Top in ID: 'Elevated risk' for eastern equine encephalitis; FDA OKs updated COVID vaccine
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Last week a patient in New Hampshire who tested positive for eastern equine encephalitis virus died after being hospitalized with severe central nervous system diseases, according to a press release.
Four confirmed cases of mosquito-borne eastern equine encephalitis have been confirmed by the CDC in Massachusetts, New Jersey, Vermont and Wisconsin. Some state health officials have advised residents to take action to prevent mosquito bites via insect repellants and wearing long sleeves and pants outdoors.
“We believe there is an elevated risk for EEE infections this year in New England given the positive mosquito samples identified,” Benjamin Chan, MD, MPH, state epidemiologist in New Hampshire’s Department of Health and Human Services, said in a press release.
“The risk will continue into the fall until there is a hard frost that kills the mosquitoes. Everybody should take steps to prevent mosquito bites when they are outdoors.”
It was the top story in infectious disease last week.
In another top story, the FDA granted emergency use authorization to an updated version of the COVID-19 vaccine that targets the Omicron variant JN.1 strain of SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Read these and more top stories in infectious disease below:
New Hampshire reports death from EEE as five states see cases
New Hampshire health officials announced that a person in the state who tested positive for eastern equine encephalitis virus has died after being hospitalized with severe central nervous system diseases. Read more.
FDA grants emergency use authorization to updated COVID vaccine
The FDA granted emergency use authorization for an updated version of the COVID-19 vaccine manufactured by Novavax that targets the currently circulating Omicron variant JN.1 strain of SARS-CoV-2 virus. Read more.
CDC: Deaths in multistate Listeria outbreak more than double
Five more people have died and 14 more illnesses have been reported in a multistate Listeria outbreak caused by sliced deli meats, the CDC confirmed. Read more.
Should US consider risk-based recommendations for COVID-19 vaccines?
CDC advisors this year introduced the idea of transitioning the United States from a universal recommendation for COVID-19 vaccination to a recommendation based on individual risk factors. Read more.
Oregon measles outbreak hits 30 cases, all in unvaccinated people
A measles outbreak in Oregon has grown to include 30 cases, all of them in unvaccinated people, according to state health officials, who warned about further spread as the school year begins. Read more.