Outbreak News Today

The rapidly increasing Cyclospora outbreak in Texas has eclipsed the 100 mark with health officials putting the case tally at 103 as of Thursday. The surge of cases of the protozoan parasitic infection includes 91 cases in the past two weeks. Travis County and the Austin area account for 38 of the state’s cases while […]

Nebraska health officials are reporting the first human case of West Nile virus (WNV) in the state this year and are expecting more. “This is the first human case so far this season and we expect to see more,” said Dr. Tom Safranek, State Epidemiologist for DHHS. “West Nile virus can be a mild illness […]

Washington State health officials are reporting today that the death of a Clallam County woman this spring was due to an undetected measles infection that was discovered at autopsy. The woman was most likely exposed to measles at a local medical facility during a recent outbreak in Clallam County. She was there at the same […]

Buruli ulcer, one of the neglected tropical diseases, has in recent years been spreading greatly, particularly in western Africa. What organism causes Buruli ulcer? Buruli ulcer is a bacterial infection by Mycobacterium ulcerans. Like the agent of tuberculosis, it is a slow-growing, acid fast bacilli. But unlike TB, it is an organism that is found […]

This disfiguring tropical disease is caused by the spirochete, Treponema pertenue. This species is morphologically indistinguishable from the agent of venereal syphilis, Treponema pallidum. Yaws is predominately a disease of children ages 2-15 years living in rural, humid and tropical areas of Africa, South and Central America, the Caribbean, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. Living […]

French chemist Louis Pasteur (1822-1895) has to be ranked up there as one of the greatest contributors to the areas of microbiology and infectious diseases. A painter and a teacher, Pasteur studied chemistry in his spare time which eventually led to professorships at several French universities and contributions to the wine and silkworm industries. Refuting […]

The German physician Robert Koch (1843-1910) contributed so much to the field of microbiology and infectious diseases. A contemporary of Louis Pasteur, Koch worked as a physician most of his life. Some of the great contributions to the field of microbiology and infectious diseases include identifying the bacterium that causes anthrax (Bacillus anthracis) in 1877. […]

A 21-year-old Inyo County woman has died from the almost always lethal amoebic parasitic infection caused by Naegleria fowleri, according to a Reno Gazette Journal report. The resident of Bishop said she woke up from a nap on June 16 with a headache and was soon vomiting. When the symptoms wouldn’t go away after a day, […]

Montana health officials are encouraging the public to take steps to avoid mosquito bites and prevent infection with West Nile virus (WNV). The state’s first human case has been reported in Rosebud County and reflects an early start to the season. The adult case was hospitalized and is now recovering. To prevent infection, advice includes wearing insect […]

Federal and state health, veterinary and agriculture officials announced an investigation into four multistate outbreaks of human Salmonella infections linked to contact with live poultry.The four outbreaks include Salmonella Enteritidis, Salmonella Hadar, Salmonella Indiana and Salmonella Muenchen. In the four outbreaks, a total of 181 people infected with the outbreak strains of Salmonella have been reported from 40 states […]

The lone wolf may have been a myth when British author John Fowles was writing his postmodern novel about the mental darkness of young teacher Nicholas Urfe, but in the modern times – the lone wolf is rising and shining as a new serious threat to both national and international security concepts. The term “lone […]

Hong Kong health officials announced the investigation into the first suspected local case of Japanese encephalitis (JE) this year, and hence again urged the public to maintain strict environmental hygiene, mosquito control and personal protective measures both locally and during travel. “Although the case had travel history during the incubation period, the duration of stay was […]

The increase in microbial resistance to common antibiotics has led researchers to seek alternative means for treating infectious diseases. A recent study in Nano Letters by a team from MIT and Harvard has used a new strategy, termed “phagemids”, to target and kill specific pathogenic bacteria in a controlled manner. Past research projects have looked […]

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today announced its intention to take enforcement action against companies that manufacture and/or distribute certain unapproved prescription ear drop products (known as otic products) labeled to relieve ear pain, infection, and inflammation. The unapproved prescription ear drops contain active ingredients such as benzocaine and hydrocortisone, and have not been […]

To ensure that U.S. health care providers and facilities are prepared to safely identify, isolate, transport, and treat patients with Ebola and other emerging threats, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services today launched a National Ebola Training and Education Center. A collaborative effort among HHS’ Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and […]

As of Tuesday, June 30, North Carolina health officials have reported the salmonella outbreak linked to the Lexington restaurant, has climbed to 232. The cases of gastrointestinal disease have been reported in 16 North Carolina counties, with the majority from Davidson and Davies counties, and five states. Samples from BBQ food from the restaurant and […]

