Outbreak News Today

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 […]

With some 40 Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) students coming down ill with norovirus-like symptoms (nausea, diarrhea, vomiting and fever) during the past week, school officials announced that the La Prima Espresso in Wean Hall would be closed until Monday for cleaning and sanitization. The decision to close the eatery was made by CMU Dining Services and La Prima […]

Health officials in Sri Lanka are reporting nearly 16,000 dengue fever cases through the first third of 2016, with 14 dengue related fatalities to date. Of the 15,502 cases reported in the first four months, The capital area of Colombo district has recorded the most cases to date, accounting for about a third of all […]

The number of mumps cases reported in Indiana has risen to 93, with the majority of cases being reported at four major universities. Confirmed outbreaks of mumps have been reported at Indiana University in Bloomington (34), Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI)(5), Purdue University in West Lafayette (11), and Butler University in Indianapolis (24). An additional 19 […]

City health officials in Zamboanga City put the norovirus case count at 1,207 through Apr. 28. In addition, five deaths have been reported, four in children, due to the diarrhea but their cases were aggravated by co-morbidities such as pneumonia and malnutrition. Local media reports, City Health Officer Dr. Rodel Agbulos said out of 15 physicians under […]

An outbreak of an intestinal parasite common in the tropics, known as Cryptosporidium, has been identified for the first time in the Arctic. The discovery was made in Nunavik, Quebec, by a team from the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC), in collaboration with the Nunavik Department of Public Health, Institut National […]

Ninety-two passengers and five crew members have been taken ill with symptoms of vomiting on the latest Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Wonder. About 3.5 percent of the more than 2600 passengers onboard the vessel got ill. The cause of the outbreak is unknown to date. In response to the outbreak, Disney Cruise Line and the crew aboard […]

More than 16 percent of passengers onboard the Fred Olsen Cruises ship, Balmoral, have been stricken with gastrointestinal illness caused by norovirus. 159 of the approximately 1400 passengers and crew have suffered from the symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea. Specimens were collected and tested onboard using a norovirus rapid test; results were positive for norovirus. The cruise, which left […]

On Friday, Prefect of Guadeloupe, Jacques Billant announced that a Zika epidemic was officially declared on the island group in the southern Caribbean Sea, according to LeMonde report (computer translated). “We are witnessing in recent weeks to dynamic acceleration of the spread of the virus, this is why I decided to go in an epidemic phase,” said the magistrate. To […]

Infectious disease physician and Forbes contributor, Dr Judy Stone joined me to discuss the mcr-1 gene, the latest research and the serious implications. This interview took place on Jan. 3, 2016 on the Outbreak News This Week Radio Show with Robert Herriman. Related: Staphylococcus aureus skin infections: Many fail to complete antibiotics resulting in new […]

Florida health officials reported Friday on two additional travel associated Zika virus cases in the state, one in Pasco County and one in Orange County. This is the sixth case reported in Orange County while Pasco County is reporting it’s first case. Pasco has been added to the list of counties in which The Declaration of Public Health […]

‘Opening up Science and Engaging the World to Better Tomorrow’ By creating a platform for open peer-review, we are providing scientists, clinicians, organizations and healthcare experts a voice in shaping the future of global health. Open peer-review is a novel tool to promote pan-access science, and helps to improve the quality of research projects. Today, […]

In a follow-up to a report in March, London has seen over 60 cases of measles in the last two months in a period when there would usually be fewer than 10. With 48 of these cases in those aged 15 or over, Public Health England is calling on parents and young adults to consider […]

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved the first generic version of Crestor (rosuvastatin calcium) tablets for the following uses: in combination with diet for the treatment of high triglycerides (hypertriglyceridemia) in adults; in combination with diet for treatment of patients with primary dysbetalipoproteinemia (Type III Hyperlipoproteinemia), a disorder associated with improper breakdown of […]

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported Friday on shortages of the antibiotic, Bicillin-LA (benzathine penicillin G). Benzathine penicillin G is the recommended treatment for syphilis and the only treatment option for pregnant women infected with or exposed to syphilis. According to the FDA, the manufacturer, Pfizer, […]

