Latest news with #JamesGathany
CTV News
8 hours ago
- Health
- CTV News
Bird found in BWG tests positive for West Nile virus
This 2014 photo made available by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows a feeding female mosquito. (James Gathany/CDC via AP, File) A dead bird with the West Nile virus (WNv) has shown up in Bradford West Gwillimbury. The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU) received a notice from Public Health Ontario that a bird had tested positive for the virus. This is the first lab-confirmed evidence of WNv in Simcoe Muskoka this year. The West Nile virus circulates between birds and mosquitoes. The virus can be transmitted to humans by a mosquito bite if the mosquito has first bitten an infected bird. The risk of contracting WNv from an infected mosquito is high in late summer and the SDMHU recommends the following measures: Use an approved mosquito repellent, and follow the manufacturer's instructions. l Wear light-coloured clothing and cover up in areas where mosquitoes are present. Stay indoors when mosquitoes are most active at dusk and dawn Most people will not become sick if bitten by an infected mosquito, yet WNv can cause severe illness in some people. Symptoms of WNv include fever, muscle weakness, stiff neck, confusion, severe headache and a sudden sensitivity to light. In rare cases, the virus can cause serious illnesses of the brain. Anyone experiencing symptoms should seek medical advice. The health unit continues its surveillance for the virus throughout Simcoe Muskoka. Anyone with concerns about a sick or dead bird can contact the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative (CWHC) at 1-866-673-4781.
Toronto Sun
4 days ago
- Health
- Toronto Sun
Southern China hit by outbreak of mosquito-borne infection chikungunya
Published Jul 25, 2025 • 2 minute read This 2014 photo made available by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows a feeding female Anopheles funestus mosquito. Photo by James Gathany / AP China is experiencing an outbreak of chikungunya, a mosquito-borne infection, with thousands of cases reported in the south. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Chikungunya fever cases jumped to 4,014 on Friday, representing a rapid rise in numbers since authorities started tracking cases two weeks ago, according to public records released by health departments in districts in Foshan. The city in China's southern province Guangdong has been heavily impacted by the surge in infections. The chikungunya outbreak remains 'quite severe,' Sun Yang, deputy director of the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said at a news conference on Wednesday in Foshan. Chikungunya is spread to people by the bites of infected mosquitoes. It causes fever and severe joint pain, but deaths are rare, according to the World Health Organization. The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention has issued various advisories on how to prevent chikungunya fever and dengue fever, a similar disease also spread by mosquitoes. Physical protection barriers, such as screen doors, mosquito nets for beds and mosquito repellent on exposed skin, was recommended. It said that the epidemic was 'imported' without specifying from where. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The Chinese agency also called for people who have symptoms like fever, rash and joint pain to see a doctor. Shunde district in Foshan, where 90% of the cases are located, is famous for its Cantonese food, and sees many visitors each year. Patients who tested positive for chikungunya fever stayed in hospital beds covered by mosquito nets, according to photos shown on state-run broadcaster CCTV. Local media reports said on Thursday that local authorities had almost doubled the number of mosquito-proof isolation beds to 7,220 to meet the growing demand. Authorities in Guangdong are urging residents to make sure there's no standing water in their homes, such as in flowerpots, coffee machines or spare bottles. The Health Commission in Foshan stated on Thursday that a fine of up to 10,000 yuan ($1,400) could be applied if violations are found. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The Beijing CDC said on Tuesday that the city occasionally experiences imported cases of chikungunya fever. There are two chikungunya vaccines that have received regulatory approvals in several countries and/or have been recommended for use in populations at risk, but the vaccines are neither widely available nor in widespread use, according to WHO. China had its first chikungunya spike in 2010 with 253 cases in Dongguan, a nearby city in the same province, according to the Guangdong provincial CDC. Several cases were found in years since then, but they weren't widespread. The country's first case was imported in 1987, according to research papers and media reports. Hockey Sports Toronto & GTA Toronto & GTA Columnists
CTV News
18-07-2025
- Health
- CTV News
West Nile virus detected in Toronto
This photo provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows a feeding female Anopheles stephensi mosquito crouching forward and downward on her forelegs on a human skin surface, in the process of obtaining its blood meal through its sharp, needle-like labrum, which it had inserted into its human host. (James Gathany/ CDC / via AP)
