Outbreak News Today

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 The Norway Institute of Public Health, or Folkehelseinstituttet (FHI) reported today three new cases of the United Kingdom virus variant in the country. The people in question came to Norway from the United Kingdom in December. Two of the people are from Western Norway, and one from Rogaland. The people are followed up by […]The post Norway reports 3 additional UK COVID-19 virus variant cases, total now 19 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 In a follow-up from Sweden’s health officials, the Public Health Agency reported the first case of the virus variant of COVID-19 reported from South Africa. The case of the South African virus variant, known as 501.V2, is linked to travelers from South Africa. “This shows that the extended recommendations for testing and sample […]The post Sweden reports 1st South African COVID-19 virus variant appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 The New Zealand Ministry of Health confirms six positive cases of COVID-19 have been found to match the recently identified UK variant of COVID-19 known as 20B/501Y.V1 (Lineage B.1.1.7). All positive COVID-19 tests in New Zealand are sent to ESR for whole genome sequencing as part of our overall elimination strategy. As part […]The post New Zealand reports 6 UK COVID-19 variant cases appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By Teddy Cambosa Local authorities in the municipality of Vibord in Denmark have decided to cull nearly 9,000 poultry after a farm in the Lovel village found that it is dealing with a strain of bird flu. According to a statement from the nation’s Food and Control Administration, the strain was found to be H5N8 […]The post Nearly 9,000 poultry to be culled in Denmark due to bird flu outbreak appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By Teddy Cambosa Davao Occidental province in the Mindanao part of the Philippines has recorded a diarrhea outbreak in Barangay Butuan in the Municipality of Jose Abad Santos, Mayor Jason John Joyce reported. The outbreak has left 1 dead and 33 others hospitalized in the town’s district hospital, as Municipal Health Office findings showed the […]The post Diarrhea outbreak hits Davao Occidental province in the Philippines appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 Brazil has recorded a reduction in COVID-19 cases and deaths, according to data from the new Epidemiological Bulletin on the disease. The data shows that the country registered a drop of 24% in the number of new cases of the disease and regarding deaths, there was a 15% reduction in the same period. The […]The post Brazil reports decrease in COVID-19 cases and deaths appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 On December 22, 2020, the 19th meeting of the COVID-19 advisory board of Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare met to look at the latest infection trends in Japan. At that time, the advisory board said concerning Tokyo: The number of new infections in Japan continues to increase, reaching a record high level. […]The post Tokyo officials seek state of emergency as COVID-19 cases rise appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

In the ongoing arms race between humans and the parasite that causes malaria, Taane Clark and colleagues at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) report that new mutations that enhance resistance to a drug used to prevent malaria in pregnant women and children are already common in countries fighting the disease. The […]The post Malaria: Mutations are already widespread in parasite populations in Africa and Asia appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 Earlier this week, Peru Minister of Health, Pilar Mazzetti Soler addressed the work of health personnel and medical professionals in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. She said the work of health personnel and medical professionals in general has stood out for their dedication and commitment, assuming the great responsibility of caring for […]The post Peru health minister Pilar Mazzetti Soler on health personnel and medical professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 According to a recent UNICEF Humanitarian Report, in Ituri province in northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), officials have reported 286 cases of bubonic plague, including 27 deaths were reported since August. Rethy and Biringi health zones have the highest number of cases, with 210 registered cases, including 15 deaths. In a […]The post Plague in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: Nearly 300 cases in Ituri since August appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has proposed for the creation of body that would solely focus on the new variant of COVID-19 after its reported emergence in the United Kingdom (UK) and presence in other countries. “I would suggest that we create a panel or a — who would just be — whose job could […]The post Duterte proposes creation of Task Force on new COVID-19 variant appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 The United States has been added to the ever increasing list of countries covered by Manila’s temporary travel restrictions. According to the Bureau of Immigration (BI), foreign passengers coming from the United States would not be allowed entry into the country starting Sunday. “Foreigners from the US have been added to the list […]The post Philippines: ‘Foreigners from the US have been added to the list of those restricted’ appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By Teddy Cambosa The Ministry of Health in Singapore has reported that the island nation has 30 new COVID-19 cases on January 1st, 3 of which are locally-transmitted and 27 are so-called “import cases”. According to the ministry’s press release, the local cases are as follows: Case 58870 is a 14 year-old female Singaporean who […]The post Singapore health ministry reports 30 new COVID-19 cases appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By Teddy Cambosa The Philippines is continuing its battle against COVID-19, as the Department of Health reports 1,765 new COVID-19 cases on January 1, 2021, totaling to 475,820 cases in the country. 