News & Perspective

Two human plague cases reported in OregonTwo cases of human plague, the first in Oregon since 1995 and the only US cases in 2010, were reported by the Oregon Health Authority in September 2010, according to an article in today's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). The patients, ages 17 and 42, lived in the same household and had symptoms at the same time. Both had high fever and multiple bilateral inguinal buboes.

(CIDRAP News) – Influenza activity edged upward in the United States last week, with more states reporting widespread cases and more clinic visits attributed to influenza-like illness (ILI), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported.

Forty-four states reported widespread flu activity in the week that ended Feb 19, compared with 37 states the week before. Four states had regional activity, versus 10 a week earlier.

(CIDRAP News) – The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced approval of what it calls the first test for preliminary identification of norovirus, intended for use in outbreaks in which there is a likely transmission pathway.