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US imported chikungunya cases climb to 114

The number of chikungunya cases imported into the United States rose by 41 in the past week, to 114, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said in an update yesterday. The number of states reporting imported cases climbed from 22 to 27, plus the US Virgin Islands.

Saudi woman hospitalized with MERS-CoV infection

Saudi Arabia reported a new MERS-CoV (Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus) case today, in a 55-year-old Saudi national from the city of Wadi Aldwasir, located in the south central part of the country, according to a statement today from the Ministry of Health (MOH).

The woman isn't a healthcare worker and has symptoms, the MOH said. She has an underlying illness and is hospitalized in an intensive care unit.

Novel H5N9 virus described as hybrid of H5N1, H7N9

Chinese researchers who analyzed influenza viruses from poultry in live-bird markets say they have discovered a novel H5N9 virus that represents a hybrid of the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian flu virus and a human H7N9 virus, along with other elements.

Plague kills boy in Larimer County, Colorado

The first confirmed case of plague in Colorado's Larimer County since 1999 has turned fatal for a 16-year-old boy, the Associated Press (AP) reported today.

Egyptian officials confirm H5N1 in Egyptian girl

A 3-year-old girl in Faiyum governorate has contracted H5N1 avian flu, health officials confirmed in media reports translated by FluTrackers, an infectious disease message board.

The case interrupts a 2-month lull in the country, which has been hit with a spate of cases this year and has now confirmed 144 H5N1 cases since Jan 1, according to a list maintained by FluTrackers.

Experts underscore effect of climate change on public health

An international research group today warned that climate change could erode 50 years' of public health gains, but addressing the problem now presents a global health opportunity, according to a report today in The Lancet.

Four more cases lift Korean MERS total to 179

South Korea's health ministry reported four more MERS-CoV infections today, boosting the total to 179, and said they have identified transmission that may have occurred outside of the hospital setting, according to media reports.

Respite from H5N2 outbreaks continues for Minnesota, Iowa

The predicted summer break in H5N2 avian influenza activity is growing longer in hard-hit Minnesota and Iowa, allowing more areas to be released from quarantine and more poultry farms to restock their barns.

Saudi Arabia reports another MERS case in Hofuf outbreak

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Health (MOH) today announced one new MERS-CoV infection, yet another case linked to an outbreak in the city of Hofuf, which has reported clusters linked to healthcare facilities and at least one family.

The patient is a 41-year-old Saudi man who is a household contact of an earlier reported case. He is not a healthcare worker and is hospitalized in stable condition.

Ebola rapid test performs well in first field test

The first field trial of a rapid, point-of-care test for Ebola infection found that it was as accurate as conventional lab methods, which in outbreak settings can take days to get a result. A research team from Harvard Medical School, Partners in Health (PIH), and Boston Children's Hospital published its findings yesterday in The Lancet.

Saudi Arabia reports 2 new MERS cases in Riyadh

Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Health (MOH) reported one MERS-CoV case both yesterday and today in Riyadh, a break from dozens of cases in recent weeks in the city of Hofuf.

South Korea sees MERS lull, reports one more death

For the third day in a row South Korea reported no new MERS-CoV cases, but its health ministry today reported one more death, involving an 81-year-old woman who had a stoke before she was diagnosed, the Korea Times reported today. The woman was exposed to the virus while at Samsung Medical Center in Seoul.

South Korea goes 4 days with no new MERS cases

For the fourth consecutive day, no new MERS-CoV cases were reported in South Korea, keeping the country's outbreak total at 182. Also, no other previously announced patients have died from their infections, holding the number of fatalities at 33, the Korea Herald reported.

HHS opens national Ebola training, education center

Today the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the launch of a national center to help healthcare providers and facilities prepare for, transport, and treat patients with Ebola and other emerging disease threats, the agency said in a news release.

Texas Cyclospora cases reach 103

Texas health officials reported today that the the state's surge of Cyclospora infections has reached 103, including 91 cases in the past 2 weeks.

The Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS) said cases have been reported in at least 22 of the state's 254 counties, but the largest portion—38 cases—are in Travis County, which includes Austin.

South Korea reports first MERS case in 5 days

South Korea today reported its first confirmed MERS-CoV case in 5 days, in a nurse who works at Samsung Medical Center, the hardest-hit facility in the country's large healthcare-linked outbreak. The latest illness raises the total to 183.

South Africa, Sri Lanka cited as flu hot spots by WHO

South Africa and Sri Lanka were about the only exceptions to a global pattern of low influenza activity revealed by surveillance as of mid-June, according to a recent flu update from the World Health Organization (WHO).

Measles death in Washington state is first in US since 2003

Measles was confirmed as the culprit in a Washington state woman's death this spring, the Washington State Department of Health (WSDH) said on Jul 2, the first US measles death in 12 years.

Poll: Parents' views on childhood vaccines improving
One third of US parents polled said they see childhood vaccines as being more beneficial than they did a year ago, and one fourth said they view them as safer, according to a new poll from the University of Michigan.

Texas Cyclospora outbreak grows to 135 cases

Texas has had 32 new cases of Cyclospora infection since Jul 2, bringing the total in the state to 135, the Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS) said in an update today.

GAO says US has been slow to implement biosurveillance strategy

The Obama administration has been slow to take recommended and promised steps toward a coordinated national biosurveillance strategy, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) said in a report released yesterday.

Oral killed cholera vaccine shown 53% effective in real-life use

A large study in Bangladesh of oral killed whole-cell cholera vaccine found that it cut disease rates in half, even with moderate coverage, according to a report yesterday in The Lancet.

China reports five H7N9 cases, four deaths

Health officials in China yesterday reported five new H7N9 avian influenza infections, as well as four deaths. The events occurred in June and were included in a monthly surveillance update from the country's National Health and Family Planning Commission that was posted by FluTrackers, an infectious disease news message board.

Power outages, airflow system failures reported at CDC labs

In 2013 and 2014, high-containment laboratories at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) logged about a dozen power outages and airflow system failures that could have compromised safety, USA Today reported yesterday.

The problems were disclosed in a lab incident summary that the newspaper obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request. They occurred between January 2013 and July 2014.

Saudi Arabia confirms 2 new MERS cases

After going 9 straight days without a MERS-CoV case, Saudi Arabia today reported two.