Search

Study: GBS risk much higher with flu than with flu vaccine

The risk of Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) after flu vaccination was much lower than the risk of GBS after flu infection, according to a study today in Lancet Infectious Diseases.

Canadian researchers used a self-controlled study design and data from universal healthcare systems in Ontario from 1993 through 2011. They determined exposures to flu vaccine and flu illness from physician billing claims.

Brazil reports first Latin American VRSA finding

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) yesterday urged its member countries to establish and maintain rapid detection and reporting systems for vancomycin resistance, based on the first isolation of vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA) in Latin America.

CDC says more H3N2v may be on the way, cautions at-risk groups

Last week's report of four variant H3N2 (H3N2v) influenza cases linked to a county fair in Indiana "may foreshadow a number of outbreaks this summer," like those last summer, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said in a Jun 28 update statement.

Steroid-linked fungal outbreak grows to 749 cases, 61 deaths

A multistate outbreak of fungal infections linked to contaminated steroids grew in June by 4 cases and 3 deaths, to 749 cases and 61 deaths, the CDC said today. Its previous update was Jun 3.

Berry-linked hepatitis A outbreak grows to 131

Four more people have been sickened with hepatitis A after eating a berry mix that contained contaminated pomegranate seeds from Turkey, raising the total the 131, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said yesterday in its latest update.

Four more patients have been hospitalized for their infections, raising that total to 59. The latest illness onset is Jun 24.

CDC reports 47 more Salmonella cases linked to baby poultry

Another 47 people in 23 states have been infected with Salmonella Typhimurium since Jun 6 in an outbreak linked to chicks, ducklings, and other live baby poultry, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced yesterday.

Cambodian man survived H5N1 coinfection

Cambodian health officials have identified another H5N1 avian influenza case, in a 58-year-old man who tested positive for flu in January but whose samples revealed co-infection with H5N1 in routine retrospective tests.

CDC advisory focuses H3N2v surveillance, case definitions

Recent identification of the first variant H3N2 (H3N2v) cases linked to county fairs this summer prompted the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to issue a Health Alert Network (HAN) advisory today to health providers that contains the latest information about testing patients and investigating outbreaks.

European countries cite invasive meningitis in men who have sex with men

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) warns of an increased risk of invasive meningitis in men who have sex with men (MSM) after recent reports of cases from three countries, said a news release today on a rapid risk assessment issued Jul 3.

Survey finds trust high in Chinese government over H7N9

Chinese residents who were polled about 3 weeks into the H7N9 avian flu outbreak had a solid understanding of the disease and its symptoms and trusted government officials, researchers reported in the Journal of Infection.

Their Web-based survey included responses from 637 mainland China residents who were chosen randomly from an online data pool. The response rate was 92%.

Tests confirm Listeria outbreak strain in cheese samples

In the latest investigation development in the multistate Listeria outbreak, Minnesota officials have detected the outbreak strain in two Crave Brothers cheeses.

Hepatitis outbreak linked to berry mix grows to 143 cases

A multistate outbreak of hepatitis A infections linked to a frozen berry blend containing pomegranate seeds from Turkey has grown by 3 cases to 143, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said yesterday. Eight states are affected.

OIE, FAO lift ban on rinderpest research, set criteria for projects

The two leading global agencies that deal with animal health have lifted a 2-year-old ban on research on rinderpest, a disease that was eradicated 2 years ago, and replaced it with criteria and procedures for official clearance of proposed research projects.

Salmonella strain in 2012-13 chicken outbreak found earlier on same farm

The strain of Salmonella Heidelberg associated with a 2012-13 multistate outbreak declared over just yesterday was also found on the outbreak farm in 2004, state and federal health professionals said today in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR).

WHO confirms latest MERS-CoV case, death

The World Health Organization (WHO) today confirmed Saudi Arabia's most recently announced Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) case, raising the global total from the disease to 81 confirmed illnesses.

Cambodian boy has H5N1 avian flu

A 3-year-old boy from Cambodia's eastern Prey Veng province has tested positive for H5N1 avian flu, marking the country's 14th case this year, according to Xinhua, China's state news agency, today.

House farm bill could further delay FSMA

The subdivided farm bill that the US House of Representatives passed last week contains a little-known provision which could further delay implementation of the 2011 FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), Food Safety News (FSN) reported.

FDA expands outreach over produce safety rule

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is reaching out to small- and medium-sized produce growers to address their questions about a proposed food safety rule issued in January, the agency said in a news release yesterday.

New FDA Salmonella policy stricter on pet food than livestock feed

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced a new policy on Salmonella that takes a stricter approach for pet food than for livestock feed, citing the greater risk for humans from contaminated pet food.

Warm winter, early vector findings heralded Dallas West Nile outbreak

An analysis of Dallas County's massive West Nile virus (WNV) outbreak in 2012 found that it was preceded by an unusually mild winter and favored previously known hot spots, researchers reported today in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

H7N9 sickens three more in China

China has reported three more H7N9 avian flu infections, two in Zhejiang province and one in Guangdong province, according to an analysis of Chinese state media report and a provincial health department report by FluTrackers, an infectious disease news message board.

Saudi Arabia reports 3 more MERS cases in Riyadh

Saudi Arabia's Minister of Health (MOH) today confirmed three new MERS-CoV cases in elderly Riyadh residents, which means the city has had seven cases in 5 days.

All three patients with MERS-CoV (Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus) are in critical condition, the MOH said in an update. They are an 84-year-old woman and two men, 80 and 77. None are healthcare workers or had preexisting disease.

US flu activity ebbing a bit but still elevated

US flu activity last week showed some signs of decline but continued at an elevated pace, well above epidemic levels, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said today in its weekly update.

FDA approves second group B meningococcal vaccine

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today approved Bexsero, a Novartis vaccine to prevent meningococcal disease caused by Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B in people 10 through 25 years, the second group B vaccine approved by the FDA.

Disney-linked measles outbreak grows to 87 cases

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) today confirmed that an outbreak of measles tied to southern California Disney parks in recent weeks has risen to 73 cases in California and 14 elsewhere, including 1 in Mexico.