Outbreak News Today

A domestic cat has tested positive for Yersinia pestis, the bacterial agent of plague, according to Jefferson County Public Health (JCPH). The cat, from the Evergreen area, is now under the care of a veterinarian. Dave Volkel, JCPH Environmental Health Specialist said, “Everyone is reminded of the importance of keeping their pets from roaming free and using […]

The Singapore AgriFood & Veterinary Authority (AVA) issued a recall of Farmland brand canned “Tuna Chunks in Polyunsaturated Oil” imported from Thailand after testing revealed high levels of histamine. The histamine levels raised the risk of scombroid fish poisoning. Scombroid fish poisoning is an acute syndrome characterized by facial flushing, sweating, rash, a burning or peppery taste in the […]

Florida Governor Rick Scott announced today that following 45 days with no evidence of active Zika transmission, the entire Wynwood zone, which was originally about one square mile, has been lifted. Scott said, “When we announced Wynwood as the first place in our nation to have local transmission of the Zika virus, Wynwood was immediately sent […]

Officials with the Hong Kong Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) announced today their investigation into an additional locally acquired dengue fever case. The patient is a 59-year-old female with a good health history. She presented with symptoms of fever, chills and skin rash on Sep. 9. Laboratory testing was positive for dengue […]

Rabies is a disease that most people have at least a rudimentary knowledge of, starting at childhood on through adulthood. On Sep. 28 this year, World Rabies Day will be highlighted for the 1oth year, a day dedicated to rabies prevention. On the Sunday, Sep. 18 airing of the Outbreak News This Week Radio Show in the […]

In a follow-up to a report earlier this month concerning the malaria epidemic in Venezuela, the organization, Observatorio Venezolano de la Salud (OVS) estimates the number of cases by the end of 2016 will be 350,000 (computer translated). Through August 2016, nearly 150,000 malaria cases have been reported, a 72 percent increase over 2015. In recent weeks, […]

In a follow-up on the cluster of Legionnaires’ disease in Hopkins, MN in Hennepin County, city officials and local media report additional cases in individuals who live or work in the city. The Star Tribune reports the case tally has nearly doubled in recent days as the total now stands at nine. Following the five initial cases […]

Dozens of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections that may be linked to piercing aftercare saline spray has prompted a warning from Public Health England (PHE) this past week. Health officials are warning people who have recently had body piercings. The product, linked to cases of serious infection, has been provided by piercing studios in many parts of the […]

Much has been made of the health of Democratic Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton in recent weeks and months. William N. Handelman M.D., a St. Petersburg , FL physician and host of the weekly talk radio program, Dr. Bill – Your Radio M.D, heard on AM 860 The Answer in the Tampa Bay area chimed in on some thoughts on […]

On Thursday, health officials with the Orange County Health Care Agency issued a Health Officer Order that requires the Children’s Dental Group of Anaheim to cease the use of that facility’s on-site water system for any patient dental procedures. What triggered the order? Ten confirmed and probable cases of serious infections in pediatric patients receiving root canals […]

In a follow-up to the Legionnaires’ disease situation at Seattle’s University of Washington Medical Center (UWMC), hospital officials have reported a fourth case of the bacterial infection. Public Health – Seattle & King County says they were notified of the case on Friday. The patient, a forty-something male non-resident, was also hospitalized in the Cascade Tower where […]

While the mosquito borne virus, Zika, has captured the attention of most of the world as it spreads through the Americas and Southeast Asia, India is grappling with a different mosquito borne virus transmitted by the same mosquito vector, Aedes spp. In India’s capital city, Delhi, with a population in the metro area of well […]

What is Echinococcus? Echinococcus granulosus is a relatively small tapeworm (3-6 mm in length) that is found in dogs and other canids, wolves for example. Humans are accidentally infected through association with dogs. Where is this parasite found? It can be found anywhere there is a close association with infected dogs. It is most common […]

The Philippines has reported in excess of 100,000 dengue fever cases through Aug. 20. Three locally acquired Zika virus cases have been confirmed in Iloilo City. Chikungunya outbreaks have been reported from several regions. Malaria is endemic is some regions and lymphatic filariasis is also an issue on the archipelago. The Zika cases, which get […]

The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) reported the first equine West Nile virus (WNV) case of the year in the Toronto area. The horse displayed signs of fever, muscle tremors, gait abnormalities (ataxia) and weakness. The horse’s vaccination history is unknown; the horse is recovering under veterinary medical supervision. In 2015, […]

While France has yet to report a Zika virus local transmission, the European country has reported almost 1,000 travel associated, or imported cases through Sep. 15 this year, according to Sante Publique France. From Jan. to Sep. 15, 978 imported Zika virus cases have been reported. This includes 30 pregnant women and 5 cases of neurological […]

