Recent News

By Category: International

Fighting a Deadly Dengue Fever Outbreak in Honduras

(DoctorsWithoutBorders) An epidemic of hemorrhagic dengue fever is spreading through San Pedro Sula, Honduras’s second largest city, with more than three times as many cases as last year. This form of dengue can be deadly, with children most at risk. Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) teams have launched an emergency response to bring down Read More »

October 25, 2013
| Filed under North America, South America, Countermeasures, International, and Public Health
Share

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) – update

(WorldHealthOrganization) WHO has been informed of two laboratory-confirmed cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection in Saudi Arabia on 18 and 19 October 2013, and three laboratory-confirmed cases in 18 September 2013. Of the five laboratory-confirmed cases, two died. The ages of the five patients range from 35 to 83 years old; four Read More »

October 24, 2013
| Filed under Middle East, North America, International, and Public Health
Share

Polio Vaccination Campaign Launched in Eastern Equatoria

(VoiceofAmerica) Health officials in South Sudan have launched an emergency campaign to vaccinate 700,000 children under the age of 15 in Equatoria state against polio by the end of the week after a child in the state was diagnosed with the crippling and potentially deadly disease last month. The national Ministry of Health has also Read More »

October 24, 2013
| Filed under Africa, North America, International, Policy & Initiatives, and Public Health
Share

First New Dengue Virus Type in 50 Years

(AAAS) Scientists have discovered a new type of the virus that causes a centuries-old pestilence, dengue. The surprising find, announced at a major dengue conference here today, is bound to complicate efforts to develop a vaccine against a tropical disease that is becoming a more pervasive global menace. But it could shed light on where Read More »

October 22, 2013
| Filed under Asia/Pacific, North America, South America, International, and Public Health
Share

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) – update

(WHO) WHO has been informed of an additional 18 new laboratory-confirmed cases including three deaths with Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection in Saudi Arabia. The patients are reported from Hafar Al-Batin, Medina and Riyadh. Their ages ranging from three to 75 years old. These cases were announced by the Ministry of Health in Read More »