All articles tagged with #infectious diseases
A Science study cited by The Washington Post finds the global wildlife trade amplifies transmission of pathogens between animals and humans, with 41% of traded wild mammals sharing at least one pathogen with humans, highlighting the need for stronger oversight of live-animal markets and surveillance to curb future pandemics.
Regular use of the over-the-counter remedy bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol) can cut the risk of traveler’s diarrhea by about 65%, especially in high-risk regions such as Latin America, sub-Saharan Africa and parts of Asia; maintain consistent dosing and consider dietary precautions, as probiotics or antibiotics may not be the best preventive measures.
A new Covid variant, BA.3.2, has been detected across the United States, with cases identified in travelers and widespread wastewater signals in at least 25 states. Early data suggest it may partially evade antibodies from current vaccines, though it has not been shown to cause more severe disease; health authorities say vaccine updates may be needed and ongoing surveillance is essential as thousands of Covid deaths continue this year.
A 58-year-old woman in Greece developed a rare nasal infestation with sheep bot fly larvae (Oestrus ovis). Doctors removed 10 maggots and a pupa from her maxillary sinus after she sneezed, and she recovered with nasal decongestants. This is the first reported case of a pupated O. ovis found in a human, a biologically unusual event that questions whether such infections could adapt to humans; more data are needed for understanding.
Merck is reorganizing its Human Health unit into two business units—Oncology and Specialty, Pharma & Infectious Diseases—to sharpen commercial execution for a broader portfolio. New leaders Jannie Oosthuizen (Oncology) and Brian Foard (Specialty, Pharma & Infectious Diseases) will report to CEO Robert Davis, while Chirfi Guindo leads Strategic Access, Policy & Communications. The move aims to better advance Merck’s widening pipeline, with about 80 Phase 3 trials and more than 20 growth drivers anticipated in the coming years.
After leaving the WHO, the Trump administration is weighing a domestic, $2 billion-a-year plan to recreate the global disease surveillance and outbreak-response functions the U.S. formerly accessed through the WHO, arguing it would be cheaper and keep these capabilities under U.S. control.
Nature reports that the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases will deprioritize biodefense and pandemic preparedness, scrubbing those terms from its pages as it shifts toward basic immunology and other domestic infectious-disease work. About a third of its $6.6 billion budget funds emerging infectious diseases and biodefense, and the move accompanies leadership changes and a review of grant portfolios, raising concerns about readiness for evolving pathogens.
The old saying “feed a cold, starve a fever” isn’t supported by science. Fever can raise body temperature, while colds don’t automatically make you colder. Experts recommend staying hydrated and eating nourishing foods as your stomach tolerates, rather than fasting, to support the body’s fight against illness.
A Lancet analysis of more than 500,000 adults from Finland and the UK shows that obesity (BMI ≥30) raises the risk of being hospitalized for or dying from infectious diseases by about 70% versus those with a healthy weight, with obesity linked to roughly 11% of infection deaths globally and varying by country (about one in six in the UK, one in four in the US). The study suggests obesity may weaken immune defenses across infections such as flu, pneumonia, COVID-19 and gastroenteritis, and notes the need for policies that support healthy weight and vaccination; however, as it relies on observational data it cannot prove causality, and further research is needed to understand the underlying mechanisms.
Airports in Asia are on alert as Nipah virus cases rise in West Bengal, India. With no cure available and outbreaks occurring nearly every year in South Asia, health authorities are boosting screenings (Thailand) and considering threat-status updates (Taiwan) as regional vigilance increases.
A Washington Post Well+Being article explains that urinary tract infections are usually caused by bacteria, most often E. coli, and that research suggests these bacteria may originate from meat in some cases. The piece emphasizes food-safety practices and proper meat handling/cooking as potential ways to reduce risk, noting that this link may influence those with recurrent UTIs.
A 5,500-year-old shin bone from Colombia yielded DNA of a close relative of the syphilis bacterium, providing the oldest evidence that syphilis originated in the Americas long before European contact.
Virginia health officials announced a second case of measles in a young child who had traveled internationally, following a prior contagious-measles case that circulated in the region. Authorities warned of possible public exposures and noted that measles can linger in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves an area.
Nature Medicine outlines NIAID’s new strategic vision to prepare for future infectious threats by strengthening patient-focused care today through accelerated translational research, better data use, and nimble cross-NIH collaboration.
An infectious-disease expert highlights key viral threats to watch in 2026, including bird flu, mpox, and Oropouche virus, emphasizing the importance of vigilance, vaccine development, and understanding emerging viruses amid global changes and travel.