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News Scan for Jun 16, 2015

Avian flu hits again in Iowa and Nebraska

Iowa ended an 8-day quiet spell today with the report of a new avian influenza outbreak on a chicken farm, while Nebraska reported that the virus was found on a farm that was already being depopulated because of outbreaks at neighboring farms.

News Scan for Jun 17, 2015

Report: CDC to take 3 years to release lab-mishap information

In the wake of several lab missteps involving dangerous pathogens, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has said it will take 3 years to release detailed information on lab incidents throughout the country, USA Today reported yesterday.

Avian Flu Scan for Jun 18, 2015

Avian flu finding on Nebraska farm goes unconfirmed; quarantine lifted

Three weeks of follow-up testing on a big Nebraska egg farm never confirmed preliminary tests that showed avian influenza there, prompting an end to the quarantine of the farm, the Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) announced yesterday.

News Scan for Jun 18, 2015

Study traces Ebola virus evolution in West African epidemic

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.

News Scan for Jun 19, 2015

Army lab didn't properly test method of killing B anthracis, report says

A US Army facility in Utah that mistakenly shipped live Bacillus anthracis to dozens of other labs over a 10-year period did not properly test its method for killing the bacterium, which causes anthrax, according to a USA Today story based on a government report.

CDC launches tool to track conflicts of interest for vaccine committee

ACIP members have routinely stated any conflicts of interest at the start of each meeting and ahead of each discussion and vote.

Lisa Schnirring

US flu ebbs for third straight week, but impact on healthcare remains

Sixteen more pediatric flu deaths were reported, as hospitalizations and outpatient visits remain high.

Lisa Schnirring

Quick takes: US food safety cuts, UK tracks Lassa contacts, malaria vaccine in Uganda

Seventeen African countries have introduced the vaccine, with 6 to 8 more expected to roll out programs in 2025.

Lisa Schnirring

Five countries report new polio cases

The reports include 3 wild poliovirus cases in Pakistan.

Chris Dall

Trial data show Rebyota is safe, effective in immune-compromised patients with recurrent C diff

Study authors say the results in immunocompromised patients are consistent with those from previous clinical studies of the fecal microbiota–based therapeutic.

Chris Dall

Probe in DR Congo unexplained illness cluster shifts toward chemical or meningitis causes

Deaths occurred soon after illness onset and mainly occurred in one village, with younger men disproportionately affected.

Lisa Schnirring

Avian flu was in Oregon wastewater weeks before state's first bird outbreaks, study shows

Avian flu was found most often in 2 communities with important wild bird habitats, which the authors say points to wild birds as a significant contributor to wastewater H5 contamination.

Mary Van Beusekom

1 in 5 men surveyed had erectile dysfunction up to 2 years after COVID

These men had higher rates of shortness of breath and fatigue than those without erectile dysfunction and had higher depression/anxiety and pain/discomfort scores than before infection.

Mary Van Beusekom

Study finds higher prevalence of MRSA strains in low-income countries

A review and meta-analysis found the pooled prevalence of MRSA in low- and middle income countries was 15%—significantly higher than found in Europe and the US.

Chris Dall

Mpox vaccination gains steam in Kinshasa, DR Congo

In other developments, the recently identified clade 1a virus that has the APOBEC3 mutation, linked to more transmissibility, has been reported from Kinshasa. 

Lisa Schnirring

Study finds 'pronounced' levels of antimicrobial resistance in cancer patients

Researchers say the findings underscore the urgent need to improve infection prevention and antimicrobial stewardship in cancer care.

Chris Dall

Tests confirm H5N1 in another Idaho dairy herd, plus cats and poultry from other states

Detections in more pet cats were reported from Oregon, Washington, Colorado, and New Jersey.

Lisa Schnirring

First HPV vaccine recipients see 80% drop in cervical precancer incidence

Precancer incidence has decreased 80% among screened women aged 20 to 24 years.

Stephanie Soucheray

CDC team assisting with Texas measles outbreak as case total rises

Texas health officials reported 13 more cases today, putting the state's outbreak total at 159.

Lisa Schnirring

Measles cases reported in Philadelphia area and in Texas traveler

In its latest update, the CDC says it has received reports of 164 cases from 9 jurisdictions this year.

Lisa Schnirring

H5N1 findings prompt another raw pet food recall

The recall follows severe cat illnesses in Oregon and Washington, where the food was distributed.

Lisa Schnirring

Uganda confirms fatal Ebola case in 4-year-old

The new case raises the death toll to 2 and the case count to 10 in this outbreak.

Stephanie Soucheray

Sleep debt, night work tied to higher risk of some common infections in nurses

Sleep debt was associated in a dose-dependent manner with an increased risk of the common cold, pneumonia/bronchitis, sinusitis, and gastrointestinal infection, while night work was linked only to the common cold.

Mary Van Beusekom

Maryland measles patient may have exposed others, health officials warn

The patient may have exposed people at Washington Dulles International Airport and a pediatric emergency department in Maryland.

Chris Dall

CDC ends its probe of cucumber Salmonella outbreak after 551 cases

Illness-onset dates range from March 11 to July 26, with patient ages ranging from less than 1 year to 94.

Jim Wappes

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