Outbreak News Today

The number of dengue fever cases reported in Vietnam during the first eleven months of 2016, reveal a 38 percent increase in cases compared to the same period in 2015. As of 30 November 2016, there were 110,854 cases of dengue including 42 deaths reported in Vietnam. 42 dengue-related fatalities have been reported. Compared to […]The post Vietnam dengue cases top 110,000 in 2016, up nearly 40 percent appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Health officials in the central Vietnam province of Quang Nam have announced the deaths of two teens to the vaccine-preventable disease, diphtheria, according to local media. According to Nguyen Van Hai, head of the local health department, the outbreak struck the Tay Giang high school, which has nearly 800 students and around 70 teachers and staff members. Among […]The post Vietnam: Two diphtheria deaths reported in Quang Nam appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Speech for the Honorable Minister of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries during communication of outbreak of the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) outbreak in wild and domestic bird in Uganda 15th January 2017. Ladies and Gentlemen, I am honoured to have this opportunity to inform you of an eminent catastrophe faces the people of our […]The post Uganda bird flu at Lake Victoria: Official statement appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A 69-year-old man from Arauco, Bío Bío region in west-central Chile is the first hantavirus death recorded in 2017, according to a Bio Bio Chile report (computer translated). This is the fifth hantavirus case reported in the country year to date. According to the health officer of Bío Bío, Mauricio Careaga, it is believed the man […]The post Chile: 1st hantavirus death of 2017 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A family of highly drug-resistant and potentially deadly bacteria may be spreading more widely–and more stealthily — than previously thought, according to a new study from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard. Researchers examined carbapenem resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) causing disease in four U.S. hospitals. They found […]The post CRE show worrisome ability to diversify and spread: Harvard researchers appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The end of a year gives us an opportunity to reflect on the year that was and make lists of things that made an impact in our lives. The positive impact of vaccines on the lives of individuals and families has been documented over the years. It is likely that these vaccine stories will greatly […]The post The Top 10 Biggest Vaccine Stories Of 2016 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By Vincent Racaniello, PhD A sensitive and specific blood test has been developed that could be used to limit the risk of transmission of prion disease through the blood supply (link to papers one and two). Prion diseases, also known as spongiform encephalopathies, are uniformly fatal, chronic degenerative neurological diseases caused by misfolding of a […]The post A blood test for prion disease appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A Lassa fever outbreak in Nasarawa State in Central Nigeria has resulted in four fatalities, according to a local media report today. According to Nasarawa State Commissioner for Health, Daniel Iya, 16 suspected cases have been recorded in the state, out of which four were confirmed positive and all of them have died. He explained that the […]The post Nigeria: Lassa outbreak results in 4 deaths in Nasarawa State appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Drugs used to treat HIV could affect how the body responds to syphilis, inadvertently contributing to a current outbreak, a new study suggests. Syphilis cases in several countries have risen sharply in recent years, primarily affecting men who have sex with men. In this study, researchers investigating the outbreak hypothesize that medications used in highly […]The post HIV drugs linked to syphilis increases? Study says it’s possible appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

For the first time, researchers have shown that the number of parasites each mosquito carries influences the chance of successful malaria infection. The finding has implications for vaccine development and studies into how the disease spreads in the field. The findings, from scientists at Imperial College London, may also explain why the only registered malaria […]The post Mosquito parasite burden linked to malaria infection success: Study appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Before infecting humans, tick-borne bacteria or viruses first have to get past a tick’s defenses to colonize it. How this occurs is not well understood. To investigate, Yale researchers studied a model of the second-most-common tick-borne infection in the United States, human granulocytic anaplasmosis, which can cause headaches, muscle pain, and even death. The researchers […]The post Anaplasmosis bacteria like a ‘stealth warrior’, turning a tick’s gut microbes against itself appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today drew the public’s special attention to the high activity of avian influenza A(H7N9) in Guangdong. Travellers should be on full alert and maintain strict personal, hand, food and environmental hygiene particularly in the upcoming Lunar New Year holidays. The Health and Family Planning […]The post High activity of avian influenza A(H7N9) in Guangdong: Hong Kong CHP appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Victoria health reported today that there are two confirmed case of measles who were infectious while at a number of places across Melbourne between 05 and 14 January 2017, prompting the issuance of a measles alert for medical professionals. The illnesses were acquired overseas. According to the alert, the two individuals spent significant time in the following […]The post Measles alert issued in Melbourne appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A mass measles vaccination campaign began last Friday in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States in north-eastern Nigeria, in which nearly 5 million children aged from 6 months to 10 years are to be vaccinated. “This measles vaccination campaign is an emergency intervention to protect more than 4 million children (4,766,214) against a highly contagious and sometimes deadly disease,” […]The post Measles campaign starts in north-eastern Nigeria appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is requiring Genesee County Health Department and McLaren Flint to take immediate corrective action to reduce the risk of future exposure to Legionella at the hospital. As a result of the Michigan Court of Appeals vacating the Protective Orders in Genesee County on December 20, 2016, […]The post Flint Legionella: State requires McLaren Flint to take corrective action appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

