Outbreak News Today

In a follow-up to reports on the Legionnaires’ disease outbreak in Hopkins, Minnesota, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) said Wednesday that the likely source of the Legionnaires’ disease outbreak in Hopkins as a set of cooling towers at Citrus Systems, Inc., located at 415 11th Avenue South, Hopkins. The outbreak sickened a total of 23 […]

Nutrisystem announced Tuesday they were voluntarily recalling the Nutricrush Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough bar, manufactured by Noble Foods, Inc. This bar contains a chocolate chip cookie dough ingredient supplied by a third party supplier, which advised that its ingredient might potentially contain Listeria monocytogenes. The product had very limited distribution of 1 lot/455 cases to ShopRite […]

In a follow-up on the mumps outbreak in northwest Arkansas, The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) says the case count continues to grow with 492 cases as of Wednesday. The number of new cases, which had seemed to slow down recently, has begun to rise again, health officials note. Cases have been seen in the Springdale, Rogers, […]

Aspen Hills, the supplier of the cookie dough pieces used as an ingredient in the Publix Chocolate Cookie Dough Ice Cream, notified Publix that some of their product could be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. Publix Super Markets is issuing a voluntary recall for Publix Premium Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream due to the possibility […]

Legionella bacteria has been detected in the water supply for four maintenance hangars at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and at least one employee demonstrated symptoms related to Legionnaires’ disease. In an email response to Outbreak News Today, American Airlines spokesperson, Matt Miller wrote: One of American’s employees recently reported having symptoms of Legionnaire’s disease. That employee has now […]

The State Department of Health’s Hawai’i Island District Health Office and the County of Hawai’i jointly announced a single imported case of Zika virus on Hawai’i Island. This is the first travel-related case of Zika in Hawai’i County this year confirmed by the DOH State Laboratories Division. The Hawai’i resident has a history of recent travel […]

In a follow-up on an earlier report on two meningococcal disease cases in students at the University of Wisconsin–Madison (UW–Madison), University Health Services (UHS) report Tuesday that both cases have been confirmed as Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B. UHS notes that additional genetic testing is being conducted to determine if the two bacteria are closely related. People who may […]

Scotland health officials reported on the confirmation of eight measles cases in the Edinburgh area in the last two weeks, prompting health officials to ensure they are vaccinated against the very contagious virus. The majority of these cases have links to the University of Edinburgh. NHS Lothian is getting in touch with people who have been in contact […]

Chikungunya virus has caused two recent massive outbreaks sickening millions of people. Now a team of researchers has shown that several existing compounds have potent activity against the critical CHIKV protease enzyme. The research is published October 10 in Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, published by the American Society for Microbiology. Chikungunya is a mosquito-born, largely […]

An outbreak of chikungunya has been declared in the southern Leyte capital of Maasin City after Department of Health officials reported 548 cases in the past three months. According to DoH-8 Regional Information Officer Ma. Elena Joy Villarosa, those afflicted range in age from 9 months to 85 years old. Three barangays, or villages in Maasin […]

More than 41 million children are expected to get vaccinations against polio as part of a major new health campaign by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in the Lake Chad basin, aimed at the recent outbreak of polio in north-east Nigeria. At the regular bi-weekly press briefing in Geneva today, UNICEF spokesperson Christophe Boulierac […]

Wells Enterprises, Inc. is voluntarily recalling two lots of Blue Bunny Hoppin’ Holidoodle ice cream sold at retail outlets, because they contain snickerdoodle cookie dough pieces recalled by the supplier, Aspen Hills, due to potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. Wells has received no reports of illness attributable to this product. Only Hoppin’ Holidoodle ice cream […]

Mars Petcare US announced a voluntary recall of a limited number of CESAR® Classics Filet Mignon Flavor product due to a potential choking risk from hard white pieces of plastic which entered the food during the production process. CESAR® Classics Filet Mignon can be purchased individually, as well as, in flavor variety multipacks. The Lot […]

In a follow-up to a report last week concerning an anthrax outbreak in Chama district, in the northeast region of Zambia, media accounts show the outbreak has nearly tripled in cases. The case tally has reached 58 and Minister of Health Chitalu Chilufya said the affected people are currently undergoing treatment and added that no deaths have […]

One week after Hurricane Matthew devastated the southwestern portion of Haiti, an estimated 1,000 deaths have been recorded and at least 1.4 million people are in need of emergency aid. “Our field teams went to Jeremie and Les Cayes by air and report that the devastation is huge,” said Dr. Jean-Luc Poncelet, PAHO’s Representative in […]

The mumps outbreaks in Arkansas and Oklahoma continue to grow in number of cases as investigations continue in the neighboring states. In Oklahoma, The Oklahoma State Department of Health puts the outbreak total at 70 cases as of Monday. 68 cases have been reported in Garfield County and two in Kay County. The vaccination status of […]

