Infection and Outbreak Blogs
Outbreak News Today
- India: H5N1 Reported in Five Kozhikode Local Bodies; Culling To FollowH5N1 has been reported in five local bodies in Kozhikode district, with culling operations set to follow, according to PTI and local media reports published on March 18 and 19. The affected areas were named as Panangad, Olavanna, Kakkodi and Perumanna panchayats, along with Nallalam under Kozhikode Corporation. PTI, as carried by ThePrint, said laboratory […]
- India: Kerala To Cull 5,961 Birds in Alappuzha After Bird Flu ConfirmationThe cull order in Alappuzha district follows reported H5N1 confirmation in Muhamma and will cover a 1-km radius around the outbreak center. Kerala authorities will cull 5,961 domestic birds in Muhamma in Alappuzha district after avian influenza was confirmed there, according to a PTI report. The report said the Animal Husbandry Department had deployed rapid […]
- UK Meningitis Outbreak Cases Climb to 27, 2 Deaths ReportedThe UK Health Security Agency said on March 19 that it is investigating an outbreak of invasive meningococcal disease in Kent that, as of March 18, was linked to 27 cases: 15 confirmed and 12 additional linked cases that have not all been laboratory confirmed. The agency said two people have died. The two deaths […]
- Black Rain in Iran: WHO Warns of Health Risks After Airstrikes on Oil FacilitiesThe head of the World Health Organization has warned that damage to petroleum facilities in Iran could contaminate air, food and water, after residents in Tehran reported what they described as black rain following strikes on fuel sites around the capital. The strikes, carried out overnight into Sunday, March 8, hit multiple oil storage facilities […]
- Pennsylvania Ramps Up Testing as Bird Flu Affects 7.2 Million Birds in 2026Pennsylvania is expanding its response to highly pathogenic avian influenza, or bird flu, after state officials said more than 14.3 million birds have been lost in the Commonwealth since the current U.S. outbreak began in February 2022. The state says the pressure has intensified in 2026. Officials said 7.2 million birds have been affected since […]
HandwashingForLife®
- The SaniOnce Handwash Protocol Advances To GLCFP ScrutinyThe benefits of research-driven advances in handwashing, traditionally take considerable time to reach the nation’s restaurants. This May 12th meeting in Oak Park, Michigan attempts to be a game-changer with an early immersion into the rigors of FDA codification. The SaniOnce handwash protocol has been thoroughly tested by an independent laboratory. It offers considerable advantages […]
- The Case For Naming Handwash OptionsSince science has proven that operators have choices in their handwashing protocols, naming those alternatives helps communication, improves memorability, promotes ownership, increases its motivational value and converts the complex into common sense. These proposed names recognize industry practices and evidence-based options. Any hand treatment is expected to have an effect, though effectiveness varies. The references […]
- New Handwashing for Life® Risk Study Explores Norovirus & Handwashing FrequencyUsing Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment (QMRA) to set Science-Based Handwashing Standards Background: Handwashing protocols in Foodservice are intuitively based on risk – “I don’t want to be tomorrow’s headline!” This is tempered by factors that influence profitability, like labor and direct costs. Operations personnel are under constant pressure for productivity gains, creating a downward influence on […]
- Hand Antiseptic Use During Emergency Situations Inhibiting Hand Wash WaterCFP 2025 Submissions on Handwashing Issue to Consider: Hand hygiene is a critical step in fighting disease, especially foodborne pathogens. In food handling settings, washing hands with soap and water is the required primary method for performing hand hygiene. In other settings, such as healthcare, alcohol-based hand sanitizers (aka hand antiseptics) are the preferred method […]
- Friction-Aided Hand Antiseptic for Temporary Events without Plumbed HandsinksCFP 2025 Submissions on Handwashing Issue to Consider: Alcohol-based hand antiseptics (ABHA), also known as hand sanitizers or in healthcare as hand rubs, can be used quite effectively1-3, especially by doubling a normal dose and adding the friction of a paper towel (PT) finish4-7. Together, this ABHA x 2 + PT provides a simple, convenient […]