Outbreak News Today

With additional cases of the mosquito borne viral disease, Japanese encephalitis (JE) reported, Taiwan health officials are urging the public to take precautions against mosquito bites and ensure children receive the vaccine timely in order to ward off infection. In particular, people who live near or work in close proximity to pig farms or rice […]

The World Health Organization (WHO) announced today that it will commemorate the fifth World Hepatitis Day next week with a global injection safety initiative campaign in three pilot countries together with the foundation arm of IKEA to combat the “silent epidemic” that kills more than 1.4 million each year. “Egypt, Uganda and India are three […]

Mosquitoes. Day-in and day-out, we don’t think much about them except when they are buzzing by our ear. We swat at them as we would any other nuisance. However, it has been said that mosquitoes cause more human suffering than any other organism — over one million people worldwide die from mosquito-borne diseases every year. […]

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Odomzo (sonidegib) to treat patients with locally advanced basal cell carcinoma that has recurred following surgery or radiation therapy, or who are not candidates for surgery or radiation therapy. Skin cancer is the most common cancer and basal cell carcinoma accounts for approximately 80 percent of non-melanoma […]

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Daklinza (daclatasvir) for use with sofosbuvir to treat hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 3 infections. Daklinza is the first drug that has demonstrated safety and efficacy to treat genotype 3 HCV infections without the need for co-administration of interferon or ribavirin, two FDA-approved drugs also used to […]

In 2014, Lake County, Florida, in the central part of the state, saw no cases of bacterial infection from Vibrio vulnificus. In fact, going back 5 years to 2010, the county did not report a case. However, in 2015, Lake County has just reported their 2nd vibriosis case of the year, which includes one fatality. […]

The World Health Organization (WHO) announced Wednesday that between 1 January and 28 June 2015, the Ministry of Public Health of Niger notified WHO of 8,500 suspected cases of meningococcal meningitis, including 573 deaths. This was the largest meningitis outbreak caused by Neisseria meningitides serogroup C in the African meningitis belt. The number of suspected […]

Louisiana health officials confirmed Wednesday the presence of the Naegleria fowleri amoeba in the St. Bernard Parish Water System at the site of a leaking sampling station. The water system, which serves 44,000 residents in St. Bernard Parish, was tested by DHH as part of the State’s new public drinking water surveillance program. DHH notified the […]

Durham, NC based biopharmaceutical company, Chimerix announced yesterday that its investigational antiviral brincidofovir showed a survival benefit in a pivotal study of an animal model for smallpox. Chimerix is developing brincidofovir as a medical countermeasure against smallpox, for which there is no antiviral agent currently approved. Brincidofovir has demonstrated broad-spectrum in vitro activity across five families of […]

In a follow-up to a report from 2012, the European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use(CHMP) has adopted a positive scientific opinion for Mosquirix (Plasmodium falciparum and hepatitis B vaccine), for use outside the European Union (EU). The malaria vaccine Mosquirix, also known as RTS,S/AS01, was submitted to EMA under a regulatory procedure […]

Health officials in Texas in an update Thursday noted that the case count for the infection of the protozoan parasite has reached 201, making it the third year in a row the Lone Star state has reached the 200 mark. In 2014, officials reported 200 cases, some of which were associated with cilantro from the Puebla […]

Complying with the new-age health care costs and pressing concerns about the quality and deliverance of health care services, a major section of health insurance purchasers are paying attention to customer-focused plans that can help in reducing costs and improving quality. While we can observe a steady up rise in enrollment of consumer-directed health plans, it […]

Health officials with the Columbia/Boone County Department of Public Health and Human Services are reporting five laboratory confirmed mumps cases in the area with two suspected cases still pending results. According to Public Information Officer with the health department, Andrea Waner, the cases are all from the University of Missouri. The individuals who were identified are ages 20-23. The […]

An experimental drug that protected monkeys from the deadly Marburg virus appears to have potential for treating people who have been exposed to the virus, according to a study published in the July 23 edition of The New England Journal of Medicine. Marburg virus is closely related to Ebola virus and also causes a severe […]

Hong Kong health officials are investigating three cases of necrotizing fasciitis caused by infection with the waterborne bacterium, Vibrio vulnificus in July. The details on the cases are as follows: The first case was an 82-year-old man with underlying chronic illnesses. He presented with fever, right leg pain and swelling on July 1 and was […]

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved the Bio-Rad BioPlex 2200 HIV Ag-Ab assay, the first FDA-approved diagnostic that differentiates between HIV-1 antibodies, HIV-2 antibodies, and HIV-1 p24 antigen in human serum or plasma specimens. Two major types of HIV have been identified: HIV-1 and HIV-2. HIV-1 is responsible for most HIV infections throughout […]