El Paso County (CO) Public Health confirmed June 29 that a wild rabbit in Yoder died of tularemia infection, and are asking residents to remain cautious around wild animals. The rabbit was tested after a resident noticed a large number of dead rabbits in the area. Laboratory tests confirmed the animal died of tularemia, also […]

Between 27 and 30 June 2015, the National IHR Focal Point of the Republic of Korea notified WHO of 1 additional confirmed case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) alongside 2 additional deaths. Additional information on the outbreak in Korea To date, a total of 182 MERS-CoV cases, including 33 deaths, have been reported. […]

For the first time this season, the Health Department has detected West Nile virus in New York City mosquitoes. The infected mosquitoes were collected from the neighborhoods of Glen Oaks in Queens and New Dorp Beach in Staten Island. No human cases have been reported this season. The Health Department will increase mosquito surveillance by […]

I understand the enthusiasm for backyard chicken farming. It is guided by the spirit of providing eggs and meat for the family table, at lower costs, from humanely treated animals that are spared the application of antibiotics. The narrative goes that these animals are less susceptible to diseases compared to animals at commercial poultry farms […]

Liberia’s Deputy health minister Tolbert Nyenswah said tests confirmed that the 17-year-old man, from a town near the main airport, had died of the disease. Officials are investigating how he contracted Ebola, Mr Nyenswah said. The boy got sick on Jun 21, and he died on Jun 28 at his home in the Margibi County village of […]

In late March, the World Health Organization (WHO) sent a group of experts to determine if Cuba has eliminated congenital HIV and syphilis. Today, they announced Cuba became the first country in the world to receive validation from WHO that it has eliminated mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis. See the validation indicators HERE “Eliminating […]

The total number of deaths due to the “brain-eating amoeba”, Naegleria fowleri leapt to 11 after Karachi health authorities reported three additional cases during a 24-hour period. In 2014, 14 Naegleria fowleri related deaths were reported in the province. Sindh Health Department officials say the lethal parasitic disease was first seen in Karachi nine years […]

The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control has referred 11 people to their private health care providers for post-exposure treatment after being potentially exposed to a rabid cat in Richland County near Chapin. After roaming outdoors, the family cat returned home on May 29, 2015, with visible wounds caused by an unknown animal. The […]

Rocky Mountain Foods, Inc. is voluntarily recalling certain lots of Island Fruit and Nut Trail Mix packaged under the Free Range Snack Co. Brand and certain lots of bulk Macadamia Nuts due to possible Salmonella contamination. Salmonella is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, […]

The City of El Paso Department of Public Health has confirmed the first local case of West Nile virus (WNV) this year. The disease was detected in an elderly man who resides in the 79905 zip code. There were no cases of West Nile reported in June of last year. A total of 15 cases […]

French health authorities have reported (computer translated) that the nasty gastrointestinal bug, norovirus, is behind the more than 1,000 illnesses among participants at Mud Day in Levens (Alpes-Maritimes) last week. Regional Health Agency Paca says more than 1,000 people, among the 8400 participants were reported to the ARS Paca with symptoms of gastroenteritis, mainly diarrhea, vomiting, […]

Many parents have heard the night-time cry of “my ear hurts.” For some children, this might happen frequently beginning in infancy and even persist into adulthood. An international consortium led by those at Baylor College of Medicine may have taken the first step on the road to understanding why only some people get frequent painful […]

In an update from a June 17 report, Myanmar health officials say the dengue fever situation in the country has increased particularly since the onset of the rainy season. The most current case count now stands at 10,918 people in the first six months of this year. The health Ministry also noted that 45 people have […]

The number of cyclospora cases in Texas grew by another ten cases, bringing the state total to 80 as of June 29. This includes 68 cases reported during the past two weeks. Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal illness caused by consuming food or water contaminated with the Cyclospora parasite. The major symptom is watery diarrhea lasting […]

Common causes of gastrointestinal disease, both bacterial and parasitic, are headed in different directions according to numbers from Florida health officials. The number of cases of giardiasis, caused by the protozoan parasite, Giardia intestinalis (lamblia) are down a little in 2015. For the first six months of the year, the state has seen 471 cases, […]

The number of leprosy, or Hansen’s Disease cases in Florida during the first half of 2015 is nearly what the Sunshine state saw in all of last year as Flagler County reported the latest case on Friday. The case was reported from the city of Bunnell. To date in 2015, Florida has seen nine leprosy […]

European health officials are reporting the first human West Nile virus case in a patient from Sofia, Bulgaria. The transmission season in Europe is from June to November. The European Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (ECDC) says West Nile is an imported ‘tropical mosquito-borne disease’ but it has been present in Europe since the 1950s […]

Canadian health officials report investigating an outbreak of Salmonella infections in Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador with cases of human illness linked to frozen raw breaded chicken products. To date, there are 44 cases of Salmonella illness in four provinces: Ontario (28), Quebec (12), Nova Scotia (2), and Newfoundland and Labrador (2). Twelve people have […]

