Outbreak News Today

Between 16 and 18 June 2016, the National IHR Focal Point for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia notified WHO of 22 additional cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV). A MERS-CoV outbreak is currently ongoing in a hospital in Riyadh city, Riyadh region. The index case for this outbreak is the 49 year-old female reported […]

A foodborne outbreak earlier this month that sickened dozens of schoolchildren and nursery school staff has been identified as caused by norovirus, according to a Japan Today report. The outbreak which occurred between June 6 to 9, caused 41 kindergarteners and two nursery school teachers at Yoyogi Nursery School to experience symptoms of fever, vomiting and diarrhea. The […]

Eight people in the central Karaganda region of Kazakhstan have contracted the serious bacterial infection, anthrax, resulting in two fatalities, according to a Radio Free Europe report. It is reported that all eight people, including at least one child, had eaten the meat of a sick cow. The fatalities are reported in a 50-year-old man and a 33-year-old woman. […]

The Florida Department of Health has confirmed a measles case in a child in Miami-Dade County. Health officials say the child was unvaccinated. State Surgeon General Celeste Philip said in a press release announcing the measles case that the best way to protect people against the disease is to get vaccinated. “This case serves as […]

With the addition of seven new travel-associated Zika virus cases reported in the state of Florida today, the total has eclipsed the 200 mark. Florida health officials reported additional cases in Broward (1), Miami-Dade (1), Orange (3), Palm Beach (1) and Pinellas County (1). This brings the total cases to 206–167 cases not involving pregnant women and […]

Officials with the Costa Rica Ministry of Health and the National Children’s Hospital are reporting an increase in cases of respiratory diseases, particularly respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) since April, according to a ministry news release (computer translated). The National Children’s Hospital notes that they have seen 64% more children for severe acute respiratory infections so far this […]

Taranaki DHB’s Medical Officer of Health said today that two people who have recently visited New Plymouth have been confirmed with having measles. Medical Officer of Health, Dr Greg Simmons said, “Both visited New Plymouth during the infectious period of their illness without knowing they had the disease and unfortunately may have now exposed others […]

In a follow-up to reports on the H1N1 influenza outbreak in Panama, Director General of Health Ministry of Health, Itza Barahona de Mosca announced today additional flu-related fatalities bringing the toll to 27. Local media report (computer translated), the number infected and hospitalized in the outbreak has increased to 1177, in which 800 have already been discharged. […]

As of June 20, the measles outbreak in Shelby County has officially ended with no new confirmed cases in the last two consecutive incubation periods, 42 days. The outbreak was comprised of seven confirmed cases starting in early April. “I am pleased with the coordinated effort of the Shelby County Health Department and the many […]

The Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) reports two new human cases of West Nile virus (WNV), bringing the total to three for 2016. The reported cases are in Hinds and Grenada counties. The first case was reported last month in Lamar County. The MSDH only reports laboratory-confirmed cases to the public. In 2015, Mississippi […]

Health officials with the City of Midland have noticed a recent increase in infectious gastroenteritis cases and are working to determine whether there is a common source of infection. In recent days, several cases of contagious diarrheal disease have been reported in the Permian Basin to Midland Health & Senior Services. Gastrointestinal infections may produce […]

Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited today announced that it has dosed the first subject in a Phase 2b field efficacy trial of Takeda’s norovirus vaccine candidate (TAK-214), the only norovirus vaccine candidate in human clinical trials. The Phase 2b, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial involves healthy male or female adults aged 18 – 49 years. It will […]

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (June 20) investigating a case of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O157:H7 infection, and hence reminded the public to maintain good personal, food and environmental hygiene against intestinal infections. The boy, aged 3 with good past health, has developed fever, vomiting, diarrhea, […]

I began what will be a series of broadcasts focused on parasites that infect humans. The first installment was aired on Sunday, June 19 on the Outbreak News This Week Radio Show. During the program, I talked about the Soil Transmitted Helminths (STH)–Ascariasis, Trichuriasis and hookworms. I also delved into some other Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) […]

Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and GeneOne Life Science, Inc. today announced that they have received approval to initiate a phase I human trial to evaluate Inovio’s Zika DNA vaccine (GLS-5700) to prevent infection from this concerning virus. In preclinical testing this synthetic vaccine induced robust antibody and T cell responses in small and large animal models, […]

“I declare today a localized epidemic of yellow fever in the provinces of Kinshasa, Kongo Central and Kwango,” said Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Health Minister Felix Kabange Monday, according to a Reuters report. This comes after the country has reported 67 cases of the mosquito borne viral disease, including seven locally transmitted cases. 58 cases […]

