Outbreak News Today

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 The Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social Services (NRBHSS) announced recently suspected cases of Botulism (qassuniq) in Inukjuak, on March 22. An investigation revealed that the cases were associated with igunaq (a method of preparing meat, particularly walrus and other marine mammals) consumed during two feasts on March 18th and March 19th. More than 27 people may have […]The post Canada: Botulism cases in Nunavik linked to walrus meat appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 A case of human rabies was confirmed from Limpopo Province in March 2021, according to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD). The case involved a 7-year-old boy who was admitted to hospital, unable to walk or eat, with progressive paralysis, and experiencing confusion and hallucinations. He had been bitten by a dog […]The post South Africa reports 2nd human rabies case of 2021 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The Philippines Department of Health reported a record 15,310 additional COVID-19 cases on Friday; however, 3,709 were backlog cases from March 31 when issues were noted in uploading cases. Even with the extra cases, the number still tops the previous record-high of 10,016 infections reported last March 29. Of the total 771,497 reported […]The post Philippines reports record 15K plus COVID-19 cases Friday appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports investigating an outbreak of 19 Salmonella infections in 8 states (CA, KY, MS, NH, OK, OR, TN, WA). Eight people have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported. Interviews with sick people and laboratory testing from sick or dead birds show that contact with wild […]The post CDC investigating Salmonella outbreak linked to wild songbirds appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Michigan state health officials have reported a case of the P.1 or Brazil variant in a Bay County resident. “We are concerned about the discovery of another variant in Michigan,” said Elizabeth Hertel, MDHHS director. “It is now even more important that Michiganders continue to do what works to slow the spread of […]The post Michigan reports first P.1 variant case identified in Bay County appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A new center that will provide specialized care for patients with Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases will begin seeing patients this summer at Columbia University‘s Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. The Cohen Center for Health and Recovery from Tick-Borne Diseases, supported by a $16 million gift from the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation, […]The post New York City: Lyme disease center at Columbia University appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 Soon after the massive 2018-2020 measles outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), in which some 460,000 cases were reported, including 8000 deaths was recorded, Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) reports the contagious viral disease is on the rise once again in the country. MSF reports more than 13,000 new cases […]The post Measles on the rise in DRC again: MSF appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The World Health Organization (WHO) reported recently that Côte d’Ivoire, or Ivory Coast has successfully eliminated human African trypanosomiasis, also known as “sleeping sickness” as a public health problem. “I dedicate this milestone to decades of hard work and the individual contribution of every single health worker who braved some of the toughest […]The post Sleeping sickness eliminated as a public health problem in Côte d’Ivoire appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews ARS Reunion reports the dengue epidemic is accelerating on the island as 758 cases of dengue were confirmed from March 15 to 21. Since the beginning of the year, 2,648 confirmed cases have been reported, including 308 emergency room visits and 114 hospitalizations of which 19% for a severe form. Although rare, ophthalmologic manifestations […]The post Reunion Island reports more than 2600 dengue cases in three months appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa (WHO/AFRO) reported today a new Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) case in Soulouta village, N’Zérékoré Prefecture, Guinea. This is the first reported case since March 4. This brings the outbreak total to 19 confirmed and probable cases and nine deaths. The EVD outbreak in Guinea was declared […]The post Guinea reports first Ebola case in nearly a month appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The faster-spreading B.1.1.7 variant of SARS-CoV-2 first detected in the United Kingdom, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, is quickly on its way to becoming the dominant variant of the virus in the United States, according to a study from scientists at Scripps Research and the COVID-19 test maker Helix. The findings, which appear today in Cell, suggest that […]The post COVID-19 B.1.1.7 variant on its way to becoming the dominant variant in the United States appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

