Outbreak News Today

With the confirmation of locally transmitted Zika virus transmission in the Miami, Florida area, Public Health England has raised the risk designation for the Sunshine State from low to medium. According to Public Health England: Countries/territories/areas with active or past Zika transmission have been classified into 4 categories based on the current and potential epidemiological situation. These categories […]

With the peak West Nile virus (WNV) transmission season having one month left, South Dakota health officials are reporting a higher than normal activity to date. “We are seeing a higher than normal number of mosquitoes test positive for West Nile this year and the number of human cases so far is already above our […]

The Florida Department of Health (DOH) reported an additional Vibrio vulnificus case in the state Friday with the first case reported in Collier County this year. Local media reported that the patient, Jared Jenkins of Fort Pierce, contracted the infection while working on a dock on Naples Bay. This brings the state total to 16–Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Citrus, Collier, […]

Scottish health officials are investigating 16 confirmed cases of the same strain of E. coli O157, which may be associated with eating blue cheese made from unpasteurized milk. Initial investigations indicate that a number of these cases have consumed Dunsyre Blue, manufactured by Errington Cheese, at various locations across Scotland prior to becoming unwell. The cases developed symptoms […]

On Friday, Florida Governor Rick Scott announced that the Department of Health (DOH) has concluded that four cases of the Zika virus are likely mosquito-borne. One of these cases involves a woman and the other three cases involve men. At this time, DOH believes that active transmissions of the Zika virus are occurring in one small […]

When a patient is diagnosed with eczema, the diagnosis of another medical condition may not be far behind. “Although it affects the skin, eczema is not just skin-deep. This disease can have a serious impact on patients’ quality of life and overall health, both physically and mentally,” says board-certified dermatologist Jonathan Silverberg, MD, PhD, MPH, […]

An outbreak of feline panleukopenia, or distemper, the second in as many months, has forced a Hayward, CA animal shelter to take actions to prevent further spread. The Hayward Animal Shelter announced yesterday that they had two positive cases of feline panleukopenia, commonly known as feline distemper. They are not accepting healthy, friendly, or feral cats for the […]

A Lyme disease researcher from the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences was recently awarded a $380,000 grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to pursue a unique approach to fend off the effects of Lyme disease. Assistant professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences at the University of North Dakota, Catherine Brissette, PhD joined […]

Autochthonous, or locally transmitted Zika virus infection has likely occurred in the Miami, Fl area, as four cases have been reported and has dominated media coverage online and on television. CDC Director, Dr Tom Frieden said, “All the evidence we have seen indicates that this is mosquito-borne transmission that occurred several weeks ago in several blocks in […]

A day after Yamal, Siberia Governor Dmitry Kobylkin, declared a state of emergency because of an anthrax outbreak, the first in the region in 75 years, specialists from the Russian Chemical, Radioactive and Biological Protection Corps have been called in to get the bacterial outbreak under control and to dispose of the dead animals in a safe […]

The number of dengue fever cases in the Philippines through July 2 is now at 59,585, up more than 2,000 cases in a week. The fatality count remains unchanged at 248. In Singapore, the number of dengue fever cases eclipsed 10,000 today as cases increase weekly in the traditional peak dengue season. Six deaths have been […]

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has been informed by the State of Florida that Zika virus infections in four people were likely caused by bites of local Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. The cases are likely the first known occurrence of local mosquito-borne Zika virus transmission in the continental United States. CDC is closely […]

According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ArboNET, as of July 7, Zika has been diagnosed in 5,582 people, including 672 pregnant women, in Puerto Rico according to a new report published today in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). Positive tests for people with suspected Zika virus infection have increased from 14 […]

The Florida Department of Health released the following on Friday morning saying they have gathered enough information as part of its ongoing investigation into non-travel related cases of Zika in Miami-Dade and Broward counties to conclude that a high likelihood exists that four cases are the result of local transmission. At this time, the department believes […]

Republican presidential candidate, Donald Trump, did a Reddit AMA (ask me anything) a couple of days ago, which turned out not to offer very much information about the candidate and his policy proposals. In total, it looks like Mr Trumps only answered a dozen or so questions from Redditors and the voting population. This website, […]

Chapel Hill, NC based company, Chapel Hill Creamery announced a voluntary recall yesterday of all Chapel Hill Creamery cheese products because of a potential association with an outbreak of Salmonella infections. Food Safety News reports, to date, some 50 salmonella cases have been reported in north Carolina and another 50 outside the state and that it’s the same […]

A new study found that following basic hygienic practices and complying with protocols for Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) decolonization reduces the time to clearance of the bacteria more quickly than a treatment regimen of antibiotic ointment and antiseptic body wash. The findings, published today in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, the journal of the Society for […]

