New research presented at IDWeek today shows that a deadly neurologic complication from childhood measles is much more common than previously thought. The study, presented by researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), describes the frequency of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), which is 100% fatal.
The Saudi Arabia Ministry of Health (MOH) reported two new cases of MERS-CoV in the last 3 days. The cases involve camel and health care workplace exposure, two known risk factors for the respiratory virus. These are the first cases reported by the MOH since Sep 29.
On Sep 17 the Saudi Arabia Ministry of Health (MOH) reported one new MERS-CoV case, involving a Saudi man from Riyadh who had contact with camels.
The 50-year-old man is in stable condition after presenting with symptoms of MERS-CoV (Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus). The MOH said the patient had direct contact with camels, a known risk factor for contracting the respiratory virus.
Local and US health officials today reported that 25 people in Southern California have contracted meningitis C, most of them men who have sex with men (MSM).
For the first time in its history, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) issued a policy paper recommending against all non-medical vaccine expeditions for school-age children. While medical exemptions are still valid, the AAP is asking states to eliminate non-medical exemptions—including for religious or personal beliefs.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) tests on scallops implicated in Hawaii's hepatitis A outbreak yielded positive results on two samples, according to an update yesterday from the agency on the investigation.
Infectious disease doctor Daniel Lucey, MD, MPH, penned an open letter to Director-General Margaret Chan, MD, MPH, of the World Health Organization (WHO), suggesting that the WHO reconsider declaring a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) over yellow fever cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the possibilities of an outbreak in the Republic of the Congo.
Most recipients produced antibodies, but 34% had no immune response to the outbreak strain.
After 18 days with no new cases, Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Health (MOH) today reported a MERS infection in an elderly woman.
No new MERS-CoV cases have been reported today, but the World Health Organization (WHO) has posted information on the case reported recently from Qatar as well as details of several previously reported cases from Saudi Arabia.