Outbreak News Today

Malaysia has had a heavy season with dengue fever in 2015, reporting an approximate increase in cases at 30 percent compared to last year. In addition, the dengue fatalities have almost doubled. To date, Malaysian health officials put the total case count at more than 63,000, including 165 deaths. Now the central health authority is […]

On July 10, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Rexulti (brexpiprazole) tablets to treat adults with schizophrenia and as an add-on treatment to an antidepressant medication to treat adults with major depressive disorder (MDD). Schizophrenia is a chronic, severe, and disabling brain disorder affecting about one percent of Americans. Typically, symptoms are first seen […]

In a follow-up to a report last week of a large number of food poisoning cases linked to durian candy, Philippine health officials says 1,925 people were reported to be poisoned in Surigao del Sur, Surigao del Norte, and Agusan del Sur on Friday, July 10, after they ate candies. Currently, 66 patients are still admitted […]

State health and agriculture officials said today that seven recent cases of salmonellosis in Minnesota have been linked to raw, frozen, breaded and pre-browned, stuffed chicken entrees. The illnesses prompted health officials to remind consumers that the products may look cooked, but are in fact raw and should be handled carefully to avoid cross-contamination in […]

The Palace welcomed the statement of the World Health Organization, which commended the Philippines for successfully handling the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS CoV) cases in the country. There were two case of MERS-CoV in the Philippines—one when a Filipino nurse from the Middle East arrived in the country with the disease and recently […]

Interactive fountains (also known as spray parks and pads) feature water discharged from jets, sprinklers, cannons, spray nozzles and sculptures, which are mounted on accessible, ground-level play platforms. Children can manipulate varieties of valve caps and nozzles to control how they are sprayed or doused with water. These venues provide accessible and free entertainment with […]

The number of dengue fever cases in Brazil have increased by approximately 200,000 cases in the past month, according to new data from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Friday. As of June 12, about 1,026,000 probable and confirmed cases have been reported. The latest numbers from the PAHO this past Friday puts Brazil’s case […]

Although no cases of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) have been identified in humans in North Carolina this year, recently, a case has been identified in a horse in Cumberland County, which indicates that the disease is present and people should take precautions to protect themselves and their horses. The horse died of EEE and the […]

In a follow-up to a report last week, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has reported an additional three leptospirosis fatalities in Mumbai, bringing the total to 15 in just 10 days. At present, 30 people are being treated for the disease in BMC-run hospitals. To prevent lepto, the corporation has started awareness campaign in which they […]

The Republic of Panama was certified as free of Rubella and Congenital Rubella, by the World Health Organization and the Pan American Health Organization PAHO / WHO Health, according to a Panama Health Ministry press release Friday (computer translated). The Minister of Health, Dr. Francisco Javier Terrientes received by Dr. Federico Hernández Pimentel, Representative of […]

The Chinese National Health and Family Planning Commission announced the confirmation of a human case of avian influenza A(H5N6) Saturday affecting a 37-year-old woman in Yunnan province. The patient, presented with fever and cough with sputum since July 6, was admitted to a local hospital on July 9 and died on July 10. This is the […]

European health officials are reporting an slight increase in antibiotic resistance in gonorrhea in 2013, according to a newly published report Thursday. Gonorrhea is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections on the continent. The surveillance is critical for detecting emerging and increasing antimicrobial resistance and making quality-assured data available to inform treatment guidelines. According […]

Texas health officials confirmed the state’s first case of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome this year in a resident of the Texas Panhandle. The Texas Department of State Health Services reminds people to protect themselves from the virus that causes HPS. Although the person recovered from the infection, HPS is often severe and sometimes fatal. Hantavirus is […]

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that each year roughly 1 in 6 Americans (or 48 million people) get sick, 128,000 are hospitalized, and 3,000 die of foodborne diseases. One way to classify bacteria is whether or not they form spores, a structure that enables a cell to survive environmental pressures in […]

The Hong Kong Centre for Health Protection (CHP) recorded three cases of Streptococcus suis infection in June 2015.The first case was a 52-year-old woman with good past health. She presented with fever and right knee pain since June 18 and was admitted to a public hospital on the same day. Her right knee joint aspirate […]

Taiwan health officials reported an additional five cases of the mosquito borne viral disease, Japanese encephalitis, during the past week, bringing the total cases on the island country to 15. The five new cases include one case each in New Taipei City, Miaoli County, Chiayi County, Tainan City and Kaohsiung City, according to Taiwan Centers for Disease […]

According to the Supreme Court, the term MARTIAL LAW means the use of military force with the purpose of control over some populated area which is considered as problematic because of civil war or any other kind of chaos. Martial law by itself is very rare and a not so popular decision from above, but […]