In an update on the food poisoning outbreak in the western New York counties of Erie and Niagara shows the number of cases are at least 160. The outbreak of unknown etiology has been linked to refried beans served at Mighty Taco restaurants. The Erie County Health Department reports 142 cases linked to nine Mighty Taco […]

Kraft Heinz Company, a Fullerton, Calif. establishment, is recalling approximately 959 pounds of ready-to-eat “Lunchables Ham and American Cracker Stackers” packaged lunch products due to misbranding and undeclared allergens, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. The product contains wheat and soy, known allergens, which are not declared on […]

Hong Kong health officials reported four additional community acquired Legionnaires’ disease cases during the first week of October, bringing the total to 51 in 2016. From October 2 to 8, the following Legionnaires’ disease cases were reported: A male patient, aged 79 with underlying illness, who lives in Kwai Wai Building, Chik Chuen Street, Tai Wai; […]

Egypt has reported 356 human cases of avian influenza A(H5N1) since March 2006, including 121 deaths, according to The World Health Organization (WHO) Eastern Mediterranean Region Office (EMRO). During the first nine months of 2016, 10 cases have been reported. Four of the patients died from the dangerous viral disease. As Avian Flu Diary notes: Although Egypt […]

In an update on the Rift Valley fever (RVF) outbreak in western Niger, the World Health Organization (WHO) puts the case tally at 90, including 28 deaths, according to a Thomson Reuters Foundation report. The outbreak started in August in the Tahoua region. The fear from UN health officials is that the viral disease my spread in West Africa. […]

When you look at the footage out of Haiti post-Hurricane Matthew, and the devastation in the country, one can be left heartbroken for this struggling people and wonder when they’ll get a break. The official death toll from the Haitian government stands at near 400; however, estimates put the tally closer to 1,000 as of […]

Officials in Venezuela have reported an addition fatality among prisoners at Venezuela’s General Penitentiary of Venezuela (PGV) in San Juan de los Morros, bringing the total deaths to seven according to an El-Nacional report (computer translated). This is the seventh person to die from the disease since the prison stopped providing medications. In addition, the prisoners have […]

The Vietnamese Ministry of Health has reported two additional Zika virus infections, one in Binh Duong Province and one in Ho Chi Minh City, both in women. The new discovery brings Vietnam’s total number of confirmed Zika cases to five. Xinhua reports the 27-year-old pregnant woman, who lives in the town of Thuan An in Binh Duong province, […]

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert out of an abundance of caution due to concerns about illnesses caused by Salmonella that may be associated with a chicken salad product sold from Costco Store #1190, in Lynwood, Wash. The chicken salad item for this public health alert […]

The Taiwan Central Epidemic Command Center for Zika Virus (CECC for Zika Virus) announced the tenth imported Zika case identified in Taiwan. The case is a 50-year-old Taiwanese female who resides in Taoyuan City. During September 23 and 27, the case traveled to Sabah, Malaysia with a tour group. On October 5, when she developed symptoms, […]

The Hong Kong Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) reported the following data concerning dengue fever and chikungunya fever in the city Friday: Regarding imported dengue cases, the 103 imported cases so far in 2016 were mainly from Indonesia (33), the Philippines (15) and Thailand (14). As for local cases, four have […]

Last Wednesday, Nurse Assist, Inc. announced a recall of all unexpired lots of I.V. Flush Syringes due to a potential link to Burkholderia cepacia bloodstream infections with the product. To date,at least 36 potential cases of B. cepacia linked to the above products have been reported from four states- Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware and New Jersey. The Pennsylvania Department of Health […]

U.S. Senator and physician Rand Paul has introduced S. 3466, the Accelerating New Pharmaceutical Competition Act, to reduce red tape at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) by fast tracking FDA approval of medicines and devices that have met safety and efficacy standards in other developed nations. Unnecessary bureaucratic delays have kept more EpiPen alternatives off U.S. […]

Testing of water at the University of Michigan-Flint (UM-Flint) campus in September has revealed the presence of Legionella pneumophilia in three locations in the Riverfront Residence Hall, according to an analysis report recently published. Despite the test reports, The Genesee County Health Department (GCHD) has confirmed that none of the county’s reported cases of Legionnaires’ disease are connected […]

Lewis County Public Health & Social Services announced that recent customers of the Shop’N Kart bakery in Chehalis, may have been exposed to hepatitis A. “On October 6, 2016, a case of hepatitis A in a bakery worker was reported to the Health Department,” said Danette York, Lewis County Public Health & Social Services director. […]

An outbreak of the bacterium, Burkholderia cepacia, at Hospital Dr. Luis Felipe Guevara Rojas in El Tigre, Anzoátegui State, Venezuela has sickened 22 infants, according to the College of Physicians in the country (computer translated). Pediatric infectious disease physician, Irimar Del Moral suggests the outbreak is linked to water shortages, which has been going on for six months. […]

The mumps outbreak in northwest Arkansas has eclipsed the 400 case mark as the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) puts the suspected and lab confirmed case tally at 427 as of Friday. According to an Epi-X report excerpt published on ProMED-Mail, the majority of cases are Marshallese (66 percent) and are believed to have common exposures within a […]

