Analysis of liver tissue from a Cape penguin that died with hepatitis at a zoo in Germany revealed Umatilla virus. Testing uncovered Umatilla virus RNA in samples from 2 other deceased Cape penguins at the zoo. Our results expand knowledge of the prevalence of this virus in bird species across Germany.

The virus species Protoparvovirus carnivoran1 encompasses pathogens that infect both domestic and wild carnivores, including feline panleukopenia virus. We identified and characterized feline panleukopenia virus strains in a Marsican brown bear (Ursus arctos marsicanus) and a crested porcupine (Hystrix cristata) in Italy, extending the known host range of this virus.

We report a patient with lobomycosis caused by Paracoccidioides loboi fungi in the Andes-Amazon region of Bolivia. We examined clinical, epidemiologic, and phylogenetic data and describe potential transmission/environmental aspects of infection. Continued surveillance and identification of lobomycosis cases in South America are crucial to prevent the spread of this disease.

We found Mycobacterium leprae, the most common etiologic agent of Hansen disease or leprosy, in tissues from 9 (18.75%) of 48 nine-banded armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus) collected across continental Ecuador. Finding evidence of a wildlife reservoir is the first step to recognizing leprosy zoonotic transmission pathway in Ecuador or elsewhere.

The epidemiologic effects of Zika virus (ZIKV) sexual transmission in virus-endemic countries remain unclear. We conducted a 2-level, linear mixed-effects logistic regression analysis by using a recently acquired population-based ZIKV and chikungunya virus (CHIKV) serologic dataset obtained from persons residing in Northeast Brazil (n = 2,070 participants). We adjusted mathematical models for housing

We analyzed clinical manifestations, antifungal susceptibility, and treatment outcomes of cutaneous sporotrichosis in Thailand during 2018–2022. The study included 49 patients whose mean age was 58.7 (SD 16.9) years; 65.3% were female and 34.7% male. A history of cat exposure was reported in 32 (65.3%) patients who had a significantly higher prevalence of upper extremity lesions than did those without

Understanding Kazakhstan’s plague history is crucial for early warning and effective health disaster management. We used descriptive-analytical methods to analyze spatial data for human cases in natural plague foci in Kazakhstan during 1926–2003. The findings revealed 565 human cases across 82 outbreaks in Almaty (32.22%), Aktobe (1.59%), Atyrau (4.42%), Mangystau (21.24%), and Kyzylorda (40.53%) oblasts

During 2014–2022, only Plasmodium falciparum malaria cases were reported in the Comoro Islands. We report a fatal case of mixed Plasmodium malaria infection in a traveler returning from the Comoros to Colombia in 2024, highlighting the need to strengthen laboratory detection and identification of Plasmodium spp. in sub-Saharan Africa.

To explore hantavirus infection patterns in Latin America, we conducted molecular and serologic hantavirus investigations among 3,400 febrile patients from Peru during 2020–2021. Reverse transcription PCR indicated that a patient from Loreto, in the Peruvian Amazon, was positive for Rio Mamore hantavirus (3.8 × 103 copies/mL). High genomic sequence identity of 87.0%–94.8% and phylogenetic common ancestry

Circovirus human is a new viral species that includes the human circovirus (HCirV), which has been linked to hepatitis in immunocompromised persons. We investigated prevalence of HCirV infection in 278 patients with hepatitis and 184 asymptomatic persons using real-time PCR and sequencing assays. HCirV viremia and sequences were found in 8 (2.9%) hepatitis patients and no asymptomatic patients. Alternate

An increase in the number of herpes zoster patients has been reported since universal varicella immunization was introduced, perhaps because of reduced opportunities for varicella patients to experience the natural booster effect caused by reexposure. We investigated recent trends of varicella zoster virus (VZV)–related central nervous system (CNS) infections at a university hospital in Japan. We enrolled

In July 2023, cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) were reported at 2 shelters for stray cats in Seoul, South Korea. The cause of infection was suspected to be improperly sterilized raw food made from domestic duck meat, which was manufactured in South Korea. All viruses isolated from cats at the shelters and from the raw food belonged to HPAI A(H5N1) clade 2.3.4.4b. The gene constellation

We report a patient in North Carolina, USA, with Heartland virus infection whose diagnosis was complicated by previous Ehrlichia chaffeensis infection. We identified E. ewingii–infected and Bourbon virus–infected tick pools at the patient’s residence. Healthcare providers should consider testing for tickborne viruses if ehrlichiosis is suspected.

