Outbreak News Today

Dallas County Health and Human Services (DCHHS) has confirmed the second human case of West Nile infection in Dallas County for the 2016 season. The resident lives in the 75216 zip code in Dallas and was diagnosed with West Nile neuroinvasive disease. For medical confidentiality and personal privacy reasons, DCHHS does not provide additional identifying […]

Health officials are reporting at least 26 cases of Carrión’s disease, or Bartonella bacilliformis infection in residents of Sánchez Carrión province in Northern Peru, according to a local media report (computer translated). The cases include children, young adults and elderly patients from Succha Centro and Yacopampa. In addition, a 7-month old infant from Huamachuco died from the infection after suffering from severe anemia and […]

An individual from Orange County is the latest confirmed Vibrio vulnificus case in the state of Florida, according to data released by health officials Friday. To date, Florida has seen 14 cases–Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Citrus, Duval (2), Manatee, Marion, Orange, Palm Beach, Santa Rosa, Sarasota, Volusia and Wakulla counties. So far four fatalities have been […]

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported an additional six infections caused by Burkholderia cepacia complex Thursday, bringing the outbreak total to 53 in five states, At this time, CDC continues to recommend that clinicians not use any liquid docusate product as a stool softener or for any other medical purpose. This recommendation is […]

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Xiidra (lifitegrast ophthalmic solution) for the treatment of signs and symptoms of dry eye disease this week. Xiidra is the first medication in a new class of drugs, called lymphocyte function-associated antigen 1 (LFA-1) agonist, approved by the FDA for dry eye disease. “Normal tear production is needed […]

The City of Hamilton Public Health Services received confirmation of the first positive rabid bat case this year. Nearly all human cases of rabies in Canada over the past several years have been a result of bites from rabid bats. Bat bites may be hard to see. “While residents should always steer clear of wild animals, Hamilton […]

On July 15, a new Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) case was confirmed in Jackson County, Florida. The 8 year old mustang mare had no known vaccine history and no recent travel history. Clinical signs began on July 6 and the horse was euthanized for humane reasons the following day. This is the first confirmed EEE […]

The North Dakota Department of Health (NDDoH) recently received confirmation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that a woman who traveled to Jamaica has tested positive for Zika virus. The woman is not pregnant and was not hospitalized for her illness. “This case is a reminder that travelers to areas with Zika […]

At least seven cases of cholera have been confirmed and another three suspected cases are being investigated in Malappuram district, according to a Kerala news source. It appears the infections were contracted through food bought from a local eatery which may have used contaminated water in the preparation. Malappuram district medical officer Ummarul Farooq said: “We have […]

Since Dec 5, 2016, the Angola Ministry of Health has reported a total of 3625 suspected cases of which 876 are laboratory confirmed. The total number of reported deaths is 357, of which 117 have been reported among confirmed cases. Luanda and Huambo remain the most affected provinces as of 8 July with 1945 cases (487 […]

The current Zika epidemic in Latin America is likely to burn itself out within three years, suggests new research. The findings, from scientists at Imperial College London, also conclude that the epidemic cannot be contained with existing control measures. The team, who published their findings in the journal Science, predict the next large-scale epidemic is […]

San Mateo County Mosquito and Vector Control District continues to find evidence of hantavirus infection in deer mice collected during routine rodent-borne disease surveillance. The most recent samples were collected during May and June of 2016 in the vicinity San Bruno Mountain and Montara. Hantavirus is a viral disease carried by wild rodents – in […]

Just days after the Hawaii State Department of Health (DOH) confirmed hepatitis A in an employee at a Waipahu Baskin-Robbins, health officials confirmed a new case of hepatitis A infection in a food service employee. The employee worked at the fast food restaurant, Taco Bell, located in Waipio at 94-790 Ukee Street. The department is advising persons who consumed […]

The HSE Public Health Departments and the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) continue to investigate and implement control measures to limit the measles outbreak that was first identified in early May. Outbreak control teams have been convened in HSE East, Northeast, South, Southeast and Midwest. As of this week, 33 cases have been confirmed nationally. […]

The Florida Department of Health (DOH) reported Friday an additional 18 imported Zika virus cases with six in Miami-Dade, four in Orange, three in Osceola, two in Polk, one in Hillsborough, one in Manatee and one in Volusia counties. The case in Manatee County is the first and the Declaration of Public Health Emergency has been […]

The Puerto Rico Health Department is reporting an increase in confirmed Zika virus cases on the island as Secretary of the Department of Health, Ana Ríus Armendariz said today that 1,336 confirmed cases were reported in just the past week. This brings the total confirmed Zika cases in Puerto Rico to 4,437 since the introduction of […]

