Outbreak News Today

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Health officials in Harris County, Texas are reporting the first COVID-19 Omicron-variant associated death in the County. The death reported was of a man between the ages of 50-60 years old who was unvaccinated and had been infected with COVID-19 previously. The individual was at higher risk of severe complications from COVID-19 due to […]The post Texas: COVID-19 Omicron-variant associated death reported in Harris County appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Officials with the Philippines Department of Health reported today a third case of the Omicron (B.1.1.529) coronavirus variant. According to Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, the case is a 36-year-old returning overseas Filipino (ROF) who already tested negative for Covid-19 on December 19 after a repeat test. He arrived at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport […]The post Philippines reports 3rd Omicron case, 100 millionth dose of COVID-19 vaccine administered appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews According to the latest data published by the Pan American Health Organization , cases of chikungunya increased by 32% in Brazil in comparison between 2020 and 2021. Through November 27 of this year, 127,487 total cases of the disease, caused by a virus and transmitted by the bite of the Aedes aegypti mosquito, had […]The post Chikungunya in Brazil: Cases up 32% in 2021 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Last Monday, the Southern Nevada Health District reported the state’s first reported case of COVID-19 caused by the Omicron variant in Clark County. The individual who tested positive is a fully vaccinated female in her mid-20s who did not receive a booster dose of the vaccine. The individual traveled out of the country during […]The post Nevada Omicron: 2nd case reported appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The County of San Diego has announced the ongoing outbreak of shigella now stands at 46 confirmed and five probable cases, with slowing cases up one from a week ago and a total of three since the 41 confirmed and seven probable cases reported in the Dec. 3 update. The County Public Health shigella […]The post San Diego Shigella outbreak in homeless slowing appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews A number of hemorrhagic fever cases caused by Hantavirus have been reported in the city of Xi’an in Northwest China’s Shaanxi Province, according to China state-affiliated media, The Global Times. Hemorrhagic fever is a common infectious disease in northern China. Starting from October every year, some areas of Shaanxi enter the high incidence season of […]The post Hantavirus infections reported in Xi’an, Shaanxi Province appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Alberta Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Economic Development, Nate Horner issued the following statement on a positive case of atypical BSE in Alberta: “Recently, an older cow in Alberta tested positive for atypical bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). Atypical BSE presents no risk to human health, is not transmissible, and this case is not […]The post Alberta: 1st case of BSE reported in Canada in 6 years appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) reported an additional 529 SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant of concern (VOC) cases yesterday in the European Union and European Economic Area (EU/EEA), bringing the total to 3,158. Cases have been reported from 27 EU/EEA countries to date. Although cases reported initially were linked to travel, an increasing […]The post Omicron cases in the EU top 3,000; ECDC Director says a ‘rapid increase in Omicron cases is imminent’ appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH) reports the COVID-19 situation is becoming increasingly serious. The number of detected cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection is increasing rapidly, followed by an increase in hospital admissions. Hospitals, nursing homes, family doctors and out-of-hours clinics are under an ever-increasing strain as a result of more patients, increased sickness […]The post Norway: Omicron variant is becoming established and will soon dominate appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews In a follow-up on the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak in Beni health zone, North Kivu in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the World Health Organization (WHO) announced Thursday the 13th EVD outbreak in the country has been declared over. 42-days have passed, or two incubation periods after the last confirmed case […]The post Ebola outbreak declared over in the Democratic Republic of the Congo appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Pakistan saw a total of 48,906 dengue fever cases including 183 deaths through November 25 this year. Cases have been reported from four provinces including Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, Balochistan, and the federally administered Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), and Azad Jammu and Kashmir autonomous territories (AJK). As […]The post Pakistan: Punjab accounts for about half of all dengue cases appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Philippines health officials (DOH) reported two imported cases of the Omicron (B.1.1.529) variant Tuesday. The two Omicron variant cases are incoming travelers and are currently isolated in a facility managed by the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ). One is a Returning Overseas Filipino (ROF) who arrived from Japan on December 1, 2021 via Philippine Airlines […]The post Omicron in the Philippines: 1st cases reported in