Latest news with #healthalert
CBS News
3 days ago
- Health
- CBS News
Legionnaires' disease cluster in Central Harlem under investigation, health officials say
New York City health officials say they're investigating a cluster of Legionnaires' disease in Central Harlem and bordering areas. Five people have been diagnosed with the disease since Friday, and others have been tested and are waiting on results. No deaths have been reported. City health officials say they're sampling and testing water from all cooling tower systems in the following ZIP codes: 10027, 10030, 10035 and 10037. Adults who have been in the affected area and have flu-like symptoms or difficulty breathing are being urged to contact their health care provider. Legionnaires' is a type of pneumonia and has similar symptoms, including fever, chills, muscle aches and cough. It is spread by breathing in water vapor that contains Legionella bacteria, which grows in warm water, and is not contagious. When caught early, Legionnaires' disease can be treated with antibiotics. Health officials urge anyone at higher risk — such as smokers, people with chronic lung conditions and anyone over age 50 — to seek care as soon as symptoms begin.
Al Jazeera
4 days ago
- Health
- Al Jazeera
What is the Nipah virus and is it spreading in southern India?
On July 12, a new deadly Nipah virus infection was confirmed in a 52-year-old man in the Palakkad district of Kerala, marking the tenth instance of Nipah virus spillover (transmission of the pathogen from animals to humans) in the southern Indian state since 2018. This year alone, Kerala has reported four Nipah cases, including two deaths, all within a 50km (30-mile) radius, on the border of the Malappuram and Palakkad districts. The state remains on high alert, with 675 people under surveillance across five districts. Here is what we know about the Nipah virus, its symptoms and how authorities are containing it. What is the Nipah virus? Nipah virus (NiV) is a highly pathogenic zoonotic virus (a virus that can be transmitted from animals to humans) which causes death in 40 to 75 percent of human infected cases. Alongside the Hendra virus, which is found in Australia, NiV is one of the most notable viruses from the henipavirus genus of the paramyxovirus family, responsible for a range of neurological – often respiratory – diseases in humans and animals. Fruit bats of the Pteropodidae family, ubiquitous across Oceania, South and Southeast Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa, are natural reservoirs of the virus, meaning the virus naturally lives and reproduces in these mammals without causing them any harm. The spillover of the virus to humans can happen directly or via intermediate hosts such as pigs or horses, which come into contact with humans. What are the symptoms of the Nipah virus? According to the World Health Organization (WHO), human NiV infections range from asymptomatic infection to acute respiratory infection, seizures and fatal encephalitis (inflammation of the brain). The clinical presentation of NiV infection is neurological, affecting the central nervous system and resulting in acute encephalitis syndrome (AES), characterised by seizures, confusion and loss of consciousness. When the disease advances, it can cause damage to the lungs and can lead to life-threatening acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The incubation period of the virus is believed to be four to 14 days. Where have there been Nipah virus outbreaks before? The first human NiV infection was recorded in 1998, when pig farmers and butchers from Malaysia and Singapore contracted the virus from infected pigs. The outbreak affected more than 250 individuals and caused more than 100 deaths. There have been subsequent, almost annual outbreaks in Bangladesh since 2001, with human infection traced to the consumption of date palm sap contaminated with urine or saliva from infected fruit bats. In 2014, NiV infections in the Philippines were associated with the slaughter of horses and consumption of infected horse meat. India has reported two outbreaks in West Bengal in 2001 and 2007. In 2018, South India reported its first NiV outbreak in Kerala, when 19 confirmed cases led to 17 deaths. Since then, Kerala has reported NiV spillovers almost every year. What has happened in Kerala? Although Kerala has recorded 10 instances of NiV spillover since 2018, only two of them turned into outbreaks with instances of human-to-human spread. 'We are now reporting single cases of Nipah infections rather than a cluster or outbreak like in 2018,' Thekkumkara Surendran Anish, nodal officer at the Kerala One Health Centre for Nipah Research and Resilience, said. The last six NiV infections in the state have been single-case spillovers with no human-to-human transmission. The recent uptick in recorded cases is down to the strengthened surveillance system in the state, according to Anish. 'Thousands of people die in India every year due to AES or ARDS, [where] we don't know the cause. NiV, in fact, is not a common cause for respiratory and encephalitis syndromes,' he said. 