Outbreak News Today

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Japan health officials reported 62,613 new COVID-19 cases Tuesday, becoming the first time daily cases in Japan topped the 60,000 case mark. The previous high daily cases were recorded on Jan. 22 when there was 54,565. Officials also reported 42 COVID-19 fatalities today, the first time reporting more than 40 deaths in a day […]The post Japan eclipses 60K daily COVID-19 cases for first time appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Health officials in Zamboanga City in the southern Philippines reported the first dengue hemorrhagic fever fatality of the year in a seven-year-old boy from Barangay Bolong. City health officials have reported 64 dengue cases through January 19. Assistant city health officer, Dr. Cathy Garcia advised parents to immediately seek medical consultation once their children […]The post Zamboanga City reports first dengue death of the year appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews According to the Arbovirus Surveillance report of the Ministry of Public Health and Welfare of Paraguay, more than 300 dengue fever cases have been reported weekly in 2022 so far. To date, Paraguay has reported 630 total cases. Fifty-eight percent of cases have been reported in Central department and in Asunción. The report states […]The post Paraguay reports 300 dengue cases weekly in 2022 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews For the second week in a row, Nigerian health officials reported 48 confirmed Lassa fever cases in the country, bringing to total confirmed cases to 96 through January 16. Cases this past week were reported from Edo, Ondo, Bauchi, Benue, Kogi, Oyo, Taraba and Ebonyi States. In total for 2022, 11 States have recorded […]The post Nigeria reports nearly 100 confirmed Lassa fever cases in first two weeks of 2022 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The Newfoundland and Labrador government has confirmed that an Arctic fox killed in the community of Nain has tested positive for rabies. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) confirmed the positive result in the fox, which had been shot by a resident in early January. Fox populations are noted to be high this year, and […]The post Canada: Rabies confirmed in Arctic fox in Labrador appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Masks, physical distancing, good hygiene, and ventilation can help reduce the transmission of COVID-19 in public places. But even when these measures are taken, scientists have sometimes detected SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in indoor settings. Now, Yale School of Public Health (YSPH) researchers have developed a passive air sampler clip that can […]The post COVID-19: Yale researchers develop air sampler clip that detects personal exposure to SARS-CoV-2 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews In a follow-up report on the avian influenza situation on the Isle of Man, a second outbreak has been confirmed on the Island, according to the government. The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture (DEFA) responded on Monday after five feral chickens were found dead near the side of a road in Tholt-y-Will. The […]The post Second outbreak of avian influenza has been confirmed in the Isle of Man appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Vector Management Program has detected an unusually high infection rate of the dangerous and rare Deer Tick Virus (DTV) in adult tick samples recently taken from Lawrence Township Recreational Park in Clearfield County. The public is strongly advised to take protective measures to reduce risk of exposure […]The post Pennsylvania: Deer Tick Virus reported in high levels in ticks in Clearfield County park appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

On behalf of patients and families impacted by cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer), the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation congratulates AstraZeneca and its positive results from the TOPAZ-1 Phase III trial. The trial showed Imfinzi (durvalumab) in combination with standard-of-care chemotherapy resulted in improved overall survival (OS) versus placebo plus chemotherapy in patients with advanced biliary tract cancer (BTC). […]The post Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation congratulates AstraZeneca TOPAZ-1, the first Phase III trial appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews A recent study looked at the strength, durability and breadth of neutralizing antibody responses generated by breakthrough infections in individuals vaccinated against SARS-CoV2. The findings are published this week in Cell, one of the scientific journals of Cell Press. Alexandra Walls and David Veesler in the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Washington in Seattle […]The post Breakthrough COVID-19 infections spur strong antibody responses appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The Nghe An Department of Health in Quynh Luu district reported this week on several outbreaks linked to “underground” karaoke bars. The four outbreaks were linked to Karaoke 68 (Quynh Chau commune), Karaoke Bich Que (Cau Giat town), Karaoke Quynh Minh and Song Mo hotel (Quynh Yen commune) which resulted in dozens of cases among […]The post Vietnam reports COVID-19 outbreaks linked to ‘underground’ Karaoke bars in Nghe An appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews People who are infected with the omicron variant have a 36% lower risk of being admitted to the hospital than those who are infected with the delta variant. It shows a new analysis that Statens Serum Institut (SSI) has done together with a large number of partners. The study has been submitted to a […]The post Omicron has a 36% lower risk for hospitalization compared to Delta: Denmark study appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The Costa Rica Ministry of Health reported Friday (computer translated): The Ministry of Health informs that the drugstore in charge of importing the Yellow Fever vaccine will not have it available until the third week of February 2022. Given this situation, and in compliance with the Decree of Regulations on the International Certificate of […]The post Costa Rica reports unavailability of yellow fever vaccine appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews New data and analysis, published by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), shows a recent, sharp increase in cases of meningococcal group B (MenB) disease in university students in England, following the withdrawal of COVID-19 restrictions. Throughout 2020 and 2021, restrictions to reduce transmission of COVID-19 had also led to rapid reductions in transmission […]The post Meningococcal group B (MenB) disease in university students in England see sharp rise appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Omicron variant sub-lineage known as BA.2 has been designated a variant under investigation ( VUI-22JAN-01) by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). Overall, the original Omicron lineage, BA.1, is dominant in the UK and the proportion of BA.2 cases is currently low. The designation was made on the basis of increasing numbers of BA.2 sequences […]The post Omicron sub-lineage BA.2 designated as a variant under investigation appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews In 2021, five total wild poliovirus 1 (WPV1) cases were reported in the last two endemic countries, Pakistan and Afghanistan with one case and four cases reported, respectively. This compares to 84 cases reported in Pakistan and 56 reported in Afghanistan in 2020. These are such encouraging numbers and are the result of a […]The post Polio 2021: Is Pakistan and Afghanistan on the verge of eradication? appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Millions of people around the world have received two shots of Sinovac, a Chinese-manufactured inactive vaccine that is used in 48 countries to help reduce transmission rates of COVID-19. However, those vaccinations alone are of no help against the widely circulating Omicron variant, show a new study by researchers at Yale and the Dominican Republic. […]The post Vaccine used in much of the world no match for Omicron variant appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Chickenpox outbreak in Vellore jail A total of 16 inmates of the Vellore Central Jail housing male prisoners were infected by chicken pox, sources revealed. Read more at DTNEXT African Swine Fever confirmed in Nagaland Recently The State Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services (AH&VS) has verified an epidemic of African Swine Fever (ASF) in […]The post India Newswire: Chickenpox in Tamil Nadu jail, African swine fever in Nagaland appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Health officials in Minas Gerais, Brazil are reporting 814 probable and 178 confirmed dengue fever cases through January 20. No deaths from dengue have been confirmed to date. In 2021, the state saw 24,060 probable cases and more than 15,000 confirmed cases throughout the year. Seven deaths were confirmed and 16 are still under […]The post Brazil: Hundreds of probable dengue cases reported in Minas Gerais during first days of 2022 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews In a follow-up on reports (HERE) and (HERE) concerning SARS-CoV-2 positive hamsters, the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) said it is following up on two cases tested preliminarily positive for SARS-CoV-2 related to pet shops. The first case tested preliminarily positive for SARS-CoV-2 virus involves a 30-year-old female […]The post Hong Kong officials report two cases tested preliminarily positive for SARS-CoV-2 related to pet shops appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Here is some of the most current numbers from three important outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC): Monkeypox Health authorities reported an additional 189 total monkeypox cases. including two deaths in the past two weeks, bringing the country total for 2021 to 3,087 cases with 83 deaths (CFR 2.7%) through December […]The post DRC outbreak updates: Monkeypox, plague and polio appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Researchers from the Institute of Glycomics have been awarded more than $1,100,000 million in National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) grant funding to develop new antibiotics for the treatment of multidrug resistant gonorrhea infections. This funding enables the team to delve further into the chemistry and potential application of new “zinc-binder” drugs under development […]The post New antibiotics to be developed for multidrug resistant gonorrhea: Griffith University receives grant appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews New Zealand Food Safety is reminding consumers to thoroughly cook mussels following an increase in cases of Vibrio parahaemolyticus around the country this summer. Deputy director-general New Zealand Food Safety Vince Arbuckle said, “Since mid-November 2021, there have been 31 confirmed cases with 10 people hospitalised with the illness from around the country, and evidence suggests […]The post New Zealand officials issue warning about cooking mussels, Increase in Vibrio parahaemolyticus cases appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Health officials in Japan reported 7,873 syphilis cases in 2021, the highest number of cases in years. According to the Japan National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo reported 2,436 cases, followed by 852 cases in Osaka and 422 cases in Aichi. In 2017, Japan saw 5,534 syphilis cases, the first time that happened in […]The post Japan reports 7873 syphilis cases in 2021 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The Ukraine Ministry of Health reported 88 outbreaks of botulism in 2021, as a result of which 98 people became ill, including three children. Ten cases were fatal. 