Outbreaks/Emerging Diseases/Pandemics

April 26, 2021Read more...

Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) & Guinea Update

There is good news in the DRC regarding Ebola, while the fight against it in Guinea continues.  Both the DRC and Guinea began their 42-day countdowns from their last known cases on 3/21 and 3/24, respectively.  The DRC continues their countdown, but Guinea's was interrupted with a new case in Soulouta, along with a cluster of suspicious deaths.  If no new cases emerge, the DRC's outbreak will be declared over in early May.  Guinea's newest case was reported on 4/2. ...

March 15, 2021Read more...

Ebola in Guinea & the DRC Update

There are now two separate Ebola Outbreaks in Africa; one is in the DRC and the other is in Guinea. Guinea, in West Africa is where the Ebola Epidemic of 2014-2016 occurred, which spread to countries in and out of Africa, including the United States. The last Ebola Outbreak in the DRC just ended 11/20 after 5 months. In an abundance of caution, the US Government has vowed to assist the WHO and other Partner Agencies with stopping the current outbreaks...

August 6, 2020Read more...

Ebola Cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

The Ebola outbreak in the DRC Equateur Province in Mbandaka continues to produce new cases with a total of 74 known cases and 32 deaths.  There was only one new case reported on August 3 and no new deaths, but one new case and one new death reported on August 5 by the WHO African Regional Office.  

February 28, 2020Read more...

COVID-19 Update 2/25/20

Executive Summary: The COVID-19 outbreak is rapidly evolving into a global event which potentially puts people all over the world at risk for being infected by it.  Although it not as lethal as SARS-CoV or MER-CoV, it does, in some countries, seem to have very efficient sustained person to person transmission, which requires careful monitoring and updated recommendations and guidance to hopefully prevent a pandemic.  Today’s report includes a Situation Update from both the CDC and PHAC, as well as...

October 1, 2019Read more...

Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) Update

The Eastern DRC Outbreak of Ebola began in August of 2018. Just over a year later, cases continue to be identified but the rate of new cases appear to have slowed in September. These cases occurred in nine (9) health zones within three (3) provinces in the DRC (Democratic Republic of the Congo).  An ongoing concern, in some of these areas, is centered on threatened security and security incidents that have caused stoppages or delays in being able to provide...

October 1, 2019Read more...

MERS – CoV (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus) Update

As of September 19, 2019, the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean reported only one (1) new case so far in September; August had a total of six (6) patients, with one death among the six.  These cases were all from Saudi Arabia. The September patient had no known contact with camels but was also not thought to be a secondary, or human-to-human transmission.  Two of the cases in August were a human-to-human cluster in a household.  No health...

June 14, 2019Read more...

Ebola has Spread to a Neighboring Country, Uganda 6-12-19

The WHO, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Health Minister, and the Ugandan Health Minister have all announced that there have been confirmed cases of Ebola (EVD) in Uganda.  The numbers, officially reported in the WHO’s Situation Report, as of 6/10/19 follow: DRC: 2008 cases; 1977 confirmed & 94 probable – 1396 deaths; 1302 confirmed & 94 probable Uganda: 3 cases; 3 confirmed –1 death confirmed (Uganda reports a 2nd confirmed death) A subsequent report by the Minister of Health for Uganda...

June 13, 2019Read more...

U.S. Measles Cases number over 1000 in 2019

According to the CDC, another measles milestone has been reached and, as of 6/6/19, there were 1,022 confirmed cases of measles in 28 of the 50 states.  This is the largest number of cases tallied in the past 27 years (1992), and that was 8 years BEFORE measles was considered eradicated from the U.S (2002).  Refer to the CDC Map and Chart located on the 2nd page of this document. There are currently ongoing outbreaks (3 or more cases in a...

May 31, 2019Read more...

Outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the DRC

Note:  There have been previous posts on Ebola to the Health Intelligence Page.  Please see those articles for background, as well as more detailed information on EVD.  You can find these articles by clicking on the button marked ‘View all Posts & Resources,’ found at the bottom of the In the News and Outbreaks/Emerging Diseases categories, and then looking for Ebola.  The current outbreak began in August 2018 but there was another DRC outbreak earlier in 2019 on the Western...

May 31, 2019Read more...

