Outbreak News Today

A dengue fever outbreak was declared on Feb. 1 in the town of Innisfail in Far North Queensland, Australia after a resident was confirmed with a locally acquired case, according to Queensland Health. The dengue type has yet to be identified. This follows dengue outbreak declarations in Boigu Island in early January where six cases of dengue […]The post Australia: Dengue outbreak declared in Innisfail appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today closely monitoring four additional human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) in the Mainland, and again urged the public to maintain strict personal, food and environmental hygiene both locally and during travel. Among the four cases, two patients respectively from Kangping County in Shenyang […]The post China reports more H7N9 avian flu cases appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

After reporting more than 100,000 dengue fever cases in 2016, Malaysia’s dengue fever case count continues into 2017. For the first month of 2017, the Malaysia Ministry of Health has reported 8,033 dengue cases through the end of January. Like most months and years, Selangor state accounts for more than half the cases at 4,265. […]The post Malaysia reports 8,000 dengue cases in January appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

One in 12 Canadians aged 55 and older skipped prescriptions due to cost in 2014, the second-highest rate among comparable countries, new UBC research has found. “When patients stop filling their prescriptions, their conditions get worse and they often end up in hospital requiring more care which in the long run costs us more money,” […]The post Canada: One in 12 seniors skip meds due to cost, putting them at risk for complications appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A Serratia marcescens outbreak in a neonatal ICU in Spain has prompted the Ministry of Health to close the unit, according to a Radio Madrid report (computer translated). According to the report, the ministry closed the neonatal ICU in a La Paz hospital when 51 babies were affected. Of the 51, 27 have developed some infection and 24 […]The post Spain: Serratia marcescens outbreak prompts closure of ICU appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) announced the identification of the first mcr-1 producing bacteria found in a Los Angeles County resident. This isolate of the bacteria E. coli is the first isolate reported in the state of California that contains the mcr-1 gene, which makes bacteria resistant to the antibiotic […]The post California reports first mcr-1 producing bacteria in LA County appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

New data from the Brazil Ministry of Health today revealed (computer translated) a 34.1% reduction in the number of new diagnosed cases in the country–from 43,652 in 2006 to 28,761 in 2015. In addition, a reduction of 39.7% from the country’s general detection rate, from 23.37 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2006 to 14.07 per 100,000 inhabitants […]The post New leprosy cases in Brazil drop 34 percent appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of Sanofi, announced today the availability of Quadracel™ (Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoids and Acellular Pertussis Adsorbed and Inactivated Poliovirus; DTaP-IPV) vaccine in the United States. Quadracel is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for active immunization against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and poliomyelitis in children 4 through 6 […]The post Quadracel DTaP-IPV Vaccine for children available in US appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

For most people who contract it, dengue fever is a relatively mild-mannered disease–at least the first time around. For some, however, a subsequent infection by the virus unleashes a vicious and potentially deadly illness. New research from a team based at The Rockefeller University has begun to reveal why certain people are more vulnerable to […]The post Dengue: Why only some people develop life-threatening infections appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Children who were exposed to complications shortly before or during birth, including birth asphyxia and preeclampsia, were more likely to develop autism spectrum disorder, according to a Kaiser Permanente study published today in the American Journal of Perinatology. For this retrospective study, researchers examined the electronic health records of 594,638 children born in Kaiser Permanente […]The post Autism: Children exposed to birth asphyxia and preeclampsia at increased risk for ASD appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Perena Gouma, a professor in the Materials Science and Engineering Department at The University of Texas at Arlington, has published an article in the journal Sensors that describes her invention of a hand-held breath monitor that can potentially detect the flu virus. The article, published in January 2017, explains in-depth how the single-exhale sensing device […]The post Flu Virus Breath Monitor: A UTA invention appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Public Health recently investigated a cluster of norovirus-like illness associated with consuming raw oysters. Norovirus is the name of a group of viruses that cause viral gastroenteritis. Norovirus is found in the stool and vomit of infected people and is usually spread person-to-person or by contaminated food. Consuming raw or undercooked shellfish, particularly raw oysters, […]The post Seattle: Norovirus cluster investigated linked to raw oysters appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

For the second time in a week, the New Jersey Department of Health has reported a confirmed a travel-related measles case in the state. The case was confirmed in Passaic County in an unvaccinated seven-month-old infant who traveled internationally. The infant may have exposed others between January 17-23 while infectious. The infant visited the Emergency Department at […]The post NJ health officials report measles in Passaic County infant appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

