Outbreak News Today

Since the yellow fever outbreak started in Dec. 2016, a total of 1336 cases of yellow fever infection (292 confirmed, 920 suspected, and 124 discarded), including 215 deaths (101 confirmed, 109 suspected, 5 discarded), have been detected in six states (Bahia, Espírito Santo, Minas Gerais, Rio Grande do Norte, São Paulo, and Tocantins). The estimated case […]The post Brazil: Confirmed yellow fever death toll tops 100 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Thailand health officials issued an advisory last week after reporting increased numbers of the viral infection, hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD), mostly in children under the age of five. Since the beginning of the year through Feb. 19, the Thailand Bureau of Epidemiology reported a total of 7,684 cases from all 77 provinces. No deaths have […]The post Thailand issues warning over the spread of the hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

UC Davis physician researchers have found that medical marijuana contains multiple bacterial and fungal pathogens that may cause serious and even fatal infections. They warn that smoking, vaping or inhaling aerosolized marijuana could pose a grave risk to patients, especially those with leukemia, lymphoma, AIDS or conditions requiring immune-suppressing therapies. The study findings are accepted […]The post Medical marijuana: Fungal, bacterial contaminants found, dangerous for immunocompromised patients appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

For the period of January through February last year, Florida health officials reported five confirmed leprosy, or Hansen’s disease cases. To date in 2017, that tally has dropped to only two, according to Florida Department of Health data. The two cases were reported in Brevard County (Merritt Island) and Osceola County (Kissimmee). 2016 saw a […]The post Florida sees drop in leprosy cases in 1st two months of 2017 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Arkansas Department of Health recently determined that two cases of tickborne disease met the surveillance definition for Lyme disease. A case in Arkansas has not met the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) surveillance definition since 2007. Arkansas is considered a low-incidence state for Lyme cases by the CDC. Arkansas is in the […]The post Lyme disease: ‘Low-incidence state’ Arkansas records 1st cases since 2007 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

U.S. Sen. Rand Paul met this week with a dozen National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) members at The Flynn Group, NFIB member business in Louisville, to talk about plans to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, the federal healthcare law commonly known as Obamacare. After the event, Senator Paul said, “I appreciated the opportunity […]The post Dr. Rand Paul speaks to small business owners about health care appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The China National Health and Family Planning Commission reported an additional 28 human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9), including four deaths, for the period of February 13 to 23. The 22 male and six female patients aged from four to 81 had their onset from January 27 to February 17. The cases were from Anhui (five cases), […]The post H7N9 avian influenza: 29 additional cases reported in China in past 10 days appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

On Saturday, Feb. 18, the Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA) began receiving accounts of horses exposed to equine herpes virus type 4 (EHV-4) and Streptococcus equi bacterial infection (also known as strangles or equine distemper). Both diseases are highly contagious among horses, and strangles is listed on the National List of Reportable Animal Diseases. The […]The post Strangles, equine herpes reported in Nevada horses appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

