Polio

As US flu cases continue to slow, influenza B picks up

The rate of outpatient visits for influenza-like illnesses (ILI) dropped again this week to 2.5%, down from 2.7% in the previous week, and influenza B continues to cause an increasing percentage of flu cases, according to the latest influenza surveillance data reported today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

This is the 18th week ILI has been at or above the national baseline, which is 2.2%.

Study finds contact precautions did not reduce drug-resistant infections

A 9-year single-center study by Columbia University scientists published yesterday in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology found that decreases in multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) were likely not due to implementing universal contact precautions (UCPs).

Kansas measles outbreak sickens 10 people in 3 counties

Following an initial report of a case of measles at a daycare in Johnson County on Mar 8, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) said today that 10 cases in three counties have now been identified, including one not associated with the daycare center.

Saudi Arabia and Oman report new MERS infections

The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health (MOH) announced a new case of MERS-CoV late last week, in a household contact of a previously reported case.

FDA chief says situation involving IV saline bag shortage improving

In an update on an ongoing intravenous saline bag shortage, US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, MD, said yesterday the situation is improving, and the agency expects that the problems will be resolved well before the next flu season begins.

CDC concludes Salmonella outbreak investigation linked to dairy cows

An investigation into an outbreak involving Salmonella Heidelberg infections linked to dairy cows is over, according to an announcement today from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Norovirus outbreak strikes Winter Olympics security staff, others

With the Winter Olympics just getting under way in South Korea, a norovirus outbreak has sidelined 32 workers, including 21 from the security staff, the Associated Press (AP) reported. Authorities have called in military personnel to help with security.

Two more polio cases reported in Afghanistan

The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) has received early reports of two new wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) cases, both in Kandahar province, GPEI said in its weekly update today.

Recent Saudi MERS cases widely distributed, some have camel and healthcare exposure

In a regular overview of recent MERS-CoV activity in Saudi Arabia, the World Health Organization (WHO) said today that between Dec 9, 2017, and Jan 17 the country reported 20 more cases, 8 of them fatal. Also, it reported a death in a patient covered in one of the WHO's earlier updates.

HHS government shutdown plan would hamper flu, food safety responses

With the threat of a US federal government shutdown at midnight today because of expiring temporary appropriations and no Congressional passage of a continuing resolution to fund the government, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a staffing contingency plan.