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Scientists from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) have identified three new strains of norovirus that have caused an epidemic of gastrointestinal disease in Australia this winter. Officials estimate that hundreds of thousands of Australians— most in nursing homes, hospitals, cruise ships, and daycares—have been infected with these new strains.
In other developments, Thailand and Singapore report several new Zika cases.
Yesterday the Saudi Arabia Ministry of Health (MOH) said there was a new case of MERS in the city of Arar, while Austrian officials reported a case in a tourist from Saudi Arabia.
The case involved Caribbean travel and possible foodborne infection; also, officials note no spread in the first US case.
Also, officials report sexual transmission in Pennsylvania and the Netherlands.
Scientists have filmed the evolution of bacterial drug resistance in real time, noting that the pathogens can mutate to grow resistant to high levels of antibiotics in about 11 days, according to a study published yesterday in Science.
The US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) today awarded $21.8 million to support 42 states over 5 years in implementing the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) produce safety rule.
Recommendations focus on reducing ag antibiotic use, improving surveillance, and boosting public health.
Also, Singapore said it's not clear yet if the Asian strain involved in its local spread will result in the severe complications.
The US government is awarding $20 million in prizes for innovative ideas for the development of rapid, point-of-care diagnostic lab tests to quickly identify antibiotic-resistant bacteria, according to a National Institutes of Health (NIH) press release today.
Also, Miami Beach is planning for aerial spraying, while an mRNA vaccine gets funding.
Experts say screening at-risk adults for latent TB likely yields moderate benefits.
A yearlong investigation by Reuters alleges that thousands of US deaths from antibiotic-resistant infections are going uncounted because federal and state health agencies are doing a poor job of tracking them.
Also today, research highlighted eye infections in mice and brain injury in human babies.
The PATH Act would establish a new "limited population antibacterial drug approval pathway."
The Saudi Arabia Ministry of Health (MOH) reported a new case of MERS-CoV in Riyadh today. The case is not connected to a previously reported outbreak at King Khalid University Hospital in that city.
A new study out of England has found antibiotic resistant Escherichia coli bacteria in nearly a quarter of pig and poultry meat samples purchased at UK supermarkets.
Seven factors could help reduce the use of antibiotics in children who have acute respiratory infections.
Also, the CDC announced $2.4 million to help large cities detect and manage birth defects, and researchers revealed possible differences in brain cell infections between the 2 Zika lineages.
The FDA said certain ingredients were no more effective in killing germs than plain soap and water.