Florida was the only state in the country with confirmed autochthonous, or locally acquired cases of the mosquito borne virus, chikungunya in 2014 with 11 cases. The distribution of cases were as follows: Palm Beach County (4), St. Lucie County (4), Miami-Dade County (2) and Broward County saw one case. All the cases had an onset […]

In a follow-up to the report of a anthrax death in Varna District, Bulgaria Saturday, the Bulgarian News Agency reports that at least four men have been arrested, acquaintances of the dead man, for selling infected meat and parts from the animal’s carcass to several establishments. Varna Deputy Regional Governor Tsvetomir Petrov after a meeting of the crisis task […]

Officials with Parks Canada have confirmed an anthrax outbreak that has killed dozens of bison at Wood Buffalo National Park in northeastern Alberta and southern Northwest Territories. According to a CBC report, fifty-two bison have died in the latest outbreak at Canada’s largest park. Stuart MacMillan with Parks Canada is advising people to avoid carcasses, “What we advise people to […]

Health officials in the Seattle, Washington area are reporting on two issues: a salmonella outbreak and child poisonings from edible marijuana. First, up to 16 people contracted salmonella during a Father’s Day celebration brunch at Seattle’s Tallulah’s restaurant, according to King County health officials. Nine of the cases have been laboratory confirmed and it is […]

The number of chikungunya cases reported in the Marshall Islands has topped 1,000 since February and is spreading to more remote islands, according to a Radio New Zealand report today. The total case count stands at 1,046 with some 60 percent of cases reported in the capital of Majuro. Numbers from the Auckland Regional Public […]

Citizens in France, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States are not convinced that the world is prepared for another global epidemic like Ebola, and they strongly support investments in developing countries to reduce the threat of infectious diseases, according to a new opinion research survey with 4,000 respondents among the general public […]

California based company, Osamu Corporation Tuesday recalled it’s Frozen Yellow Fin Tuna Chunk Meat (Lot #68568) sourced from one processing plant in Indonesia due to Salmonella contamination. The tuna was sold to AFC Corporation of Rancho Dominquez, CA and there have been two reports of illness to date associated with exposure to AFC sushi in Minnesota. The Frozen […]

Officials with the Provincial Health Office are reporting the deaths of three children in Negros Occidental in the Central Visayas region of the Philippines. Records show that the victims, ages 9, 10, and 12 years old, came from the cities of Victorias and Sipalay, and the town of Toboso. The 10-year-old female died on July 3, […]

Metro North Hospital and Health Service (MNHHS) is asking residents to watch for symptoms of measles infection after the highly infectious illness was confirmed in a student from Taringa who has recently returned from overseas. Public Health Physician Dr James Smith said the man was infectious but did not yet have a rash when he […]

Hundreds of additional cholera cases have been reported in past week in South Sudan bringing the total cases in this outbreak to 1,244, up from 984 on July 14. The Government of South Sudan adds that the dearth toll in the outbreak is now 39, up 5 since the last update. Juba County accounts for […]

North Dakota health officials are investigating a possible cluster of shiga toxin – producing Escherichia coli (E. coli) (STEC) infections in eastern North Dakota. Three cases have been reported and all are less than 18 years of age and reported attending the Red River Valley Fair in West Fargo. The fair was held July 7 […]

Access to HIV testing is even more convenient now in Virginia. The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) and Walgreens recently expanded no-cost, rapid HIV testing sites from 13 to 32 Walgreens locations across the state. The collaboration began two years ago in support of National HIV Testing Day with community organizations providing trained counselors to […]

Agriculture officials in Nakuru County, Kenya are investigating an anthrax outbreak that has killed scores of animals at Lake Nakuru National Park. According to local media, more than one hundred buffaloes and two rhinos have died in the past five days. In addition, officials have killed animals suspected of having the lethal bacterial disease. Bacillus anthracis, […]

A new report on the state of health in Mumbai, India was released by the non-partisan organization, Praja. Some of the key data from the report is as follows: Since the last 5 years 37,501 people have died due to TB, averaging 7500 every year, a total of 21 fatalities daily in Mumbai Case […]

Health officials in Pangasinan province in western Luzon are reporting the first leptospirosis fatality of the year in a Mangaldan teen, according to local media reports. This follows serious flooding after heavy rains earlier this month. Provincial Health Office data indicated at least 17 leptospirosis cases from January to mid-July – more than the 15 recorded in the […]

Tennessee health officials are reporting that at least two individuals from the Chattanooga/Hamilton County Region who contracted the protozoan parasite, cryptosporidium, consumed raw milk from a dairy cow share program prior to their illness. The Tennessee Department of Health (TDH) is investigating multiple gastrointestinal disease reports linked to consumption of raw milk to include sporadic cases of Campylobacter […]

The presence of plague has been confirmed in Fremont County following a die off of a prairie dog colony on the south edge of Florence. The Fremont County Board of Health (County Commissioners) was informed Monday that Environmental Health Officer Sid Darden was called to investigate last week after people along Moore Drive south of […]

