Latest news with #USCentersforDiseaseControlandPrevention
Metro
2 days ago
- Health
- Metro
Mystery illness sweeps through cruise ship and leaves 134 passengers throwing up
A vomiting bug swept through a cruise ship, leaving 134 passengers and 11 staff sick. The mystery illness broke out onboard the Navigator of the Seas, a Royal Caribbean ship, on a round-trip to from the US to Mexico. The boat left Los Angeles on July 4, docked at Puerto Vallarta on July 8 before heading back to LA three days later, according to its Cruise Mapper itinerary. It's not yet known what made the people onboard sick, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, who reported the outbreak. However, their symptoms included vomiting, stomach cramps and diarrhea, which suggests it could be norovirus. Norovirus is highly contagious and symptoms can show within to 12 to 28 hours of the bug being contracted. People usually feel better within one to three days, but can still spread the virus 48 hours after symptoms end. A Royal Caribbean spokesperson told USA Today the health and safety of crew members and passengers are the company's top priority. Those who reported symptoms were isolated and the ship – which had 5,180 people onboard – was cleaned, it said. Last October 77-year-old Brit Alan Forster died after catching norovirus on P&O's Arcadia cruise ship He was one of almost 100 to fall ill on the month-long trip across the Atlantic Ocean to the US and Canada and back. The grandfather was confined to his cabin with diarrhoea, stomach cramps and vomiting, before his kidneys started failing. More Trending He was hospitalised when the ship reached St John's, in Newfoundland, Canada, but later died. So far in 2025 there have been 18 outbreaks of gastrointestinal illness on cruises that met the CDC's threshold for public notification, most of which were caused by norovirus. Royal Caribbean has been contacted for comment. Its Navigator of the Seas ship has a capacity of 3,300 and features 17 bars, 12 dining options, a rock climbing wall, ice skating rink, three pools, a surf simulator, six whirlpools, and a riptide waterslide. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Story about Kiss Cam Guy has taken a bizarre twist with a dash of denial MORE: Plane crashes at Olympic National Park killing one and injuring two MORE: Doctors diagnose Trump with chronic vein problem after noticing swelling in his legs
New York Post
3 days ago
- Health
- New York Post
Four people dead in Florida from flesh-eating bacteria found in coastal waters
Advertisement A type of flesh-eating bacteria has killed four people in Florida so far this year. The state's health department confirmed the deaths in a notice posted on the Florida Health website. A total of 11 people have contracted the bacteria in 2025, according to the same source. Vibrio vulnificus is part of a wider group of Vibrio bacteria, which are found in coastal waters, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states. Advertisement This specific bacterium, Vibrio vulnificus, typically lives in warm, brackish seawater, and can enter open wounds when people are swimming. Another potential source of infection is raw shellfish, especially oysters, Florida Health noted. Although infections are rare, Vibrio vulnificus can cause an illness called vibriosis, often marked by vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain, as well as potentially severe skin infections, the above source cautioned. 4 Vibrio vulnificus is part of a wider group of Vibrio bacteria, which are found in coastal waters. Love Employee – Advertisement Signs and symptoms of a Vibrio skin infection include fever, redness, pain, swelling, warmth, discoloration and discharge, per the CDC's website. While healthy people generally experience only mild symptoms, those who are immunocompromised or have chronic liver disease can face serious health risks. If Vibrio vulnificus enters the bloodstream, it can cause severe illness marked by fever, chills, septic shock and blistering skin lesions, according to Florida Health. About half of these bloodstream infections are fatal. Advertisement Some severe cases can cause an infection called necrotizing fasciitis, which is when the flesh around an open wound dies, the CDC cautions. This rare side effect has led to Vibrio vulnificus being described as a 'flesh-eating bacteria.' 4 A total of 11 people have contracted the bacteria in 2025. Linas T – No cases of person-to-person transmission have been reported, Florida Health stated. Diagnosis and treatment The bacterial infection is diagnosed by testing cultures obtained from stool, wounds or blood, according to health officials. For mild infections, the CDC recommends increasing fluid intake to prevent dehydration. 4 This specific bacterium, Vibrio vulnificus, typically lives in warm, brackish seawater and can enter open wounds when people are swimming. Love Employee – For those with infected wounds, surgery may be necessary to remove dead tissue. 'Aggressive attention should be given to the wound site; for patients with wound infections, amputation of the infected limb is sometimes necessary,' Florida Health stated. Advertisement About one in five people will die from the infection, sometimes within a day or two of illness, the CDC states. Prevention tips Health officials caution against entering warm saltwater or brackish water if any fresh cuts, scrapes or wounds are present. 4 If Vibrio vulnificus enters the bloodstream, it can cause severe illness marked by fever, chills, septic shock and blistering skin lesions, according to Florida Health. NEJM It's also recommended not to consume raw oysters and other raw shellfish, and to avoid cross-contamination of other foods with raw seafood or its juices. Advertisement Protective gloves should be worn when handling raw shellfish. Those with liver disease, cancer, diabetes, HIV or thalassemia (a group of hereditary blood disorders) — as well as those who are taking immune-suppressing medications — are at a higher risk of complications and should take extra precautions, the CDC warns. In 2024, a total of 82 cases of Vibrio vulnificus and 19 deaths were reported to Florida Health. There were 46 cases and 11 deaths in 2023.
