Head-to-head comparison suggests flu was much more likely to lead to hospitalization than COVID last winter News brief June 15, 2026 Mary Van Beusekom, MS +++++++

https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19/head-head-comparison-suggests-flu-was-much-more-likely-lead-hospitalization-covid-last?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9Zs7WvZ6wGrk6TuBqZKWMFY7ETTgelxRz5sFn_9sFy3n5-B6MEkiKAWLZ3vOFPRgiuoX4RJHv2k49mio21hqNJS2WTYQ&_hsmi=424011519&utm_content=424011519&utm_source=hs_email OUTBREAKS AND HEALTH THREATS The New York Times: Kennedy Orders Woman To Stay In Hantavirus Quarantine, Despite C.D.C. Recommendation A cruise ship passenger who was exposed to hantavirus in early May is still being held at a quarantine facility in Nebraska, against her wishes and against the recommendation of a medical review from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. On Monday, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a staunch proponent of medical freedom, signed an order to continue quarantining Angela Perryman, 47, even though others who had been held at the facility have, since May 31, been allowed to return to their homes if they wished to do so. (Mandavilli, 6/15) Fox News: Deadly Parasitic Tapeworm Detected In West Coast Wildlife For First Time https://www.foxnews.com/health/deadly-fox-tapeworm-linked-lethal-disease-detected-west-coast-wildlife?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--7sPO4RrPAQN5V30Qh_rkmTD--JA8v4Jte3Xx_IDE7RCjXofqqQCvOLck9K56j19FuRY1s_uNtjTkM62cGX2z227ZMVg&_hsmi=424011519&utm_content=424011519&utm_source=hs_email A parasitic tapeworm known as Echinococcus multilocularis — often called the "fox tapeworm" — has been detected for the first time in West Coast wildlife. University of Washington researchers discovered the tapeworm, which can cause a rare but potentially deadly disease in humans, in 37 out of 100 coyotes sampled near Puget Sound in Washington State. The findings were published in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases earlier this year. (Sudhakar, 6/15) Bloomberg: USDA Steps Up Screwworm Monitoring As Cases Expand In Texas https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-06-15/screwworm-spreads-beyond-initial-control-zone-in-risk-to-cattle?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9cqcCqUuHe0t0rkUHBnmDESO98RA2P0eawsEZhyxI6v_1GqgACWs4TB3z5fKwFLXUh0s39mfedXh1QnxLthmme8GatJg&_hsmi=424011519&utm_content=424011519&utm_source=hs_email The US Department of Agriculture is stepping up its surveillance of New World screwworm, seeking to work with the Department of Homeland Security to contain a growing outbreak threatening the nation’s cattle herd. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said in a Monday press conference that the two agencies were planning to enter into an official memorandum of understanding this week, which will establish a formal framework for greater collaboration on response efforts to a deadly parasite. The agency is also looking into utilizing dogs, drones and artificial intelligence to detect larvae and assess where animals may need inspection. (Peng and Elkin, 6/15) CIDRAP: How To Protect Outdoor Pets From New World Screwworm https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/new-world-screwworm/how-protect-outdoor-pets-new-world-screwworm?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--iRi7XM8jBpVEUCh1ZQuhkVh5sD60noBkjukTbfxvj1iVExSw_3qcTOC1FMJY86K668a9K7KAsAmHa10qbAVU_TstrZQ&_hsmi=424011519&utm_content=424011519&utm_source=hs_email The New World screwworm (NWS), a parasitic fly that had been eliminated from the United States for 60 years before reappearing in Texas earlier this month, has traditionally been considered a threat to livestock and wild animals. But a report of screwworm in a New Mexico dog last week highlights the insect’s danger to pets. (Szabo, 6/15) CBS News: American Doctor Who Recovered From Ebola Arrives Back In U.S., Says He's "Feeling Well" https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ebola-outbreak-congo-us-doctor-peter-stafford-back-in-america/?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_76vLs7XouSUgCZABsE98ELnRrhoprxQ40f6KTP1D2p6bwDpEMtgbqa6WZIHlSmz0tCdlTJafKnQrC9WZE3L71T3K0AA&_hsmi=424011519&utm_content=424011519&utm_source=hs_email The American doctor who contracted Ebola while working on a humanitarian mission in Congo has returned to the United States and said he's feeling well after recovering from the potentially deadly disease. Dr. Peter Stafford, his wife, Rebekah Stafford, and their four children all arrived safely on Monday, according to Serge, a Pennsylvania-based Christian missions organization. Stafford has been Ebola-free since May 30, the organization said. (Intarasuwan, 6/15) ABC News: DRC Reports Record Number Of Ebola Cases In A Single Day As Outbreak Hits 1-Month Mark https://abcnews.com/Health/drc-reports-record-number-ebola-cases-single-day/story?id=133883214&utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9V1ZZUvY-64ElmWc_dRLq7CMQa019NWZKERCypAN-xK4pslhqMn97m266AjylqQdsjWIecZB2BAoKqVFvmm9YAUWZAng&_hsmi=424011519&utm_content=424011519&utm_source=hs_email Health officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have reported a record one-day increase in Ebola cases since the current outbreak was first detected one month ago. The DRC Ministry of Health reported 72 new confirmed Ebola cases on June 13, bringing the total number of cases to 782. Additionally, 29 deaths were recorded, bringing to 181 the number of fatalities that have occurred in the last month. (Jovanovic, Magee, and Kekatos, 6/15) CIDRAP: Head-To-Head Comparison Suggests Flu Was Much More Likely To Lead To Hospitalization Than COVID Last Winter During the most recent respiratory virus season, the risk of hospitalization was higher for influenza than for COVID-19, per a US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) study of nearly 13,000 patients. The authors, from the VA Saint Louis Health Care System, noted that while COVID-19 was tied to a substantially greater risk of hospitalization than flu early in the pandemic, data showed an increase in flu cases and hospitalizations in 2025-26 compared with previous seasons. The findings were published last week in The Lancet Infectious Diseases. (Van Beusekom, 6/15)