Australia is a sink for low pathogenicity avian influenza viruses, with isolated circulation occurring on the continent. We report the incursion of a Eurasian low pathogenicity avian influenza H5 virus into Australia. This report benefits surveillance and diagnostic work because of the risk and current absence of highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1).

Infection with severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (Bandavirus dabieense) virus poses a substantial public health threat because of its high mortality rates and severe complications. The virus is prevalent in Asia, although data from Thailand are scarce. Our study confirmed the virus in 1.6% of acute febrile illness patients and specific antibodies in 3% of archived samples since 2015 in Thailand

We performed nanopore-based metagenomic screening on 885 ticks collected from 6 locations in Mongolia and divided the results into 68 samples: 23 individual samples and 45 pools of 2-12 tick samples each. We detected bacterial and parasitic pathogens Anaplasma ovis, Babesia microti, Coxiella burnetii, Borrelia miyamotoi, Francisella tularensis subsp. holarctica and novicida, Spiroplasma ixodetis, Theileria

Characterizing the epidemiology of circulating respiratory pathogens during the COVID-19 pandemic could clarify the burden of acute respiratory infections and monitor outbreaks of public health and military relevance. The US Department of Defense supported 2 regions for influenza-like illness and severe acute respiratory infections surveillance, one in the Middle East through US Naval Medical Research

A scrub typhus outbreak occurred among 24 soldiers from 2 Australian Defence Force infantry units following separate training events conducted in the same coastal location in tropical North Queensland, Australia, in June 2022. Seven soldiers visited a hospital, 5 requiring admission. Outbreak recognition was hampered by the geographic dispersion of soldiers after the exercise and delayed case identification

Since its establishment in 1997, the US Department of Defense (DoD) Global Emerging Infections Surveillance (GEIS) program has provided support for infectious disease pandemic preparedness and response. The GEIS program has shown the value of having a central hub responsible for coordinating a global network of DoD laboratories that conduct surveillance for militarily relevant infectious disease threats

Congregate homeless shelters are disproportionately affected by infectious disease outbreaks. We describe enterovirus epidemiology across 23 adult and family shelters in King County, Washington, USA, during October 2019-May 2021, by using repeated cross-sectional respiratory illness and environmental surveillance and viral genome sequencing. Among 3,281 participants >3 months of age, we identified

We report the genomic analysis from early equine cases of the Western equine encephalitis virus outbreak during 2023–2024 in Uruguay. Sequences are related to a viral isolate from an outbreak in 1958 in Argentina. A viral origin from South America or continuous enzootic circulation with infrequent spillover is possible.

We report general acceptance (61.0%) of an mpox vaccine in the Democratic Republic of the Congo among 5,226 survey respondents. Healthcare workers and respondents in historic mpox-endemic regions had higher acceptance rates. These data highlight the need for increased community engagement and sensitization before widespread deployment of mpox vaccines.

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We report a suspected case of acute pulmonary coccidioidomycosis contracted in Peru, where the disease is not known to occur, in a patient from Switzerland. Although not confirmed by direct diagnostic testing, the clinical manifestations and serologic testing results of this case are highly suggestive of coccidioidomycosis.

Norovirus is a leading cause of acute gastroenteritis and imposes a substantial disease burden. In California, USA, norovirus surveillance is limited. We evaluated correlations between wastewater norovirus concentrations and available public health surveillance data. Wastewater surveillance for norovirus genotype GII in California provided timely, localized, and actionable data for public health authorities

We report a case of persistent disseminated mpox evolving over >6 months in an HIV/hepatitis B virus co-infected patient in France who had <200 CD4+ cells/mm3, pulmonary and hepatic necrotic lesions, persistent viremia, and nasopharyngeal excretion. Clinical outcome was favorable after 90 days of tecovirimat treatment and administration of human vaccinia immunoglobulins.

To determine invasive group A Streptococcus trends in Canada, we characterized emm1 isolates collected during 2018–2023. The percentage of hypervirulent M1UK lineage isolates increased significantly, from 22.1% in 2018 to 60.2% in 2023. Genomic analysis identified geographically and temporally associated clusters and genes associated with virulent bacteriophage acquisition.

We recently expanded the viral genomic surveillance program in Minnesota, USA, to include human respiratory syncytial virus. We performed whole-genome sequencing of 575 specimens collected at Minnesota healthcare facilities during July 2023–February 2024. Subgroups A and B differed in their genomic landscapes, and we identified 23 clusters of genetically identical genomes.

Analysis of clinical and environmental Vibrio cholerae O1 strains obtained during 2008–2015 in Nigeria showed that lineages Afr9 and Afr12 carrying cholera toxin and Vibrio pathogenicity island 1 can be isolated from water. Our findings raise concerns about the role of the environment in maintenance and emergence of cholera outbreaks in Nigeria.