international travelers appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews From the beginning of the year through November 7, health officials in Zimbabwe reported 212 human anthrax cases. No deaths have been reported. The latest cases were reported in early November –Nine in Gokwe North District (2), Gokwe South District (4) in Midlands Province, Goromonzi District (1) in Mashonaland East Province, Hurungwe District (1) […]The post Zimbabwe reports more than 200 anthrax cases in 2021 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The Japan National Institute of Infectious Diseases in Tokyo is now reporting 7,134 syphilis cases through December 5, the first time this has happened in decades. Tokyo (2226), Osaka (761) and Aichi (379) prefectures have reported the most cases. Syphilis was rampant in Japan until shortly after the end of World War II, but […]The post Syphilis cases top 7,000 in Japan appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Guinea worm disease is usually caught by drinking water containing water fleas that carry the parasite larvae. The worms mate and grow inside the body, and after 10-14 months the one-metre-long adult worm emerges, usually from the arms or legs, to shed its larvae back into water. The parasite causes disability and trauma in […]The post Guinea worm disease: ‘Dogs are now the key impediment to eradicating this dreadful human disease’ appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) was notified by the Northeast Nebraska Public Health Department of two cases of Lyme disease locally acquired within their jurisdiction. Both patients reported likely exposure around the same timeframe at sites located near one another in Thurston County. Due to the association between both cases, […]The post Nebraska: Locally acquired Lyme disease reported in Thurston County appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Summary of findings: Vaccine effectiveness: The two-dose Pfizer-BioNTech vaccination provides 70% protection against severe complications of COVID-19 requiring hospitalization, and 33% protection against COVID-19 infection, during the current Omicron wave. Reinfection risk: For individuals who have had COVID-19 previously, the risk of reinfection with Omicron is significantly higher, relative to prior variants. Severity: The risk […]The post Risk of severe disease and hospitalization significantly lower in Omicron infection compared to prior variants: Discovery Health appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak in Beni health zone (North Kivu), the 13th EVD outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) could be declared over on Wednesday, December 15. The outbreak was declared on October 8. Cumulatively, 11 cases (8 confirmed, 3 probable), nine deaths (6, 3) and two recoveries of EVD have […]The post DRC’s 13th Ebola outbreak could be declared over tomorrow appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews A laboratory-confirmed case of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) was reported in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) recently. According to a Disease Outbreak News release from the World Health Organization (WHO) this week, the case is a 60-year-old male from the Abu Dhabi region, UAE. He developed fever, sore throat, shortness of breath, […]The post UAE reports Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) case in Abu Dhabi region appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Zhong Nanshan said Saturday at a conference that because of China’s high vaccination rate, the country is highly expected to reach the herd immunity level by the end of 2021. “As many as 1.15 billion people in China have already been fully vaccinated against the novel coronavirus, […]The post China: Expert expects country to achieve herd immunity by end of year, 1st Omicron case reported appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson yesterday launched an urgent national appeal calling for people to get jabbed saying “A tidal wave of Omicron is coming”. It comes as the UK Chief Medical Officers have Sunday increased the UK Covid Alert Level from Level 3 to Level 4 due to a rapid increase in […]The post Boris Johnson: ‘A tidal wave of Omicron is coming. Get Boosted Now’ appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews New data from the Provincial Congress of Infectology shows that the number of congenital syphilis cases in the province has risen by 68 percent in 2021 compared to last year. So far this year, 358 babies were born in Córdoba with congenital syphilis. This compares with 213 cases were reported in 2020. The difference between 2021 […]The post Argentina: Congenital syphilis cases in Córdoba up 68 percent in 2021 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The Directorate of Epidemiological Surveillance (Dive) of Santa Catarina has reported eight human yellow fever cases this year, including three fatalities. None of the victims were vaccinated. In addition, Dive announced Friday, the confirmed death of a monkey due to the yellow fever virus in Pedras Grandes, in the South. To date, 137 were […]The post Brazil: Eight human yellow fever cases, including 3 deaths in Santa Catarina appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The Swedish Public Health Agency, or Folkhälsomyndigheten says the flu epidemic is underway for the season and there is a risk that it will be intense. Since the beginning of November, the number of flu cases has increased, and the season’s epidemic has been going on nationally since week 48. So far, mainly influenza […]The post Sweden flu season underway, warns ‘there is a risk that it will be intense’ appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The Finland National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) reported