All Emerging Threats & Epidemiology articles – Page 2
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NewsAsk the expert: World Cup travel and Ebola risk
Luis Ostrosky, MD, division chief of infectious diseases at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston and chief epidemiology officer for Memorial Hermann Health System addresses the Ebola outbreak in Congo and Uganda and how the United States could be affected through travel.
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NewsPathogenic fungus transmitted by domestic cat scratches is present in wild animals
Researchers detected pathogenic species of Sporothrix in the internal organs of mammals, birds, and reptiles that were killed by vehicles on Brazilian roads. The study reveals a new reservoir for fungi and highlights the need for surveillance.
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NewsAs California warms, cases of dengue fever are expected to grow
Historically, dengue fever has been rare in California. But according to new research, a warming climate is making parts of the state more hospitable to the illness — and the mosquitoes that carry it.
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NewsChina’s psittacosis knowledge gap: A scoping review calls for coordinated action
Psittacosis—a bacterial pneumonia transmitted from birds to humans—is experiencing a notable resurgence in China. A new review presents a sobering picture: psittacosis is epidemiologically substantive, clinically serious, and chronically underserved by institutional resources and public health infrastructure.
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NewsResearchers test two treatments to protect against deadly cattle disease
As cases of a deadly cattle disease rise in Arkansas, researchers are testing two treatments they hope will help ranchers protect their herds. The disease is bovine theileriosis and is caused by the parasite Theileria orientalis Ikeda, carried primarily by the invasive Asian longhorned tick.
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NewsFirst-in-human clinical trial shows promising results for new Lassa fever vaccine
Researchers have reported encouraging results from an early clinical trial that tested a new dual vaccine against Lassa fever and rabies. The study found that the vaccine was safe and induced immune responses against both viruses. There are currently no vaccines against Lassa fever on the market.
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NewsTesting AI against public health’s existing tools
A new study found that AI chatbots made vaccine-hesitant parents more likely to say they would vaccinate their children against HPV, but did not outperform materials from government health agencies, whose effects also lasted longer.
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NewsEurope’s crops under threat: €6 million project launches to tackle rising plant pest crisis
The University of Warwick leads a European consortium to build the first platform capable of coordinating Europe’s response to devastating agricultural and forest pest invasions. The project will give plant health authorities the ability to model and optimise pest control strategies across the entire agri-value chain.
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NewsNew study highlights maternal-fetal TORCH infection risk
Researchers have assessed long-term trends in TORCH infections in India, a region where reliable data have been lacking. TORCH includes pathogens that cause toxoplasmosis, rubella, cytomegalovirus (CMV), herpes simplex virus and other infections.
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NewsInfections are major ‘health hazard’ for people with diabetes
Infections should be considered a “health hazard” in people living with diabetes, with experts warning that current clinical guidelines fail to reflect a substantial but under-recognised burden of illness, hospitalisation and death. People living with type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes and prediabetes face higher risks of infection compared to those without diabetes.
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NewsNew tool quickly sequences hantavirus genome
The genetic diversity of hantavirus and the low levels of virus typically found in patient samples make sequencing its genome particularly challenging. Researchers have developed a new, effective, and low-cost way to carry out whole genome sequencing for hantaviruses.
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NewsNew model could help track deadly viruses back to their source
A new predictive model could help scientists more efficiently identify the reservoirs of emerging zoonotic viruses and dangerous pathogens like Ebola that can spill over from animals into humans. It relies on detailed information collected on suspected reservoir species to identify key windows.
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NewsAntibiotics for common sore throats have very limited effect on Strep spread
Antibiotics for sore throats have hardly any preventive effect against serious streptococcal infections in the population, according to a study. Instead, healthcare needs to quickly recognize warning signs of a serious infection.
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NewsT cells may be key to stopping measles virus—and its deadly relatives
Scientists have discovered how T cells target paramyxoviruses, a viral family that includes measles virus and Nipah virus. Instead of vaccinating against one virus at a time, the researchers found that activating “cross-reactive” T cells may protect against the wider paramyxovirus family.
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NewsPan-European One Health Network established to bolster infectious disease response
iiCON: the Infection Innovation Consortium has successfully secured funding from COST to establish a unique pan-European COST Action network with over 70 collaborators from 21 countries and international organisations to harmonise the European response to infectious disease threats.
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NewsNew analysis confirms benefits of childhood flu vaccines
Pediatric flu vaccines significantly reduce the number of childhood cases of influenza, new research confirms. The findings show that for every 100 children vaccinated, between nine and 14 fewer children catch the flu.
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NewsResearchers discover tick protein that may block disease transmission
Researchers have found that ticks produce an exosomal glycine-rich protein that plays a vital role in helping ticks feed and transmit viruses. When they used genetic tools to silence the gene responsible for this protein, ticks lacking the protein struggled to feed effectively and showed reduced body weight after feeding.
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NewsHealth researchers call for support to develop pandemic prevention
The Vanderbilt Center for Antibody Therapeutics has received large-scale government grants and contracts to fund the discovery of human antiviral antibodies. The problem is the next step — finding corporate partners to develop the antibodies through human testing.
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NewsExperts convened by WHO advise on candidate treatments and vaccines for Ebola disease caused by Bundibugyo virus
In response to the current outbreak of Ebola disease caused by Bundibugyo virus, WHO convened several of its expert and advisory groups to assess potential vaccines and therapeutics for both prevention and treatment of Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD).
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NewsSeven European countries observe drop in chlamydia notifications especially among young people in 2024
After a decade of general increases in chlamydia cases across Europe, the first signs of a decline suggest a possible common driver. Is it a true reduction and will it be a sustainable one?