Tag Archives: outbreaks

Bird flu virus found in grocery store milk, but no risk to customers, FDA says

Samples of pasteurized milk on grocery store shelves have tested positive for remnants of the bird flu virus that hasalready infected herds of dairy cows, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said Tuesday. The FDA stressed that the material is inactivated and that the findings “do not represent [an] actual virus that may be a risk to consumers.” Officials …

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Biden admin launches partnership with 50 countries to stifle future pandemics

President Joe Biden’s administration will help 50 countries identify and respond to infectious diseases, with the goal of preventing pandemics like the COVID-19 outbreak that suddenly halted normal life around the globe in 2020. U.S. government officials will work with the countries to develop better testing, surveillance, communication and preparedness for such outbreaks in those countries, according to a senior …

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US measles cases are up in 2024. What's driving the increase?

Measles outbreaks in the U.S. and abroad are raising health experts’ concern about the preventable, once-common childhood virus. One of the world’s most contagious diseases, measles can lead to potentially serious complications. The best defense, according to experts? Get vaccinated. Here’s what to know about the year — so far — in measles. VACCINATING MIGRANTS LIKE US CHILDREN WOULD HAVE …

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Bird flu pandemic in future? EU warns of potential spread to humans due to 'lack of immune defense’

As avian influenza (bird flu) continues to spread among wild birds in the European Union, officials are warning of the potential for a future human pandemic. On Wednesday, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) issued an alert noting that “transmission between bird and mammal species has been observed, particularly in fur animal farms, where outbreaks have been reported.” Although it …

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CDC warns of invasive bacterial outbreak amid spike in cases and fatality rates: 'Rare but severe'

An invasive bacterial infection is on the rise in the U.S., according to an alert from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Cases of meningococcal disease, mainly caused by the bacteria Neisseria meningitidis, reached 422 last year, the highest annual number of cases reported since 2014, the agency stated in the alert. So far this year, 143 cases …

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Puerto Rico health officials declare dengue fever a public health emergency, more than 500 cases reported

Puerto Rico has declared an epidemic as the number of dengue fever cases continues to skyrocket in the U.S. territory. According to Puerto Rico’s Department of Health, at least 549 cases have been reported so far and more than 340 people have been hospitalized. “As of March 21, 2024, the Department of Health’s epidemiological surveillance of diseases has observed a …

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