today on 11 new Omicron variant cases being confirmed. Infections have been diagnosed in the areas of the Helsinki and Uusimaa Hospital District (HUS), the South Karelia Social and Health District (Eksote) and the hospital districts of Southwest Finland and Vaasa. To date, a […]The post Finland reports 11 additional Omicron cases, Brings total to 20 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews It was announced last Thursday at Expo 2020 Dubai that Niger is preparing the requisite paperwork for WHO verification and pending certification, and the country is now poised to be the first in Africa to declare it has eliminated the NTD – a feat once considered impossible. After over 40 years of work to […]The post Elimination of transmission of onchocerciasis, or river blindness in Niger appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The interim governor of Maniema, Afani Idrissa Mangala, declared this past Thursday, December 09, 2021, a monkeypox outbreak in the province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. A total of 24 deaths linked to this epidemic have been recorded in the Tundu health zone in Kibombo territory in the southern part of Maniema. […]The post Monkeypox outbreak declared in Maniema, DRC appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Combining two agents to block a parasitic worm’s life cycle boosted survival from a potentially deadly tropical disease to 85% in animal models, far better than either treatment alone, according to a proof-of-concept study led by UT Southwestern Medical Center pharmacologists. The Strongyloides infestation – brought by tiny worms known as nematodes that can enter through your feet – […]The post Ivermectin and dafachronic acid combo identified as possible cure for Strongyloidiasis appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Tube samples of Omicron, however, do further propose its “significant” capability to evade protection from previous infection and, potentially, even third vaccine dose A new study published Friday published in Emerging Microbes & Infection looking into the Omicron variant of COVID-19 suggests that people previously infected with COVID, and those vaccinated, will have some, “stronger than […]The post Omicron: Previous infection and vaccination will have some ‘stronger than basic’ defense against variant appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The Ohio Department of Health has reported that the first two cases of the B.1.1.529 (Omicron) variant have been confirmed in Ohio following genomic sequencing by The Ohio State University Laboratory. “We have known that it would only be a matter of time until a case of Omicron was detected in Ohio. The CDC […]The post Ohio reports first Omicron cases appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews In a follow-up on the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak in the North Kivu Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), which was declared on October 8, two months after the outbreak was declared by the Ministry of Health, the epidemiological situation on the Ebola virus disease is currently under control, according […]The post Ebola outbreak update: More than 30 days since last positive case appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The Hong Kong Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health reports monitoring a human case of avian influenza A(H5N6) in Mainland China. The case involves a 68-year-old man living in Huizhou in Guangdong Province, who kept poultry at home. He developed symptoms on December 3 and was admitted for treatment on […]The post H5N6 avian influenza in China: Additional human case reported in Guangdong Province appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Through Dec. 10, 25 US states have reported at least one Omicron variant case–Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin. According to a newly published Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) from the Centers […]The post Omicron in the US: Cases reported in half the states, Most appear to be mild appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a travel notice this week for Uttar Pradesh, India due to a Zika virus outbreak. The outbreak, which started in October, has accounted for 152 cases–two thirds of the total cases reported in India. The CDC advises: Travelers to Uttar Pradesh should take steps to prevent […]The post Zika virus outbreak in Uttar Pradesh, India prompts CDC travel notice appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews In a follow-up on the Salmonella situation in Salta province, Argentina, the Ministry of Public Health reported that from the beginning of 2021 and until the end of last week, 1,283 cases of salmonellosis were confirmed in the province. In the first months of the year, a greater number of cases comprised in the […]The post Argentina: More Salmonella cases reported in Salta, Nearly half in young children appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare announced today that it has confirmed eight new infected persons with the Omicron variant of COVID-19. Eight people entered Haneda Airport, Narita Airport, and Kansai Airport from Namibia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the United States from November 28 to December 7, respectively, and were found […]The post Japan Omicron cases rise to 12 after eight new cases confirmed appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews In a follow-up on the Salmonella outbreak affecting several Canadian provinces, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) now reports 79 Salmonella illnesses reported across five provinces. Outbreak cases have been reported in the following provinces: British Columbia (34), Alberta (28), Saskatchewan (4), Manitoba (11) and Ontario (2). The illnesses reported in Ontario are related to […]The post Canada salmonella outbreak rises to 79 cases appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews According to the deputy director of Epidemiology of the Secretary of Health of Chihuahua, Dr. Gumaro Barrios Gallegos, since October, 149 migrants have been detected with chickenpox at the Leona Vicario Integrating Center for Migrants while waiting to reach the United States. 