The Marburg virus is part of the family of hemorrhagic fever viruses that includes Ebola. The virus causes a similar illness to that of Ebola and occurs most often in Africa. The Marburg virus was recognized in 1967 and, since then, multiple outbreaks have occurred with high mortality rates, most recently in 2017.
CDC experts say health care tactics such as decolonization (reducing germs people may carry and spread) before surgery and following CDC's current recommendations could prevent more staph infections.
The Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee will meet March 6-7 in Silver Spring, Md., to discuss and make recommendations on the selection of strains to be included in the influenza virus vaccines for the 2019-2020 flu season.
"If you haven't gotten a flu shot yet, don't hesitate; there's still time," Pennsylvania Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine said. "The flu vaccine is the best precaution you can take, and it not only helps protect you, but also your family members, neighbors, co-workers, and anyone you come in contact with. We're seeing increasing numbers of flu cases across the commonwealth, so don't wait to get your shot."
Thirty-six cases had been confirmed in two counties as of Jan. 28. Gov. Jay Inslee’s proclamation calls the outbreak “an extreme public health risk.”
To this point during the 2018-2019 flu season, 6.2 million to 7.3 million people have been sick with flu, and as many as half of those people have sought medical care for their illness.
Officials at the city's Department of Public Health continue to encourage all residents to receive the flu vaccine and do whatever they can to stop the spread of the virus.
The federal agency's emergency management program was first accredited in 2013. It led CDC's management of numerous emergency responses, including the 2014 Ebola response and the 2016 Zika response.
"Even though the risk of infection from this situation is likely to be low, we don't know the exact risk for each patient at this clinic," said Dr. Jeff Duchin, Health Officer for Public Health – Seattle & King County. "Because infections can spread when good infection control practices are not followed, if you've been a patient at the George M. Davis Clinic, talk with your health care provider to help determine if you should get tested."
AKOSH's enforcement inspections under the program will focus on the types of hazards commonly found in hospitals and other health care settings: slips, trips, and falls; bloodborne pathogens; tuberculosis; workplace violence; and ergonomics.
"Our sympathy is with the family. Their loss serves as a reminder to us all that influenza can be a very serious illness," said Dr. Joshua Clayton, state epidemiologist for the department. "It is not too late to get vaccinated for this flu season, and if you haven't yet received your annual flu vaccination, the time to do so is now."
The event is hosted by the Bloomberg American Health Initiative, which works to address public health issues in the U.S. such as addiction and overdose, obesity and the food system, violence, risks to adolescent health, and environmental health issues.
Only half of all countries have the health care workers required to deliver quality health care (estimated at 30 physicians, 100 nurses or midwives, and five pharmacists per 10,000 people), the 2017 Global Burden of Disease Study estimates.
During a more severe epidemic, adding pharmacies averted up to 23.7 million symptomatic cases, prevented up to 210,228 deaths, and saved $2.8 billion in direct medical costs, $97.1 billion in productivity losses, and $99.8 billion in overall costs.
"There's no substitute for preparedness, and investing in it should be a top priority for the entire global community," said Dr. Jim Yong Kim, president of the World Bank Group. "It is important that countries are beginning to take pandemic preparedness much more seriously."
Investigators are evaluating whether imiquimod cream, commonly used to treat genital warts and certain skin cancers, can boost the body’s immune response to an H5N1 influenza vaccine.
The International Conference on Emerging Infectious Diseases is held every two to three years, and CDC has hosted it since 1998.
"This is the first product to be awarded a Material Threat Medical Countermeasure priority review voucher," said FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb. "Today's action reflects the FDA's commitment to ensuring that the U.S. is prepared for any public health emergency with timely, safe, and effective medical products."
The Texas Department of State Health Services' latest flu surveillance report says flu activity in the state peaked in late January. It shows how hard-hit the state was, saying the season's cases through June 16, 2018, total 34,673 confirmed cases of Influenza A or B.
In 2016, the most common mosquito-borne viruses were West Nile, dengue, and Zika, while the most common tickborne diseases were Lyme disease and ehrlichiosis/anaplasmosis. The most common disease resulting from the bite of an infected flea was plague, though it was rare.