Outbreak News Today

Health officials in the eastern Caribbean island nation of Barbados are investigating eight suspected Zika virus infections, according to local media Friday. According to Minister of Health, John Boyce, samples on the suspected cases have been sent to the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) for confirmatory testing. Boyce is urging the public to clean up mosquito breeding […]

An outbreak of suspected Lassa fever in at least 10 states in Nigeria since November has resulted in up to 40 fatalities, according to Nigerian health officials. Health Minister Isaac Adewole said during a news conference yesterday, “The total number (of suspected cases) reported is 86 and 40 deaths, with a mortality rate of 43.2 percent.” […]

The Alabama Department of Public Health is investigating a foodborne outbreak in Pelham, Alabama. Four individuals who had eaten at Johnny Ray’s in Pelham, Alabama (309 Huntley Parkway) tested positive for Salmonella. Two have matching patterns of a rare Salmonella Enteritidis. Other potential cases of Salmonella are being investigated. As of January 8, 2016, the […]

Plague outbreaks occur annually on the island country of Madagascar and 2015 was no different. Health officials said Thursday that the outbreak that began in August has resulted in some 174 bubonic plague cases and 63 deaths. At least 79 people died after an outbreak in 2014 that continued into early 2015, when at least […]

The state of New Jersey has reported one human infection with a novel influenza A virus. The individual was infected with an influenza A (H3N2) variant (H3N2v) virus. The patient was not hospitalized and has fully recovered from their illness. The patient visited a farm near where swine are frequently housed but no direct contact with […]

The death toll has reached nine due to pneumococcal meningitis in the Tain District of the Brong Ahafo Region in South Ghana, according to a Citi 97.3 fm report. The outbreak of the bacterial infection began last month and nearly three dozen cases have been reported to date. Tain District Health Director, Dr. Michael Rockson Adjei said, “We […]

An outbreak of the mosquito borne viral disease, yellow fever, has killed three people to date in the West Gonga District of northern Ghana in West Africa, according to local media reports. The outbreak that started several weeks ago, prompted health officials to issue a health alert and has affected at least of dozen people. Health […]

New findings from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), confirm dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine, the first-line treatment for Plasmodium falciparum malaria infection in Cambodia, has failed in certain provinces due to parasite resistance to artemisinin and piperaquine. Dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine is an artemisinin combination therapy (ACT) for malaria that […]

The Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR) announced this week the initiation of a Phase 2 clinical trial to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of a prime-boost Ebola vaccine regimen in both healthy and HIV-infected study volunteers. This study includes two vaccine candidates, Ad26.ZEBOV from Crucell Holland B.V., one of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies […]

Cold weather means more indoor time for many Montanans. Close contact indoors often helps spread illnesses, such as norovirus, anywhere people gather together. Holiday gatherings, schools and settings such as long-term care and assisted living facilities are especially vulnerable to outbreaks. “Norovirus can spread very quickly and can make some people very ill,” Department of […]

Globally, oral cholera vaccine (OCV) production is low, with demands currently exceeding supply. Sudan and Haiti last year made requests to WHO for supplies of vaccines to conduct pre-emptive vaccination campaigns that could not be filled because of the global shortage. The vaccine producer, a South Korean company, is the latest oral cholera vaccine (OCV) […]

Following human H5N6 avian influenza cases reported in Shenzhen City and Zhaoqing City since late December, early January, including a fatality, the Health and Family Planning Commission of Guangdong Province has reported a 3rd case in the past couple weeks involving a 25-year-old Longgang, Shenzhen man. The patient is currently hospitalized in serious condition. From 2014 to date, a […]

A team of researchers at Kansas State University, in collaboration with Garcia-Sastre of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, has developed a vaccine that protects poultry from multiple strains of avian influenza found in the U.S., including H5N1, H5N2 and H5N8. The vaccine has the potential to be administered through water or into […]

In what is likely to be the next eradicated infectious disease following smallpox, the Carter Center announced some big progress concerning Guinea worm disease today. Only 22 cases of Guinea worm disease were reported worldwide in 2015, an 83 percent reduction from the 126 cases reported in 2014, the greatest single percentage reduction in human cases […]

Rift Valley Fever (RVF) is mosquito-borne virus that is endemic in parts of Africa. It primarily infects animals like sheep, cattle and goats and it can have an economic impact on a community due to the loss of livestock. Last month, several federal health agencies including the NOAA, USDA and the CDC released a report […]

After not reporting any new dengue fever cases since the weekend, the Hawaii Department of Health (HDOH) revealed five additional cases of the mosquito borne viral illness Wednesday, bringing the outbreak total to 207. Of the confirmed cases, 187 are Hawaii Island residents and 20 are visitors. Of the confirmed cases, six individuals are currently listed […]

