Tighter Ebola Screening for Travelers From West Africa – Obama

U.S. working on new screenings for Ebola but no travel ban — U.S. will augment Ebola screenings for airline passengers in U.S. and Africa – U.S. President Barack Obama met with members of his national security team and senior staff to receive an update on the Ebola outbreak in West Africa and the administration’s response efforts at the White House in Washington October 6, 2014.

US Travel Warning to avoid travel to West African nations

As West Africa Ebola outbreak worsens, CDC issues Level 3 Travel Warning — CDC surge scaling up response in Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a warning to avoid nonessential travel to the West African nations of Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. This Level 3 travel warning is a reflection of the worsening Ebola outbreak in this region.

Measles cases growing in US – 288 cases reported in 2014

288 cases of measles reported in 2014 in US and measles cases are growing – Measles is an acute, contagious viral disease, usually occurring in childhood and characterized by eruption of red spots on the skin, fever, and catarrhal symptoms. In US, since January, 288 cases of measles were reported and number is growing.

Actual pandemic flu death toll was much higher in 2009

2009 Pandemic Flu Death Toll Much Higher Than Official Worldwide Estimates – A research team consisting of more than 60 collaborators in 26 countries has estimated the global death toll from the 2009 outbreak of the H1N1 virus to be 10 times higher than the World Health Organization’s count, which was based on laboratory-confirmed cases of this flu.

Hepatitis A illnesses associated with a frozen fruit blend

FDA Investigates Multistate Outbreak of Hepatitis A Illnesses Potentially Associated with a Frozen Fruit Blend – Townsend Farms, Inc. of Fairview, Oregon, recalled certain lots of its frozen Organic Antioxidant Blend on June 4, 2013, because it has the potential to be contaminated with Hepatitis A virus. No other Townsend Farms products, frozen or fresh, are covered by this voluntary recall or linked to the illness outbreak at this time.

Tamiflu drug resistance in H7N9 flu cases raises concern

Tamiflu Resistance Confirmed in H7N9 Flu Cases — Drug resistance in new China bird flu raises concern – Resistance easily develops when patients take antiviral drugs such as oseltamivir (tamiflu) for treating h7n9 influenza infections. Researcher’s analysis, which includes 14 patients who were hospitalized in Shanghai within 2 days of starting therapy with Tamiflu, appears in The Lancet.

Swine Flu – H1N1 Influenza outbreak in Venezuela

Venezuelan H1N1 flu outbreak has killed 17 and infected another 250, according to health sources – An outbreak of H1N1 flu has killed 17 people in Venezuela and infected another 250, private media and local authorities said on Monday. H1N1, often referred to as swine flu, was a flu strain that swept around in the world in a 2009/2010 pandemic.

New US food safety standards for foodborne illness prevention and produce safety

FDA proposes new food safety standards for foodborne illness prevention and produce safety — The FDA encourages Americans to review and comment on these important proposed rules – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration proposed two new food safety rules that will help prevent foodborne illness. The proposed rules implement the landmark, bipartisan FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) and are available for public comment for the next 120 days.

Health Newstrack