After reporting 24 strangles cases in 2016, Florida agriculture officials have reported the second and third case of 2017 last week, according to Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC) alerts. On January 13, one premise in Union County, Florida was placed under quarantine for strangles after PCR results returned positive for 3 of the thirteen horses on […]The post Florida reports two additional strangles cases appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

On the Sunday, Jan. 15 Outbreak News This Week Radio Show, I was joined by two great guests to look at some interesting and timely topics. During the first half, Senior Associate at the UPMC Center for Health Security, Amesh Adalja, MD joined me to discuss the Lyme disease situation in Pennsylvania. In the second half, The Dean for the […]The post Podcast: PA Lyme disease, TX measles and anti-vaxxers appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In Ready or Not? Protecting the Public from Diseases, Disasters and Bioterrorism, 26 states and Washington, D.C. scored a six or lower on 10 key indicators of public health preparedness. The report, issued by the Trust for America’s Health (TFAH), found that the nation is often caught off guard when a new threat arises, such […]The post Majority of States Score 6 or Lower Out of 10 Indicators in Report on Health Emergency Preparedness appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Back in 2010, researchers from the United Kingdom were talking about an enzyme known as NDM-1 (New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase 1), that has found its way from the Indian subcontinent and could potentially become a major global health problem. The enzyme is carried in certain gram negative bacteria like E. coli and Klebsiella, and makes the bacterium resistant […]The post CDC: Bacterial infection was resistant to 26 antibiotics appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

SA Health is urging businesses in metropolitan Adelaide to decontaminate theirair-conditioning cooling towers following the notification of four cases of Legionnaires’ disease. SA Health’s Acting Chief Public Health Officer Dr Kevin Buckett said fluctuating temperatures can contribute to the growth of Legionella bacteria. “When we see very hot temperatures interspersed with milder temperatures, cooling towers […]The post Legionnaires’ disease cases prompt urging of Adelaide businesses to check cooling towers appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Chinese health officials reported on two additional human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) in Guizhou and Hubei provinces. According to the Health and Family Planning Commission of Guizhou Province, the patient, aged 79 from Qiandongnan Prefecture, has been hospitalized. The Health and Family Planning Commission of Hubei Province reported that the male patient, aged 38 from Wuhan […]The post China bird flu: Additional H7N9 avian flu cases reported in Guizhou and Hubei appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Worldwide, an estimated 119,000 children are born with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) each year, a new study from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) shows. The study, published in The Lancet Global Health, provides the first-ever estimates of the proportion of women who drink during pregnancy, as well as estimates of FAS by […]The post Fetal Alcohol Syndrome: 119,000 children born with FAS worldwide annually appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

