Category: Emerging Infectious Diseases
The C.D.C. Now Says Healthy Kids Don’t Need Covid Shots. Is That True?
NYT The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will no longer advise that healthy children receive routine Covid shots, a significant departure from its previous approach of suggesting annual shots for everyone age 6 months and older. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced the change on X on Tuesday, citing a lack of data to support shots for […]
May 28, 2025
Can we stop killer fungi?
BBC Fungal diseases are becoming more common, more dangerous, and more difficult to treat. There’s concern that they may cause the next global pandemic. Rising global temperatures, better survival rates for vulnerable patients, and increased medical interventions contribute to the rise in fungal infections. Access to effective diagnostics and treatment remains limited, with significant disparities […]
May 28, 2025
COVID variant NB.1.8.1 hits U.S. What to know about symptoms, new booster vaccine restrictions
CBS News Cases of the new COVID-19 variant NB.1.8.1, linked to a large surge in China, have been detected in multiple locations across the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The earliest cases in the U.S. date back to late March and early April, and were detected through a screening program at airports […]
May 28, 2025
Amid measles outbreak, Texas is poised to make vaccine exemptions for kids easier
AP Texas this year has been the center of the nation’s largest measles outbreak in more than two decades, as a mostly eradicated disease has sickened more than 700 in the state, sent dozens to hospitals and led to the death of two children who were unvaccinated. But even as the outbreak slows, a bill approved by state lawmakers […]
May 28, 2025
Brazil finds bird flu in wild bird, investigates potential case on commercial farm
Reuters Brazil identified fresh bird flu cases in wild animals, which it said should not have any commercial impact, and is investigating a new potential case on a commercial farm, Agriculture Minister Carlos Favaro said on Tuesday. Brazil, the world’s largest chicken exporter, earlier this month identified a bird flu outbreak on a commercial farm […]
May 27, 2025
Bird Flu: The Next Pandemic?
Science Vs Podcast Bird flu has been in the headlines for ages, with scientists warning that we could be headed for a pandemic. But we’ve been hearing about this H5N1 virus for so long that it’s kind of starting to feel like the boy who cried wolf. So — what’s really going on with H5N1 […]
May 27, 2025
Measles Case Count Climbs Slightly to 1,046 Cases, While Indiana’s Outbreak Ends
MedPageToday The U.S. saw a small increase in measles casesopens in a new tab or window last week, an indicator that outbreaks are slowing down, though exposures at a busy airport in Colorado and a Shakira concert in New Jersey are keeping public health experts on their toes The CDC said Friday that there are 1,046 confirmed measles […]
May 27, 2025
Feline avian influenza cases spark concerns
AVMA Cats are “exquisitely sensitive” to highly avian influenza virus, expert says. Since December 2022, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) had confirmed more than 130 feline cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) type A H5N1 infection across the country, from California to New Jersey. They range from barn and feral […]
May 27, 2025
Sierra Leone Fights Mpox
Africa CDC Sierra Leone is the latest addition to the Incident Management Support Team (IMST) list of the most mpox-hit nations. Skyrocketing cases are triggering concern across Africa. Sierra Leone recorded its first case on January 10, 2025. Immediately after, Minister of Health Dr Austin Demby declared a Public Health Emergency, saying at the time […]
May 21, 2025
An Apocalypse of Toxic Fungi Could Threaten Millions of Lives Within 15 Years
Popular Mechanics A new study analyzing different climate scenarios discovered that toxic fungi will likely spread into new areas in the future, possibly threatening millions. Life-sustaining fungi that break down plant and animal matter could also be at risk of extinction in some of the warmest regions of the Earth—particularly on the African continent. It’s […]
May 21, 2025