Outbreak News Today

On Wednesday, The Minister of Public Health and Population in the Central African Republic (CAR), Fernande Ndjengbot announced the end of the epidemics of cholera and monkeypox in the country, according to a Journal De Bangui report (computer translated). According to the Minister, these two epidemics were mitigated in time after the notification of the last cases registered […]The post Central African Republic declares end of cholera and monkeypox outbreaks appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Hong Kong Centre for Health Protection (CHP) reported today on the third imported human H7N9 avian influenza case in as many weeks. The previous cases were reported HERE and HERE The male patient, aged 62 with underlying illnesses, departed Hong Kong since December 15 last year and traveled to Zengcheng, Guangzhou. He has developed […]The post Hong Kong reports 3rd imported human H7N9 avian flu case appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In the past two-plus months, Zimbabwe has seen an outbreak of typhoid fever that has resulted in more than 2200 suspected cases and at least nine deaths, according to local media. According to Health and Child Care minister David Parirenyetwa, three out of every four cases have been reported in the capital city of Harare. Officials […]The post Zimbabwe suspect typhoid cases top 2000, Vending ban issued appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

From Sep. 1 through the end of 2016, Manitoba provincial health officials reported 79 confirmed mumps cases, predominately in college students. The majority of cases are people between 17 to 29 years of age and are connected to the University of Manitoba, the University of Winnipeg and Université de St. Boniface, some cases are not […]The post Mumps: Dozens of cases seen in Manitoba universities appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

During the past eight years, Florida has seen an average of just under ten fatalities annually due to infection with the bacterium, Vibrio vulnificus, and in 2016, the Florida Department of Health reported 10 deaths. Breakdown by county is as follows: Santa Rosa (2) and one each in Broward, Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Palm Beach, Pinellas, Putnam and […]The post Florida reports 10 Vibrio vulnificus deaths in 2016 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Researchers at the University Health Network have found that when treating recurrent Clostridium difficile infection (RCDI), a single fecal transplantation delivered by enema is no more effective than the existing standard of care for RCDI, administration of oral vancomycin taper. The findings were published recently in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases. Over the last decade, FT […]The post C. diff treatment: Single fecal transplant no more effective than standard care appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Florida Department of Health in Sarasota County (DOH-Sarasota) received laboratory confirmation on Friday, Dec. 30 of rabies in a bobcat. Health officials say two bobcat attacks occurred within four miles of one another in east Venice between Venice Avenue and U.S. 41, approximately two miles west of River Road. A Rabies Alert is in […]The post Florida: Sarasota County issues rabies alert after bobcat attacks appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Scientists at the University of York have harnessed the therapeutic effects of carbon monoxide-releasing molecules to develop a new antibiotic which could be used to treat the sexually transmitted infection gonorrhea. The infection, which is caused by the bacteria Neisseria gonorrhoeae, has developed a highly drug-resistant strain in recent years with new cases reported in […]The post University of York researchers strive for new gonorrhea treatment appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment have identified one case of mumps in Lawrence. Since mid-December, they also have investigated nine individuals who exhibited mumps-like symptoms, but the illnesses were not confirmed by a laboratory test. All of the individuals investigated are University of Kansas students. Mumps is […]The post University of Kansas: Mumps case reported in student appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

As the weather warms up, Western Australians are being reminded to ensure they take precautions to protect themselves and their families from a potentially fatal infection. Amoebic meningitis is a rare but fatal infection caused by the Naegleria fowleri amoeba which lives in fresh water and damp soil. When water containing active amoebae enters the […]The post Brain-eating amoeba precautions issued in W. Australia as weather warms appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Researchers developed a biocompatible scaffold capable of controlled-release of silver ions and have shown in a new study that it can inhibit infection of bone by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, known as MRSA. The antimicrobial properties of silver combined with a biodegradable scaffold that can be seeded with bone-forming stem cells offers a potential implant system […]The post MRSA infection of bone: Promising results using silver-releasing scaffolds appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Officials in the Ulsan Metropolitan City, South Korea’s seventh largest metropolis, are investigating a suspected Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) in a 40-year-old school employee, according to local media (computer translated). According to the report. the case was identified in mid-December and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and electroencephalography (MRI) testing performed at the hospital revealed that the patient was suspected […]The post Korean authorities investigate suspect Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease case appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

