Disease

Zika: CDC issues new travel notices

Local transmission of Zika virus in four countries has prompted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is issue advisories for travelers to Angola, Guinea-Bissau, Maldives and Solomon Islands. Local transmission means that mosquitoes in the area have been infected with Zika virus, spreading it to people.

More human H7N9 avian flu cases reported in China

The China National Health and Family Planning Commission reported 22 additional human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9), including three deaths during the past week. The 15 male and seven female patients, aged from 15 to 79, had their onset from February 19 to March 4.

Saudi Arabia: MERS cases up in 2017 to date

According to a World Health Organization (WHO) update, at the end of February 2017, a total of 1916 laboratory-confirmed cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), including 702 deaths (case–fatality rate: 36.6%) were reported globally. Of these, Saudi Arabia reported a total of 1561 laboratory-confirmed cases, including 633 deaths (case–fatality rate: 40.6%). In January 2017, a total of 18 laboratory-confirmed cases, including 6 deaths (case–fatality rate: 33.3%) were reported, while in February a total of 12 laboratory-confirmed cases, including 3 deaths were reported from Saudi Arabia.