Author: Stefanie Neumann
Contagion: FAQ-What You Need to Know About West Nile Virus in 2026
After 2 adults died of West Nile virus in central North Carolina this month, this FAQ explains how the mosquito-borne virus spreads, who faces the greatest risk of severe neuroinvasive disease, and how clinicians can diagnose, manage, and help prevent infection when no vaccine or antiviral treatment exists.
Oct 16, 2026
ABC: 2 West Nile virus deaths reported in North Carolina
North Carolina health officials are warning that West Nile virus is spreading after two deaths were linked to the disease.
Oct 16, 2026
WINK: Florida dengue cases hit 368 as Pinellas County becomes new hotspot
Dengue fever cases are rising in Florida, with a new hotspot emerging in Pinellas County. The Florida Department of Health reports a total of 368 cases of locally-acquired dengue this year across seven counties as of Thursday. The majority are in Hillsborough County, but the latest data shows Pinellas County is becoming a new area of concern.
Oct 16, 2026
FOX: (Video) Florida battles largest dengue fever outbreak in decades
Former CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield joins ‘America Reports’ to discuss Florida’s largest dengue fever outbreak in decades and shares advice on prevention methods.
Florida is combatting its largest dengue fever outbreak in decades, with over 290 locally acquired cases reported. Former CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield breaks down the risks of transmission and essential prevention measures. Meanwhile, Hillsborough County mosquito management teams deploy aerial spraying to target the mosquitoes carrying the virus.
Oct 16, 2026
CIDRAP: ‘I ached so much’: Man describes bout with dengue fever contracted during Florida’s outbreak
When Maurice Kurtz woke on September 19, he felt like a minivan had hit him. His temperature spiked to 101ºF, and he was intensely fatigued. He tried taking a walk but soon returned home because it felt so difficult.
Oct 16, 2026
CIDRAP: In Greenland, 4 polar bears test positive for H5N1 avian flu antibodies
Scientists detected antibodies against the H5N1 strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in four polar bears in East Greenland in 2025, consistent with previous identification of the virus in birds along linked migratory pathways.
Oct 16, 2026
CIDRAP: Washington state confirms first H5N1 avian flu detection in dairy cattle
Late last week the US Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory confirmed the detection of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) on two Yakima County dairy farms in Washington.
Oct 16, 2026
Outbreak News Today: Hong Kong reports surge in Mpox since August
Hong Kong health officials reported an additional mpox case in a 29-year-old man who developed a papule over his buttock on September 28, followed by rashes over his limbs and buttock, along with a fever and swollen lymph nodes.
Oct 16, 2026
Caspian Post: Russia Hospitalizes Five People After Suspected Mpox Contact
Five people have been hospitalized in Zhukovsky, near Russia’s capital Moscow, after coming into contact with a person suspected of having mpox, formerly known as monkeypox.
Oct 16, 2026
CIDRAP: New CDC report details deadly toll of delayed measles complication in kids
Measles is sometimes dismissed as an unserious disease or ‘just a rash.’ But the highly contagious virus can cause serious illness not just during initial infection but years later, after patients appear to have made a full recovery.
Oct 16, 2026