Author: Claudinne Miller
New recombinant mpox strain detected in UK and India, WHO urges continued monitoring
UN WHO confirmed that two cases of the recombinant strain – combining genomic elements of clades Ib and IIb of the monkeypox virus (MPXV) – have been identified to date: one in the United Kingdom and one in India. Both patients had recent travel histories, and neither experienced severe illness. No secondary cases were detected following […]
Feb 18, 2026
Nipah Virus in Focus: A Comprehensive Review of the Pathogenesis, Epidemiological Patterns, Diagnostic Advances, and Future Public Health Strategies
Cureus Nipah virus (NiV) remains one of the most concerning emerging pathogens due to its repeated spillover events, high mortality, and the absence of licensed vaccines or treatments. Its recurrence demonstrates that the ecological factors facilitating such outbreaks, including those linked to bat hosts, are still present. These patterns highlight the continued need for a […]
Feb 18, 2026
Bird flu ravaging Antarctic wildlife, scientist warns
AFP Scientists are sounding the alarm over the spread of bird flu across Antarctica, with a leading Chilean researcher telling AFP Tuesday of an observed strain “capable of killing 100 percent” of infected fauna. Researchers have been warning in recent years of bird flu’s spread on the icy continent, which hosts temporary teams of scientists […]
Feb 18, 2026
Bird Flu Hits Central Indiana: Nearly 19,000 Turkeys Affected in Boone County
Hoosier Ag Today The Indiana State Board of Animal Health (BOAH) reported that the virus was detected at a commercial breeder turkey farm in Boone County housing 18,763 birds. This marks the first confirmed case of HPAI in central Indiana since January 2025, when the virus was identified in a small, non-commercial hobby flock of […]
Feb 18, 2026
COVID-19 Booster Reduced Hospitalizations, Mortality Risks
Respiratory Therapy Booster vaccines reduced the risk of COVID‑19–related hospitalization and death, according to a new study of over 3 million UK adults. Continue reading
Feb 18, 2026
COVID survivors may be at higher risk for obstructive sleep apnea for up to 4.5 years post-infection
CIDRAP Patients with both severe and nonsevere COVID-19 infections are at higher risk for both new-onset obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and related serious complications than their uninfected peers, Albert Einstein College of Medicine researchers report in a study published this week on the preprint server medRxiv. The retrospective study, which has not been peer-reviewed, involved 910,393 patients […]
Feb 18, 2026
Booster shots reduce the risks of COVID-19 deaths, study finds
Medical Express Booster vaccines reduced the risk of COVID‑19-related hospitalization and death, according to a new study of over 3 million adults who had the autumn 2022 vaccine in England. The research, led by the universities of Bristol and Oxford, provides further evidence of the effectiveness of booster vaccination against COVID‑19. The study is published […]
Feb 18, 2026
What sparked the nation’s worst measles outbreak in decades
NPR Nearly 1,000 people in South Carolina have been infected in a measles outbreak that started in a largely unvaccinated community in October. Dr. Martha Edwards, president of the South Carolina chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, explains how this outbreak has spread so quickly. And, social justice groups are remembering the Rev. Jesse […]
Feb 18, 2026
Excruciating tropical disease can now be transmitted in most of Europe, study finds
Guardian ‘Shocking’ data shows the climate crisis and invasive mosquitos mean chikungunya could spread in 29 countries. An excruciatingly painful tropical disease called chikungunya can now be transmitted by mosquitoes across most of Europe, a study has found. Higher temperatures due to the climate crisis mean infections are now possible for more than six months of […]
Feb 18, 2026
Bacteria Frozen Inside 5,000-Year-Old Ice Cave Is Crazy Resistant to Antibiotics
Gizmodo For decades, antibiotics have been humanity’s frontline defense against bacterial infections, yet these essential medications have also led to the rise of drug-resistant “superbugs.” Now, researchers have discovered an ancient strain of bacteria that managed to develop this superpower thousands of years before humans ever invented antibiotics. A study published Tuesday in the journal Frontiers in Microbiology describes Psychrobacter SC65A.3, […]
Feb 18, 2026