We report a case of Burkholderia mallei causing glanders in a 73-year-old patient from the Northeast Region of Brazil. The patient was hospitalized with severe pneumonia. PCR and genomic sequencing confirmed B. mallei in pleural drainage. Genotyping revealed a novel genotype, emphasizing the need for genetic surveillance in zoonotic infections.

In Kenya, influenza virus circulates year-round, raising questions about optimum strategies for vaccination. Given national interest in introducing influenza vaccination for young children 6–23 months of age, we modeled total influenza-associated illnesses (inclusive of hospitalizations, outpatient illnesses, and non‒medically attended illnesses) averted by multiple potential vaccination strategies:

Fluconazole-resistant clade 4 Candida tropicalis causing candidemia in humans has been detected in tropical/subtropical areas, including those in China, Singapore, and Australia. We analyzed 704 individual yeasts isolated from fruits, soil, water, and farmers at 80 orchards in Taiwan. The most common pathogenic yeast species among 251 isolates recovered from farmers were Candida albicans (14.7%) and

Limited data exist on mortality rates after tuberculosis (TB) treatment in the United States. We analyzed mortality rates for all adults in Georgia, USA, who had a TB diagnosis and finished treatment during January 1, 2008–December 31, 2019. We obtained posttreatment mortality rate data from the National Death Index and calculated standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) for TB treatment survivors and

We report a human case of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus infection transmitted by a tick, confirmed by viral identification. Haemaphysalis aborensis, a tick species not native to Japan that has been observed to transmit the virus to humans, is now recognized as a potential vector of this virus in Japan.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, widespread school closures were implemented globally based on the assumption that transmission among children in the school environment is common. However, evidence regarding secondary infection rates by school type and level of contact is lacking. Our study estimated the frequency of SARS-CoV-2 infection in school settings by examining the positivity rate according to

Wastewater testing can inform public health action as a component of polio outbreak response. During 2022–2023, a total of 7 US jurisdictions (5 states and 2 cities) participated in prospective or retrospective testing of wastewater for poliovirus after a paralytic polio case was identified in New York state. Two distinct vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 viruses were detected in wastewater from New

The low specificity of Ebola virus disease clinical signs increases the risk for nosocomial transmission to patients and healthcare workers during outbreaks. Reducing this risk requires identifying patients with a high likelihood of Ebola virus infection. Analyses of retrospective data from patients suspected of having Ebola virus infection identified 13 strong predictors and time from disease onset

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Estimating Underdetection of Foodborne Disease Outbreaks

Estimating Underdetection of Foodborne Disease Outbreaks

We show the value of real-time data generated by a computerized decision support system in primary care in strengthening pneumonia surveillance. The system showed a 66% (95% CI 64%–67%) increase in community-acquired pneumonia from 2018 to 2023 for the population of France, 1 month before a national alert was issued.

In Slovenia, primary acellular pertussis vaccines (ACVs) containing pertactin (PRN) were mostly used during 1999–2016; ACVs without PRN were introduced in 2017. Among 123 Bordetella pertussis strains collected during 2002–2020, a total of 48 were PRN-deficient; 44 were collected after 2017. Changes to ACVs could increase PRN-deficient B. pertussis and infections.

We describe the case of a returned traveler to the United States from Ecuador who had an acute febrile illness, initially diagnosed as Oropouche fever. This illness was later confirmed to be a rare infection with Iquitos virus, a related bunyavirus that shares 2 of 3 genome segments with Oropouche virus.

We analyzed 3,081 invasive and noninvasive Streptococcus pyogenes cases (January 2005–December 2023) at a tertiary care hospital in southwest Germany. Absolute numbers of case-patients increased each year from 2005 until the COVID-19 pandemic. Odds ratios for invasive streptococcal disease were significantly influenced by year, male sex, and older age.