Hawaii health officials have added the Hawaii Kai Costco bakery as a “place of interest” after an bakery employee, who may have inappropriately handled food, tested positive for the viral infection, hepatitis A. Members of the warehouse who purchased bakery goods from June 16-20, 2016, some 2,700 customers, are being contacted. The Hawaii Department of Health (HDOH) […]

Scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have identified antibodies capable of protecting against Zika virus infection, a significant step toward developing a vaccine, better diagnostic tests and possibly new antibody-based therapies. The work, in mice, helps clarify recent research that also identified protective Zika antibodies but lacked important details on how […]

In light of the investigation of the potential local Zika transmission in Miami-Dade and Broward counties, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is requesting that all blood establishments in Miami-Dade County and Broward County cease collecting blood immediately until the blood establishments implement testing of each individual unit of blood collected in the two counties with […]

The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) began a collaborative mosquito surveillance project with Oklahoma State University (OSU) entomologists this Spring to detect the possible presence of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes in six different Oklahoma communities. Aedes aegypti are considered the primary mosquito carrier of the Zika virus in South and Central America and the Caribbean […]

Health officials in Vietnam are reporting a significant increase in dengue fever during the first seven months of the year. Through July, some 45,000 cases have been reported, including 14 deaths. Infections were recorded in 46 out of 63 cities and provinces, according to the health ministry. During the same period in 2015, Vietnam had […]

Since Vermont reported their first West Nile virus (WNV) case in 2002, the Green Mountain State has only seen 10 human cases through 2015, reporting no cases during the previous two years. On Wednesday, the Vermont Department of Health reported the second human WNV case of the year and the second case in Windsor County […]

In a follow-up to the report on the anthrax outbreak in the western Siberia region of Yamal, Governor Dmitry Kobylkin, declared a state of emergency as the number of human and animal cases increase during a heatwave on the Russian tundra. The number of nomads affected by the bacterial pathogen has risen to 13 and […]

Approximately 7.5 million people in the United States have psoriasis, and the impact of this disease goes far beyond its visible effects on the skin. “People with psoriasis, particularly those with more severe disease, have an increased risk for a variety of other health problems, including obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, stroke and […]

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Adlyxin (lixisenatide), a once-daily injection to improve glycemic control (blood sugar levels), along with diet and exercise, in adults with type 2 diabetes. “The FDA continues to support the development of new drug therapies for diabetes management,” said Mary Thanh Hai Parks, M.D., deputy director, Office of Drug […]

The Nigeria Federal Ministry of Health is reporting an increase in Lassa fever in 2016 to date, according to the latest data from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control. During the first six months of 2016, the west African country reported 744 suspected Lassa fever cases with 72 lab-confirmed and 87 deaths with a case-fatality rate of more […]

Researchers at Osaka University, Japan uncovered the mechanisms that suppress the propagation of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) with the potential of improving pathological liver conditions. Using model mice, they confirmed that when a certain enzyme is inhibited, HCV particle production is reduced leading to an improvement of pathological liver conditions. They thereby identified a […]

In a move to prevent a cholera outbreak from spreading, the Ministry of Health of South Sudan with support from the World Health Organization (WHO) and health partners are ramping up disease surveillance and treatment efforts. Across the country, 271 cholera cases have been reported, including 14 deaths since 12 July 2016. “Cholera is an […]

In a follow-up to the possible local Zika transmission in the South Florida counties of Miami-Dade and Broward, the Florida Department of Health said today it is expanding its ongoing investigations in these two counties with two additional possible non-travel cases, bringing the total to four. This pattern is consistent with other mosquito-borne virus investigations, such […]

Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of Sanofi, announced today that its first doses of Fluzone® (Influenza Vaccine) for the 2016-2017 influenza, or flu season have been released by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for shipment. This represents the first of more than 65 million total doses of seasonal influenza vaccine manufactured by Sanofi […]

The female lead in the upcoming Ashutosh Gowariker film, Mohenjo Daro, has contracted the mosquito borne viral disease, dengue fever, and is unable to take part in promotional activities of the film. 25-year-old model and actress, Pooja Hedge, who in the role of Chaani, is cast alongside Hrithik Roshan in the lead male role. According to Indian media reports, “It was […]

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, has begun an early-stage clinical trial of an investigational vaccine designed to protect against yellow fever virus. The Phase 1 study is evaluating whether an experimental vaccine developed by the Danish biopharmaceutical company Bavarian Nordic is safe, tolerable and […]

