New Coronavirus may be causing the pneumonia of unknown cause outbreak in China
A cluster of more than 50 pneumonia cases in China's central Wuhan city may be due to a newly emerging member of the family of viruses that caused the deadly SARS and MERS outbreaks, the World Health Organization (WHO) has said.
More information can be found on the WHO site or from the CDC.
Latest IPCNC newsletter now available for members
The December issue of The Infection Controlla is now available. Great issue with feedback from two IPC conferences and working parties including an update from our standards representatives. Read it here: https://www.infectioncontrol.co.nz/members/infection-controlla/
WHO commemorates the 40th anniversary of Smallpox eradication
On 9 December 1979, the end of smallpox was confirmed to have been eradicated. In Geneva on 13th December this year, the WHO commemorated the event. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, “Today, smallpox is the only human disease ever eradicated, a testimony to what we can achieve when all nations work together. “When it comes to epidemic disease, we ...
>>WHO declares DR Congo Ebola outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern
Following a meeting of the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee for EVD in the DRC, the WHO declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 17th July 2019.
More details from the WHO press release
UK Public Health calls for tatooists and body piercers to undertake IPC training
The risk of inflammation or infection or other adverse effect from a tattoo, piercing, acupuncture or electrolysis is around 18% according to a survey undertaken by the Royal Society for Public Health in the UK.
RSPH has published its latest report, Skins and Needles, which takes a look at health risks associated with the increasing number of people in the UK ...
>>Genetically engineered phages used to treat MRO infection
Mycobacterium abscessus (CDC)
A group of doctors and scientists have used genetically engineered phages to successfully treat infections caused by an antibiotic-resistant strain of Mycobacterium abscessus in a young cystic fibrosis patient who had received a double lung transplant. The case was reported in Nature Medicine on 8th May.
You can read more via this LINK