Author: Claudinne Miller
CDC says skin-disfiguring parasite may be endemic in Texas, present in other states
NBC News A parasite capable of causing a disfiguring skin disease may be endemic in Texas and present in other southern states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. From 2005 to 2019, the CDC identified 1,222 cases in the U.S. that were positive for Leishmania, a parasite transmitted through the bites of infected female […]
Oct 25, 2023
Kids With COVID Infectious for About 3 Days
Medpage Today Small study finds no difference in infectiousness by vaccination status with Omicron variant. Children infected with the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 appear to be infectious for about 3 days after a positive test, researchers found. In a small study of 76 kids ages 7 to 18, the median duration of infectivity was 3 […]
Oct 24, 2023
Covid Shots May Slightly Raise Stroke Risk in the Oldest Recipients
New York Times A federal study hinted at increased risk when the vaccine was given with the high-dose flu shot, but the research is far from conclusive. The Covid vaccines made by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna may be linked to a slight increase in the risk of stroke when administered along with a high-dose flu vaccine, […]
Oct 24, 2023
Is Nipah Virus A New Outbreak To Watch Out For?
Modern Diplomacy Another virus is currently making headlines after the havoc the COVID-19 virus has brought — the Nipah virus or NiV. While it’s not a recent pathogen, its emergence has caused fear and apprehension among the masses still recovering from the recent pandemic. If you’re one of those wondering about the scale of a […]
Oct 24, 2023
Scientists Discuss Prototype Pathogens for Pandemic Preparedness
NIH A special Oct. 19 supplement to the Journal of Infectious Diseases contains nine articles intended as a summary of a National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)-hosted pandemic preparedness workshop that featured scientific experts on viral families of pandemic concern. Sponsored by NIAID, the supplement features articles on 10 viral families with high pandemic potential […]
Oct 24, 2023
What to Know About Dengue Fever as Cases Spread to New Places
New York Times Dengue, the excruciating mosquito-borne disease, is surging throughout the world and coming to places that had never had it. California just confirmed a rare U.S. case. Cases of dengue fever, a mosquito-borne viral illness that can be fatal, are surging around the world. The increase is occurring both in places that have […]
Oct 24, 2023
Is It COVID, Flu, or RSV? How to Tell the Illnesses Apart
Prevention Many respiratory viruses make the rounds in fall and winter, making this prime time to brush up on your knowledge of common illnesses. But if you or a family member suddenly gets sick, it can be tricky to know if you’re dealing with one of the big three respiratory viruses going around now—COVID-19, flu, […]
Oct 24, 2023
As Dengue Fever Fears Grow In U.S., First Prevention Pill Has Promising Trial
Forbes A pill to prevent dengue fever—a viral infection also called “breakbone fever” for the severe pain it can cause—could be on the horizon, according to data presented by Johnson & Johnson on Friday, promising news that could signal a future treatment against what experts warn is a pressing and growing health threat that could soon return […]
Oct 24, 2023
COVID Viral Load Peaks Later Now Than Early in Pandemic
MedPageToday Peak on day 4 of symptoms, rather than day 1, has implications for rapid tests, experts say. Viral load in COVID-19 infection peaks later now than in the early days of the pandemic, driving implications for rapid testing, researchers say. A paper published in Clinical Infectious Diseases has been generating discussion among experts, who say high […]
Oct 24, 2023
Anti-COVID drug accelerates viral evolution
Nature Molnupiravir, an antiviral drug used to treat COVID-19, induces numerous mutations in the SARS-CoV-2 genome that can increase the rate at which the virus evolves — yielding viral variants that might survive and be passed on. Drugs are potent weapons against viral pathogens. During the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, there were intensive […]
Oct 24, 2023