Be sure to read my update from this weekend on the Marburg virus disease outbreak in Rwanda. The Ministry of Health of Rwanda has updated its outbreak numbers today. The total number of confirmed cases is now 56, an increase of seven new cases over the weekend. Thirty-six patients are in isolation and receiving treatment.Continue reading “Additional Update on the Marburg Virus Disease Outbreak”
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Marburg Virus Disease Outbreak Update
I have previously written about the Marburg virus, the timeline and history of outbreaks, and the recent outbreak in Rwanda. This is an update. Marburg virus is one of the deadliest viruses known to infect humans. Much of the background information below comes from “Key information about Rwanda’s deadly Marburg outbreak is still missing” https://www.science.org/content/article/key-information-about-rwanda-s-deadly-marburg-outbreak-still-missing.Continue reading “Marburg Virus Disease Outbreak Update”
Avian Influenza Update
I have written before about our country’s lethargic public health response (with notable exceptions for the states of California, Colorado and Michigan) to the A(H5N1) avian influenza outbreak among U.S. poultry and dairy farms, and some of the developments that should be increasing our concern for the potential of this epizootic (epidemic in animals) toContinue reading “Avian Influenza Update”
Mpox Update
There is good news and bad news. I’m a glass half-full kind of guy, so let’s start with the good news. But, first, a situation update from the World Health Organization (WHO) though this includes data only up through 9/22/24 (Multi-country outbreak of mpox, External situation report #38 – 28 September 2024 (who.int)). A largeContinue reading “Mpox Update”
Some Helpful Resources for Followers of my Blog
Free COVID-19 rapid antigen tests If you have not already done so in the past week, each household can order 4 free tests to be mailed to you by going to https://covidtests.gov/. It is fast and easy. Help in finding COVID-19 vaccines: Use this site if you need to find a pharmacy in your areaContinue reading “Some Helpful Resources for Followers of my Blog”
Marburg Virus Outbreak in Rwanda
Our long history of ignoring diseases that emerge in Africa as solely of concern to the African continent has been proven wrong time and time again, but yet, we still haven’t learned. We must gain an appreciation for how interconnected the world is today. The CDC has already acknowledged that Marburg virus has spread toContinue reading “Marburg Virus Outbreak in Rwanda”
The H5N1 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Outbreak in the U.S.
Surveillance and Containment of Novel Infectious Agents with Pandemic Potential – We are Not Good at This The old saying, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” is no more apt than in the field of global outbreaks and pandemics. In other words, the cost of responding aggressively to novel infectious agentsContinue reading “The H5N1 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Outbreak in the U.S.”
Pertussis (Whooping Cough) Outbreaks and Cases on the Rise
I do not recall a time that a college football game was cancelled due to a pertussis (whooping cough) outbreak, but that was just recently the case when an outbreak occurred among members of the Portland State football team just before they were scheduled to play South Dakota. That game was cancelled, and for aContinue reading “Pertussis (Whooping Cough) Outbreaks and Cases on the Rise”
COVID-19: I Fear that the Minimizers and Proponents of the “Get them infected so that we will have herd immunity” have done Great Harm to Many
My role of trying to educate the public about this developing pandemic and the actual and potential risks that SARS-CoV-2 infection presented back in the first two years, when misinformation and disinformation were rampant, and when the evidence was still unfolding, and especially prior to the availability of vaccines, was greatly challenging. On one hand,Continue reading “COVID-19: I Fear that the Minimizers and Proponents of the “Get them infected so that we will have herd immunity” have done Great Harm to Many”
The Opportunity to Get Free Home COVID-19 Rapid Tests
Starting tomorrow (Monday, September 23, 2024), all U.S. households can once again request 4 free at-home rapid antigen tests for COVID-19 on the website http://www.COVIDTests.gov. For information about at-home rapid antigen tests, see At-Home OTC COVID-19 Diagnostic Tests | FDA. Before throwing out tests you may have at home already, keep in mind that forContinue reading “The Opportunity to Get Free Home COVID-19 Rapid Tests”
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