79 patients were given anti-botulinum serum. This compares to 2020 when Ukraine reported 65 cases and four deaths. In 2021, cases of botulism were registered in […]The post Botulism in Ukraine 2021: 98 cases, 10 deaths appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews In a follow-up on a recent report of pet store hamsters testing positive for virus that causes COVID-19, a clerk at Little Boss, a pet shop in Causeway Bay, was diagnosed with the new type of pneumonia, and some customers were infected, government officials report (computer translated). The hamster samples in the store also […]The post Hong Kong: If a hamster tests positive for COVID-19, its owner is subject to compulsory quarantine at a quarantine center appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Scientists from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) and three other institutions are seeking to develop a multi-pathogen vaccine that will protect against three bacterial biothreat pathogens. Led by LLNL, the team includes disease experts from the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center (UNMHSC), the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine (UNR Med) and the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute […]The post Researchers seek to develop vaccine against plague, tularemia and melioidosis appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) announced today an outbreak of avian influenza in domestic birds in Spain. The highly pathogenic H5N1 bird flu virus on a farm in the province of Segovia, north of Madrid. The virus killed killed more than 900 fattening turkeys since last Friday at the Fuenterrebollo farm. The farm […]The post Spain reports H5N1 avian influenza outbreak in Segovia appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The Hong Kong government reported on the following today (computer translated): In view of the fact that hamsters in the Causeway Bay pet store have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department announced a series of preventive measures, including further virus testing for all animals in the pet store […]The post Hong Kong: Pet store hamsters test positive for COVID-19, Temporary suspension of sales appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews A case of hantavirus was confirmed in Chubut province in Southern Argentina. The patient is a 29-year-old man who works at the Esquel Pescadores Club within the Los Alerces National Park. Currently, the man is admitted to intensive care at the local Zonal Hospital with severe respiratory failure on mechanical respiratory assistance. On January 12, the patient was admitted to the […]The post Argentina: Hantavirus case reported in Chubut appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The Health Bureau in Macao reported four additional H9N2 avian influenza cases in Mainland China in late 2021. The four cases one male and three females, aged from 3 to 14 years old. Two were from Huanggang City, Hubei Province, one from Nanning City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, and one from Zhenjiang City, Jiangsu […]The post China reports 4 additional H9N2 avian influenza cases in late 2021 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The investigation into a norovirus outbreak in the Ilirska Bistrica area in south-western Slovenia reveals that food, eg meat, was not the source of the transmission, instead, it is being linked to contact transmission via packaging, according to government health authorities. The outbreak was detected in the area around Ilirska Bistrica between 25 […]The post Slovenia: Norovirus outbreak in Ilirska Bistrica affects 123, Not linked to food appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews In previous interviews, I’ve looked at the topic of what is a clinical laboratory scientist during the annual Lab Week observance. Today, I want to narrow the topic to the specialty of Microbiology in the clinical laboratory. Joining me today to discuss the clinical laboratory scientist in Microbiology and his podcast, Let’s Talk Micro […]The post Microbiology and the Clinical Laboratory Scientist appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Ugandan health officials report a Rift Valley Fever (RVF) outbreak in Kagadi district in the western part of the country. One man has died from the disease. A 34-year-old herdsman from Kihuura Village in Mabaale Sub-county has been identified as the deceased. The Kagadi District Assistant Health Officer, Mr Paul Bahizi said, “Samples were […]The post Uganda reports Rift Valley Fever death in Kagadi appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Officials with the Isle of Man government are reporting the first H5N1 avian influenza cases in birds on the Island. The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture (DEFA) responded on Friday after a bird keeper in Sulby found 11 of his geese dead near a pond on his property. Samples were taken and sent […]The post Isle of Man: 1st H5N1 avian influenza cases reported in geese appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews In a new case report published in BMC Infectious Diseases, the authors describe the case of a 54-year-old male from Southern China who survived a Balamuthia mandrillaris infection (Granulomatous amoebic encephalitis-GAE). He was treated with two excisions and medications. A 54-year-old male was admitted to hospital after experiencing acute onset of numbness and weakness […]The post Southern China man survives Balamuthia mandrillaris infection appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) is seeing an increase in the number of “vaccine breakthrough” cases related to the recent increase in overall cases statewide. Current reporting shows a recent 43% increase in the number of breakthrough