Here is a look at some interesting infectious disease and health news reported across the globe:
Ten health issues WHO will tackle this year
The world is facing multiple health challenges. These range from outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases like measles and diphtheria, increasing reports of drug-resistant pathogens, growing rates of obesity and physical inactivity to the health impacts of environmental pollution and climate change and multiple humanitarian crises.
DRC Ebola total climbs to 644 led by spike in Katwa cases
In daily updates over the past 4 days, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) health ministry reported 19 more Ebola cases in five locations, though most were from Katwa, one of the latest outbreak hot spots.
42% of Hepatitis B Patients May Also Have Hepatitis D
A recent Johns Hopkins University study reported that the prevalence of hepatitis D is “significantly higher” than previously acknowledged.
This new study found 42 percent of adults with hepatitis B virus were coinfected with hepatitis D.
Comparative genomics of the major parasitic worms
An international consortium of scientists more than doubled the number of available helminth genomes – producing an invaluable resource of genomic data. The data were mined for fascinating insights into helminth evolution and metabolism, as well as numerous potential drug targets.
California: USDA Confirms 3rd Commercial Poultry Flock Hit With Virulent Newcastle Disease
Nearly 8 months ago (May 18th), in APHIS: USDA Confirms Virulent Newcastle Disease In Backyard Flock – California, we learned of the first outbreak of highly virulent Newcastle disease in U.S. poultry in 15 years.
Prior to that, the last poultry outbreak in the United States had been reported in 2003, although sporadic detections in wild birds have continued around the country.