DW
4 days ago
- Health
- DW
Vibrio bacteria: Stay safe while swimming in European waters – DW – 07/16/2025
Vibriosis, a seasonal summer infection, can be severe. Vibrio bacteria thrive at popular bathing sites like the Baltic Sea. Here's how to protect yourself. Scientists attribute a lot to climate change these days — with some things being easier to prove than others. When it comes to bacterial infections, there appears to be a strong link — because bacteria thrive in warm waters, especially when salt levels are low. And in the Baltic Sea, sea surface temperatures are indeed going up, while salinity levels are going down, which researchers have linked to the effects of climate change. As sea temperatures rise, so do the numbers of infections in Nordic countries bordering the Baltic Sea. infections remain relatively rare, but health agencies like the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control warn of increased risks of infections during summers with extended heatwaves. bacteria cause vibriosis and cholera. For the purpose of this article, we are focusing on vibriosis, which is sometimes referred to as vibriosis (non-cholera). Vibriosis is an infection that can become serious and life-threatening, especially among people with weakened immune systems. The main types of bacteria that cause human infection are , , and, but there are at least a dozen types. Some infections can lead to the death of flesh around an open wound (known as ). Rarer types of infections can cause serious illness, requiring intensive care or limb amputation. In the US, about 1 in 5 people die within two days of contracting a infection, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC estimates around 80,000 illnesses and 100 deaths from infections annually in the US. Most people get vibriosis in the gut by eating raw or undercooked shellfish, such as oysters, mussels and clams. You can also get it by swallowing water when swimming in infected coastal waters. You can get a blood infection when bacteria enter the body through cuts to the skin, either when swimming or, for example, when on land, water from shellfish drips onto an open wound. People with pre-existing conditions may have a higher risk of infection. This includes people with liver damage through hepatitis, liver disease, excessive alcohol or drug use. But also people with cancer, diabetes, HIV — those on immune-suppressing therapies — or those taking medicine to reduce stomach acid. Vibriosis cannot be transmitted from one person to another. To avoid vibriosis, do not eat raw or uncooked shellfish. Health agencies also recommend avoiding swimming in brackish waters or saltwater if you have open wounds. And if you get a cut while swimming, leave the water and have it cleaned and properly dressed. If you have an existing condition, know your immune system to be compromised, or have recently had any surgery and want to swim in a coastal area, check with your doctor for appropriate advice. The symptoms of vibriosis depend on the type of infection. But, generally, they are similar to those of most other common infections, like influenza or an upset stomach: Signs of a bloodstream vibriosis infection include extremely low blood pressure and blistering around skin lesions. And wound infections can cause symptoms like redness, pain, swelling, and weeping wounds. In Europe, the Baltic Sea is a prime location for bacteria. That affects people in coastal areas of Denmark, northeastern Germany, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Sweden, Lithuania, Poland and Russia. In the North Sea, the bacteria live around the Dutch and Belgian coasts. And towards southeastern Europe, they are concentrated in the Black Sea, affecting people in Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey and Ukraine. The total number of illnesses in Europe annually is in the hundreds. A significant spike was observed in 2018, when 445 cases were reported. North America and Canada, and Southeast Asia are similarly affected. Brackish coastal locations are good breading grounds for bacteria — first, because that is where saltwater and freshwater mix; and second, because they are often enclosed or estuarine. The bacteria can thrive, almost undisturbed. Climate change has not caused bacteria outbreaks. However, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control warned on July 11, 2025, that favorable conditions for bacteria were becoming "increasingly common in parts of Europe due to climate change." In June 2025, the European Environment Agency (EEA) said: "[R]ecent marine heatwaves have led to unprecedented levels of vibriosis infections along the Baltic Sea and North Sea coasts." According to the EEA's calculations, average sea surface temperatures in the Baltic rose from less than -1 °C in 1990 to about 0.5 °C in 2024. Other studies over the past decade have suggested that increased river-runoff into the Baltic, due to climate change, was adding more freshwater to the estuarine area and therefore decreasing salinity levels. So, climate change is not to blame for vibriosis, but it is increasing the threat.
