Outbreak News Today

On Saturday, September 10th, the Miami Herald published “Florida’s Zika undercount hides extent of virus’ spread, experts say,” by Daniel Chang. The story suggests Florida is not being forthcoming regarding the burden of Zika in our state. This story is misleading and the claims made in it are inaccurate. The Zika virus is new to the United […]

In a bipartisan letter to the National Institutes of Health, members of Congress are calling on NIH Director Francis Collins to strengthen biomedical research into Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS). The letter, spearheaded by Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) and Rep. Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA), has been signed by 55 members of Congress and urges the […]

Outbreaks of stomach flu or noroviral gastroenteritis can easily occur in crowded quarters like cruise ships, army barracks and schools, but a recent patent may lead to antiviral drugs to help travelers, students, military personnel and others avoid infections. Researchers at Kansas State University and Wichita State University have developed broad-spectrum antivirals that may help […]

Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) and the plague, plus updated news on Zika virus were the main topics on Sunday’s Outbreak News This Week Radio Show. In the first half, infectious disease physician and Forbes contributor, Dr. Judy Stone, joined me for an interview on CCHF. Dr. Stone recently covered this topic in a Forbes column entitled, “Should You Worry […]

The Austria Ministry of Health reported on the second imported case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), according to a news release (computer translated). The previous imported case was reported in 2014. According to local media reports (computer translated), the patient is a 67-year-old tourist from Saudi Arabia. He was diagnosed in Salzburg province […]

The number of cases and fatalities due to viral disease, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF), in Pakistan and Afghanistan this year has been of concern both in media accounts and from global health agencies. Pakistan has reported in excess of 20 fatalities due to CCHF, while Afghanistan has reported 71 cases during the course of the year […]

Late last week, officials with University of Washington Medical Center (UWMC) reported to county health officials two patients being treated in their cardiac care unit diagnosed with the serious type of bacterial pneumonia–Legionnaires’ disease. On Friday, Public Health – Seattle & King County received notification from UWMC that one of the patients had passed away. Legionella, the etiology of […]

Ohio’s first 2016 death in a human West Nile virus (WNV) case was reported Friday by the Ohio Department of Health (ODH). The 84-year-old Cuyahoga County man had been hospitalized with encephalitis. There have been four reported human cases of WNV in Ohio this year in three counties – Cuyahoga, Hamilton and Marion. In recent years, […]

The Singapore Ministry of Health (MOH) reported today an additional 11 new confirmed cases of locally transmitted Zika virus infection. One case is linked to the Elite Terrace cluster. The other ten cases have no known links to any existing cluster. To date, there are a total of 329 cases of locally transmitted Zika virus infection […]

On Friday, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam announced that more than 164,000 giant African land snails (GALS) have been eliminated in Florida since the invasive snail was discovered in Miami-Dade County in 2011. “I am proud of the significant progress we’ve made in our effort to eliminate the giant African land snail,” said Commissioner […]

Officials with the Mexico Ministry of Health (MOH) have reported 8,314 dengue fever and severe dengue cases through the first week of September of this year, a decrease in cases of more than 33 percent compared to the same period in 2015 (12,559). Mexico has seen ten dengue fatalities this year to date, for a lethality […]

No, this is not a question for Gary Johnson, or any other Presidential hopeful. But for the thousands of people afflicted with this parasitic disease in Syria and elsewhere in the Middle East, they could surely answer the question. As Dr Peter Hotez once wrote, “One of the least known consequences of modern conflict in […]

The number of pregnant women in Puerto Rico confirmed positive fro Zika virus increased by 133 cases in the past week, bringing the total to 1,517, according to Secretary of Health, Ana Ríus Armendariz Friday. This prompted the secretary to stress the importance and to call on the public to continue prevention efforts against the Zika virus. […]

The Philippines has reported a significant increase in dengue fever, topping 100,000 cases through mid-August, an increase of 16 percent over the same period the previous year. In the Western Visayas province of Capiz, the dengue situation is up 111 percent. According to health department records, Capiz has reported 1,278 suspected dengue patients from January 1 […]

Two fungal diseases are prevalent now and threatening the rice crops in Iloilo province, according to the Philippines Department of Agriculture (DA). Based on the reports of DA’s Regional Crop Protection Center (RCPC) from the provinces of Iloilo, Aklan, Capiz and Antique, around 3,155 hectares were already affected by Rice Blast. Rice blast, caused by […]

In a follow-up on the report of the first locally acquired Zika virus case in the Philippines, officials with the Department of Health Regional Office VI (DOH-6) announced the probe into the case. DOH-6 OIC-Assistant Regional Director Dr. Ma. Paz Corrales said Thursday the epidemiological investigation is being done together with a team of medical experts from […]

