Infection Control News: May 13 – 17, 2019

California’s tightened rules pay off against measles. News

Ebola could spread if ‘violent attacks’ continue in Congo, WHO warns. News

C. difficile sniffing springer spaniel is making hospitals safer. News

Alaska officials fear tuberculosis spread at religious event. News

WORLD. Rift valley fever (RVF) outbreak on Mayotte. A RVF outbreak in the French overseas territory of Mayotte has resulted in 129 lab-confirmed human cases and 109 animal foci, since 11/2018. News

MERS-CoV. Saudi Arabia reported 1 more MERS-CoV case, which involves a 70 yo woman from Riyadh, the country’s capital. Saudi Arabia has confirmed 138 MERS cases so far this year. News

Read also the Situation update from WHO. Report

EDUCATION. Rickettsial diseases are spread by ticks & mites. In Canada, the only rickettsial disease observed to occur is Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, which it is on the rise in the U.S.  CDC created an online education module to inform clinicians about RMSF. Educational information

More info about rickettsial diseases from British Columbia Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC). Health info

How climate change could make your food less safe to eat. According to a recent report from the Public Health Agency of Canada, it could mean more frequent outbreaks of food-borne illness. News

To go along with the previous post, a recent Canadian study  suggested that climate change could lead to more houseflies, which could spread food-borne pathogens. News