Outbreak News Today

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 The Colombia Ministry of Health recorded an additional 8769 confirmed COVID-19 cases Saturday, putting the country total case count over the one million mark, the eighth country to do so. As of Oct 24, Colombia has seen 1,007,711 total cases, following only the US, India, Brazil, Russia, France, Argentina and Spain. More than […]The post Colombia becomes the 8th country to top 1 million COVID-19 cases appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 On Friday, the Philadelphia Department of Public Health announced 397 additional confirmed cases of COVID-19 novel coronavirus in Philadelphia. This large number of new confirmed cases is due in part to having received a large number of test results today (over 5,800). That brings the number of confirmed cases to 41,564. In addition, […]The post Philadelphia COVID-19: ‘The numbers are a clear warning that the epidemic is growing rapidly in our region’ appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. Department of Agriculture and health officials from several states report investigating a multistate outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections linked to deli meats. 10 people were infected with the outbreak strain of Listeria monocytogenes from 3 states (New York (2), Massachusetts (7) and Florida (1). […]The post Listeria outbreak linked to deli meat sickens 10, kills one appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 San Joaquin County Public Health Services received a report of a human case of St. Louis encephalitis virus (SLEV) in a person from Stockton. The individual is recovering at home. This is the first reported human case in San Joaquin County since 1973. In August 2020, the San Joaquin County Mosquito and Vector […]The post California: St. Louis encephalitis case reported in Stockton, 1st case in nearly 50 years appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 Costa Rican officials announced the seizure of of 7,450 liters of liquor adulterated with methanol related to Guaro Fiesta Blanca. According to the latest data from the Health Surveillance Unit of the Ministry of Health, there are 63 suspected cases of methanol poisoning, 27 of which have died. The deaths, all of which […]The post Costa Rica: 27 deaths due to methanol intoxication, 7,450 liters of tainted liquor seized appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By Press release @bactiman63 Los Angeles County health officials have reported two additional cases of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). This brings the total cases of MIS-C in L.A. County to 43 children. All 43 children with MIS-C in L.A. County were hospitalized and nearly 50% of the children were treated in the ICU. […]The post Los Angeles officials report 2 additional cases of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By Press release @bactiman63 The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has identified potential community exposure related to multiple food and beverage establishments in multiple locations throughout the state. Individuals may have been exposed to COVID-19 if they went to the following establishments during the days identified below, and should seek testing. […]The post New Hampshire reports potential community COVID-19 exposures linked to establishments in Portsmouth and Concord appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 In Fiji, during National Disaster Awareness Week, Health Minister Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete spoke at the launch of the Leptospirosis, Typhoid, and Dengue Fever and Diarrhea campaign (LTDD) in Ba. Waqainabete kicked off his talk by highlighting the success Fiji has had in dealing with COVID-19 stating that it’s been more than 180 days […]The post Fiji: Health Minister speaks at the Leptospirosis, Typhoid, Dengue and Diarrhea campaign launch appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 COVID-19 The Philippines Department of Health (DOH) reported 1,923 new COVID-19 cases Friday, bringing the total cases since the beginning of the pandemic to 365,799. Davao City reported the highest number of new infections with 99 cases, followed by the province of Cavite with 94, the City of Manila with 94, Quezon City […]The post Philippines: Davao City reports most new COVID-19 cases, Measles/Polio vaccination campaign in La Union appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 The Malaysia Ministry of Health reported Thursday an additional human rabies case in Sarawak province. The latest victim is a 34-year-old woman. She was admitted to Sibu Hospital on Oct. 12 with weakness in both legs for five days before being admitted to the ward. The case passed away on Oct 18 with […]The post Malaysia: Sarawak reports 4th human rabies case of 2020 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 Rabies in deer is typically rare; however, in several counties in west-central New York State, at least four cases have been reported in recent weeks, prompting officials to remind the risk as hunting season is about to start. According to the Cornell Wildlife Health Lab, cases have been reported from Cayuga, Cortland, Ontario […]The post Rabies in deer reported in 4 west-central New York counties appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By Press Release @bactiman63 A new study led by Marc Veldhoen, principal investigator at Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes (iMM; Portugal) with an interdisciplinary team of clinicians and researchers from Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa (FMUL) and Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Norte (CHLN) and collaborators at Instituto Português do Sangue e Transplantação […]The post COVID-19: SARS-CoV-2 antibodies detectable up to seven months post disease onset appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) reports that 18 autochthonous, or