Foodborne Disease

Survey explores trust, self-interest, and teen pandemic practices

A study of 770 teens' attitudes conducted in the 7 days after the United States declared a national emergency amid the COVID-19 pandemic found that 69% weren't practicing physical distancing but 89% were following the news, and 88% were disinfecting daily.  

Ebola infects 4 more in DRC's Equateur province outbreak

Officials have reported 4 more confirmed cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Equateur province Ebola outbreak, raising the total to 28, the World Health Organization (WHO) African regional office said today on Twitter.

Airborne SARS-CoV-2 more efficient than SARS, MERs viruses, study shows

Aerosolized SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, remained infectious for as long as 16 hours, according to a study published yesterday in Emerging Infectious Diseases.

Using nebulizers and a custom-built rotating drum, US researchers aerosolized the viruses once each in primate head-only exposure chambers or 30-liter rodent chambers in four aerobiology laboratories.

NIH stops 2 hydroxychloroquine COVID-19 trials

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced over the weekend that it has stopped two randomized clinical trials exploring the use of the antimalaria drug hydroxychloroquine for treating and preventing COVID-19.

Clinicians detail coinfections with C difficile, COVID-19 virus

A study by researchers from Detroit Medical Center and Wayne State University highlights the risk of Clostridiodes difficile infection (CDI) among COVID-19 patients linked to antibiotic use. The findings appeared in Emerging Infectious Diseases.

CDC: Backyard poultry Salmonella outbreak sickens 97 in 28 states

The US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) today announced that it—along with local public health officials—is investigating an outbreak of Salmonella infections linked to contact with backyard chicks and ducklings that sickened 97 people in 28 states from Feb 26 to May 1.

Experts issue 'weak' recommendations for treating COVID-19 patients

An international team of experts has published guidelines in CMAJ on treating COVID-19 patients that include "weak" recommendations for using corticosteroids in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and against using corticosteroids for patients without ARDS, convalescent plasma in patients with severe disease, and antiviral drugs in general.

Frozen raspberries linked to norovirus cruise ship outbreaks

Today researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, noted a link between frozen produce and outbreaks of norovirus on several cruise ships sailing in Europe and North America last summer and fall. The same cruise ship company was tied to all outbreaks.

CDC ends investigation into sprout-linked E coli outbreak that sickened 51

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said in an update yesterday that it has concluded its investigation into a 10-state outbreak of Escherichia coli linked to contaminated clover sprouts that sickened 51 people, up 12 from the agency's Mar 19 update.

Study finds high Zika awareness in US pregnant women during outbreak

A study of new mothers in 16 US states and 1 city published yesterday in Emerging Infectious Diseases found that, while over 90% of women pregnant during the 2016 Zika virus outbreak knew about the risks posed by infection, only half discussed it with their doctors.

A mosquito-borne virus, Zika can cause microcephaly (abnormally small head) and other defects in babies born to infected women.