The Handoff: Your Week in Infectious Disease News – 2/17/17

As infectious diseases evolve, it can be challenging to stay current with the latest research. The Handoff is a weekly roundup of the most important news and updates covering the diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases. Keep your finger on the pulse of infectious diseases with The Handoff.

— At the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, the CDC released estimates of the number of annual HIV infections in the United States. New HIV infections fell 18% between 2008 and 2014.

— Routine antibiotic use disrupts gut microbiota, which may cause permanent lung damage in newborns, according to a new study published in Science Translational Medicine.

— Scientists are developing antibodies for a rapid Ebola test to detect the virus during the early stages of infection.

— The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and Oakland County Health Division have issued a health advisory following an increase in the number of identified pertussis cases.

— A growing number of experts think that finishing the entire course of antibiotics might be spurring antibiotic resistance.

— According to a study published in The Lancet, educating religious leaders about male circumcision may help in HIV-prevention efforts.

— A new study published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology found that oseltamivir can reduce influenza infections and prevent deaths in most pandemic scenarios in a cost-effective manner.

— The majority of Ebola cases (61%) that affected West Africa in 2014 and 2015 were caused by just 3% of people infected with the virus, according to a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Age was a key demographic predictor for superspreading.