Infection Control News: Sept 24-28, 2018

Toronto Public Health confirmed 27 human cases of West Nile virus this summer. News.

In Winnipeg, clean needle distribution continue to raise, but efforts are still needs in order to dispose of them safely. In one location, they found more than 1300 dirty needles. News.

A long-awaited inquiry has opened in the UK into how contaminated blood was used to treat thousands of people in the 1970s and ’80s, killing at least 2,400. News

One pill can prevent HIV. Can another prevent syphilis? Some researchers think the same antibiotic that treats syphilis could also prevent it. News

Interplay between Cellular Metabolism and Cytokine Responses during Viral Infection. Journal

What is acanthamoeba keratitis? It is a rare eye infection, more likely among contact wearers. Find more in this article from GlobalNews. News.

Puppies spread the Campylobacter outbreak across 18 states. News

In PEI, Prince County Hospital restricting visitors due to gastrointestinal illness. News.  

The war against drug-resistant superbugs – a collaborative approach. Find out how LifeArc’s research into gram negative bacteria is contributing to the Pew Trust’s Shared Platform for Antibiotic Research and Knowledge. News

An experimental vaccine or revaccination with primary bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) did not protect against tuberculosis (TB) infection in South African adolescents. Journal  

Newborn syphilis cases in US reach highest level in 20 years. News.

The World Health Organization (WHO) said that the Ebola outbreak in northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo could deteriorate rapidly because of attacks by armed groups. Find more in this article of GlobalNews. News

In NS, the new high dose flu vaccines will be provided to those living in long term care facilities this fall. Video news.

A man who worked at a federal government office building in Gatineau (QC), has died of legionnaires’ disease. This bacteria was also detected in the same building in 2015. News.

A 56-year-old man from Hong Kong has developed the world’s first human case of rat hepatitis E. Find more in this article from BBC. News

It could happen again! Up to 500 million people – about 1/3 of the world’s population – became infected with the deadly 1918 influenza virus. The WHO and the CDC predict influenza pandemics are nearly certain to recur. News