For the first time in 2017, health officials in the province of Los Santos, Panama have confirmed a hantavirus case. According to regional director of Health, Dr. Germán Solís, the patient is a 75-year-old individual from Tonosí. The patient is currently in stable condition, according to a TVN Noticias report (computer translated). Authorities have recommended the population to maintain […]The post Panama: 1st hantavirus case of 2017 reported in Los Santos appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday allowed marketing of the PhenoTest BC Kit, performed on the Pheno System. This is the first test to identify organisms that cause bloodstream infections and provide information about which antibiotics the organism is likely to respond to (antibiotic sensitivity). The test also reduces the amount of time it […]The post PhenoTest BC Kit approved to market, quicker ID and antibiotic sensitivity for bloodstream infections appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) confirmed Equine Herpes Myeloencephalopathy (EHM), the neurologic disease linked to Equine Herpes Virus (EHV-1), in a Denton County barrel racing horse on February 21, 2017. The horse showed signs of ataxia, loss of coordination of the muscles, and other neurologic signs consistent with EHM when evaluated by a local veterinarian. […]The post Equine herpesvirus confirmed in Denton Countyhorse appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Florida Department of Health in Martin County has issued a rabies alert for Indiantown following a domestic dog testing positive for rabies. According to the owner, the dog was unvaccinated and kept outside. It became sick after it was scratched or bitten by an unknown animal. This rabies alert will remain in effect for […]The post Florida: Rabies alert in Indiantown following report of rabid dog appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the measles outbreak in the Halifax, Nova Scotia area, health officials say the number of confirmed measles cases have grown to seven cases. “It isn’t surprising that we have discovered more measles cases, given how contagious the measles virus is. At the same time, it’s a positive sign that the number […]The post Halifax measles outbreak rises to 7 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A total of 17 new research proposals on Zika will be conducted in Latin America and the Caribbean to identify solutions to address this virus, which causes congenital brain abnormalities when pregnant women are infected, and triggers Guillain-Barré syndrome in some infected people. The research projects, ranging from the identification of transmission risk factors to […]The post Zika: WHO supports new research proposals in Latin America and the Caribbean appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Last weekend, three Huntington (WV) High School wrestlers competed at the West Virginia AAA Region IV Tournament with what was confirmed later as cases of HSV-1 or herpes simplex virus type 1, according to a Flowrestling report. This prompted the West Virginia Secondary Schools Athletic Commission (WVSSAC) to issue a statement to coaches concerning the case. As […]The post Herpes prompts postponement of WV wrestling tournament appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up to the multi-province gastrointestinal illness outbreak in Canada, The Public Health Agency of Canada has reported an additional 46 cases linked to consumption of raw oysters as of Friday. The national investigation in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario has shown the total case count has risen to 267 clinical cases of gastrointestinal illness linked to […]The post Norovirus: Dozens of additional GI infections linked to raw oysters reported appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Four cases of mumps have been identified in Chapman University Law students who attended the Back to School Event held at Rudy’s in Newport Beach, on Friday night, January 27, 2017. The risk of getting mumps if you attended this event is low, especially if you have received vaccination against mumps. But it is important […]The post Mumps reported in Chapman Law students appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Mumps cases and outbreaks have been sprouting up over several areas of Canada including the outbreak in Manitoba. Since September 1, 2016 and up to February 16, 2017 there have been 164 confirmed cases of mumps reported to Manitoba Health, Seniors and Active Living. Cases of mumps continue to be reported in Manitoba. While initially the majority […]The post University of Alberta reports four mumps cases, Toronto outbreak rises appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the multistate Seoul virus outbreak in the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports laboratory-confirmed infection in 16 people in nine states as of Feb. 23. The states with laboratory-confirmed Seoul virus positive results for humans or rats include Colorado, Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah and […]The post Seoul virus: 16 people infected in US, 3 HFRS cases reported in Canada appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

On Friday, the Vancouver Canucks reported one confirmed case of mumps in a player and at least four others showing symptoms of the contagious viral infection. The hockey team is working with provincial and city health officials to minimize transmission. According to Canucks General Manager, Jim Benning, the confirmed case is 22-year-old defenseman, Troy Stecher. The […]The post Mumps: Vancouver Canucks confirm infection in Troy Stecher, 4 others show symptoms appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) was recently notified by the University of Alabama (UA) Student Health Center that University of Alabama students were recently treated for mumps. From January 27, 2017 through February 23, 2017, there have been five cases of mumps in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. ADPH is investigating these notifiable disease cases and […]The post University of Alabama reports mumps cases in students appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up to a report two weeks ago, Secretary of Health Dr. Karen Murphy announced that the Department of Health is working with Pennsylvania State University, or PSU, to investigate confirmed cases of mumps at the State College campus. The department is also working with PSU’s University Health Services to investigate additional potential cases. […]The post Penn State mumps investigation update appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Each year, about 2 million people contract leishmaniasis, a parasitic disease transmitted by the bite of a sand fly. The cutaneous form of the disease results in disfiguring skin ulcers that may take months or years to heal and in rare cases can become metastatic, causing major tissue damage. Though anti-parasitic drugs can speed healing, […]The post Penn vet team identifies new therapeutic targets for tropical disease leishmaniasis appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In an effort to rapidly contain the resurgence of cholera in South Sudan, WHO has secured oral cholera vaccine to vaccinate the communities in Leer Town and other areas. The 20 February integrated food security phase classification (IPC) identified Leer and Mayendit. With Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) rates that exceed 30% in the two locations. […]The post South Sudan cholera outbreak: Oral vaccine to be distributed Monday appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Since 1 January 2017, 201 suspected cases of meningitis with 17 deaths were reported by 19 health districts. In week 2, the district of Akebou which is part of the Plateau Region issued an alert after four cases of meningitis were reported. In week 4, the epidemic threshold was reached with nine cases and an […]The post Meningococcal meningitis outbreak in Togo appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