The number of probable Zika virus infections in Brazil in 2016 is reported to be at 138,108, according to the Ministry of Health data through May 7 via Brazilian media (computer translated). Of these, 49,821 were confirmed cases. The states with the highest rates are Mato Grosso, with 558.1 cases / 100,000 inhabitants, Bahia, with 265.9 […]

Health officials in French Guyana are reporting the first confirmed case of brain malformation in a child of a pregnant woman with Zika virus, according to a local media report (computer translated). The 36-year-old woman is a resident of Cayenne. She did not seek medical consultation during her first trimester and came to the hospital for the […]

With concerns of Zika virus becoming a locally transmitted mosquito borne infection in the state of Florida and the potential serious consequences it can have on the fetus, Tampa General Hospital will be offering a free informational lecture entitled, Zika and Pregnancy. The lecture will be given by Lindsay Maggio, MD, MPH, FACOG. Dr Maggio is […]

Virginia Mason has begun contacting nearly 650 individuals treated in the medical center’s dialysis unit since February 2011 because they may have been near another dialysis patient who was hepatitis B-positive. The individuals are being informed of this situation and encouraged to contact their health care provider to determine their hepatitis B status or need […]

A 15 year old boy from Kerala’s Malappuram district in southern India has died from diphtheria, according to multiple local media reports. All account say the teen was unvaccinated against diphtheria. He developed fever on June 2 and was admitted to the Medical College Hospital, Kozhikode, on June 6. His condition worsened even though he was administered […]

The Health and Family Planning Commission of Guangdong Province reported Saturday on a human case of H9N2 avian influenza in a child, according to a China News report (computer translated). The case, a four year old girl, is from Xingning City, Meizhou. She is currently in serious condition at a Meizhou hospital. The Guangdong CDC […]

Can you imagine spending a penny on a federal research study to determine the importance federal research funding? How about spending $375,000? Well that’s exactly what the National Science Foundation (NSF) has done and has been revealed to the US taxpayer by Senator Rand Paul in the latest issue of The Waste Report. It seems […]

With the summer travel season kicking into high gear over the next several weeks, Governor Dannel P. Malloy, Lt. Governor Nancy Wyman, and other state officials announced this week that a Zika education and warning campaign will soon be underway at Bradley International Airport. The campaign, a joint effort between the state Department of Public […]

Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) is endemic in Malaysia and occur throughout the year, and follows a ‘cyclical’ trend that peaks every three years, officials from the Ministry of Health said. During the first full week of June, health officials note (computer translated) that the number of HFMD cases reported nationwide that week was 1,379 cases, an increase of […]

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has confirmed a case of Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) in a child in Cass County. This is the first confirmed case of RMSF contracted in Michigan since 2009. RMSF is a tick-borne disease caused by the bacterium Rickettsia rickettsii, and can be fatal if not […]

Just two months after health officials in Davao Oriental in the southern Philippines declared the province free of the mosquito borne parasitic diseases, malaria and filariasis, the northern Mindanao province of Lanao del Norte has followed suit and been declared malaria-free. The province has not recorded a indigenous malaria case in five years and was awarded Malaria-free […]

The north-western Nigerian state of Kebbi has reported 99 active leprosy cases since October 2015, according to a Nigeria media report Saturday. The data was disclosed after an investigation by The Leprosy Mission Nigeria (TLMN). According to the report, Kebbi TLMN coordinator, Ibrahim Abubakar noted that in the fourth quarter of 2015 between October, November and December, […]

Philippines health officials reported on the significant increase of dengue fever in the Western Visayas region of the country, particularly in the province of Iloilo. Through the first five months of 2016, Iloilo has seen more than 1000 dengue cases, an increase of 197 percent compared to the same period in 2015. Three fatalities related […]

GMJ Natural Products Inc. of Anaheim, Ca, is recalling its 32 fl oz jugs of “Jugo Moringa Plus Antioxidant” because they may contain undeclared whey protein. People who have allergies to milk or soy lecithin run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products. The recalled “Jugo Moringa Plus Antioxidant” […]

Out of an abundance of caution and with an emphasis on its customers’ wellness and safety, HP Hood LLC is voluntarily recalling certain code dates of protein drinks from its Sacramento, CA, facility, due to the potential for premature product spoilage. HP Hood is voluntarily recalling specific products after identifying a possible packaging defect that […]

On Friday, Saudi Arabia health authorities reported 11 additional cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), with ten of the cases reported as “secondary healthcare acquired” from Riyadh. The new cases involve six healthcare workers and four patients who were all infected in healthcare settings. As Avian Flu Diary reports, 18 cases have been reported in […]

Earlier this week, the Thailand Bureau of Epidemiology updated the dengue fever situation in the kingdom and it shows that the number of dengue cases has reached 19029, with every one of the 77 provinces affected. Of this total, 16 fatalities have been reported. Maehongsorn, the remote, mountainous province in northern Thailand, bordering Myanmar is now the […]

