Timely and relevant global health security news curated by GCHS
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Featured Headlines
- Horse in Connecticut tests positive for EEENBC News A horse in Connecticut has tested positive for EEE, marking the state’s first case of the disease in a domestic animal this year. The Connecticut Department of Agriculture said EEE, or Eastern equine encephalitis, was detected in a 23-year-old unvaccinated gelded horse in Fairfield County. Officials said the horse was exhibiting neurological symptoms so diagnostic samples were collected, and they ultimately came back positive. EEE is a viral disease transmitted through mosquito bites.… Read more: Horse in Connecticut tests positive for EEE
- The Mosquito-Borne Disease ‘Triple E’ Is Spreading in the US as Temperatures RiseWired Eastern equine encephalitis, which has a high mortality rate, is becoming more common in North America as climate changes expands the habitats of insects. A 41-year-old man in New Hampshire died last week after contracting a rare mosquito-borne illness called eastern equine encephalitis virus, also known as EEE or “triple E.” It was New Hampshire’s first human case of the disease in a decade. Four other human EEE infections have been reported this year, in Wisconsin, New… Read more: The Mosquito-Borne Disease ‘Triple E’ Is Spreading in the US as Temperatures Rise
- Rare local case of mosquito-borne dengue virus confirmed in Baldwin ParkLost Angeles Times A rare case of dengue, a viral infection spread by mosquitoes, was confirmed in Baldwin Park on Monday, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. This case represents the state’s third-ever confirmed case of locally transmitted dengue that is not related to travel. The other two cases were confirmed in Long Beach and Pasadena last fall. The potential risk for widespread dengue virus transmission in L.A. County remains low, public health… Read more: Rare local case of mosquito-borne dengue virus confirmed in Baldwin Park
- Fourth case of dangerous mosquito-borne virus confirmed in MassachusettsThe Hill A fourth case of the dangerous mosquito-borne illness was confirmed in Massachusetts on Monday, according to health officials. A man in his 50s contracted Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) announced on Monday. The man lives in Middlesex County which is at high risk for EEE. Nationally, cases of EEE were detected in at least five states in 2024: Vermont, Wisconsin, Massachusetts, Hampshire and New Jersey. EEE is transmitted to people through… Read more: Fourth case of dangerous mosquito-borne virus confirmed in Massachusetts
Updates on ongoing disease outbreaks
- CDC Confirms Human H5 Bird Flu Case in MissouriCDC CDC has confirmed a human case of avian influenza A(H5) (“H5 bird flu”) reported by the state of Missouri. The case was identified through that state’s seasonal flu surveillance system. The specimen was forwarded to CDC for confirmatory testing per usual protocols and confirmed yesterday. An investigation into the potential exposure is ongoing by… Read more: CDC Confirms Human H5 Bird Flu Case in Missouri
- Bird Flu Is Quietly Getting ScarierThe Atlantic Perhaps it’s time to talk about an H5N1 pandemic. Up until last Friday afternoon, a total of 13 people in the United States had officially come down this year with avian influenza H5, also known as bird flu. A subtype of that virus, a potential pandemic pathogen called H5N1, has for months been… Read more: Bird Flu Is Quietly Getting Scarier
- 5 burning questions about Missouri’s mysterious H5 bird flu caseSTAT Could raw milk — or a cat — help explain how a person who had no contact with animals caught the virus? News that a person in Missouri contracted H5 bird flu despite having no known contact with infected animals or birds — in other words, no evident route of infection — raises pressing questions public health… Read more: 5 burning questions about Missouri’s mysterious H5 bird flu case
- Babesiosis, another disease spread by ticks, is on the riseWashington Post Babesiosis is on the rise and is spread by the same ticks that cause Lyme. It can be serious, especially for people who are immunocompromised. If you spot a blacklegged tick crawling up your leg — or worse, attached to your skin… Read more: Babesiosis, another disease spread by ticks, is on the rise
- Scientists discover novel orthonairovirus in man bitten by tick in ChinaMed Express A case report published in the New England Journal of Medicine describes a previously unidentified orthonairovirus, dubbed Wetland virus (WELV), in a man bitten by a tick at a wetland park in Inner Mongolia, China, in 2019. After isolating the virus from the index patient, a… Read more: Scientists discover novel orthonairovirus in man bitten by tick in China