12 of the cases are currently active, he notes. Of the 149 […]The post Mexico: Chickenpox outbreak at Ciudad Juarez migrant shelter appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Michigan state health officials reported Thursday on the first Omicron variant, B.1.1.529 in the state in Kent County. “We are concerned, although not surprised, about the discovery of the Omicron variant in Michigan,” said Elizabeth Hertel, MDHHS director. “We continue to urge Michiganders ages 5 and up to get vaccinated and continue participating in […]The post Omicron in Michigan: ‘Concerned, although not surprised’, Record COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations reported appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The capital city of Vietnam, Hanoi, reported a more than doubling in COVID-19 cases today compared to yesterday. Health officials reported 822 cases today, compared to 396 on December 8. Today, the Ministry of Health reported 15,311 cases of COVID-19 in 61 provinces and cities, including 256 deaths. Beside Hanoi, cities reported high number of […]The post Vietnam: COVID-19 cases double in Hanoi day over day appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Health officials in the European Union and European Economic Area (EU/EEA) have reported 402 total Omicron cases in 21 countries through December 9. Although cases reported initially were linked to travel, an increasing number of cases are now reported to have been acquired within the EU/EEA–Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Spain and Iceland, including as parts […]The post Omicron in the EU: More than 400 cases, No deaths to date appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration amended the emergency use authorization (EUA) for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, authorizing the use of a single booster dose for administration to individuals 16 and 17 years of age at least six months after completion of primary vaccination with the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine. “Vaccination and getting a […]The post FDA Expands Eligibility for Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Booster Dose to 16- and 17-Year-Olds appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews On Wednesday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency use authorization (EUA) for AstraZeneca’s Evusheld for the pre-exposure prophylaxis of COVID-19 in certain adults and pediatric individuals- 12 years of age and older weighing at least 40 kilograms [about 88 pounds]. Evusheld is tixagevimab co-packaged with cilgavimab and administered together. The product […]The post AstraZeneca’s Evusheld monoclonal antibodies combo for pre-exposure prophylaxis receives EUA appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Officials with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) announced today that 100 percent of the eligible population in the Metro Manila, or National Capital Region (NCR) have been vaccinated against COVID-19. MMDA chairperson Benjamin Abalos Jr. said Metro Manila has a 9.8 million eligible population for Covid-19 vaccination. Abalos cited that high vaccination turnout […]The post Metro Manila: 100% of eligible population is vaccinated appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Three additional cases of the Omicron variant (B.1.1.529 SARS-CoV-2 lineage) were reported by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), bringing the total cases to six in the country. All the Omicron cases so far were detected in persons with recent travel history to South Africa in November. There is currently no evidence of […]The post Nigeria Omicron case count now 6, Delta remains the dominant variant appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) reported an additional 60 dengue fever hospitalizations over the past day, bringing the total cases for the year to 27,839. The vast majority of cases are reported from Dhaka, while some 4,523 are from outside Dhaka. A total of 617 cases have been reported in December to […]The post Dengue death toll reaches 100 in Bangladesh appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Chicago health officials report an increase in Primary and Secondary (P&S) syphilis cases in the city. Data for 2020 indicate that there were 919 reported P&S syphilis cases in the City of Chicago, which represents a 13 percent increase from the same period of 2019. Data for 2021 is unavailable at this time, as […]The post Chicago reports rise in syphilis cases in 2020, Outbreak in Roseland appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) Tuesday announced Illinois’ first known COVID-19 case caused by the Omicron COVID-19 variant (B.1.1.529), identified in a Chicago resident and known contact of a confirmed Omicron case from another state who visited the city. The Chicago resident – fully […]The post Chicago reports 1st Omicron case appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH) has reported 33 confirmed omicron cases after genome sequencing as of December 7. In addition, the institute has received 182 samples in recent days, which are considered to be probable omicron cases for sequencing. Oslo accounts for more than half the confirmed cases (17) and 106 of […]The post Norway reports 33 confirmed Omicron cases, New restrictions imposed appeared first on Outbreak News Today.