At least 113 human rabies cases were recorded in Angola’s Luanda province through Nov. 2016, according to the head of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries of the municipality of Cacuaco, José Castro (computer translated). Twenty-four of the deaths were recorded in the municipality of Cacuaco, following the bite of animals, mainly dogs, and where children were the main victims. […]The post Angola: More than 100 rabies deaths recorded in Luanda in 2016 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Health Bureau of Macao reported late last week of an additional imported human case of avian influenza A(H7N9). This is the second case reported in the past month. The female patient, aged 72 with underlying illnesses, has developed fever and cough since January 8 in Zhongshan. She returned to Macao on January 10 and was […]The post Macao reports 2nd imported H7N9 avian influenza case appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A 57-year-old male who resides in southern Taiwan has been diagnosed with hantavirus hemorrhagic fever, according to the Taiwan CDC. The patient was hospitalized for his illness and since discharged. This has prompted health officials to remind the public to check inside and outside the house for gaps or holes that allow rodents from entering the home […]The post Taiwan reports rare hantavirus case appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Secretary of Health of the State of Ceará in northeastern Brazil announced receiving reports of three suspect cases of “black urine disease” last week. The cases are being investigated by state and municipal health officials and samples were collected for laboratory testing, according to a Rede News 360 report (computer translated). The three suspect cases […]The post Suspect ‘black urine disease’ cases reported in Ceará state appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

After reporting four Zika virus infections in Vinh Thanh Commune since end of December, the steering board of disease prevention in the southern province of Dong Nai last week announced a Zika epidemic. Officials decided to announce epidemic to warn people of the disease and adopt measures to curb its spreading. In the Mekong Delta province of Ben […]The post Vietnam Zika news: Epidemic in Dong Nai, 1st case in Ben Tre appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Some bat populations in North America appear to have developed resistance to the deadly fungal disease known as white-nose syndrome. Researchers from the University of New Hampshire analyzed infection data and population trends of the little brown bat in the eastern United States and found that persisting populations long exposed to the disease had much […]The post White-nose syndrome: Researchers say some bats develop resistance appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Officials with New South Wales Health (NSW Health) reported a large increase of the sexually transmitted infection (STI), Lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV), among men who have sex with men (MSM) in the Sydney area in 2016. A total of 52 LGV cases were notified to NSW Health from 1 January to 31 December 2016. This was more than three […]The post Sydney: LGV cases triple among gay men in 2016 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on the yellow fever situation in Minas Gerais in southeastern Brazil, the Brazil IHR NFP provided an update on the event on Thursday informing that a total of 110 suspected cases, including 30 deaths, had been reported from 15 municipalities of Minas Gerais: Ladainha (31 cases, 11 deaths), Caratinga (20 cases, 1 death), Imbe […]The post Yellow fever outbreak: 110 suspected cases, including 30 deaths in Minas Gerais appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

“I predict measles outbreaks in Texas could happen as early as the winter or spring of 2018”: Peter Hotez, MD, PhD- PLoS Medicine October 25, 2016 The Dean for the National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Dr Peter Hotez wrote this prediction in an article in the journal PLoS Medicine a few months ago and […]The post Texas measles prediction: Outbreaks by 2018 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Public Health Agency of Canada announced Friday that along with provincial public health partners, they are investigating an outbreak of Escherichia coli, called E.coli O121. The source of the outbreak has not been identified.. There have been 12 cases of E.coli O121 with a matching genetic fingerprint reported in three provinces: British Columbia (4), Saskatchewan (4), […]The post Canada: E.coli O121 outbreak investigated in 3 provinces appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up to a report in early December, the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) has confirmed seven additional fever tick infested premises in Live Oak County since Nov. 30. The additional premises were detected through systematic livestock and wildlife inspections conducted within the original Control Purpose Quarantine Area (CPQA), and the inspection of livestock moved […]The post Texas cattle fever tick update: More infested premises in Live Oak County appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The British Columbia Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) is warning the public following a spike in acute gastrointestinal illness associated with the consumption of oysters. Since early December 2016, over 70 cases of oyster-related illness have been reported to BC health authorities. Illnesses have been reported to Island Health, Vancouver Coastal Health, Fraser Health […]The post Norovirus outbreak prompts British Columbia health warning appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Social media was on fire this past week as two big anti-vaccination stories circulated the Twitter and Facebook world. The first was the Op-Ed written by the Cleveland Clinic’s Dr. Daniel Neides, which is proclaimed the vaccine-autism link among other outrageous statements. Second was the meeting between the President-elect Donald Trump and renown anti-vaxxer, Robert F […]The post Anti-Vaxx Op-Ed, Trump/RFK Jr meeting: An ID Doc’s perspective appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a follow-up on a report on a shigellosis outbreak in three New Mexico counties, health officials say the investigation has seen the number of Shigella sonnei cases reported in Lea, Chaves, and Eddy counties rise to 196, up from 140 cases reported in November. Shigellosis is an extremely contagious bacterial disease that causes diarrhea, fever, nausea, and […]The post Shigella outbreak in SE New Mexico nears 200 cases appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

