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.
In research developments, a group from Brazil profiled 11 microcephaly cases, and another team described lessons learned from experimentally infecting monkeys.
Samples of UK-produced pork products have tested positive for a livestock strain of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), according to a report today by The Guardian.
The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) posted two reports yesterday detailing three new outbreaks of H5N1 avian flu in Nigerian chickens. Nigeria—along with fellow West African nations Cameroon and Ghana—are struggling with H5N1 in their poultry populations.