CNN
4 days ago
- Health
- CNN
A new recall of injected penicillin may put gains against syphilis in peril
Drugmaker Pfizer is warning doctors that it expects to run low on supplies of Bicillin L-A, a long-acting injection of the antibiotic penicillin, the preferred option for treating syphilis during pregnancy. The news – the latest twist in a drug shortage that began in 2023 – follows a July 10 recall of certain lots of Bicillin L-A that were found to be contaminated with floating particles. Pfizer says it has not received any reports of adverse events related to the recalled shots. 'We have identified the root cause to be associated with stoppers supplied from an external vendor and are implementing the appropriate corrective and preventative actions,' the company said in a statement, adding that it places the utmost emphasis on patient safety. 'We fully recognize the importance of this medicine for patients and are working as quickly as possible to resolve the matter.' Benzathine penicillin G, sold as Bicillin, is used to treat a number of common bacterial infections, such as strep throat, in adults and children. Because one shot can last up to two weeks, it's especially helpful for people who can't swallow pills or may not be able to remember to take them. In most cases, however, if the shots aren't available, doctors can turn to alternatives like the antibiotic doxycycline. But benzathine penicillin G is the only product that's approved and recommended to treat the sexually transmitted infection syphilis during pregnancy. If the infection is caught early, a single injection can keep the infection from spreading to a newborn, a condition called congenital syphilis. Without treatment, syphilis during pregnancy can cause miscarriages and stillbirths. It can also be fatal for infants. Syphilis can also cause vision and hearing problems in babies as well as deformities of the bones and teeth. As rates of syphilis rose in adults, more babies became infected, too. Over the past decade, rates of congenital syphilis have increased tenfold in the United States, from 335 in 2012 to more than 3,800 in 2023, according to data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 'We're in the midst of a congenital syphilis crisis, and we've been calling for an emergency declaration for congenital syphilis for years,' said Dr. Jeffrey Klausner, a professor of clinical population and public health sciences at the University of Southern California's Keck School of Medicine. 'This threatens to make that even worse.' The shot has been a key part of the strategy that some states have been using to quell rising rates of congenital syphilis. Because too many pregnant patients infected with syphilis weren't making it into basic primary care, there's been a push in states including New Mexico and Minnesota to test all pregnant women for syphilis at multiple stages of pregnancy and whenever they show up in emergency rooms or urgent care clinics. After an initial positive test, providers are encouraged to treat a pregnant patient with a shot of long-acting penicillin at the same visit, without waiting for the results of a second confirmatory test. This push for one-stop testing and treatment has already had an effect. 'With the latest release of data, we saw a slowing of rates, which was really exciting,' said a CDC official familiar with the data who asked not to be named because they weren't authorized to speak to the media. That progress is the result of hard work bringing awareness to controlling syphilis and congenital syphilis, the official said. Bicillin L-A most recently went into shortage in 2023. During that time, the US Food and Drug Administration has allowed imports of two equivalent products, a French drug called Extencilline, and Lentocilin, which is imported from Portugal and sold by entrepreneur Mark Cuban's Cost Plus Drugs. These imports continue to be authorized. Those forms of the medication are trickier to use, said Erin Fox, associate chief pharmacy officer at the University of Utah Health. 