Disease

Previously, Ebola was thought to only be transmitted sexually through males, as the virus can survive in semen for two years. However, in Liberia a woman carried the virus for two years and fell ill a second time soon after giving birth. This is the first instance where a woman has carried the virus…

Since mid-May there have been several reports in Iowa of Cyclosporiasis. Symptoms of this parasitic disease include watery diarrhea, cramping, bloating, increased nausea and fatigue. While this parasite is more prevalent in developing countries, this recent resurgence in Iowa has been thought to be…

Over the past week, over eight residents in Washington Heights have been sickened by a Legionnaires outbreak. Seven of the residents are currently hospitalized but fortunately, no deaths have been reported. Legionnaires disease is transferred when contaminated water becomes airborne. Normally,…

According to government figures, smoking among adults and teens has reached an ‘all time low.’ They attribute this to an increased understanding of the harmful consequences of smoking cigarettes. They speculate that the development of electronic cigarettes and vaping may play a role as well. The…

Recently, scientists have conducted a study looking into young children’s added sugar consumption. This is the first of its kind, focusing on children aged two and under. They have found that children 6-11 months old consume around 65% of their sugars daily from added sugar. Children who are aged…

Emily Baumgaertner, New York Times: Aid workers in DRC are utilizing a ring method in their vaccination program against Ebola, vaccinating individuals in contact with the Ebola case, as well as individuals in contact with those contacts. Already, the ring vaccination method is currently being…

— BBC News The largest E. coli outbreak since 2006 has killed 5 people, with 197 reported cases across 35 US states. Two of the individuals who died were from Minnesota, one from Arkansas, one from California, and one from New York. According to the FDA, Arizona is believed to be the source of the…

Nipah, a rare and deadly virus has spread throughout India taking the lives of over 13 individuals. The infection has no known cure and is transmitted by bats, pigs, or other animals. The virus has a rather high mortality rate at 70% and can cause inflammation of the brain also known as…

Early this month an Ebola outbreak was reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo causing a very high public health risk. In the previous 2014-2016 Ebola outbreak, over 11,300 deaths were reported and over 28,600 infections. However, now there is significantly more preparation and tools available…

As reported by Donald G. McNeil Jr. in the New York Times, the World Health Organization (WHO) recently published a list of essential diagnostics. This necessary diagnostic list consists of many common lab tests frequently ordered by physicians including red and white blood cell counts, liver…

Nipah virus has surfaced in India, hospitalizing and claiming the lives of some twenty five people. Nipah is on the Top-10 list of viruses to cause the next major epidemic, as identified by the WHO. This virus has a 70% mortality rate, no vaccination, no cure, and the only treatment is supportive…

Joshua Berlinger, CNN: Morgan Windsor, ABC News: A vaccination campaign to combat against the spread of the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo will begin on Monday. With now four confirmed case now in Mbandaka, an important urban port city with an estimated 1.2 million residents,…

WHO: The Emergency Committee met for the first time (via teleconference) regarding the Ebola Virus outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Friday, May 18th. The committee decided that the current situation does not meet the criteria for a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. Key…

Express: There’s been a new Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. So far the outbreak has killed 23 people. The World Health Organization is currently sending experimental vaccines to the affected area. The main concern is that the outbreak could spread to the more densely populated…