Rats! Health officials are reporting an increase in a rare but serious infectious disease spread by rodents — just four months after Gene Hackman’s wife, the concert pianist Betsy Arakawa, died from it. A Grand Canyon National Park employee was recently exposed to hantavirus, with five cases logged so far this year in Arizona, KLAS-TV … Read more
Herpes has been called “the gift that keeps on giving” — finally, its presence has come in handy. Roughly two-thirds of the global population has been infected with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), which typically causes painful and unsightly blisters around the mouth. University of Southern California researchers have found a way to rebrand … Read more
While some cases of Parkinson’s disease are genetic, the vast majority have no known cause. Now, scientists have discovered that a virus that has flown under the radar for years might be a potential contributor to the neurodegenerative disorder. “We wanted to investigate potential environmental factors – such as viruses – that might contribute to … Read more
Don’t let your vacation go to ship. Cruises are a popular travel option thanks to endless entertainment options, bottomless buffets and easy movement from port to port — but they can also be hotbeds for infectious diseases, stomach upset and issues that arise from having a little too much fun in the sun. Here’s how … Read more
An estimated 39 million people around the world are living with HIV — and, while treatment options can ensure they have long, healthy lives, there is no known cure. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) — the most effective current treatment — can reduce HIV levels in the body so low the virus is almost undetectable. An estimated … Read more
Talk about a sore subject. New research suggests that a common viral infection lurking in as many as 8 out of 10 Americans could increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. But there’s a glimmer of hope — scientists believe antiviral treatments may help protect infected individuals from developing the memory-robbing illness. The number of Americans … Read more
UV got to be kidding! If you’re a regular at nail salons, you may be dismayed to learn that your pedicure may be more of a pedi-curse. “Getting pedicures, especially at a nail salon, can increase potential risks of bacterial, fungal and viral infections — nail salons are hot spots for toenail fungus,” podiatrist Dr. … Read more
Travelers headed to Fiji this summer better pack more than just their swimsuits — they might want to add some serious bug spray. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) just issued a warning for the tropical hotspot as dengue fever cases spike across the Western Pacific. Dengue, a potentially deadly virus spread by … Read more
The nerve! A type of herpes virus — the varicella-zoster virus — causes chickenpox in childhood and shingles later in life. Shingles travels along nerves, triggering a distinctive blistering rash and what some have described as the worst pain they have ever experienced. Shingles infections trigger a distinctive blistering rash and intense pain. ryanking999 – … Read more
Health officials found extensive evidence of rats on Gene Hackman’s New Mexico property during a hantavirus risk assessment test after the star’s wife was killed by the rodent-linked disease in late February. An environmental assessment of the property conducted in March — just one week after the couple was found dead — revealed rodent feces … Read more
Talk about a culture shock. Microplastics — tiny particles that come from large plastic items and industrial waste — can damage cells and disrupt organs, potentially increasing the risk of heart disease, cancer, infertility and other chronic conditions. Researchers from Boston University say there’s another downside to these ubiquitous shards — bacteria exposed to them … Read more
Betsy Arakawa — the classical pianist married to Gene Hackman — died last month of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare infectious disease linked to rodents, New Mexico authorities announced Friday. Hantavirus patients can develop flu-like symptoms that quickly progress to breathing difficulties. The condition can significantly damage lung tissue, causing fluid to accumulate in the … Read more
This year marked the worst in over a decade for stomach bug outbreaks on cruise ships docking in the US, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. With one day left, 2024 recorded the highest number of stomach virus outbreaks onboard cruises since 2012 — with both years tying … Read more
This is just swell. Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) — which affect one in five Americans — are most commonly found on the genitals, anus and mouth. Now, a professional medical association is warning that another part of the body can become itchy, irritated, crusty and leaky from an STI. “When gonorrhea infects the eyes, it … Read more
No one wants a blue Christmas, but a flu Christmas can be much, much worse. Colds, flus and other respiratory illnesses are more common in the winter. Flu viruses can survive longer in cold, dry air — and people spend lots of time indoors in chilly months, giving viruses more opportunity to spread. While respiratory … Read more
The bird flu virus was detected in a retail sample of raw milk from a California-based dairy farm as cases continue to rise across the state, health officials announced. The contaminated sample came from Fresno-based Raw Farm, the largest producer and retailer of raw dairy in California. The tainted sample was detected by officials from … Read more
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday confirmed the country’s first case of H5N1 bird flu infection in a child, who experienced mild symptoms and is recovering from their illness. California’s public health department had reported the case on Tuesday, but said there was no evidence of human-to-human transmission of the virus. … Read more
Scientists have discovered a surprising silver lining of COVID-19 infection. A new study by researchers at Northwestern Medicine Canning Thoracic Institute, published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, revealed a correlation between COVID-19 infection and cancer regression. Though doctors at Northwestern University warned that the research is still in early stages, they’re hopeful that more tests could lead … Read more
An Iowa resident is believed to have died from Lassa fever, a rarely seen virus in the US that causes one in three cases to suffer permanent hearing loss and 95% of infected pregnant women to miscarry. The patient, who hasn’t been publicly identified, had recently traveled to West Africa where the virus originates and … Read more
You may need a shower after hearing the results of this eye-opening study. Northwestern University researchers identified more than 600 different viruses on 92 showerhead and 34 toothbrush samples — and no two samples were alike. “The number of viruses that we found is absolutely wild,” said indoor microbiologist Erica M. Hartmann, who led the study. “We … Read more