It may be a new year, but the mumps outbreak that began in Arkansas last summer continues to grow as state health officials put the tally at 2,416 cases under investigation as of Jan. 3. Just a few short months ago, the state saw less than 200 cases and the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) said the numbers […]The post Arkansas mumps outbreak continues into 2017 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In 2015, Japan reported a surge in the viral infection, hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD), reporting a whopping 381,581 cases, more than a four-fold increase over 2014. But things have changed again in Japan as the country reports a dramatic decrease in cases last year. As of Dec. 21, there have been 66,891 HFMD cases reported […]The post Japan: Hand, foot and mouth disease cases down big in 2016 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In 2015, the Philippines reported more than 200,000 dengue fever cases and according to data from the archipelago, similar numbers may be seen in the final tally for 2016. Through Nov. 5, there were 176,411 suspected cases of dengue reported in 2016, including 422 deaths. This is 0.8% lower than that reported during the same period […]The post Philippines: Dengue cases ‘steady’ compared to 2015 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The J.M. Smucker Company today announced a limited voluntary recall on certain lots of 9LivesTM, EverPetTM, and Special KittyTM canned cat food due to possible low levels of thiamine (Vitamin B1). The issue was discovered by the Quality Assurance team during review of production records at the manufacturing facility. No illnesses related to this issue […]The post 9Lives canned cat food recalled due to low thiamine levels appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In 2015, the Southeast Asian country of Malaysia reported in excess of 120,000 dengue fever cases, including 322 dengue related fatalities. As 2016 came to a close, Malaysian health officials say the case tally has just eclipsed the 100,000 mark and the death toll is also down. Through the 51st week of 2016, Malaysia has reported […]The post Malaysia dengue cases top 100,000 in 2016, Dengue vaccine still not approved appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

We kicked off the New Year on the Outbreak News This Week Radio Show with some interesting interviews. During the first half, Executive Director of The Infection Prevention Strategy, Michael Diamond and Director of Operations, Andrew Duong returned for an interview to discuss Infection Control.tips–“A year in review”. They discussed the many projects and successes to include their large […]The post Podcast: InfectionControl.tips, Tom Price and Obamacare appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A structured analysis of the evidence confirms that infection with mosquito-borne Zika virus is a cause of the neurological disorder Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS), in addition to microcephaly and other congenital brain abnormalities, according to a systematic review published in PLOS Medicine by Nicola Low of the University of Bern, Switzerland, and colleagues in the World […]The post Zika virus is a cause of Guillain-Barre Syndrome, microcephaly: Analysis appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

With the large cryptosporidium outbreak this year in the Central Ohio counties of Columbus, Franklin and Delaware, which accounted for more than 1,000 cases and more than any other individual state in 2016, the Buckeye state was by far the most heavily hit state in the nation. According to provisional Centers for Disease Control and […]The post Cryptosporidium: One out of six cases reported in Ohio appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Lyme disease has been spreading across the United States over the past several decades, and a new study has confirmed that ticks carrying the disease are present in eastern national parks. According to the study published in the Journal of Medical Entomology, researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National […]The post Lyme disease ticks, blacklegged ticks, found in eastern national parks appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Deregulation and inhibition of the immune system contributes to cancer development. Many therapeutic strategies aim to re-stimulate the immune system to recognize cancer cells and target them for destruction. Researchers from Moffitt Cancer Center report that a dendritic cell vaccine that targets the HER2 protein on breast cancer cells is safe and effectively stimulates the […]The post Vaccine shows promising results for early-stage breast cancer patients appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is announcing that influenza activity is increasing in the state and has reached “widespread” levels. Areas with the most influenza activity include the Northern California, Central California and Bay Area regions. Since the beginning of the influenza season in California, CDPH has received reports of three influenza deaths […]The post California: Influenza activity ‘widespread’, flu vaccine urged appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a Summons with Cease and Desist Order against pharmaceutical giant Sanofi Pasteur Inc. for airing television and radio advertisements of its dengue vaccine, Dengvaxia. The airing of the advertisement is in violation of Administrative Order No. 65 s. 1989, prohibiting advertisement in any form of prescription […]The post Philippines FDA issues cease and desist order against Sanofi Pasteur for Dengvaxia ads appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Every two minutes someone is diagnosed with leprosy. It causes nerve damage and muscle weakness that can lead to deformities, crippling, blindness and isolation. Many Americans think leprosy no longer exists. But, in 2015, 106 countries reported new cases of leprosy. This is from the FAQ section on the website of American Leprosy Missions. I […]The post American Leprosy Missions: An interview with CEO Bill Simmons appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is investigating a suspected case of puffer fish poisoning affecting a man aged 51 and hence reminds members of the public not to consume puffer fish. The patient developed weakness and numbness in limbs about four hours after consuming puffer fish given by his […]The post Hong Kong investigates tetrodotoxin poisoning case appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Health and Family Planning Commission of Jiangxi Province, China has reported a human case of avian influenza A(H7N9). Health officials say the 53-year-old male patient from Jingdezhen has been hospitalized in Nanchang in critical condition. The Hong Kong Centre for Health Protection (CHP) said, “Locally, two human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) were recently detected in this […]The post China: Human H7N9 avian influenza case reported in Jiangxi appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Until it burst onto the scene earlier this year, Zika was an obscure, little-known virus. As a result, scientists know little about how it works. Over the past year, they have learned that it can cause a range of dangerous health problems, including birth defects such as microcephaly and neurological problems such as Guillain-Barré syndrome. […]The post University of Maryland researchers identify 7 proteins that may make Zika so damaging appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Hyderabad, India based Natco Pharma Limited announced today that it has launched the first generic version of Sofosbuvir 400mg/Velpatasvir 100mg fixed dose combination in Nepal. Sofosbuvir 400mg/Velpatasvir 100mg fixed dose combination is sold by Gilead Sciences, Inc., under brand name Epclusa®. Epclusa® is the first all-oral, pan-genotypic, single tablet regimen for the treatment of adults with genotype […]The post Hepatitis C generic drug, Velpanat, launched in Nepal appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Sanofi and its vaccines global business unit Sanofi Pasteur confirmed today the end of their vaccine joint-venture with MSD (known as Merck & Co. Inc., in the United States and Canada), Sanofi Pasteur MSD (SPMSD). Sanofi Pasteur and MSD will separately pursue their own vaccine strategies in Europe, integrating their respective European vaccines business into […]The post Sanofi Pasteur and MSD end joint vaccines business in Europe appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