- COVID more severe, longer-lasting than other respiratory diseasesCIDRAP Healthcare workers (HCWs) with COVID-19 had more severe symptoms that lasted longer than those with other respiratory diseases, and a higher proportion met the World Health Organization (WHO) or UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) definitions of long COVID, according to a report published in Viruses and… Read more: COVID more severe, longer-lasting than other respiratory diseases
- Why has COVID been so much worse this summer? The health belief model has the answerThe Conversation If you think COVID-19 was suddenly in the news a lot over the summer, you’re probably right. Throughout August, outlets in both Canada and the United States ran headlines about high COVID levels, the summer surge of cases, timing of booster shots and reviving the use of face masks.… Read more: Why has COVID been so much worse this summer? The health belief model has the answer
- Back to school, COVID editionThe Hill Health experts are urging families and schools administers to take active steps in preventing the spread of COVID-19 amid potential fall and winter spikes in cases. Weekly COVID-19 deaths have been on the rise since June, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) COVID… Read more: Back to school, COVID edition
- The Covid-19 Summer Wave Is So Big, the FDA Might Release New Vaccines EarlyWired With the US experiencing a relatively large summer wave of Covid-19, the Food and Drug Administration is considering signing off on this year’s strain-matched Covid-19 vaccines as soon as this week, according to a report by CNN that cited unnamed officials familiar with the matter. Last year,… Read more: The Covid-19 Summer Wave Is So Big, the FDA Might Release New Vaccines Early
- COVID-19 on the Upswing in the U.S.MedPageToday COVID-19 hasn’t gone away, and data from the CDC suggest it’s on the upswing around the country. “We’ve seen these summer increases every summer that COVID-19 has been with us,” said Amesh Adalja, MD, a Johns Hopkins University infectious disease physician. “What’s different about these… Read more: COVID-19 on the Upswing in the U.S.
- What to know about this summer’s major surge in COVID infectionsPBS Newshour Video As summer winds down, much of the U.S. is seeing the biggest COVID wave in at least two years, and hundreds of people are still being killed by the virus every week. According to a CDC analysis of hospitalizations, 25 states have or… Read more: What to know about this summer’s major surge in COVID infections
- Nurses working in fear: BBC visits mpox epicentreBBC Medical staff on the front line of the battle against mpox in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo have told the BBC they are desperate for vaccines to arrive so they can stem the… Read more: Nurses working in fear: BBC visits mpox epicentre
- Mpox is coming back deadlier than before. The U.S. must respond now.Washington Post | Opinion Two years ago, the United States and other Western countries mounted an aggressive — and successful — response to mpox. But the virus, formerly known as monkeypox, is coming back deadlier… Read more: Mpox is coming back deadlier than before. The U.S. must respond now.
- India reports case of mpox in traveller from affected countryReuters India had recorded a suspected case of mpox found in a man who recently travelled from a country suffering an outbreak of the virus, the health ministry said on Sunday. The patient has… Read more: India reports case of mpox in traveller from affected country
- US is beefing up mpox testing, vaccine access against new strainReuters The United States has beefed up testing and surveillance for a new strain of mpox and has ensured that vaccines are readily available at local pharmacies and community health centers, senior administration officials… Read more: US is beefing up mpox testing, vaccine access against new strain
- Mpox is back: What to know and doHarvard Ever heard of mpox? Wondering why it’s back in the news? Many of us first learned about mpox (formerly called monkeypox) in 2022, when the largest known outbreak spread to nearly 100,000 people… Read more: Mpox is back: What to know and do
- Iowa: Mpox detected at Fort Dodge Correctional FacilityKCRG The Iowa Department of Corrections says mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, has been detected at the Fort Dodge Correctional Facility. Mpox is an infectious viral disease that can spread between humans and animals.… Read more: Iowa: Mpox detected at Fort Dodge Correctional Facility
- Mpox patients lack medicine, food, in east DR Congo hospitalReuters Dozens of feverish patients lay on thin mattresses on the floor of a makeshift mpox isolation ward in east Democratic Republic of Congo, as overstretched hospital workers grappled with drug shortages and lack… Read more: Mpox patients lack medicine, food, in east DR Congo hospital
