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Estimate of healthcare worker flu vaccination sees steady level

The percentage of healthcare workers who were vaccinated against flu during the most recent season appears to be about the same as for the 2011-12 season, according to interim numbers posted yesterday by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Wisconsin town battles costly TB outbreak

Sheboygan, Wis., has spent millions battling a nine-case tuberculosis (TB) outbreak this spring and summer that may still be growing, at a time when states are cutting their TB-control budgets, NPR reported today.

WHO reports increasing flu activity in South America, southern Africa

Influenza activity is up "considerably" in South America and southern Africa, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported today, while other scattered regions are also seeing some increase.

Iowa, Nebraska, Texas report 23 more Cyclospora cases

Iowa and Texas reported nine new Cyclospora cases each, while Nebraska has had five more, adding 23 cases to an outbreak that may involve as many as 258 illnesses.

APIC releases guide for outpatient infection control during disasters

To help prepare for protecting outpatients from infection during disasters such as pandemics, bioterror attacks, or outbreaks of a novel disease, the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) today released a new guide, "Infection Prevention for Ambulatory Care Centers During Disasters."

Poll finds majorities in 22 nations concerned over MERS

Majorities of respondents in 22 of 24 nations are concerned that cases of Middle Eastern respiratory syndrome (MERS) might be detected in their country soon, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll of 15 developed countries and 9 developing nations released today, Ipsos said in a news release.

Ohio, Minnesota report Cyclospora cases; total grows to 285

Two more states—Minnesota and Ohio—have each reported one Cyclospora infection, raising the number of affected states to 11 and the nation's total to 285 cases, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said today in an update.

CDC says progress in HPV vaccination has stalled

Progress in the uptake of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine in US teen girls has stalled, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said today.

Indiana, Ohio report new H3N2v cases

Indiana and Ohio each reported a new variant H3N2 influenza (H3N2v) case last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said today in its weekly FluView update.

Novavax says H7N9 virus-like particle vaccine shows promise in mice

A virus-like particle (VLP) vaccine for H7N9 avian flu protected mice against the virus in a challenge trial, Novavax Inc. reported in a Jul 26 article in Vaccine.

Colombia lauded as first country to eliminate river blindness

After 16 years of efforts, Colombia has become the first country in the world to eliminate the parasitic disease onchocerciasis, or river blindness, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) announced yesterday.

WHO offers questionnaire for investigating MERS cases

The World Health Organization (WHO) yesterday released a nine-page interview questionnaire to help in investigation of suspected and confirmed MERS-CoV (Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus) infections.

The questionnaire is intended mainly for gathering information about how patients were exposed to the virus. It includes detailed questions about travel history and exposure to animals, foods, and sick persons.

Vaccination rates high among US kindergartners

Vaccination rates among US kindergarteners remain at high levels, with coverage near or exceeding the Healthy People 2020 target rate of 95% in most states, and exemption rates are holding steady, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported today.

Tomato growers file compensation claim over '08 outbreak

Tomato growers in three southeastern states filed a claim in the US Court of Federal Claims this week seeking individual compensation totaling $40 million after the federal government mistakenly warned that certain varieties appeared to be linked to a 2008 Salmonella Saintpaul outbreak, Food Safety News (FSN) reported today.

Illinois reports its first H3N2v case of the year

Illinois health officials yesterday reported the state's first variant H3N2 (H3N2v) influenza case of the summer, in a child who had contact with swine at a county fair.

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) said in a statement that the infection was mild and was confirmed in a Boone County child who helped an exhibitor at the DuPage County Fair, which was held in late July.

Cyclospora cases rise to 425 as feds add investigative help

The number of patients sickened in a multistate Cyclospora outbreak has climbed to 425, according to an update today from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The number of affected states remained at 16, with Iowa, Texas, Nebraska, and Florida as the hardest hit. So far 24 patients have been hospitalized, but no deaths have been reported.

Saudi patient caught MERs-CoV virus from unknown source in hospital

The first patient in a three-person family cluster of MERS-CoV (Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus) cases in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, apparently caught the virus from some unknown source while in the hospital, according to a report in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases. The cases occurred in February and March.

2009 H1N1 flu virus continues circulating globally

Influenza activity increased in several areas of the Southern Hemisphere and was dominated by the 2009 pandemic H1N1 strain over the 2-week period from Jul 7 through Jul 20, according to World Health Organization (WHO) updates.

Texas Cyclospora cases lift national total to 490

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported 41 more Cyclospora infections, raising its national total so far to 466, according to an update today. The latest illness onset date is Jul 23, but the CDC said most of the dates have ranged from the middle of June through early July.

Yale report calls on UN to compensate Haiti for cholera epidemic

A report from the Yale University Law School says the United Nations is legally and morally obligated to compensate Haiti for the cholera epidemic caused by UN peacekeepers.

Cyclospora outbreak total tops 500

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said today that it has received reports of 38 more Cyclospora infections, pushing the total in the multistate outbreak to 504.

So far 30 patients have been hospitalized, and no deaths have been reported. The most recent illness onset was Jul 24, but the CDC said most of the patients got sick in the middle of June through early July.

China confirms second H10N8 avian flu case

A second case of H10N8 avian flu has been confirmed in the same province as the world's first case, which was reported last month, Chinese health officials told Xinhua, the nation's state-run newspaper.

Cases of chikungunya in Caribbean nearing 800 in 6 territories

Caribbean territories reporting indigenous cases of Chikungunya fever now number six and confirmed and suspected cases number at least 786, with several more imported cases as well, according to a Jan 24 report from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).

That number is up from 485 in the previous update, from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, on Jan 20.

Study: Ferrets given seasonal flu shot had worse H1N1 illness

In a study designed to shed light on a phenomenon seen in Canada of increased risk of pandemic 2009 H1N1 flu in those who received a flu vaccine the year before, ferrets given a seasonal flu shot had worse H1N1 disease than those who had not received the vaccine.

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.