Category: Emerging Infectious Diseases
Measles’ Deadliest Sequelae
MedPageToday In the late 1990s, my long-time colleague, Pam Nagami, MD, met a petite, Indian-American student she later called “Manju” when writing a terrific book about patients with infectious diseases. Some of the stories by Nagami end happily, but Manju’s did not — and all because of a case of measles she contracted early in life. So, […]
Aug 20, 2024
Updated joint FAO/WHO/WOAH assessment of recent influenza A(H5N1) virus events in animals and people
WHO At the present time, based on available information, FAO-WHO-WOAH assess the global public health risk of influenza A(H5N1) viruses to be low, while the risk of infection for occupationally exposed persons is low to moderate depending on the risk mitigation measures in place. Transmission between animals continues to occur and, to date, a limited […]
Aug 14, 2024
What You Need to Know About Oropouche Virus Disease
Medscape The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has issued a warning to travelers in areas in South and Central America and the Caribbean affected by a current outbreak of Oropouche virus (OROV) disease. The ECDC said that there had been more than 8000 cases reported in these areas since January, with 19 […]
Aug 14, 2024
Increase in Human Parvovirus B19 Activity in the United States
CDC The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is issuing this Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory to notify healthcare providers, public health authorities, and the public about current increases in human parvovirus B19 activity in the United States. Parvovirus B19 is a seasonal respiratory virus that is transmitted through respiratory droplets by people with symptomatic […]
Aug 14, 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 vector-borne diseases.” said Christopher Braden, M.D., the Acting Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Center for Emerging and Infectious Zoonotic Diseases. […]
Aug 14, 2024
60% of American Samoans have evidence of previous dengue infection
CIDRAP 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 persons have previously been infected with the virus. While vaccination offers strong protection for people with prior infections, but it may increase the risk of […]
Aug 14, 2024
Measles, Bird Flu, COVID, Oh My!
MedPage Today While the threat of COVID-19 and long-COVID persist, other infectious diseases have re-emerged or come into the spotlight this year. In January, measles outbreaks were reported in a handful of states, raising concerns among experts that this preventable disease might lose its elimination status. Meanwhile, childhood vaccine exemptions and growing vaccine hesitancy have led to renewed calls for awareness and […]
Aug 14, 2024
Why Measles Is ‘Coming in Hot’ in 2024
MedPage Today In part 1 of this Instagram Live discussion, MedPage Today editor-in-chief Jeremy Faust, MD, Katelyn Jetelina, PhD, MPH, and Katrine Wallace, PhD, talk about the recent rise in measles cases in the U.S. Faust: Let’s start with measles because the title says “Measles, H5N1, and COVID, Oh My!“ In the 1950s and ’60s, we would routinely have […]
Aug 14, 2024
Oropouche Virus Outbreak Hits Europe as First Deaths Confirmed in Brazil
Science Alert Health officials have issued a warning to travellers after 19 cases of the insect-borne illness Oropouche virus were confirmed for the first time ever in Europe. Those who had tested positive for the virus had recently returned from holiday in Cuba and Brazil. Parts of South America and Cuba are currently in the midst of an ongoing outbreak of […]
Aug 14, 2024
What is Legionnaires’ disease, and how does it spread?
Washington Post Five cases of Legionnaires’ disease in New Hampshire this summer have raised questions about how the infection spreads. Legionnaires’ is a serious form of pneumonia caused by the bacteria Legionella. “The Legionella bacteria likes water. It is spread from contaminated air conditioning cooling towers, hot tubs, decorative fountains, misting machines and the like,” said William Schaffner, a professor of […]
Aug 14, 2024