Author: Claudinne Miller
A Bird-Flu Pandemic in People? Here’s What It Might Look Like.
NYT There is no guarantee that a person-to-person virus would be benign, scientists say, and vaccines and treatments at hand may not be sufficient. The bird flu outbreak in dairy cattle has so far spilled over to just three farmworkers in the United States, as far as public health authorities know. All of them have […]
Jun 18, 2024
Flesh-Eating Bacteria That Can Kill in Two Days Spreads in Japan
Bloomberg A disease caused by a rare “flesh-eating bacteria” that can kill people within 48 hours is spreading in Japan after the country relaxed Covid-era restrictions. Cases of streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS) reached 977 this year by June 2, higher than the record 941 cases reported for all of last year, according to the National Institute of Infectious […]
Jun 18, 2024
Epidemiologic Features of Recovery From SARS-CoV-2 Infection
JAMA Key Points Question What variables are associated with time to recovery from SARS-CoV-2 infection? Findings In this cohort study of 4708 participants in a US meta-cohort, the median self-reported time to recovery from SARS-CoV-2 infection was 20 days, and an estimated 22.5% had not recovered by 90 days. Women and adults with suboptimal prepandemic health, particularly […]
Jun 18, 2024
Japan reports record spike in potentially deadly bacterial infection
CNN Cases of a dangerous and highly fatal bacterial infection have reached record levels in Japan, official figures show, with experts so far unable to pinpoint the reason for the rise. As of June 2, Japan’s Health Ministry had recorded 977 cases of streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS), which has a mortality rate of up […]
Jun 18, 2024
How hunters are helping researchers track the spread of tick-borne diseases
MedPageToday Tick-borne diseases are on the rise throughout the country — and a unique collaboration between hunters and researchers is helping to bring more information to light. Hunters are checking the animals they catch for ticks and then sending them to be tested for infections in a program with Baylor University and the Texas Parks and […]
Jun 18, 2024
Why Is the Letter “X” Used for a Kiss?
History Facts The letter “X” has ambiguous linguistic roots, and has carried various meanings in different contexts. “X” marks the spot of buried treasure on a map, represents a variable in mathematics, or can be used to select a choice on a ballot. Nowadays, it’s also commonly used as a symbol of affection and endearment […]
Jun 12, 2024
Our Desire for Inexpensive Food Is Putting Us in Danger
NYT/Opinion A dairy worker in Texas contracts H5N1 bird flu after contact with infected cows, and suffers eye inflammation. Weeks later, a dairy worker in Michigan begins to cough and then tests positive for the virus. A ferret in a cage (ferrets are often used as study proxies for humans) becomes infected with the virus by airborne […]
Jun 12, 2024
‘Uncertainty’ Is Indeed a Bad Word: A Second Opinion on Pandemic Communication
MedPageToday In a MedPage Today op-ed earlier this week, the authors made a plea for the government to “communicate about [H5N1] more efficiently and effectively.” Who could disagree? But their title opens with a dogmatic statement, “Uncertainty Isn’t a Bad Word,” and the piece calls for our federal agencies to “communicate what they don’t know as clearly as […]
Jun 12, 2024
New Long COVID Definition Proposed by National Academies
MedPageToday A new reportopens in a new tab or window from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) offers a new definition of long COVID in an effort to streamline the diagnosis and treatment of the condition, which has serious medical, social, and economic consequences for patients, according to the authoring committee. Long COVID should […]
Jun 12, 2024
Mosquitoes With West Nile Virus Surround Las Vegas in Record Numbers
Time Some people may want to put their summer vacation plans to the Las Vegas area on hold, after health officials reported that Southern Nevada is experiencing the highest level of mosquito activity in known history, with more than 3,000 mosquitoes testing positive for West Nile virus. Southern Nevada Health District said in a press release Monday that as of […]
Jun 12, 2024