'But in Kerala, because the entire health system is prioritising Nipah, we are detecting more Nipah infections.' At the same time, it is concerning that all four NiV infections in 2025 were reported in a small timeframe within a small area, Anish added. 'Four independent spillover events within a couple of months in a 50km radius suggest a very high presence of infected bats and the virus in the area. 'What it tells us is that in certain geospatial locations in Kerala, there is a high likelihood of Nipah spillovers, primarily because the bats in those localities seem to be highly infectious for a short period during the year.' What is causing the spread of the Nipah virus in Kerala? Unlike in Bangladesh, where there was a dedicated channel for the virus to spill over to humans (contaminated date palm sap), there is no obvious source in Kerala – or, at least, the 'spillover mechanism' so far remains unclear. 'We don't know the exact spillover mechanism, but it seems to be highly sporadic in Kerala. For example, you unknowingly come in contact with an infected bat or its droppings,' Anish said. The commonly accepted cause is spillover from the human consumption of fruits contaminated by bat saliva or urine. However, virological examination of bat-bitten fruits has yielded negative results so far. A new paper by the Indian Council of Medical Research suggests the virus may be airborne. 'Disease-causing microbes have different routes of transmission to reach and infect human hosts,' Thekkekara Jacob John, one of the authors of the paper, and an emeritus professor at the Christian Medical College, Vellore, said. 'One of them is airborne transmission, like in Tuberculosis, whereby microbes float in the air for longer distances and are inhaled far away from the source.' The authors of the paper believe their hypothesis 'accommodates the rare but recurrent spillovers of NiV in Kerala', where there are no mechanical vectors for the virus, such as in Bangladesh or Malaysia. What are the authorities doing to contain the Nipah virus in Kerala? So far, Kerala has been successful in containing the spread of the virus using trace-and-test procedures. Across 10 'spillover events', the case count stands at just 37 infected individuals. The key to this is a strong surveillance system, said Anish. 'When a Nipah case is established, all primary contacts of the patient are immediately traced and monitored under house quarantine. If they test positive for the virus, we immediately start antiviral treatment,' he said. The prophylactic treatment of 'primary contacts' with broad-spectrum antiviral drugs has helped reduce mortality. 'In our experience, if we can treat Nipah early, it can definitely be cured,' Anish said. 'Syndromic surveillance is another crucial aspect, whereby, in hospitals across the state, any patient presenting with AES or ARDS is tested for Nipah,' Anish said. Kerala has been steadily improving its health system. The state now has four labs capable of conducting RT-PCR (Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction) tests for detecting active NiV infections. 'It all comes down to political commitment,' Anish said. 'The state ensures that efforts of the entire health system remain focused on Nipah outbreaks.' What is the treatment for Nipah virus? Is there a vaccine in development? The WHO has identified Nipah as a priority disease for its Research and Development Blueprint – a global strategy and preparedness plan for epidemics. The University of Oxford's NiV vaccine, which began in-human trials in January, was granted support from the Priority Medicines (PRIME) scheme of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in June. However, there are no drugs yet available that specifically target NiV infection. Since there are no approved treatment protocols for NiV, and due to the high risk of mortality, doctors have used broad-spectrum antivirals. Ribavirin is the antiviral of choice, as it has been found to be effective against NiV infections in humans on several occasions. During a 2023 outbreak in Kerala, early application of the antiviral Remdesivir resulted in an improved case fatality rate. Monoclonal antibodies (copies of antibodies, created in a laboratory) have also been used to prevent severe disease manifestations in high-risk individuals. How can we avoid zoonotic viruses like the Nipah virus? According to Anish, NiV is a model case study for a 'one health' approach to combating high-threat pathogens. The one health approach recognises the fact that human health is interlinked with the health of animals and the environment. '[One health] is a combination of three things – human health, animal health and environment health,' Anish said. 'You have to tackle all these things to reduce the chances of zoonotic spillovers such as Nipah.' Approximately 60 percent of emerging human pathogens are zoonoses, transmitted from animals to humans. Ecological disruption and the spread of human populations into wildlife habitats are primary causes for the emergence of these zoonotic viruses. Climate change is another growing concern, with rising temperatures attributed to influencing infections, viral load and human-animal interactions.