On Sunday’s show my guests included Assistant Professor with the Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine at Louisiana State University, Rebecca Christofferson, PhD to discuss her article in Infection Control.tips, “Zika Response Disadvantaged Before Outbreak Began: A Perspective”. During the second half, Mary Louise Martin Professor in the Department of Pathobiological Sciences at the LSU […]The post Podcast: Preparing for the ‘next big thing’, Leprosy research appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A steep increase of human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) has been reported since the beginning of December 2016 from China. During this wave, the number of human cases is already higher than during the last two waves in 2014-15 and 2015-16. The majority of recently reported human cases are associated with exposure to infected […]The post Recent upsurge of A(H7N9) cases in China, updated ECDC rapid risk assessment appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Spokane County is currently experiencing an outbreak of mumps. The number of cases reported in Spokane County has reached 100, according to health officials and more cases are expected. Two-thirds of the patients had full vaccination status. Seven out of 10 patients are under the age of 19. Statewide, The Washington State Department of Health has […]The post Spokane County reports 100 mumps cases appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

People infected with HIV may be more susceptible to developing diabetes, suggests research published in the online journal BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care. The prevalence of the condition was nearly 4% higher in a nationally representative sample of people being treated for the virus than among the US general public, and often in the […]The post HIV infected people may be more susceptible to diabetes: Research appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Researchers led by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health have identified a mechanism by which the chikungunya virus infects healthy cells and controls how severe the disease it causes will be, a mechanism they believe can be found in a number of other related viruses for which there are no treatments or licensed […]The post Hopkins researchers identify mechanism in chikungunya virus that controls infection and severity appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the yellow fever outbreak in several states in Brazil, the health ministry reported today (computer translated) in the states of Minas Gerais, Espírito Santo, Bahia and São Paulo 598 suspected cases of the disease. Of the total, 430 cases remain under investigation, 107 were confirmed and 31 discarded. Of the 113 reported […]The post Brazil yellow fever outbreak: Confirmed cases top 100 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

State and federal wildlife-diagnostic centers have confirmed an outbreak of avian cholera near the Tri-Cities, where more than 1,200 dead ducks have been reported in the past week. The disease was confirmed in dead ducks found near Burbank, Wash., and tested by the USGS National Wildlife Health Center and the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Lab. […]The post Avian cholera confirmed in Tri-Cities ducks appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

For most victims of Lyme disease, successful treatment occurs after a two- to four-week course of antibiotics. However, for up to 20 percent of patients, the fatigue, pain, and neurocognitive difficulties persist as Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome (PTLDS). Lyme disease is caused by a spiral-shaped bacterium known as Borrelia burgdorferi, which is the cause of […]The post Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome: UND researchers seek treatment appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Howard Ginsberg, PhD, Professor with the Department of Plant Sciences and Entomology at University of Rhode Island joined me to talk about a USGS-led study looking at the differences in geographical distribution of Lyme disease. The study, published in the journal PLoS One suggests that under environmentally-realistic conditions, southern environments exert greater mortality pressure on ticks than is […]The post Lyme Disease: Northern ticks environment better for survival, transmission appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the multi-province E.coli O121 outbreak in Canada, The Public Health Agency of Canada has reported an additional two cases–one each from British Columbia and Newfoundland and Labrador. To date, 14 cases of E.coli O121 with a matching genetic fingerprint have been reported in three provinces: British Columbia (5), Saskatchewan (4), and Newfoundland and Labrador (5). […]The post Canada E. coli outbreak: Additional cases reported in British Columbia, Newfoundland appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Romania saw 15 measles cases in 2015. Since 2016, this number has blown-up to 2,165, including 13 fatalities. This is largely due to bogus claims from anti-vaccination campaigns in the country, according to a La Vanguardia report (computer translated). President of the Romanian Society of Microbiology, Alexandru Rafila directly points the finger at the anti-vaxx movement […]The post Romania: Anti-vaxxer movement results in huge measles surge in 2016 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Researchers from the New York State Department of Health’s Wadsworth Center Laboratory and the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston have developed a new, more rapid and accurate test to diagnose Zika. By increasing the accuracy and speed of Zika testing, physicians will be better equipped to determine whether a patient is infected with […]The post Zika testing: Wadsworth, UTMB researchers develop better, faster test appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Florida Department of Health (DOH) reported three additional locally acquired Zika virus cases Friday. Two of the cases had samples collected in October as part the ongoing investigation and results were just received from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The third case reported no symptoms but blood samples collected Dec. 21 showed evidence of […]The post Florida reports additional local Zika transmission appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The South Pacific Ocean nation island chain of Vanuatu has had an increase in dengue cases since November that exceeds the trends in recent years. The island country has reported 919 suspected and 142 confirmed dengue fever cases as of Jan. 23, according to the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC) Friday. Four cases are classified as […]The post Vanuatu dengue outbreak: More than 900 suspect cases appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

