Outbreak News Today

The New Mexico Department of Health has seen an increase in clusters of gastrointestinal illness. Over the past couple of weeks, there has been increased activity seen in Bernalillo County, particularly in schools. Investigations so far suggest that the illnesses may be caused by norovirus. Norovirus is highly contagious and causes more than 21 million cases of […]

Health officials in Colorado say they are working with health departments in several western states and federal health authorities to investigate a number of E. coli O157:H7 cases connected with Costco chicken salad. Four cases of E. coli O157:H7 have been confirmed in Colorado, including two cases in Jefferson County and one each in Arapahoe and […]

A total of 189 additional cases of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection were reported to the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) in the third quarter of 2015, bringing the cumulative total of reported HIV infections to 7 534 since 1984. Reviewing the HIV/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) situation in […]

More than 300 additional dengue fever cases were reported in Taiwan’s Kaohsiung City Monday, bringing the total cases in the southern city to nearly 14,000 since the summer. Nationwide, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) for Dengue Outbreak reported a total of additional 363 indigenous confirmed dengue cases in Taiwan on Monday including 316 cases in Kaohsiung City […]

Scores of cases of shigellosis have been reported in the metro Kansas City area in the past couple weeks as the gastrointestinal outbreak shows no sign of slowing. According to a Fox 4 news report, 564 reported cases of shigella have been reported in the metro area in 2015. “And that’s probably only the tip of the iceberg,” […]

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is investigating the deaths of waterbirds found along the shores of Lake Ontario in Wayne, Oswego and Jefferson counties since mid-October, the agency announced Friday. Preliminary examination by DEC’s Wildlife Health Unit indicates type E botulism is the likely cause of death. Confirmatory testing will be […]

Four additional locally acquired dengue fever cases have been reported in Hawaii, bringing the outbreak total to 92, according to The Hawaii Department of Health (HDOH). This is the largest dengue outbreak in Hawaii since 2001. Of the confirmed cases, 79 are Hawaii residents and 13 are visitors. 70 cases have been adults; 22 have been children, […]

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved a new indication for BioThrax (Anthrax Vaccine Adsorbed) to prevent disease following suspected or confirmed exposure to Bacillus anthracis, the bacterium that causes anthrax disease. The vaccine’s new use is approved for people 18 through 65 years of age in conjunction with recommended antibiotic treatment. BioThrax was […]

Upstate Medical University has partnered with the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (USAMRMC) in the development of a dengue human infection model (DHIM). USAMRMC will invest up to $12 million over the next 3.5 years to fund five FDA-regulated clinical trials in which healthy adults between the ages of 18 and 45 can […]

The cholera outbreak in Iraq has continued to decline over the past 3 weeks with a few cases being reported from the affected districts or governorates. A total of 4858 laboratory-confirmed cases tested at provincial laboratories have been reported from the country, with 2 related deaths as of 17 November 2015. Currently, 16 out of […]

In a follow-up report on the condition of Thai actor, Thrisadee “Por” Sahawong and his battle with dengue fever, Thai PBS reported today that the popular television actor had his foot amputated Saturday in an attempt to contain a serious infection. In addition, Por is suffering from blood pressure issues and also was operated on his […]

About four or five months ago, every media outlet had jumped on the Florida leprosy bandwagon reporting cases in the Sunshine State linked to exposure to armadillos. What is the status today? According to the Florida Department of Health data, from Jan. 1 to Nov. 22 this year, 20 cases of leprosy, or Hansen’s disease […]

Bollywood provides more than entertainment to the 1 billion people of India, the stars of the cinema are also in the news occasionally on topics of infectious diseases. 73-year-old actor, Amitabh Bachchan, who was diagnosed with tuberculosis fifteen years ago, has been involved in the launching of the TB-free Haryana program. The megastar was treated and is […]

Dengue fever is no stranger to the country of some 7,000 islands, the Philippines; however, 2015 has been a particularly harsh year for the mosquito borne viral disease, particularly in recent months. Through the middle of October, the Philippines has seen 124,728 including 374 deaths. This is 40.3% higher compared with the same reporting period in 2014 […]

Health officials in Nigeria are going out in force to vaccinate children against the very contagious viral disease, measles, with at least three states planning to vaccinate some 5 million children. In Kaduna State, three million children would be vaccinated during the ongoing immunization against measles in the state, according to Malam Hamza Ikara, Health Educator, Kaduna […]

At least two confirmed cases of Shigellosis have been reported in students from an Edmonton school and health officials are investigating other possible cases, according to a CBC news report Saturday. McKernan School, in the center of the city, has students through 9th grade. Health officials continue their investigation into the size, scope and source […]

Milton High School, in southern Wisconsin’s Rock County, has at least three confirmed cases of the protozoan parasitic infection, cryptosporidiosis, in students at Milton High School, according to a WKOW 27 report. This is a corrected count from previous reports at the school. According to the report, the school’s football coach stated “he has lots […]