Bay Area Lyme Foundation, a leading nonprofit funder of innovative Lyme disease research in the US, last month released its roster of 2015 research grant recipients. Collectively these researchers received $1.5 million from the Foundation for research related to Lyme disease, a growing epidemic with more than 329,000 reported new cases each year according to the […]

The Departmental Health Service of Santa Cruz in Bolivia reported the first case of Zika infection in the country, according to an El Dia report (computer translated). Health officials note that the case is considered imported and the patient contracted the virus while in Matto Grosso State, Brazil. The woman of 58 years who spent several days […]

In a follow-up to a report last week, the final tally is in on the number of fireworks injuries and Philippines health officials put it at 929, including 33 amputations. This is a slight increase compared to 2014; however, as Health Secretary Janette Garin said at the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum, 2015-2016 figures were 41 cases less […]

The Health and Family Planning Commission of Guangdong Province announced an additional human case of avian influenza A(H7N9) in mainland China. The patient, a 58-year-old woman from Jieyang, is hospitalized in critical condition. From 2013 to date, 667 human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) have been reported nationally and the 184th case in Guangdong Province. This is the 10th […]

The Hong Kong Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) said Tuesday that a dead great egret found in Diamond Hill, Wong Tai Sin, was confirmed to be H5N6 positive after laboratory testing. The dead bird was found and collected from a non-public area near Spring Hill in the Nan Lian Garden, Diamond Hill, Wong Tai […]

Huisken Meat Company, a Sauk Rapids, Minn. establishment, is recalling approximately 89,568 pounds of beef products that may be contaminated with extraneous wood materials, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced this week. The Sam’s Choice Black Angus Vidalia Onion items were produced on various dates between Nov. 19, 2015, and […]

Rabies, the almost universally fatal infection if not appropriately treated in a timely fashion, was responsible for 226 deaths in the Philippines in 2015, according to the Department of Health. This has prompted health officials to announce yesterday that free rabies vaccines will be available at 480 Animal Bite Treatment Centers nationwide. “None of these deaths […]

The Philippines government made an important announcement this week concerning the prevention of a major infectious disease that is a big problem on the archipelago. With the announcement two weeks ago of the new dengue fever vaccine, Dengvaxia, by the FDA, government officials say susceptible poor children in regions with high incidence of dengue will be the […]

Amazonas, a state in northwestern Brazil, recorded their first suspected case of microcephaly since the country surge began, making it the 21st state to record a case, according to a health ministry press release today (computer translated). Across the country the total of suspected cases jumped to 3,174 cases, up about 200 from last week. In […]

In late December, nearly two years after the epidemic began, the World Health Organization has declared the African country of Guinea to be free of Ebola virus infections. But, the race to find a cure and therapies to combat the disease are forging ahead as officials warn that inattention could lead to another epidemic. Texas […]

Dated 12/31/15 The U.S. Embassy in Brasilia, Brazil informs U.S. citizens of a public health concern regarding the mosquito-transmitted Zika virus. As dengue and chikungunya, the main transmitter of the Zika virus is the Aedes egypti, an urban mosquito that prefers to breed in and around homes. Large urban centers with surrounding poorer slums are […]

Although reports of this case came out late last week from the Jiangxi Provincial Health and Family Planning Commission (computer translated), The Hong Kong Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) reported the case today on their website. According to the Health and Family Planning Commission of Jiangxi Province, the patient is a […]

Minor variants of flu strains, which are not typically targeted in vaccines, carry a bigger viral punch than previously realized, a team of scientists has found. Its research, which examined samples from the 2009 flu pandemic in Hong Kong, shows that these minor strains are transmitted along with the major strains and can replicate and […]

Big Dog Natural of Brick, NJ is voluntary recalling a select production lot of Big Dog Natural raw dehydrated dog food Chicken Supreme potentially contaminated with Salmonella and Fish Supreme potentially contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes that was shipped in the week of 10/31/2015 to 11/13/2015 to online customers. Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes can affect animals eating […]

Just a week after two Lassa fever deaths were reported from Kano State in north-western Nigeria, officials in the eastern Nigerian state of Taraba are reporting an outbreak of the zoonotic viral disease, according to a Nigerian media report. The report states: The Commissioner of Health, Innocent Vakkai, who confirmed the outbreak said, “One person died […]

Recent research has revealed the worldwide spread of a very serious antibiotic resistance to a “last line” drug, colistin, which is linked to use in agriculture. Infectious disease specialist and Forbes contributor, Dr. Judy Stone joined me on the Outbreak News This Week Radio Show on Sunday to discuss the issue, which she wrote about in a […]

Between 30 December 2015 and 2 January 2016, the National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC) of China notified WHO of 2 additional laboratory-confirmed cases of human infection with avian influenza A(H5N6) virus. Details of the cases The first case is a 26-year-old female from Baoan District, Shenzhen City, with onset date of 24 December. […]

The last time the sultanate of Oman reported a case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus, or MERS-CoV, it was late May. 2015. Today, the Ministry of Health announced the confirmation of a new MERS case, the 7th reported in the country, according to a health ministry press release (computer translated). The current patient, an […]