World Leprosy Day is annually observed around the world on the last Sunday of January. The day was initiated in 1954 by French philanthropist and writer, Raoul Follereau, as a way to raise global awareness of this deadly ancient disease and call attention to the fact that it can be prevented, treated and cured. The […]The post Today is World Leprosy Day 2017 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Published this past week in the “Images in Clinical Medicine” section of the New England Journal of Medicine is an interesting case from the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences in New Delhi, India where they extracted a more than 6-foot adult Taenia solium, aka pork tapeworm through a patient’s mouth (click link above to see photos). An except from […]The post Parasites: 6-ft pork tapeworm removed through man’s mouth appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Dallas County Health and Human Services (DCHHS) issued a health advisory last week due to influenza. Influenza activity has been increasing in Dallas County, with greater than 10% of influenza tests in area hospitals reported positive for the past two consecutive weeks. The first two influenza-associated deaths of the 2016-2017 season and an influenza outbreak in […]The post Influenza health advisory issued in Dallas County appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Following the report of a confirmed mumps case in a Cedar Hill adult resident on Jan. 19, Dallas County Health and Human Services (DCHHS) officials confirmed the second case of mumps in Dallas County for 2017. The latest patient is a Mesquite resident who is in the age range of 10 to 20. DCHHS Health officials are urging immunization […]The post Dallas County reports 2nd mumps case in a week appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Kevin Macaluso, MS, PhD is the Mary Louise Martin Professor in the Department of Pathobiological Sciences at the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine and he was recently awarded a Research to STOP Neglected Tropical Disease Transmission (R2STOP) award for his research entitled, “Role of arthropods in transmission of leprosy.” Dr. Macaluso joined me for an interview […]The post Leprosy research to look at the role of ticks as vectors of disease appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In the abstract of her article, “Zika Response Disadvantaged Before Outbreak Began: A Perspective” published recently in InfectionControl.tips, Assistant Professor with the Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine at Louisiana State University, Rebecca Christofferson, PhD writes: Zika virus is the latest emergent virus to cause significant morbidity and mortality, despite being identified over […]The post Inattention to Zika virus put the scientific and medical communities at a disadvantage: What can be done for ‘the next big thing’? appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The World Health Organization (WHO) published the following on Friday: On 24 January 2017, Brazil’s International Health Regulations (IHR) National Focal Point (NFP) provided the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) with an update on the yellow fever situation. The geographical distribution of confirmed yellow fever human cases is expanding and includes, in addition […]The post WHO news release on Brazil yellow fever outbreak appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Colorado public health officials are expressing concern over an increase in mumps cases seen early in 2017. So far this year, 14 cases have been reported in Colorado. That nearly matches the 17 cases reported in 2016. The five-year average is 5.6 cases per year. In 2016 in the United States, there were 5,311 cases of […]The post Colorado health officials ‘concerned’ about rise in mumps cases appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

An email went out to the University of Southern Indiana (USI) community earlier this week advising faculty, staff and students to “be vigilant” as a small number of scabies cases have been confirmed on campus. Individuals confirmed with the infestation are being treated and close/direct contacts have been identified and measures are taken to prevent […]The post University of Southern Indiana report confirmed scabies cases appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The mcr-1 gene–a gene that makes bacteria resistant to colistin, an antibiotic of last resort, and that is transferrable between bacteria–has been found in a wide variety of strains of Escherichia coli in China following widespread use of colistin in agriculture. As China prepares to introduce the drug for the first time in human medicine, […]The post China: mcr-1 gene found in a number of E. coli strains appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