'In a health system, it's very hard to use imported products,' she said. The bar coding on the drugs isn't recognized by most hospital systems, and there may be differences in how the products are mixed and diluted, which can be confusing. Her hospital has been handling the shortage by being judicious about who gets Bicillin shots. It hasn't had to use an imported products yet. Pfizer has also been working to boost its supply. The company stopped shipping pediatric doses in 2023 and instead focused on making adult doses to prioritize supply for pregnant patients. According to the FDA's drug shortage website, Pfizer expected to have a delivery of pediatric doses available in October. Now, the company has advised customers that it will give an update on the Bicillin supply no later than mid-August. Until stock has fully recovered, Pfizer said, it will ration available supplies of the shots. Providers will have to fill out medical request forms, and the company will send supplies on a per-patient basis. Sterile injectable products like Bicillin are especially vulnerable to shortages because they have a more complex manufacturing process than pills and tend to be prone to quality control issues. In this case, Pfizer is the sole supplier of Bicillin for the US. The nonprofit National Coalition of STD Directors said it's gathering information from members to understand how far-reaching the impact of the recall may be. One of its committees met Monday, and all of the participants were in the process of returning Bicillin doses to Pfizer. One state returned about 800 vials, 'so we expect to hear this is widespread,' said Elizabeth Finley, senior director of communications and programs for the organization. 'We had a small reprieve for about, maybe a year, in terms of steady supply. And now this is just a complete kick in the teeth and really threatens our ability to prevent and control syphilis,' Klausner said. The CDC had previously posted recommendations for caring for syphilis patients during the shortage, but that information has since been taken down. Fox, who investigates drug shortages for the Association of Health Systems Pharmacists, said she has asked the agency to repost it but hasn't received a response. CDC staffers who work on syphilis control were hit hard by recent government layoffs, although about 200 were reinstated in June. Federal funding cuts have also hampered state and local efforts to control sexually transmitted infections. The FDA updated its drug shortage page with links to Pfizer's recent guidance but has not posted Pfizer's recall announcement. A spokesperson for the US Department of Health and Human services referred questions about the recall and potential supply problems to Pfizer. 'I am concerned though that now, with a cut in funds to national and local STD programs, that we will start to see a drop in testing for syphilis,' the CDC official said. 'Cuts to Medicaid and Medicare, as well as other programs, will be devastating for syphilis control.'
CNN
4 days ago
- Health
- CNN
A new recall of injected penicillin may put gains against syphilis in peril
Drugmaker Pfizer is warning doctors that it expects to run low on supplies of Bicillin L-A, a long-acting injection of the antibiotic penicillin, the preferred option for treating syphilis during pregnancy. The news – the latest twist in a drug shortage that began in 2023 – follows a July 10 recall of certain lots of Bicillin L-A that were found to be contaminated with floating particles. Pfizer says it has not received any reports of adverse events related to the recalled shots. 'We have identified the root cause to be associated with stoppers supplied from an external vendor and are implementing the appropriate corrective and preventative actions,' the company said in a statement, adding that it places the utmost emphasis on patient safety. 'We fully recognize the importance of this medicine for patients and are working as quickly as possible to resolve the matter.' Benzathine penicillin G, sold as Bicillin, is used to treat a number of common bacterial infections, such as strep throat, in adults and children. Because one shot can last up to two weeks, it's especially helpful for people who can't swallow pills or may not be able to remember to take them. In most cases, however, if the shots aren't available, doctors can turn to alternatives like the antibiotic doxycycline. But benzathine penicillin G is the only product that's approved and recommended to treat the sexually transmitted infection syphilis during pregnancy. If the infection is caught early, a single injection can keep the infection from spreading to a newborn, a condition called congenital syphilis. Without treatment, syphilis during pregnancy can cause miscarriages and stillbirths. It can also be fatal for infants. Syphilis can also cause vision and hearing problems in babies as well as deformities of the bones and teeth. As rates of syphilis rose in adults, more babies became infected, too. Over the past decade, rates of congenital syphilis have increased tenfold in the United States, from 335 in 2012 to more than 3,800 in 2023, according to data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 'We're in the midst of a congenital syphilis crisis, and we've been calling for an emergency declaration for congenital syphilis for years,' said Dr. Jeffrey Klausner, a professor of clinical population and public health sciences at the University of Southern California's Keck School of Medicine. 