Newsweek
16-07-2025
- Health
- Newsweek
Deadly Bacteria Linked to Seawater Spreading up East Coast of US
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A potentially deadly bacterium, once mostly confined to the Gulf States, is now spreading north along the U.S. East Coast. Why It Matters Vibrio vulnificus is a bacterium often labeled "flesh-eating" for its ability to cause severe and sometimes fatal tissue damage. Last year, cases of Vibrio vulnificus surged to record levels in Florida, with the Florida Department of Health reporting 82 cases and 19 deaths, marking a significant increase from previous years. State health officials linked this surge to flooding following Hurricanes Helene and Milton. A grouping of Vibrio vulnificus bacterium , image courtesy Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and colorized by James Gathany. A grouping of Vibrio vulnificus bacterium , image courtesy Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and colorized by James Gathany. Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images What To Know The first fatalities this year in connection with Vibrio vulnificus were recently reported in Florida. And the bacteria is expanding. Aileen Marty, a professor of infectious diseases at Florida International University, told Newsweek over email: "We see cases of Vibrio vulnificus every year and cases have been rising as summers have grown warmer." "The reason is that V. vulnificus is naturally found in warm, brackish coastal waters, especially in the Gulf Coast states (e.g., Florida, Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi)," Marty said. However, she added: "In recent years, cases have expanded in the Eastern U.S., with instances reported as far north as Connecticut and New York, primarily attributed to rising coastal water temperatures and extreme weather events." Newsweek also spoke with Thomas A. Russo, professor and chief, division of infectious diseases at the University of Buffalo, who echoed this. "Although most common in the U.S. in the Gulf States," Vibrio vulnificus is "expanding Northward at an estimated range of 48 km/year due to increasing water temperatures," he said. "Severe infections have been described from NC, NY, and CT," Russo added. There were multiple documented cases and fatalities in these three states in 2023, as per reports from health officials and local news. Marty told Newsweek that "the treatment must be administered urgently." "Surgical intervention may be needed for extensive tissue infections—we sometimes have to amputate limbs to save lives. Rapid diagnostic strategies and awareness by HCW and the public can significantly reduce the risk of death, which can increase from roughly 33 percent to over 50 percent if treatment is delayed by just 24 hours," Marty said. What Is Vibrio vulnificus? Vibrio vulnificus is a naturally occurring bacterium found in coastal waters, including salt and brackish water. There are around a dozen kinds of Vibrio. This causes the human illness, vibriosis. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that there are 80,000 cases of vibriosis each year in the U.S., of which 52,000 cases are the result of eating contaminated food. The most common species that cause human illness in the U.S. are Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Vibrio vulnificus, and Vibrio alginolyticus. The bacterium is "defined by warm, brackish, and coastal marine environments, with ongoing expansion into higher latitudes as global temperatures rise. This organism is most prevalent in regions with water temperatures above 20 degrees Celsius [60 degrees Fahrenheit] and moderate-to-high salinity," Russo said. Marty also told Newsweek that "symptoms often appear within 12-24 hours and include gastrointestinal distress, fever, blistering skin lesions, and potentially life-threatening sepsis or necrotizing fasciitis after wound exposure." "Most severe cases occur in people with underlying health problems; mild or asymptomatic cases are likely underreported, as healthy individuals may experience few or no symptoms," Marty said. What People Are Saying Russo added: "Avoid eating raw seafood, especially oysters, and wash your hands after handling raw seafood. If you are at increased risk for severe infection as delineated above this is particularly important. If you believe you have developed an infection, please seek health care ASAP since V. vulnificus infection can progress in a fulminant fashion; time is of the essence." William Schaffner, MD, professor of Preventive Medicine, Department of Health Policy at Vanderbilt University, told Newsweek over email: "The precautions are straightforward. Avoid going into the coastal water if you have broken skin. If you sustain an injury in the water, wash it off promptly and seek appropriate medical attention, particularly if the wound looks infected or the area becomes painful. Tell your provider of your water contact. Persons with chronic liver disease or who are immunocompromised should avoid eating raw oysters." What's Next Health officials continue to monitor the northward spread of Vibrio vulnificus. Current information is available from the CDC and local health departments.
