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Two flu vaccine makers report shipping delays

Two drug manufacturers—MedImmune and Sanofi Pasteur—have reported delays in shipping quadrivalent (four-strain) flu vaccines, including the nasal spray, but the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) doesn't anticipate an overall shortage for the season, USA Today reported today.

Saudi health ministry details 7-case hospital MERS cluster in Hofuf

Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Health (MOH) has confirmed that a seven-case MERS-CoV cluster in Hofuf involves Almana General Hospital and includes a nurse, according to a machine-translated statement posted today by Avian Flu Diary, a leading infectious disease blog.

Health plans fare poorly in lifting HPV vaccine levels in girls

Health plans in general are doing a poor job at raising human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination levels in adolescent girls, according to researchers from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and their collaborators at Princeton University. The team published its findings in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR).

Hawaii confirms 2 locally acquired dengue infections

Hawaii health officials have confirmed two locally acquired dengue infections and are investigating four probable cases, all on the state's big island of Hawaii.

Further testing is under way at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Hawaii State Department of Health (HSDOH) has sent an alert to clinicians yesterday to report suspected cases, the agency said in a press release.

Study finds shedding pattern differences between flu A and flu B

A 7-year study of naturally acquired flu infections revealed that viral shedding mirrors the clinical profile for influenza A infections, but not influenza B. A research group based in Hong Kong—where the study took place—published its findings Oct 30 in an early online issue Clinical Infectious Diseases.

Saudi Arabia reports 1 new MERS case, 1 death

After a weekend with no MERS-CoV cases, Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Health (MOH) reported a new case today away from recent hot spots and yesterday reported the death of a previously confirmed patient.

Survey finds moms' flu, pertussis vaccination increases 'cocooning'

A survey designed to assess flu and pertussis vaccination patterns and attitudes in women who recently delivered babies found that both moms' vaccination and recommendations from obstetricians were linked to infant vaccine cocooning.

Chipotle E coli cases stand at 41; isolates show genetic match

The number of cases in an Escherichia coli O26 outbreak linked to Chipotle restaurants in Oregon and Washington, which has fluctuated over the past 2 days as investigations progress and states receive test results, now stands at 41.

Study shows skin cream could boost immune response to flu vaccine

A prescription cream used to treat skin disorders applied before flu vaccine appears to increase immune response in young adults, even against drifted strains not included in the vaccine, a small study yesterday in The Lancet Infectious Diseases found.

PAHO reports almost 3,000 new chikungunya cases

Countries in the Americas and Caribbean reported 2,938 recent cases of chikungunya, bringing the outbreak total to 1,763,736, according to a Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) update from late last week.

Hawaii reports 4 more dengue cases, 27 total

The Hawaii Department of Health (HDOH) yesterday confirmed that the number of locally acquired cases of dengue fever has increased by 4 since Nov 6, to 27, with potential exposure areas all across the big island of Hawaii.

China H7N9 total for the season rises to four

China has acknowledged two more H7N9 avian flu infections, both of which occurred in October, increasing the total in the early phase of what appears to be a fourth wave of infections to four. The cases, reported by China's National Health and Family Commission, were noted in a statement today from Hong Kong's Centre for Health Protection (CHP).

Study: Flu vaccine might help mitigate H3N2 flu symptoms

Flu vaccination might alleviate symptoms of the H3N2 influenza strain, according to a small study in Vaccine.

US military researchers studied 155 patients with lab-confirmed flu from five military hospitals from 2009 through 2014. Of them, 66 had H3N2 flu, while 69 had 2009 H1N1, 3 had influenza A that wasn't subtyped, and 17 had influenza B. The vaccination rate was 72% (111 patients).

CDC notes growing concern of meningococcal disease in MSM

Three US outbreaks of meningococcal disease in men who have sex with men (MSM) in recent years prompted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to request reports from states on the disease in this population, and they noted at least 74 cases since 2012 concentrated in large cities, according to a report today in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR).

Two-state Chipotle E coli outbreak total rises to 49

Seven more illnesses have been reported in an Escherichia coli O26 outbreak in Washington and Oregon linked to eating at Chipotle restaurants, boosting the overall total to 49, the two states reported yesterday. The Washington State Department of Health (WSDH) said it has confirmed 31 cases, while the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) put its total at 18.

Measles vaccine has saved 17.1 million lives since 2000, CDC says

Global measles deaths have dropped 79% in the past 15 years, and the measles vaccine saved an estimated 17.1 million people in that span, but vaccine uptake has stagnated in recent years, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported today in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR).

PAHO notes 4,000 new chikungunya cases in Americas

Countries in the Americas and Caribbean reported 4,370 recent cases of chikungunya, bringing the outbreak total to 1,768,106, according to a Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) update from late last week.

Nigeria reports 4 H5N1 outbreaks as Korea details 12 H5N8 events

Nigeria yesterday notified the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) of four outbreaks of H5N1 avian flu affecting more than 31,000 poultry, while South Korea yesterday reported 12 outbreaks of H5N8 avian flu involving more than 140,000 birds that occurred in September and October.

Report cites global US HIV success, encourages 'health diplomacy'

A new bipartisan US report details impressive strides made by federal efforts worldwide to reduce HIV/AIDS and says officials would be wise to incorporate the same "strategic health diplomacy" (SHD) approach to other health threats, starting with malaria and hepatitis C, the SHD Initiative said in a news release yesterday.

An analysis indicates that health and development programs in 29 countries could see a more than $4 billion drop in funding from the US government and the Global Fund by 2029.

Infections have been identified in New York, Maryland, and Virginia, with a death in Maryland.

Suspected deaths in the ongoing Ebola outbreak now top 100.

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.