Carnivore Meat Company, LLC is recalling select products and lots of Carnivore Vital Essentials pet foods because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeriamonocytogenes. Healthy cats and dogs rarely become sick from Listeria monocytogenes. In humans, however, Listeria is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail […]

Maya Overseas Foods Inc. of Maspeth, NY, is recalling approximately 8000 lbs. of Cashew Split because it 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 often experience […]

At least 1,080 food poisoning cases were reported to Surigao Sur PDRRMO covering the LGUs of Tago, Tandag City, Cagwait, Marihatag & Bayabas, according to PDRRM officer Abel de Guzman, according to the Surigao del Sur Information Center today. Of the 1,080 cases, 438 were already assessed & evaluated at Adela Serra Memorial Medical Center while 483 […]

In a follow-up to an earlier report of a meningococcal meningitis outbreak at a high school in Zambia, the Times of Zambia describes some bizarre actions and accusations related to the deaths of three pupils at the Kabompo High School. According to the report, the situation overall was horribly mismanaged. This includes rumors of witchcraft at […]

The Netherlands is the first country where the burden of disease due to Lyme disease has been determined. The burden of disease is a measure for the number of lost healthy life years caused by a disease. These results can facilitate disease burden estimates to assess the impact of Lyme on public health in other […]

West Nile virus has returned to Wyoming with the season’s first case, involving a Sheridan County resident, being reported to the Wyoming Department of Health (WDH). “We want to remind residents to take steps to protect themselves and their families from mosquito bites,” said Katie Bryan, epidemiologist with WDH. Mosquitos spread West Nile virus (WNV) […]

On 29 June 2015, a new case of Ebola virus disease was identified in Liberia 50 days after interruption of active transmission was achieved on 9 May. Since then, a cluster of cases has been identified, all of them from Nedowein in Margibi county. Currently, 5 people have been confirmed with Ebola virus disease by […]

In a follow-up to the report on the recent imported case of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in the Philippines, The Department of Health (DOH) report that the 36-year old foreigner is now free of the virus after yielding two negative results. He will be discharged today from the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) in Manila. […]

Florida health officials reported an additional case if infection with the serious bacterial infection, Vibrio vulnificus, in a resident of Citrus County. This is the 14th case of 2015 to date. The death toll remains at seven. People with certain health conditions to avoid eating raw oysters and exposing open wounds to seawater and estuarine water, […]

San Diego County officials reported Thursday the first case of animal plague of the year in a squirrel from the Palomar mountain area. County environmental health officials reminded people that it is common to find the bacteria — Yersina pestis — that causes plague in San Diego County mountains and that hikers and campers should […]

Wyoming health officials are reporting an “alarming” increase in reported gonorrhea cases across the state during the first half of 2015. “So far this year, 61 cases of gonorrhea have been reported to us in comparison to 31 infections by this time last year,” said Courtney Smith, Communicable Disease Surveillance Program manager with WDH. “This increased […]

The percentage of U.S. Air Force recruits with detectable immunity to measles, mumps and rubella was lower than found in previous nationwide samples and may be low enough for outbreaks to occur, according to a study, “Measles, Mumps, and Rubella Titers in Air Force Recruits: Below Herd Immunity Thresholds?” released July 7, in the American […]

Moffitt Cancer Center received a $3.6 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to study the use of electronic cigarettes, or e-cigarettes, over the next five years. Rather than burning tobacco like traditional cigarettes, e-cigarettes “vaporize” a liquid that usually contains nicotine, and the user inhales the vapor like they would inhale normal cigarette […]

Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-12) today sent a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry, requesting information about steps the State Department is taking to combat the deadly outbreak of dengue fever in Yemen, where many of her constituents are trapped amid ongoing hostilities. “My constituents are reporting that they have family members in Yemen who […]

The Hong Kong Centre for Health Protection (CHP) has reported three additional cases of Legionnaires’ disease in recent days, bringing the 2015 total to date at 25. In 2014 and 2013, 41 and 28 cases were recorded respectively. The first patient is 71-year-old man with underlying diseases. He presented with fever, cough with bloodstained sputum and shortness of breath […]

In a follow-up to a report in late June, the Chicago Department of Public Health announced Thursday that another person has become sick with meningococcal disease. The latest case makes the 6th in Chicago and the 7th in Illinois since the outbreak among men who have sex with men (MSM) began in early June 2015. […]

In a follow-up to a status report yesterday morning, it is reported that 14-year-old Hunter Boutain has died at the University of Minnesota Medical Center in Minneapolis yesterday. A family spokesperson released an official statement confirming his death at 3:15 Thursday: “Hunter’s condition deteriorated throughout the night and he was declared brain dead this morning. Hunter died […]

