Disease

Four children ages 2-13 who visited the San Diego County fair in June exhibited symptoms of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli. The two-year-old died from complications of the bacteria, and the others were sickened. Emergency physician Dr. Robert Glatter from Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan explained…

This year, there has been an unusually large increase in the number of dengue cases in Thailand. Not all of the rise in numbers, however, may be due to actual rises in cases. The increased use of a screening test for dengue, NS1 antigen test, may mean that just more cases are being reported. Other…

In Kerala, India Nipah virus has resurfaced and killed 17 people causing inflammation of the brain. This virus is transmitted to humans through direct contact with infected bats, pigs, or people. Isolation wards have been set up across Kerala. The virus causes deadly brain damage and there is no…

Facebook has launched a new feature that enables users to see the movement and spread of any current diseases or outbreaks. This feature also allows public health organizations to inform users about any potential outbreaks in their area and how to take preventative measures. Read the full article …

Researchers are further investigating a bacterium (Yersinia pestis) that is responsible for the pneumonic plague in many individuals. Due to its almost certain lethality, it is seen as a potential weapon of bioterror, so researchers are looking for methods to effectively treat infected individuals…

Amid the numerous cases of measles in the country recently, a legislation that would increase immunization rates across the country and prevent future outbreaks of contagious diseases was introduced in Congress. This legislation will grant the Center for Disease Control and Protection (CDC) the…

According to the city health department, rats carrying typhus-infected fleas were found in Los Angeles last fall, with some fleas found on animals waiting to be adopted. Last year, Los Angeles had 124 cases of typhus, typically transmitted through bacteria that gets into eyes or cuts on the skin,…

Three visitors in Hawaii fell ill with rat lungworm disease, now totaling five cases this year. The five cases were all contracted on the big island of Hawaii. Rat lungworm disease is a parasitic infection that can cause severe effects on a persons brain and spinal cord. Most people become ill by…

This week, a health worker in the Democratic of the Congo, working against the ongoing Ebola outbreak, was killed by villagers. There has been continued violence surrounding this outbreak, with more significant hostility toward the teams focused on the burial on those who have died from Ebola. Part…

Less expensive and easier prepared overly processed foods are making people gain more weight through the consumption of more calories. These toxic foods contain industrial ingredients such as hydrogenated oils, high-fructose corn syrup, flavoring agents and emulsifiers. A month-long study was…

Immunologist, Simon Jiang, and his colleagues at the Australian National University recently discovered genes occurring in less than one percent of the population, found to be responsible for the autoimmune disease, lupus. The gene variants, BLK and BANK1, lead to increased T1 IFN protein activity…

Tech Crunch - 'The Prepared' is a new website aimed at providing the general public with information related to emergency preparedness and general survival skills, aimed at educating others on what to do in the event of something catastrophic. Advice ranges from natural disaster preparation to…

Modern Healthcare - While the United State has demonstrated a strong ability to handle disaster outbreaks, it hasn't seen much progress and improvements have been minimal in recent years. With emergency situations such as school shootings and disease outbreaks becoming more common nowadays, the…

Hepatitis A is a vaccine preventable disease of the liver. The disease has increased 294% between the years 2016 and 2018. In rare cases, the infection can cause liver failure and even death. The outbreaks have been associated with contaminated food items, sexual transmission, people using drugs,…