Contagious Disease

Minks found in Denmark have contracted the coronavirus and transferred a mutated variant back to humans. The Danish government has decided to kill millions of minks as a precaution. The mink is currently the only known animal case to cause this mutation and retransmission. The mutation did not…

Scientists are becoming more aware of the deadly effects of the coronavirus on the vascular system. For serious COVID-19 infections, the virus can alter the endothelial cells which are inside blood vessels. People who died from COVID-19 have more blood clots and damage to the endothelial cells than…

Taiwan has gone 200 consecutive days without local transmission of COVID-19. Despite other countries seeing record-high surges in new cases, Taiwans quick and early response proved to be effective in curbing the spread of the virus. By having ongoing mask mandates, early interventions, and intense…

Setbacks caused by COVID-19 have slowed progress in prevention and treatment of tuberculosis in several countries. For example, tuberculosis case notifications have dropped 25-30% in India, Indonesia, and the Philippines. The UN Secretary General has issued 10 priority actions to close the gap in…

Many potential Covid-19 vaccines utilize oil from sharks called squalene. It is taken from shark livers and typically used as a moisturizing ingredient in cosmetics and as an immune system booster in flu and malaria vaccines. Conservationists warn that if the coronavirus vaccine with squalene is…

After quickly revoking publishing advice on airborne COVID transmission on September 21st, the CDC has put forth a revision on Monday to acknowledge that airborne transmission is possible. Aerosols (less than 5 microns) are smaller than respiratory droplets, and can “linger in the air for minutes…

Viral pandemics are closely connect human health to that of wildlife and the environment. With the increasing frequency at which these interactions are being made, researchers are hoping to reduce the pandemic potential by studying the viruses present in animals. Given the overall molecular…

While both healthcare workers and families have taken steps to disinfect items potentially contaminated with the coronavirus, some experts disagree on the best way to get rid of these germs. It has been debated whether this is any benefit for using these disinfectants, when most transmission of the…

In March, the neighborhoods in New York City that had the most confirmed cases for coronavirus were areas with the lowest median incomes, including cases in the South Bronx and Western Queens. Since then, the disease has spread throughout the city making New York the city with the greatest number…

Interestingly, the Federal Emergency Management Agency had published a warning of a nationwide pandemic that would result in a shortage of hospital supplies and an economic shutdown. The warning was part of a compilation of nine scenarios created by FEMA that aimed to challenge the Nation’s…

While COVID-19 has just reached the Democratic Republic of Congo(DRC), another viral outbreak has already killed over 6,500 children: measles. Beginning in October 2018, cases began to spike and an epidemiologist from the WHO reports that the situation has “mushroomed.” She remarks that it may be…

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economy Security (CARES) Act that pass in the House of Representatives on March 27 outlines the $2 trillion stimulus bill that provides payments up to $1,200 for those who make less than a certain limit. Yet, many Americans will not make the cut due to a variety of…

Recently, National Nurses United are leading protests across states including New York, Georgia, Illinois, and some California cities for the lack of preparedness by HCA Healthcare, a major hospital branch in the US. Their protests stem from the lack of protection equipment they are given to…

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is committed to supporting Janssen Pharmaceuticals in expediting the development process and clinical trials of a COVID-19 vaccine. It is estimated that HHS and the pharmaceutical company will contribute $1 billion toward its vaccine efforts. For…