Plague

No evidence of MERS-CoV infection found in horses

Researchers who tested more than 1,000 horses, donkeys, and mules in Spain and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) say they found no evidence of past infection with MERS-CoV, although they were able to infect horse cells with the virus in a lab.

Plague outbreak in Madagascar sickens 119, kills 40

An outbreak of plague in Madagascar comprising 119 cases with 40 deaths as of Nov 16 has spread to Antananarivo, the country's capital and largest city, greatly increasing the risk of further spread, according to an alert today from the World Health Organization (WHO).

Plague bacteria, other misplaced pathogens found at NIH, FDA labs

A search of government labs in the wake of a July discovery of old vials of smallpox virus has turned up additional improperly stored pathogens that cause plague, tularemia, melioidosis, botulism, and a certain foodborne disease, as well as the toxin ricin, the Washington Post reported today.

Case series highlights severe disease with MERS

In addition to severe respiratory failure, nonrespiratory illnesses like shock and kidney injury were common in 12 intensive care unit (ICU) patients in Saudi Arabia who had Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infections, according to a study today in Annals of Internal Medicine.

The study also noted a low rate of MERS-CoV infection among healthcare workers (HCWs) who had contact with MERS patients.

Report: Recent malaria-control efforts saved 3.3 million lives

Global malaria-control efforts since 2000 have saved an estimated 3.3 million lives and reduced global mortality rates by 45%, the World Health Organization (WHO) said in its "World Malaria Report 2013," released today.

FAO launches 2 H7N9 surveillance efforts in Southeast Asia

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) today announced two emergency regional projects aimed at detecting and containing H7N9 avian flu in Southeast Asia, the agency said in a press release.