Last week we reported on local Zika virus transmission in Papua New Guinea based on retrospective testing on samples from patients with symptoms from July 2014 and March 2016. This has prompted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to issue a travel notice for the country Friday. CDC notes mosquitoes that spread Zika usually do not […]

The Angola yellow fever outbreak continues to grow and expand as UN health officials put the number of suspected cases at 2023 since the outbreak began in December. Six hundred fifty three of the cases have been laboratory confirmed. Of this total, 258 deaths have been reported. In the week to 24 April, 115 new […]

In a follow-up to two news stories in Wales–the cryptosporidium and the hepatitis A outbreaks–Public Health Wales Outbreak Control Team investigating cases of cryptosporidium associated with Coleg Gwent’s farm in Usk has declared the outbreak over. The outbreak ended with 14 cases of the parasitic infection linked to regular attendance at the farm or contact with those […]

In early March, CDC Director Dr Thomas Frieden said while visiting Puerto Rico to assess the Zika virus situation, ” We anticipate in the coming weeks and month we will see large increases of cases in Puerto Rico.” The latest information on the Zika outbreak on the Caribbean Island puts the confirmed case count […]

The largest known outbreak of Elizabethkingia anophelis in Wisconsin has grown by two cases and months later, the source of the outbreak remains unknown. According to Wisconsin health officials Wednesday, 65 cases have been reported, with 59 of them confirmed, 2 under investigation, and 4 possible cases. Nineteen deaths have been reported, 18 in confirmed cases and […]

On April 28, 2016, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) to authorize the emergency use of Focus Diagnostics, Inc.’s, Zika Virus RNA Qualitative Real-Time RT-PCR test for the qualitative detection of RNA from Zika virus in human serum specimens from individuals meeting Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) […]

What role does the federal government have, if any, in health care? In a prerecorded interview for the Outbreak News This Week Radio Show this Sunday, I talked to Libertarian Party Presidential candidate Austin Petersen about this question and much more. Petersen says he would overturn Obamacare and seek out market alternatives to health and […]

For the second time in as many days, a Texas locality is issuing a “syphilis alert” due to increases in reported cases of the sexually transmitted infection (STI). The City of Amarillo’s Department of Public Heath has received reports of 31 cases of syphilis since the beginning of 2016. In 2015, 47 cases of syphilis […]

In a follow-up to the ever growing mumps outbreak at Harvard University, which we reported the first cases on Mar. 1, local health officials report forty-one (41) mumps cases had been confirmed in the Harvard community, as of April 27. The Harvard community includes current Harvard students, faculty, and staff. Those who have been diagnosed […]

State and local health officials in Hawaii report no recent incidences of locally acquired dengue fever in 30 days; however, they say the public should not to let their guard down in the fight against mosquitoes and the diseases they transmit. The state and Hawai‘i County are standing down certain emergency response activities related to the dengue […]

In a follow-up to a report on a secondary Lassa fever case in a German funeral home worker, health officials report the patient has fully recovered and been discharged from hospital in Frankfurt. The case had recovered by 6 April, when all the contacts completed their 21-day follow-up period, however his hospital discharge was delayed due […]

The number of measles cases reported in the Memphis area stands at six, prompting the Shelby County Health Department to declare an outbreak. County health officials remind residents For measles vaccinations, please do NOT go to a hospital emergency room. Either go to your health care provider or one of the Shelby County Health Department Clinics listed […]

A devastating livestock disease is continuing to extend its global reach and is now present in 76 countries. Georgia recently reported its first-ever case of Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR), a viral disease which is capable of severely impacting goat and sheep populations, while a new outbreak has occurred in the Maldives, showing that even […]

The number of syphilis cases, primary, secondary and early latent syphilis, reported in Lubbock County, Texas have tripled in the first third of 2016 compared to the same period last year, prompting health officials to issue a Syphilis Alert. During the first 4 months of 2016, 24 cases were identified compared to 8 cases during […]

A new study has uncovered an increased risk of dementia–in particular Alzheimer’s disease–in patients with rosacea. Importantly, the risk was highest in older patients and in patients where rosacea was diagnosed by a hospital dermatologist. The findings are published in the Annals of Neurology, a journal of the American Neurological Association and Child Neurology Society. Rosacea […]