Norovirus, a virus that causes stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, has been identified as the source of a recent illness in the community, according to the Clinton County Health Department. Residents should be aware and should take measures to avoid becoming ill or spreading the disease. The gastrointestinal symptoms described above can result in […]

The World Health Organization and the Pan American Health Organization and partners have set out their strategic response to Zika which will place a greater focus on preventing and managing medical complications caused by Zika virus infection. To date, US$121.9 million are necessary to effectively implement the Zika Strategic Response Plan, July 2016 to December 2017. […]

Scientists potentially have found a way to disrupt Zika and similar viruses from spreading in the body. A team at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis has identified a single gene pathway that is vital for Zika and other flaviviruses to spread infection between cells. Further, they showed that shutting down a single […]

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director, Dr Thomas Frieden today gave a press conference concerning Zika virus infection in Puerto Rico and blood safety after returning from the island. Frieden started the briefing with the following statement: “Based on the best information available, Zika infections appear to be increasing rapidly in Puerto Rico. […]

New Mexico health officials today reported a case of human plague in a 16-year-old boy from Rio Arriba County. The teen is currently hospitalized for his illness. This is the first human case of plague in New Mexico and in the United States this year. “We will conduct an environmental investigation at the teen’s home to […]

HelloFresh of New York, N.Y. is recalling frozen peas due to notification from a supplier that the peas have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The peas were included in HelloFresh recipe kits delivered the week of June 11-15, 2016 and the weeks of March 12-25, 2016. Listeria monocytogenes is an organism which […]

The Larimer County Department of Health and Environment has confirmed the first human case of tularemia in a county resident in 2016. This patient developed a lung infection, and may have been exposed while mowing the yard or gardening at home in an urban subdivision. Soil can be contaminated by tularemia-causing bacteria from the droppings […]

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) began reporting Zika-related birth defects in the United States to include live-born infants and pregnancy losses. To date, the number of poor birth outcomes among pregnancies with laboratory evidence of possible Zika virus infection has totaled six, with three involving live births. The federal health agency does state […]

The mosquito borne viral disease, yellow fever, has caught the attention of health authorities world wide and the focus remains on Angola. Since early December, the Ministry of Health has reported a total of 3137 suspected cases of which 847 are laboratory confirmed. The total number of reported deaths is 345, of which 112 are […]

A person in the Three Rivers Health Department area (Dodge, Saunders and Washington Counties) tested positive for West Nile virus according to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. The person was not hospitalized. “This is the first human case so far this season and there will be more,” said Dr. Tom Safranek, State […]

The Health and Family Planning Commission of Liaoning Province announced the first human case of avian influenza A(H7N9) in the northeastern Chinese province. According to officials, the male patient aged 67 from Shenyang was in stable condition. Close contacts and those with the same exposure were put under medical observation with no abnormalities so far. From 2013 to […]

The measles outbreak in Arizona linked to the Eloy Detention facility has grown by one additional case in Pinal County, according to Arizona state health officials. This brings the total cases in the current outbreak to 17, sixteen being in Pinal County. The Arizona Department of Health Services reports the following locations as possible exposure […]

Following the recent plague deaths of two Elmore County, Idaho cats, the Central District Health Department has reported a third cat that tested positive for the agent of plague, Yersinia pestis, in Ada County. Unlike the Elmore County cats, this current case is being treated and is recovering. Plague has also been reported in a Clark County […]

The first case of West Nile virus (WNV) disease for the 2016 mosquito season in Oklahoma has been confirmed in a Pittsburg County resident. In addition, collections of mosquitoes which tested positive for WNV have been previously reported by public health officials at the Tulsa and Oklahoma City-County Health Departments. The Oklahoma State Department of […]

I am often asked ‘WHY’? Why is it so difficult to get treated for Lyme disease? Why don’t we have proper testing? Why do doctors know so little about this illness? Why do we, as Canadians, have to cross the border for treatment? Why do we hear that there are no ticks in this city, province, […]

In a follow-up to the H1N1 influenza outbreak in Panama, which the government recently declared a national health alert, La Prensa reports (computer translated) that Panamanian Health Minister Francisco Javier Terrientes submitted his resignation, according to sources close to President Juan Carlos Varela. Terrientes replacement has already bee chosen–Deputy health minister, Miguel Mayo. The outbreak has […]

The U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) Department of Health reported two new cases of Zika in the territory. According to the weekly Zika surveillance report, the total number of confirmed positive cases in the USVI is now 26, 16 cases on St. Croix, 9 cases on St. Thomas and 1 on St. John. There is also […]