On December 26th, the Oregon Department of Agriculture reported the death of a house cat after transmission of H5N1 avian flu through raw pet food. The HPAI (highly pathogenic avian influenza) outbreak nears its fourth year, progressing through birds, dairy...

Thinking of trying some new foods this holiday season? That fancy appetizer has quite the array of seafood, but you may want to do some checking before you dig in. With the holidays bringing parties and get-togethers with fancier foods...

Prior to the introduction of vaccines, hundreds of thousands would die annually in the U.S. from infectious diseases such as measles, mumps, smallpox, and polio. In fact the disparity between the pre- and post-vaccine availability is extreme as shown in...

Studies have shown that highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in infected cows can transfer to their milk, with live viral RNA found in raw milk samples. But a recently published FDA/USDA survey test found that although some pasteurized retail dairy...

It has been more than a century since “Typhoid Mary” Mallon was discovered to be a “healthy carrier” of Salmonella typhi, proven responsible for the contamination of at least 122 people, including five dead, throughout her life. While that century has brought...

With highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) having been detected in raw milk, and a study showing transmission to mice, raising questions about the possible risk to humans, state health officials (and TAG) are continuing to recommend that “out of an...

Although influenza activity remains low across the U.S., it is increasing, particularly among children, and the flu has become a nationwide outbreak in Japan, with an increase in cases of nearly 20% over 2023. In the U.S., the percent positivity...

Tuberculosis has now surpassed COVID-19 and reclaimed its spot as the world’s most deadly infectious disease. With 8.2 million people newly diagnosed with TB in 2023, these latest figures reflect the highest number of global cases since the WHO began...

Even as USDA announces new HPAI detections in animals and implements enhanced testing and monitoring, the current public health risk in the U.S. continues to be low. In late October, the USDA confirmed that a pig on an Oregon backyard...

As we’ve seen with Hurricanes Helene and Milton, the devastation can be intense causing both property destruction and loss of life. As thus far reported, Helene itself caused more than 220 deaths, with nearly 100 in North Carolina alone, and...