News.com.au
4 days ago
- Health
- News.com.au
Measles alert issued across NT airports, tourism hotspots
Northern Territory health authorities have issued a measles alert after a man travelled through multiple tourism hotspots before ending up in hospital in north Queensland. NT Health issued the alert on Saturday morning, warning anyone who was on tourism trips in the state, at restaurant in Kakadu National Park, or travelled through Darwin or Alice Springs Airports on specific dates in July to be alert for measles symptoms. These include a fever, sore eyes, a runny nose, a cough, and a blotchy red rash. 'Check your vaccination status,' an NT Health spokesperson said. 'Measles is highly contagious but preventable with two doses of a measles-containing vaccine.' Health authorities suspect the man who travelled while infectious acquired measles in Indonesia. 'The NT Centre for Disease Control is urging Territorians to be alert following confirmation of a measles case who travelled through Darwin and Alice Springs while infectious,' the alert reads. 'The individual, likely infected overseas, visited multiple public locations in the NT between July 17 and 23.' NT Health says the man was likely infectious when he went on an all-day tour with Ethical Adventures in Litchfield National Park on July 17. The next day, he left for an overnight tour with AAPT Kings Jabiru, and was at the Mercure Kakadu Crocodile Hotel in Jabiru from 6pm to 8pm on July 18. The measles alert does not account for his movements the next two days, but the next listed location is the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, from 1pm to 3pm on July 20. It is believed the man then went to Darwin Airport at 3.30pm and flew to Alice Springs on Qantas flight QF1960, arriving at 7pm. On Wednesday, July 23, the man flew from Alice Springs to Cairns on Air North flight TL361. 'Anyone who attended these locations during these times should monitor for symptoms … Symptoms can take up to 18 days after exposure to develop,' the alert said. 'The vaccine is safe and effective, and available from your GP, local health centre, Aboriginal health clinic, and vaccinating pharmacies.'
News.com.au
4 days ago
- Health
- News.com.au
NT Health issues measles alert as confirmed case travels through Darwin, Alice Springs
A man's trip through the Territory has ended with NT Health issuing a measles alert, after he presented to Cairns hospital with symptoms. NT Health issued the alert on Saturday morning, listing a number of locations the 'confirmed case' the tourist had visited in Darwin and Alice Springs. 'Measles is a highly infectious viral illness, which is spread by breathing in airborne droplets from the coughs and sneezes of people infected with the disease,' the alert stated. 'Some people may experience complications from measles infections, including ear infections, pneumonia, and in rare cases infection of the brain (encephalitis). Children under five years old and adults are more likely to experience complications.' The department determined the man visited about nine locations in the Territory across a seven day period, starting with an all-day Litchfield National Park tour with Ethical Adventures on July 17. On July 18 to 19, the man went on an overnight AAPT Kings Jabiru tour, where he also visited the Mercure Kakadu Crocodile Hotel between roughly 6-8pm. On July 20, the man visited the Museum and Art Gallery of the NT from 1-3pm, then went to the Darwin Airport at 3.30pm to check in and board QANTAS flight QF1960 to Alice Springs. The flight arrived in Alice Springs and the man was in the airport from 7-7.30pm Sunday night. NT Health did not list the man's next locations until Wednesday, July 23, when he was said to have returned to the Alice Springs Airport at lunchtime to board Airnorth flight TL361 to Cairns. The man likely acquired the disease in Bali, prior to coming to Darwin, according to the department. The NT Centre for Disease Control (CDC) is working to get in touch with people identified as contacts during the seven-day period listed, according to the alert. 'Anyone who attended these locations during these times should monitor for symptoms including fever, sore or red eyes, runny nose and cough, followed by a red, blotchy rash that spreads from the face and neck over the rest of the body. Symptoms can take up to 18 days after exposure to develop,' the alert said. Since the start of 2025, 85 measles cases have been detected in Australia. The NT CDC said Territorians born after 1965 should ensure they've had two doses of the measles vaccine – especially if they're travelling to South-East Asia, where there has been measles outbreaks in multiple countries.
CBS News
5 days ago
- Health
- CBS News
Health officials warn of rise in "rabbit fever" cases in Minnesota
Health officials in Minnesota are tracking an increase in "rabbit fever" cases across the state. The illness, called tularemia, is caused by the bacteria Francisella tularensis. It's commonly found in small rodents, rabbits, squirrels and beavers. People typically develop the illness from tick and fly bites, scratches from infected cats or by touching animals that have tularemia. The Minnesota Department of Health says that up to six human cases of tularemia are identified in Minnesota each year, but in 2025, five cases have been reported so far. Two people developed the illness after they were bitten by a tick. One was bitten by a stray cat and one was likely exposed while mowing the lawn. Health officials say they're working to determine the cause of the fifth case. Signs of tularemia in humans includes a sudden fever, skin wounds or ulcers, swollen lymph nodes, headaches and chills. The symptoms show up between three and 14 days after exposure. Pets can also contract tularemia, with symptoms of high fever, weakness, lack of appetite and ulcers. "It's important for pet owners to be aware of this disease in their pets, because it is possible for a person to become infected as well," said Maria Bye, a senior epidemiologist at the Minnesota Department of Health. In order to keep people safe, health recommend keeping cats indoors and not allow them to hunt small animals. They also say to give pets medication to prevent tick bites, use insect repellant, check the yard for rabbit nests or dead animals before mowing and avoid contact with wild animals that are sick or dead. Anyone bitten or scratched by an ill animal should call the health department at 651-201-5414 and contact their health care professional. If people are concerned about tularemia in their pets, officials recommend talking to a veterinarian.