We studied SARS-CoV-2 binding and neutralizing antibody titers among previously infected persons in the United States over time. We assayed SARS-CoV-2 spike protein receptor-binding domain and neutralizing antibody titers for a convenience sample of residual clinical serum specimens that had evidence of prior SARS-CoV-2 infection gathered during January 2021–February 2022. We correlated titers and

Data on COVID-19 cases, deaths, hospitalizations, and vaccinations in Oklahoma, USA, have not been systematically described. The relationship between vaccination and COVID-19–related outcomes over time has not been investigated. We graphically described data collected during February 2020–December 2021 and conducted spatiotemporal modeling of monthly increases in COVID-19 cumulative death and hospitalization

The bacterium Vibrio parahaemolyticus is ubiquitous in tropical and temperate waters throughout the world and causes infections in humans resulting from water exposure and from ingestion of contaminated raw or undercooked seafood, such as oysters. We describe a nationwide outbreak of enteric infections caused by Vibrio parahaemolyticus in Australia during September 2021–January 2022. A total of 268

Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) is a severe tickborne disease that can reach epidemic proportions in communities with certain social and ecologic risk factors. In some areas, the case-fatality rate of brown dog tick-associated RMSF is up to 50%. Because of the spread of brown dog tick–associated RMSF in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, the disease has the potential to emerge

Bourbon virus is a tickborne virus that can cause human disease. Cases have been reported in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri, USA. We identified Bourbon virus–specific neutralizing antibodies in patients from North Carolina. Bourbon virus infections are likely more common than previously thought, highlighting the need for improved diagnostics and surveillance.

Rocky mountain spotted fever (RMSF) causes significant illness and death in children. Although historically rare in California, USA, RMSF is endemic in areas of northern Mexico that border California. We describe 7 children with RMSF who were hospitalized at a tertiary pediatric referral center in California during 2017–2023. Five children had recent travel to Mexico with presumptive exposure, but

The US Food and Drug Administration recognizes the unmet medical need for antibacterial drugs to treat serious bacterial diseases caused by resistant pathogens for which effective therapies are limited or lacking. The agency also recognizes that designing and conducting clinical trials to assess the safety and efficacy of drugs to treat resistant infections is challenging, especially for drugs only

Dengue cases rose to record levels during 2023–2024. We investigated dengue in Valle del Cauca, Colombia, to determine if specific virus serotypes or lineages caused its large outbreak. We detected all 4 serotypes and multiple lineages, suggesting that factors such as climatic conditions were likely responsible for increased dengue in Colombia.

Since 2013, a total of 167 human infections with swine-origin (variant) influenza A viruses of A(H1N1)v, A(H1N2)v, and A(H3N2)v subtypes have been reported in the United States. Analysis of 147 genome sequences revealed that nearly all had S31N substitution, an M2 channel blocker-resistance marker, whereas neuraminidase inhibitor–resistance markers were not found. Two viruses had a polymerase acidic

A febrile man in Italy who had traveled to Cuba in July 2024 was diagnosed with Oropouche fever. Reverse transcription PCR detected prolonged shedding of Oropouche virus RNA in whole blood, serum, urine, and semen. Sixteen days after symptom onset, replication-competent virus was detected in semen, suggesting risk for sexual transmission.

We conducted a self-controlled case series study to investigate the association between COVID-19 vaccination and facial palsy (FP) in South Korea. We used a large immunization registry linked with the national health information database. We included 44,564,345 patients >18 years of age who received >1 dose of COVID-19 vaccine (BNT162b2, mRNA-1273, ChAdOx1 nCoV-19, or Ad.26.COV2.S) and had an FP diagnosis

Highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) detected in dairy cows raises concerns about milk safety. The effects of pasteurization-like temperatures on influenza viruses in retail and unpasteurized milk revealed virus resilience under certain conditions. Although pasteurization contributes to viral inactivation, influenza A virus, regardless of strain, displayed remarkable stability in pasteurized milk

In early 2024, explosive outbreaks of Oropouche virus (OROV) linked to a novel lineage were documented in the Amazon Region of Brazil. We report the introduction of this lineage into Colombia and its co-circulation with another OROV lineage. Continued surveillance is needed to prevent further spread of OROV in the Americas.

Oropouche virus has recently caused outbreaks in South America and the Caribbean, expanding into areas to which the virus was previously not endemic. This geographic range expansion, in conjunction with the identification of vertical transmission and reports of deaths, has raised concerns about the broader threat this virus represents to the Americas. We review information on Oropouche virus, factors

Norovirus is the leading cause of acute gastroenteritis (AGE) worldwide. Norovirus outbreaks at military facilities can cause loss of training and working days and increased healthcare utilization, affecting force readiness. During 2013-2023, we enrolled 2,304 US military recruits from 4 basic training facilities to investigate AGE outbreaks among this population. Among enrollees, we detected norovirus

Escherichia coli and Shigella spp. are leading bacterial causes of acute diarrhea in sub-Saharan Africa and pose risks to global communities, travelers, and the US military. Increasing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in those and other enteric pathogens creates treatment challenges for clinicians. Inappropriate use of antimicrobial drugs, such as azithromycin for viral respiratory infections, increased