locally acquired dengue fever cases have been reported on the continent in two countries–Italy and France. In Italy, 10 locally acquired cases have been reported in the Veneto region since the summer. Officials say the probable origin of the primary […]The post Dengue in Europe: 18 locally acquired cases reported this year appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention received confirmation this week from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that an adult resident of Cumberland County recently contracted a mosquito-borne illness, likely West Nile virus (WNV). The individual is hospitalized. This is the first case of a locally acquired mosquito-borne arboviral […]The post Maine reports 1st local transmission of mosquito-borne illness in 2 years appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 In a follow-up on the chikungunya outbreak in West Darfur, Sudan, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports today that 248 people in West Darfur were diagnosed with chikungunya, with one related death reported. This is up from 45 confirmed cases a little over one week ago. UN officials […]The post Sudan chikungunya outbreak grows in West Darfur appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today approved the antiviral drug Veklury (remdesivir) for use in adult and pediatric patients 12 years of age and older and weighing at least 40 kilograms (about 88 pounds) for the treatment of COVID-19 requiring hospitalization. Veklury should only be administered in a hospital or in a healthcare setting […]The post Remdesivir receives FDA approval for the treatment of COVID-19 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 The Hawaii Department of Health is reporting the rate of syphilis cases in women and newborns in the state has been increasing annually over the past four years. “While we know everyone’s current attention is focused on preventing the spread of COVID-19, we must also pay close attention to syphilis because of the […]The post Hawaii reports syphilis increases in women and newborns appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 Specialty vaccine company, Valneva, today announced positive initial results for its second Phase 2 study (VLA15-202) of Lyme disease vaccine candidate VLA15. Compared to study VLA15-201, study VLA15-202 investigated a vaccination schedule of Month 0-2-6 based on matching doses. VLA15 was generally safe across all doses and age groups tested. The tolerability profile […]The post Lyme disease vaccine: Valneva reports positive second Phase 2 data appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Abpro Corporation announced it has completed dosing all subjects in a Phase 1 clinical trial evaluating the safety of ABP 300, a human neutralizing antibody for the treatment of COVID-19 derived from patients who have recovered from the SARS-CoV2 infection. ABP 300 was developed to confer design features that potentially allow for more potent viral neutralization […]The post Boston biotech joins COVID-19 antibody treatment effort appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Cidara Therapeutics, Inc., a biotechnology company developing long-acting therapeutics designed to transform the standard of care for patients facing serious fungal or viral infections, today announced data from two oral abstracts and seven posters at IDWeek 2020, the joint annual meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America […]The post Cidara announces new data from IDWeek 2020 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A recent health survey reveals that only two-thirds of parents say they’ll vaccinate their children against the flu this year, raising concerns among pediatricians as the flu season begins, some schools re-open for in-person learning and COVID-19 cases spike. Two Rutgers New Jersey Medical School pediatricians, Joseph Schwab, an associate professor of pediatrics, and Hanan A. Tanuos, director of […]The post Rutgers Pediatricians Sound Alarm on Decreased Flu Vaccinations, Immunizations for Children appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 Results from an international, randomized, controlled clinical trial indicate that a four-month daily treatment regimen containing high-dose, or “optimized,” rifapentine with moxifloxacin is as safe and effective as the existing standard six-month daily regimen at curing drug-susceptible tuberculosis (TB) disease. This regimen is the first successful short-course treatment regimen for drug-susceptible TB disease […]The post TB treatment: New shorter regimen identified in trial appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 Ituri province, in northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), has notified an upsurge of plague cases in the health zone of Rethy. From 11 June to 9 August 2020, a total of 73 cases with 10 deaths (CFR 13.6%) were notified in 5 out of 22 health areas of Rety health zone. […]The post Plague cases in Ituri Province, DRC appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 Minnesota health officials report investigating an outbreak of salmonellosis associated with NéktƏr Juice Bar in Woodbury. Nine Minnesotans so far have been sickened with a specific variant of Salmonella Paratyphi B infections. The nine cases identified as part of this outbreak range in age from 20 to 82 years, but with a median age of 26. […]The post Salmonella Paratyphi B outbreak linked to Woodbury, Minnesota juice bar appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Patients with psoriasis who are taking drugs that affect their immune system have high rates of survival from COVID-19. According to the first findings from a global registry of psoriasis and COVID-19 patients, led by Guy’s and St Thomas’ clinicians, over 90% survive. The researchers found that the risk factors of severe COVID-19 outcomes in […]The post Psoriasis patients taking immunosuppressants: At least 90% survive COVID-19 