cases. The increase in the number of breakthrough cases is related to the increase in the […]The post Washington reports recent 43% increase in the number of COVID-19 breakthrough cases appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews For the five weeks from the week ending December 11 to the week ending January 8, 2022, New York State health officials reported hospital admissions for or with COVID-19 among people aged ≤ 18 years increased more than 7-fold statewide. In New York City, pediatric hospitalizations were up 16-fold. Hospital admissions for all age […]The post New York reports 7-fold increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations for children 18 and younger appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews According to Human Rights Watch, in 2021, the North Korea government extended extreme and unnecessary measures under the pretext of protecting against the spread of Covid-19 by closing its borders, and tightly restricting domestic travel as well as distribution of food and other products within the country. Senior Researcher, Lina Yoon writes, North Korea’s […]The post North Korea: Extreme and unnecessary measures under the pretext of protecting against the spread of COVID-19 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Northeastern Syria, which is controlled by the “Syrian Democratic Forces” (SDF), is witnessing a sharp rise in the number of leishmaniasis cases, according to a Asia News report, and the infections were concentrated in the eastern countryside of Deir Ez-Zor and the countryside of Hasaka near the Khabur river. According to the official responsible […]The post Leishmaniasis: Sharp rise reported in Northeastern Syria appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The capital of Vietnam, Hanoi, reported for the first time a daily case count topping 3,000 on Friday, according to the health ministry (3029). While nationally, 16,040 total cases were reported, including 171 deaths. Besides Hanoi, the following provinces and cities followed in daily case count: Da Nang (765), Binh Dinh (711), Khanh Hoa […]The post Vietnam: Hanoi tops 3,000 daily cases for the first time Friday appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The Uruguay Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and Fishing reported Thursday outbreaks of anthrax in cattle, horses, and possibly humans, in the department of Rocha, in the eastern part of the country. In Uruguay, anthrax outbreaks occur in the summer months, with a peak in February. Anthrax spores are very resistant, being able to survive for […]The post Uruguay: Officials have detected confirmed outbreaks of anthrax in cattle, horses, and possibly humans, in Rocha department appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The drug baricitinib (a type of drug known as a Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor, also used to treat rheumatoid arthritis) is strongly recommended for patients with severe or critical covid-19 in combination with corticosteroids, says a WHO Guideline Development Group of international experts in The BMJ Thursday. Their strong recommendation is based on moderate certainty […]The post Baricitinib receives WHO nod for treating patients with COVID-19 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Multiple sclerosis (MS), a progressive disease that affects 2.8 million people worldwide and for which there is no definitive cure, is likely caused by infection with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), according to a study led by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health researchers. Their findings will be published online in Science on January […]The post Epstein-Barr virus may be leading cause of multiple sclerosis: Harvard study appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews San Diego County health officials are reporting the first local detection of hantavirus in a wild vole in the area in 2022. A wild vole ― a small, mouse-like rodent ― collected in routine monitoring in an open, rural area in Chula Vista has tested positive for the potentially deadly disease. County officials are […]The post Hantavirus reported in wild vole in Chula Vista appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Officials at the Dudley Zoo and Castle are reporting a huge loss of Humboldt penguins due to the parasitic disease, Avian malaria. The malarial infection killed 50 of the 69 penguin colony. Zoo Director, Derek Grove, said: “We are all heartbroken with the huge loss in Penguin Bay and it’s been an especially distressing time […]The post England: Dozens of Humboldt penguins die from avian malaria appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The Shigella outbreak declared in October 2021 in San Diego County among people experiencing homelessness is over, officials announced Friday. The last shigella case connected to the outbreak was identified Dec. 11, 2021, and for over a month, cases have remained at the historical baseline, which is no more than one case per week […]The post San Diego: Shigella outbreak declared over appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) announced the first cases of African swine fever (ASF) in Thailand. The outbreak in Wang Thonglang in the Bangkok Metro area affected three swine that all died. According to the report, the owner bought these pigs for companion purpose. The first pig arrived in Febuary 2021 and […]The post African swine fever identified in Thailand appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 The National Health Surveillance Agency – Anvisa reported this week the third outbreak of Candida auris in Brazil. The 2 cases occurred in a hospital in Pernambuco (PE). Isolates from urine samples from a 38-year-old male patient and of a female patient, 70 years old, admitted to a Hospital in Pernambuco. Subscribe to […]The post Brazil reports Candida auris cases in Pernambuco appeared first on Outbreak News Today.