Emerging Infectious Disease Headlines
- What you need to know about Valley fever after 19 infected at California music festivalABC News Several people were recently infected with a fungal lung infection at an outdoor California music festival. As of Aug. 21, at least 19 people who attended or worked… Read more: What you need to know about Valley fever after 19 infected at California music festival
- Rare local case of mosquito-borne dengue virus confirmed in Baldwin ParkLost Angeles Times A rare case of dengue, a viral infection spread by mosquitoes, was confirmed in Baldwin Park on Monday, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Public… Read more: Rare local case of mosquito-borne dengue virus confirmed in Baldwin Park
- Drought fueling spread of fungus that’s making people sick across California: StudyThe HIll Climate changed-induced drought conditions have been driving the dispersal of a dangerous airborne fungus across California in recent years, a new study has found. Cases of the flu-like… Read more: Drought fueling spread of fungus that’s making people sick across California: Study
- Valley Fever in California: Symptoms, Protecting Yourself and Why Cases Are Way UpKQED Cases of valley fever — a lung infection that can cause severe sickness in some people — are rising across California. And state health officials said they’re seeing an increasing number of… Read more: Valley Fever in California: Symptoms, Protecting Yourself and Why Cases Are Way Up
- A ‘Critical Pathogen’: The Rise of Drug-Resistant Fungal DiseasesJohns Hopkins Until recently, most fungal infections did not pose a significant threat to human health. Our advanced immune system and hot body temperature created an inhospitable environment for fungi,… Read more: A ‘Critical Pathogen’: The Rise of Drug-Resistant Fungal Diseases
- Dengue Outbreak in Honduras: 105 Deaths and Counting in 2024Tico Times In a concerning development, health authorities in Honduras launched a massive campaign against dengue this Friday, responding to a crisis that has claimed 105 lives and affected more… Read more: Dengue Outbreak in Honduras: 105 Deaths and Counting in 2024
- Dengue Is Spreading: Is Warmer Weather to Blame?American Society for Microbiology “More Americans are at risk than ever before as mosquitoes and ticks are moving into new areas of the country, increasing cases and geographic ranges of… Read more: Dengue Is Spreading: Is Warmer Weather to Blame?
- 60% of American Samoans have evidence of previous dengue infectionCIDRAP Since 2021, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended dengue vaccination for kids ages 9 to 16 in communities where more than 20% of age-eligible… Read more: 60% of American Samoans have evidence of previous dengue infection
- 14 people got Valley fever after a California music festival, highlighting the fungus’ growing threatNBC News An outbreak of Valley fever among attendees and workers at an outdoor music festival in California’s Central Valley highlights the fungal infection’s mounting threat. Fourteen people who traveled to attend… Read more: 14 people got Valley fever after a California music festival, highlighting the fungus’ growing threat
- India alert after boy dies from Nipah virus in KeralaBBC Health authorities in India’s Kerala state have issued an alert after a 14-year-old boy died of the Nipah virus. According to the state’s health minister, an additional 60 people… Read more: India alert after boy dies from Nipah virus in Kerala
- Pan-drug resistance and hypervirulence in a human fungal pathogen are enabled by mutagenesis induced by mammalian body temperatureNIH The continuing emergence of invasive fungal pathogens poses an increasing threat to public health. Here, through the China Hospital Invasive Fungal Surveillance Net programme, we identified two independent cases… Read more: Pan-drug resistance and hypervirulence in a human fungal pathogen are enabled by mutagenesis induced by mammalian body temperature
- World-First Mosquito Drone Deliveries Could Help Stop The Spread Of Diseases Like DengueIFL Science In the latest step in the fight against mosquito-borne disease, scientists have sent in the drones. Field trials have seen uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) flying over Fiji, dropping… Read more: World-First Mosquito Drone Deliveries Could Help Stop The Spread Of Diseases Like Dengue
Read more Emerging Infectious Diseases
- Surprising New Research Links Infant Mortality to Crashing Bat PopulationsNYT Without bats to eat insects, farmers turned to more pesticides, a study found. That appears to have increased infant deaths. The connections are commonsense but the conclusion is shocking. Bats eat insects. When a… Read more: Surprising New Research Links Infant Mortality to Crashing Bat Populations
