A new genetic study of Ebola viruses in West Africa's epidemic, published yesterday in Nature, helps trace the disease's spread and, according to the authors, shows that the virus mutated at about the same rate observed in earlier outbreaks.
State officials in Minnesota and Iowa today announced one new avian influenza outbreak apiece, both of them on turkey farms.
Minnesota's Department of Public Safety (DPS) announced that one more turkey flock is "presumptive positive" for avian flu. The outbreak occurred in Renville County, located in the south-central part of the state. The DPS said details on the outbreak's flock size will be released soon.
Mechanically tenderized beef will need to be so labeled by May 2016, the US Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.
The new labeling requirements cover raw or partially cooked beef products, the FSIS said in a statement.
"This commonsense change will lead to safer meals and fewer foodborne illnesses," said USDA Deputy Undersecretary Al Almanza.
Immunizing pregnant women rated as best pertussis defense for infants
Through a review of DNA data from listeriosis cases, federal health officials have identified two more patients who were affected by a Listeria monocytogenes outbreak linked to Blue Bell Creameries products, increasing the case count to 10.
In its annual report on public health funding, the nonprofit Trust for America's Health (TFAH) today noted that public health spending continues to decline at both the federal and state levels and recommends not only increased funding but strategically allocated funding.
Saudi Arabia today announced a new, severe MERS-CoV case in a 93-year-old man in Mecca after the country went 4 days without confirming a case.
The Saudi Ministry of Health (MOH) said the Saudi man is hospitalized in critical condition. He is not a health worker and had no recent contact with MERS-CoV (Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus) cases.
Officials said the center is clearly needed, for Ebola and other disease threats.
An infected Canada goose has put Wyoming on the growing list of US states that have recently detected the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N2 virus, while Bulgaria reported today that the HPAI H5N1 virus has surfaced in pelicans.
The number of US measles cases since Jan 1 has reached at least 154, an increase of 13 in the past week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said today in its weekly update, and 118 of those cases are linked to Disneyland in California.