106 individuals have recovered from COVID-19 in the country on that day, while 4 are reported to have died. The City of Davao […]The post Philippines tally 1,765 new COVID-19 cases on New Year’s Day appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By Teddy Cambosa The City of Manila in the Philippines has launched its COVID-19 pre-registration website www.manilacovid19vaccine.com for its citizens who are interested in receiving the vaccine, slated for release in the city this year. According to Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso, those that will be given priority first medical and health front-liners […]The post City of Manila launches pre-registration website for COVID-19 vaccine appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 Officials with Public Health – Seattle & King County are reporting an increase in shigellosis cases since mid-December in King County. Since the end of October, Public Health has received 40 total reports of Shigella infection, with 22 of those reported since December 14th. This compares to an average of 2-3 cases reported during […]The post Shigella increase reported in Seattle area in recent weeks appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Delaware health officials reported this week the first flu-related death of the 2020-2021 season. The individual was a 56-year-old Kent county male infected with influenza B, who also had underlying health conditions. As of Dec. 19, 2020, the most recent date for which flu statistics are available, there have been five laboratory-confirmed cases of the […]The post Delaware reports 1st flu-related death of the season appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Multiple bouts of blood feeding by mosquitoes shorten the incubation period for malaria parasites and increase malaria transmission potential, according to a study published December 31 in the open-access journal PLOS Pathogens by Lauren Childs of Virginia Tech, Flaminia Catteruccia of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and colleagues. Given that mosquitoes feed on blood […]The post Multiple mosquito blood feedings increase malaria transmission potential: Study appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 Midwestern Pet Foods, Inc., of Evansville, IN is issuing a voluntary recall of the below listed dog and cat food products due to tests indicating levels of Aflatoxin that exceed acceptable limits. Products were distributed nationally to online distributors and retail stores. Aflatoxin is a toxin produced by the mold Aspergillus flavus, which can […]The post Dog and cat food recalled over Aflatoxin risk appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 In a new study published this week in the journal, Open Forum Infectious Diseases, researchers from the University of Arizona and others estimated the lifetime cost-of-illness associated with all cases of Valley fever diagnosed in 2019 in Arizona. In 2019, Arizona saw 10,359 cases of Valley fever accounting for a majority of cases […]The post Valley fever: The cost of the fungal infection in Arizona is very expensive appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 In a follow-up report from earlier this week in California, the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency reported three new cases of the United Kingdom variant of COVID-19, also known as B.1.1.7. by whole genome sequencing Thursday. The three newly-confirmed variant cases reported were confirmed by by Scripps Research. The new […]The post San Diego reports 3 additional cases of new COVID-19 strain appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By Teddy Cambosa The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the Philippines is reiterating its stand on the use of unauthorized COVID-19 vaccines, as there has been no official ruling as to what vaccines can be used in the country. “As of date the FDA has not issued any Emergency Use Authorization to any vaccine […]The post FDA Philippines warns on the use of unauthorized COVID-19 vaccines appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 According to a report from the China CDC Weekly published Wednesday, health authorities have reported the first case of the new variant COVID-19 originating in the United Kingdom: On December 14, 2020, a 23-year-old female returning from the United Kingdom (UK) via airplane was tested by the laboratory of Shanghai Customs using nose […]The post China reports 1st UK COVID-19 variant case in Shanghai appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By Teddy Cambosa The island province of Sulu in the southern tip of the Philippines has ordered travel restrictions in the province starting from January 4 to 17 due to news of the new COVID-19 strain now reached Sabah, Malaysia. Sulu Governor Abdusakur Tan has signed an executive order, ordering that while transport of basic […]The post Sulu island province in PH closes border due to new COVID-19 strain in Sabah appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By Teddy Cambosa The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has released statistics on the ongoing cholera outbreak in West Africa, and noted certain increases in cases in the region, with 22,366 cases and 475 deaths of cholera recorded within 48 weeks of observation. The Congo River Basin remains to be the epicenter of the outbreak, […]The post UNICEF