Outbreak News Today

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 […]

The Chinese National Health and Family Planning Commission has reported on an additional human case of avian influenza A(H5N6) in Hunan. The case involves an 11-year-old girl who lives in Zhuzhou, Hunan. With history of poultry contact before onset, the patient developed fever on April 11 and was admitted to a local hospital the next day. She […]

The World Health Organization (WHO) was informed of two additional imported yellow fever (YF) cases in China. The details of the cases are as follows: The tenth imported case is an 18-year-old male from Fujian Province, China, who had been living in Angola. On 12 March, he had onset of fever and other symptoms, and […]

In a follow-up to a previous report on yellow fever in Central Peru, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) reports that through the first week of April 2016, there were 25 suspected cases of yellow fever reported, including two deaths. Of the reported cases, nine were confirmed, 11 were classified as probable, and five were discarded. […]

Canadian health officials reported yesterday on the confirmation of the first positive case of Zika virus transmitted sexually in Canada. Testing at the Public Health Agency of Canada’s (PHAC) National Microbiology Laboratory confirmed the case. The individual from Ontario is suspected to have contracted the virus from a sexual partner who was diagnosed with Zika virus after […]

In a follow-up to the measles investigation in Shelby County, Tennessee, health officials report four additional cases in the Memphis area that meets the case definition for measles, bringing the total to six. “As a highly contagious and sometimes serious disease, measles infects approximately 20 million worldwide each year,” said Tennessee Department of Health (TDH) […]

A state health official is warning South Dakotans to be aware of tick-borne illness as they head outdoors this spring. “Every year we see cases of Rocky Mountain spotted fever, tularemia and other tick-borne diseases in South Dakota. Last year was a particularly bad year for tularemia with 25 total cases when we typically see […]

Three cases of the Equine Herpes Myeloencephalopathy (EHM) have been confirmed at Fonner Park in Grand Island resulting in State Veterinarian Dr. Dennis Hughes calling for horse owners to use best biosecurity practices. Samples were collected and sent to the National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa, where the disease was confirmed. One of the […]

In a follow-up to the norovirus outbreak in Zamboanga City, city health officials reported Monday that the case count has now hit 1,174 in the past month, which is straining the capacity of private and government hospitals. This has prompted City Health Officer Dr Rodel Agbulos to look at using the Paseo del Mar Complex to treat the […]

Public health officials in Catelonia, Spain are reporting that 4136 people were sickened with norovirus linked to tainted bottled water since the first cases reported symptoms two weeks ago. Health officials say no new cases have been reported since Apr. 18 and are saying the outbreak is over, according to a health department news release […]

Health officials in Bahrain reported details of a fatal Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) case, the first in the country, to the World Health Organization (WHO). Specifics of the case include the following: A 61-year-old, Saudi male was admitted on 29 March to a health care facility in Bahrain for an unrelated medical condition. He was […]

The Hong Kong Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is investigating a suspected ciguatera toxin poisoning cases affecting three patients. The case involves three females aged from 43 to 80. Two patients developed symptoms of ciguatoxin poisoning including lip and limb numbness, weakness, dizziness and diarrhea about four to seven hours after […]

Health care based strictly on free market principles does exist in the United States and is growing, offering excellent care, personalized service, no bureaucracy and incredibly affordable price. My guests on Sunday evening’s airing of the Outbreak News This Week Radio Show demonstrate what can happen when you abstain from the government/health insurance company cartel […]

On Friday, Benton-Franklin Health District officials announced that a local resident was being tested for a possible case of pneumonic plague. On Saturday, health officials said tests performed at the Washington State Department of Health were negative. Plague occurs naturally in the western United States; the last case in Washington State was in 1984. The plague bacterium (Yersinia […]

Hong Kong health officials reported Friday an update on the food borne outbreak liked with a food premises in Discovery Bay. Subsequent to follow-up investigations, the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) identified six additional clusters affecting 18 persons, 10 males and eight females aged from 1 to 64. They developed diarrhea, […]

Officials in the United Republic of Tanzania say that as of last Wednesday, the number of cholera cases in the current outbreak is now 24,108, including 378 deaths nationally. The majority of these cases had been reported from 23 regions in mainland Tanzania (20,961 cases, including 329 deaths). The overall trend of incident cases has been fluctuating. […]

