Category: Emerging Infectious Diseases
Avian influenza and coronaviruses in live animal and wet markets in Laos: prevalence and public health considerations
Frontiers Background: Live animal and wet markets (LWM) serve as critical interfaces where humans closely interact with domestic and peri-domestic animals, facilitating the spillover of zoonotic pathogens. Previous outbreaks of avian influenza viruses (AIV) and coronaviruses (CoV) linked to these markets underscore their significant public health risks. Despite the high density of LWM and historical […]
Apr 8, 2026
Australia: Diphtheria cases in 2026
Healthy Travel Diphtheria returns to the Northern Territory The NT Centre for Disease Control is investigating a diphtheria outbreak in the Northern Territory. Four cases of respiratory diphtheria have been notified since 23 March 2026 – two in Darwin and two in Alice Springs – alongside 37 cases of cutaneous (skin) diphtheria notified since May […]
Apr 8, 2026
RSV Is Still Surging in These 9 States, Hitting Kids Under 4 the Hardest. When Will the Season End?
NFID Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is surging later than usual in parts of the country. Here’s which states have the highest rates and symptoms to watch for. Although cold and flu season is winding down in the United States, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) activity still remains high in many parts of the country. RSV is […]
Apr 8, 2026
US cases of COVID variant ‘Cicada’ up more than 15% and rising
USA Today A new, “highly mutated” COVID strain is quickly gaining ground in the United States, according to new data. Variant BA.3.2, nicknamed “Cicada,” first drew the attention of health officials earlier this year when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization noted it had appeared in at least 23 countries and accounted for […]
Apr 8, 2026
Nigeria: Lassa fever death toll hits 146
Daily Trust Nigeria’s ongoing Lassa fever outbreak is showing a worrying rise in deaths, with new figures from treatment centres and national surveillance pointing not just to wider transmission, but a deepening fatality burden across several states. Latest figures from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) show that the country has recorded […]
Apr 8, 2026
Yellow fever in Colombia has already resulted in 182 registered cases and 81 deaths
La Nacion (machine translated to English) The Ministry of Health reported a worrying increase in yellow fever cases and deaths in Colombia over the past two years. According to the most recent report, between 2024 and the present day, 182 cases of the disease have been confirmed in the country, with 81 deaths, representing a […]
Apr 8, 2026
Arozona: Apache County confirms first plague case since 2015
AZ Family Apache County health officials announced a confirmed case of plague Tuesday. Officials say the person has recovered after receiving treatment. It’s the first confirmed case in Apache County since 2015 and only the fourth since 2006. Public health workers are assessing environmental risks and ensuring the appropriate safety measures are in place. Officials say the […]
Apr 8, 2026
Novel antiviral fogging tech to be tested against bird flu
Feedstuffs A research team led by Purdue University, along with partners Entomol and 1,4Group, has been awarded $2 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service to evaluate a novel antiviral fogging technology to combat high pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), which remains a serious threat to poultry health and the […]
Apr 8, 2026
Two years after it emerged, ‘cow flu’ is still circulating—and baffling scientists
Science Researchers still aren’t sure how H5N1 influenza spreads between cows and from farm to farm. After 2 years, the U.S. outbreak of the H5N1 influenza virus in cattle appears to be waning, easing fears that the virus could cause long-lasting damage to the dairy industry or mutate into a form that could cause a […]
Apr 8, 2026
U.S. facing largest outbreak of bird flu in its history, including backyard flocks in Kentucky
NPR The U.S. is facing the largest outbreak of bird flu in its history. As birds migrate this spring, the virus can spread along major flyways through droppings, contaminated water, or direct contact, infecting backyard flocks, pet birds, and commercial poultry. Anyone who raises birds should understand the risks and how to protect their poultry. Dr. Chelsey Shivley, is a […]
Apr 8, 2026