Polio

Caribbean chikungunya outbreak reaches 485 cases

The number of confirmed or probable cases of chikungunya—a mosquito-borne disease that, aside from imported cases, had not been seen in the Caribbean until just last month—on St. Martin and nearby islands has spiked to 485, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) said in an update yesterday.

Report: Bangladeshi doctor died of MERS-CoV in Saudi Arabia

A Bangladeshi doctor who was working in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, died of a Middle East respiratory coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection on Jan 15, according to an Arab News report today. The case has not yet been announced by Saudi authorities.

FDA expects temporary shortage of liquid oseltamivir

Increased demand and manufacturing delays are expected to cause a temporary shortage of the liquid form of the influenza drug oseltamivir (Tamiflu) in coming days, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on its Web site.

The oral suspension formulation is intended for small children and others who can't swallow capsules.

Hong Kong reports H9N2 avian flu case

An 86-year-old man in Hong Kong has contracted H9N2 avian flu, the first human case involving that strain in the region in 4 years, the Hong Kong Centre for Health Protection (CHP) said today.

CDC issues travel advisory over chikungunya in Caribbean

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a travel health notice because of recent cases of chikungunya on the Caribbean island of St. Martin, the agency said today in a news release.

Two new WHO-confirmed MERS cases bring global count to 165

The World Health Organization (WHO) today confirmed the two most recent cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in Saudi Arabia, in 51- and 26-year-old women.

The agency offered a few new details in the cases, which were first reported by Saudi officials on Dec 5.

CDC expects TB skin test shortages to ease

Supplies of tuberculin skin test antigen solutions are expected to return to normal in January, following shortages that health providers have been experiencing since 2012, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said today in the latest issue of Morbidity and Morality Weekly Report (MMWR).

Study supports narrow-spectrum approach to pneumonia in kids

Narrow-spectrum antibiotics were associated with a 10-hour shorter hospital stay compared with broad-spectrum therapy for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in children—an 18% drop—according to a multicenter retrospective cohort study yesterday in Pediatrics.

Massive polio vaccine campaign under way in Middle East

The biggest push to vaccinate children in seven Middle Eastern countries against polio starts this week, with a goal of reaching 23 million kids in Syria and neighboring nations, the World Health Organization (WHO) said today. The campaign aims to reach all children under age 5 over the next few months, whether they live at home or in displaced populations.

Saudi Arabia reports two more MERS cases

Saudi Arabia's health ministry today announced two more Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infections, one of which appears to be in a health worker with an asymptomatic infection who had contact with a confirmed case, according to a machine-translation of a statement posted on the ministry's Web site.