Here is a look at some interesting infectious disease and health news, opinion and research reported across the globe:

Canada reports world’s first case of rat-to-human hepatitis E infection outside Hong Kong

A case of rat-to-human hepatitis E infection has been documented in Canada, the first to be reported outside Hong Kong.

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Japan Gripped by Major Flu Outbreak

Image/MichaelGaida via pixabay
Image/MichaelGaida via pixabay

Japan is suffering a serious influenza outbreak. During the week from January 21 to 27, an average of 57.09 influenza patients per facility was reported among the roughly 5,000 designated medical facilities nationwide, marking the highest level since statistics were first kept in 1999.

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High-risk sexually transmitted HPV virus associated with increased cardiovascular disease risk

Infection with high-risk strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV), which have been linked to cancer, might increase the risk of heart and blood vessel or cardiovascular disease, especially among women with obesity or other cardiovascular risk factors, according to new research in Circulation Research, an American Heart Association journal.

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All horse racing across UK cancelled after equine flu outbreak

All horse racing across the UK today has been cancelled due to an outbreak of equine flu.

The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) made the decision after three vaccinated horses in an active racing yard tested positive for the disease.

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Over 109,000 people died from measles in 2017 — needlessly

A child was hospitalized in Brooklyn in the largest measles outbreak in New York state in decades. A 17-year-old died outside Paris, France. At least 12 children suffered the same fate in Brazil.

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