In a letter to the University of Dayton campus community, President Daniel J. Curran writes that Wednesday that the school has confirmed a total of nine cases of mumps on campus. “We strongly encourage you to take these steps to help prevent the spread of mumps or other illnesses as we enter finals week”: If you have not […]

After reporting more than 1100 gastrointestinal viral infections, Zamboanga City Mayor, Beng Climaco signed Executive Order 174 declaring a gastroenteritis outbreak in the city. To date, the disease has claimed five lives, 4 of which are pediatric cases and all had co-morbidities such as pneumonia and malnutrition. Climaco’s order tasked City Health Officer Rodel Agbulos along with other concerned […]

The Eastern Illinois University Health Service has reported on a mumps outbreak that has affected 10 students to date at the Charleston, Il campus. Mumps is a self-limited viral illness, which is spread through respiratory droplets, direct contact with infected fluids, such as saliva and through contaminated objects such as eating utensils and drinkware. The illness generally […]

Each year around the world, rabies results in more than approximately 59,000 deaths– that is nearly one death every 9 minutes. Most deaths are reported from Africa and Asia with almost 50% of the victims being children under the age of 15. China remains a high-risk region for rabies transmission. During the period from 2006 to […]

On Tuesday, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen joined City leaders to announce Baltimore City’s Zika Preparedness Plan to educate the public about the Zika virus and coordinate a citywide response to help prevent the spread of the virus. Baltimore’s Citywide Zika Plan will be the first in Maryland, and aims to serve […]

Norovirus. That nasty little bug most commonly associated with cruise ship outbreaks is quite costly, in medical, economic and societal terms. Norovirus kills 200,000 globally annually, while Bartsch et al estimate the annual global economic burden of norovirus at over $60 billion dollars; $4.2b of which comes in direct health systems cost, and $56.1b in societal costs. […]

In a follow-up to a report last week, Waikato health officials updated their measles alert Tuesday noting that the current situation is as follows: Notification of 18 possible cases and eight confirmed, three are under investigation and seven have been determined not to be measles. All eight cases have been in the Waikato Hospital Emergency Department. […]

Thirteen people, including a one-year-old child, have become infected with anthrax in Hukumpeta, Andhra Pradesh in southeastern India, according to local media accounts. The patients, who were admitted in the King George Hospital last night, all contracted the cutaneous form of the serious bacterial infection. Reports note that all the victims contracted the disease through consumption of […]

In an update on the first of its kind immunization program with the newly approved dengue vaccine, Dengvaxia, Philippines health officials (DOH) provided the following update Monday. The Dengue School-Based Immunization program that commenced on Apr. 4 continues on and at the three week mark, a total of 204, 397 (73%) pupils were vaccinated out of 279,393 […]

In what is the first epidemiological bulletin released by the Brazil Health Ministry with registered Zika data, we find that health officials have reported 91,300 cases through February and March this year, according to a news release Tuesday (computer translated). Officials report the incidence rate at 44.7 cases per 100 thousand inhabitants. The Ministry of Health […]

HHS Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell announced today $5 million in funding to 20 health centers in Puerto Rico to further combat the Zika virus disease. Health centers will use this funding to expand voluntary family planning services, including contraceptive services, outreach and education, and to hire more staff. “In Puerto Rico, and around the world, […]

Harvard University Health Services (HUHS) has reported Monday that the number of mumps cases on campus has risen to 40, up from 34 confirmed cases reported last Friday. The total cases is more than double what was reported one month ago. Director, HUHS, Paul J. Barreira, M.D. wrote in an Apr 22 email that many others have presented […]

As scientists scramble to get a Zika virus vaccine into human trials by the end of the summer, a team of researchers is working on the first-ever vaccine to prevent another insect-borne disease – Leishmaniasis – from gaining a similar foothold in the Americas. Leishmaniasis is a parasitic infection passed on through the bite of […]

Mike Coston is the Owner/Editor of Avian Flu Diary The effectiveness of the flu jab can vary widely from one person to the next, and over the years we’ve seen a number of theories as to why this might be. The usual suspects – age (over 65), or a less than robust immune system – are […]

The number of yellow fever cases in Angola have risen slightly in the past week as health officials continue in their attempt to get the outbreak, that started last December, under control. The World Health Organization (WHO) is reminding all travelers to the country that they are required to receive the yellow fever vaccination and to […]