Top infectious disease news: Officials reemphasize importance of flu vaccination, deadly Ebola outbreak continues

Among the top stories in infectious disease this week was United States officials reemphasizing the need for everyone aged 6 months or older to get vaccinated for the flu following a severe 2017-2018 influenza season in which an estimated 900,000 people were hospitalized and 80,000 died.

Other top stories include a report by WHO stating that at least 100 people died from Ebola infection in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and a Campylobacter outbreak that showed that puppies can be a source of the infection.

Rounding out the top stories were the UN declaration reaffirming its global promise to end TB by 2030 and findings that a swifter public health response could have prevented an Indiana HIV outbreak.

Officials emphasize vaccination after flu season in which 80K died

WASHINGTON — Following a severe 2017-2018 influenza season in which an estimated 900,000 people were hospitalized and 80,000 died, United States officials reemphasized the need for everyone aged 6 months or older to get vaccinated. Read more.

DRC Ebola outbreak: 100 dead of infection, rebel attacks intensify

Almost 2 months into the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s 10th Ebola outbreak, the virus has killed at least 100 people and escalating violence by armed government opposition groups continues to complicate the response, a WHO official said. Read more.

Puppies: a source of multidrug-resistant pathogens

A recent outbreak showed that puppies can be a source of Campylobacter infections in humans — including multidrug-resistant infections — and underlined that clinicians should consider this exposure in their patients. Read more.

UN declaration reaffirms global promise to end TB by 2030

Heads of state gathered at the U.N. General Assembly for a high-level meeting on tuberculosis Wednesday morning, marking just the fifth time that a health topic has been discussed at the General Assembly. Officials discussed tactics and signed a declaration to accelerate efforts to end the global epidemic of TB, the world’s leading infectious disease killer. Read more.

Swifter public health response could have prevented Indiana HIV outbreak

In March 2015, then-Indiana Gov. Mike Pence declared a public health emergency in response to a large HIV outbreak in Scott County among people who inject drugs, or PWID, launching a temporary needle exchange program that research has shown led to a reduction in risky behaviors among PWID. But newly published findings show that Pence’s declaration came 2 months after HIV infections actually peaked in the outbreak, and that the number of infections could have been substantially reduced if the public health response came sooner. Read more.