Anthrax has been confirmed as the cause of the death of two bison and the illness in several others in Saskatchewan, while south of the border, Montana officials continue investigation into death of some 17 bison on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation. Saskatchewan Agriculture reports confirming the bacterial disease, anthrax, as he cause of death in two bison, and is the […]

Texas health officials have reported an additional eight cases of cyclosporiasis today, bringing the total case count to 143. Officials note that 131 of the cases have occurred during the past two weeks. Although the source of the outbreak has not been discovered, Travis County health officials says it may be linked to at least one […]

The number of pertussis, or whooping cough cases in California have surpassed the 3,000 case mark this week with health officials reporting 3,150 cases to date. This number however is significantly down from the same period in 2014 when the tally was above 5,300. 115 cases have been hospitalized; 30 (26%) of these required intensive […]

In a follow-up to a report of a Minnesota teen who is believed to have contracted the “brain-eating amoeba”, Naegleria fowleri, family members say he is mostly unresponsive. The patient, now identified by a Caring Bridge account as 14-year-old Hunter Boutain remains in critical condition battling the serious parasitic infection. Hunter is being treated at the University […]

The Hong Kong Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (July 9) reported that the suspected case of Japanese encephalitis (JE) affecting a man aged 55 under investigation yesterday (July 8) has been laboratory confirmed. Both the patient’s cerebrospinal fluid and blood sample tested positive for immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies to […]

The Ministry of Health & Medical Services is issuing a health alert to the public after recording an increase in cases of chickenpox within the Suva Medical Subdivision. This alert is being issued after the number of cases surpassed the Suva subdivision alert threshold of 53 cases per month. An increase in cases is usually […]

In late 2013 the Caribbean had its first case of the mosquito-borne chikungunya virus. Today there have been almost 1.2 million cases in 44 countries or territories, including 177 cases in 31 U.S. States. Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s James Crowe, M.D., Ann Scott Carell Professor and director of the Vanderbilt Vaccine Center, and his team […]

The Washington State Department of Health says a Benton County woman is the first Washington resident known to be infected with West Nile virus in the state this year. The woman in her 50’s was likely exposed near her home. Most in-state acquired human and animal cases are exposed in south-central Washington, but the mosquito species […]

Bavarian Nordic A/S announced that the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), a division of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, has ordered a bulk supply of IMVAMUNE® non-replicating smallpox vaccine, valued at USD 133 million. Under this new order, which is an extension of an existing contract, Bavarian Nordic will manufacture […]

With 16 reported cases in The Dalles as of last week, health officials with the North Central Public Health District (NCPHD), with assistance from North Wasco County School District 21, is offering a FREE Tdap Vaccine Clinic on Thursday, July 9th, 2015 at The Dalles Middle School (1100 E 12th St.) from 4 p.m. to 7 […]

Colorado health officials have reported the first human West Nile virus (WNV) case this year in a Mesa County man. In addition, mosquitoes collected in Larimer and Denver counties are carrying West Nile virus, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment confirmed today. The department expects more counties to find infected mosquitoes as the summer progresses. […]

An outbreak of meningococcal meningitis at a Zambian high school has sickened six and killed three during the past two weeks, according to local media. Health Minister Joseph Kasonde has told a media briefing in Lusaka today that six cases of meningitis were reported from the 20th June to 3rd July of which three cases […]

On 6 July 2015, the IHR National Focal Point of the Philippines notified WHO of 1 laboratory-confirmed case of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection. Details of the case The case is a 36-year-old male from Finland. Between 10 and 18 June, he travelled to Saudi Arabia and stayed in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam. […]

The last laboratory-confirmed case of respiratory diphtheria in South Africa occurred in February 2010. In a follow-up to a report in late April, the number of cases of the acute, toxin-mediated disease has grown in the KwaZulu-Natal Province (eThekwini and Ugu districts). According to a posting on ProMed Mail by experts at the National Institute for Communicable […]

A Montcalm County, Michigan infant died late last week from complications of Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib) Meningitis, according to the Mid-Michigan District Health Department. The 14-month-old girl, identified by local news media as Audrey Rose Congdon of Howard City, became ill last Thursday, was hospitalized with flu-like symptoms, was released and died later the same evening. […]

Minnesota health officials are investigating a case of suspected primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) in a critically ill child. PAM is a very rare and severe brain infection caused by an ameba called Naegleria fowleri. Health officials determined that the child developed the infection after swimming at Lake Minnewaska in Pope County. Naegleria fowleri is an ameba […]