A new Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) on Outbreaks of Illness Associated with Recreational Water — United States, 2011–2012 brought a lot of attention to the issue of cryptosporidiosis, an infection by the protozoan parasite, Cryptosporidium, or how it is affectionately known–“Crypto”. Cryptosporidium is a microscopic parasite that causes a diarrheal illness. Common symptoms include: diarrhea, stomach cramps or […]

In an update to a report at the beginning of June, Spanish National Radio reports (computer translated) the 6-year-old boy from Olot with diphtheria admitted to the Hospital Vall d’Hebron in Barcelona died Saturday. The child, whose parents refused to vaccinate, has been admitted since May 30 in intensive care. The damage done by the diphtheria […]

GRAND BK CORP. of MASPETH, NEW YORK is recalling 450 CASES OF GOODIES CASHEW RAW 9OZ, 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 fever, diarrhea (which may be […]

An outbreak of the parasitic infection, Chagas disease, has sickened a dozen people of the same family in the La Macarena municipality Febres Cordero, Merida state, in the Andean region of Venezuela, according to a 2001.com report (computer translated). Denis Gómez, director of the Health Corporation (Corposalud) in Mérida said that they have been treated by […]

The Secretary of Health of Ceará (SESA) has confirmed at least 10 cases of Zika virus (ZikaV) in the state, according to a Globo report (computer translated). The information was released on Thursday afternoon on the agency’s website. According to Sesa, confirmations were made from the analysis of 14 samples taken in Evandro Chagas Institute […]

The Peru Ministry of Health is looking at a mass rabies vaccination campaign for the 20,000 people who live in the Napo District, Maynas Province, Loreto region of the country after reporting the death of three children due to rabies. According to the Reporte Epidemiologico (computer translated), the 1st case occurred in a 9-year old girl […]

Rep. Hank Johnson (GA-04) re-introduced on Thursday his bipartisan bill to address a growing problem of parasitic diseases – mostly in poor, minority populations along the U.S.-Mexico border, the rural South, Appalachia and distressed urban areas. The bill passed the House of Representatives in 2010, but stalled in the Senate. The “Neglected Infections of Impoverished […]

“Rotten pie” and a north African sausage called “cachir” is being blamed for a botulism outbreak in Batna, Algeria, according to a El Watan report (computer translated). The seven patients, four adults and three children are under medical supervision at the resuscitation department of the university hospital center (CHU) of Batna. The report notes that some of […]

An additional Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) case reported by Korean health officials (computer translated) brings the total cases to 182, including one patient diagnosed in China. The death toll remains at 31. According to the preliminary information of the health authority of Korea, the patient is a health-care worker of Kyunghee University Hospital at Gangdong. […]

In a follow-up to an earlier report, health officials in Koraput have announced several new cases of human anthrax. According to a Times of India report, six additional cases were reported on Thursday bring the total to 12. Apparently, as previously reported, the affected villagers killed a sick cow few days ago and consumed its meat which […]

A confirmed hepatitis A case in a food worker at a Alberta restaurant has prompted a health warning in the neighboring province of Saskatchewan. Earlier this week, Alberta Health Services confirmed a case of hepatitis A in a food handler working at the Original Joe’s Restaurant and Bar located at #8, 100 Ranch Market in Strathmore, Alberta. […]

Although there has not been any human cases of West Nile virus (WNV) in Alberta, or in all of Canada for that matter, Alberta Health Services (AHS) is reminding Albertans to take precautions necessary to protect themselves against West Nile virus infection this summer. “With exposure to mosquitoes comes risk of West Nile virus,” says Dr. […]

Whole Foods Market is voluntarily recalling packaged raw macadamia nuts due to possible Salmonella contamination. Salmonella is 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 fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting […]

Jefferson County Public Health has confirmed the presence of plague in one of the prairie dog colonies located in an unpaved, overflow parking lot at Bear Creek Lake Park, 15600 W. Morrison Road. The infrequently used lot has been closed for the past week as a precautionary measure while testing was underway, and crews have […]

A 6-year-old Sussex County girl was briefly hospitalized with West Nile Virus (WNV) and is now recovering at home. The case is the first human WNV case reported since 2013. The mosquito-borne illness can become serious and the Division of Public Health reminds people to take precautions to avoid mosquito bites. WNV is transmitted by […]

El Paso County Public Health is cautioning residents in the Pleasant Valley neighborhood, on Colorado Springs’ westside, to take precautions after recently confirming plague in a mule deer in the area. The deer was found June 19, 2015 and was tested for plague. El Paso County Public Health received notification on June 26, 2015 that […]