News Scan for Jan 27, 2016

News brief
Topics
MERS-CoV
Chikungunya

Saudi Arabia confirms new MERS case

Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Health (MOH) confirmed a new MERS-CoV case today in the central city of Al-Kharj, the country's fifth case in under a week.

The new MERS-CoV (Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus) case involves a 47-year-old Saudi man who had direct contact with camels, a known risk factor for the disease. He is hospitalized in stable condition and is not a healthcare worker, the MOH said.

Since the virus emerged in the country in 2012, the MOH has confirmed 1,288 cases, including 551 deaths.

After Saudi MERS cases peaked at 126 in August 2015, they have dropped steadily, to 66 in September, 24 in October, 4 in November, 5 in December, and 7 so far this month.
Jan 27 Saudi MOH update

 

PAHO reports 3,000 new chikungunya infections

Although Zika virus is garnering much media attention of late, the other surging mosquito-borne virus in the Americas—chikungunya—continues its steady increase, with 3,083 new cases reported last week, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) reported today.

The newly reported illnesses bring the total for 2015 and 2016 to 696,409 suspected and confirmed cases, PAHO said in an update posted today but dated Jan 22. The week before the agency reported 7,599 new chikungunya cases. The total since the outbreak began in 2013 is now 1,843,178 cases

The number of chikungunya-related deaths held at 71.

The vast majority of new cases are in Guatemala, which noted 2,982 new cases and 32,739 total for 2015 and 2016. Peru logged 110 new cases over several weeks, bringing its 2015-16 total to 295.

The vast majority of countries in the region, however, have not provided updates to PAHO for many weeks. The epidemic began in December 2013 with the first locally acquired chikungunya case ever reported in the Americas, on St. Martin in the Caribbean.
Jan 22 PAHO update

Avian Flu Scan for Jan 27, 2016

News brief
Topics
Avian Influenza (Bird Flu)

China confirms H7N9 case in Hunan province

Provincial health officials have confirmed H7N9 avian flu in a 33-year-old man in Hunan province, the first case in the central China province this winter, according to Xinhua, China's state news agency.

The man, from Xintian County, is hospitalized. No other information about his condition or risk factors is available.

Recent H7N9 cases have been reported in Shanghai, Zhejiang, Guangdong, and Fujian provinces, the story noted, including a death in Zhejiang and one in Guangdong. Guangdong province also has reported five H5N6 avian flu cases in recent weeks.

The global H7N9 total—almost all cases have been in China—has reached 712 cases, according to a list compiled by FluTrackers, an infectious disease news message board.
Jan 27 Xinhua story
FluTrackers H7N9 case list

 

Nigeria reports 6 H5N1 outbreaks, while Cote d'Ivoire confirms 1

Nigeria has confirmed six new outbreaks of H5N1 avian flu in poultry, while Cote d'Ivoire reported one, according to separate World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) reports yesterday.

The six Nigerian outbreaks happened on farms housing egg-laying hens in Plateau state in central Nigeria. They began Jan 20 to 23 and involve flocks ranging in size from 1,137 to 6,091 birds. Of the 22,144 chickens on the six farms, 436 died from the virus and the rest were destroyed to prevent further spread of the disease.

Nigeria has battled scores of H5N1 outbreaks in recent months after the virus resurged there last year.

The Cote d'Ivoire outbreak involved a 2,000-chicken farm in Abidjan district along the south coast. Three birds died from H5N1, and the rest were culled. The outbreak began on Dec 24, but test results weren't confirmed until Jan 18.
Jan 26 OIE report on Nigeria
Jan 26 OIE report on Cote d'Ivoire

This week's top reads

  1. FDA significantly limits COVID-19 vaccine recommendations

    Critics said today’s announcement is more evidence of the current administration’s willingness to undermine public trust in vaccines.

    Stephanie Soucheray
    FDA building

  2. Woman dies of Creutzfeldt-Jakob almost 50 years after taking prion-contaminated growth hormone

    The patient, who presented with gait imbalance and tremors, wasn't diagnosed until she was in a coma, shortly before she died.

    Mary Van Beusekom
    Woman in hospital bed

  3. HHS expected to discontinue COVID vaccine recommendations for some groups

    When CDC advisers widened their recommendation in 2023, most members were swayed by data, including those for long COVID, showing that no group is at low risk for the virus.

    Lisa Schnirring

  4. WHO advisers say current strains OK for COVID vaccine production

    Current vaccine strains show high neutralization against the latest variants, but the LP.8.1 antigen may provide similar or moderately higher cross-reactive antibody response.

    Lisa Schnirring
    senior vaccination

  5. US measles outbreak grows to 1,024 cases

    Texas remains the country's hot spot, with 718 cases. 

    Chris Dall
    Doctor treating child with measles

  6. Moderna pulls licensing submission for combo flu-COVID vaccine

    Moderna's combination vaccine was intended for adults 50 and older. 

    Stephanie Soucheray

  7. Mpox activity escalates in Sierra Leone

    Responding to the surge is a major focus, partly to prevent the spread to other West African countries. 

    Lisa Schnirring
    mpox virus

  8. FDA vaccine advisers recommend sticking with JN.1 strain for next COVID vaccines

    The group weighed considerations about newer variants and raised concerns that a strain recommendation might interface with the FDA's new proposed COVID vaccine framework.

    Lisa Schnirring
    woman vaccinated

  9. Viewpoint: Making key COVID vaccine decisions without input, transparency is a public disservice

    Newly announced rules that limit the use of COVID vaccines suggest that federal officials are opposed to open discussion and transparency.

    Vaccine Integrity Project Staff and Advisers
    COVID vaccine vial and syringe

  10. 'A national scandal': US excess deaths rose even after pandemic, far outpacing peer countries

    The United States has been in a "protracted health crisis" for decades, the researchers say.

    Mary Van Beusekom
    Grave markers with flowers

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