Category: Emerging Infectious Diseases
Marburg Virus’ Latest Eruption
MedPageToday On September 27, 2024, the world learned that Marburg virus — a close cousin of Ebola — had surfaced for the first time in Kigali, Rwanda, where it was largely sickening healthcare workers in two hospitals. By September 30, Marburg had already infected 27 humans and killed nine As of October 7, Rwanda’s government stated that the outbreak’s […]
Oct 16, 2024
Is it time to freak out about bird flu?
STAT The answer is not as straightforward as one might like. If you’re aware of the H5N1 bird flu outbreak in U.S. dairy cattle — you may have seen some headlines or read something on social media — perhaps you are wondering what the fuss is about. Yes, there have been nearly a couple dozen human […]
Oct 16, 2024
Want to Get Free COVID-19 Tests from USPS?
C|Net Ah, fall. The season for sweaters, soup and, of course, updated vaccines. In addition to getting your yearly flu shot, consider making sure you and your family are up to date on your COVID vaccines — the new Novavax vaccine may be a good option. And it’s helpful to have some test kits on hand in case you start […]
Oct 15, 2024
In depth analysis explains why preschoolers are less likely to develop severe COVID-19
Medical Express Five years ago, at the outset of the coronavirus pandemic, a phenomenon became abundantly clear: Preschool-age children rarely developed severe cases of COVID-19. It wasn’t that children under the age of 5 were avoiding infection. To the contrary, they were coming down with COVID like everyone else. In the United States, the Centers […]
Oct 15, 2024
What causes long COVID? For nearly half of cases, new research suggests an answer.
Boston Globe A study from researchers at Mass General Brigham may pave the way for effective treatments. Scientists and doctors have suspected for years that one cause of the mysterious condition known as long COVID may be reservoirs of the virus that remain hidden in the bodies of its victims long after their acute infections […]
Oct 15, 2024
CBS News Health officials are warning about the rise of multiple infections this season — especially among school-aged children — including whooping cough and walking pneumonia. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there have been about four times as many cases of whooping cough this year compared to last year. On “CBS Mornings Plus” […]
Oct 15, 2024
Rwanda’s seven steps in seven days for managing Marburg virus
Nature By the end of September, the outbreak of Marburg virus in Rwanda had caused 27 confirmed cases and 9 deaths (see Nature https://doi.org/nk8v; 2024). The Rwandan government has activated its National Epidemic Preparedness and Response Coordination Committee, building on its experience from the COVID-19 pandemic. However, to advance science and ensure access to new therapies and […]
Oct 15, 2024
Zimbabwe Reports Its First Mpox Cases As Outbreak Continues To Spread Through Africa
IFLScience Zimbabwe is the latest country to report cases of mpox, the first in its history. Two people, an 11-year-old boy and a 24-year-old man, are known to have been infected, both with recent travel history to other countries. The variant of the virus has not been specified. South Africa’s SABC news broadcast an announcement from Zimbabwe […]
Oct 15, 2024
How the Mpox Response Has Learned from History
Scientific American The abandoned buildings behind the New Somerset hospital in Cape Town, South Africa, are prime real estate along the waterfront, so guards patrol the area day and night to protect against squatters. But squatters aren’t the only visitors. Tucked in among the empty facades is the Ivan Toms Center for Health, one of the […]
Oct 15, 2024