More than 100 measles cases were reported since November, including 20 deaths in children in Nuba Mountains region in South Kordofan, Sudan, according to Tutu Mustafa, Secretary of Health in the Nuba Mountains region. The region has been host to fighting between SPLM-North and the Sudanese government for five years. Mustafa attributed the problem to poor health conditions due to […]The post Measles outbreak results in 20 deaths in Sudan’s Nuba Mountain region appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By Michael Coston at Avian Flu Diary While avian influenza news updates (official and otherwise) are notoriously hard to come by over the New Year’s Holiday, this morning we do have a statement from Korea’s CDC on what is quickly becoming a cause célèbre in their local media; the detection of avian H5N6 in two dead […]The post H5N6 avian influenza in cats: South Korea CDC statement appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Following reports from the South Lakeland District Council less than two weeks ago of an investigation into a half-dozen confirmed Campylobacter cases linked to a Kendal farm, the case count has reached 56, according to a Food Quality News report today. The report states that the illnesses are most likely caused by the consumption of unpasteurized (raw) […]The post Campylobacter: Dozens sickened in north west England, linked to raw milk appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Baylisascaris procyonis, also known as the raccoon roundworm, is the most common and widespread cause of clinical larva migrans in animals. It is a ubiquitous roundworm infection of raccoons (Procyon lotor) and is emerging as an important helminthic zoonosis, primarily in young children. B. procyonis roundworms can cause potentially fatal neural larva migrans in many species, […]The post Raccoon roundworm: Study suggests subclinical infections in wildlife rehabilitators appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Thee Philippines is facing one of the fastest-growing epidemics of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in the Asia-Pacific region. According to official statistics, HIV prevalence among men who have sex with men (MSM) has increased tenfold in the last five years, according to a report published the nongovernmental human rights organization, Human Rights Watch in Dec. 2016. […]The post HIV in the Philippines: Condom distribution to ‘hopefully’ start in 2017 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Officials with the Diphtheria Reference Centre, Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES) in Vienna reported an imported case of cutaneous diphtheria (C. diphtheriae) in a tourist to Sri Lanka, according to a post on the infectious disease website, ProMed Mail. Health officials say the patient returned from a month-long trip to Sri Lanka in late December […]The post Austria reports imported cutaneous diphtheria in traveler to Sri Lanka appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) announced Saturday that Tupperware Canada is recalling Tupperware brand Southwest Chipotle Seasoning from the marketplace due to possible Salmonella contamination. This recall was triggered by a recall in another country. CFIA is conducting a food safety investigation, which may lead to the recall of other products. Consumers should not consume the […]The post Salmonella risk prompts Tupperware brand Southwest Chipotle Seasoning recall appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Ministry of Public Health and Population in Yemen has released the latest figures on cholera cases in the country. Since the last update, 1089 new suspected cases of cholera and 1 additional death have been reported. As of 28 December, a cumulative total of 12 733 suspected cases of cholera, including 97 associated deaths […]The post Yemen: 1,000 additional cholera cases reported appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Government of South Australia and SA Health reported last week on a case of invasive meningococcal disease (meningococcal serogroup W-135) in a 5-year-old girl from regional South Australia. The child has been admitted to hospital in a stable condition. SA Health has identified multiple people who had contact with this case, of which 34 people […]The post South Australia reports 27th meningococcal disease case of 2016 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Washington State Department of Health (WSDH) has reported 129 mumps cases through Friday, including 111 in King County and twelve in Pierce County. This has prompted health officials to urge the public to ensure your vaccinated. In addition to King and Pierce counties, five cases have been reported in Spokane and one in Yakima […]The post Seattle: 2nd mumps case reported, 111 cases in county appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Health officials in the Cusco region in southeastern Peru have reported dozens of suspected human rabies cases in individuals in La Convención province, according to a Publimetro report (computer translated). Eighty-five people are suspected of having contracted wild rabies after being bitten by bats in the various Amazonian localities of Camana, Mayapo, Puerto Huallana and Alto Pichas. Regional director of […]The post Peru: 85 suspected human rabies cases reported in jungle of Cusco appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a survey of almost 2,000 people who said they had had a past negative experience when taking psilocybin-containing “magic mushrooms,” Johns Hopkins researchers say that more than 10 percent believed their worst “bad trip” had put themselves or others in harm’s way, and a substantial majority called their most distressing episode one of the […]The post ‘Magic mushrooms’: Hopkins researchers urge caution around psilocybin use appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Health officials in the UK are reporting increases in the gastrointestinal bugs, norovirus and rotavirus, according to a updated report published by Public Health England (PHE) this week. PHE reports the number of laboratory reports of norovirus in this season (week 27 2016 to week 50 2016) is 2435. This is 12% higher than the […]The post Norovirus up in the UK, rotavirus steady appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

