FDA Approves First Drug to Treat Smallpox

"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."

Almost 9,500 Texas Flu Deaths Recorded This Season

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.

CDC Reports U.S. Illnesses from Mosquito, Tick, and Flea Bites Increasing

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.

Southern Nevada Health District: 48 Flu Deaths in Clark County

The Las Vegas-based Southern Nevada Health District announced an updated count of 48 flu deaths for Clark County, Nevada, the southern county that includes the city of Las Vegas, on April 23.

CDC Hosting 67th EIS Conference This Week

The April 16-19 conference includes four special sessions on critical public health topics: the Rohingya refugee crisis in Bangladesh, the need for innovative use of big data in public health, the 1918 influenza centenary, and the U.S. opioid overdose epidemic.

HHS Tests Moving Highly Infectious Patients

Seven people acting as patients with Ebola symptoms, including one pediatric patient, were to present themselves at health facilities in Texas, South Carolina, Oklahoma, or Idaho. Health care workers were to collect collect and ship samples for diagnostic tests to state laboratories and have the patients transported by air or ground ambulance to designated Regional Ebola Treatment Centers.

Bloodborne Pathogen Training

Flu Checklist: Preparedness for the Seasonal Virus

In the United States, there is a flu season that begins every fall and ends every spring. The type of flu people get during this season is called seasonal flu.

Pandemic Influenza

Public health experts warn pandemic influenza poses a significant risk to the United States and the world—only its timing, severity, and exact strain remain uncertain. International, Federal, State, local, and tribal government agencies are diligently planning for the public health response to this potential pandemic. The disease could be severe and could affect our critical infrastructure and our nation’s economic and social security. It is important that you take action.

Safety Doesn’t Cost: It Pays

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), since 1970, 75,000 lives have been saved and millions of injuries and illnesses have been prevented through effective occupational safety and health management systems.1 But you don’t need a statistician to know that safety is good for business.

WHO: Zika Virus Questions and Answers

What is Zika virus? What are the symptoms? Should I avoid traveling? How can I protect myself and my family from Zika virus? This 2016 WHO video features Erika Garcia, a Pandemic & Epidemic Diseases epidemiologist with WHO, answering questions about the Zika virus.

Zika Virus

Rear Admiral Stephen Pachuta, the Medical Officer of the U.S. Marine Corps, delivers a public service announcement in this 2016 video about the Zika virus. The PSA is intended to introduce Department of Defense personnel to the Zika Virus, its threats, and precautions that can be taken against it.

WHO: Survivors in Limbo

Sierra Leone has more than 2,000 known Ebola survivors, who have been celebrated as heroes all over the country. But once back in the community, they face the harsh reality of stigmatization. As a young boy and orphan, Sherrie Bangura used to live with his uncle, until he was discharged from the Ebola treatment center and he found that he wasn't welcome back in his own home. Inspired by strength and courage, he and a few other survivors have created "the Rescue Team," an association of Ebola survivors. The association already has more than 90 survivors from Port Loko district alone, the majority of whom are young adults.