Zoonotic & Vector-Borne Diseases

The federal agency and international organization offer some insights on patient epidemiology, and the high-risk groups that public health officials and clinicians should consider for vaccines and education efforts.

Declaration allows mobilization of funding, resources to address the virus.

Public health officials made the decision after seeing increasing incidence rates.

Last weekend, the World Health Organization declared the monkeypox viral outbreaks a Public Health Emergency of the International Concern (PHEIC).

With the warmer months in full swing, here are clinical considerations and strategies for tick-borne infections.

As monkeypox cases increase, investigators are turning to smallpox antivirals.

2 patients died of Marburg virus in the southern Ashanti region of Ghana. Nearly 100 close contacts are now under observation for the infectious disease, which is a cousin of the Ebola virus.

Investigators found potentially infectious monkeypox virus DNA in saliva and semen.

Research shows specific climate elements affect mosquito proliferation and can play a role in predictors of vector activity and insect control interventions.

This first study of the UK’s ongoing monkeypox outbreak reported the clinical and demographic features of 54 confirmed cases.

The World Health Organization did not declare monkeypox a global health emergency, instead calling it an “evolving health threat” that requires continued monitoring.

Using confirmed monkeypox cases in the Netherlands, investigators estimated the average time from infection to symptom onset was 8.5 days.

At separate press conferences, the CDC and WHO indicate that containing monkeypox will depend on testing, tracing, and currently available vaccines.

The CDC recently compiled surveillance data showing the span and prevalence of 7 major pathogens commonly carried by blacklegged ticks.

Tecovirimat (Tpoxx) is an antiviral agent that is already indicated for another orthopoxvirus, smallpox. And studies are ongoing to see if it has potential efficacy in treating monkeypox.

There are now over 25 monkeypox infections confirmed in 12 US states and DC. There are an estimated 900 cases worldwide.

Community transmission of monkeypox outside traditional endemic regions of the virus prompts calls for increased vigilance.

At a media briefing this morning, Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) experts discussed the worldwide 600 confirmed cases of monkeypox.

There are approximately 300 reported cases of monkeypox in about a dozen countries. However, Dr. Peter Hotez believes we are well equipped to prevent and treat the viral infection.

An expert cautions against panic but advises careful study and robust public health response.

New information suggests a few more cases have surfaced in the United States, pending CDC confirmation.

Research suggests a political disconnect on the status of global environment that could impact health response during a crisis.

Antibiotic-resistant strains of the dangerous superbug C difficile have been identified in pigs and humans, suggesting zoonotic transmission is possible.