New Jersey health officials have issued a health alert after measles was confirmed in a Hudson County man who contracted the disease while traveling abroad. The New Jersey Department of Health (DOH) says he may have exposed individuals at several public places in Jersey City between January 16-24, 2017. DOH recommends that anyone who visited the locations […]The post New Jersey measles alert: Exposure risk at several Jersey City locations appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Brazil Health Ministry is now reporting suspected yellow fever cases in the states of Goiás and Mato Grosso do Sul, this is in addition to the four states previously reported–Minas Gerais, Espírito Santo, Bahia, São Paulo (the suspect cases in Federal District have been ruled out). Earlier this month, the World Health Organization (WHO) expressed concern that […]The post Brazil: Yellow fever outbreak spreads to other states appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Kansas is now experiencing widespread influenza activity, with increased influenza cases seen in most regions of the state. Reports of outbreaks in long-term care facilities, schools and day cares have been made to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE). Five outbreaks have been identified during the 2016-2017 season. “It is not too late […]The post Kansas reports widespread influenza activity appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced today that its laboratory analysis found inconsistent amounts of belladonna, a toxic substance, in certain homeopathic teething tablets, sometimes far exceeding the amount claimed on the label. The agency is warning consumers that homeopathic teething tablets containing belladonna pose an unnecessary risk to infants and children and urges […]The post FDA warning: Belladonna in homeopathic teething tablets reported in inconsistent levels appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

It’s that dreaded time of year – flu season. And we humans aren’t the only ones feeling the pain. Dogs can get the flu, too. Scientists at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry have developed, for the first time, two new vaccines for canine influenza. This research is not only important for […]The post H3N8 canine influenza: The development of new flu vaccines for dogs appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

As human diseases become alarmingly antibiotic resistant, identification of new pharmaceuticals is critical. The cane toad and other members of the Bufonidae family produce substances widely used in traditional folk medicine, but endangered family members, like Panama’s golden frog, Atelopus zeteki, may disappear before revealing their secrets. Smithsonian scientists and colleagues at the University of […]The post Toads and frogs as potential source of novel drugs and therapies appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has awarded $10 million to a consortium of Midwestern universities to establish a new research and training program to stem the spread of disease carried by vectors like ticks and mosquitoes. The Upper Midwestern Center of Excellence in Vector Borne Diseases, which will be led by University […]The post Vector borne disease research: CDC awards $10 million to Midwestern universities appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Since June 2016, at least 24 countries in the WHO European Region have reported outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N8) virus in wild birds and domestic poultry. At least 3 of these countries have reported outbreaks in the last 2 weeks. Outbreaks have also been reported in countries in Africa, Asia and the […]The post H5N8 avian influenza in Europe: 24 countries report bird flu since June appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Texas has identified the first instance of a laboratory-confirmed Zika infection in a pregnant Texas resident who did not travel outside the state. The woman, a resident of Bexar County, traveled to Brownsville in November, around the time six Brownsville residents acquired cases of Zika virus disease from mosquitoes there. She did not get sick […]The post Texas reports local Zika transmission in pregnant woman appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The international pledge to eradicate a devastating livestock disease affecting mostly sheep and goats has taken on new urgency in the wake of a mass die-off of a rare Mongolian antelope. Some 900 Saiga antelopes (Saiga tatarica mongolica) – almost 10 percent of the sub-species’ population – have been found dead in Mongolia’s western Khovd […]The post Mongolia: Peste des Petits Ruminants kills 900 Saiga antelopes appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The mumps outbreak in Washington state is on the cusp of 300 confirmed and probable cases as 291 have been reported in five counties through Wednesday. The breakdown stands at King County (163), Spokane County (90), Pierce County (34), Snohomish County (3) and Yakima County (1). In King County, 63.2 percent of patients report being up to date […]The post Washington mumps outbreak nears 300 cases appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The public’s ability to understand the dangers posed by Zika virus may be jeopardized by advocacy groups linking the virus with culturally charged issues such as illegal immigration and global warming, the authors of a new study warn. Zika virus has been, so far, a politically non-polarizing risk, according to researchers at Yale University and […]The post Political memes and Zika virus: A public health concern appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Health and Family Planning Commission of Henan Province reported that two male patients infected with avian influenza A(H7N9) , aged 59 and 36, have passed away. They were from Luohe and Yongcheng respectively. According to a report from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, under the routine environmental surveillance in affected provinces […]The post China reports two additional H7N9 avian flu cases in Henan Province appeared first on Outbreak News Today.