With the dengue fever outbreak situation more than double the previous high of 15,732 cases seen last year, high ranking government officials announced this week that dengue prevention and control was to be included as annual routine work item and preparedness and response efforts needed to be completed every year before the rainy season in order to […]

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Aspergillosis is an infection caused by Aspergillus, a common mold (a type of fungus) that lives indoors and outdoors. Most people breathe in Aspergillus spores every day without getting sick. However, people with weakened immune systems or lung diseases are at a higher risk of developing […]

A clinical trial of a new Ebola vaccine (ChAd3-EBO-Z) that resulted from an unprecedented global consortium assembled at the behest of the World Health Organization has found that it is well tolerated and stimulates strong immune responses in adults in Mali, West Africa and in the US, according to a study published this week in […]

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health reported Friday the investigation a case of Legionnaires’ disease. The patient is a woman aged 57 with underlying illness. She has presented with fever, cough with sputum and shortness of breath since November 16. She attended the Accident and Emergency Department of Kwong Wah Hospital […]

Earlier this week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Narcan nasal spray, the first FDA-approved nasal spray version of naloxone hydrochloride, a life-saving medication that can stop or reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. Opioids are a class of drugs that include prescription medications such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, and morphine, as well as the […]

Health officials in the Central African country of Cameroon are expressing concern over the measles epidemic that has been spreading across the country. To date, 858 cases have been recorded in some “hard-to-reach” communities, according to the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). To compound the issue, health authorities say the outbreak has spread to areas […]

Microcephaly is a medical condition in which the circumference of the head is smaller than normal because the brain has not developed properly or has stopped growing. In northeast Brazil, they have seen a dramatic increase in cases with the cause unknown and under investigation. This website has been covering this situation for more than […]

Nine more dengue fever cases have been reported in Hawaii, bringing the total to 88 and prompting health officials to predict a long haul with the first dengue outbreak in Hawaii since 2011. In a recent news conference, state epidemiologist, Dr. Sarah Park said, “We’re at the beginning of a marathon. These outbreaks tend to go […]

With the addition of several hundred new autochthonous, or locally-acquired chikungunya cases during the past week, the cumulative total in Mexico has now exceeded 10,000 cases. Local transmission of chikungunya began in Mexico in Oct. 2014 and by years end, 155 cases were confirmed. However, the cases exploded in 2015 with the update numbers through Nov. 8, […]

Infections transmitted by the Aedes mosquito have spread significantly in Colombia, including dengue fever, chikungunya and Zika virus. The Instituto Nacional de Salud, or the Colombia National Institutes of Health released the following data on the three diseases through Nov. 7: Dengue fever Through epidemiological week 44 of 2015, the Public Health Surveillance System (SIVIGILA) has reported 78,123 […]

The outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O26 (STEC O26) linked to Chipotle Mexican Grill restaurants has increased by eight cases since the last update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In addition, three more states have reported people infected with the outbreak strain–California, New York and Ohio. To date, 45 people infected with the outbreak […]

The Liberian Ministry of Health announced today a confirmed case of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in Monrovia. Health officials are calling this the country’s fourth wave of Ebola virus. A patient presented symptoms in a Monrovia hospital on Tuesday, tested positive for EVD yesterday. The patient has been identified as a 10-year-old boy. The Health Ministry […]

Seventy-six percent of chickens tested in a recent survey by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) were positive for the bacterium, campylobacter, according to newly released data. This is actually slightly lower than the percentage during the same months in 2014 (83 percent). In addition, the results from July to September 2015 shows 15% of chickens tested positive for […]

Today the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted approval for Ninlaro (ixazomib) in combination with two other therapies to treat people with multiple myeloma who have received at least one prior therapy. Multiple myeloma is a form of blood cancer that occurs in infection-fighting plasma cells (a type of white blood cell) found in the […]

Celltick announces its partnership with the National Dengue Control Unit of the Government of Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Health, to spread awareness about the dengue epidemic to an estimated five million mobile users in Sri Lanka. This campaign is aimed to raise awareness and provide information to the public on prevention methods. With the help […]

Health officials in Alberta have confirmed a case of hepatitis A in an individual who worked at the Powderkeg Lounge (located at the Lake Louise Ski Resort), while infectious. Patrons who consumed food or hot beverages from the Powderkeg Lounge from Nov. 6 to Nov. 8, 2015 (inclusive) may have been exposed to hepatitis A. As […]

The Hawaii Department of Health (HDOH) has reported an addition seven locally-acquired dengue fever cases Thursday on Hawaii island, bringing the outbreak total to 79. Of the confirmed cases, 68 are Hawaii residents and 11 are visitors. 59 cases have been adults; Twenty have been children (<18 years of age). Because dengue fever is only transmitted […]