- Humans infecting animals infecting humans − from COVID-19 to bird flu, preventing pandemics requires protecting all speciesThe Conversation When the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic on March 11, 2020, humans had been the only species with reported cases of the disease. While early genetic analyses pointed to horseshoe bats as the evolutionary hosts… Read more: Humans infecting animals infecting humans − from COVID-19 to bird flu, preventing pandemics requires protecting all species
- Detection and spread of high pathogenicity avian influenza virus H5N1 in the Antarctic RegionNature Until recent events, the Antarctic was the only major geographical region in which high pathogenicity avian influenza virus (HPAIV) had never previously been detected. Here we report on the detection of clade 2.3.4.4b H5N1… Read more: Detection and spread of high pathogenicity avian influenza virus H5N1 in the Antarctic Region
- Internal Tremors: Adding to the List of Long COVID SymptomsContagion Long COVID has a laundry list of symptoms — and a lesser-known but troubling one is the sensation of having internal tremors, often with no outward evidence that this is happening. In a new,… Read more: Internal Tremors: Adding to the List of Long COVID Symptoms
- Covid associated with increased risk for hearing loss in young adultsWashington Post The incidences of hearing loss and sudden deafness were higher for people who had covid than those who did not, a new study reports. Covid can lead to the loss of smell and… Read more: Covid associated with increased risk for hearing loss in young adults
- COVID Vax Myocarditis Stays Mild With Good Prognosis Over a Year LaterMedPageToday People with postvaccine myocarditis did not share the typical mid-term complications associated with conventional myocarditis, based on a population-based study from France. With 18-month follow-up of people who had been hospitalized for myocarditis during… Read more: COVID Vax Myocarditis Stays Mild With Good Prognosis Over a Year Later
- Congo receives long-awaited mpox vaccine dosesReuters Democratic Republic of Congo received its first batch of mpox vaccines on Thursday, which health authorities hope will help curb an outbreak that has prompted the U.N. to declare a global public health emergency. Congo… Read more: Congo receives long-awaited mpox vaccine doses
- FDA OKs Updated Novavax COVID ShotMedPageToday The FDA granted emergency use authorization (EUA) for an updated Novavax COVID-19 vaccine to protect against hospitalization and death from circulating variants. The protein-based shot represents a non-mRNA option for the 2024-2025 season, and follows… Read more: FDA OKs Updated Novavax COVID Shot
- Coronavirus vaccines, once free, are now pricey for uninsured peopleWashington Post The elimination of the Bridge Access Program means some low-income Americans must pay up to $200 for an updated shot. As updated coronavirus vaccines hit U.S. pharmacy shelves, adults without health insurance are discovering… Read more: Coronavirus vaccines, once free, are now pricey for uninsured people
- More accept COVID-19 vaccine misinformation, and willingness to vaccinate has declinedPenn State A health survey from the Annenberg Public Policy Center finds a rise in the number of Americans believing COVID-19 vaccination misinformation, and a lower willingness to vaccinate. With the nation in the midst of a summer surge of… Read more: More accept COVID-19 vaccine misinformation, and willingness to vaccinate has declined
- COVID vaccine distrust growing among Americans, survey finds: ‘Should be a personal choice’Fox Nearly a quarter of people think it is safer to get COVID than it is to get vaccinated. A growing number of Americans are skeptical of vaccines for COVID and other infectious diseases, according to the most recent national health… Read more: COVID vaccine distrust growing among Americans, survey finds: ‘Should be a personal choice’
- Teen Girls’ Brains Aged Rapidly During Pandemic, Study FindsNYT Neuroimaging found girls experienced cortical thinning far faster than boys did during the first year of Covid lockdowns. A study of adolescent brain development that tested children before and after coronavirus pandemic lockdowns in the United States found that… Read more: Teen Girls’ Brains Aged Rapidly During Pandemic, Study Finds
- How did the pandemic impact babies starting school as children now?BBC On 25 March 2020, Fiona and Ben Young drove to their local maternity unit through London’s empty streets. When they arrived, security guards sent them to the back entrance. It was day three of England’s first lockdown and the… Read more: How did the pandemic impact babies starting school as children now?