In late December 2015, new cases of Kyasanur Forest disease (KFD), or monkey fever, occurred in the Mauxi region of the Thane village panchayat in southwestern India, according to the Indian newspaper The Navhind Times. So far 2 people have been confirmed to have the tick-borne viral disease in the Mauxi village and have been […]

The number of confirmed and suspected cases of Zika infection in Colombia has eclipsed 10,000 cases, according to data from the Instituto Nacional de Salud, Colombia. Through Dec. 26, health officials have reported 9280 suspected and 736 laboratory confirmed Zika virus cases for a total of 10,016. Cases have been confirmed in 162 municipalities of the country, of which […]

Du Monde Gourmet, a Park City, UT establishment, is recalling approximately 235 pounds of ready-to-eat pocket sandwich products, which may have experienced temperature deviation and may contain Clostridium perfringens, Bacillus cereus, and/or Clostridium botulinum, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. The Jafflz Retro Pocket Sandwiches were produced on […]

Health officials in Hong Kong saw a record number of Legionnaires’ disease cases in the city in 2015 as 66 cases were seen, significantly higher than the 41 cases reported in 2014 (the previous high). Since reporting of Legionnaires’ notifications were documented in 1997, 307 Legionnaires’ cases have been seen, including 2015. The first year Hong […]

The number of Vibrio vulnificus cases reported in Florida in 2015 is 45 confirmed, the highest number reported since 2003, according to the Florida Department of Health statistics. Last year, 45 cases of the bacterial infection were reported from 27 counties, with Hillsborough and Duval counties recording the most, five and four, respectively. In addition, […]

Between New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, Hawaii health officials recorded another dozen confirmed, autochthonous cases of the mosquito borne viral disease on Big Island. According to the Hawaii Department of Health (HDOH), as of Jan. 1, 2016, the county has seen 202 dengue fever cases, 182 in Hawaii residents. Currently, as many as 13 of […]

For the second time in less than a week, China health officials are reporting a confirmed human case of avian influenza A(H5N6). The patient, according to the Health and Family Planning Commission of Guangdong Province, is a 40-year-old woman in Zhaoqing. She is currently hospitalized for treatment and in a critical condition. On Dec. 29, provincial health officials reported […]

Singapore in 2015 experienced a milder dengue fever season compared to the record year of 2013 when 22,318 cases and 8 deaths were recorded and last year when 18,318 cases and 4 deaths were seen; however, health officials report seeing a surge in December coinciding with warmer weather associated with the El Niño phenomenon. Amy Khor, Senior Minister of […]

Thomas Produce Company of Boca Raton, FL is recalling 174 bulk-packed containers of Cucumbers. This product has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella may experience fever, […]

The number of confirmed cases of Hansen’s disease, or leprosy in Florida increased from 10 in 2014 to 27 in 2015, according to Florida Department of Health data. Brevard County alone reported 11 confirmed leprosy cases, while 12 other counties saw 1 or 2 confirmed cases. Outbreak News Today reached out to the Brevard County […]

Health workers at the world’s largest refugee complex in Kenya are gaining the upper hand in battling a cholera outbreak that has killed 10 people and sickened around 1,000 others since it broke out last month amid rains linked to El Niño. Cholera, an often fatal water-borne bacterial illness, which causes fever, vomiting and watery […]

Hospitals in the Philippines were put on “Code White Alert” for New Year’s celebrations in preparation for the usual large number of fireworks injuries that occur each year. Today, The Department of Health said more Filipinos were spared of firework-related injuries as the country welcomed the New Year with fewer firecrackers in families’ homes, and the […]

While the goal of polio virus eradication is in sight, there are concerns about post-eradication manufacturing and stockpiling vaccine stores containing live virus that could escape and repopulate the environment. A study published on December 31st in PLOS Pathogens reports the generation of new vaccine strains that appear both effective and unable to cause disease […]

Taiwan’s biggest dengue fever outbreak ended the year at more than 43,000 cases, nearly triple last year’s total of 15,732 cases. The good news is the outbreak has slowed dramatically with only 51 cases reported on Thursday, primarily in Kaohsiung City. In Kaohsiung City, health officials say dengue activity has decreased fro five consecutive weeks. Kaohsiung […]

According to the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Health and Family Planning, a 59-year-old man is the latest human case of avian influenza A(H7N9) in the Mainland, bringing the total to 665 cases since 2013. The patient was confirmed positive on Jan. 1 and is currently under treatment. This follows a H7N9 avian influenza case that was […]

The number of dengue fever cases reported in Malaysia continues to increase year after year since 2011 and in 2015, we see the highest number of cases and deaths as the southeast Asian country topped 120,000 cases. More than half the cases were reported from Selangor state alone (62,000+). In addition, 322 dengue related fatalities […]