An investigational vaccine designed to protect against the B.1.351 SARS-CoV-2 variant has been administered as part of a new Phase 1 clinical trial evaluating the vaccine candidate’s safety and immunogenicity in adult volunteers. The vaccine, known as mRNA-1273.351, was developed by the biotechnology company ModernaTX, Inc., based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The trial is led and […]The post Moderna: COVID vaccine for B.1.351 SARS-CoV-2 variant enters early stage trial appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In a study that looked at racial differences in outcomes of COVID-19 patients admitted to the intensive care unit, researchers at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit found that patients of color had a lower 28-day mortality than white patients. Race, however, was not a factor in overall hospital mortality, length of stay in the ICU […]The post Racial differences in outcomes of COVID-19 patients in Detroit ICU: No difference says researchers appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The civil association, Médicos Unidos Venezuela reported another fifteen health workers died in Venezuela from COVID-19 between the 26th and 28th of this month, bringing the total number of medical personnel who died to 408. Venezuela has seen 159,149 cases, including 1,589 total COVID-19 deaths in the country. Médicos Unidos Venezuela tweeted: Our lives […]The post Venezuela: More than 400 health workers have died from COVID-19 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The Vietnam Food Administration is reporting at least one botulism death and several suspected cases in localities such as Kon Tum province and Binh Duong province. The Southern Province of Binh Duong’s Thuan An District had seen one death and many hospitalizations relating to Botulinum toxin after eating canned pâté food on March […]The post Vietnam: Botulism reported in Binh Duong province appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced it is allowing the use of the Binx Health IO CT/NG Assay at point-of-care settings, such as in physician offices, community-based clinics, urgent care settings, outpatient health care facilities and other patient care settings, operating under a CLIA Certificate of Waiver, Certificate of Compliance or Certificate of […]The post Point-of-care Chlamydia and Gonorrhea Test gets FDA Ok appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Takeda Pharmaceutical Company announced recently that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has accepted the Company’s filing packages for its dengue vaccine candidate (TAK-003) which is being investigated for the prevention of dengue due to any dengue virus serotype in individuals ages four to 60. In addition, they intend on submitting regulatory filings this year in […]The post Dengue vaccine candidate: Takeda begins regulatory submissions in the EU and Dengue-endemic countries appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The Department of Public Health Mid-West is reporting an outbreak of Verotoxigenic E. coli (VTEC) in a single setting of children in the Mid-West region of Ireland. Health officials say they are managing the outbreak and it is under control. Dr. Rose Fitzgerald, Specialist in Public Health Medicine at Public Health Mid-West said: […]The post Ireland reports E. coli outbreak in the Mid-West region appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews A report from the Swedish Public Health Agency shows that of the several hundred thousand people in Sweden who have received two COVID-19 vaccine doses and about 200 people have so far tested positive for COVID-19. The Swedish Public Health Agency continuously monitors the number of so-called breakthrough infections in Sweden, ie cases […]The post Sweden: 200 people have tested positive for COVID-19 post- two dose vaccine appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The Canadian National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) Monday recommended that the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine should not be used in adults under 55 years of age at this time while the safety signal of Vaccine-Induced Prothrombotic Immune Thrombocytopenia (VIPIT) following vaccination with AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine is investigated further. The recommendation is based on […]The post Canada: AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine should not be used in adults under 55 years of age at this time appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The Iloilo Provincial Health Office (PHO) is reporting five human rabies deaths during the first three months of 2021. This compares to seven human rabies deaths for all of 2020. The deaths were reported in the following towns: San Dionisio, Ajuy, Estancia, Calinog, and Sara. According to Dr. Maria Socorro Colmenares-Quiñon, acting chief […]The post Philippines: Five human rabies deaths reported in Iloilo during the 1st three months appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews The Provincial Health Division (DPS) of Mai-Ndombe province in western Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) reported Saturday 3,239 cases of tuberculosis, including 65 deaths in 2020. Thirteen percent of the cases were reported in children. This total is up from 2,126 cases in 2019. Dr José Monama, coordinator of tuberculosis activities in […]The post DRC: TB cases up in Mai-Ndombe province in 2020 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Peru Minister of Health, Óscar Ugarte said a study by the National Institute of Health (INS) determined that approximately 40% of cases of the new coronavirus cases in Lima have been due to the Brazilian variant of this disease, or P.1. “This INS study is extremely important because it has made it possible to […]The post Peru: 40% of COVID-19 cases in Lima are the P.1 Brazil variant appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Queensland Health recently urged parents to watch out for Hand, Foot and Mouth disease (HFMD) following dozens of cases that have been identified in the Far North. There have been more than 60 presentations of HFMD to Cairns Hospital’s Emergency Department during the first two months of the year, including 9 patient admissions. […]The post Australia: Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease warning for the Far North appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Officials with the Queensland Government are reporting increased cases of melioidosis and leptospirosis this year in the Cairns and Hinterland region in the Far North. Notifications of both infections usually increase in the wet season, but notifications are higher than usual. Melioidosis cases have been in Cairns, with several cases in Clifton Beach […]The post