Category: Emerging Infectious Diseases
9 states report measles cases as outbreaks grow
The Hill One of the most contagious viruses in the world is spreading around the United States. So far in 2025 there have been three distinct measles outbreaks and at least 164 cases reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention coming from nine states. The largest of the outbreaks is in West Texas, […]
Mar 5, 2025
Measles Outbreak Was Entirely Avoidable
Bloomberg Low vaccination rates contributed to the re-emergence of a disease declared eradicated in the US 25 years ago. A measles outbreak in West Texas and New Mexico has killed a child and sickened more than 130 people, and public health experts fear it’s only the beginning. It’s an entirely avoidable health emergency fueled by weaknesses […]
Mar 5, 2025
To the Pandemic Czar: Are We Prepared to Talk About Bird Flu?
MedPage Today Effective communication across all levels of government is as important as a vaccine. The threat of a widespread human outbreak of bird flu is on the horizon. And, with it, the potential for a pandemic. The next pandemic — whether from the H5N1 strain circulating since 2022 or something else — may not […]
Mar 4, 2025
New York City officials report second measles case as Texas outbreak continues
USA Today As the measles outbreak continues to spread in Texas, cases have been reported in New Jersey as well as a second case in New York City. The New York City Department of Health said that one additional case of measles has been reported in New York City. “As a pediatrician and the State’s doctor, I want to […]
Mar 4, 2025
Mysterious illness claims dozens in remote congo villages, WHO on alert
Medafrica Times A puzzling disease outbreak in northwestern Congo has claimed 53 lives amid 419 reported cases across two isolated villages, baffling health officials who are racing to identify the deadly pathogen. The outbreaks began on January 21 in Equateur province, with many victims succumbing within hours of showing symptoms. Health authorities remain uncertain whether […]
Mar 4, 2025
Why This Measles Outbreak Is Different
The Atlantic America’s regression could change the experience of childhood. In 2000, the CDC declared that measles had been eliminated from the United States. But now America is at risk of losing that status: A measles outbreak has sickened more than 150 people in Texas and New Mexico since late January. An unvaccinated school-aged child recently died […]
Mar 4, 2025
Herding cats: It’s past time to include pets in disease surveillance
STAT H5N1 is just one reason why. As veterinarians, flu scientists, and biosecurity experts, we have watched with growing concern the rise in H5N1 avian influenza in cats. Since 2022, more than 100 domesticated cats in the United States have had confirmed infections — some house pets, some barn cats, some feral — with high mortality, although […]
Mar 4, 2025
The research and development landscape for mpox vaccines
The Lancet On Aug 14, 2024, WHO redeclared the mpox outbreak as a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC). In contrast to the 2022 PHEIC, which was related to the global outbreak of mpox caused by the clade IIb strain, the 2024 PHEIC, attributed to the clade Ib strain, is primarily spreading through human […]
Feb 26, 2025
Why the good news about the mpox outbreak of 2025 isn’t really good after all
NPR Dr. Jean Kaseya has a warning for the world: “We are playing with fire.” Kaseya is director general of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He’s talking about mpox, a virus that causes painful blisters and can be fatal. For much of the world, mpox — formerly known as monkeypox — seems like […]
Feb 26, 2025
Uganda’s final push to end Ebola
WHO Uganda has entered a crucial 42-day countdown in its battle against the Sudan virus disease (SVD) outbreak, which belongs to the same family as Ebola virus disease. This is a pivotal period that will determine whether the outbreak is officially declared over. Following the full recovery and discharge of all confirmed cases, the Ministry […]
Feb 26, 2025