Author: Claudinne Miller
The mpox strain spreading now is different from the one in 2022: Here’s what to know
NBC News This strain of the virus is known to be more severe, but it’s behaving differently from its usual patterns. The World Health Organization’s decision to declare mpox a global public health emergency for the second time in two years may seem like déjà vu — but there are key differences between the strain that’s causing international […]
Aug 20, 2024
Measles’ Deadliest Sequelae
MedPageToday In the late 1990s, my long-time colleague, Pam Nagami, MD, met a petite, Indian-American student she later called “Manju” when writing a terrific book about patients with infectious diseases. Some of the stories by Nagami end happily, but Manju’s did not — and all because of a case of measles she contracted early in life. So, […]
Aug 20, 2024
Updated joint FAO/WHO/WOAH assessment of recent influenza A(H5N1) virus events in animals and people
WHO At the present time, based on available information, FAO-WHO-WOAH assess the global public health risk of influenza A(H5N1) viruses to be low, while the risk of infection for occupationally exposed persons is low to moderate depending on the risk mitigation measures in place. Transmission between animals continues to occur and, to date, a limited […]
Aug 14, 2024
5 Diseases Folks Made Up to Scare You Off New Tech
Cracked Railway spine can warp your mind! And sewing machines can warp your soul! They said video games would kill us with hypertension. They said social media would kill us with depression. They said self-driving cars would kill us with combustion. Based on what we’ve seen, they were right on all counts. But we shouldn’t […]
Aug 14, 2024
Doctors accused of spreading misinformation lose certifications
Washington Post The American Board of Internal Medicine revoked the certifications of Pierre Kory and Paul Marik, two physicians known for continuing to promote ivermectin, an anti-parasitic medication, as a treatment for covid long after the medical community found it to be ineffective. The two men co-founded the Front Line Covid-19 Critical Care Alliance, which experts say spread misinformation about the coronavirus pandemic. The Board’s website listed both […]
Aug 14, 2024
What You Need to Know About Oropouche Virus Disease
Medscape The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has issued a warning to travelers in areas in South and Central America and the Caribbean affected by a current outbreak of Oropouche virus (OROV) disease. The ECDC said that there had been more than 8000 cases reported in these areas since January, with 19 […]
Aug 14, 2024
Increase in Human Parvovirus B19 Activity in the United States
CDC The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is issuing this Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory to notify healthcare providers, public health authorities, and the public about current increases in human parvovirus B19 activity in the United States. Parvovirus B19 is a seasonal respiratory virus that is transmitted through respiratory droplets by people with symptomatic […]
Aug 14, 2024
Dengue Is Spreading: Is Warmer Weather to Blame?
American Society for Microbiology “More Americans are at risk than ever before as mosquitoes and ticks are moving into new areas of the country, increasing cases and geographic ranges of vector-borne diseases.” said Christopher Braden, M.D., the Acting Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Center for Emerging and Infectious Zoonotic Diseases. […]
Aug 14, 2024
60% of American Samoans have evidence of previous dengue infection
CIDRAP Since 2021, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended dengue vaccination for kids ages 9 to 16 in communities where more than 20% of age-eligible persons have previously been infected with the virus. While vaccination offers strong protection for people with prior infections, but it may increase the risk of […]
Aug 14, 2024
Measles, Bird Flu, COVID, Oh My!
MedPage Today While the threat of COVID-19 and long-COVID persist, other infectious diseases have re-emerged or come into the spotlight this year. In January, measles outbreaks were reported in a handful of states, raising concerns among experts that this preventable disease might lose its elimination status. Meanwhile, childhood vaccine exemptions and growing vaccine hesitancy have led to renewed calls for awareness and […]
Aug 14, 2024