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US flu markers rise another notch

Flu activity in the United States continued a slow but steady rise last week, with slight increases seen in several of the markers that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) uses to track the levels.

CDC says 1 dead, 12 hospitalized in listeriosis outbreak tied to Dole salad

A six-state outbreak of Listeria infections involving 12 cases and 1 death has been linked to Dole prepackaged salads, which have been recalled, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said today.

USDA clarifies flock reimbursement, vaccine steps for avian flu in poultry

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) on Jan 22 updated its highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) fall plan, fine-tuning details about reimbursing farmers for lost poultry and finalizing its vaccination policy should that step be enacted.

The original fall plan was released in September 2015 after multiple HPAI outbreaks decimated flocks in some states in the spring and summer.

Canada links 7-case Listeria outbreak to Dole salads

Over the weekend the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) linked Canada's multiprovince outbreak of listeriosis to salads from a Dole production plant in Springfield, Ohio, that on Jan 22 was implicated in a 12-case US outbreak, and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has issued its own recall.

WHO reports earlier H5N1, H9N2 cases in Bangladesh

In its monthly report on influenza at the animal-human interface, the World Health Organization (WHO) today confirmed human H5N1 and H9N2 avian flu cases in Bangladesh. Both were from October.

Cucumber-linked Salmonella outbreak grows to 888 cases, 6 deaths

In the more than 2 months since a previous update, the toll of a cucumber-linked Salmonella outbreak has risen by 50 cases and 2 deaths, and Tennessee has joined the list of affected states. Cases have reached 888, deaths 6, and states 39, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said today.

China confirms H7N9 case in Hunan province

Provincial health officials have confirmed H7N9 avian flu in a 33-year-old man in Hunan province, the first case in the central China province this winter, according to Xinhua, China's state news agency.

The man, from Xintian County, is hospitalized. No other information about his condition or risk factors is available.

Saudi Arabia confirms new MERS case

Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Health (MOH) confirmed a new MERS-CoV case today in the central city of Al-Kharj, the country's fifth case in under a week.

The new MERS-CoV (Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus) case involves a 47-year-old Saudi man who had direct contact with camels, a known risk factor for the disease. He is hospitalized in stable condition and is not a healthcare worker, the MOH said.

Listeria cases tied to salad climb to 15, while Dole expands recall

The multistate outbreak of Listeria infections tied to Dole salads has grown by 3 cases, to 15, while the number of affected states has grown from 6 to 8 and Dole announced an expanded recall, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said today in an update. The number of deaths remains the same, at one.

US flu update shows continuing slow increase

The United States saw another small uptick in flu activity last week, with increases seen in most indicators that the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) uses to track the season. The percentage of respiratory specimens that tested positive for flu climbed from 4.2% to 5%, with the percentage of clinic visits for flulike illness hovering just above the national baseline.

MERS vaccine enters human trial; more details on Thai case

A pair of US biotechnology companies today announced the launch of what appears to be the first phase 1 clinical trial of a MERS-CoV vaccine, while the World Health Organization (WHO) provided more details on the MERS-CoV case reported in Thailand earlier this week.

CDC declares 2 Chipotle-linked E coli outbreaks over after 60 cases

Two outbreaks of Escherichia coli O26 infections linked to Chipotle restaurants are now over after causing 60 total cases in 14 states, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said in a statement today.

Saudi Arabia reports MERS case in Riyadh

Saudi Arabia today reported a new MERS-CoV case after a 5-day lull, and a new study shows effectiveness of a monoclonal antibody treatment in monkeys.

The new MERS-CoV (Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus) case involves 43-year-old foreign man in Riyadh who is not a healthcare worker, the Saudi Ministry of Health (MOH) reported. He is in stable condition, and probable sources of infection are under investigation.

Recalled nutritional powder tied to 11 Salmonella cases in 9 states

Dovetailing with recent cases announced in Minnesota and a product recall, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said today that 11 Salmonella Virchow illnesses in 9 states have been linked to Garden of Life RAW Meal Organic Shake and Meal products.

Study: Flu vaccine coverage up in young kids but still below 50%

Although complete flu vaccine coverage increased dramatically from 2002-03 to 2011-12 in kids under 2 years old, it still falls well below 50% and is even lower in minority groups, according to a study yesterday in Pediatrics.

Saudi Arabia confirms MERS case in man who had camel contact

Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Health (MOH) today reported a new MERS-CoV infection in a man who had contact with camels, the second case in 3 days, and agriculture officials said 85% of camels recently tested at a market in Jeddah harbored the virus.

China reports 2 H7N9 cases in Hunan province

China has two new H7N9 avian flu cases, both in men in the same district of Yongzhou city in Hunan province, according to local health officials.

US flu level's upward inch up, led by 2009 H1N1

In the week that closed out January, flu activity continued its slow rise, with one key marker—the percentage of respiratory specimens testing positive for flu—rising from 5% to 6.8% compared with the previous week, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said today in its weekly update.

USDA finalizes new food safety standards for chicken parts, ground poultry

The US Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced yesterday that it has finalized new federal standards designed to cut Salmonella and Campylobacter contamination in ground chicken and turkey, as well as in raw chicken breasts, legs, and wings.

Chinese surveillance reports reveal 17 more H7N9 cases

China has reported 17 more H7N9 avian influenza cases, at least three of them fatal, according to official reports from local, state, and federal government health departments.

Mayo researchers find new Lyme disease-causing species

A team of researchers from the Mayo Clinic and state and federal health agencies have discovered a new species of

Report calls leishmaniasis neglected disease of marginalized people

Leishmaniasis, a growing parasitic disease that causes an estimated 1.6 million new cases and 40,000 deaths each year across nearly 100 countries, is largely ignored by the international community, states a 22-page report titled Leishmaniasis Gap Analysis Report and Action Plan, released today by CORDS (Connecting Organisations for Regional Disease), one of the disease surveillance networks involved in the st

WHO update covers 28 recent H7N9 cases in China

The World Health Organization (WHO) today reported on the latest H7N9 avian influenza pattern in China, still tied primarily to poultry contact, based on the country's Feb 5 report covering 28 recent cases.

Illness onsets ranged from Dec 21 to Jan 25, with an age range of 14 to 91 years. The median age was 58, and 19 (64%) of the patients were male.

Study: Behavioral cues reduce inappropriate antibiotic prescriptions

Behavioral interventions that made clinicians justify prescriptions, offered alternatives to antibiotic treatment, or compared prescription rates with peers reduced rates of inappropriate antibiotic prescribing, according to findings reported yesterday in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

High poverty rates associated with higher rates of hospitalization for flu

Influenza-related hospitalization rates and high poverty levels showed a "robust" correlation, according to an analysis of data from 14 states during the 2010-11 to 2011-12 flu seasons published today in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR).