Avian Influenza (Bird Flu)

CDC: Suspected AFM cases rise to 219

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) today said it and state health partners are investigating 28 more suspected acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) cases, lifting the national number of suspected cases for 2018 to 219.

Four nations report total of 9 new polio cases

Afghanistan officials have reported 3 new cases of wild poliovirus 1 (WPV1), while Papua New Guinea (3 cases), Nigeria (2 cases), and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC, 1 case) have all reported cases involving circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus (cVDPV), according to a weekly update today from the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI).

Cases at 2nd New Jersey peds facility caused by different adenovirus strain

The New Jersey Department of Health (NJ Health) said preliminary tests on four adenovirus cases among pediatric patients at Voorhees Pediatric Facility in Voorhees, N.J., ruled out type 7, the strain of adenovirus responsible for 10 deaths and 27 illnesses at the Wanaque Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation in Haskell, N.J., according to an NJ Health news release

Analysis: Many H3N2v cases linked to Maryland fairs in risk groups

An investigation into 40 variant H3N2 (H3N2v) influenza cases in people exposed to pigs at three agriculture fairs in Maryland in September 2017 found that 30 (75%) occurred in people at high risk for flu complications. Researchers from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Maryland described their findings today in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR).

Low-path H5N2 detected in Minnesota turkeys; Laos reports H5N1

In avian flu outbreak developments, the United States reported the detection of low-pathogenic H5N2 in a Minnesota turkey flock and Laos reported a highly pathogenic H5N1 outbreak in backyard birds.

Four more confirmed Ebola cases in DRC as suspected cases jump

Today the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) announced four more confirmed cases of Ebola virus in Beni, the current epicenter of the outbreak in North Kivu province.

Officials also recorded three new deaths in Beni, including two community deaths that had safe and dignified burials.

New MERS case recorded in Saudi Arabia

The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health (MOH) recorded a new case of MERS-CoV over the weekend, the second case in epidemiologic week 41 (last week).

A 64-year-old man from Dawadmi, Riyadh region is hospitalized with a MERS-CoV (Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus) infection. The man had camel contact, one of the most common risk factors for MERS.

More vaccine-derived polio cases reported in Africa, Papua New Guinea

Four countries reported more vaccine-derived polio cases in ongoing outbreaks, according to the latest weekly update today from the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) today.

Broadly protective flu vaccine shows promise in phase 1 trial

A phase 1 trial of a broadly protective flu vaccine shows promise in people, Fierce Pharma reported yesterday.

Saudi Arabia notes 3 more MERS cases, 2 deaths

The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health (MOH) noted two more MERS-CoV cases in epidemiologic week 39 (last week) and one in epidemiologic week 38, and two of the cases proved fatal.