Category: Emerging Infectious Diseases
What is chikungunya? CDC issues travel advisories amid outbreaks
USA Today Americans have been warned to exercise caution when traveling as certain regions contend with outbreaks of an untreatable mosquito-borne viral disease called chikungunya. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued travel health notices Dec. 5 amid an outbreak of chikungunya cases in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, encouraging Americans to “practice enhanced precautions” when visiting these areas. Similar advisories were issued […]
Dec 10, 2025
‘Very contagious’ vomiting virus surging in West. How to stay safe in California
Sacramento Bee A highly contagious stomach virus with no real treatment is spreading rapidly across the United States. From Aug. 1 through Nov. 13, there were 153 norovirus outbreaks reported in 14 states, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While California is not one of the reporting states, CDC […]
Dec 10, 2025
South Carolina: DPH reports 27 new measles cases in Upstate, bringing outbreak to 111
WYFF News On Tuesday, the South Carolina Department of Public Health reported 27 new cases of measles across the state since Friday. That brings the total number of cases related to the Upstate outbreak to 111 and the total number reported to DPH to 114 this year. DPH said that 16 of the new cases […]
Dec 10, 2025
Experts predict this year’s flu season to be worse than usual—here’s why
National Geographic Every year, flu season in North America starts to peak around the holiday season. But this year, doctors and researchers are especially worried. “We will have a significant flu season this year, and we have a lot of concern that it’s going to be more severe than typical,” says Richard Martinello, an infectious diseases […]
Dec 10, 2025
Can bird flu infect dairy animals beyond cows? ISU research seeks answer
Des Moines Register When the current outbreak of the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus was detected in dairy cattle in March 2024, a group of researchers at Iowa State University started to ask questions. “If this virus can show up in cow milk, can it show up in other types of milk?” Todd Bell, a professor of […]
Dec 10, 2025
Dead vultures in Rocky Mount mark 14th bird flu case in Virginia since July
WDBJ Fifteen vultures were found dead in a creek last week in the area of Franklin and Dent Street. Based on results from the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, the black Vultures tested positive for avian influenza, or bird flu. Alexandra Lombard with the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources says the H5 strain they tested positive for was introduced […]
Dec 10, 2025
Rare Temporary Flu Complication Can Leave Some Kids Unable to Walk
MedPageToday A 9-year-old girl in Michigan recently made the news after suddenly finding herself unable to walk during a bout with the flu. Before that, she experienced typical flu symptoms like fever, chills, and fatigue, and had plenty of rest and hydration. “When the fever broke after a few days, I thought she was turning […]
Dec 10, 2025
Bats might be the next bird flu wild card
Science News Bats have become the latest mammals susceptible to H5N1, the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus responsible for bird flu. In Peru, over a dozen vampire bats have been found carrying H5N1 antibodies, indicating exposure to the virus, researchers report November 11 at bioRxiv.org. The finding is “very worrisome,” says Vincent Munster, a virus ecologist […]
Dec 10, 2025
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Detected in Multiple Areas Throughout Texas
Focus Daily News Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) urges caution as highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is circulating among wild birds across the state as waterbirds and waterfowl migrate and congregate on their wintering grounds. Detected in all 50 states across the U.S. and Puerto Rico, HPAI is a highly contagious zoonotic virus that […]
Dec 10, 2025
Researchers find mammary glands of people, sheep and other livestock could harbor bird flu
Iowa Public Radio When bird flu spilled over into dairy cattle last year, researchers discovered high concentrations of the H5N1 virus in the raw milk and udders of infected cows. A new study shows the mammary glands of other livestock and humans could also be suitable hosts for the virus. Millions of wild birds, chickens […]
Dec 10, 2025