Disease

Diphtheria deaths mount in Punjab, India

The number of fatalities has risen from 18 to 34 from the serious toxigenic disease in the latest outbreak. The large outbreak of the vaccine preventable disease is due to a lack of diphtheria anti-toxin (DAT) in the country. About 1 out of 10 people who gets diphtheria will die.

Dengue Fever Outbreak: Hawaii - Update

Right on Christmas day, the Hawaii Department of Health (HDOH) reported the latest numbers behind an ongoing outbreak of the mosquito-borne dengue fever: 181 cases since September, with 7 potential cases currently capable of further spreading the virus. These cases, all situated on the Big Island of Hawaii, are especially worrying due to the fact that the local mosquito population is primarily causing them, though some have occurred among travellers from countries where dengue is already endemic.

Disease

Brazil City Fights Dengue Fever

Health authorities in the Brazilian city of Campo Grande, in the southern state of Mato Grosso do Sul, are fighting a dengue fever epidemic. About 600 residents a day have reported suffering from the symptoms of the fever since the beginning of the year. Heavy rains have increased the risk of reproduction of the mosquito which transmits the disease. Hundreds of workers have been hired to clear the streets of standing water, where the mosquitoes breed.

In Paraguay, across the border from Mato Grosso do Sul, eight people have died from the fever and more than 8,500 suspected cases have been reported. There, the army and the police have been deployed to help clear potential mosquito breeding grounds. Global incidence of dengue has grown dramatically, about half of the world's population is now at risk.

More U.S. States Reporting High Flu Levels

Thirty states are now reporting high levels of flu-like illness, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Disease

An outbreak of dengue fever on the Portuguese island of Madeira has worsened as infections of the mosquito-borne disease accelerated. Reported cases of the potentially lethal disease rose to 1,672 as of Nov. 18. The disease is spreading due to many holiday makers returning home. Cases have so far been diagnosed in Britain, mainland Portugal, Germany, Sweden and France. The epidemic is the first sustained outbreak of dengue fever in Europe since the 1920's.

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A coral disease outbreak along Kauai’s North Shore in Hawaii has been described as an epidemic by local scientists due to the large numbers of coral infected (59%). The disease appears to be caused by the large amounts of suspended solids in the water coming from nearby human habitation.

A diseased piece of rice coral is pictured below. This photo shows a cyanobacterial/fungal disease attacking a piece of coral — the black ring is the disease, and the white area is the coral’s dead skeleton.

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Cholera kills 3 in southern Nigeria. Three people died in the southwestern state of Osun after being infected. Another 42 people were hospitalized in different centers across the region.

Disease

The outbreak of dengue fever on the Portuguese island of Madeira has tripled and now cases are being seen in other European countries linked to travel to the island.

Disease

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported two more deaths linked to the outbreak of fungal meningitis from steroid shots for back pain, bringing to 14 the total number of people who have died from these infections.

Outbreak of dengue fever hits Madeira. Eighteen people are confirmed to be suffering from dengue fever in the Portuguese archipelago of Madeira and another 191 probably have the mosquito-borne disease which is also called "breakbone fever" because of the severe pain it can cause.

Disease

14 people have now been reported to have died in the ebola virus outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with 29 confirmed cases.

In Uganda, a man who sneaked into an Ebola isolation ward to steal a mobile phone from an infected patient has fallen seriously ill from the hemorrhagic fever after making calls on the stolen phone.

In Kolkata, India and outbreak of Dengue fever has flooded government and private hospitals with dengue patients. 2 people have died and the government seems unable to handle the influx of patients.

Disease

Dengue fever outbreak in India claims at least 30 lives. Dengue fever is a seasonal hazard in India, but the outbreak is larger than usual and the authorities are taking measures to combat the spread of the disease.

Cameroon orders the widespread vaccination of pigs after an outbreak of Erysipelas, a disease causing skin lesions and ulcers which is often fatal.

Disease

An outbreak of the highly contagious respiratory disease pertussis (whooping cough) has claimed its first life. A nine week old infant girl died this week in Idaho, USA. The outbreak extends to Montana and Washington State.

The latest Salmonella outbreak in the US has been linked to dog food made by Diamond Pet Foods. At least 14 people in 9 States have been hospitalized.

Dengue fever outbreak in Sri Lanka.