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The performance of the seasonal influenza vaccine was exceptionally weak in the 2014-15 season, a failure that was attributed largely to its low effectiveness against a drifted strain of A/H3N2 virus that became dominant. Now, US researchers have reported clear genetic evidence that the drifted strain undermined vaccine effectiveness (VE).
In other developments, a transgenic mosquito project is in the works for Grand Cayman and Spain reported a travel-linked microcephaly case.
Influenza activity around the United States continued its retreat toward summertime levels last week, but four more flu-related children's deaths were reported, according to today's weekly update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Yellow fever case totals in Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) continue to climb, with Namibia now reporting its first suspected case, according to a World Health Organization (WHO) situation report yesterday.
The findings are similar to earlier studies showing Wolbachia's ability to cut dengue transmission.
Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Health (MOH) today reported an asymptomatic MERS-CoV infection in a man in Riyadh who is a household contact of a previous MERS patient.
A study of Ebola virus disease survivors in Guinea has added to previous evidence that the virus can persist for as long as 9 months in the semen of survivors, reinforcing the concern about a risk of sexual transmission for months after recovery.
National estimate says 47 million needless prescriptions are written a year, many for respiratory illnesses.
All patients were hospitalized, and a recall involves 358 products and 42 brands.
In a study conducted in Sierra Leone, nearly half of household contacts of Ebola virus disease (EVD) survivors contracted the illness, with the risk strongly associated with the level of exposure, according to a report published yesterday in Emerging Infectious Diseases.
Authorities have destroyed a flock of 39,000 turkeys on a farm in southwestern Missouri following the detection of a low-pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus in the birds, according to a report that US officials filed with the World Organization for animal Health (OIE) on May 2.
Also, a study found distinct temporal patterns between cases, GBS, and microcephaly.
Research will include probing how resistance develops and spreads and how to combat it.
Qatar yesterday reported its second MERS-CoV case this year in a man with no travel history, according to translated information from Qatar's Ministry of Public Health posted on FluTrackers, an infectious disease message board.
Infants born to women who received a flu vaccination during pregnancy were 81% less likely to be hospitalized with influenza during the first 6 months of life, according to a study today in Pediatrics.
Antibiotic-resistant strains reach a low point since testing began, but the agency notes some worrisome findings.
Chinese officials have reported another human case of H7N9 avian flu, according to a post yesterday on FluTrackers, an infectious disease message board.
The infection involves a 58-year-old man from Laizhou, a city in China's eastern coastal province of Shandong. He is currently hospitalized in critical condition, government information translated by FluTrackers noted.
A report by CBS's 60 Minutes yesterday alleged that the US company Halyard Health for years sold surgical gowns that it knew were defective, putting healthcare workers at risk for bloodborne infections. In a press release today, the company strongly denied the allegations
Also, the first US Zika death was reported and local transmission was announced in St. Barthelemy.
Federal inspection records obtained by Food Safety News (FSN) show that Dole kept a salad processing plant in Ohio operating for about 18 months after finding Listeria contamination there, until an outbreak was traced to the facility in January of this year.
