China's Animal Disease Control Centre has confirmed H5N1 avian flu as the culprit in a die-off of more than 2,000 gulls at Qinghai Lake, a major migratory bird stopover site that has recorded large avian flu outbreaks in previous years, according to a report yesterday from the World Organization of Animal Health (OIE).
South Korea has gone 15 days without reporting a new MERS-CoV case, keeping the total at 186 cases, the country's Yonhap News Agency reported today. No deaths have been reported in 9 days, keeping the fatality count at 36.
The country will be considered free of the virus if it goes two incubation periods, a total of 28 days, without a new case.
Over concern that highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 outbreaks will continue to spread in West Africa, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) today called for $20 million to assist with prevention and response activities, according to an FAO news article.
The CDC proposes adding certain H5N1 viruses to HHS's select agent list; experts have varied reactions.
Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Health (MOH) today announced one new MERS-CoV illness, involving a 93-year-old man from Hofuf, a town in the eastern part of the country that has reported family and hospital outbreaks over the past few months. His illness is the first to be reported in the town since Jun 25.
After going 9 straight days without a MERS-CoV case, Saudi Arabia today reported two.
Minnesota announced a second H5N2 detection in wild birds, a chickadee from an urban county.
Health officials in China yesterday reported five new H7N9 avian influenza infections, as well as four deaths. The events occurred in June and were included in a monthly surveillance update from the country's National Health and Family Planning Commission that was posted by FluTrackers, an infectious disease news message board.
A large study in Bangladesh of oral killed whole-cell cholera vaccine found that it cut disease rates in half, even with moderate coverage, according to a report yesterday in The Lancet.
Participants voiced concern over USDA response delays and on a likely H5N2 return this fall.
