Outbreak News Today

On the Feb. 14 airing of the Outbreak News This Week Radio Show, I had a thorough discussion about psoriatic disease with rheumatologist, Dr David Sikes, a physician who has an interest in treating severe cases. During the interview, Dr Sikes talked in detail about the various types of psoriasis, diagnosis, comorbidities, treatment options and pediatric cases. To learn […]

Doctors are being advised to consider the diagnosis of Lyme disease in patients with suggestive symptoms, as the disease can often be mistaken for other conditions, according to the Medical Defence Union (MDU). Numbers of cases of Lyme disease, a bacterial condition spread by infected ticks, have risen in recent years, and it is estimated […]

As one of medicine’s largest challenges, viral infections often escape vaccines due to their natural ability to mutate rapidly and develop drug resistance easily. Many viruses, such as Zika, Ebola and dengue fever, have grown into major global health epidemics with great human and economic toll. This week, IBM Research and Singapore’s Institute of Bioengineering, […]

The Canadian resort town in British Columbia, Whistler, is experiencing an outbreak of mumps, prompting calls for vaccination from local health officials. According to Vancouver Coastal Health, 11 cases of mumps were reported in young adults in Whistler as of Friday. To be protected against mumps, you need to have: Two doses of mumps containing vaccine if […]

A human infection with the “swine flu”, novel swine-origin flu case of variant H1N2 (H1N2v) in the state of Minnesota. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the patient was hospitalized as a result of their illness, but has fully recovered. An investigation is ongoing into the source of the patient’s infection and to […]

In a follow-up to an earlier report, Kent County Health Department officials have a confirmed positive case of mumps on the Calvin College campus in Grand Rapids, Michigan. School officials say that this means that students who have not been vaccinated are being offered a choice between being vaccinated or being isolated according to the recommendations of […]

The Zika virus situation in Puerto Rico continues to grow and we learn today that the first Zika related microcephaly case was reported by island health officials. For the last week of April, 140 additional confirmed Zika virus cases were reported, bringing the total to 925. Of the additional 140 cases, 18 were seen in […]

In a follow-up to previous reports (HERE and HERE) on the gastrointestinal outbreak onboard a Disney Wonder voyage last month, federal health officials reported on Thursday that the etiology has been identified as norovirus. 131 of 2680 passengers and 14 of 991 crewmembers suffered symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea during the four day cruise ending May […]

The Hawaii State Department of Health (DOH) and the East Hawaii Liaison to the Office of the Governor announced today the establishment of a Joint Task Force to assess the threat of rat lungworm disease (Angiostrongyliasis) in Hawaii. The mission of the task force is to share scientific knowledge in the application of diagnostics, treatment, […]

On Wednesday evening, Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02) hosted an interactive “Telephone Town Hall” meeting with residents of Hawaii’s Second Congressional District to discuss dengue fever, Zika, and other mosquito borne illnesses. Expert guests Chief Darryl Oliveira from Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense and State Epidemiologist Dr. Sarah Park were featured on the call to share important updates with listeners […]

Health officials in Singapore reported today on the first travel associated Zika virus case on the island city-state, The Ministry of Health (MOH) says the patient is a 48-year-old male Singapore Permanent Resident who had traveled to Sao Paulo, Brazil from 27 March to 7 May 2016. The patient developed fever and rash from 10 May […]

As part of the CRF Frozen Foods recall, McCall Farms Incorporated is notifying consumers that it is recalling Piggly Wiggly brand frozen Yellow Cut Corn due to the potential risk that it may contain Listeria monocytogenes. McCall Farms was notified by its supplier, CRF Frozen Foods, of this potential contamination. No other McCall Farms products […]

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is advising that the serious side effects associated with fluoroquinolone antibacterial drugs generally outweigh the benefits for patients with sinusitis, bronchitis, and uncomplicated urinary tract infections who have other treatment options. For patients with these conditions, fluoroquinolone should be reserved for those who do not have alternative treatment options. […]

The University Health Center at the University of Oregon (UO) has issued a “norovirus alert’ as a number of cases of have been confirmed in the UO community. According to reports, there have been 34 reports of gastroenteritis symptoms in UO students. This outbreak follows one in early April on the campus of Oregon State University […]

Officials with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) and the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) have confirmed the first case of measles in the Commonwealth this year, in an individual with an unknown vaccination history who recently visited Massachusetts from Europe. There have been potential exposures over the past week in the greater Boston area to […]

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is advising parents to make sure their children are up to date on chickenpox vaccination following reports of increased cases and outbreaks in the state. Preliminary numbers for 2016 indicate there have been 239 chickenpox cases through April, which is about 57 percent more than that time […]

