Chikungunya

Yellow fever vaccine shortage a 'ticking timebomb'

In what Director-General Margaret Chan, MD, MPH, of the World Health Organization (WHO) says is the most serious outbreak of yellow fever in Angola in 30 years, a serious global shortage of vaccine makes what is already a bad situation potentially catastrophic, sources are reporting. Dr. Chan recently visited Angola to observe the situation first-hand.

Brazil microcephaly total grows; WHO unveils interim lab guidance

In Zika virus developments today, Brazil's health ministry reported 273 more suspected microcephaly cases and the World Health Organization (WHO) released interim guidance on lab testing for Zika infection.

Saudi Arabia reports 2 MERS cases in Buraydah, 1 fatal

A MERS-CoV cluster in Buraydah, Saudi Arabia, has grown by 2 cases, 1 of which was fatal, to 28 since Mar 3, the Saudi Ministry of Health (MOH) reported today. The agency also noted that a previously reported patient in Buraydah died from his infection.

American clinician treated for imported case of Lassa fever

An American physician's assistant has been flown from West Africa to the United States for treatment of Lassa fever, according to recent reports from CNN and Emory University Hospital.

AP says consulting firm likely mishandled Ebola response

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.

Wisconsin probes outbreak of 44 bloodstream infections, some fatal

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.

Scottish nurse discharged after second hospitalization for Ebola complications

A Scottish nurse who was recently hospitalized with Ebola complications for a second time has been released from Royal Free Hospital in London yesterday, according to a statement from the facility.

MERS cases reported in Saudi Arabia, Qatar

Saudi Arabia today confirmed another new MERS-CoV case, while Qatar reported its first case since May 2015.

The MERS-CoV (Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus) case in Saudi Arabia involves a 74-year-old man in Afif, a city in the central part of the country about halfway between Mecca and Riyadh, according to the Saudi Ministry of Health (MOH). It is the nation's sixth case in a week.

Hawaii declares emergency to fight mosquito-borne diseases

The governor of Hawaii, David Ige, on Feb 12 issued an emergency proclamation intended to prevent mosquito-borne illnesses, including dengue, Zika, and chikungunya, on the islands.

Mayo researchers find new Lyme disease-causing species

A team of researchers from the Mayo Clinic and state and federal health agencies have discovered a new species of