Tag

Infectious Diseases

All articles tagged with #infectious diseases

health4 days ago•83 min saved

Public health must come first: Adams critiques RFK Jr.'s priorities

Dr. Jerome Adams, a former U.S. surgeon general, argues that RFK Jr.’s emphasis on chronic-disease prevention cannot come at the expense of mounting infectious-disease outbreaks and a weakened public-health infrastructure. He urges the secretary of Health and Human Services to act now with concrete steps: restore comprehensive FoodNet tracking, fill critical CDC/FDA leadership roles, prioritize high-risk foods and imports for inspection and recall, use vaccines as a clear, ongoing messaging priority, and bolster international health-security partnerships to protect Americans at home. The piece contends outbreaks and vaccine coverage are interlinked challenges that require a proactive, well-resourced public-health response.

via Yahoo|

#food-safety #health #health-policy

health8 days ago•20 min saved

Record-high kindergarten vaccine exemptions as measles cases rise

CDC data show kindergartners’ exemptions from school vaccine requirements rose to 4.2% for the 2025-2026 school year (about 155,000 students), continuing a years-long decline in vaccination rates as measles cases climb.

via The Washington Post|

#childhood-immunizations #health #infectious-diseases

opinions11 days ago•27 min saved

AI-designed viruses: vast promise, guarded progress

AI can design novel viruses with potential to accelerate vaccines and therapies, but poses misuse risks; the Washington Post Editorial Board argues for handling the risk through stronger physical infrastructure and lab screening standards for gene synthesis, not censorship, pointing to a bipartisan Senate measure attached to the NDAA to help prevent abuse while preserving innovation.

via The Washington Post|

#artificial-intelligence #biological-weapons #genetic-engineering

world14 days ago•49 min saved

Congo's Ebola crisis surges to 2,000 deaths, fastest-spreading outbreak yet

Health authorities report Congo's Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak has reached at least 2,000 deaths and 4,381 confirmed cases, making it the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak on record. The epicenter is in Ituri, eastern Congo, where vaccine and treatment options are limited. The outbreak's high fatality rate (about 45.9%) and transmission outside monitored contacts are intensifying the challenge, while factors like rebel conflict, poor infrastructure, and worker strikes complicate response efforts; vaccine trials are underway in the region.

via Yahoo|

#congo #ebola #infectious-diseases

health21 days ago•40 min saved

First locally acquired dengue case reported in Virginia

Virginia health officials announced the state’s first locally acquired dengue case, in a resident with no travel outside Virginia who was likely bitten by a mosquito that had earlier bitten an infected traveler; officials say there is no evidence of ongoing transmission or additional locally acquired cases at this time.

via The Washington Post|

#dengue-fever #disease-outbreaks #health

infectious-diseases23 days ago•15 min saved

Brisbane horse outbreak unlocked the bat spillover puzzle

A 1994 outbreak of Hendra virus in Brisbane horses, with human infections, revealed a bat-borne zoonosis in which flying foxes were the reservoir and horses acted as amplifying hosts. The investigation linked spillover to ecological disruption—habitat loss and urban bats moving closer to people—showing, over decades, how habitat change drives disease emergence and how winter flowering of eucalyptus could lure bats away from farms to prevent spillovers. The work helped establish the ecological basis for preventing bat-to-human infections rather than relying solely on medical interventions.

via The Guardian|

#bats #deforestation #hendra-virus

health23 days ago•45 min saved

Seafood-Linked Flesh-Eating Bacteria Sparks Florida Cases: 12 Ill, 1 Dead

Florida health officials report 12 Vibrio vulnificus infections so far this year, with one death in Palm Beach County, linked to warm coastal waters and raw or undercooked shellfish. Infections are rare but can progress rapidly, sometimes causing skin and systemic infections including necrotizing fasciitis. Symptoms can include fever, chills, rapidly spreading redness or swelling, and confusion. The CDC notes about 100–200 U.S. cases annually with roughly a 1 in 5 mortality rate. Precautions include thoroughly cooking seafood and avoiding coastal water exposure with open wounds or in at-risk individuals such as those with liver disease or diabetes.

