Health
New CDC Stats: Zika Birth Defects Appear in 10% of Babies Born to Mothers Infected While Pregnant
After a brief reprieve, Zika fear is back with a vengeance as the US mosquito population booms. And we're just now seeing the true impact of this devastating virus, as babies of mothers infected with the virus are being born.
News: Worrisome Outbreak of Mumps Spreads in Colorado
Officials in Colorado are concerned as 61 cases of the mumps were reported so far this year, a significant increase in the prevalence of the contagious disease in the state.
News: Treating Stomach Problems May Bring C. Diff Infection Back
Having a Clostridium difficile infection means stomach pains, diarrhea, fever, and loss of appetite, and if the symptoms weren't bad enough, the disease often reoccurs. Now, new research has found an increased risk of recurrence in people who take medication to treat their stomach acid, gastroesophageal reflux disease, peptic ulcer disease, or stomach discomfort.
News: Stealthy Bacteria Is Unexpected Cause of UTIs That Keep Coming Back
Most females have had at least one urinary tract infection in their lifetimes. Recurrent UTIs are particularly problematic in young, sexually active women, where about 80% of the infections are caused by the bacteria Escherichia coli, better known as E. coli.
News: Phase 2 Zika Vaccine Trial Begins in US, Along with Central & South America
Phase 2 of a Zika vaccine trial began in the United States this week, along with Central and South America.
News: Zika Is About to Explode Again as Mosquito Season Approaches
There could be a fresh outbreak of the Zika virus in the Americas as the weather heats up and the mosquito population blooms.
News: Amish New Mother with Stiff Neck & Jaw Diagnosed with Obstetric Tetanus, Emphasizing Need for Vaccinations
Obstetric tetanus in an unvaccinated Amish woman after a home birth has emphasized the need for preventative healthcare.
News: Mumps Outbreaks Hit 3 Different US College Campuses; Cases More Than Double Last Year at This Time
There have been mumps outbreaks in three different US colleges so far this year as instances of the illness are on the rise, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
News: Here's a Startling Reminder to Always Dry Your Hands Before Handling Your Contact Lenses
Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK), a rare eye infection caused by the Acanthamoeba ameba found in tap water, affects a few dozen people in the US every year. In some cases, it can have devastating effects, like what Irenie Ekkeshis has experienced; She was blinded by AK in her right eye due to a contaminated contact lens.
News: Parasite Spread by Slugs & Rats Sickens 6 in Hawaii
Warning: If you are eating and for some reason still decided to click on this article, turn around now. Maui, Hawaii health officials have reported finding at least six cases of angiostrongyliasis, a parasitic lungworm that infects humans. Colloquially, it's known as rat lungworm disease. And if you think that name is awful, just wait until you hear what it does to the human body.
News: Zika Won't Contaminate US Blood Banks, Say Officials
US blood banks have assured the American public that they have the tools to prevent a Zika contamination, despite the rapid spread of the disease.
News: Early Treatment with Vaccine Could Slow Precancerous HPV
Usually, we think of vaccines as preventative, a shot we get to prevent the flu or some childhood disease like measles or mumps. But there are vaccines for other purposes, such as the ones studied by researchers from the Netherlands.
News: From 2013–2014, 23% of Adults Were Infected with Cancer-Causing HPV—A Virus That Can Be Stopped with a Vaccine
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) just reported some upsettingly high numbers of human papillomavirus (HPV) in adults. In data retrieved from 2013–2014, 22.7% of US adults in the 18–59 range were found to have the types of high-risk genital HPV that cause certain cancers.
News: Despite Effective Vaccine, Measles Still Threaten Worldwide
Nineteen days ago, several hundred people could have been exposed by a traveler with measles in Nova Scotia, Canada. The next day, someone flying from Minnesota to Nebraska may have spread the measles to other passengers. A couple weeks ago, it's possible that a man and his six-month old child spread the measles in several Seattle-based locations. Authorities are trying to locate persons who may have been in contact with these people. None of the persons with measles were vaccinated. Why?
News: Baby with Severe Zika-Related Birth Defects Born in San Diego County
A baby with severe Zika-related birth defects was born in San Diego County this week, prompting officials to urge pregnant women to avoid disease hotspots.
News: Syphilis Outbreak in in Oklahoma County Linked to a Social Network Defined by Drugs & Sex
There has been an outbreak of syphilis in Oklahoma County with 75 confirmed cases connected by a social network driven by drug use and sex.
News: Take These Steps to Avoid Getting an Infection When You Receive Health Care
The office of your physician, or your local hospital, is where you go when you need medical care. But it could also be where you could pick up a life-threatening infection.
News: Potentially Serious Flea-Spread Disease Expanding Its Territory in Texas
A sometimes serious disease spread by fleas is making inroads in Texas, quietly doubling case numbers since 2008, and beginning to encroach on larger metropolitan areas.
News: Please, Montana, Don't Legalize Raw Milk
Some Montana inhabitants have been making impassioned pleas to legalize raw milk this week. The debate took place during a hearing on House Bill 325, which was held by the Senate Agriculture, Livestock, and Irrigation Committee on Tuesday, March 21.
News: Hand Sanitizer Won't Stop an Office Outbreak—If Your Coworker Doesn't Care
There's now more reasons to make sick workers stay home—a new game theory study suggests adequate hand washing and other illness-aversion tactics aren't as useful as we thought to keep you from getting infected when a virus or bacteria is circulating.