protect the home owner or business who’s attics are contaminated […]The post Histoplasmosis: Biological Remediation Industry Professionals take the threat very seriously appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A Brief Report appearing in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine looks at testing rates for Hepatitis C virus (HCV) two years after the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommended it for all baby boomers, and finds rates are still very low. Background: Approximately 3.5 million people in the United States have chronic […]The post Baby boomers not getting tested for hepatitis C as recommended: Report appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A suspected norovirus outbreak that has sickened some 150 students has prompted the temporary closure of South Dartmoor Community College in Ashburton, Devon. In a letter to parents, head of school, Paul Collins writes: Further to my letter sent to you on Friday regarding the number of increased cases of diarrhoea and vomiting at the College, […]The post England: South Dartmoor Community College closes amid suspected norovirus outbreak appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The number of gastrointestinal illnesses linked to oysters has grown in British Columbia by 22 cases in the past two weeks, according to Canadian health officials. As of March 6, a total of 289 clinical cases of gastrointestinal illness linked to oysters have been reported in three provinces: British Columbia (201), Alberta (40), and Ontario (48). […]The post Norovirus outbreak linked to BC oysters increase by 22 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A Elon University student has been diagnosed with meningitis, according to an Elon News Network report today. The report notes that vice president for Student Life, Smith Jackson sent out an email notifying the campus of the meningitis case. The report does not specify the type of meningitis contracted. Students at risk for infection have been notified […]The post North Carolina: Elon University student diagnosed with meningitis appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Ministry of Public Health and Population in Yemen released additional figures for the ongoing outbreak of cholera. Since the last update on 26 February 2017, 1598 new suspected cases of cholera and zero deaths have been reported. The trend of suspected cholera cases per week appear to be on the decline in most districts […]The post Yemen cholera outbreak appears to be declining appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the multistate Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 (STEC O157:H7) linked to I.M. Healthy brand SoyNut Butter, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports four more ill people from four states, bringing the total to 16 cases in nine states. The additional cases were reported from Missouri, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin. The most recent illness started […]The post E. coli outbreak: More cases in more states, first lawsuit against The SoyNut Butter Company filed appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the avian influenza situation in Tennessee, USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) has confirmed the full subtype for the highly pathogenic H7 avian influenza reported in Lincoln County, TN. The virus has been identified as North American wild bird lineage H7N9 HPAI based upon full genome sequence analysis of the samples at […]The post Tennessee bird flu update: Virus identified as H7N9 HPAI, not the China virus appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the ongoing measles outbreak in Romania, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) reports from September 2016 to 17 February 2017 the Romanian National Institute of Public Health received reports of 3 071 cases of measles. Despite efforts to get the outbreak under control (lowered the age for administering the […]The post Romania: Measles outbreak tops 3,000, linked to other EU outbreaks appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A deadly raccoon parasite that can cause severe neurological problems in infected hosts has been popping up in the South, and seven new cases of human infection in the U.S. have been documented in the last two years alone. Although this “raccoon roundworm” was believed to cause severe problems and even death in people who […]The post Deadly raccoon roundworm can infect humans without symptoms, new UGA study finds appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Clonorchiasis, a neglected tropical disease usually acquired by eating undercooked freshwater fish, affects an estimated 15 million people around the globe. More than 85% of cases are concentrated in China. Now, researchers have produced high-resolution risk maps for clonorchiasis in China. Their results, published in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, identified provinces with the highest risk […]The post Clonorchiasis risk maps in China produced appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Hong Kong Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health announced today that they are investigating an imported human case of avian influenza A(H7N9) in Hong Kong. The male patient, aged 76 with underlying illnesses, developed fever and cough with sputum on March 3 and sought medical attention at a private clinic the next […]The post Hong Kong investigates imported H7N9 avian influenza, monitoring additional cases on Mainland appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Biosecurity Queensland is working with the managers of a St George cattle property following the death of approximately 80 animals. Testing has indicated the presence of the bacteria that cause anthrax and authorities are working toward containing any further cases in line with the agreed national protocol. Chief Biosecurity Officer Dr Jim Thompson said anthrax […]The post Anthrax: 80 cattle die from bacterial disease in Queensland appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF, in coordination with the Federal Ministry of Health and Ministry of Health of Kurdistan Region, today launched the country’s second and last national polio campaign for 2017. The 5-day vaccination drive aims to reach 5.6 million children under the age of 5 and comes at significant time – […]The post Iraq launches 5-day polio vaccination drive appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Officials with the Toronto District School Board (DSB) sent a letter to parents today concerning the mumps outbreak in the city and vaccination requirements for students after reports of a mumps case from Forest Hill Collegiate Institute. In the letter from Dr. Vinita Dubey, Associate Medical Officer of Health, Toronto Public Health (TPH) it states: The risk of acquiring […]The post Toronto schools report mumps case, city total now 26 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) investigators have developed two approaches to increasing the use of penicillins and cephalosporins – highly effective antibiotics that are not as problematic as many alternatives – in hospitalized patients previously believed to be allergic to penicillin. Their report, which has been published online in the […]The post Skin testing, computerized support tool can improve antibiotic use in hospital inpatients appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

State health officials are working with federal and local partners to investigate four cases of Shiga Toxin-Producing E. coli (STEC) O157 infections that appear to be linked to eating soynut butter-containing products from “The SoyNut Butter Company.” The Arizona Department of Health Services is recommending consumers avoid eating “I.M. Healthy” brand soynut butter and soynut […]The post E. coli outbreak affects four in Maricopa and Coconino counties appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