Health officials in Davao Oriental in the southern Philippines has declared the province free of the mosquito borne parasitic diseases, malaria and filariasis. During the ceremonial declaration and awarding on April 20 at the Provincial Capitol, DOH Undersecretary for Technical Services, Dr. Vicente Belisario, Jr., lauded Davao Oriental’s feat for eliminating two major public health […]

The president and founder of TickEase, Inc., Daniel Wolff, joined me for a interview on ticks on Dec. 27, 2015. “Tick Man Dan” discussed all aspects of ticks to include prevention and removal. Related: Lyme is a ‘do-it-yourself’ disease Lyme disease: Northeastern University researchers investigate four promising new treatments Lyme ‘slime’ and lead poisoning: Discussions on Outbreak […]

CVS Pharmacy® announced today that it has voluntarily recalled select cases of Gold Emblem Abound™ Organic Spiced Herbal Tea following notification from the manufacturer that the product is potentially contaminated with Salmonella. An ingredient produced by the manufacturer’s raw material supplier tested positive forSalmonella in another company’s product. CVS Pharmacy’s Gold Emblem product also contains […]

MEDICAL DISASTER IN THE SHADOW OF THE FAILURE OF THE ISLAMIC STATE IN IRAQ The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, well known as the terror group ISIS(ISIL-DAESH) seems to fight not only to survive on the battle ground against so many different enemies but also to defeat the invisible enemies, infectious diseases. Since the […]

The number of mumps cases in central Indiana continue to rise as state health officials put the count at 78. The Indiana State Department of Health has confirmed outbreaks of mumps at Indiana University in Bloomington (22) Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) (5), Purdue University (8) in West Lafayette, and Butler University in Indianapolis (24). An […]

Hawaii health officials reported on Friday of an additional confirmed case of dengue fever, bringing the state’s outbreak total to 264. Officials do note that the case had an onset of illness that dates back to November. Hawaii County says if you suspect you may have dengue, remain indoors to prevent the possibility of being […]

Connecticut health officials reported Friday on the second travel associated Zika virus case in a traveler to a Zika affected area. The first case was reported one month ago. The Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) says they were informed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene that a Connecticut man tested […]

Richard W. Truman, Ph.D., Chief, Laboratory Research Branch with the National Hansen’s Disease Program joined me to talk about leprosy in the United States and recent research published in the journal, Emerging Infectious Diseases entitled “Zoonotic Leprosy in the Southeastern United States” on the Outbreak News This Week Radio Show with Robert Herriman on Dec. […]

Health officials in Algeria are investigating a large human brucellosis outbreak in Ghardaia province in the eastern part of the country. According to an Algeria Press Service report (computer translated), 819 were diagnosed since the beginning of the year, a number equal to the cumulative cases reported in the previous three years. All the cases were treated […]

Four British Columbia residents who feed their pets raw food diets have become infected with the same strain of Salmonella, according the BC Centre for Disease Control. The exact source of the Salmonella is unknown but investigations are ongoing. Infections can occur during handling of raw meat, including raw pet food, or from pets shedding the bacteria. Animals can […]

A broad spectrum antibiotic that could become the first of its kind to treat specific Gram negative and Gram positive infections as well as tularemia, a bioterrorism threat, will undergo the last steps in development with support from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response […]

Vermont Senator and Democratic Presidential candidate , Bernie Sanders, has presented a pretty grandiose and enormously expensive universal health care plan, or “Medicare for All” for the country. On his website it says: Americans need a health care system that works for patients and providers. We need to focus our federal investments on training the health care […]

Missouri health officials reported Friday on the 4th imported Zika virus case in the state. The patient is a pregnant woman who had travelled to Nicaragua. Nearly 80 percent of people infected with the virus will have no symptoms. Typically, symptoms are mild and include fever, rash, joint soreness and/or redness of eyes. According to the […]

State and local health officials in Tennessee are investigating two confirmed positive measles cases in Memphis-area residents. Officials say there is no known connection between the two individuals and the source of the virus has not yet been identified. More cases are anticipated in the Memphis area. While the investigation is currently centered in Shelby County, all Tennesseans should […]

Waikato health officials are advising the public of a measles exposure at an event in Hamilton last weekend. A measles case attended while infectious, a regional Tainui Waka Kapa Haka festival held Saturday 16 April at the Claudelands Event Centre in Hamilton. Around 5,000 attended the national event with attendees from throughout the North Island. There […]