Local mosquito transmission of Zika virus infection has been reported in the Caribbean island of Grenada. Local mosquito transmission means that mosquitoes in the area are infected with Zika virus and are spreading it to people. This has prompted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to issue a travel notice for travelers to […]

In a follow-up to a report on this site concerning the upcoming Summer Olympic and Paralympic games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, WHO and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) recognize that athletes and visitors are seeking more information on the risks of Zika and ways to prevent infection while attending the Olympic and Paralympic […]

New data released by the Costa Rica Health Ministry’s Department of Health Surveillance (computer translated) show dramatic increases in cases of the mosquito borne viral diseases, dengue fever and chikungunya. Costa Rica recorded 6,357 cases of dengue during the first four months of 2016. This is a more than 600 percent increase compared to the same […]

Whole Foods Market is voluntarily recalling one batch of Whole Foods Market™ Korean BBQ Sauce because the product contains Peanut Coconut Sauce and therefore includes peanut and treenut (coconut) allergens that were not declared on product packaging. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to peanuts and or tree nuts (coconut) run the risk […]

In new study, 74 percent of patients had Lyme disease and not septic arthritis Septic or infectious arthritis of the knee and Lyme disease have similar symptoms in children but require different immediate treatment to ensure optimal recovery. A new study in the May 4 issue of the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery identifies […]

Publix Super Markets is issuing a voluntary recall for cranberry nut and seed mix because it may be adulterated with Listeria monocytogenes. Publix received notification of the potential contamination from the walnut supplier, Woodstock Farms, after routine testing was completed. The 7.05 ounce plastic containers of prepackaged cranberry nut and seed mix were sold at […]

According to the Secretary of Health of Medellín, dengue fever cases in the city are more than five times higher compared to 2015. At least 4,690 cases of dengue fever have been identified in Colombia’s second largest city and capital of Antioquía Department, compared to only 862 during the same period in 2015. During the […]

Connecticut health officials reported the fourth individual has tested positive for Zika virus. The patient is a non-pregnant woman in her 30s who traveled from the Caribbean to Connecticut on April 25th and became ill on April 29th. Her symptoms included fever, rash and conjunctivitis. The State Laboratory confirmed the patient’s test result using PCR testing. This level of […]

The Northeastern University and St. John’s prep communities are mourning the loss of 18-year-old Northeastern freshman and Wakefield resident, Ryan Shaw, who died Sunday after a short battle with meningitis. Shaw studied Finance at Northeastern and was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. On Tuesday, the St. John’s Prep community held a prayer service in […]

The idea of a home remedy that can cure skin cancer may sound appealing, but dermatologists will tell you it’s too good to be true. According to new research published in the May issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, the vast majority of patients who use the home remedy black salve […]

Health officials in Murang’a County, Kenya say that 16 people, men, women and children, were hospitalized for suspected anthrax Tuesday after consuming tainted cows, according to local media. Joseph Mbai, Murang’a County health chief officer said, “The four cows that were slaughtered were sickly and the owner decided to sell the meat to neighbors and share with […]

Florida health officials reported today on three additional imported Zika virus cases in the state, two in Volusia County (the first cases reported) and an additional case in Orange County. This brings the total cases to 112 in Florida. All cases are travel-associated. Volusia County is the 19th county to be added to the Declaration of Public […]

In a follow-up on the microcephaly situation in Brazil, although slowing, the number of confirmed cases have doubled in the past two months with the total confirmed now up to 1326, according to Brazil health officials (computer translated). 205 cases were confirmed by specific laboratory criteria for Zika (PCR and serology technique) virus. Since the beginning […]

The China National Health and Family Planning Commission reported today on eight additional human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) with onset of symptoms between March 23 and April 21. Details of the cases are as follows: 1. A man aged 61 in Wuxi, Jiangsu, with exposure to a poultry market who died on April 19; 2. A […]

Rucker’s Makin’ Batch Candies, Inc. of Bridgeport, IL is voluntarily recalling the specific code dates listed below of Dollywood Sweet & Salty Trail Mix cello bag, due to the potential presence of Listeria Monocytogenes. Listeria monocytogenes is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and […]

The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) said today it is recalling Kroger Broccoli Raisin Salad because a supplier indicated sunflower kernels included in the package may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which could result in severe illness to those individuals who may consume this product. No customer illnesses have been reported to date. Stores […]

WCD Kitchen, LLC of Fontana, California is voluntarily recalling Trader Joe’s Kale & Edamame Salad (UPC 00967112), sold only in the Midwest, with a “USE BY May 05, 2016 through May 14, 2016”, because the product may be contaminated with Salmonella. No illnesses have been reported to date. Salmonella is an organism that can cause serious […]