Queensland: Officials report increase in melioidosis and leptospirosis in the Cairns and Hinterland region appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 The risk of avian influenza is high in Germany, according to the Friedrich Loeffler Institute (FLI). The bird flu events have reached a second high point in February, officials note saying the current epidemic in Germany have exceeded those of 2016/2017. In Germany, around 1,000 HPAIV H5 cases have been detected in wild birds and 133 outbreaks in […]The post Avian influenza events in Germany: No sign of ending appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By Teddy Cambosa The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has announced that it is supporting its stride to eradicate Ebola outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the Republic of Guinea (Guinea) through continuous deployment of scientific and technical experts in the country. Earlier this month CDC allocated $20 million from the Infectious […]The post CDC affirms extended support in DRC, Guinea to eradicate Ebola appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By Teddy Cambosa The Department of Health (DOH) of the Philippines has tallied a new spike in COVID-19 cases in the country, with 9,595 cases adding up today, according to the department’s latest health bulletin. To date, the country has 118,122 active COVID-19 cases, and total confirmed caseload in the country to 712,442. In response […]The post Philippines COVID-19 cases peak at 9K today, stricter quarantine placed on Greater Manila area appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By Teddy Cambosa American biotechnology and pharmaceutical company Moderna has announced that the national government has procured an additional seven million doses of Moderna vaccine, adding up to the total confirmed order commitment to 20 million. The additional vaccine orders come after the country has ordered an initial 13 million doses last March 6 this […]The post Philippines secures 7M additional Moderna vaccines through new agreement appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 The Swedish Public Health Agency recommends that Astra Zeneca’s covid-19 vaccine be used again in Sweden to protect people aged 65 and older against the disease. For younger people, a continued pause is recommended. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has determined that the benefits of the Astra Zeneca vaccine outweigh the risks. However, it cannot […]The post Sweden: Astra Zeneca’s vaccine can continue for people aged 65 and over appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 The Norwegian Institute of Public Health has decided to extend the pause in the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine because further investigations are necessary. On 11th March 2021, the Norwegian Institute of Public Health decided to temporarily pause vaccination with the AstraZeneca vaccine in Norway. The decision was made after reports of severe […]The post Norway extends temporary pause for the AstraZeneca vaccine until April 15 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 The Brazil Ministry of Health reported Wednesday eclipsing the 300,000 mark concerning COVID-19 deaths, the second country to reach this number (United States). On Friday, health officials reported 84,245 additional cases, bringing the country total to 12,404,414. 10,824,095 people have recovered and the death toll stands at 307,112. The Minister of Health, Marcelo […]The post Brazil COVID-19 death toll tops 300K, Committed to increase vaccinations appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Kareem Mart of Garden City, MI,is recalling its 1lb and 2lb Kareem Chef brand “Halva”, “Halva with Pistachio”, and “Halva with Chocolate” food treats because they have the potential to be contaminated with salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infection in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune […]The post Kareem Chef brand ‘Halva’ food treats recalled due to potential Salmonella appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported a case of human infection with a novel influenza A virus, or “swine flu” in North Carolina, in their latest FluView report. According to the report ending March 20, the individual was infected with an influenza A(H1N1) variant (A(H1N1)v) virus in 2020. The patient is […]The post ‘Swine flu’ case reported in North Carolina appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 In a follow-up on the arbovirus situation in Peru, the Peruvian Ministry of Health’s Center for Epidemiology, Prevention and Disease Control issued a public health alert for all of Peru reporting an increase of certain mosquito-borne diseases, including dengue, chikungunya and Zika. Dengue continues to be a public health problem in countries with tropical […]The post ​Peru Ministry of Health warns of increased cases of Zika, dengue, and chikungunya appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 The South Dakota Animal Industry Board reported the confirmation of Bovine tuberculosis (TB) in a beef herd in Corson County. State Veterinarian Dr. Dustin Oedekoven says that an infected cow was initially identified in January by meat inspectors during routine inspection at a Minnesota packing plant. This is the first bovine TB case […]The post South Dakota: Bovine tuberculosis reported in beef herd appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 On March 1, 2021, the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) announced that it would cancel international sporting events in ten countries in continental Europe due to an EHV outbreak during an international tournament in Valencia, Spain. Returning horses caused secondary outbreaks in nine countries. As of Mar. 16, a total of seventeen horses in Europe had to […]The post Equine herpes outbreak in Europe appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 For the first time, the Tula orthohantavirus, or Tula virus was determined molecularly as the cause of a hantavirus