China today reported two more H7N9 avian influenza infections in humans, and the country's top health officials have announced an update to treatment recommendations for patients.
The latest cases are both from Sichuan province in southwestern China, according to a state news agency report translated and posted by FluTrackers, an infectious disease news message board.
Five more babies have been born in the United States with Zika-related birth defects, according to updated data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). There are now 43 babies in the country with documented defects from the mosquito-borne illness.
Five more human H7N9 avian flu illnesses have been reported in China, one from Henan province and four from Anhui province, according to government statements translated and posted by FluTrackers, an infectious disease news message board.
In other developments, research teams describe viral levels in semen and thrombocytopenia as a complication.
The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health (MOH) reported three new MERS-CoV cases today, and announced the death of a former patient. All three new patients are listed as having primary exposure to the virus, which means it is unlikely they contracted the disease from another person.
New experiments suggest that mosquitoes can infect humans with Zika and chikungunya viruses in a single bite, according to a study presented today at the annual meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH).
In related developments, Florida reported seven new locally acquired Zika cases yesterday and today, one of them in a traveler from out of state.
In other Zika news, Florida reported more local Zika cases over the past few days, officials announced the launch of a vaccine trial, and Palau reported its first local case.
A review of Facebook posts on Zika virus found that misleading posts were more popular than ones containing accurate information, according to a recent study by a team from Tulane University.
A study yesterday in Pediatrics showed how an urban health system achieved human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination rates of 89.8% in teen girls and 89.3% in teen boys by using low-cost interventions, including "bundling" the HPV vaccine with other vaccines, and offering vaccines at every healthcare visit.