Nestlé USA, Inc. is initiating a voluntary recall of its Nestlé Drumstick Club 16 count Variety Pack and 24 count Vanilla Pack (with cones marked for easy individual sale) due to a possible health risk. The two pack sizes contain 4.6 fl.oz. cones and were manufactured in Bakersfield, Calif. and distributed nationally. No other production […]

The Erie County Department of Health (ECDOH) is currently investigating reports of illness possibly associated with Mighty Taco restaurants. The investigation is being conducted jointly with the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH), Niagara County Department of Health, and the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets. At this time, the ECDOH has […]

Health officials in Vermilion County, Ill. are investigating three Legionnaires’ disease cases that occurred over the past year linked to a local hotel. The Vermilion County Health Department posted on their website: Three persons developed Legionnaires’ disease after visiting a Vermilion County hotel between October 2015 and September 2016. More details were acquired by Food Poisoning Bulletin, which notes: […]

Health authorities in Yemen confirmed a cholera outbreak on Thursday, 6 October, posing an increased health risk to the population-especially children-given the crumbling health system in the country. “This outbreak adds to the misery of millions of children in Yemen. We are supporting health centres to prevent and treat cholera cases and will continue working […]

University Health Services (UHS) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison are reporting two students were hospitalized with meningococcal disease this week, with one case being identified as serogroup B. Both students are currently recovering. Additional details are not being disclosed out of respect for the medical privacy of the students and their families. UHS is coordinating […]

The mosquito vector of dengue, chikungunya and Zika viruses has been named “Public Enemy #1” by the Philippines Department of Health (DOH) as the numbers for these mosquito borne illnesses rise on the Southeast Asian archipelago. Through Sep. 24, health officials put the dengue fever tally in the country 142,247 cases, an 11 percent increase from […]

Haiti is dealing once again with a humanitarian crisis after getting hit hard by Hurricane Matthew earlier this week. The death toll as of this writing is around 600 and parts of the country has been laid to waste…again. What are the near term and long tern effects of Hurricane Matthew on Haiti? What is […]

After more than two years without the detection of wild polio in Nigeria, the Government reported three laboratory confirmed wild poliovirus type one (WPV1) cases with onset between July and August 2016. All three cases were detected from Borno State, in children between 2 and 5 years of age. Two of them developed acute flaccid […]

In a follow-up to a report Tuesday on the Shigellosis outbreak reported in the Genesee County/Flint, MI area, Michigan health officials now report 85 confirmed and probable Shigella cases in 2016 to date. This is up from 20 cases in 2015 and four cases in 2014. Why the spike in cases in Genesee County? Health […]

Shelby County health officials updated the Legionnaires’ disease situation linked to the Millbranch Road La Quinta Inn & Suites Thursday and noted that the number of confirmed Legionnaires’ disease case have increased by one, bringing the total to seven. In addition, health officials are investigating 19 probable and five suspect cases. No active source of […]

Spokane, WA health officials announced Wednesday three cases of mumps in Whitworth University students. The first case occurred when one of the students was exposed to mumps while traveling outside the U.S. The other two cases were contracted through close contact with the first student. All three individuals were fully immunized against the mumps. The three students […]

The number of dengue fever and dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) cases in Thailand since the beginning of the year through the end of September totals 46,344 people from representing all 77 provinces, according to the Thai Bureau of Epidemiology. Included in this total are 36 dengue related deaths. The provinces with the highest prevalence include Maehongsorn, Chiengmai, […]

Officials in at least two African countries are warning the public against consuming certain animals due to the risk of the serious and potentially lethal bacterial disease, anthrax. In Nigeria’s north-central Jigawa state, the Jigawa Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources is warning people not to consume meat slaughtered in the recognized abattoirs in the state due […]

CDC has awarded more than $14 million to fund new approaches to combat antibiotic resistance, including research on how microorganisms naturally present in the human body (referred to as a person’s microbiome) can be used to predict and prevent infections caused by drug-resistant organisms. The awards, made through CDC’s Broad Agency Announcement (BAA), support activities […]

Researchers from New Zealand’s University of Otago have gained fresh insights into how one of the main viruses that cause cervical cancer evades its hosts’ immune systems. Their findings, which are published in the international journal Scientific Reports, suggest that a protein known as E7, produced by a high-risk type of human papillomavirus (HPV16), may […]

Health officials with Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) announced the investigation of a norovirus outbreak that has sickened at least two dozen in a party place in Sham Shui Po. The 24 patients, including 13 children (six boys and seven girls) and 11 adults (three men and eight women) aged from 1 […]

In a follow-up to a report last week about the resurgence of the vaccine-preventable disease, diphtheria, in Venezuela’s Bolivar state, local media report some astounding information on how bad the situation has become. In a Correo del Caroní report Monday (computer translated), officials now say that 22 children in three cities have died from diphtheria […]