The Texas Department of State Health Services is reminding swimmers and water skiers to take precautions to avoid infection from Naegleria fowleri, an amoeba present in nearly all rivers, lakes, ponds and streams. The amoeba can cause primary amoebic meningoencephalitis, or PAM, an infection of the brain. Although infection is extremely rare, it is almost always […]

The New York City report of female-to-male sexual transmission of Zika virus infection is the first documented case of sexual transmission of Zika from a woman to her sex partner and adds to the growing body of knowledge about the sexual transmission of Zika. All previously reported cases of sexually transmitted Zika virus infection have […]

First it was the elimination of polio, a monumental achievement in the once ravaged India, now the World Health Organization (WHO) presented certificates declaring elimination of yaws and maternal and neonatal tetanus to the Health and Family Welfare Minister, Mr J P Nadda. “India’s focused approach on making maternal and newborn care accessible to all and […]

Over the years, many people in the public eye have commented on their positions on vaccines to include Donald Trump, Rand Paul, Ben Carson, Alicia Silverstone, Jenny McCarthy and Kristin Cavallari. In a recent Reddit AMA, Green Party Presidential candidate, Jill Stein was asked about the topic. Here is her reply: I don’t know if […]

In a follow-up to the meningitis case and the investigation of the Lifetime Fitness day camp situation in Rochester Hills, MI, Central Michigan Live reports that the worker in question at day camp at Life Time Fitness gym in Rochester Hills, 21-year-old Central Michigan University student, Kristy Malter, has died from bacterial meningitis. The CMU junior from Macomb County died […]

As Thursday came to a close, the American public saw that no Zika funding bill, from either side of the aisle, would come to fruition as the Congress would head out for a 7-week vacation. This drew many responses of disappointment from various medical and public health organizations: The National Association of County and City Health Officials […]

The Pennsylvania Department of Health today launched the commonwealth’s latest initiative to help protect Pennsylvanians from the Zika virus. Prevention Kits for Pregnant Women are being distributed to provide education about the virus and list the steps that can be taken to avoid mosquito bites, as well as prevent the insects from multiplying around homes. […]

Resistance to azithromycin, an antibiotic used to treat gonorrhea, is emerging, according to CDC findings published today in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. CDC currently recommends a combination gonorrhea treatment with two antibiotics – an oral dose of azithromycin and single shot of ceftriaxone. Findings released today from CDC’s surveillance system for monitoring the […]

The New Jersey Department of Health is confirming the state’s first human case of West Nile Virus (WNV) in a 48-year-old Camden County man. On July 8, the individual began exhibiting symptoms including headache, altered mental status and encephalitis, which is swelling of the brain. He is currently hospitalized. “As New Jersey moves through mosquito season, it is […]

The tiny Dutch island in the West Indies, St. Eustatius, has recently reported local Zika virus transmission, which has prompted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to issue a travel notice for the Caribbean island. Local mosquito transmission means that mosquitoes in the area are infected with Zika virus and are spreading it to people. […]

The New Mexico Department of Health is investigating an increase in cases of Shigella sonnei that has mostly been affecting Lea and Eddy counties. Among the 36 people who have been identified, the large majority were children associated with child care centers and their family members. Shigellosis is a bacterial disease characterized by diarrhea, fever, […]

On Wednesday, U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) highlighted new legislation she plans to introduce – the Public Health Emergency Preparedness Act – within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The fund could be used upon the declaration of a public health emergency or potential public health emergency by the Secretary of HHS or […]

Piracicaba’s Epidemiologic Surveillance service released new data this week which showed a 91% reduction of dengue fever cases registered in the CECAP/Eldorado district, an area of 5,000 residents, in the 2015/2016 dengue-year as compared to the 2014/2015 period. The incidence decreased to just 12 cases in 2015/2016, the first year in which Friendly™ Aedes, the […]

The number of shigellosis cases among gay men in New South Wales is up this year and there is concern that the outbreak could worsen, according to a report on a local LGBT news site. The number of shigellosis cases reported to date has eclipsed 150 cases for the year, which is comparable to the numbers […]

Oakland County Health Division (OCHD) was notified yesterday of a Lifetime Fitness day camp employee in Rochester Hills with bacterial meningitis who is a Macomb County resident. We are currently notifying parents of campers and employees. The individual cannot be identified because of laws protecting personal health information. More than 200 children may have been exposed […]

New Mexico health officials are investigating a confirmed case of wound botulism in Rio Arriba County. The patient, a 33-year-old female heroin user, is currently hospitalized for her illness. The suspected source of infection is either a soiled skin injection site, contaminated injection devices or contaminated heroin. “We are asking healthcare providers to carefully consider wound botulism […]

Tarrant County Public Health (TCPH) has confirmed the first human case of West Nile Virus (WNV) for the 2016 season. The case is from Bedford and is the severe form — West Nile Neuroinvasive Disease. Additional details are not being released to protect the identity of the patient. In 2015, TCPH reported its first human […]

