Five More Ebola Cases Recorded in Beni, DRC ( CIDRAP) Late yesterday afternoon and today the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) announced five more cases of Ebola virus disease in Beni and Butembo, the current epicenter of outbreak activity. All three cases announced yesterday resulted in community deaths that involved safe and dignified burials in Beni, the country's health ministry said. Today two cases, one each in Beni and Butembo, were reported. Go to article

Now 62 Cases of Acute Flaccid Myelitis: What Is Going On? ( Forbes) If you thought 38 cases of a "polio-like" disease in 2018 was concerning, how about 62 cases of a disease that can leave kids suddenly paralyzed? The CDC has just released updated counts of confirmed acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) cases for the year. Go to article

CDC Expresses Concern Over Mysterious Surge in Polio-Like Paralysis Cases ( STAT) The CDC expressed frustration and concern Tuesday about a puzzling surge in cases of polio-like paralysis, mostly in children, being reported across the country this year. The agency said 127 cases of acute flaccid myelitis have been reported so far in 2018. Go to article

Florida Child Dies from Flu, the First Young Death Reported in the U.S. This Season ( New York Times) A child in Florida who had not received the flu vaccine died from the virus, state officials announced on Monday, the first influenza-related pediatric death reported in the country this flu season. While flu activity remains low across the US, the Florida Department of Health said that a child tested positive for one of the strains, influenza B, and later died. Go to article

Devastating Storms May Spur Action on Disaster Preparation ( Bloomberg) Hurricane Michael's devastation could spur policymakers to better prepare vulnerable communities for the effects of climate change. The images of entire towns in Florida's panhandle all but erased by storm surges, as well as accounts of bodies pulled from shattered homes, offer potent evidence of the need to rethink how and where Americans build homes, according to safety advocates, insurers and policy experts. Go to article

Epidemiologic and Economic Impact of Pharmacies as Vaccination Locations During an Influenza Epidemic ( Vaccine) As getting people vaccinated as early as possible in an epidemic is crucial to mitigating the impact of an influenza epidemic pharmacies may represent an important resource to increase reach and capacity of vaccine distribution in the event of a novel epidemic. Over the last century, four influenza pandemics have caused significant morbidity and mortality globally. Go to article

Confronting the Threat of Bioterrorism: Realities, Challenges, and Defensive Strategies ( The Lancet) Global terrorism is a rapidly growing threat to world security, and increases the risk of bioterrorism. In this Review, we discuss the potential threat of bioterrorism, agents that could be exploited, and recent developments in technologies and policy for detecting and controlling epidemics that have been initiated intentionally. Go to article

United Nations Report Says 1.3 Million Killed by Natural Disasters in Last 20 Years as Costs of Climate Disasters Rise Dramatically ( Weather Channel) A recently released UN report says that climate-related disaster costs are on the rise, more than a million people have been killed and more than four billion people have been impacted by such disasters over the last 20 years. The report analyzes the human toll of natural disasters from 1998 to 2017, and the numbers are staggering: 1.3 million killed, 4.4 billion injured, homeless, displaced or in need of aid. Go to article

Mothers of Babies Afflicted by Zika Fight Poverty, Despair ( Reuters) Nearly three years after a Zika outbreak in Brazil caused thousands of cases of microcephaly and other devastating birth defects in newborns, Reuters returned to check on the mothers and their children. Zika, the first mosquito-borne virus known to damage developing fetuses, has since disappeared from headlines, but world health officials fear its spread to new populations. Go to article

Zika in Africa: Rare Birth Defect on the Rise in Angola ( Reuters) Emiliano Cula starts to cry as his tiny fingers, curled into a tight fist, are stretched by a physical therapist to stimulate motor control. Born in a poor neighborhood of Angola's capital Luanda, the 10-month old boy has microcephaly, a birth defect marked by a small head and serious developmental problems. He still can't sit upright and has difficulty seeing and hearing. Go to article

The Economic and Social Burden of the 2014 Ebola Outbreak in West Africa ( The Journal of Infectious Diseases) The recent Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak in West Africa was the largest of its kind, resulting in more cases and deaths than all previous outbreaks combined. While the toll on human lives was considerable, the economic and social burden was devastating to the countries directly affected: Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. Go to article

 

Researchers Engineer Dual Vaccine Against Anthrax and Plague ( American Society for Microbiology) A team of researchers has now engineered a virus nanoparticle vaccine against Bacillus anthracis and Yersinia pestis, tier 1 agents that pose serious threats to national security of the US. B. anthracis and Y. pestis are the pathogens that cause anthrax and plague, respectively. Go to article

 

Government, Industry Reps from 25 Nations Endorse Greater Public-Private Cooperation on Chemical Weapons ( Homeland Preparedness News) Both state and industry representatives from 25 nations gathered in Qatar earlier this month as part of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and collectively agreed to increase cooperation in the future. Go to article

Contingency Medical Countermeasures for Mass Nerve-Agent Exposure: Use of Pharmaceutical Alternatives to Community Stockpiled Antidotes ( Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health) Having sufficient medical countermeasures (MCMs) available for the treatment of acetylcholinesterase-inhibiting nerve agent poisoned patients following a mass chemical exposure is a challenge for communities. After stockpiles containing auto-injectors are exhausted, communities need to be aware of alternative pharmaceutical options. Go to article