Diseases & Outbreaks News and Discussions

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[Vakanai]

These idiots must want people to die.

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Rwanda Declares Marburg Disease Over After 42 Days Elapsed Without Registering New Cases
by Ignatius Ssuuna
December 20, 2024

Introduction:

(Amjambo Africa) KIGALI, Rwanda-The World Health Organization (WHO) and the government Rwanda on Friday declared the outbreak of the highly virulent Marburg disease in Rwanda over after 42 days elapsed without registering new cases of the viral hemorrhagic fever, similar to Ebola.

Marburg is a highly virulent virus causing hemorrhagic fever, with a fatality ratio of up to 88%.

In a joint Press Conference with WHO officials, Rwanda’s minister of health Dr Sabin Nzanzimana said while the country has defeated the Marburg disease, the risks from the bats that cause the disease still remain.

“As per WHO guidelines, the last count of 42 days since the last patient was discharged ended last night. We now declare that the Marburg is over,” said Rwanda Minister of health, Dr Sabin Nsanzimana.

He added: “We believe it’s not completely over because we still face risks, especially from bats. We are continuing to build new strategies and deploy advanced technologies to track their movements, understand their behaviour,” the minister said.

Read more here: https://www.amjamboafrica.com/rwanda-d ... new-cases

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CDC Reports U.S. Is Dealing with Troubling Surge in Norovirus Cases
Carly Cassella
January 2, 2025

Introduction:

(Science Alert)The virus responsible for the 'stomach flu' or 'winter vomiting disease' is causing more trouble than usual this winter in the US.

On December 5, just a month into the typical outbreak season, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported no less than 91 cases of norovirus in just 7 days.

That same week in 2020, when many were isolating from the coronavirus, the CDC recorded only 2 cases of norovirus.

In the intervening years, the largest norovirus eruption this early in winter included just 56 cases.

What is driving the recent surge is unknown, but the sickness is emerging in pockets.

Read more here: https://www.sciencealert.com/us-is-dea ... -reports

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Viral disease HMPV is on the rise among kids in China — what is it?

https://www.livescience.com/health/viru ... what-is-it

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[Tadasuke]

Between 1998 (the height of the spread of the disease) and 2018 there was a very large improvement in lowering the number of sleeping sickness instances in Africa. But since 2018 there has been little progress and there are reasons for it. All tsetse flies would have to be eliminated to be sure the sickness won't come back. WHO plans to eliminate it by 2030, so there is little time left.



https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-00013-6

[wjfox]

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China Vows To Support World Health Organization After US Withdrawal

January 21, 2025

China on Tuesday vowed to support the World Health Organization after President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing the United States to withdraw from the body, which he has slammed over its handling of the Covid-19 pandemic.

"The role of the WHO should only be strengthened, not weakened," foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said, adding: "China will, as always, support the WHO in fulfilling its responsibilities... and work towards building a shared community of health for humanity."

https://www.barrons.com/news/china-vows ... l-5e5de9e4

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China Vows To Support World Health Organization After US Withdrawal

January 21, 2025

China on Tuesday vowed to support the World Health Organization after President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing the United States to withdraw from the body, which he has slammed over its handling of the Covid-19 pandemic.

"The role of the WHO should only be strengthened, not weakened," foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said, adding: "China will, as always, support the WHO in fulfilling its responsibilities... and work towards building a shared community of health for humanity."

https://www.barrons.com/news/china-vows ... l-5e5de9e4

Here is the text of the Executive Order:

https://public-inspection.federalregist ... -01957.pdf

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Flu levels now highest since 2009 pandemic, CDC reports

CBS

Levels of influenza nationwide are now at the highest they have been since the peak of the 2009 swine flu pandemic, according to figures published Friday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, amid this winter's second wave of the virus.

Close to 8% of visits for respiratory illness to outpatient providers, including urgent cares and doctors offices, reported to the CDC this week were people sick with influenza. That is the worst on record in the CDC's influenza surveillance network since late 2009, during the swine flu pandemic.

While most flu seasons usually see a resurgence of infections after the winter holidays, this winter's flu wave has now reached unusually high levels compared to recent years.

That has driven overall levels of respiratory illness to "very high" levels for the first time this season, despite a smaller and now-decreasing wave of COVID-19 in recent months.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/flu-levels ... c-reports/

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Texas Measles Cases Hit Double Digits as Outbreak Continues to Raise Alarm

Source: Newsweek

Published Feb 08, 2025 at 6:14 PM EST

An outbreak of measles cases in Texas has hit double digits prompting the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) to issue an alert on Friday. Newsweek has contacted the Texas Department of State Health Services via email for comment on Saturday afternoon.

Why It Matters

Measles, an airborne disease, is an extremely infectious illness that can be especially dangerous for infants, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems, with the potential to cause serious and even deathly complications. It can spread rapidly in communities with low vaccination rates, and initially results in symptoms including a high fever, a cough, a runny nose, and red or watery eyes, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Initial signs of the illness include flu-like traits, but can escalate into a distinctive red, blotchy rash that is highly infectious to those that haven't been vaccinated. According to the CDC, nearly 1 to 3 of every 1,000 children who become infected with measles will die from respiratory and neurologic complications.

According to The Texas Tribute, for some communities in Texas, these are the first cases of measles in more than 20 years.

Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/texas-measles- ... rm-2028348

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