In recent years, hepatitis A has become a much more common threat around the world. Even in the United States, the vaccine-preventable disease has proven to be a problem. While outbreaks in Kentucky and California stand out, the disease has made its way throughout the country.

As we approach the end of 2019, one more state is seeing a rise in the disease.

This year, reports of hepatitis A have risen dramatically in New Jersey, with over 500 cases being reported across the state. Along with these reported cases, six people have died.

Due to this, a public health alert has been issued for the state and there is a strong urging for individuals to receive the vaccine.

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The 2019-2020 flu season may have just started, but there is already an alarming amount of cases in Louisiana and Puerto Rico.

In just over a month, there have been over 600 reported flu cases along with two reported deaths. Most of the reported cases are among children and seniors.

Due to this shocking number in the first full month of the flu season, extra precautions are being taken by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to curb the spread of this year’s virus.

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Burundi, a landlocked country in central Africa, has had an ongoing malaria epidemic with more than 7 million reported cases this year. More precisely, from January to October 20th, a “cumulative total of 7,233,138 malaria cases with 2,691 deaths” were reported.

The numbers illustrate a shocking 64% increase in malaria cases compared to the previous year. Worse, those numbers could continue growing in the last two months of the year.

With a country whose population is roughly 11 million people, these numbers are startling and action needs to be taken.

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At the height of Spain’s tourist season, they had trouble stopping one foodborne illness. Cases of listeria spread across the region, causing one of Spain’s worst outbreaks of the disease.

The outbreak began in the summer, peaking in August, the height of the country’s tourist season. It wasn’t until mid-October that officials declared the outbreak over. Officials made this decision after they had gone 20 days without any new cases.

The outbreak caused over 200 cases of listeria confirmed by Spain’s Health Ministry. According to the government, there is reason to believe that there are an additional 500+ cases that are possible but have yet to be confirmed.

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In 2020, hundreds of thousands of people are expected to flock to Japan for the Tokyo Olympics.

But, even the sporting event of the year can run into issues with diseases.

Many chose not to travel for the Rio Olympics in 2016 due to Brazil’s ongoing Zika virus outbreak. The 2018 Winter Olympics held in Pyeongchang had its own issues with a dangerous virus. An outbreak of norovirus spread to over 1,000 people at the event.

Japan is looking to get ahead of any of those risks. In preparation for this huge event, the country is already taking action for any kind of potential outbreak and to make the event as safe as possible.

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