The Hong Kong Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) last week reported the first case of Japanese encephalitis (JE) in 2016, and again urged the public to maintain strict environmental hygiene, mosquito control and personal protective measures both locally and during travel. “As the patient had both travel history and local […]

In a follow-up to the Burkholdera cepacia, or B. cepacia outbreak linked to liquid docusate products, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported an additional nine cases in the past week, bringing the outbreak total to 58. In addition, three additional states have reported infections related to this outbreak–8 states total as on […]

Despite the fact that 1 in 3 clinicians have seen no change in parental acceptance of childhood vaccinations in the past year, a new report from Medscape suggests an increase in parents’ agreeing to have their children immunized. The 2016 Medscape Vaccine Acceptance Report surveyed more than 1,500 pediatricians, family medicine physicians, public health physicians, […]

Another Mesa County rabbit has tested positive for tularemia from an area southwest of Fruita. This area is a popular recreational space for hikers, bikers and rafters. The bacterial disease is transmitted through direct contact with infected animals, such as rabbits, squirrels, muskrats and other rodents through tick and deer fly bites. This is the […]

After facing a measles outbreak in 2015 in Ceará, Brazil completed this month a year without cases. With this, the country stops endemic circulation of this infectious disease. The finding was made by the president of the International Committee of Evaluation and Measles Elimination Documentation, Merceline Dalh-Regis, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) reported Tuesday […]

The Hawaii Department of Health (HDOH) has reported 19 additional hepatitis A cases in the past week or so, bringing the outbreak total on Oahu to 93. All cases have been in adults, 29 have required hospitalization. All of the cases were on Oahu during their exposure period. Four individuals now live on the islands of […]

In a follow-up to a report last month, The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health), in conjunction with the County of Orange Health Care Agency and City of Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services, is expanding vaccination recommendations for Invasive Meningococcal Disease to include all gay, bisexual, and other men who […]

Meijer is announcing a recall of select fresh salads and sandwiches due to a potential risk of Salmonella contamination. The Markets of Meijer Salads and Sandwiches were sold in Meijer stores from 7/20/16 to 7/25/16. There have been no known illnesses reported to Meijer from the product affected by this recall. The salads and sandwiches […]

The Iowa Department of Public Health’s (IDPH) annual HIV Surveillance Report for 2015 finds there were 124 new HIV diagnoses last year, an increase of 27 percent from the 98 cases reported in 2014. “This increase marks a return to the levels we saw in 2013, and is a reversal from the drop in cases […]

The Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) and the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) yesterday jointly issued a consumer advisory for potato salads made in and sold by Big G Food Store in Marengo, Iowa. Big G’s “Zesty Potato Salad” and “Traditional Potato Salad” have been implicated in 20 cases of salmonella illness reported in […]

The Indian capital of Delhi saw 40 dengue fever cases during the past week in the city, including the first fatality, which has prompted health officials to open 350 dengue clinics. The fatality, reported late last week, was a 17-year-girl who had the most severe form of the viral disease, dengue shock syndrome. The total […]

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a travel notice today for Saba, a Caribbean island in the Lesser Antilles chain after reports of local transmission of Zika virus. Travelers to areas with cases of Zika virus infection are at risk of being infected with the Zika virus. Mosquitoes that spread Zika are aggressive […]

The investigation into possible local transmission in South Florida ( Miami-Dade and Broward counties) continues as Governor Rick Scott and State Surgeon General Dr. Celeste Philip host a Zika roundtable this afternoon in Broward County to discuss with local leaders ongoing Zika preparedness and response needs. Residents and visitors are urged to participate in requests for urine […]

At least nine people in the Yamal region of Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous district (YNAD) in northern Russia are hospitalized due to anthrax, according to a Siberian Times report. Four children are reported as being treated in intensive care. This is the first anthrax outbreak recorded in more than seven decades. 1200 reindeer died suddenly in the areas around […]

The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) is reporting that a two-year-old Andalusian mixed breed mare in Grandview is the first horse in Washington to contract West Nile virus this year. The horse was not vaccinated for the disease and is showing neurologic signs of the illness including stumbling and difficulties eating. The Washington Animal […]

In a follow-up to a report in May, The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved safety labeling changes for a class of antibiotics, called fluoroquinolones, to enhance warnings about their association with disabling and potentially permanent side effects and to limit their use in patients with less serious bacterial infections. “Fluoroquinolones have risks and benefits […]

The Ministry of Health and Social Protection has declared the end of the Zika epidemic that arrived in Colombia in September 2015, that to date has resulted in 99,721 cases were reported, of which 8,826 were laboratory-confirmed and 90,895 clinically suspected, according to a ministry news release Monday (computer translated). According to the Ministry, after reviewing […]