An outbreak in the Los Angeles area of Southern California has now spread to Santa Barbara County and health officials say most were unvaccinated. The Santa Barbara County Public Health Department is investigating exposures to a confirmed measles patient. The one confirmed case in Santa Barbara County is linked to the measles outbreak in Los Angeles […]The post Southern California measles outbreak: Most unvaccinated appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Puffer fish poisoning, or tetrodotoxication from the ingestion of “butete” resulted in three of the four “food poisoning” fatalities in the Western Visayas region on the Philippines, according to officials at Department of Health-6. The region saw 37 events of food-borne illnesses in the first eleven months of 2016, which sickened 666 total people and killed […]The post Philippines: W. Visayas food poisoning; Cebu dengue update appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Seventy years after CDC was founded to fight mosquitoes that carried malaria, CDC found itself entrenched in combat with another mosquito-borne illness, Zika virus. CDC activated its Emergency Operations Center to fight Zika on January 22, 2016, after a widespread Zika outbreak in the Americas was linked to a large increase in the number of […]The post CDC’s battle with Zika virus: 2016 ‘Year in Review’ appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

One year ago, a couple a guys from Canada started a new website that was unlike anything else out there–truly innovative with some big ideas to publish high quality, peer-reviewed research articles and perspective pieces that are focused on the topics of infection control and prevention. They talked about the project and their vision for […]The post InfectionControl.tips: 2016 Year in Review appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The World Health Organization (WHO) released the following summary on the polio situation in Pakistan earlier this week: In Pakistan, a circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) has been detected from environmental samples in Quetta, Balochistan. Two isolates with apparent genetic linkages were isolated from environmental samples, collected on 20 October and 28 November 2016. […]The post Polio in Pakistan 2016 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM) scientists have discovered that severe birth defects related to infection with the Zika virus (ZIKV) occurred much earlier than in 2016, when the connection was first made between the virus and an increased likelihood of microcephaly during outbreaks of ZIKV infection in Brazil […]The post Zika virus cases and associated microcephaly in the US may have occurred as early as 2009: Hawaii researchers appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Hong Kong health officials report investigating another confirmed human case of of avian influenza A(H7N9) in Hong Kong, and again urged the public to maintain strict personal, food and environmental hygiene both locally and during travel. The male patient, aged 70 with underlying illnesses, claimed to have developed fever, cough with sputum, shortness of breath, vomiting […]The post H7N9 avian influenza: Additional case reported in Hong Kong appeared first on Outbreak News Today.