Top stories in infectious disease: Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of the Congo, chikungunya vaccine on FDA fast track

Among the top stories in infectious disease is the Democratic Republic of the Congo declaring a new Ebola virus outbreak after two new cases were confirmed. As many as 18 people may have died already and officials are preparing for the “worst-case scenario” to deal with containing the Ebola outbreak, including administering doses of an investigational vaccine for the first time. Other stories include the FDA granting fast-track status for a vaccine for the chikungunya virus, and supplementing breast milk with a probiotic supplement reduces the prevalence of antibiotic resistance genes among infants.

Ebola outbreak declared in Democratic Republic of the Congo

The Democratic Republic of the Congo has declared a new Ebola virus outbreak — the ninth in the country’s history — after the confirmation of two new cases. Read More.

PaxVax chikungunya vaccine receives fast-track status from FDA

PaxVax Inc. announced that its candidate vaccine to prevent chikungunya virus infection has received fast-track status from the FDA. Read More.

Ebola outbreak: Officials prepare for ‘worst-case scenario’ in DRC

Officials are preparing for the “worst-case scenario” while racing to contain an Ebola virus outbreak in a remote area of the Democratic Republic of the Congo that may have killed at least 18 people already, including one health care worker. Read More.

Vaccinations to begin as Ebola spreads in Congo

For the first time, doses of an investigational vaccine will be administered to help stop an outbreak of Ebola virus that continues to spread in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, raising fears of a larger outbreak. Read More.

Probiotic supplement reduces antibiotic resistance genes in infants

Supplementing breast milk with a probiotic strain of Bifidobacterium longum subspecies infantis EVC001 reduced the prevalence of antibiotic resistance genes among infants, according to data presented at the 51st Annual Meeting of the European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition. Read More.