Measles

Waning MMR immunity, vaccine hesitancy, could mean more measles outbreaks

A systematic review and meta-analysis of 62 studies has found that immunity conferred by the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine fades each subsequent year, suggesting that vaccination strategies should be revisited.

DRC Ebola total grows by 2 cases to reach 104, with 44 deaths

Two more people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have tested positive for Ebola, raising the number of cases in the Equateur province outbreak to 104, the World Health Organization (WHO) African regional office said on Twitter today.

No new deaths were reported, keeping the fatality county at 44.

Study confirms risks of breastfeeding to infants of moms with Ebola

A systematic review published yesterday in The Lancet Infectious Diseases underscores the importance of precautions to minimize the risk of transmitting Ebola via breastfeeding.

H7N3 avian flu in US turkey outbreaks related to wild bird strains

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) last week shared new details about its investigation into H7N3 avian flu outbreaks at turkey farms in North Carolina and South Carolina, one of them involving a highly pathogenic version of the virus.

DRC confirms third case of Ebola in Beni in recent days

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has confirmed a third Ebola case in a transmission chain linked to a health clinic in Beni. The patient is a 7-year-old girl.

CDC reports small rise in US measles cases

As of Mar 2, the United States so far this year has recorded 12 measles cases from 7 jurisdictions, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said in a Mar 12 monthly update. The totals reflect an increase of 7 cases and 2 jurisdictions since the CDC's last update on Feb 3.

For third week in a row, US flu activity declines

For the third week in a row, US flu levels dropped last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said today in its weekly FluView report. But the CDC said the flu season continues to be tough on children, as 11 new pediatric flu-related deaths were confirmed.

Ebola case count hits 3,433 in DRC

The World Health Organization's (WHO's) online Ebola dashboard shows a case count of 3,433 today, with a single newly confirmed case. The death toll is now 2,249 in an outbreak that has lasted 18 months in northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Measles outbreak reported in Los Angeles

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health this week confirmed a local outbreak of measles among five people—four of them county residents who were exposed to an unimmunized international visitor who was infectious with measles.

No new Ebola in DRC; recent cases linked to known transmission chains

According to the latest situation report published by the World Health Organization (WHO) yesterday, the 15 most recent Ebola cases reported from Jan 13 to 19 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) all came from a known transmission chain and were all recorded in Beni (9 cases) and Mabalako (6 cases).