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Flu levels in the Northern Hemisphere continued to rise, especially in Europe and North America, with high but stabilizing activity noted in areas of northern Asia and the Middle East, the World Health Organization (WHO) said in a Mar 7 update.
The 2009 H1N1 virus is the predominant strain worldwide, though the proportion of influenza B detections has increased recently in several regions.
Review finds evidence that N95s block infectious particles better, but no significant advantage.
Experts offer approaches for moving the GOF conundrum forward that are not mutually exclusive, such as lifting the moratorium, seeking international consensus, and establishing a review board.
The WHO Zika emergency committee, in its 2nd meeting, called for stronger steps.
Egypt has reported a new human case of H5N1 avian influenza, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), apparently marking the first case there this year.
A MERS-CoV cluster in Buraydah in north-central Saudi Arabia has grown to 13 cases in recent days as the country's Ministry of Health (MOH) reported 2 new infections today, 1 of which was fatal.
The new MERS-CoV (Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus) cases involve foreign men, ages 24 and 56. The older man died. He contracted the disease from another MERS patient, the MOH said.
Nine of the cases are in Buraydah, where officials are investigating hospital infections.
The WHO has convened its Zika emergency committee for the 2nd time, a 3-day countermeasure meeting begins in Geneva, and a mouse study shows promise for a broad-spectrum antiviral drug.
The H7N8 outbreak in Indiana during January likely resulted from warm, wet weather and poor biosecurity practices, according to a Mar 4 report from the US Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).
Indiana officials detected the first case of highly pathogenic avian flu (HPAI) H7N8 and eight cases of low-pathogenic avian flu (LPAI) H7N8 on turkey farms in Dubois County.
An Associated Press (AP) investigation into Metabiota Inc.'s role in Sierra Leone's response to Ebola found that the San Francisco-based epidemic consultant was likely responsible for errors that led to poor understanding of the situation, the AP said today.
US flu activity is more widespread and was responsible for 4 pediatric deaths, the CDC says.
Research finds 29% of women with Zika have babies with abnormalities as well as evidence that cortical cells in the fetus could be disrupted.
The CDC will host a summit Apr 1, Laos has local transmission, and studies highlight key developments.
A human monoclonal antibody decreased viral load in rabbits, and MERS antibodies were found in Kenyans who tended animals.
A meta-analysis published yesterday in The Lancet Infectious Diseases suggests that dengue infection in pregnant women may increase the risk of adverse fetal outcomes such as preterm birth and low birth weight.
Also, Brazil notes more than 200 new suspected microcephaly cases and results of lab experiments in common Culex mosquitoes, while the FDA releases guidance on screening of cells and tissue.
Today's CDC report focused on the six most concerning antibiotic-resistant bacteria and found better progress against them in short-term healthcare settings.
Wisconsin health officials are investigating an outbreak of 44 bloodstream infections in mostly older patients, with 18 deaths, caused by a bacterium called Elizabethkingia anophelis, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (WDHS) announced yesterday.
The study from French Polynesia comes as the WHO publishes related guidance.
MRSA infections have declined in recent years, paralleling a drop in adults.