Measles (Rubeola) in Multiple States in the United States

The Data:* According to the CDC, from January 1st through May 24, 2019, there have been 940 confirmed cases of measles in 26 states within the U.S.A. (compared to 127 cases as of February 14, 2019), with an increase of 60 cases in just the past week.  This jettisons this year’s cases to the highest number since the decade before (1994) Measles was considered eradicated, which was 2000. There are currently 10 outbreaks of Measles located in seven (7) states: multiple...

March 1, 2019Read more...

Acute Flaccid Myelitis (AFM) Update 2-23-19

The CDC released a new update of confirmed cases and PUIs (persons under investigation) for AFM through 2/18/19.  With five (5) new confirmed cases reported for 2018 included, it brings the total number of 2018 confirmed cases to 215, which are part of the 371 reports of PUIs to the CDC.  This number is the largest number the CDC has reported since CDC tracking, compilation and reporting began in August of 2014. Local and State Health Departments, in conjunction with treating...

February 20, 2019Read more...

Outbreaks/Emerging Diseases:  MEASLES (Rubeola)

Although Measles was declared eradicated in 2000 within the United States, there have been individual cases of measles reported in most years, mostly as outbreaks (3 or more confirmed cases in one area).  2014 had the highest number of cases with 667, followed with preliminary data from 2018 of 372 cases, as a result of 17 outbreaks.  Other years had lower levels of measles cases but numbering over 100 (in 2008, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2017).  According to the...

October 17, 2018Read more...

Outbreak of Acute Flaccid Myelitis (AFM) 10-17-18 Update

The CDC continues to investigate a surge in cases of a rare syndrome (one in one million), called AFM, which causes inflammation in spinal cord and results in the sudden onset of a weakened limb or limbs that may lead to paralysis.  The majority of cases (90%) are in children.  In this current outbreak, the average age is four (4) years old. Although the condition is not new, there was a significant increase in cases beginning in 2014, which coincided with...

October 12, 2018Read more...

Outbreak of Acute Flaccid Myelitis (AFM)

The CDC is investigating a surge in cases of a rare syndrome, called AFM, which causes inflammation in spinal cord and results in the sudden onset of a weakened limb or limbs that may lead to paralysis.  The majority of cases (90%) are in children.  In this current outbreak, the average age is four (4) years old. Although the condition is not new, there was a significant increase in cases beginning in 2014, which coincided with a large outbreak of a...

August 28, 2018Read more...

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome – Corona Virus (MERS-CoV)

A patient who normally lives in the Middle East, but traveled to England on Saudi Arabian Airlines Flight# SV123, on August 16, 2018, has been diagnosed with MERS-CoV infection after his/her arrival in England per Dr. Jenny Harries, the Deputy Medical Director for Public Health England.  The person is believed to have contracted the illness while in the Middle East and it has not been released if *he was showing any symptoms while traveling.  He initially was diagnosed and treated...

July 30, 2018Read more...

ZIKA UPDATE 7/23/18

There have been recent reports, from new agencies and other organizations, about Zika cases in the United States for 2018.  It seemed important to clarify exactly what those reports mean at this time, while also stating that the current status in the United States could change at any time.  Those areas with mosquitos that can carry the Zika virus need to be aware of this possibility, particularly after high rain/standing water events. Specifically, although there are currently Zika cases in the...

May 31, 2018Read more...

Ebola Outbreak May 2018

As you are no doubt aware from the media, there is an outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).  There are no cases in the United States or in any country aside from the DRC. The World Health Organization’s Emergency Committee met May 18th and decided that the outbreak should not be considered an International Health Event, at least at this time, but is of concern and will be closely monitored by WHO, CDC & other international...

May 8, 2018Read more...

Novel Viruses

Typically, pandemics are caused by novel viruses or variant strains of known viruses since few, if any, people have been exposed or developed antibodies to the virus. Since there is little resistance, many people often get sick. Depending on the virulence (the ability to make a person sick and the severity of that illness), many people may have serious complications or die from their illness. Download the complete document here

May 8, 2018Read more...

DHS Information for First Responders on Maintaining Operational Capabilities during a Pandemic

Executive Summary First responders have a critical role in prehospital emergency care and must continue to provide this essential service and fill the many emergency response roles in a community. The first responder community includes: fire, emergency medical services, law enforcement, emergency management, and 9-1-1 telecommunications. During a severe pandemic, workloads will increase and staff sizes will diminish as employees and their families become ill. Contingency planning now can help reduce the worst impacts: smart planning can save lives. To help with...