Disease

Philippines - Diarrhoea Outbreak

A diarrhea outbreak that hit remote villages in North Cotabato province has been contained, but the cause of the disease remained unknown, officials said Wednesday.

The number of patients at Alamada Community Hospital had been reduced after many of them have been rehydrated when health workers responded just in time to arrest the outbreak.

Health authorities said eight people were confirmed dead from the outbreak

According to hospital records, there were about 600 patients who suffered vomiting, diarrhoea, and stomach pain, while more than 70 percent of them have recovered and returned home.

American Samoa - Amoebic dysentery

Epidemiologists in American Samoa are investigating an outbreak of the protozoan parasite, Entamoeba histolytica, which according to report, has sickened more than two dozen.

Half of the 26 people stricken with amoebic dysentery have been hospitalized for their illness.

Amoebic dysentery especially attacks the intestines and kind of eats its way into the wall of the intestines; it causes abdominal pain, it causes bloody diarrhoea, fever.

Amebiasis is a disease caused by the parasite Entamoeba histolytica. It can affect anyone, although it is more common in people who live in tropical areas with poor sanitary conditions.

USA - Measles

A measles outbreak in Ohio has reached 68 cases, giving the state the dubious distinction of having the most cases reported in any state since 1996, health officials say.

The Ohio outbreak is part of a larger worrisome picture: As of Friday, the federal Centres for Disease Control and Prevention had logged 187 cases nationwide in 2014, closing in on last year's total of 189. CDC warned several weeks ago that the country could end up having the worst year for measles since home-grown outbreaks were eradicated in 2000.