reports rise of cholera cases in West Africa appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By Teddy Cambosa The Department of Health (DOH) and the Regional Institute of Tropical Medicine (RITM) in the Philippines has clarified their stance that there were no expired RT-PCR tests distributed to the city of Baguio in Northern Luzon. A response was made after allegations were raised by Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong that around […]The post PH’s health department say no expired test kits were distributed appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has been notified by San Diego County Public Health Services of a patient with the variant COVID-19 virus strain originally detected in the United Kingdom. This is the first identification of the United Kingdom variant strain, sometimes called strain B.1.1.7 or VOC 202012/01, in California. The affected individual […]The post First Case of United Kingdom Coronavirus Variant Detected in California appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 In a follow-up report from Sweden, an additional four cases of the covid-19 variant reported from the UK have now been detected in Sweden. The lab analysis work has been intensified, and it was not unexpected that more cases would be discovered. The analysis have been particularly focused on samples from people who […]The post Four new cases of the UK COVID-19 virus variant detected in Sweden appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 The World Health Organization (WHO) reported yesterday an update on the yellow fever outbreak in the West Africa nation of Senegal. Since October, a total of seven confirmed cases of yellow fever have been reported from four health districts in three regions in Senegal– Tambacounda, Kedougou and Matam regions. At least two deaths […]The post Yellow fever outbreak in Senegal appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Molecular diagnostics company, LexaGene, announce that it has started a series of studies required by the FDA for Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) testing for its COVID-19 assay in a point-of-care (POC) environment using its fully automated MiQLab™ system. Dr. Jack Regan, LexaGene’s CEO and Founder states, “I’m excited we have progressed to the point where we […]The post LexaGene Begins FDA EUA Study for Point-of-Care COVID-19 Testing appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The Ad Council and the COVID Collaborative today announced a new resource designed to address healthcare professionals’ questions about COVID-19 vaccination. The videos [link]–which feature an introduction from Dr. Anthony Fauci–include experts from a diverse coalition of leading healthcare organizations and medical institutions sharing information around COVID-19 vaccine development and safety with their fellow physicians […]The post New video series, featuring Dr. Anthony Fauci and others, to increase understanding and confidence among HCPs about COVID-19 vaccines appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 Colorado Governor Jared Polis announced today the state’s first case of the of COVID-19 variant B.1.1.7, the same variant discovered in the UK. The Colorado State Laboratory confirmed and notified the Center for Disease Control (CDC) of the case. The individual is a male in his 20s who is currently in isolation in Elbert […]The post Colorado reports 1st case of COVID Variant appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa in a statement to the country spoke of the COVID-19 pandemic on Monday. Here is an excerpt: The number of new coronavirus infections is climbing at an unprecedented rate. More than 50,000 new cases have been reported since Christmas Eve. The majority of new cases are emerging in KwaZulu-Natal, […]The post South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa: ‘We are at an extremely dangerous point in our fight against the pandemic’ appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) reports one additional confirmed yellow fever case the week ending December 25 in Delta state. NCDC is currently responding to reports of yellow fever cases in 13 states – Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Delta, Ebonyi, Enugu, Gombe, Kogi, Osun, Oyo, Plateau and Taraba States. Since […]The post Nigeria reports additional yellow fever case in Delta state appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 The Norwegian Institute of Public Health has detected the COVID-19 virus variant in two people who came to Norway from the United Kingdom in December. The infection detection teams in the municipalities will now follow up in accordance with current routines for people who are diagnosed with the English virus variant, with extra […]The post Norway reports 2 COVID-19 virus variant cases in travelers from UK appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 The Ukraine Ministry of Health reported that a imported case of malaria has turned out to be fatal. The patient was a 44-year-old man from Kharkiv who returned from Equatorial Guinea. During his stay in this country he did not suffer from malaria, but he noted repeated mosquito bites. The patient reported that […]The post Ukraine: Imported malaria case turns fatal in Kharkiv appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 The first batch of vaccines against COVID-19 arrived this Saturday in Portugal and people started getting vaccinated yesterday, according to the Portugal Ministry of Health. The vaccine is administered in two doses, with an interval of 21 days, in the arm muscle. For the vaccination schedule to be complete, the second dose must be […]The post COVID-19 vaccines arrive in Portugal, Virus variant detected in Madeira appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 Last Monday, Peru Minister of Health, Pilar