Category: Emerging Infectious Diseases
WHO and partners activate Global Health Emergency Corps for the first time in response to mpox outbreak
WHO In October 2024, WHO and partners, in collaboration with Member States, activated the Global Health Emergency Corps (GHEC) for the first time to provide support to countries facing mpox outbreaks. GHEC is a grouping of professionals with the objective of strengthening the response to health emergencies, and a collaboration platform for countries and health emergency networks. […]
Oct 30, 2024
Walking pneumonia cases are spiking, especially in kids. Here’s what to know
NPR (Podcast) Respiratory infections caused by the bacteria mycoplasma pneumoniae are on the rise across the US. People of all ages are being affected — including an unusual surge in young children. The good news: It’s usually mild. The bad news: It can take weeks for an infection to burn through a classroom or family.
Oct 30, 2024
Tuberculosis returns as top infectious disease killer, WHO says
Reuters Tuberculosis replaced COVID-19 to become the top cause for infectious disease-related deaths in 2023, according to a World Health Organization report published on Tuesday, highlighting the challenges in the global effort in eradicating the disease. Last year about 8.2 million people were newly diagnosed, meaning they could access suitable treatment – the highest number […]
Oct 30, 2024
How Long Should Kids Stay Out of School After They’ve Had COVID?
MedPageToday When the daughter of MedPage Today‘s editor-in-chief Jeremy Faust, MD, got COVID in September, he strategized how best to prevent spread of the virus while causing the least disruption to her school schedule. He debated whether the CDC’s most recent isolation guidelines — which recommend resuming activities when symptoms are resolving and you’ve been fever-free for […]
Oct 29, 2024
U.S. death from Lassa fever, an Ebola-like virus, is reported in Iowa
STAT A person from Iowa who recently returned to the United States from West Africa has died after contracting Lassa fever, a virus that can cause Ebola-like illness in some patients. State health officials reported the case on Monday. “I want to assure Iowans that the risk of transmission is incredibly low in our state. […]
Oct 29, 2024
Rwanda: Exact Origin of Marburg Virus Identified, Says Minister Nsanzimana
All Africa The Minister of Health, Dr Sabin Nsanzimana, has said the Marburg virus that led to an outbreak on September 27 came from a cave where mining activities had been ongoing. Initial findings of genomic sequencing indicated that the virus, which is transmitted by fruit bats, had come from animal to human, without passing through multiple hosts. “We […]
Oct 29, 2024
Research reveals new clues to the mysteries of long COVID
University of Alberta Three groundbreaking studies pinpoint immune cells and proteins linked with the lingering condition — and suggest a possible cause. Researchers at the University of Alberta have pinpointed two proteins that could serve as markers for identifying patients with long COVID — a discovery that may lead to treatments that will bring better […]
Oct 29, 2024
CDC A(H5N1) Bird Flu Response Update October 29, 2024
CDC CDC continues to respond to the public health challenge posed by a multistate outbreak of avian influenza A(H5N1) virus, or “H5N1 bird flu,” in dairy cows, poultry and other animals in the United States. CDC is working in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Administration for […]
Oct 29, 2024
From poultry to public health: Understanding the H5N1 threat
DVM360 Unpacking the current threat landscape Avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1), commonly known as bird flu, has had an increase in human cases in the United States recently, particularly among poultry and dairy workers. H5N1 has primarily circulated in the Midwest, with these cases raising concerns about potential human transmission and broader public health implications. Understanding […]
Oct 29, 2024
More Washington state egg farm workers sick with avian flu; CDC sends help for outbreak
The Chronicle The number of workers at a Franklin County commercial egg farm who have now tested positive for avian influenza has increased to eight, according to preliminary test results. The outbreak at the large farm has the first human cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza, or H5N1, known in the state of Washington. Of […]
Oct 29, 2024