Just days after the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) reported on the fourth travel-associated Zika virus case in a traveler to Vietnam, health officials report on an additional case in a business traveler to the Philippines. According to media reports, the 39-year-old man visited Batangas, Philippines on the island of Luzon returned home […]

Retired National Football League (NFL) players are at no greater risk of suicide when compared with the general U.S. population, according to a new study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The findings from CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) appear in the May issue of the American Journal […]

Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) officials are encouraging livestock owners to vaccinate their animals after anthrax was confirmed in a cow in southeast Webb County in mid-April. “The anthrax vaccination is reliable and proven to protect livestock from the disease,” said Dr. Andy Schwartz, TAHC Interim Executive Director. “Livestock owners are urged to consult with […]

For the first time, one of the nation’s Centers for Innovation in Advanced Development and Manufacturing (CIADM) will support development of a second-generation anthrax vaccine under a task order issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR). The CIADM led by the Texas […]

The administration’s request for $1.9 billion in emergency Zika funding remains stalled in the Senate. A week prior, Democratic Presidential frontrunner, Hillary Clinton went to Change.org to encourage the Congress to approve these funds. In an op-ed published last week, Clinton writes: “I recently asked two of my senior campaign advisers to go to Puerto […]

Ebola virus samples taken from patients in Liberia in June 2015 are strikingly similar in their genetic makeup to other Ebola virus sequences from Western Africa, according to research published online today in the journal Science Advances. The study sheds light on several aspects of the “flare-ups” that have occurred in Liberia since the country […]

I had the opportunity to interview an expert on the topic of blood clots on the Sunday, Jan. 10 airing of the Outbreak News This Week Radio Show. Dr. Jack Ansell is former Chair of Medicine, Lenox Hill Hospital and is a Professor of Medicine at Hofstra-NorthShore/LIJ School of Medicine. In addition, he is on the medical […]

On 20 April 2016, the National IHR Focal Point of the United States of America notified PAHO/WHO of an ongoing investigation of four multistate outbreaks of human Salmonella infections linked to exposure to small turtles (with shell length <4 inches/10 centimetres) or their environments (e.g., water from a turtle habitat) in the United States. A […]

Health officials in Colombia have issued an alert to an outbreak of the disfiguring parasitic infection, leishmaniasis, which has already affected 80 people, according to a La Opinion report (computer translated). Director of the Departmental Health Institute, John Bitar said the outbreak was in Norte de Santander department in northern Colombia, bordering Venezuela. The outbreak began in Arboledas, […]

Officials with the the Southwest Georgia Health District are warning the public of the infectious disease risks associated with wild, or feral pigs. Hunters and others who come into contact with them or their meat should take precautions, says Southwest Health District Epidemiologist Jacqueline Jenkins. “Some of them [diseases] can result in long-term health problems or […]

San Diego health officials are reporting a second chickenpox cluster in as many weeks in a second school. Last week, officials said six students at San Diego Cooperative Charter School’s Linda Vista campus have been diagnosed with chickenpox (varicella). On Friday, an unrelated cluster has been reported at the Dehesa Charter School Chula Vista Resource Center. […]

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 Puerto Rico while pregnant has tested positive for Zika virus. While Zika is associated with microcephaly and other birth defects, none have been identified in the infant. As a precaution, […]

Iowa health officials reported Friday the 5th imported Zika virus infection of the year in a traveler to Central America. The patient is a non-pregnant, middle-aged woman. The first travel associated Zika case in Iowa was reported on Feb. 19. Four of the five cases reported were non-pregnant females. Nationally, the Centers for Disease Control […]

Last summer-fall, the Illinois Veteran’s Home – Quincy suffered a Legionnaires’ disease outbreak that sickened dozens and killed a number of people. On Friday, The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) announced a confirmed case of Legionnaires’ disease in an Adams County resident. IDPH identified at least two locations where the individual could have been exposed to the […]

State health officials warned Coloradans Friday to avoid hantavirus exposure. There have been two confirmed cases of hantavirus in the state this year, one of which resulted in death. Hantavirus is a serious and potentially fatal respiratory disease carried by deer mice. People become infected by breathing in dirt and dust contaminated with deer mouse […]

The Virgin Islands Department of Health confirmed one additional case of Zika on St. Croix and one in St. Thomas. The total confirmed Zika cases is now 16; 14 of which are on St. Croix and two on St. Thomas. “Today’s report shows that we must continue to protect ourselves from mosquito-borne illnesses,” Commissioner Nominee, […]

An upcoming water shortage concerns the world’s largest food company more than the financial crisis we experienced eight years ago, according to a 2009 telegram (cable) published on Wikileaks. The text of cable from Switzerland Bern states: Nestle estimates the upper limit on sustainable global fresh water withdrawals to be 12,500 cubic kilometers per year, with 2008 […]