Tuesday, May 28, 2019

Measles Outbreak covers 26 States. Is Rat Lungworm next?


Three more cases of rat lungworm disease have been confirmed by the Hawaii Department of Health, a disease that could damage a victim's brain or spinal cord in some cases. One case occurred last year after a visitor reportedly ate a slug on a dare, bringing the 2018 total up to 10 confirmed cases.

The other two cases occurred earlier this year, with one person getting sick in late February. Officials believe they may have been infected by consuming produce "straight from the land." Another person fell ill in January, though it's unclear how they contracted rat lungworm disease.

Five people have been diagnosed with rat lungworm disease in Hawaii in 2019[.]
Rat Lungworm disease. It'll go well with the measles outbreak.

US News: 60 new measles cases spreads over 26 states.
The United States recorded 60 new measles cases last week, taking confirmed cases for the year to 940, the worst outbreak since 1994 and since measles was declared eliminated in 2000, federal health officials said on Monday.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported a 6.8% increase in the number of measles cases in the week ended May 24 in an outbreak that has now reached 26 states. The agency has been providing weekly updates every Monday.

Experts warn that the outbreak is not over as the number of cases edges closer to the 1994 total of 958. That was the highest number since 1992, when the CDC recorded 2,126 cases.

No comments: