Outbreak News Today

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 […]

Three new laboratory-confirmed human cases of avian influenza A(H5N1) virus infection were reported to the World Health Organization (WHO). A 2-year-old male resident of Cairo Governorate, Egypt, had onset of influenza-like illness (ILI) symptoms on 30 May 2016, and a sample collected as part of ILI surveillance tested positive for influenza A(H5N1). The case was […]

Through July 9, Haiti has reported 21,661 suspected cholera cases and 200 related deaths. In all of 2015, the island country saw 36,644 cholera cases and 321 deaths. Since the cholera outbreak began in October 2010, months after the Jan. 12, 2010 earthquake, 776,633 cases and 9,163 deaths have been recorded. And this cumulative number may be lowballing […]

Valneva SE today announced the successful completion of its Phase II study for its prophylactic vaccine candidate VLA84 targeting primary prevention of C. difficile infection (CDI), which is emerging as a leading cause of life-threatening, healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) worldwide. Valneva previously announced positive top-line data from the Phase II study at the end of 2015. […]

New research from the University of Notre Dame places a new upper limit on the total number of people who could become infected by the Zika virus in the first wave of the current epidemic. The team of researchers, led by Alex Perkins, Eck Family Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences and a member of the […]

Last week, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) confirmed the first human case of West Nile Virus (WNV) infection for the 2016 season in LA County (excluding Long Beach and Pasadena as cases identified in those cities are reported by their local health departments). Illness occurred in an elderly male from […]

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported today on four additional Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli cases from two states in the multistate outbreak. This has prompted General Mills to expand it’s recall today by adding additional flour production dates to the previously announced U.S. retail flour recall that was originally announced on May 31, […]

National School Deworming Day, a month-long deworming activity, done every January and July in the Philippines by the Department of Health is performed to decrease soil transmitted helminthiasis cases which causes weakness, decreased appetite, decreased IQ and anemia. In Zamboanga, or Region IX, health officials reported a total of 512,130 or 81.28% of school children in the region […]

In an article published today in The Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA), experts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Organization for Safety, Asepsis and Prevention (OSAP) provide best practices for responsible antibiotic use in dentistry. Dentists write nearly 26 million prescriptions for antibiotics each year, which amounts to 10 percent […]

While confirmed Lyme disease cases are about 30,000 annually and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates about 300,000 cases annually, making it the most commonly reported tick-borne illness in the United States. North of the border, Canada has been reporting higher numbers of Lyme disease year-after-year since Lyme disease became nationally notifiable in 2009. […]

The Florida Medical Association PAC (FMA PAC), Florida’s leading advocate for electing pro-medicine candidates to office, today endorsed United States Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) in his bid for re-election to the United States Senate. Senator Rubio will speak during the FMA’s Annual Meeting being held at the Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resort in Orlando […]

The 38-year-old actress, Zoe Saldana, star of a slew of movie hits like the Star Trek series, Guardians of the Galaxy and Avatar, said last week she has been diagnosed with the autoimmune disease, Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, or Hashimoto’s Disease. “Your body doesn’t have the energy it needs to filter toxins, causing it to believe that it has an […]

The podcast has been released from the July 24 airing of the Outbreak News This Week Radio Show, a talk radio program covering infectious diseases and health in the Tampa Bay area. During the first half, we had a news roundup for the week to include the Zika investigation in South Florida, the latest human […]

Histoplasmosis (also known as Darling’s disease) is a systemic fungal disease that can range in severity from symptom-free to minor self-limited to life threatening illnesses. Infection is quite common but clinical disease is not. The fungus that causes histoplasmosis is Histoplasma capsulatum. This is a dimorphic fungus that grows as a mold in the environment […]

The Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (CDC) announced two new indigenous dengue cases. The two cases respectively are a 65-year-old female who resides in Kaohsiung City and a 23-year-old female who resides in Tainan City. Both cases are the first dengue case confirmed in the respective city since this summer. As of July 19, 2016, […]

Hong Kong health officials report on a case of necrotizing fasciitis caused by Vibrio vulnificus affecting a 59-year-old woman with underlying illnesses recorded July 5. She presented with left leg pain, redness and fever on July 3 and was admitted to a public hospital on the same day. Surgical debridement of wound was performed on the […]