Category: Emerging Infectious Diseases
Gentoo penguins the first birds on Australian territory to contract H5N1 as bird flu spreads
The Guardian Australian Antarctic Program scientists say virus on Heard Island has spread to new species. The gentoo penguin has become the first bird to test positive for the H5N1 bird flu on an Australian territory, with samples confirming the virus has spread on a sub-Antarctic island. The deadly and contagious strain of bird flu, […]
Feb 18, 2026
Bird flu outbreak in NJ? Dozens of dead geese found as officials investigate
ABC News Wildlife officials are investigating a suspected outbreak of bird flu after a large number of dead or dying geese were discovered at parks in Gloucester County, New Jersey. Dozens of dead geese have been found within the past few days, including near Alcyon Lake. The discoveries led to the closure of two Pitman […]
Feb 18, 2026
Flu’s Seasonal Fury
Medpage Today Influenza can sicken and kill. Vaccines are our best defense. Why…? Why…? Why…? Jasper whimpered, not just once or twice, but repeatedly. It was January 2026. For one awful week, my friend’s 21-month-old grandson was practically inert, spiked fevers to 103o, and barely ate or drank, all the while voicing his single word of […]
Feb 18, 2026
Metformin’s Prospective Role in Preventing Long COVID
ContagionLive Findings from a growing body of randomized trials and real-world analyses show that starting metformin during acute SARS-CoV-2 infection is safe and significantly reduces the risk of developing long COVID. As the global health community continues to grapple with the long-term consequences of SARS-CoV-2 infection, preventing post–COVID-19 condition—commonly known as long COVID—has become a […]
Feb 11, 2026
A parasitic fly is inching closer to the US border. Colorado livestock leaders are already preparing
Colorado Public Radio Five Rivers Cattle Feeding, headquartered out of Johnstown, touts itself as the largest feedlot company in the U.S., and one of the biggest in the world. Its locations, spread across six states, have capacity for 865,000 head of cattle. Filling those lots has been challenging of late, said the company’s head market […]
Feb 11, 2026
Infectious Disease Expert on Latest Nipah Virus Case: “Be Alert, But Not Alarmed”
Pharmacy Times Bangladesh reports fatal Nipah case linked to raw date palm sap; experts say spread stays limited as vaccines and rapid tests advance. On February 3, 2026, Bangladesh’s International Health Regulations National Focal Point notified the World Health Organization (WHO) of a confirmed case of Nipah virus infection in Rajshahi Division, northwestern Bangladesh. This […]
Feb 11, 2026
Scientists stunned after virus jumps between humans and animals: ‘It was a very unusual situation’
Yahoo News Researchers in Colorado were stunned while analyzing how the COVID-19 virus spread from humans to animals at the Denver Zoo in 2021. What’s happening? A study published in the journal Nature Communications in December looked at an instance of the COVID-19 virus spreading from humans to big cats. According to Westword, after humans initially transmitted the […]
Feb 11, 2026
How a Bacterial Infection in Mosquitoes Could Cut Dengue Infections in People
MedPageToday People living in areas with infected male mosquitoes saw their dengue risk drop 71%. Releasing male Aedes aegypti mosquitoes into the wild that were infected with the sterility-inducing bacteria Wolbachia pipientis cut dengue infection risk more than 70% in people, according to a cluster-randomized trial in Singapore. In urban locations where wolbachia-infected male mosquitoes were introduced, the percentage […]
Feb 11, 2026
7 states back in CDC’s worst tier for flu as influenza B spreads
The Hill As one variant of the flu virus starts to decline, another is rising to take its place. At the end of last year, when flu activity spiked amid the holidays, influenza A – specifically the subclade K variant of H3N2 – was dominant. It was making so many people sick, the variant was nicknamed “super flu.” Influenza A […]
Feb 11, 2026
California reports largest measles outbreak in 5 years
SF Gate Seventeen cases of measles have been reported across California since the start of 2026, including the state’s first outbreak of the highly contagious virus since 2020. The California Department of Public Health issued a health alert on Monday, warning residents of the ongoing transmission as cases emerge across multiple counties. Eight of those cases are part of […]
Feb 11, 2026