CIDRAP

VIP's review of evidence on Tdap vaccination during pregnancy reinforces longstanding evidence: ✅ Maternal Tdap vaccination helps prevent pertussis infection, serious complications in young infants. Read the full report: ow.ly/uJwF50YZ3ok 🧵 1/2

WHO warns of playing catch up with large Ebola outbreak. The WHO said there were an estimated 220 deaths, with more than 930 suspected cases. Read more: ow.ly/YBsx50Z4kSX 📷: NIAID / Flickr cc

More pregnant women in Ontario are getting the recommended syphilis screenings. ⬆️ The increase in screening comes amid a surge in syphilis cases among women age 15 to 39 in the province. Read more: ow.ly/5q9q50Z4kNM

US dengue cases jumped 359% in 2024 amid global surge. 🦟 Most infections were acquired abroad, but the mosquitos that spread the virus are present across broad swaths of the US. Read more: ow.ly/w0UN50Z4fbp

Study findings: Antibiotics provide the same relief as a placebo for lower back pain. The results are significant in the ongoing fight against antibiotic resistance. Read more: ow.ly/jYlq50Z4bv5

People with Ebola pose little risk to public in US, experts say Quarantines and travel bans won't limit the spread of the virus, which spreads through bodily fluids. Read more: ow.ly/5UFe50Z3qlw 📷: Vincent Tremeau, World Bank/Flickr cc

Ebola outbreak in the DRC reaches nearly 750 suspected cases and 177 deaths as area risk upgraded to ‘very high’. The global risk remains low, WHO says. Read more: ow.ly/qByu50Z3ouM 📷: World Bank / Flickr cc

Quick takes: -Another hantavirus case -Polio in 3 countries - NIAID head steps down Read more: ow.ly/lawt50Z3ooJ.

CDC confirms 59 new measles cases, 1,952 total The US is inching closer to surpassing last year’s total in just the first half of 2026. Read more: ow.ly/uOiE50Z3nwn 📷: CDC

Study highlights global burden Staph aureus respiratory infections, including MRSA. Deaths from Staphylococcus aureus–associated lower respiratory tract infections tripled from 1990 to 2021 worldwide. Read more: ow.ly/VHPG50Z3kse 📷: NIAID

From education to advocacy to public health, ID pharmacists go far beyond the prescription. This #IDPharmacistsDay, we celebrate how they go #BeyondTheRx to advance care and protect communities. Learn more at sidp.org/IDPharmacistsD…. @SIDPharm @CIDRAP_ASP

Poll highlights Americans’ uneven knowledge of STI prevention & treatment. The findings underscore the need for more education against a backdrop of elevated and rising rates of some STIs, the authors say. Read more: ow.ly/3QuF50Z3cLC

A study suggests minority children have higher odds of severe post-COVID complications. The disparities highlight the need for more equitable healthcare strategies. Read more: ow.ly/2mHV50Z3aS8

US begins enhanced airport screening as the race to contain Ebola outbreak continues. All travel restrictions are in place for 30 days. Read more: ow.ly/X0MB50Z2X92 📷: USAID / Flickr cc

Avian flu hits 4 US poultry farms and a polar bear on Norway island. This is the first detection of avian flu in polar bears in Europe. Read more: ow.ly/YWYs50Z2VEe 📷: Anita Ritenour/Flickr CC

Sexually transmitted infections are reaching record highs in Europe New surveillance data show cases of gonorrhea, syphilis, and congenital syphilis have reached their highest levels in over a decade. Read more: ow.ly/wSBN50Z2Va4

CWD digest: Penn State Deer Research Center quarantined after buck tests positive for chronic wasting disease (CWD) The college is assessing how research activities & educational programming will proceed during 5-year quarantine. ow.ly/7sSP50Z2UWS 📷: Lisa Zins/Flickr cc

New Osterholm Update podcast episode: Awareness vs. Alarm: Making Sense of the Headlines 🎧 Listen as @mtosterholm & co-host Chris Dall discuss: -Hantavirus -A recent Ebola outbreak -VIP’s review of evidence on Tdap vaccination during pregnancy Listen: ow.ly/GYlO50Z2Qq1

A retrospective cohort study suggests that myocarditis rates surged during COVID and stayed high. Rates rose roughly 80% above baseline during the pandemic and disproportionately affected Black patients. Read more: ow.ly/PGmR50Z2KO1

At least 600 Ebola cases suspected as US pledges to fund 50 treatment clinics The WHO estimates the case-fatality rate of Bundibugyo at around 40%. Read more: ow.ly/XGgk50Z2tal 📷: UNMEER / Simon Ruf, from Flickr cc

𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗹𝗲𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁: On April 27, 2026, a man (later classified as Patient 3 in the outbreak) was medically evacuated to Ascension Island from the Dutch-flagged expedition cruise ship 𝘔𝘝 𝘏𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘶𝘴; he had severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) and reported shortness of breath and fever that had begun on April 21. He had signs of pneumonia, although findings on chest radiography were unremarkable. While he was on Ascension Island, his condition worsened, and he was transferred to Johannesburg, South Africa, for ventilator support and intensive care. He was in shock and had acute respiratory distress syndrome; findings on chest radiography were consistent with atypical pneumonia. The differential diagnosis in this clinical context is very broad and includes atypical pneumonias, bacterial or fungal sepsis, and vectorborne diseases such as malaria or dengue. The diagnostic evaluation, including respiratory pathogen panels, malaria smear and antigen, fungal biomarkers, blood cultures, and legionella urinary antigen, was unrevealing. On May 2, the cruise ship had a total of 147 persons on board, including 88 passengers and 59 crew members, from 23 countries. As of May 13, 2026, a total of 10 cases had been identified (an 11th was subsequently reclassified as not a case), including 3 resulting in death (seen in figure). However, because not everyone on board was tested, 3 deaths among 10 cases may represent an overestimation of the case fatality ratio. All cases to date have been among passengers or crew on board the ship. Beyond the first 3 cases, 7 additional confirmed or probable cases have been identified. A German national (Patient 4) died from a SARI on May 2, and later testing in the Netherlands confirmed Andes virus (ANDV). Two crew members — the doctor on the ship (Patient 5) and an expedition guide (Patient 6) — were medically evacuated to the Netherlands, tested positive by PCR and sequencing for ANDV on May 7 and 8, respectively, and were in stable condition at the time of this report. Read “Andes Hantavirus Outbreak on a Cruise Ship, 2026,” which includes clinical details, case timeline, genetic sequencing of the virus, and unresolved transmission questions, by the Andes Virus Outbreak Working Group: nej.md/4uQDeMQ