Infection Control News: Nov 05-09, 2018

Needle phobia keeps many adults from getting the annual flu shot. Here’s why that fear needs to be addressed, with different ways to fight the fear of needles. News.

Why are there so many shortages of common vaccines? Either there has been a spike in demand somewhere in the world, or there has been a manufacturing problem that is interfering with supply. Find more in this article. News.

Scientists may have found the key ingredient for a universal flu vaccine, and it comes from…llamas. News.

Key study seeks to improve skin infection treatment. News 

Scotland: Treatment fears as deaths from tuberculosis hit 20-year high. A new report has also warned that resistance to first-choice drugs used to treat the disease almost doubled in 2017. News 

Ecological Analyses of Mycobacteria in Showerhead Biofilms and Their Relevance to Human Health. Journal

WHO support South Sudan to train 214 members of the Rapid Response Teams at the national level and in all the Ebola virus disease high-risk states. News.

Heading for a beach vacation? Beware the hookworm. News.

Antibiotics often misused to treat seasonal colds and flu. News.

Many teenagers are not vaccinated against HPV. In Ottawa, 59.9% of 12 yo were immunized during the 2016-17 school year. In Gatineau, 73% of boys and 77% of girls in Grade 4 were vaccinated. This is far from the federal gov target of 90% by 2025. News.

Fraser Health warns of possible measles exposure at Surrey high school in BC. News.

From Global News, Dr. Sarah Burton-Macleod explains why it’s important to get a flu shot, and how serious influenza can be for some people. News.

Ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. WHO said half of all recent deaths are taking place in the Community. This is a worrisome sign as community deaths occur outside of a hospital or Ebola treatment center. News.

Should you worry about acute flaccid myelitis? Video.

Webinar from CDC about Acute Flaccid Myelitis (AFM): What Health Care Providers Need to Know.                              Date: Tuesday, November 13, 2018. Time: 2:00pm-3:00pm (Eastern Time). Webinar.