US flu levels fell sharply again last week with the approach of summer, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recorded three more pediatric flu deaths, according to the latest weekly update posted today.
Flu was reported as widespread in only two states: Massachusetts and New York.
Scientists in China are reporting the emergence of a new strain of hypervirulent, carbapenem-resistant of Klebsiella pneumoniae.
A report yesterday from Brazil's Ministry of Health (MOH) said there are now 723 confirmed cases of yellow fever, including 237 deaths, in that country from Jul 1, 2017, to Feb 28 of this year. That number includes 259 new cases detected in February.
Bavarian Nordic today announced promising findings for a phase 3 study of its smallpox vaccine Imvamune, which compared its efficacy against ACAM200, the smallpox vaccine currently licensed in the United States. Imvamune is a nonreplicating vaccine designed to be safer for use in patients who shouldn't be given the replicating vaccine, such as those with atopic dermatitis or HIV.
SIGA Technologies of New York City announced yesterday that it has submitted its smallpox drug TPOXX (tecovirimat) for priority review by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The outbreak has now become Nigeria's largest ever, with 9 confirmed cases.
The positive results shed light on what could be one of the largest monkeypox outbreaks in Africa.
Using Project BioShield funding, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is investing up to $539 million in a freeze-dried (lyophilized) smallpox vaccine for women who are pregnant or nursing and for people with HIV or atopic dermatitis, HHS said in a press release today.
Marshals sieze 5 vials of vaccinia virus vaccine, reserved only for those at high risk of smallpox.
The Texas Department of State Health Services said today that clinicians should consider testing patients who complain of lingering diarrhea for Cyclospora, a parasite that can cause severe diarrheal illness.
