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Immunizing pregnant women rated as best pertussis defense for infants

USDA to require labeling of mechanically tenderized beef

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.

Oregon norovirus outbreak linked to contaminated lake beach

An investigation into a norovirus outbreak near Portland, Ore., in July 2014 revealed that the source was a swimming beach at a park, outlining the risk and need for preventive steps, especially in settings where water isn't treated.

Saudi Arabia reports 3 new MERS cases, 2 deaths

Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Health (MOH), which reported 9 MERS-CoV cases on May 11, has added 3 more in the past 3 days and reported 2 deaths in previously reported cases as it is apparently grappling with a Web site failure, switching to a new—and detail-limited—reporting system, or both.

Global panel: H5N1 surge in Egypt likely due to more poultry contact

The recent dramatic increase in human cases of H5N1 avian flu in Egypt is likely not related to virus mutations or changing epidemiology but rather to more people becoming exposed to infected poultry, according to the joint findings of experts from six leading organizations, the World Health Organization (WHO) said in a press release today.

UK group suggests $2 billion fund to develop antibiotics

To help address the growing problem of antibiotic resistance and the lack of new antibiotics in the pipeline, a new report commissioned by the UK government recommends establishing a $2 billion "global innovation fund" and separating drug companies' profits from drug sales, according to a news release from Review on Antimicrobial Resistance, which published the report, its third in a series.

Sierra Leone confirms more Ebola cases, disease tops WHA agenda

After going 8 days without an Ebola case, Sierra Leone since May 14 has seen a trickle of newly confirmed cases, including 2 from Port Loko, 3 from Western Area Urban, and 1 from Kambia, the United Nations Mission for Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER) said today in an update.

Salmonella outbreak possibly tied to raw fish reaches 51 cases in 9 states

An unusual Salmonella outbreak believed to be tied to raw fish now includes 51 cases in nine states, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported today.

H5 outbreaks strike four more Iowa farms

Iowa agriculture officials today reported four more highly pathogenic H5 avian influenza outbreaks, with testing under way to confirm that they are part of a string of H5N2 outbreaks that has now affected up to 60 of the state's farms.

WHA aims to cut malaria burden 40% by 2020

The World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva set ambitious goals of reducing the global malaria burden 40% by 2020 and at least 90% by 2030, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported today.

The WHA, the annual meeting of the WHO's member countries, also established a goal of eliminating malaria in at least 35 more countries by 2030, the WHO said in a news release.

CDC expert: Novel New Mexico rabies strain is related to existing viruses

The novel rabies virus (RABV) variant identified this week in a rabid fox that attacked a woman in New Mexico is a close relative of well-established strains of RABV in Western Hemisphere tree bats found in the United States, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) scientist told CIDRAP News today.

H7N9 update adds two more cases in China

According to an April surveillance report from China, six H7N9 avian flu illnesses were reported, two more than previously noted in earlier updates from individual provinces, according to an analysis of a report from the country's National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC) by FluTrackers, an infectious disease news message board.

Sierra Leone, Guinea report 10 more Ebola cases

Sierra Leone has reported three more lab-confirmed Ebola infections in two different districts, while a case detection push in Guinea's Forecariah district—a disease hot spot over the past several weeks—has turned up seven more cases, the United Nations Mission for Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER) reported today.

E coli at fairgrounds in Washington same as outbreak strain

The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) has announced that samples from 4 of 10 areas tested at the Whatcom County fairgrounds implicated in an outbreak of Shiga toxin–producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O157:H7 that began sickening people last month matched the outbreak strain, according to a May 22 update.

H9N2 infects Egyptian boy

Egypt has reported an H9N2 avian influenza case involving a 7-year-old boy, the country's third such detection so far this year, according to a posting from ProMED Mail that is based on a notification from a United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) database. ProMED Mail is the online reporting system of the International Society for Infectious Diseases.

Study notes lower immune response after 2 straight flu vaccinations

Post-vaccine levels of antibodies to influenza hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) decline slowly over 18 months in adults, and individuals vaccinated 2 years in a row have significantly lower immune responses, according to a study yesterday in the Journal of Infectious Diseases.

Army lab mistakenly sends live anthrax samples to 9 states

Scientists at a biodefense lab at the Dugway Proving Ground, an Army installation in Utah, mistakenly shipped live Bacillus anthracis samples—the bacterium that causes anthrax—to labs in nine US states and South Korea, according to media reports today.

Avian flu strikes farms in Minnesota and Iowa

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.

Avian flu detected in more Iowa and Minnesota flocks

Avian flu outbreaks hit six more poultry flocks in Iowa and Minnesota, according to announcements today from the two states.

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) reported probable H5 outbreaks at a 400,000-bird pullet farm in Wright County, located in the central part of the state. It also said the virus struck a turkey farm that kept 42,000 birds in Sac County, in west-central Iowa.

Investigation reveals 100s of mishaps in US high-containment labs

An investigation into more than 200 high-containment labs in all 50 states and the District of Columbia by a team of reports for USA Today Network of Gannett newspapers and TV stations revealed hundreds of lab accidents, safety violations, and "near misses," USA Today noted today in a lengthy report.

Sierra Leone reports another spurt of Ebola cases

Sierra Leone is reporting a spate of new Ebola cases in a new hot spot in the Kaffu Bullom part of Port Loko district, located in the western part of the country, according to official and media reports.

UN warns violence in Guinea could hamper next Ebola steps

The head of the United Nations Ebola response in Guinea yesterday raised concerns about recent violence and attacks aimed at response activities in three different districts.

Hepatitis A outbreak linked to frozen berries grows to 49 cases

A hepatitis A outbreak linked to a frozen berry mix has grown to 49 cases, 11 hospitalizations, and 7 states, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said in an update today. Those figures have grown by 19 cases, 2 hospitalizations, and 2 states (Hawaii and Utah) since the agency's last update on May 30.

Chinese researchers note that severe H7N9 can progress rapidly

H7N9 avian flu infections can progress rapidly from the onset of symptoms to severe illness and death, according to a letter yesterday in the Annals of Internal Medicine from Chinese researchers on 22 deaths from the disease.

UN head urges 5-year stamping out of world's deadliest IDs and cholera in Haiti

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told private sector representatives and philanthropists yesterday that they should "make a smart investment in the world's future" by joining the United Nations in helping wipe out the world's deadliest infectious diseases—malaria, polio, tetanus, measles, and HIV—in the next 5 years.