Mazzetti Soler announced additional restrictions as the country on the same day topped 1 million cases (1,000,153), the 17th country to hit that grim milestone. In order to prevent the spread of COVID-19 infections in Lima and the northern coastal regions of the country, the Government […]The post Peru tops 1 million COVID-19 cases, increased restrictions and ivermectin use warning appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 The total number of COVID-19 cases reported in Los Angeles County for the two day span of Dec. 25 and 26 totaled nearly 30,000, according to the LA County Health Department. Officials confirmed 142 new deaths and 29,464 new cases of confirmed COVID-19. The numbers today reflect 13,185 cases reported today and 15,538 […]The post Los Angeles reports nearly 30,000 COVID-19 cases past two days appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 In a follow-up on the yellow fever situation in Paraná state, Brazil, on Wednesday, the Secretariat of Health of Paraná released the biweekly yellow fever bulletin with the record of three dead monkeys (epizootics) confirmed in the municipalities of Cruz Machado, Honório Serpa and Palmas. The epidemiological period, beginning in July, totals 87 […]The post Paraná state, Brazil: Death of three more monkeys due to yellow fever reported appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 Public Health Agency of Canada is reporting two confirmed COVID-19 cases in Ontario of the variant observed in the United Kingdom. The National Microbiology Laboratory monitors Canadian cases of COVID-19 with the provinces and territories through ongoing analysis of genomic databases in Canada. As the monitoring continues, it is expected that other cases […]The post Canada reports two COVID-19 variant cases in Ontario appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 The Swedish Public Health Agency reported today a case of covid-19 that was analyzed in Sweden has turned out to be the variant of the virus that has been reported from the UK and several countries. A person staying in Sörmland has been tested and found to carry the new variant of the […]The post Sweden reports UK COVID-19 virus variant: ‘It was not unexpected’ appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 Officials at Hajin Hospital are reporting a widespread surge of cutaneous leishmaniasis, aka Aleppo boil, among children in Hajin and its villages east of Deir ez-Zor, according a Radio Al-kul report. It is reported that 1750 cases among children have been seen this year in the area and demonstrates the need for urgent […]The post Leishmaniasis outbreak in Deir ez-Zor, Syria appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 On Wednesday, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) in the Philippines recommended restrictions on inbound travel from the United Kingdom (UK) beginning 24 December until 31 December 2020 due to a newly-detected variant of the SARS-CoV-2 spreading in the UK. On Saturday, President Rodrigo Duterte signed off […]The post Philippines UK travel ban: Duterte extends restrictions appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 French health authorities confirm the detection of the first case of the variant of the COVID-19 virus Friday, a variant currently spreading in the south-east of England. This first case was detected in Tours. The person is a male of French nationality residing in England. He arrived from London on December 19, he […]The post France reports 1st case of SARS-CoV-2 variant appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 Costa Rica health officials announced that the first batch of COVID-19 vaccines arrived in the country Wednesday evening. The first batch of 9,750 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine arrived in our country this Wednesday at 9:12 pm from Belgium, Officials note. Because of this, the first Costa Ricans were vaccinated Thursday morning. At […]The post COVID-19 vaccinations start in Costa Rica appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 Earlier this week, Iceland officials signed a contract for the supply of vaccine to Iceland from the drug manufacturing company Janssen. This is the third of its type to be secured by the Icelandic health authorities for the purchase of vaccine against COVID 19. The contract with Janssen guarantees doses for 235,000 people; […]The post Iceland signs 3rd contract for COVID-19 vaccines appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 Trinidad and Tobago health officials reported eight additional people tested positive for COVID-19 Friday, bringing to total positive since Mar. 12 to 7097. A total of 125 deaths have been recorded related to COVID-19. Earlier this week, officials announced update protocols for people arriving into Trinidad and Tobago from the United Kingdom (where […]The post Trinidad and Tobago: COVID-19 situation update, New protocols concerning SARS-CoV-2 variant appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently issued a travel notice for the northwestern African country of Mauritania. There is an outbreak of Rift Valley Fever (RVF) in Mauritania, including the capital region of Nouakchott. Rift Valley Fever (RVF) is an acute viral hemorrhagic fever that causes illness in animals (such […]The post CDC travel notice for Mauritania due to Rift Valley Fever outbreak appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 The Japan Ministry of Health (MOH) reported today on five cases of the new variant of the coronavirus seen in the United Kingdom in travelers from Britain. The five people arrived between Dec. 18 and Dec. 21. Four were asymptomatic. They entered Japan through Tokyo’s Haneda airport (2) and Kansai International Airport in […]The post Japan reports 5 cases of new SARS-CoV-2 variant appeared first on Outbreak News Today.