UN health officials say the number of meningitis cases in the western African nation of Niger has surpassed 1,000 cases. Since January, Niger has seen 1,049 meningitis cases in the current epidemic, which has killed 76. The Niger Health Ministry says the bulk of the cases are in children. A vaccination campaign has reached more […]

Retrospective testing for Zika virus of samples taken from patients presenting with a febrile illness between July 2014 and March 2016 in Papua New Guinea reveal local transmission of the virus, according to a World Health Organization (WHO) report. Six cases of Zika virus infection had been confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The details include: no Zika virus […]

The Director of the University of Texas Medical Branch Institute for Human Infections and Immunity and the Scientific Director of the Galveston National Laboratory, Scott C. Weaver, M.S., Ph.D. joined me to answer questions about Zika virus on the Outbreak News This Week Radio Show on Dec. 20, 2015. Related Zika news and information: Ecuador: Zika, dengue […]

For the second time this year, Russian health authorities have reported an imported Zika virus case in a traveler to the Caribbean country of Dominican Republic. The first case was reported in February. According to Interfax, Russia’s chief epidemiologist, Anna Popova said, “More than three million people have been examined as of today. A total of 201 […]

Authorities with South Australia Health (SA Health) are warning the public not to eat raw bean sprouts following a large increase in Salmonella infections in recent days. Over the past 11 days there have been 108 Salmonella Saintpaul cases reported. South Australia sees around 15 to 20 cases each year. Since the start of December, […]

Wales health officials, along with Aneurin Bevan University Health Board and Caerphilly Council Borough Council, are investigating an outbreak of hepatitis A in the Caerphilly area. There are four cases all of whom are associated with Glyn-Gaer Primary School. As a precaution vaccination is being offered to pupils and staff who may be at risk through socializing […]

Health officials in Ho Chi Minh City (HCM City) have reported a dramatic increase in dengue fever during the first quarter of 2016. More than 6100 dengue cases have been recorded through March, up 88 percent compared to the same period in 2015. In addition, an outbreak of Zika virus, that was earlier this month, was declared […]

Wyoming health officials reported yesterday that three domestic cats from Park County have tested positive for Yersinia pestis, the causative agent of the plague. All three cats lived in Cody, off the South Fork Road. The illness was confirmed in the first pet by the Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory in Laramie on April 12, with […]

In a follow-up report to the first measles death recorded in the US since 2003, the Seattle Times, through death records, identified the victim as 28-year-old, Catherine J. Montantes of Port Angeles. She died last April and was publicly announced in July. The measles infection wasn’t detected until after an autopsy. She suffered from a rare inflammatory myopathy, […]

Student health officials at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio have reported a confirmed mumps case on campus. They advise the campus community take caution and seek medical attention if you suspect you have been exposed to mumps. According to reports, the case is in a student that lives off-campus. Mumps outbreaks have been seen at a number of […]

The Elizabethkingia anophelis outbreak that has affected dozens in Wisconsin, Illinois and Michigan, killing at least 20, has been reported to the World Health Organization (WHO). UN health officials say the current outbreak in the United States is the largest known outbreak of Elizabethkingia on record. This does not include yesterday’s report of a second […]

An outbreak of the gastrointestinal virus, norovirus, has sickened some 700 people, primarily children, and killed four, according to city officials. According to a Manila Times report, most of those affected by the virus were residents of the following barangays: Santa Catalina, Tumaga, Upper Calarian, Mampang, San Roque, Santa Barbara, Tetuan, Talon-Talon and Tugbungan, where […]

Health officials in Rhode Island have reported the first confirmed case of Zika virus in the state. The individual who tested positive, a male in his 60s, had recently traveled to Haiti, where there is active mosquito-borne transmission of Zika. “We have been closely monitoring the Zika situation internationally and have been coordinating with Rhode Island […]

CARE International is warning of an increased risk of mosquito-borne disease in earthquake-hit Ecuador, with Zika virus and dengue fever posing immediate threats. The powerful magnitude-7.8 earthquake killed at least 500 people when it struck on Saturday and left thousands of people homeless. CARE’s Emergency Team Leader in Ecuador, Lucy Harman, said the recovery effort […]