The number of hepatitis A cases in the outbreak linked to frozen strawberries imported from Egypt stands at 102 in seven states, according to federal and state health officials. As of Sep. 8, the breakdown of cases is as follows: Maryland (10), New York (1), North Carolina (1), Oregon (1), Virginia (83), West Virginia (5), and Wisconsin […]

Paraguay becomes the sixth country in the world to approve the dengue vaccine, Dengvaxia, as a key new tool to address dengue burden, which continues to increase in the Southern Cone region of South America, according to a Sanofi Pasteur announcement. This approval in Paraguay is the fifth registration of the dengue vaccine in Latin […]

The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announces that 4,144 out of 5,126 passed the Medical Technologist Licensure Examination given by the Board of Medical Technology in the cities of Manila, Baguio, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo and Tuguegarao last August 2016. Four schools reportedly had a 100 percent pass rate–Cagayan State University-Andrews Campus in Tuguegarao City, Cebu Doctor’s Hospital, […]

Health officials in Cagayan de Oro in the Philippines province of Misamis Oriental, are warning the public that the mosquito borne viral disease, chikungunya, is being reported in the city. Dr. Joey Retuya, epidemiologist of the City Health and Sanitation Clinic, the disease was detected in Barangay Mambuaya, wherein 79 cases were positive. In the training center of police […]

The Malaysia Ministry of Health (MOH) reported (computer translated) the fourth Zika virus infection in an individual who was married to the third case. The patient, a 25-year-old man, was admitted to a government hospital in Johor for examination and further investigation. MOH investigation showed the patient had to commute daily to work in Singapore. […]

The Galveston County Health District (GCHD) has confirmed the first two human cases of West Nile virus (WNV) of 2016 in Galveston County. Although these are the first human cases of WNV this year in Galveston County, there have been more than a hundred such cases so far this year in Texas. Both patients, a […]

The Minnesota Department of Health is working with Hennepin County Public Health officials to investigate a cluster of five confirmed cases of Legionnaires’ disease in people who live or work in Hopkins, Minn. The people became ill between Aug. 4 and Sept. 1. Three are currently hospitalized, and two others were hospitalized and have recovered. […]

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) confirmed the first deaths due to West Nile Virus (WNV) this year in LA County (excluding Long Beach and Pasadena as cases identified in those cities are reported by their local health departments). The two residents were elderly males from the San Fernando Valley area, […]

While Zika virus dominates the news, Florida has also seen other, related mosquito borne diseases this year via travel. Let’s start with dengue fever. Forty cases of dengue with onset in 2016 have been reported in individuals with travel history to a dengue endemic country in the two weeks prior to onset. Countries of origin […]

A San Diego County resident has been diagnosed with mumps and may have exposed others while attending a concert at the Casbah in San Diego, the County Health and Human Services Agency reported Friday. The person attended the Aug. 28 concert of Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears at the club, located at 2501 Kettner […]

The serious viral infection, Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) has made the news lately after a rash of illnesses and deaths in Pakistan and the first locally acquired cases reported in Western Europe in Spain. To learn more about CCHF, I was joined by infectious disease physician and Forbes contributor, Dr. Judy Stone, for an interview on […]

Baylisascaris procyonis, aka the raccoon roundworm, is a ubiquitous roundworm found throughout North America. Infection can result in fatal human disease or severe neurologic outcomes if it is not treated rapidly. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says there were 22 documented cases reported in the United States between 1973–2010. Baylisascaris procyonis eggs are […]

The World Health Organization (WHO), in a release yesterday, reported on the response to multiple outbreaks in the strife-redden country of South Sudan. These include including cholera, malaria, measles and kala-azar. Cholera Cholera was confirmed in Juba on 21 July 2016 in the aftermath of the recent escalation of violence in Juba where clashes between the […]

South Australians are being urged to make sure they are immunized against measles following two separate measles cases this week. SA Health’s Chief Medical Officer Professor Paddy Phillips said both cases were contracted overseas and people with holiday plans should ensure they have had two measles vaccinations prior to travel. “SA Health has been notified […]

The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported Friday on the state’s first case of Zika virus infection by sexual transmission. “A Pennsylvania resident contracted the Zika virus from a mosquito while traveling outside of the state in an area where Zika transmission is occurring.” said Secretary Karen Murphy. “Upon returning to the commonwealth, the person passed it via sexual transmission […]

Ferris State University has been made aware of two confirmed student cases of MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) infection on main campus. MRSA is a type of bacteria that causes staph infections that range from minor skin infections such as pimple-like red bumps or boils, to serious infections such as pneumonia. MRSA is resistant to several […]

Publix Super Markets is issuing a voluntary recall for Apple Coffee Cakes due to the possible presence of small metal shavings. The Apple Coffee Cakes were sold at Publix bakery departments in Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee, North Carolina and the following counties in Florida: Alachua, Charlotte, Citrus, Collier, DeSoto, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Lee, Manatee, […]