MRIGlobal yesterday announced that it has been awarded a $6.2 million, 5-year program from the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) for the development of a vaccine for tularemia. The award continues a long-standing international co-operation to develop a tularemia vaccine. Tularemia is a disease of animals and humans caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis. Rabbits, […]

Tarrant County Public Health (TCPH) has confirmed the first human case of West Nile Virus (WNV) for the 2016 season. The case is from Bedford and is the severe form — West Nile Neuroinvasive Disease. Additional details are not being released to protect the identity of the patient. In 2015, TCPH reported its first human […]

Harris County Public Health (HCPH) has confirmed the first Zika related microcephaly case in Harris County and in the State of Texas. HCPH received a positive Zika test result for an infant who has been diagnosed with microcephaly at birth. The mother, who traveled from Latin America, was tested for Zika, but had received inconclusive […]

Countries across West and Central Africa are on alert as the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus H5N1 continues to spread across the region, with Cameroon becoming the latest African country to detect the disease. The strain can infect and cause death in humans and kills poultry at a high rate. The latest H5N1 outbreaks were […]

The Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) is reminding persons who plan to attend the Olympic Games to get vaccinated especially against measles and rubella at least two weeks before traveling. The Olympic Games are scheduled to take place 5-21 August in Brazil, followed by the Paralympic Games during the period of 7-18 September, […]

According to the Brazilian Tourism Board, approximately 350,000 – 500,000 international visitors and athletes from 207 countries are expected to travel to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games (Games). This travel volume represents a very small fraction – less than 0.25% – of the total estimated 2015 travel volume to […]

A 10-year-old boy from Altai Republic in Siberia has contracted bubonic plague, according to TASS News Agency. It is believed he caught the serious bacterial infection during a hiking trip. The region he and his fellow hikers traveled is well known for it’s marmot population, which is a plague carrier. The child was hospitalized Tuesday in […]

Health officials report a measles outbreak at a ATC Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in Maiduguri, which resulted in 22 illnesses and six fatalities, according to a Nigerian news source. The IDP, in Borno State, was called “overcrowded” when the outbreak occurred with some 8000 IDPs present at the time. the congestion and resulting outbreak forced officials […]

Binh Phuoc Province health officials said seven people have contracted the vaccine preventable disease, diphtheria, in recent weeks, of which three patients under the age of 24 died, according to local media. Bình Phuoc is is located in the Southeast region of the country, to the north of Hồ Chí Minh City. It shares a […]

Through July 12, Malaysian health officials have reported 60,085 dengue fever cases in 2016, after an additional 344 cases were reported yesterday. In addition, 134 dengue related fatalities have been reported by health authorities. Fifty-four percent, or 32,341 cases were reported from Selangor state, while 7,673 were reported from Johor and nearly 4500 from Kuala […]

Out of an abundance of caution, two flavors of Betty Crocker cake mix sold in the U.S. and one flavor sold in Canada have been added to General Mills’ previously announced flour recall from July 1, 2016. No illnesses reported to date have been connected to cake mix. No other General Mills or Betty Crocker […]

The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) today announced the second case of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) in a Virginia horse this year. The horse, a thoroughbred, was from Suffolk. The horse had been vaccinated and is recovering. Without vaccination the mortality rate is 80 to 90 percent. VDACS received confirmation of the […]

The Hawaii State Department of Health (DOH) is investigating a confirmed case of Hepatitis A in a food service employee at the ice cream specialty store, Baskin-Robbins, located at the Waikele Center in Waipahu. The department is advising persons who consumed any food or drink products from this store between June 17 and July 3, […]

The City of Albuquerque Environmental Health Department, the New Mexico Department of Health and the Bernalillo County Health Protection Section announced today that 2 cases of human tularemia have been confirmed from Bernalillo County, with one of the individuals likely being exposed in the bosque. These are the first two laboratory confirmed human cases in […]

Alberta Health Services (AHS) has confirmed a case of hepatitis A in a food handler working at two Edo Japan locations – Manning Town Centre (Edmonton) located at 15426-37 St., and Tudor Glen South (St. Albert) located at 3510 Tudor Glen Market. Patrons who consumed food from these Edo Japan locations in Edmonton and St. […]

The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) announced today that a New Castle County man has tested positive for the Zika virus bringing the total number of cases in Delaware to eight. All of the Zika positive test results are due to a mosquito bite while traveling abroad and none involve a pregnancy. The man […]

The New York City Health Department issued a health alert today to providers that emphasizes the importance of testing pregnant women for syphilis as infection rates rise in New York City (NYC). Mirroring overall trends in syphilis prevalence in the United States, rates of primary and secondary syphilis among NYC women have risen 36 percent from […]