I was joined by biodefense and bioterrorism researcher and Professor at Laboure College in Milton, MA, Lawrence Roberge PhD for an interview on the Outbreak News This Week Radio Show, to discuss the assassination of Kim Jong-nam, to learn more about VX nerve agent and discuss the Hermit Kingdom’s weapons of mass destruction (WMD) capabilities. LISTEN to […]The post Podcast interview: North Korea WMDs with Dr Lawrence Roberge appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

On Friday, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) announced this year’s first imported measles case in a one-year-old girl who resides in northern Taiwan and had not received the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine. According to health officials, she traveled to Guangdong, China with her family last October. On February 22, 2017, […]The post Taiwan reports imported measles in unvaccinated child appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The avian cholera death toll is up to 6,500 birds and counting in the Parma area in Canyon County, Idaho, according to Idaho Fish and Game. The outbreak that began in early February has killed mostly ducks, but also some geese and other birds. Officials note that the infection is very often found in this area each year, according to […]The post Avian cholera kills thousands of birds in Idaho appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A new study sheds light on the acquisition and features of Zika virus in Canadian travelers, indicating it was as commonly confirmed as dengue in people returning from the Americas and the Caribbean but more severe than expected, according to a new study published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal). “The common perception that Zika […]The post Canada: Zika virus in travelers more severe than expected appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A number of sheep that died suddenly on a property near Swan Hill, Victoria and the confirmation of anthrax as the cause of death in at least one sheep has prompted a quarantine of the property, according to Victoria Agricultural officials today. Officials advise farmers and those working with livestock to be vigilant for anthrax. They […]The post Anthrax reported as cause of death of sheep in Swan Hill, Victoria appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) recorded a total of eight confirmed cases of brucellosis in Hong Kong in 2016, five were classified as locally acquired. One case was imported infection from Mainland China, and the remaining two cases had unclassified importation status as they stayed both in and outside […]The post Hong Kong reported eight brucellosis cases in 2016 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Philippines health officials and the public at large are mourning the tragic murder of of former Doctor to the Barrios (DTTB) volunteer, 31-year-old Dr. Dreyfuss Perlas on Wednesday. According to local media reports, Perlas, was on his motorbike when an unidentified man shot him at the back. The bullet pierced his heart. The gunman and the motive for the […]The post Philippines: Dr. Dreyfuss Perlas killed in Lanao del Norte; DOH statement appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The SoyNut Butter Co. of Glenview, IL is recalling I.M. Healthy Original Creamy SoyNut Butter product because it may be contaminated with Escherichia coli O157:H7 bacteria (E. Coli O157:H7). E. coli O157:H7 causes a diarrheal illness often with bloody stools. I.M. Healthy Original Creamy SoyNut Butter was distributed in multiple states and may have been […]The post I.M. Healthy Original Creamy Soynut Butter recalled, linked to multistate E. coli outbreak appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

After reporting the most dengue fever cases in years in 2016, the Sri Lankan Ministry of Health now reports a 58 percent increase in cases of the mosquito borne viral disease during the first two months of 2017, compared to the same period last year. Through February, Sri Lanka has seen 17,663 dengue cases. During the […]The post Sri Lanka reports 58% dengue increase during 1st two months of 2017 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Department of Health reported Friday that a young child is currently recovery in hospital after being diagnosed with serogroup W meningococcal disease. Meningococcal disease is an uncommon, life-threatening illness caused by a bacterial infection of the blood and/or the membranes that line the spinal cord and brain, and occasionally of other sites, such as […]The post Western Australia reports 5th meningococcal disease case of 2017 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has confirmed the presence of highly pathogenic H7 avian influenza (HPAI) of North American wild bird lineage in a commercial chicken breeder flock in Lincoln County, Tennessee. This is the first confirmed case of HPAI in commercial poultry in the United […]The post Tennessee: Bird flu detected in Lincoln County chicken flock appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Following the reported use of chemical weapons agents in East Mosul, Iraq, WHO, partners and local health authorities have activated an emergency response plan to safely treat men, women and children who may be exposed to the highly toxic chemical. Since 1 March, 12 patients including women and children with respiratory symptoms and blistering have […]The post Iraq: Chemical weapons reportedly used in Mosul, WHO responds appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Steam can more effectively combat E. coli, Salmonella, and Listeria on cantaloupes than traditional removal methods. That’s the finding of an Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientist in Pennsylvania. Dike Ukuku and his colleagues at the ARS Food Safety and Intervention Technologies Unit in Wyndmoor has demonstrated that a relatively inexpensive steam cleaner designed to remove […]The post Food Safety: Steam more effective at removing pathogens on cantaloupes appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

If the anti-vaccination movement gains any additional traction, developed and developing nations will have taken a dangerous step backward in protecting public health, especially of children- Leonard Hayflick, University of California, San Francisco Nearly 200 million cases of polio, measles, mumps, rubella, varicella, adenovirus, rabies and hepatitis A — and approximately 450,000 deaths from these diseases […]The post Vaccines: 450K deaths in the US prevented thanks to 1962 breakthrough, according to study appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Bovine tuberculosis (TB) has been confirmed in a South Dakota beef herd. State Veterinarian Dr. Dustin Oedekoven says that the suspect animals were initially identified in February by meat inspectors during routine slaughter inspection of otherwise healthy appearing animals. The origin of the cattle was traced to a herd in Harding County based on animal […]The post South Dakota: Bovine TB reported for the first time since 2011 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In light of recent reports of 15 confirmed mumps cases on the Southeast Missouri State University campus, The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services has updated its recommendation and is encouraging all Southeast Missouri State University students to consider getting a third dose of the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine in response to continued confirmed […]The post Southeast Missouri State University reports 15 mumps cases, Vaccine clinics scheduled for next week appeared first on Outbreak News Today.