CDC MMWR Early Release: Zika Spread & Possible Association With Microcephaly

Credit MMWR#10,922Coming off a 2pm embargo, the CDC has published two Early Release MMWR reports on the rapidly emerging Zika virus; one on the potential link between Zika and Microcephalic birth defects and the other on the rapid spread of the virus to new regions around the world.Due to their combined length, I've only presented the link, a short description, and the summary...

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CDC Expands Zika Travel Advisory Country List

Credit PAHO - Epi Wk 2#10,921Seven days ago the CDC issued a Level-II travel advisory for 14 countries and territories over the Zika Virus threat, and warned that list would likely grow. Two days ago, in PAHO: Zika Marches On, we looked at an updated list of affected countries from the Pan American Health Organization, which had increased to 20 nations and territories. Today...

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MMWR: Dengue Outbreak In Hawaii

#10,920Although Florida and Texas have both seen minor outbreaks of dengue fever over the past few years, Hawaii is presently seeing the largest outbreak to date, with 230 cases reported on the Big Island over the past few months.The following is the latest update from the Hawaiian State Department of Health. Dengue Fever – Hawaii Island OutbreakThe Hawaii Department of Health...

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Saudi MOH Announces 2 MERS Cases

10,919We've seen a very quiet December and January with regards to MERS reports from Saudi Arabia, but today the MOH announces two new cases, both supposedly having had (1 direct and 1 indirect) camel contact. Although there is no overriding `season' for MERS, late winter and spring are viewed as times of heightened concern, primarily because of so many young - virologically...

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ECDC Rapid Risk Assessment On Zika Virus Epidemic

Credit ECDC#10,918The ECDC has published a 20 page, data-rich, overview and analysis on the Zika virus called  Rapid Risk Assessment: Zika virus disease epidemic: potential association with microcephaly and Guillain-Barré syndrome (first update).As we've come to expect from the ECDC, it is comprehensive, well documented, and makes an invaluable reference.   You'll...

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Macquarie Scholarship Interview session

 Macquarie Scholarship Interview session JM EDUCATION GROUP, Penang will be organising the Macquarie University Scholarship Opportunities Info Session in our office at  441-1-4, Pulau Tikus Plaza, Burmah Road, 10350 Penang on 27thJanuary 2016, Wednesday, 2pm-3.30pm.  Please bring along your recent academic results for offer letters. For further...

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EID Journal: H5N1 In Egypt

#10,917Despite the overly reassuring (and quite possibly fanciful) statements coming out of Egypt's MOH this year (see Egyptian MOH Statement: No Bird Flu Cases Since Last Summer)  the expectation is many - perhaps even most - human avian flu infections go undetected.  It's a phenomenon we've seen repeated in China with H7N9, where estimates (see Lancet: Clinical...

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