Disease Surveillance

Henry Holloway — DAILY STAR Uganda has stated that it is at extreme risk for an outbreak of viral hemorrhagic fever (VHF), specifically Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF). Four individuals have died in the recent weeks due to this VHF. Sarah Opendi, Uganda’s health minister, explains that…

M. L. Nestel from ABC News reports that on January 10th, a highly contagious air passenger prompted a measles alert at Chicago O'Hare International Airport. This marks the second potential measles exposure at U.S. airports this year. Health officials have directly contacted individuals they deemed…

A deadly flu season is among us and is hitting California especially hard. There have been 27 flu-related deaths among patients under the age of 65 thus far and according to the CDC, in previous years around the same time of the year, there have been three to four deaths. According to the World…

According to Health Minister Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi, the listeriosis death toll has risen to 61 since December. Listeriosis is a foodborne illness that has affected 727 people across South African provinces thus far. Listeriosis is caused by a bacterium that is found in the soil, water, or in…

This CNBC News video describes this flu season as possibly one of the worst in history. This year’s main flu strain is known as the H3N2 virus, and it is widespread now in 46 states. Watch the video here.

The Guardian By: Chikwe Ihekweazu Throughout 2017, Nigeria faced several tragic disease outbreaks including cerebrospinal meningitis, Lassa fever, Yellow fever, cholera and most recently monkeypox. Some outbreaks proved to be especially challenging such as meningitis which was reported to the…

CBS News video: The peak of flu season in the United States is nearing. Already there is widespread activity in many states. Doctors are concerned because Australia just experienced its worst flu season in five years, and this could be representative of the flu season for the U.S. still to come.…

According to an NBC news video, flu cases are double what they were last year at this time. The CDC released a statement claiming seven states already have widespread flu activity. People are encouraged to get flu shots now, because it takes two weeks for it to become effective. Click here to…

Kimberly A. Smith and Dr. Jennifer Sedillo — EDM Digest Kimberly Smith, master’s student, and Dr. Jennifer Sedillo offer tips on how to avert disease outbreaks for communities experiencing natural disasters: Prevention of Infectious Diseases Starts with Mass Vaccination Campaigns Water…

In her CNN article, Manisha Ganguly discusses how UNICEF reports that nearly 17 million infants are suffering developmental brain damage associated with levels of pollution much higher than the recommended limits. Research has shown that the toxicity in air pollution can negatively impact brain…

Residents of Yemen are suffering a staggering humanitarian crises driven by a fierce civil war. Many Yemenis are starving as a direct result of the war, which has inflated food prices, leaving most unable to afford the supplies. Destroyed infrastructure has left many without clean drinking water and…

In his New York Times article, Mitch Smith discusses how contractors have discovered contaminants in the water supplies of Plainfield Charter Township, Michigan. Decades ago, the local shoemaking company, Wolverine Worldwide, dumped sludge and leather from its tannery around the local river,…

According to an ABC news clip, this flu season could be a particularly bad one. Doctors have been looking at flu cases in the southern hemisphere as a way to predict what is ahead for the US. In Australia there have been about 215,000 cases compared to 59,000 in 2009, making the current vaccine…

Venezuela’s hyperinflation is jaw-dropping. Malaria cases soared to 240,000 in 2016, a 76% increase over 2015, according to a rare release in May of records from the health ministry. Deivis Perez, 14-year old boy, contracted a deadly bacterial infection called sepsis at a children’s hospital in…