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Antibiotic resistance doubles in just two decades

Antibiotic resistance poses a grave challenge to many previously curable infectious diseases. At present, antibiotic resistance is proving to increase at a much faster rate compared to the development of new therapies.

21 Oct 2019

Ebola virus vaccine still effective against the infection even in low concentrations

The Ebola virus (EBOV), variant Makona, was the causative agent of the 2014-2016 West African epidemic that took over 11,000 lives and infected nearly 30,000 people. But with the combination of globally-supported containment efforts, health experts were able to track the spread of the outbreak, as well as use precautionary and quarantine procedures.

21 Oct 2019

Patients with diabetes may have worse lung infections

People with diabetes are at a higher risk of various complications, including worse respiratory diseases. One of the most dreaded lung diseases is the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), which emerged in Saudi Arabia in 2012.

21 Oct 2019

Neutrophil extracellular traps could cause organ damage in malaria

Malaria is one of the world's deadliest infectious diseases: a small mosquito bite delivers numerous malaria parasites into the bloodstream. The human body defends itself valiantly against the parasite, which usually results in periodic flu-like symptoms and severe fever. Severe cases of the disease are accompanied by tissue damage and result in potentially fatal organ failure.

21 Oct 2019

Novel approach brings researchers one step closer to universal flu vaccine

The scourge of the influenza virus devastates health and claims many lives worldwide each year. It is especially daunting because vaccines are only protective when they are well matched to the strains circulating in the population.

18 Oct 2019

Study finds little evidence of 'immigrant health paradox' among Arab Americans

First generation immigrants to the United States from Latin America, South America, and Asia have been shown to have better health outcomes and behaviors than second generation (born in the U.S. to immigrant parents) and third generation (born in the U.S. to U.S.-born parents with immigrant heritage) immigrants -- a phenomenon known as the "immigrant health paradox."

17 Oct 2019

Tips to help strengthen your defenses this flu season

Flu season can take its toll on your health, but one way to fight the virus is to stop the spread of germs at home.

17 Oct 2019

Spectrum Health, MSU researchers aim to find new or better treatments for "orphan diseases"

The National Institutes of Health has awarded a Michigan State University researcher a $2.1 million, five-year grant to search vast databases of existing drugs.

16 Oct 2019

Flu test: Is it needed?

Flu season is fast approaching. When flu symptoms strike, you may wonder if you or your loved ones should get a flu test before beginning treatment.

15 Oct 2019

Get vaccinated to protect yourself from flu, say Johns Hopkins experts

Cases of the flu are already on the rise around the nation as flu season begins. Johns Hopkins Medicine experts say now is the time to fight against the flu as the number of people getting sick from the potentially life-threatening virus will increase in the coming months.

14 Oct 2019

CRISPR RNA-cutting enzyme programmed to destroy viruses in human cells

Many of the world's most common or deadly human pathogens are RNA-based viruses -- Ebola, Zika and flu, for example -- and most have no FDA-approved treatments.

10 Oct 2019

Hand sanitizers are effective, but nothing can beat traditional handwashing

Whether they dangle from keychains, spritz from pens or froth and pump out of clinic and classroom dispensers, hand sanitizers are convenient alternatives to handwashing, and they do work.

9 Oct 2019

CDC advises vaccination for pregnant women against flu and whooping cough

The Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) has recommended that all pregnant women should be vaccinated against influenza and whooping cough to provide protection to the baby against these deadly infections during the first few months of their lives. The CDC recommendation released this week Tuesday (8th of October 2019), is that these vaccines against flu and whooping cough are safe for pregnant women and do not affect their unborn babies adversely.

9 Oct 2019

Scientists discover new patterns in the evolution of the influenza virus

Researchers from Skoltech have found that the devious influenza virus is capable of new patterns of evolution and mutation in order to escape treatment with the currently available drugs and prevention with the currently available vaccines. This discovery however could help researchers predict the potential mutations in the genome of the virus and ultimately help them develop and design more effective vaccines against influenza.

9 Oct 2019

Combination treatment cures pancreatic cancer, reprograms the immune system

A University of Rochester Wilmot Cancer Institute research team reports that combining a type of radiation therapy with immunotherapy not only cures pancreatic cancer in mice, but appears to reprogram the immune system to create an "immune memory" in the same way that a vaccine keeps the flu away.

8 Oct 2019

Patients who use online patient portals more likely to get flu shots, check for blood pressure

Patients who use online patient portals are 50 percent more likely to get a flu shot and twice as likely to have their blood pressure checked as compared to patients who do not interact with these portals.

8 Oct 2019

New patterns discovered in the evolution of influenza virus

Skoltech scientists discovered new patterns in the evolution of the influenza virus. This may help predict mutations in the viral genome and ultimately help design better vaccines.

8 Oct 2019

Important tips for parents to help manage their child's asthma in the fall

Allergies and other environmental factors can make asthma harder to manage when the season changes to fall.

7 Oct 2019

IFA highlights importance of flu awareness to vulnerable populations

Today, on World Heart Day, the International Federation on Ageing (IFA) calls on all health care professionals to encourage older people and most importantly those with cardiovascular disease in their care to be vaccinated against the serious and life-altering infectious diseases of influenza and pneumonia.

4 Oct 2019