Polio

Six countries report more polio cases

In the latest polio developments, Afghanistan and Pakistan reported more wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) cases, and three African nations and Malaysia reported circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus in cases, contacts, or the community, according to a weekly update from the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI).

DRC Ebola cases rise by 10, to 2,630; Saudi Arabia suspends DRC visas

Ebola infections have been reported in 10 more people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) outbreak, raising the total to 2,630, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) online dashboard today. Health officials are still investigating 344 suspected cases.

GPEI: 19 new polio cases this week as multiple countries report outbreaks

In more bad news for polio eradication efforts, several countries reported a slew of new polio cases in the last week, according to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative's (GPEI's) weekly report. A total of 19 cases in 6 countries, as well as several polio detections in heathy case contacts, were recorded across the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.

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.

GPEI: 9 more polio cases recorded globally in past week

Today the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) reported nine newly recorded polio cases in several countries, including Pakistan, Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and Angola.

Seven of the new cases are wild poliovirus type 1 cases, recorded in Afghanistan and Pakistan, where the virus is still endemic.

DRC reports more polio outbreaks; positive tests in 4 other countries

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has reported two more outbreaks of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2), according to the latest update from the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI). The GPEI today detailed 10 new polio cases in four countries, as well as cVDPV2 in a healthy case contact.

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.

WHO: Early flu rise for some Southern Hemisphere countries

The Southern Hemisphere's temperate countries are experiencing an earlier-than-average start to the flu season, including Australia, Chile, South Africa, and New Zealand, the World Health Organization (WHO) said this week in its latest global flu update. The Southern Hemisphere's flu season typically runs from May to October.

Large study affirms inhaled flu vaccine safety in kids with asthma

A large study to assess if a new guideline recommending live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV, or FluMist) for children over age 2 years with asthma found no increase in lower respiratory events following vaccination. A research team from HealthPartners, a Minnesota-based healthcare and insurance provider, published its findings yesterday in Vaccine.

Investigational drug for resistant TB gets favorable FDA committee vote

An investigational drug to treat highly resistant strains of tuberculosis (TB) took another step in the regulatory approval process yesterday.