'This threatens to make that even worse.' The shot has been a key part of the strategy that some states have been using to quell rising rates of congenital syphilis. Because too many pregnant patients infected with syphilis weren't making it into basic primary care, there's been a push in states including New Mexico and Minnesota to test all pregnant women for syphilis at multiple stages of pregnancy and whenever they show up in emergency rooms or urgent care clinics. After an initial positive test, providers are encouraged to treat a pregnant patient with a shot of long-acting penicillin at the same visit, without waiting for the results of a second confirmatory test. This push for one-stop testing and treatment has already had an effect. 'With the latest release of data, we saw a slowing of rates, which was really exciting,' said a CDC official familiar with the data who asked not to be named because they weren't authorized to speak to the media. That progress is the result of hard work bringing awareness to controlling syphilis and congenital syphilis, the official said. Bicillin L-A most recently went into shortage in 2023. During that time, the US Food and Drug Administration has allowed imports of two equivalent products, a French drug called Extencilline, and Lentocilin, which is imported from Portugal and sold by entrepreneur Mark Cuban's Cost Plus Drugs. These imports continue to be authorized. Those forms of the medication are trickier to use, said Erin Fox, associate chief pharmacy officer at the University of Utah Health. 'In a health system, it's very hard to use imported products,' she said. The bar coding on the drugs isn't recognized by most hospital systems, and there may be differences in how the products are mixed and diluted, which can be confusing. Her hospital has been handling the shortage by being judicious about who gets Bicillin shots. It hasn't had to use an imported products yet. Pfizer has also been working to boost its supply. The company stopped shipping pediatric doses in 2023 and instead focused on making adult doses to prioritize supply for pregnant patients. According to the FDA's drug shortage website, Pfizer expected to have a delivery of pediatric doses available in October. Now, the company has advised customers that it will give an update on the Bicillin supply no later than mid-August. Until stock has fully recovered, Pfizer said, it will ration available supplies of the shots. Providers will have to fill out medical request forms, and the company will send supplies on a per-patient basis. Sterile injectable products like Bicillin are especially vulnerable to shortages because they have a more complex manufacturing process than pills and tend to be prone to quality control issues. In this case, Pfizer is the sole supplier of Bicillin for the US. The nonprofit National Coalition of STD Directors said it's gathering information from members to understand how far-reaching the impact of the recall may be. One of its committees met Monday, and all of the participants were in the process of returning Bicillin doses to Pfizer. One state returned about 800 vials, 'so we expect to hear this is widespread,' said Elizabeth Finley, senior director of communications and programs for the organization. 'We had a small reprieve for about, maybe a year, in terms of steady supply. And now this is just a complete kick in the teeth and really threatens our ability to prevent and control syphilis,' Klausner said. The CDC had previously posted recommendations for caring for syphilis patients during the shortage, but that information has since been taken down. Fox, who investigates drug shortages for the Association of Health Systems Pharmacists, said she has asked the agency to repost it but hasn't received a response. CDC staffers who work on syphilis control were hit hard by recent government layoffs, although about 200 were reinstated in June. Federal funding cuts have also hampered state and local efforts to control sexually transmitted infections. The FDA updated its drug shortage page with links to Pfizer's recent guidance but has not posted Pfizer's recall announcement. A spokesperson for the US Department of Health and Human services referred questions about the recall and potential supply problems to Pfizer. 'I am concerned though that now, with a cut in funds to national and local STD programs, that we will start to see a drop in testing for syphilis,' the CDC official said. 'Cuts to Medicaid and Medicare, as well as other programs, will be devastating for syphilis control.'