For the 10th year in a row, Pennsylvania has reported more Lyme disease cases than any other state. And 2016 saw a new record for cases as the Keystone state saw in excess of 12000, nearly 40 percent of the country’s total. Senior Associate at the UPMC Center for Health Security, Amesh Adalja, MD joined me […]The post Pennsylvania Lyme disease: An interview with Dr Amesh Adalja appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) is investigating four confirmed cases of whooping cough, or pertussis in infants under 6 months of age reported during December 2016. The infant cases are from four New Mexico counties: Eddy, Curry, Rio Arriba, and San Juan. It is the largest cluster of whooping cough cases investigated by […]The post New Mexico investigates whooping cough cluster appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

With the 2016-2017 flu season in full swing and influenza activity increasing across the state, it is critical that all Floridians get the flu vaccine to protect against infection and help prevent the spread of seasonal flu to others. It is never too late to get your flu shot. While most cases of flu are […]The post Florida confirms 1st pediatric flu deaths appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The bacteria that cause the life-threatening disease cholera may initiate infection by coordinating a wave of mass shapeshifting that allows them to more effectively penetrate the intestines of their unwitting victims, according to a study led by Princeton University. The researchers discovered the protein that allows the bacterium Vibrio cholerae to morph into a corkscrew […]The post Cholera bacteria strike more effectively with simple twist of shape: Princeton research appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The number of dengue fever cases reported in Sri Lanka in 2016 was the most seen in a number of years and nearly double 2015 numbers, according to data from the Ministry of Health. Last year, 54,945 dengue fever cases were reported. This compared to 29,777 in 2015. The Colombo district recorded 16,767 cases, or more than […]The post Sri Lanka dengue cases nearly double in 2016, fast start to 2017 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The worst of the global Zika virus outbreak may be over but many key questions remain, such as why the virus persists in certain tissues after the systemic infection has cleared; how does the immune system counteract the virus and protect against reinfection; what determines the likelihood of long-term complications? New research from La Jolla […]The post T cells play a crucial role in control of Zika infections: Research appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Anthony S. Fauci, M.D., director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and colleague Catharine I. Paules, M.D. published a letter in the Journal of the American Medical Association discussing the importance of continued Zika virus research despite cases waning. Recent experiences with other arboviruses […]The post Zika research must continue: NIAID appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The mumps outbreak in Spokane County, Washington has tripled in the past week with the number of confirmed and probable cases rising from 10 to 31 since we last reported last week. The bulk of the cases (23) have been reported in individuals ages 10-29. In addition, 23 patients were vaccinated, one was unvaccinated, while […]The post Mumps cases triple in Spokane County appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Hy-Vee, Inc., based in West Des Moines, Iowa, is voluntarily recalling several candy trays because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. The potential for contamination was brought to Hy-Vee’s attention when Palmer Candy Company announced a limited recall of certain chocolate products after it was informed by its supplier, Valley Milk Products […]The post Salmonella risk prompts Hy-Vee recall appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

After reporting 80 dengue fever cases since the beginning of the year, health authorities in New Caledonia have declared an epidemic on the South Pacific islands. Since the start of Dec. 2016, the territory has reported more than 160 dengue cases and a dozen people required hospitalization for their illness. The dengue strain circulating is […]The post New Caledonia: Dengue epidemic declared appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia On the sixth anniversary of the last case of wild poliovirus in the South-East Asia Region, World Health Organization commends countries in the Region for their continued efforts to protect children against this crippling virus and maintain the Region’s polio-free status, despite challenging conditions. […]The post Polio vaccines: Fractional IPV to be used in WHO South-east Asia appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The ticks that transmit Lyme disease to people die of dehydration when exposed to a combination of high temperature and lowered humidity, a new USGS-led study has found. In an earlier related study, the researchers found that southern black-legged ticks, unlike northern ones, usually stay hidden under a layer of leaves, where they are less […]The post Lyme disease: Heat and humidity linked to differences in geographic prevalence appeared first on Outbreak News Today.