Author: Claudinne Miller
It’s a virus you may not have heard of. Here’s why scientists are worried about it
NPR A little-known virus is getting a lot of attention this year. It’s called Oropouche, and it’s been making headlines because of a notable increase in diagnoses. So far in 2024 there have been over 10,000 cases, mainly in South America and the Caribbean. The vast majority are in Brazil. By contrast, the total Oropouche […]
Nov 26, 2024
How bacteria-infected mosquitoes reduced dengue cases
Chemical and Engineering News Dengue infections are on the rise in many parts of the world, thanks to climate change and the expansion of the range of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. While some public health agencies are slowly rolling outtwo licensed vaccines, a few countries are also testing a novel intervention to battle these mosquitoes and the diseases they spread. […]
Nov 26, 2024
Canadian probe into teen’s critical H5N1 infection finds no clear source
CIDRAP As a Canadian teen remains in critical care with an H5N1 avian flu infection in a British Columbia hospital, health investigators said today they haven’t identified the source, but have found other clues such as virus changes that may have led to a more severe lower respiratory infection. At a briefing today, Bonnie Henry, […]
Nov 26, 2024
Cognitive deficits after COVID-19 associated with brain injury biomarkers and volume loss
Nature A prospective, multicenter study of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 demonstrates objective global cognitive impairment after 12–18 months of follow-up, especially in those who had experienced encephalopathy. The cognitive impairment was associated with increased levels of serum brain injury biomarkers and a reduction in regional brain volume on MRI.
Nov 26, 2024
Texas officials announce first locally acquired case of dengue virus in 2024
ABC News Texas public health officials announced on Monday that the state’s first locally acquired case of dengue virus of the year was reported in Cameron County. There have been 106 travel-associated dengue cases in Texas in 2024, one of which resulted in death, officials said in a press release, noting this is the highest […]
Nov 26, 2024
Bird flu virus detected in California raw milk
Los Angeles Times State health officials said Sunday that bird flu virus was detected in a retail sample of raw milk from Fresno-based dairy Raw Farm. The sample was collected by officials with the Santa Clara County public health office, who have been testing raw milk products from retail stores “as a second line of […]
Nov 26, 2024
Plane grounded for four days when 132 hamsters escape on board
UPI A plane was grounded for four days at a Portuguese airport when 132 hamsters escaped from boxes in the cargo hold. The TAP Air Portugal flight from Lisbon to Ponta Delgada Airport featured a full contingent of passengers as well as hamsters, ferrets and birds en route to a pet store. The flight ended up grounded […]
Nov 20, 2024
8 Factors That Put You at Risk of Severe Flu
NYT Sore throat. Stuffy nose. Fever, body aches and fatigue. As temperatures drop, cases of the flu have started to rise. For many people, the immune system can clear those symptoms in about a week. But for others, flu can lead to severe illness, hospitalization or even death. Flu infections cause up to 710,000 hospitalizations and 51,000 […]
Nov 20, 2024
US bird flu outbreak found in 15 states
USA Today United States health officials are tracking an outbreak in bird flu cases across the country. They are seeing cases in over 400 cattle herds across 15 states.
Nov 20, 2024
Searching for high pathogenicity avian influenza virus in Antarctica
Nature The current panzootic spread of high pathogenicity avian influenza virus (HPAIV) subtype H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b has caused unprecedented mortality in wild animals worldwide1. In 2022, the virus caused mass mortality of seabirds and marine mammals in South America, which raised concerns about HPAIV spreading to Antarctica. The wildlife in Antarctica is seasonally dense due […]
Nov 20, 2024