Author: Claudinne Miller
Evolving Epidemiology of Mpox in Africa in 2024
NEJM For decades after the identification of mpox in humans in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in 1970, the disease was largely confined to the rural areas of Central and West Africa and thus did not garner broad attention. On August 13, 2024, mpox was declared a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS) […]
Feb 4, 2025
COVID-19 linked to increase in biomarkers for abnormal brain proteins
Imperial College London Researchers have uncovered a link between COVID-19 and blood markers linked to faulty proteins in the brain. In an analysis led by researchers at Imperial College London and the UK Dementia Research Institute, scientists found that people who had previously had COVID-19 were more likely to have increased levels of biomarkers linked […]
Feb 4, 2025
The U.S. Is Having Its Mildest Covid Winter Yet
NYT But there have been plenty of other illnesses to go around. This winter’s Covid wave in the United States has been the gentlest to date, in a welcome reprieve. According to wastewater data aggregated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, not only was there less Covid circulating over the holidays than in previous years, […]
Feb 4, 2025
Long COVID impacting more than 1 million children: CDC study suggests
ABC News More than 1 million children may have been affected by long COVID in 2023, new federal data published Monday suggests. Long COVID, a condition that occurs when patients still have symptoms at least three months after clearing infection, has been well-documented in adults, but its impact on children has been less clear. Researchers from two […]
Feb 4, 2025
Scientists Discover First Henipavirus in North America, Raising Pandemic Fears
SciTech Daily Scientists have identified the Camp Hill virus, a henipavirus, in shrews in Alabama, marking its first detection in North America. Researchers at the University of Queensland have discovered the first henipavirus detected in North America. Dr. Rhys Parry from the School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences confirmed the presence of Camp Hill virus in shrews in […]
Feb 4, 2025
Hundreds of ducks found sick or dead along Lake Michigan as outbreak of H5N1 bird flu hits Chicago area
WGN9 Hundreds of ducks infected with avian influenza — H5N1 bird flu — have been found along the shores of Lake Michigan in the Chicago area, prompting warnings from area health officials. The Chicago Bird Collision Monitors (CBCM), a volunteer conservation project dedicated to the protection of migratory birds, said in a post on its Facebook page Sunday that […]
Feb 4, 2025
Groundbreaking Ebola vaccination trial launches today in Uganda
WHO In a global first, Uganda’s Ministry of Health, the World Health Organization (WHO) and other partners today launched a first-ever clinical efficacy trial for a vaccine from Ebola from the Sudan species of the virus, and at an unprecedented speed for a randomized vaccine trial, in an emergency. This is the first trial to […]
Feb 4, 2025
Tuberculosis cases on the rise in NC after more than 30 years of decline
WRAL North Carolina faces an alarming resurgence of tuberculosis (TB) cases after enjoying over three decades of declining numbers. Health officials are urgently investigating the causes behind this spike. Continue reading
Feb 4, 2025
Kansas tuberculosis outbreak reminds us of long battle for public health — and importance of trust
Kansas Reflector “Don’t spit on sidewalk.” That’s some of the best advice ever, and I first read it on a paving brick in my hometown of Baxter Springs. I have since found the message repeated on sidewalks across Kansas, as the bricks were produced by the thousands. Artifacts of an early 20th century public health […]
Feb 4, 2025
Tuberculosis Outbreak, Highly Pathogenic Bird Flu Strain and Polar Bear Hair
Scientific American Rachel Feltman: Happy Monday, listeners! For Scientific American’s Science Quickly, I’m Rachel Feltman. Hope your February is off to a great start. Let’s kick off the week by catching up on all the science news you might have missed. First, a quick note on some presidential moves that might impact health and science. Robert F. Kennedy […]
Feb 4, 2025