If you’re sick, stay home. Wash your hands before preparing food. When preparing food, always wear gloves or do not touch the ready-to-eat food with bare hands. For food service workers, following this simple advice, which is part of the FDA Food Code, could drastically reduce the spread of norovirus, the most common type of […]The post Norovirus: FDA study offers food establishments better methods for preventing outbreaks appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Health officials in Maricopa County, Arizona have reported more than fifty leptospirosis cases in dogs in the past year and the current, ongoing outbreak. Leptospirosis, a bacterial disease that can affect people and animals, has been on the rise in Maricopa County dogs since February, 2016. The bacteria that causes leptospirosis is spread in the […]The post Leptospirosis in dogs: Maricopa County, Arizona outbreak appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Officials with the Scurry County Health Unit in Snyder, Texas announced yesterday that there has been a confirmed case of Hepatitis A. They say it is an isolated case and the investigation is ongoing. Health officials say there is no indication the patient, an 84-year-old woman according to one commenter on the health department’s Facebook page, that […]The post Texas: Hepatitis A case confirmed in Scurry County appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Scientists at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health are the first to report a method to accurately predict the timing and intensity of West Nile Virus (WNV) outbreaks. The study is published in the journal Nature Communications. Much like weather forecasting, these WNV forecasts use a computer model to generate multiple simulations that mimic […]The post West Nile Virus outbreak forecasting: Giving more time to plan for mosquito control efforts appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Indiana University is investigating a cluster of mumps cases on the Bloomington campus. Five total cases have been confirmed since December. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), mumps cases nationwide are at a 10-year high, with 46 states reporting cases in the last year. IU is taking all precautions to protect […]The post Mumps cluster reported at Indiana University appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Three Ready Pac Foods Inc. establishments, located in Swedesboro, N.J., in Jackson, Ga., and the headquarters establishment in Irwindale, Calif., are recalling approximately 59,225 pounds of one variety of chicken salad product that may be adulterated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced Wednesday. The Puro Picante Blazin’ […]The post Listeria prompts recall of 60,000 lbs. of chicken salad appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The largest mumps outbreak in Washington state has prompted some changes in Gonzaga University’s (GU) community outreach programs, according to the Gonzaga Bulletin Wednesday. The article states some programs in the Center for Community Action and Service-Learning (CCASL), a community-oriented service program that oversees outreach programs from GU into the community, canceled or delayed for […]The post Spokane mumps outbreak alters Gonzaga outreach programs appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The mosquito Aedes aegypti, which can spread dengue fever, chikungunya, Zika fever, and yellow fever virus, requires a blood meal to develop eggs. One way to control the spread of these diseases is to tamper with the reproductive events that follow this mosquito’s blood meal. This is what a team of scientists at the University […]The post UC Riverside study: Disrupt egg production in Aedes aegypti to control dengue, Zika appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Toronto Public Health (TPH) is currently investigating 14 lab-confirmed cases of mumps involving individuals 18 to 35 years of age. While TPH continues to follow up with exposed individuals who are known to the confirmed cases, the investigation to date has identified that many of these cases have frequented bars in the west downtown core […]The post Mumps outbreak reported in Toronto appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A Phase 1 clinical trial to test the safety and tolerability of an investigational vaccine against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) has begun at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. The trial also will assess the vaccine’s ability to prompt an immune response in healthy adult participants. The investigational vaccine was developed […]The post RSV vaccine enters Phase 1 clinical trials appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The State University of New York (SUNY) Cortland in central New York issued a campus alert due to a bacterial meningitis risk on campus. According to a Student Health Services advisory, students that attended a party at 15 Prospect St. last week Thursday, Feb. 16, or a party on Owego Street on Friday, Feb. 17, you […]The post SUNY Cortland: Suspect bacterial meningitis prompts campus alert appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Health and Family Planning Commission of Sichuan Province reported two additional human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) in Guang’an. The two patients had live poultry exposure before onset. This brings the total human cases reported in Sichuan Province to eight since human infections were first reported on 2013. According to the Hong Kong Centre for Health Protection (CHP), […]The post China reports two additional H7N9 avian influenza cases in Sichuan Province appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Professor Emeritus of Veterinary Parasitology at the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, Kevin Kazacos, DVM, PhD joined me for the whole hour to talk about this little known, but very dangerous parasite. LISTEN to the podcast below: Other interviews of interest: Zika research, yellow fever, Seoul virus and other viral disease news Leprosy research to […]The post Baylisascaris procyonis-the raccoon roundworm appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A new study, published in the peer-reviewed journal, Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases, investigated whether animals within certain taxonomic groups in North America have the potential to serve as ZIKV amplifying or maintenance hosts. In the article entitled “Investigating the Potential Role of North American Animals as Hosts for Zika Virus,” coauthors Izabela Ragan, Kansas State University College […]The post Zika virus: Study shows that several North American animals unlikely to be reservoirs appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) has released its first report on hepatitis C infection in Iowa. Hepatitis C is the leading cause of liver cancer and liver transplants in the U.S. A comparison of data from 2000 to 2015 shows the number of Iowans diagnosed with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection increased nearly […]The post Iowa reports three-fold rise in hepatitis C cases since 2000 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In response to press inquiries on rumors on human cases of avian influenza A(H5N6) and related pneumonia cases in Hong Kong, the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health clarified that no human H5N6 cases have been identified in Hong Kong to date. “Globally, 16 sporadic human H5N6 cases, including 11 known deaths, […]The post Hong Kong officials respond to H5N6 avian flu rumors appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The most recent update on the yellow fever outbreak in Brazil reveals additional confirmed cases and deaths since the last update a few days ago. According to the Brazil Ministry of Health, or Ministério da Saúde, as of Feb. 20, 1,286 suspected cases of yellow fever were reported to the Ministry of Health, of which 274 were confirmed. […]The post Yellow fever update: 33% of confirmed cases end in death appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A nationwide polio immunization campaign was launched this week in Yemen by national health authorities with support from WHO and UNICEF, aiming to immunize 5,019,648 children under the age of 5. More than 40,000 health workers are taking part in the 3-day campaign. In addition, religious and local council’s officials, as well as health educators […]The post Yemen polio vaccination drive to immunize 5 mil children appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, has launched a Phase 1 clinical trial to test an investigational vaccine intended to provide broad protection against a range of mosquito-transmitted diseases, such as Zika, malaria, West Nile fever and dengue fever, and to hinder the ability of […]The post Investigational mosquito-transmitted diseases vaccine targets mosquito saliva: NIH appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Nearly three dozen Belgian tourists were reported exposed to the parasitic disease, schistosomiasis, while vacationing at the Witrivier (Whiteriver) near the Mimi Moya Eco Lodge, situated in the north of Kwazulu-Natal in South Africa, according to experts from the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp in a letter to ProMED Mail. The vacationers were exposed in late Dec. […]The post Schistosomiasis exposure reported in Belgian tourists to South Africa appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Zambia has recorded a decline in the incidence of malaria from 407 cases per 1000 population in 2014, to 336 cases per 1000 population in 2015, according to the Republic of Zambia Ministry of Health. Permanent Secretary for the health ministry, Dr Jabbin Mulwanda also noted that there has also been a 50 percent reduction in […]The post Zambia reports decline in malaria appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Johns Hopkins researchers say that in early pregnancy in mice with complete immune systems, Zika virus can cross the placenta — intended to protect the developing fetus — and appears to lead to a high percentage of miscarriages and to babies born with thin brain tissue and inflammation in brain cells. By administering Zika virus […]The post Zika may cause miscarriages, thin brain tissue in babies carried to term appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Listeria, a common food-borne bacterium, may pose a greater risk of miscarriage in the early stages of pregnancy than appreciated, according to researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine studying how pathogens affect fetal development and change the outcome of pregnancy. “For many years, listeria has been associated with adverse outcomes in […]The post Listeria a bigger threat for miscarriage in the early stages of pregnancy: Research appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) issued a warning Friday (computer translated) concerning a cholera outbreak reported in travelers from Cebu, Philippines. Travelers that arrived Friday, Feb. 17 on Air Asia Z29048 (Cebu – Incheon, Seoul flight) at Incheon International Airport tested positive for cholera (V Cholerae O1 Ogawa, CTX +). The number infected was […]The post Korea health officials report cholera outbreak in travelers from Cebu, Philippines appeared first on Outbreak News Today.