Through Aug. 13, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported 1,786 mumps cases, the most reported in the US since 2010. Two states are being hit particularly hard by the contagious viral disease of recent–Arkansas and New York. In Arkansas, the outbreak in the northwest part of the state, which has been called […]

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services announced Friday that it has detected Zika in one mosquito sample from the same small area in Miami Beach, where four other samples had previously tested positive for Zika. All samples have consisted of Aedes aeqypti mosquitoes and are from an area where increased trapping and intensified mosquito […]

Officials with the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH), Department of Agriculture and New Mexico Environment Department are investigating cases of cryptosporidiosis, or “crypto,” among residents of the state. Since August 31st, there have been 6 confirmed cases. Each reported to NMDOH consumption of raw milk products. The affected individuals are from Bernalillo County. Epidemiologists, […]

Health officials in Dallas County, TX have reported a record number of 13 brucellosis infections in residents this year to date. All cases reported consuming unpasteurized cheese brought into the U.S. from Mexico by friends or relatives, unpasteurized cheese while traveling in Mexico, or unidentified cheese products from local street vendors. Affected patients in 2016 have […]

Viamet Pharmaceuticals announced on Thursday that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Qualified Infectious Disease Product (QIDP) designation to VT-1598, a novel candidate for the oral treatment of coccidioidomycosis, or Valley Fever. Valley Fever is an invasive fungal infection found primarily in the southwest United States that affects an estimated 150,000 people […]

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is proposing the addition of Bacillus cereus Biovar anthracis to the list of HHS select agents and toxins as a Tier 1 select agent. Emerging B. cereus strains that cause anthrax-like disease have been isolated in Cameroon (CA […]

Florida Governor Rick Scott today authorized an additional $10 million in state funds to fight Zika, bringing the total funds now authorized for Zika to $36.2 million. The $10 million are solely allocated for the battle against Zika, which includes: Mosquito surveillance and abatement; training for mosquito control technicians; enhanced laboratory capacity; and the purchase of CDC Zika Prevention […]

Another Hawaii food service worker has tested positive for hepatitis A, according to the Hawaii Department of Health (DOH) Thursday. On the island of Oahu, an employee at Ohana Seafood, the seafood vendor located within the Sam’s Club warehouse store at 1000 Kamehameha Highway, Pearl City tested positive for the contagious virus. Food handled by the […]

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) announced the publication of detailed results from a randomized phase III study (ZOE-70) of its investigational shingles vaccine, showing 90% efficacy in adults aged 70 years and older that is maintained for at least four years. The results were published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM). The study, from which headline results […]

The mumps outbreak in northwest Arkansas continues to grow and these numbers could rise significantly in coming weeks, according to a state epidemiologist, local media reports. The number of suspected and lab confirmed cases of mumps stands at 162 in the Springdale area of the state and according to the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH), numbers could double […]

The Missoula City-County Health Department confirmed this week that a food service worker in the county tested positive for Hepatitis A. While the food service employee was excluded from work during most of the time that they had symptoms, there is a potential for customer exposure because Hepatitis A can be spread before a person […]

Officials with Florida State University (FSU) in Tallahassee have reported a spike in cases of the viral, childhood disease, hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) during the past week prompting University Health Services (UHS) to issue an alert. “We are aware of more than a dozen cases so far,” Lesley Sacher, director of the FSU Health […]

In a follow-up to an earlier report on the Legionnaires’ disease situation at the University of Washington Medical Center (UWMC), Public Health-Seattle and King County said Wednesday that the hospital reported a second fatality in a patient on the cardiac care unit in which Legionella, the bacterial cause of Legionnaires’ disease, may have been a contributing factor. Health […]

Four cases of mumps have been confirmed this week in Garfield County, and at least 34 more suspected cases are under investigation after students in two Enid Public Schools exhibited symptoms of the disease. Those currently affected range in age from less than one-year old to 41 years of age, with the majority of cases […]

Kentucky has reported more than 150 human West Nile virus (WNV) cases since the mosquito borne virus was first reported in the state in 2002, including two cases in 2015. For the first time in 2016, WNV has been reported in a person, in fact two cases have been reported in Louisville–one fatal and one […]

The World Health Organization (WHO) has today concluded its mission to Saudi Arabia to support the Ministry of Health in ensuring a safe pilgrimage season (Hajj). So far there has been no major health threat or event of concern, with no major disease outbreak reported among the nearly two million pilgrims attending the holy sites. […]

At least three confirmed cases of the gastrointestinal infection, Shigellosis, has been reported in preschool students at Heritage Academy in Zephyrhills, according to a school press release. Pasco County health officials report that some 21 students are being tested for the bacteria, Shigella. The students that are positive are not being allowed back to school […]

