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Genentech reports promising findings for baloxavir flu treatment in children

Genentech, part of the Roche Group, yesterday announced promising phase 3 trial findings for the use of one-dose baloxavir marboxil (Xofluza) to safely treat flu in children, according to results presented on Sep 1 during the Options X Congress in Singapore.

DRC Ebola outbreak grows by 11; GSK stops Ebola vaccine work

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) ministry of health will likely record 11 more cases of Ebola today, raising the outbreak total to 2,774, including 1,849 deaths. The death toll has grown by 6 since yesterday.

All outbreak numbers come from the World Health Organization's (WHO's) online Ebola dashboard. DRC officials have not released any reports on the outbreak since Aug 2.

CDC ends Salmonella investigation into tainted tuna after 15 cases noted

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) yesterday closed its investigation into a multistate Salmonella outbreak tied to frozen tuna after confirming two new cases.

CDC confirms 78 new measles cases; US on track for record year

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recorded 78 more measles cases in the last week, a sign that ongoing outbreaks in several states are growing.

The 2019 total number of cases has jumped to 465 in 19 states, as Florida, Indiana, Massachusetts, and Nevada all reported their first cases of the year last week.

Recently identified Ebola Bombali species detected in Kenyan bats

A new Ebola species first identified in bats last year in Sierra Leone—named Bombali virus— has now been found in bats in Kenya, pointing to wide distribution, given that the two countries are on opposite coasts of Africa. Researchers from Finland, Kenya, and Sweden reported their findings in Emerging Infectious Diseases.

Vietnamese study shows limits of rapid diagnostics technology

A randomized controlled trial of rapid diagnostics technology in two hospitals in Vietnam found no improvement in antimicrobial therapy compared with traditional microbiologic methods, according to a study in the Journal of Infection.

Probable plague cluster reported at Uganda-DRC border

Health officials are investigating a pneumonic plague outbreak at the border between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the World Health Organization (WHO) regional office for Africa said today in its weekly emergencies and outbreaks report.

Scott Gottlieb resigns as FDA commissioner

Scott Gottlieb, MD, announced today that he will resign as commissioner of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the coming weeks to spend more time with his family.

Saudi Arabia confirms new MERS case, 62 for the year

Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Health (MOH), in its epidemiologic week 7 update, today added another MERS-CoV case to its growing total, in a man from its most recent hardest-hit city, while the World Health Organization (WHO) provided details on Saudi cases confirmed in January.

DRC Ebola outbreak reaches 800 cases

Today the Ministry of Health in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) confirmed two new cases of Ebola and three more deaths from the virus in the ongoing outbreak in North Kivu and Ituri provinces.

Outbreak totals now stand at 800 cases, including 502 deaths, and 178 suspected cases are still under investigation.