Category: Emerging Infectious Diseases
Bird flu outbreak declared in Niger capital
Ghana Online The capital city of Niger, Niamey, has been declared an infected zone after a fresh outbreak of the H5N1 strain of bird flu was detected in local birds. The virus can cause life-threatening sickness in several species of birds including poultry and wild birds. Humans in frequent contact with birds can also become infected. Symptoms […]
Feb 6, 2024
New chronic Covid study offers insight into which immunocompromised patients are most at risk
STAT You’ve heard of long Covid, a condition in which the acute infection subsides but troubling symptoms persist. Less well known is chronic Covid: The virus just doesn’t leave, sometimes staying in patients’ bodies long enough to mutate into new variants. This happens to people whose immune systems are compromised, whether through disease or treatment, […]
Jan 30, 2024
Worried parents concerned for children’s health as CDC warns measles is a growing global threat
CBS There haven’t been any new cases of measles in Philadelphia for 14 days now, but the outbreak isn’t officially over yet. Nationally, the CDC is warning doctors to be on the alert for measles as a growing global threat. Children can’t be vaccinated against measles until they’re one. Until then, those babies are at risk. That’s […]
Jan 30, 2024
Measles Is Making A Comeback, CDC Alerts Clinicians
Forbes The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last week warned clinicians to be alert for measles. This notification comes after 23 cases—most in children who had not been vaccinated—were reported in the U.S. during the past two months. Measles is one of the most contagious infectious diseases known. In a susceptible population, the virus can rapidly […]
Jan 30, 2024
Could new clues on how long COVID affects immune system lead to treatment?
Medical News Today Approximately 10%-20%Trusted Source of individuals with a SARS-CoV-2 infection experience lingering symptoms beyond three months after symptom onset. These symptoms referred to as long COVID, can be debilitating, but there is a lack of diagnostic or therapeutic tools. A new study published in Science found that patients experiencing long COVID symptoms six months after the SARS-CoV-2 infection show […]
Jan 30, 2024
Bird flu found in penguins near Antarctica, 200 chicks dead
Devdiscourse Samples taken from two of the dead penguins came back positive for the H5N1 avian influenza virus, said Ralph Vanstreels, a veterinarian who works with SCAR. The Falkland Islands government told Reuters that many more gentoos were dying under similar circumstances. A deadly type of bird flu has been found in gentoo penguins for […]
Jan 30, 2024
What is COVID rebound? Doctors explain common symptoms and who’s at risk
NBC News With COVID levels high across most of the country, some people may find themselves experiencing symptoms of COVID rebound in the coming weeks. “COVID rebound is a recurrence of COVID symptoms after initial improvement or a new positive test after a negative one,” Dr. Scott Roberts, associate medical director of infection prevention at […]
Jan 23, 2024
Changes to Blood Proteins May Offer Further Insights Into Diagnosing Long COVID
Contagion The confounding mystery behind what causes Long COVID as well as developing definitive tests to identify and diagnose the condition has been an ongoing frustration for public health officials, clinicians, and patients. New research, however, looks to shed some light into characteristics of Long COVID. Specifically, blood serum proteins might offer a key to […]
Jan 23, 2024
The Minefields Ahead in Long COVID Treatment Development
MedPageToday Video at the link – “For the people hurting and suffering, they need treatment yesterday,” says long COVID expert. Faust: Somebody asked a question about how do you advise doctors who are treating long COVID? I think that’s really difficult, because people want to do something and they want to acknowledge that something’s happening. Then […]
Jan 23, 2024
Bird Flu Has Made a Terrifying Leap That’s Devastated Argentina’s Seal Populations
ScienceAlert Almost 96 percent of Southern elephant seal pups across Argentina born in 2023 have met a tragic end as a highly contagious strain of avian influenza continues to wreak havoc on wildlife. The scale of mortality sparks concerns that the H5N1 strain is now capable of mammal-to-mammal infection. “The sight of elephant seals found dead or dying along […]
Jan 23, 2024