disease in a German patient, according to the Friedrich Loeffler Institute (FLI). In Germany, there are at least four different human pathogenic hantaviruses in different rodents. In the future, a more precise virus typing […]The post Tula orthohantavirus confirmed for first time in a German patient appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 At least three cases of Q fever have been confirmed among workers at the Biological Mechanical Treatment (TMB) plant located in the Bilbao area of ​​Artigas, as this newspaper has learned. Two of the three affected have been hospitalized for several days at Galdakao and Cruces Hospitals and a fourth employee is waiting for their […]The post Spain: Q fever confirmed in Biological Mechanical Treatment plant employees in Bilbao appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Indian SARS-CoV-2 Consortium on Genomics (INSACOG) is a grouping of 10 National Laboratories that was established by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt of India on 25/12/2020. INSACOG is since then carrying out genomic sequencing and analysis of circulating COVID-19 viruses, and correlating epidemiological trends with genomic variants. Genomic variants of various viruses […]The post India: New COVID variants rising appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 During the last five weeks, a sharp increase in transmission has been seen among most age groups in Norway, but not among the oldest who have the highest vaccination coverage, according to the Norwegian Institute of Public Health. “This may be an early indication that the elderly have received protection after vaccination, although […]The post Protection against COVID-19 seen among those vaccinated in Norway appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 The World Health Organization (WHO) African region reported today via tweet that the last Ebola patient in Guinea was discharged on Tuesday night in N’Zérékoré 38 days after the start of the outbreak. With no new confirmed cases, the 42-day countdown to the end of the Ebola outbreak in Guinea has officially begun. […]The post Guinea’s Ebola outbreak: Last patient discharged, Countdown begins appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

When clinical trials were conducted to determine the immunogenicity — the ability to elicit an immune response — for the first two vaccines marshaled against SARS-CoV-2the virus that causes COVID-19, one group was not among those included: people who have received solid organ transplants and others (such as those with autoimmune disorders) who are immunocompromised. […]The post COVID-19 vaccines may not produce sufficient antibody response in transplant recipients appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

An international team of researchers has found that three commonly used antiviral and antimalarial drugs are effective in vitro at preventing replication of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The work also underscores the necessity of testing compounds against multiple cell lines to rule out false negative results. The team, which included researchers from North […]The post Antiviral drugs– tilorone, quinacrine and pyronaridine–potentially effective against COVID-19 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 Oregon health officials report monitoring four people for Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) who recently visited the West African countries of Guinea and Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and local public health departments have been in contact with these individuals, who are considered “persons under monitoring,” since they arrived […]The post Oregon: Four travelers to Africa monitored for Ebola appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

People who received a flu shot last flu season were significantly less likely to test positive for a COVID-19 infection when the pandemic hit, according to a new study. And those who did test positive for COVID-19 had fewer complications if they received their flu shot. These new findings mean senior author Marion Hofmann Bowman, […]The post Study: Flu shot associated with fewer, less severe COVID cases appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 The National Epidemiology Center of the Peruvian Ministry of Health have reported 12,125 dengue cases nationally, including seven deaths, prompting the declaration of a epidemiological alert. Health authorities say this is a 34% increase in the number of cases nationwide compared to the same weeks in 2020. In the Amazon region of Madre […]The post Peru dengue: Cases up 34% compared to same period in 2020 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has started the clock for the countdown to the end of the 12th Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak in the country since 1976. The World Health Organization (WHO) said: The last Ebola patient in DRC was discharged from a treatment centre in Katwa yesterday! With no […]The post DRC starts the clock for the end of the Ebola outbreak appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Hearing loss and other auditory problems are strongly associated with Covid-19 according to a systematic review of research evidence led by University of Manchester and NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) scientists. Professor Kevin Munro and PhD researcher Ibrahim Almufarrij found 56 studies that identified an association between COVID-19 and auditory and vestibular problems. They […]The post Hearing loss associated to COVID-19 infection: Study appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 Taiwan’s Department of Disease Control (CDC) announced the first confirmed, imported case of chikungunya of 2021. The patient is a Indonesian male in his 20s. He came to work in Taiwan on March 16. When he arrived in Taiwan, he was found to be suffering from a fever. Quarantine officers then tested him […]The post Taiwan reports 1st imported chikungunya case of the year appeared first on Outbreak News Today.