Author: Claudinne Miller
An animal source of mpox emerges — and it’s a squirrel
Nature Researchers solve the mystery of a disease outbreak through long-term surveillance of wildlife in Africa. One of the great mysteries of the monkeypox virus has been pinpointing its ‘reservoir’ hosts — the animals that carry and spread the virus without becoming sick from it. Now, an international team of scientists suggests that it has an answer: […]
Apr 9, 2025
Tuberculosis Is Back in the Spotlight. Does the U.S. Even Care?
MedPage Today This is a column about tuberculosis (TB), the world’s single, most deadly-yet-curable infection that killed one in seven Americansopens in a new tab or window as recently as the 1880s. That said, it was not until 8 decades later that patients who received long courses of treatment were reliably cured. And even though rich countries […]
Apr 9, 2025
H5N1 detections in US dairy cattle reach 1,000
CIDRAP The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) today reported two more H5N1 avian flu detections in dairy herds, one in California and the other in Nevada, raising the nation’s total to 1,000 since March 2024. California has been the hardest-hit state, and though detections have dropped sharply, sporadic H5N1 […]
Apr 9, 2025
Scientists hope far-UVC light could help stop the next airborne pandemic before it starts
CBS News Five years ago, the COVID-19 pandemic first swept across the U.S., infecting millions and claiming hundreds of thousands of lives. Scientists are already concerned about the next airborne threat, but in the future, a powerful new weapon may be waiting in the wings. Far-UVC light is a form of ultraviolet light that can kill viruses and bacteria […]
Apr 9, 2025
Fast Detection of Airborne Bird Flu with New Biosensor
Ag Connection Washington University researchers have introduced a groundbreaking biosensor that detects airborne H5N1 bird flu in under five minutes. Developed in the Chakrabarty lab, this device marks a significant advancement in monitoring pathogens that threaten poultry and dairy farms. The biosensor utilizes electrochemical capacitive technology to achieve rapid and sensitive detection of viral and […]
Apr 9, 2025
Dozens of free measles vaccine clinics close in Texas as federal funding is cut
NBC News Many clinics had been planned at schools in the Dallas area with low vaccination rates. Steep federal funding cuts have forced public health officials in one of Texas’ most populous counties — Dallas — to cancel dozens of vaccination clinics and lay off 21 workers on the front lines of combatting the state’s growing […]
Apr 9, 2025
Hawaii confirms travel-related measles case in child under 5
Hawaii Tribune The Hawaii Department of Health has confirmed its first measles case this year in an unvaccinated child on Oahu under the age of 5. Gov. Josh Green made the announcement during a press conference this morning, in which he urged everyone to get vaccinated for measles, mumps and rubella. The case was confirmed […]
Apr 9, 2025
What will it take to get measles under control?
NPR It’s been 25 years since measles was officially “eliminated” from the United States. That’s a technical term. In public health, it means measles has not had a steady twelve month spread. Right now there are measles cases in several states The biggest number of cases are in West Texas where two kids have died. […]
Apr 9, 2025
2nd child with measles dies in Texas, according to state health officials
ABC News 2nd child dies of measles in TexasThere are 607 confirmed measles cases across 21 states nationwide, according to data from the CDC. A second child in Texas has died of measles, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services, in a growing outbreak that has infected hundreds of people, the vast majority […]
Apr 8, 2025
Mexico confirms country’s first human death from H5N1 bird flu
CBS News A 3-year-old girl in western Mexico has died after contracting bird flu in the country’s first confirmed human case of the virus, Mexican health authorities said Tuesday. Mexico’s Health Ministry said in a statement that the girl died at 1:35 a.m. local time due to respiratory complications resulting from the infection. Type A H5N1 influenza […]
Apr 8, 2025