The Florida Department of Health (DOH) reported today on an additional locally transmitted Zika virus case in Miami Beach, bringing the state total to 71. In addition, Gov Rick Scott announced that following his request in August for additional lab support personnel to help the state expedite Zika testing, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention […]

On Tuesday, The Hawaii State Department of Health (DOH) today confirmed an additional case of hepatitis A in an Oahu food service worker. The infected case is an employee at Harbor Restaurant at Pier 38, located at 1133 North Nimitz Highway, Honolulu. Affected dates of service are Aug. 26 through Sept. 12, 2016. “Because of […]

Health officials in Malaysia reported on two additional confirmed Zika virus cases in sisters, one of which is pregnant, according to local media. These are the fifth and sixth Zika cases in the country. In a press release from the Minister of Health (computer translated), we learn that according to a study conducted by Specialist Virology […]

The Singapore National Environmental Agency (NEA) reported eight additional locally transmitted Zika virus cases on Wednesday, bringing the outbreak total to 341. In Taiwan, the Central Epidemic Command Center for Zika Virus (CECC for Zika Virus) announced the seventh imported Zika case identified in Taiwan. The case is a 20-year-old female Singaporean who resides in Aljunied Crescent, […]

Through the first week of September, Haiti has reported 26,799 suspected cholera cases, including 242 related deaths, according to data from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). The numbers of cases and deaths reported in 2016 are higher than those reported during the same period in 2015 and 2014. From Oct. 2010 through Dec. 2015, Haiti […]

Genesee County is seeing an increase in Shigella, a bacteria that causes gastrointestinal illness which includes mild to severe diarrhea, which has prompted an advisory for the public. Other symptoms of shigellosis include fever, nausea, vomiting, cramps, and stools containing blood and/or mucus. Shigella cases are on the rise across Michigan, according to health officials. […]

The mumps outbreak in Northwest Arkansas has grown to 135 suspected and confirmed cases, according to the latest data from The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH). This is the largest cluster of mumps cases that Arkansas has experienced since 2010. Three school districts have reported mumps cases after the Huntsville School District recently seen confirmed cases. Huntsville […]

A Windsor-Essex County resident has tested positive for Lyme disease. This marks the first clinically diagnosed human case for the area in 2016. Lyme disease is a bacterial infection spread through the bite of a blacklegged deer tick. These ticks are a crawling, non-flying insect that feed on blood. Dr. Wajid Ahmed, Associate Medical Officer […]

A distantly related cousin to the bacterium that causes Lyme disease is the focus of a new multi-university research study funded by the National Institutes of Health Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. The grant brings together an expert team of microbiologists and tick researchers led by Principal Investigator Brian Stevenson, PhD, a professor at […]

The Rickettsial infection, scrub typhus, a disease primarily found in Asia, has been reported for the first time in Ancud, a city on Chiloé Island, in Chile’s Lake District. In January 2015 and again in early 2016 three cases were discovered in Ancud, according to a Yahoo Noticias report (computer translated). Scrub typhus, caused by the bacterium […]

Officials with the city of Jacareí in São Paulo State, Brazil have tested some 2,200 children for the bacterial eye infection, trachoma, which resulted in 146 positive kids, according to a Nossa Jacareí report (computer translated). The report notes that samples were collected and tested as part of a clinical trial; however, details of the purpose of the […]

In a follow-up to a report last week of a locally acquired, or autochthonous Zika virus case in Iloilo City on Panay Island in the Western Visayas region of the Philippines, health officials today are reporting two additional locally acquired cases from the same household as the first case. The Philippines Department of Health (DOH) Epidemiology […]

Dengue, chikungunya and Zika viruses are all transmitted by the Aedes mosquito, which is present in much of the Western hemisphere. So it should come as no surprise that these three viral diseases are being seen in significant numbers, particularly n Latin America. The number of dengue fever cases reported in the Americas through the first week […]

For the first time, abnormal brain development following a Zika infection during pregnancy has been documented experimentally in the offspring of a non-human primate. The researchers’ observations of how Zika virus arrested fetal brain formation in a pigtail macaque could provide a model for testing therapeutic interventions. The findings are reported Sept. 12 in the […]

Health officials in Japan are reporting a travel associated Zika virus case in a woman from Vietnam, according to a Japan Times report. This is the first case of 2016 and the 11th case since 2013. All cases have been travel associated. The 40-something woman contracted the virus in Vietnam and started experiencing early symptoms […]

Officials with the Clinton County Health Department in Plattsburgh, NY has reported a case of mumps in the community. The patient is a student at SUNY Plattsburgh and the school along with county and state health officials are taking steps to identify contacts with the patient and to ensure vaccination status is up to date. […]

As of last Tuesday, 537 cases of West Nile virus (WNV) disease have been reported in the US from 45 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Now a case is reported from where it all began in the US in 1999–New York City. The New York City Health Department today confirmed the […]