In a follow-up to a report concerning a cluster of Shigella flexneri infections in men who have sex with men (MSM) in Los Angeles County and other Southern California counties, LA County health officials have reported two fatalities due to the bacterial infection. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LAC DPH) has seen 48 cases of […]

The Florida Department of Health in Escambia County (FDOH-Escambia) has issued a mosquito-borne illness advisory. The first human case of West Nile virus (WNV) in 2016 was confirmed in a resident in Escambia County, FL. This is the fourth human WNV case reported in Florida to date- Duval, Okaloosa and Santa Rosa Counties have previously […]

Florida health officials have not reported a locally transmitted Zika virus case since Tuesday and the tally remains at 56. Despite this good news, the travel associated cases continue to climb with the total through Friday now at 616, including 84 infections involving pregnant women. On Wednesday, Miami Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez released the following statement […]

With the additional reported Zika virus cases reported by the Singapore Ministry of Health (MOH) during the past two days (9 on Sept. 8 and 12 cases today, respectively), the outbreak total has reached 304 confirmed locally acquired cases. In addition, the MOH’s National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL) and A*STAR’s Bioinformatics Institute (BII) have completed the […]

For the second time in recent years, US President Barack Obama has had a newly discovered parasite named after him. In 2012, Paragordius obamai, a new nematode (roundworm) was named after the 44th President of the US, whose father was raised in Kenya where the parasite is found. Now, retired St. Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Indiana parasitologist, Thomas […]

Hookworm affects approximately 500 million people worldwide, yet its global economic and health impact is not well understood. A study published in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases suggests that the health and economic burden of hookworm infection is estimated to exceed those of a number of diseases receiving greater attention and investment. Sarah Bartsch from John Hopkins […]

The number of Cryptosporidium infections in the Central Ohio counties of Columbus, Delaware and Franklin has tripled in the past three weeks as health officials now say the tally is at 600 cases. Columbus Public Health notes that there has been a recent rise over the normal threshold of cases across the several jurisdictions. Cryptosporidiosis is […]

In July, California Democratic Senator Barbara Boxer promoted a public health emergency funding bill to help health officials with responding to epidemics and other public health emergencies. Today, Sen Boxer introduced the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Emergency Response Act of 2016 that would create a $2 billion Emergency Response Fund that the CDC Director […]

The only approved vaccine for dengue may actually increase the incidence of dengue infections requiring hospitalization rather than preventing the disease if health officials aren’t careful about where they vaccinate, new public health research published Sept. 2 in Science suggests. Dengue typically causes a mild first infection but a far worse one if someone is infected […]

In 2015, the Philippines reported more than 200,000 dengue fever cases, including nearly 600 deaths, making the archipelago one of the hardest hit nations from the mosquito borne viral disease. Based on the latest data this year, the country has crossed the 100,000 case threshold, outpacing 2015 numbers to date. As of Aug. 20, there […]

A fourth case of West Nile virus has been reported to the City of El Paso Department of Public Health. The patient is a man in his 30’s who lives in the Lower Valley. The case comes as El Paso continues to see rainy weather conditions which can create breeding conditions for the mosquitoes that […]

The Middlesex-London Health Unit is continuing its investigation into the unusally high number of salmonella cases reported to it over the last couple of weeks. As of today, the Health Unit has been notified of 37 confirmed, six probable and one suspect case of salmonella infection since the 18th of August. There was no clear […]

The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) announced last week that it has been notified of four cases of Bacillus cereus (B. cereus) bloodstream infection between July and August of 2016 in New Castle County. Typically a foodborne illness, these bacteria usually do not cause blood infections. Three of the four cases of B. cereus reported […]

Concerned parents in Jurupa Valley, California are demanding more concrete information concerning letters that were sent home to parents saying two students at Indian Hills Elementary may be sick with leprosy. The scare prompted some parents to keep their children home on Tuesday. The director of disease control for Riverside County, Barbara Cole, said a school nurse notified the health department […]

Singapore health officials reported an additional eight new confirmed cases of locally transmitted Zika virus infection on Tuesday, bringing the outbreak total to 283. Of these, two cases are linked to the Aljunied Crescent/ Sims Drive/ Kallang Way/ Paya Lebar Way cluster, and one case is linked to the Bishan Street 12 cluster. There is a […]

In a follow-up on the Zika virus situation in Malaysia, the Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH) has received a report Monday on the third confirmed Zika infection involving a 27-year-old Chinese woman who is staying in Taman Desa Harmoni, Johor Bharu. The patient is currently four months pregnant with her first child. She started exhibiting symptoms of […]

Researchers have found that Zika virus can live in eyes and have identified genetic material from the virus in tears, according to a study from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. The study, in mice, helps explain why some Zika patients develop eye disease including a condition known as uveitis which can lead […]