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 The Argentina Ministry of Health reported an additional 12,982 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 Monday, bringing the outbreak total to 1,002,662. Argentina is the fifth country to hit this grim milestone. Argentina now has one of the highest rates of new daily infections per capita, according to sources at the University of Oxford. […]The post Argentina COVID-19: Case count tops 1 million, Half in Buenos Aires appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Certain oral antiseptics and mouthwashes may have the ability to inactivate human coronaviruses, according to a Penn State College of Medicine research study. The results indicate that some of these products might be useful for reducing the viral load, or amount of virus, in the mouth after infection and may help to reduce the spread […]The post Mouthwashes may inactivate human coronaviruses: Study appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is a debilitating disorder that causes rapid degeneration of the brain as well as progressing dementia. It is a fatal disorder, often leading to death within just several years of the onset. CJD is the most common form of a human disorder caused by “prions,” pathogenic agents that induce abnormal folding of […]The post Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in Japan: Trends show it may not be so rare appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 The Statens Serum Institut (SSI) has in collaboration with the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration and the DTU Food Institute report that a Shigella outbreak in August and September that sickened some 44 people is linked to fresh mint bought at a local greengrocer or bazaar in and around the Copenhagen area. Of […]The post Denmark: Imported, fresh mint linked to Shigella outbreak appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 There are common vulnerabilities among three lethal coronaviruses, SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV-1 and MERS-CoV, such as frequently hijacked cellular pathways, that could lead to promising targets for broad coronavirus inhibition, according to a study by an international research team that includes scientists from the Institute for Biomedical Sciences at Georgia State University. In the last […]The post Lethal coronaviruses: Common vulnerabilities across SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV-1 and MERS-CoV identified appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Western NSW Local Health District (WNSWLHD), Manager Communicable Diseases & Immunisation Ms Susan Turcato, is strongly urging farmers and people who work with livestock to get vaccinated against Q fever to guard against being unable to work due to prolonged illness. Q fever is a bacterial infection carried by animals – such as cows, sheep […]The post Q fever in Western New South Wales, Australia appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 The World Health Organization (WHO) reports from July 1 to September 25, 2020, a total of 71 cases of febrile and non-febrile jaundice and 10 deaths have been officially recorded by the national authorities. 58 cases were reported in the health district of Barsalogho, in the North Center region of Burkina Faso. The […]The post Hepatitis E outbreak in Burkina Faso appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 The northwestern African country of Mauritania is reporting an outbreak of Rift Valley fever (RVF) where some three dozen confirmed cases have been reported. As of Oct. 5, 2020, a total of 88 samples of suspected cases have been sent to the National Institute for Public Health Research (INRSP): 36 were positive (by […]The post Mauritania reports Rift Valley fever outbreak appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 On the first episode of Outbreak News This Week, I look at the big turnaround by the WHO on lockdowns, some good news. On Oct. 4, The Great Barrington Declaration was established as an alternative to destructive lockdowns and adopting an approach called Focused Protection. Why is India’s COVID-19 death toll so low? […]The post Outbreak News This Week Episode 1: COVID-19 lockdowns, India coronavirus deaths, research appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Researchers at CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, have found that SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, can survive for up to 28 days on common surfaces including banknotes, glass – such as that found on mobile phone screens – and stainless steel. The research, undertaken at the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP) in Geelong, […]The post SARS-CoV-2 ‘survivability’ up to 28 days: Research appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 COVID-19 The Philippines Department of Health (DOH) reported an additional 3,574 new confirmed COVID-19 cases Monday, bring the total to 342,816, including 43,332 active cases. The National Capital Region (NCR) reported 1,344 of the new cases, followed by the provinces of Cavite with 215, Laguna with 212, Rizal with 211, and Iloilo with […]The post Philippines infectious disease updates: COVID-19, measles, dengue appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 The Sudan Ministry of Health and Social Development has declared a State of Health Emergency in West Darfur after confirming 45 cases of chikungunya fever out of a total of 52 suspected cases. No deaths have been recorded. Officials report a scarcity of medicines, medical supplies, and hospital capacity. The unusually heavy rainy […]The post Sudan: Chikungunya outbreak prompts ‘State of Emergency’ in West Darfur appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews Japan’s National Institute of Infectious Diseases in Tokyo has reported 4,168 syphilis cases through September 30. This is the fifth straight year the country has exceeded 4,000 cases of the sexually transmitted infection. This includes more than 1,100 cases in Tokyo, 661 in Osaka and 229 each in Aichi and Fukuoka prefectures. Syphilis […]The post Japan records more than 4,000 syphilis cases in 1st 9 months of 2020 appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