Murry’s, Inc., a Lebanon, Pa. establishment, is recalling approximately 20,232 pounds of gluten-free breaded chicken nugget product that tested positive for Staphylococcal enterotoxin, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. The following product is subject to recall: 12-oz. boxes of “Bell & Evans Gluten Free Breaded Chicken Breast Nuggets” […]

The Lyme disease advocacy group, Focus on Lyme, says they have partnered with Phoenix, Arizona-based, Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) to develop a more accurate Lyme diagnostic tool using the power of next generation DNA sequencing. Focus On Lyme has donated $75,000 to the TGen to support research into the development of a quick, affordable and accurate method of diagnosing […]

The Natural Dog Company, Inc. of Windsor, CO, is recalling its 12oz bags of 12″ Tremenda Sticks pet chews because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.Salmonella can affect animals eating the product and there is risk to humans from handling contaminated products, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after […]

The Sunshine State has surpassed their average annual number of leprosy cases of ten in July as the latest data puts the state total at 12 with two additional cases reported in the past two weeks. Two weeks ago, the 11th case was reported in Lakeland in Polk County, while the most recent case has […]

Puerto Rican health officials are reporting three confirmed and two suspected cases of malaria in students who traveled to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic as part of a graduation celebration, according to a El Nuevo Dia report (computer translated). According to Health Secretary Ana Ruis, the students from two schools, described as ages 15-21, traveled to the […]

A 63-year-old woman from Sonitpur district in Assam state in India has been killed because of accusations of being a witch, according to a NDTV video news report. Apparently, villagers blamed the elderly woman, identified as Purni Orang, for an unspecified illness outbreak in the village. The woman was dragged out of her house by a mob of […]

California health officials have reported the first fatality of 2015 due to West Nile virus. The announcement yesterday from California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Director and State Health Officer Dr. Karen Smith said the deceased person was a senior citizen in Nevada County. “This death is a tragic reminder of how severe West Nile virus disease […]

It’s a tale of two tests: one for early signs of cervical cancer, the other for a sexually transmitted disease. But a new study suggests that a change in the recommended schedule for one may have dramatically lowered the chances that young women would get the other. Results published by a University of Michigan team […]

After reporting 44 additional dengue fever cases, including 38 locally acquired cases during the past week, Taiwan health officials report mobilizing staff members to support the inspection activities on the management and patrolling of houses, building and lands managed by central government agencies to eliminate possible vector breeding sources and set an example for the […]

A Chaffee County, CO resident has contracted and recovered from bubonic plague being the second human plague case in a month in the state. According to Chaffee County health officials, the state lab confirmed plague (Yersinia pestis) in the individual 10 days ago. The unnamed patient was hospitalized and has survived following intravenous antibiotic treatment. Investigation […]

The New York City Health Department issued a health alert Friday after two recent imported cases of the zoonotic bacterial infection, Brucella melitensis were reported in the city. In April and May 2015, two laboratory-confirmed cases of Brucella melitensis were reported, exposing dozens of health workers to the serious bacterium. Health officials are reminding clinicians to […]

Sanofi Pasteur announced last week that its first doses of Fluzone® (Influenza Vaccine) for the 2015-2016 influenza (“flu”) season have been released by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for shipment. This represents the first of more than 65 million total doses of seasonal influenza vaccine manufactured by Sanofi Pasteur that will be delivered to […]

In a follow-up to the human anthrax death in Varna district, Bulgaria, health officials say they have stopped the spread of the serious bacterial disease, according to a Sofia Globe report. Deputy Health Ministry Vanyo Sharkov said that everyone who had been in contact with the infected meat had been identified, found and had been […]

Texas health officials today reported at least 5 additional cyclosporiasis cases in the current outbreak, bringing the total case count to 187. People become infected with Cyclospora by ingesting sporulated oocysts, which are the infective form of the parasite. This most commonly occurs when food or water contaminated with feces is consumed. Cyclosporiasis occurs in […]

The Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) is reporting the first human case of West Nile virus (WNV) in 2015. The reported case is an adult in Hinds County. The MSDH only reports laboratory-confirmed cases to the public. In 2014, Mississippi had 43 WNV cases and seven deaths. “While WNV can occur any time of […]

Antiretroviral treatment that consistently suppresses HIV is highly effective at preventing sexual transmission of the virus in heterosexual couples where one person is HIV-infected and the other is not, investigators report today at the 8th International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment & Prevention (IAS 2015) in Vancouver, Canada. The finding comes from the […]

With the addition of two cases of mucormycosis infection in patients at Hong Kong’s Queen Mary Hospital during the past few weeks, this brings the number of cases to five this year at the hospital, prompting an investigation, according to the Hong Kong Hospital Authority (computer translated). Two patients have died after being infected with the fungus, […]