In the first update in about a month, federal health officials say 71 more people sick with the Salmonella Poona outbreak strain have been reported from 23 states, bringing the total cases to 838. The death toll remains at four: Arizona (1), California (1), Oklahoma (1), and Texas (1). 38 of 50 states have reported cases […]

Swaziland could become the first mainland country in sub-Saharan Africa to rid itself of the parasitic infection, malaria, according to a representative from the The Global Health Malaria Initiative this week. The number of malaria cases in the country has dropped some 97.5 percent, from 9, 700 to 243 between 1995 and 2013, experts note. The Swazi Ministry […]

Health officials in Madagascar are reporting the deaths of two individuals from two separate municipalities of Miarinarivo district last month from bubonic plague, according to a L’express de Madagascar report (computer translated). The deaths, recorded on Oct. 31, confirmed by the Pasteur Institute of Madagascar, according to the report of the Ministry of Public Health. Since August, […]

In the daily watch on the dengue fever outbreak on the Big Isle in Hawaii this fall, The Hawaii Department of Health (HDOH) reported an additional 7 cases today, bringing the total to 72. Of the confirmed cases, 62 are Hawaii residents and 10 are visitors. 53 cases have been adults; Nineteen have been children (<18 years […]

Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. is recalling Wegmans Italian Classics Butternut Squash Ravioli, 9 oz. (UPC #77890 36434), because the product may contain undeclared cashews and almonds. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to cashews or almonds run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume this product. Approximately 54,000 units […]

A 26-year-old man from Queretaro has become Mexico’s first imported Zika virus case, according to Undersecretary for Prevention and Health Promotion, Pablo Kuri at a press conference. The man had a recent travel history to Santa Martha, Colombia. Colombia has seen hundreds of locally acquired Zika virus since first detected in the country last month. The patient presented with […]

Cidara Therapeutics, an antimicrobial development company out of San Diego, California, has recently reported positive Phase I results of a novel antifungal agent, CD101 IV. CD101 IV is a small molecule in the echinocandin class of antifungals. Echinocandins, including Merck’s Caspofungin and Pfizer’s Eraxis, inhibit the enzyme 1,3-β glucan synthase which is used to synthesize […]

Just days after issuing a health alert concerning two shigellosis cases in students that attended CICS Jackson School, The Winnebago County (IL) Health Department (WCHD) reported seeing a surge of cases of the gastrointestinal bacterial infection during the past month. Since October, health officials reported seeing 22 confirmed shigellosis cases, primarily in children in daycare and elementary schools. Shigellosis […]

Officials in the northeastern province of Targovishte reported an anthrax infected cow on a local farm, which since has been incinerated and destroyed, according to a Focus Information Agency report today. The farmer, who saw the cow was not feeling well, slaughtered the animal and reported it to authorities. The place the animal was slaughtered in will […]

The recent Ebola outbreak in West Africa has claimed more than 11,300 lives and starkly revealed the lack of effective options for treating or preventing the disease. Progress has been made on developing vaccines, but there is still a need for antiviral therapies to protect health care workers and local populations in the event of […]

Chagas disease, the parasitic infection caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, is found mainly in Latin America, where it is mostly transmitted to humans by the feces of triatomine bugs, known as “kissing bugs”. However, in several areas of the United States Chagas is ever present, according to Dr. Peter Hotez, founding dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine […]

The incidence of dengue fever, the mosquito borne viral disease, has grown dramatically around the world in recent decades, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Over 2.5 billion people – over 40% of the world’s population – are now at risk from dengue. WHO currently estimates there may be 50–100 million dengue infections worldwide […]

Hawaii health officials added nine more autochthonous, or “locally acquired” dengue fever cases to the cumulative tally of the outbreak that began in September. This brings the total cases to 65 on the Big Island as of Tuesday. A breakdown of the cases show of the confirmed cases, 55 are Hawaii residents and 10 are visitors. 48 […]

The International Trachoma Initiative (ITI), Pfizer Inc. and International Coalition for Trachoma Control (ICTC) partners announce Pfizer’s donation of the 500 millionth dose of Zithromax® (azithromycin) Tablets, an antibiotic used to treat trachoma in certain countries. The milestone marks significant achievement in global efforts to help eliminate this infectious and preventable eye disease that can lead […]

A Fareham bakery released a statement today in response to norovirus that has affected both staff and customers: Firstly I would like to state that Soothills Bakery has NOT been closed down and furthermore has NEVER been under any threat of closure due to an outbreak of food poisoning or otherwise. Whilst we acknowledge that […]

Just days after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported a significant increase in congenital syphilis in the United States, federal health officials report an alarming trend in primary and secondary syphilis cases in the country. In 2000 and 2001, the national rate of reported primary and secondary (P&S) syphilis cases was 2.1 […]