The Ebola outbreak in Congo’s Ituri province has caused 88 deaths and over 300 suspected cases, with at least six Americans exposed to the highly contagious disease. One of these US patients is experiencing symptoms, according to media reports. Global alarm has been building since the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a public health emergency of international concern … Read more
“Patient zero” isn’t exactly the title you want attached to your travel itinerary. But that’s the grim distinction Dutch ornithologist Leo Schilperoord now holds after authorities identified him as the first case in a deadly hantavirus outbreak aboard a luxury cruise ship. The 70-year-old birdwatcher and his wife, Mirjam Schilperoord, 69, had toured an Argentinian … Read more
A hantavirus outbreak aboard a luxury cruise ship that has left three people dead is veering into the fringe. Online, a growing number of social media users are floating ivermectin as a possible treatment for the rare infectious disease, which can cause life-threatening heart and lung complications. Yes, you read that right — the antiparasitic … Read more
A dream trip has turned into a floating nightmare for passengers and crew aboard the MV Hondius, where a hantavirus outbreak has killed three and sickened at least four others. Nearly 150 people still on board are in quarantine after health officials confirmed that two passengers were infected with the Andes strain, a rare and … Read more
A hantavirus outbreak aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship has killed three passengers and sickened at least four others, worrying health experts. People most often contract the rare but deadly disease from the feces, urine or saliva of infected rodents, but the World Health Organization insisted Tuesday that no rodents have been found on the … Read more
A little sunburn and seasickness might be the least of your worries once you set sail on that dream cruise. More than 150 people, including 17 Americans, are currently confined to their cabins aboard a luxury cruise ship amid a suspected hantavirus outbreak that has left them stranded off the coast of West Africa. At … Read more
The suspected hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius cruise ship, which has killed three people and sickened at least seven others, has two likely causes — and both are bad news for the 150 passengers on board, experts said. The more likely scenario would be passengers contracting the virus from the feces, urine or saliva … Read more
It thawed out — and then it multiplied. Scientists successfully revived a “zombie worm” that had been frozen for 24,000 years, revealing new insight into how life survives in the most unforgiving environments over extended periods of time. According to a study published in the scientific journal Current Biology, researchers found that the microscopic organism … Read more
Measles is back in a big way — and it’s catching some doctors off guard. In North Carolina, hospital staff took a staggering two hours and 20 minutes to isolate 7-year-old twin brothers who arrived at an Asheville ER last month with fever, cough, rash, pink eye and cold-like symptoms, KFF Health News reports. The … Read more
This year’s influenza virus has been dubbed the “super flu” for how quickly it’s spreading — and how hard it’s hitting. In fact, infections have broken records in New York, with 71,123 positive flu cases documented the week ending on Dec. 20 — the highest single-week total since tracking began in 2004. The CDC reports 4.6 million … Read more
You’re not imagining it: Everyone seems to have the flu this year. And they’ve got it bad. The numbers are especially grim in the Big Apple: According to preliminary hospital data collected by New York City’s syndromic surveillance system, more people visited the ER for flu symptoms the week of December 20 than they did … Read more
The flu had a glow-up. This year’s flu season is proving to be worse than normal, with hospitalizations up significantly compared to last year, and the CDC reporting 4.6 million cases of the flu so far. But with peak flu season still going on until at least February, signs of the unusual “super flu” variant … Read more
The odds are fairly high that everyone around you is currently sick. But you’re not imagining things if it seems like your typical sore throat is worse than usual. A “mystery throat virus” is going around, leaving people down and out for the count — and offering no real treatment. A worse-than-normal sore throat is … Read more
‘Tis the season for the sounds of sniffles. A stuffed up nose seems to be a staple of colder weather, especially as cold and flu season has hit its peak from now until February. While avoiding catching a cold is tough, you can find relief without having to stock up on hundreds of medications and … Read more
How rude. With cold and flu season underway, one would hope others would be considerate enough to cough and sneeze into the crook of their elbow, slowing down the spread of contagious droplets into the air nearby. Unfortunately, we can’t control other people’s gross behavior — so if the worst does happen and you’ve gotten … Read more
The shingles vaccine is intended to prevent shingles, a painful rash caused by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus, also known as herpes zoster, but a new study suggests that it could have major secondary benefits. Researchers at Case Western Reserve University have identified a potential link between the shingles vaccine and a reduced risk of developing vascular … Read more
Aging well never gets old. We used to think of successful aging as simply avoiding disease — that concept has evolved over the years to a broader, more holistic view that includes physical, mental, emotional and social well-being. The problem is that it can be difficult to tell how well you’re aging without wearing a … Read more
Hollywood icon Diane Keaton died after a battle with pneumonia, her family confirmed late Wednesday. Sources close to the Oscar-winning actress said her health took a dramatic turn in the months before her death at the age of 79 on Saturday. Here’s everything you need to know about the common — but potentially deadly — … Read more
From subway cars to office cubicles, New Yorkers are hoarse and hacking this fall — sidelined by stubborn symptoms that just won’t quit. While official data indicates that overall respiratory illness activity remains low across the city, experts say the effects of a late-summer surge caused by one particular virus are still being felt. “[It] … Read more
Don’t sweat the fall stuff — including respiratory viruses. Cases of the common cold, flu, COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) tend to increase in the autumn and winter as people spend more time indoors. Drier air also helps these viruses survive and spread more easily. Here are the best ways to protect yourself from … Read more