E coli

CDC review: Norovirus most common foodborne pathogen in 2017

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) late last week released a summary of foodborne illnesses in 2017 based on an annual analysis of data from the Foodborne Disease Outbreak Surveillance System, and norovirus was the most common pathogen reported, responsible for 46% of illnesses. Salmonella and Shiga toxin–producing Escherichia coli were also linked to a substantial number of outbreaks.

Massive DRC measles outbreak picks up more speed

A massive measles outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) accelerated again over the past few weeks, with spread to new areas, the World Health Organization (WHO) African regional office said yesterday in its weekly outbreaks and emergencies report.

Chick-fil-A reached goal of antibiotic-free chicken in all its restaurants

Chick-fil-A today announced it has reached its goal of serving only chicken raised without the routine use of antibiotics, an ambition it set in 2014, according to a company news release.

Study links rates of intrinsically resistant bacteria with acquired resistance

An analysis of data from routine antibiotic susceptibility testing in 30 European countries shows a strong correlation between the rates of intrinsically antibiotic-resistant bacterial species and the rates of acquired resistance in gram-negative bacterial species, a team of European researchers reported today in Eurosurveillance.

Two more MERS cases recorded in Saudi Arabia

The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health (MOH) confirmed two new cases of MERS today, in Riyadh and Buraydah. The cases were noted in an update to an epidemiologic week 29 report.

Pakistan confirms 9 new polio cases, 1 each in China, Angola

The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) today reported nine new cases of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1), and, for the first time in more than a year, China has confirmed a case of vaccine-derived poliovirus.

In addition, Angola has a new circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) case.

WHO director-general, others warn of DRC instability fueling Ebola

In an interview with The Guardian, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, PhD, said the political climate in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is preventing an end to the current Ebola outbreak.

Lyme disease study finds frequent misdiagnosis, unnecessary antibiotics

Data from a single-center study indicate widespread misdiagnosis of Lyme disease and unnecessary antibiotic treatment, particularly among those with unexplained symptoms lasting longer than 3 months, a team of US researchers reported today in Open Forum Infectious Diseases.

Study describes how pandemic, multidrug-resistant E coli clone emerged

A study yesterday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences describes the unique emergence of the pandemic multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli clone ST1193.

Angola, Ethiopia, Pakistan report new polio cases

Two countries in Africa and Pakistan have recorded new polio cases in the past week, according to an update today from the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI).

Pakistan has reported two wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) cases in Shangla and Bannu districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, with onset of paralysis on May 18 and 24. The cases raise Pakistan's total in 2019 to 24.