Yellow fever virus (YFV), a close relative of Zika virus and transmitted by the same type of mosquito, is the cause of an often-fatal viral hemorrhagic fever and could spread via air travel from endemic areas in Africa to cause international epidemics. The recent reemergence and spread of YFV in Africa and Asia and the dire shortage of YFV vaccine … Read More
WHO doubles Zika sexual abstinence wait to 8 weeks before trying to conceive
Caio Julio Vasconcelos who was born with microcephaly, an abnormally small head, is kissed by a therapist at the Institute for the Blind in Joao Pessoa, Brazil, in February. (Andre Penner/Associated Press) The UN health agency says sexual transmission of Zika is more common than first thought, so its updated advice to women who have been in areas hit by the virus tells them to … Read More
Identification of Receptors in Patients That Spontaneously Control HIV Infection
A small number of patients infected by HIV spontaneously control viral replication without antiretroviral therapy and do not develop the disease. The ability of these rare patients, known as “HIV controllers”, to suppress HIV replication appears to be down to a highly effective immune response. Scientists from the Institut Pasteur and Inserm observed that CD4+ T immune cells in these … Read More
‘Substantial proportion’ of U.S. measles cases linked to anti-vaxxers, study suggests’
A recently published study in the Journal of the American Medical Association says “the phenomenon of vaccine refusal” increases the risk for measles among individuals who are not or refuse to get vaccinated, and among those who are already fully vaccinated. Measles, a disease that was considered eliminated 16 years ago in the U.S., has made a comeback in which … Read More
Vomiting machine reveals throwing up could send norovirus airborne
With the help of a vomiting machine, a new study has provided the first evidence that vomiting can send virus particles similar to those of the human norovirus airborne. The study provides the first evidence that vomiting could aerosolize the norovirus. North Carolina State University researchers state that their study, published in PLOS ONE, will have implications for better understanding … Read More
How do you Prevent #measles?
It’s simple: Get vaccinated. You get two doses of the MMR vaccine. Children usually get the first dose when they are 12 months old, and a second before kindergarten. On its web site, the CDC calls the vaccine “very effective” and states that “one dose is about 93% effective at preventing measles and two doses about 97% effective.” Before the … Read More
What are the Symptoms of Measles?
What are the first symptoms, and how quickly do they usually show up? People usually get a fever, cough, runny nose, and red eyes first. Within a few days, a red rash starts on the face and can spread to the rest of the body. If you notice those signs, tell your doctor right away. What are the possible complications? … Read More
Contagion in the Herd: How One Person Can Set Off A Measles Outbreak
Americans may be victims of their own success when it comes to the eradication of infectious diseases and take their disease-free lives for granted, says Jorge Parada, MD, hospital epidemiologist and medical director of the infection prevention and control program at Loyola University Health System. “There are plenty of countries in the world where measles and chicken pox are very … Read More
About Ebola
The current outbreak of Ebola is located in Central and West Africa. There have been no confirmed cases of Ebola in Canada. The Ebola Virus can be spread through the following: Contact with a dead body that has been infected (human or animal) Contact with blood, bodily fluids or tissue of a human or animal that has been infected. Contact with … Read More
Let’s Talk About Ebola
News this morning is that there is an Ebola Vaccine Trial starting today in Liberia. This is great news for the people in Central and West Africa. Fewer than 100 cases were reported last week, which has not happened since June of 2014. This outbreak was the worst that the world has ever seen. For further information on the Ebola … Read More