via Yahoo|

#florida #health #infectious-diseases

health26 days ago•3 min saved

Europe's hotter summers heighten infection risk, ECDC warns

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control warns that longer, hotter summers across Europe are creating conditions for more infections. Four areas are of concern: foodborne illnesses, mosquito-borne diseases (e.g., dengue and West Nile), tick-borne diseases including tick-borne encephalitis, and Vibrio infections linked to warmer coastal waters; the agency urges cross-border collaboration and practical prevention—good hygiene, protective clothing, avoiding standing water, safe food handling, and vaccination where available.

via Euronews.com|

#ecdc #europe #health

health26 days ago•49 min saved

Florida marks 2026's first Vibrio vulnificus death as health officials warn about ocean and shellfish risks

Florida confirmed the state’s first 2026 death from the flesh‑eating Vibrio vulnificus bacterium in Palm Beach County, with several other Florida cases and additional cases nationwide. Vibrio thrives in warm coastal and brackish waters May–October and can cause severe infections when open wounds contact seawater or when contaminated shellfish are eaten. Infections are rare but can be deadly, especially for people with liver disease or weakened immunity. Prevention includes cooking shellfish, avoiding raw oysters, keeping wounds covered around coastal water, wearing gloves when handling shellfish, and remaining vigilant after coastal floods or storms.

via Yahoo|

#health #infectious-diseases #ocean-safety

health27 days ago•10 min saved

Big UK trial finds HEPA filters don’t cut viral infections in care homes

A National Institute for Health Research-funded trial in 91 care homes found HEPA air filters in communal areas did not reduce respiratory infections or staff illness compared with homes without filters. The unblinded design and prior mixed evidence suggest air filtration does not reliably lower viral infection risk in real-world settings, likely because close-range transmission dominates and people move between spaces. While filters may help prevent invasive aspergillosis, policy should rely on established prevention measures rather than air filtration alone in care homes or schools.

via The Conversation|

#air-filtration #care-homes #health

health1 month ago•27 min saved

Measles surge highlights gaps in local vaccination rates

Measles cases are at a 35-year high, and The Washington Post’s review of public records from 44 states and DC shows only 28% of counties have the 95%+ kindergarten vaccination rate needed for herd immunity, down from 50% before the pandemic, with maps illustrating broad gaps and growing health risks linked to pandemic-era anti-vaccine trends.

via The Washington Post|

#health #herd-immunity #infectious-diseases

health1 month ago•16 min saved

Cyclosporiasis cases climb as investigators search for the source

Health officials report about 1,645 confirmed cyclosporiasis cases across 34 states (with more than 5,100 under investigation) as investigators search for a source; potential culprits include produce such as lettuce and possibly water, highlighting dehydration risks from the illness. The live updates also touch on related congressional questions about CDC surveillance during a director-nominee confirmation hearing and ongoing outbreak coverage.

via USA Today|

#centers-for-disease-control #cyclospora #cyclosporiasis

health1 month ago•17 min saved

CDC cuts: little immediate impact on cyclosporiasis outbreak, but long-term surveillance at risk

Washington Post reports that despite a large cyclosporiasis outbreak, the CDC’s reduced FoodNet surveillance would have little effect on current outbreak detection since cyclosporiasis remains nationally notifiable in separate databases; investigations rely on state case reports and traceback, but funding cuts could hinder long‑term trend monitoring and risk assessment for future outbreaks.

via The Washington Post|

#centers-for-disease-control-and-prevention #disease-outbreaks #food-safety

health1 month ago•19 min saved

Measles Reemergence Forces America to Rethink Outbreak Response

The U.S. is nearing last year’s measles total as outbreaks spread across multiple states, driven by declining vaccination rates, misinformation, and public distrust, forcing doctors to relearn outbreak control and diagnosis in a disease many believed to be under control.

via The Washington Post|

#disease-outbreaks #health #infectious-diseases

health1 month ago•19 min saved

Powassan virus: rising tick-borne threat as US tick season lengthens

Warmer temperatures are extending the tick season across much of the United States, and Powassan virus—while still rare—has been on the rise as a tick-borne threat with potentially serious symptoms, underscoring the importance of tick prevention and public-health awareness.

via The Washington Post|

#disease-outbreaks #health #infectious-diseases