Here are the top five posts on Outbreak News Today for the week Oct. 6 through Oct 12:

Image/PixLoger via pixabay
Image/PixLoger via pixabay

5. Antibiotic overprescribing: Nearly half of outpatient prescriptions written without infection diagnosis

Research presented at IDWeek 2018 shows clinicians prescribed antibiotics without an infection-related diagnosis nearly half of the time and one in five prescriptions were provided without an in-person visit.

4. Lessons from the 1918 flu pandemic: How to prepare for future pandemics

Authors warn in a study published in  Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology, that while the world is better prepared than 100 years ago, new challenges will affect the impact of the next influenza virus pandemic — including changing population demographics, antibiotic resistance and climate change

3. Dartmouth reports dozens of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease cases in students

Dartmouth College reports dozens of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) infections among students.

2. Minnesota: Acute flaccid myelitis cases investigated across state

Minnesota health officials report investigating six cases of a rare condition called acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) that occurred since mid-September.

1. Colorado investigates acute flaccid myelitis cases, viral infections with neurologic illness in children

Colorado state health officials announced they are investigating an outbreak of dozens of viral infections with neurologic complications among young children to include 14 AFM cases.

Related: 

New podcasts this week: