Latest news with #CentreforDiseaseControl
Perth Now
4 days ago
- Health
- Perth Now
China virus risk to Aussies explained
A mosquito-borne virus sweeping through southern China has now reached Taiwan, but Australian infectious disease expert Nick Coatsworth said the risk to Australia remains low. Chikungunya is a mosquito-borne virus that causes fever, severe joint pain, rash, and fatigue, and while rarely fatal, it can lead to prolonged symptoms lasting weeks or even months. More than 10,000 cases have been reported across at least a dozen Chinese cities, with around 3,000 new infections in the past week. The virus has been known to cause occasional outbreaks across Asia, Africa, and the Americas for decades. Supplied Credit: Supplied Speaking on Ben Fordham Live on 2GB, Dr Coatsworth said Australia should not share China's level of concern. 'I think China needs to be concerned. I don't think we need to share that concern in Australia,' Dr Coatsworth said. 'The problem with China is that humans are an amplifying host, which means when you get an epidemic, the virus sits in humans and mosquitoes, and in densely populated areas that can make it very difficult to control,' Dr Coatsworth explained. He noted that Australia already deals with a similar virus, the Ross River virus, which produces comparable symptoms. While returned travellers have brought chikungunya — a virus whose name comes from Tanzania, meaning 'to double over' — into Australia before, he said it was unlikely to spread in a pandemic-like fashion. Dr Nick Coatsworth said Australia should not share China's level of concern. Picture Supplied. Credit: NCA NewsWire 'This is not a new virus, it's an old one,' Dr Coatsworth said. 'I don't think it's going to be something like Covid that's going to spread around the world in a pandemic sort of fashion.' However, he expressed ongoing concerns about transparency in China's handling of emerging diseases. 'The thing I worry about is not the virus, but the transparency of the Chinese government if there is a new virus,' he said. 'We saw no signs after the pandemic … the Morrison Government tried very hard to get insight into what happened in Wuhan. Ultimately, that failed, and the Albanese Government utterly abandoned any attempt to get any clarity.' Health experts say most people recover fully, but some may experience lingering symptoms for months. Supplied Credit: Supplied The US Centres for Disease Control has issued a Level 2 travel advisory for Guangdong, urging travellers to take extra precautions, while Chinese authorities have introduced strict prevention measures reminiscent of the country's COVID-19 response, including quarantines, mass surveillance, and mandatory pharmacy reporting of fever-related drug sales. Taiwan's Centre for Disease Control confirmed its first imported case of chikungunya fever on Friday, a woman who had recently returned from Foshan, the epicentre of China's outbreak in Guangdong Province.
Mint
4 days ago
- Health
- Mint
Emory University shooting suspect, believing COVID-19 vaccine made him ill, targeted CDC building
Atlanta-based Emory University shooting suspect and a police officer are dead, according to authorities. The suspect believed he got sick because of COVID-19 vaccine as he targetted the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) building, CNN reported citing his family. The institution had declared emergency alert after reports of anctive shooter on campus on Friday.
Scotsman
6 days ago
- Health
- Scotsman
New virus outbreak in China
The risk of the chikungunya virus spreading to the EU has been classed as 'high' by the ECDC 🚨 Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... There is an outbreak of the chikungunya virus in China. People travelling to the area have been advised to 'practice enhanced precautions' by the Centre for Disease Control (CDC). In Europe, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has classed the risk of the virus spreading to the EU as 'high'. China is grappling with a new outbreak, with travellers to the area being advised to 'practice enhanced precautions'. The chikungunya virus has been spreading in Guangdong Province, China, with most cases reported in Foshan city, according to the Centre for Disease Control (CDC). Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The chikungunya virus is spread to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito. Local authorities in China have been seen spraying disinfectant throughout the streets, in scenes that are similar to those from the days of Covid. So, what is the chikungunya virus, how bad is the outbreak, and should we be worried about it coming to the UK? Here's everything you need to know. The risk of the chikungunya virus spreading to the EU has been classed as 'high' by the ECDC. | Photo by AKILA JAYAWARDENA/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images What is the chikungunya virus? Chikungunya is a viral disease transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes to humans when they are bitten. The virus is found in more than 100 countries in Africa, Asia, North, South, and Central America, the Caribbean, and Pacific islands. The infection is not common in Europe, but has been found in Italy in France. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad What are the symptoms of the chikungunya virus? Symptoms of chikungunya usually begin four to eight days after being bitten by a mosquito. They start with a high temperature accompanied by intense joint pains. With additional symptoms including a rash, headache, feeling tired (fatigued), feeling sick (nausea), and muscle pains. Serious complications are not common, with people usually feeling better after a few days or a week. However, some people may experience ongoing joint pain for weeks or longer. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad There is no specific treatment for chikungunya virus infection; however, there are two chikungunya vaccines that have recently been approved for use in the UK. How bad is the outbreak in China? There is a chikungunya virus outbreak in Guangdong Province, China, with most cases reported in Foshan city. The outbreak has been classed as a level two by the CDC, with those in the area advised to 'practice enhanced precautions', such as protecting themselves from being bitten by mosquitoes by using insect repellent, wearing long-sleeved shirts and trousers, and staying in accommodation that has screens or air conditioning. Travellers are advised to get vaccinated against chikungunya, whilst those who are pregnant should reconsider travelling to the area as there can be severe risks for mothers and newborn babies. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Could the chikungunya virus infection spread to the UK? There is no risk of catching the chikungunya virus infection in the UK. Reacting to the outbreak, Dr Robert Jones, Assistant Professor, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), told Science Media Centre: 'There is no risk of contracting chikungunya in the UK at present. 'The mosquitoes that transmit chikungunya are not established in the UK, although they are found in parts of southern Europe. Occasionally, imported cases are diagnosed in returning travellers, but these do not lead to local transmission.' In Europe, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has classified the risk of the chikungunya virus spreading in the EU as 'high', due to the risk of imported cases through infected travellers and the presence of mosquitoes in countries around the Mediterranean coast.
ABC News
25-07-2025
- Health
- ABC News
Lead poisoning investigation in China alleges cover up by kindergarten
An investigation into the lead poisoning of hundreds of children in western China has revealed an alleged cover-up by the management of the kindergarten at the centre of the scandal. Authorities in China's Gansu province published an update on the probe this week, after 247 blood test samples of children were found to have abnormally high levels of lead earlier this month. Chinese authorities have arrested six people — including the Tianshui kindergarten's principal — and at least 27 government officials are reported to be under further investigation. The latest report said that hospital workers had tampered with the children's blood tests, that the kindergarten's management had bribed local authorities, and there had been no routine food safety checks at the facility in the past two years. Previously, investigators found that the kindergarten management allowed kitchen staff to produce food using paint pigments purchased online that were later found to contain lead and were marked as inedible. Kitchen staff first bought the paint pigments in 2024, according to the investigation update. It said that the paint pigments were used because the kindergarten management wanted to improve the colour and appearance of its food. Pictures of the colourful food were posted widely on social media to attract more students. Videos unable to be verified by the ABC appeared on Chinese social media at the weekend, apparently showing parents confronting police and authorities about the lead contamination. Some parents in the videos claimed they were beaten by police and demanded further investigation of the case. In one of the videos, an angry parent who had their child's blood tested in multiple provinces reads the test results, with the results from a neighbouring province revealing lead contamination eight times higher than the local test results. The government's latest investigation found the provincial testing lab's practices were inadequate. At least two blood test results received at a local hospital were tampered with. One test result was changed from 292.37 to 42.37 micrograms per litre, while another was changed from 440.14 to 103 micrograms per litre. The report also found that the provincial Centre for Disease Control staff did not perform up to standard and the 247 blood test results were unreliable. The report said all 247 children who were found with high levels of lead in their blood had received treatment and only one was still in hospital. Local media reported earlier that in 2006, two factories not far from the kindergarten allegedly polluted the local water system, which also caused more than 200 children to fall sick. The two factories involved were shut down after the scandal. The public has suspected a connection between the 2006 pollution event and this month's blood contamination issue. The latest investigation report claimed officials had tested water and dirt samples collected from the former factory sites, with results showing the lead levels met local requirements.
Hans India
14-07-2025
- Health
- Hans India
Vietnam's major cities intensify efforts to combat dengue fever surge
Hanoi: Vietnam's two largest cities, Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, are stepping up measures to tackle a sharp rise in dengue fever cases in recent weeks, Vietnam News Agency reported Monday. In Hanoi, 34 new infections were reported last week, marking an increase of 13 cases from the previous week, according to the capital's Centre for Disease Control. The centre has identified several outbreak clusters with high mosquito density and warned that infections are likely to rise as the city enters its annual peak season for the disease. Meanwhile, health authorities in Ho Chi Minh City have issued an urgent alert after six dengue-related deaths were recorded since the beginning of the year, Xinhua news agency reported, quoting the Vietnam News Agency. The southern metropolis registered 838 new cases in the past week alone, bringing the total to 14,370 cases this year, a surge of more than 153 per cent compared to the same period last year, the state-owned media reported. Local residents have been urged to eliminate standing water, regularly clean water containers and report potential mosquito breeding grounds via a designated health app. According to the World Health Organization, Dengue is a viral infection that spreads from mosquitoes to people. It is more common in tropical and subtropical climates. Most people who get dengue will not have symptoms. But for those who do, the most common symptoms are high fever, headache, body aches, nausea, and rash. Most will get better in 1–2 weeks. Some people develop severe dengue and need care in a hospital. In severe cases, dengue can be fatal. You can lower your risk of dengue by avoiding mosquito bites, especially during the day. Dengue is treated with pain medicine as there is no specific treatment currently. The incidence of dengue has grown dramatically around the world in recent decades, with cases reported to WHO increasing from 505,430 cases in 2000 to 5.2 million in 2019. A vast majority of cases are asymptomatic or mild and self-managed, and hence, the actual numbers of dengue cases are under-reported. Many cases are also misdiagnosed as other febrile illnesses. The highest number of dengue cases was recorded in 2023, affecting over 80 countries in all regions of the WHO. Since the beginning of 2023, ongoing transmission, combined with an unexpected spike in dengue cases, has resulted in a historic high of over 6.5 million cases and more than 7300 dengue-related deaths reported.