A clinical trial to test the safety, tolerability and efficacy of a combination treatment regimen for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) consisting of the antiviral remdesivir plus a highly concentrated solution of antibodies that neutralize SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, has begun. The study is taking place in hospitalized adults with COVID-19 in the United […]The post COVID-19 combo treatment tested in NIH clinical trial appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 Public Health France said Friday that circulation of SARS-CoV-2 continues at a high level on the mainland. The number of confirmed cases, the positive rates of samples, especially in people with symptoms, are increasing. On the other hand, the detection rate is decreasing. It is likely that the use of diagnostics has evolved in recent […]The post France COVID-19: 70 departments are in a situation of high vulnerability appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 The Brazil Ministry of Health reported 27,444 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, bringing the country total to 5,055,888 confirmed cases of the disease, remaining the 3rd highest total globally. More than 4.4 million people have recovered from COVID-19 in Brazil to date, while officials report 472,654 active cases. The disease […]The post Brazil COVID-19 cases top 5 million, Vaccines update appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 The National Food Administration and the Swedish Public Health Agency report jointly investigating an outbreak of hepatitis A. Since mid-July, nine cases with the same type of hepatitis A virus (genotype IA) have been reported from five different regions (Norrbotten, Västra Götaland, Stockholm, Uppsala, Södermanland). The cases are aged 2-78, six women and […]The post Sweden: Hepatitis A outbreak investigated, Frozen imported berries are suspected source appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 Since the beginning of the year, 61 total Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) cases have been reported through October 6, mostly in Saudi Arabia. No new cases have been reported in several months. Of the 61 cases, 57 were reported from Saudi Arabia (nearly half of the cases are from Riyadh), while the […]The post MERS coronavirus 2020: 61 cases reported to date appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 The Oklahoma Department of Health has reported dramatic increases in primary and secondary (P&S) syphilis in women in recent years, as well as increases in congenital syphilis. From 2014 to 2018, Oklahoma experienced a 860% increase in the number of primary and secondary syphilis cases among women. Oklahoma also saw one of the […]The post Oklahoma reports big increases of syphilis in women, congenital syphilis appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has confirmed the first human West Nile virus-related death in Illinois for 2020. A Chicago resident who became ill in mid-September and tested positive for West Nile virus has died. “Although we are already into fall, West Nile virus remains a risk until the first hard […]The post Illinois reports 1st West Nile virus death in Chicago resident appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

People who survive serious COVID-19 infections have long-lasting immune responses against the virus, according to a new study led by researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH). The study, published in Science Immunology, offers hope that people infected with the virus will develop lasting protection against reinfection. The study also demonstrates that measuring antibodies can be an […]The post COVID-19 survivors have long-lasting immune responses against the virus: Study appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Each year, the flu vaccine has to be redesigned to account for mutations that the virus accumulates, and even then, the vaccine is often not fully protective for everyone. Researchers at MIT and the Ragon Institute of MIT, MGH, and Harvard are now working on strategies for designing a universal flu vaccine that could work […]The post MIT researchers working on universal flu vaccine appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Genome sequencing has shed light on the re-emergence of the bacterium that causes yaws, a neglected tropical disease of the skin, bones and joints. The re-emergence followed a mass drug administration (MDA) campaign that aimed to eliminate the disease in Papua New Guinea. Researchers at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, the London School of Hygiene & […]The post Yaws: Re-emergence followed a mass drug administration in Papua New Guinea appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

Meijer, in conjunction with Eagle Produce, LLC in Aguila, AZ., is announcing a voluntary recall of whole cantaloupe and select cut cantaloupe fruit trays and bowls. The recall is part of a sampling investigation by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and is due to the potential risk of Salmonella. Salmonella, an organism which […]The post Salmonella risk prompts cantaloupe recall appeared first on Outbreak News Today.

By NewsDesk @bactiman63 In a follow-up on the dengue fever outbreak in Saint Lucia, The Ministry of Health and Wellness has recorded a total of 540 confirmed cases of dengue fever. There has also been one reported dengue-related death, the first of 2020. The individual is an adult male who was hospitalized after presenting with signs […]The post First dengue fever death reported in Saint Lucia appeared first on Outbreak News Today.