TB Outbreak In Spinal Surgery Patients Prompts CDC Investigation

CIDRAP: CDC Looking Into TB Outbreak In Spinal Surgery Patients
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said this week that it's investigating a cluster of tuberculosis (TB) infections in patients who've recently undergone spinal surgery that used a single lot of a bone repair product. The CDC said patients who underwent spinal fusions or fracture repairs using FiberCel products from a single lot (#NMDS210011) are likely to have been exposed to Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The agency is recommending that all patients who received this product lot obtain TB treatment, even if they are asymptomatic. (6/18)

CNN: Poor Sleep Linked To Dementia And Early Death, Study Finds 
Older adults who have significant difficulty falling asleep and who experience frequent night awakenings are at high risk for developing dementia or dying early from any cause, a new study finds. "These results contribute to existing knowledge that sleep plays a very important role, each and every night, for reducing our longer term risk for neural cognitive decline and all cause mortality," said study author Rebecca Robbins, an instructor in medicine at Harvard Medical School who specializes in sleep research. (LaMotte, 6/18)

WUSF Public Media: Red Tide Continues To Cause Fish Kills, Respiratory Irritation Along Pinellas Beaches 
Fish kills that are believed to be caused by red tide have been reported this week in Pinellas, Hillsborough and Manatee counties, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Also, people have reported respiratory irritation along Pinellas County's beaches that are believed to have been caused by red tide, according to the commission's Friday report. (Newborn, 6/19)

AP: Rabid Dog Imported Into US Sparks Multi-State Investigation
A rabid dog imported into the United States this month has sparked a public health investigation across several states. Health officials say a dog brought to the U.S. from Azerbaijan that ended up with a family in Chester County, Pennsylvania began acting strangely. It later tested positive for rabies and was euthanized. At least 12 people were exposed to the animal. The dog was one of 34 animals — 33 dogs and one cat — imported by an animal rescue organization from Azerbaijan to O’Hare International Airport in Chicago on June 10. (Stobbe, 6/18)

NPR: COMIC: Pet Adoption Climbed In COVID Times. Here's What Dogs Need Now
Dog and cat adoptions climbed in 2020. Pets have been constant companions — easing our grief and fears. Now it's our turn to ease dogs' separation anxiety, as we head back out into the world. (Mirk, 6/19)

On global diseases —

CNN: World Sickle Cell Day 2021: Scientist Fights For Cure For Herself And Others 
Lakiea Bailey has tried to hide the pain and breathlessness she feels from her disease for most of her life. As a child, she missed weeks out of every school year because of sickle cell -- a painful, genetic disease that's believed to impact 100,000 Americans. Patients' red blood cells are "sickle" shaped and can clump together to impede blood flow to the rest of the body, causing serious problems, including strokes and organ failure. (Chillag, 6/18)

CIDRAP: Seven Countries Report More Vaccine-Derived Polio Cases
Afghanistan and six African nations—reported more polio cases this week, all involving circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2), according to the latest update from the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI). Afghanistan's latest case is from Ghanzi in the southeastern part of the country, putting its total for the year at 41. In Africa, Burkina Faso reported two more cVDPV2 cases, one each from Dori and Banfora, which are counted in its 2020 total, which is now 65. Benin reported one case, which involves a patient from Couffo, marking the country's second case of the year. (6/18)

AP: Guinea Declares End To Latest Ebola Outbreak That Killed 12
Guinea has declared an end to an Ebola outbreak that emerged in February and killed 12 people, according to the World Health Organization. The latest outbreak was the first to emerge in Guinea since a deadly outbreak from 2014 to 2016 killed more than 11,300 people in West Africa. That originated in the same region before spreading to neighboring Liberia and Sierra Leone. Guinea’s latest outbreak was declared Feb. 14 after three cases were detected in Gouecke, a rural community in the southern N’zerekore prefecture. There were 16 confirmed and seven probable cases. (Petesch, 6/19)