All Emerging Threats & Epidemiology articles – Page 5
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NewsFirst detection of zoonotic Rickettsia species in dog ticks from Malawi reveals potential public health risk
An international research team has reported the first molecular detection of Rickettsia bacteria in ticks collected from domestic dogs in Malawi, addressing a significant knowledge gap in understanding tick-borne disease risks in southeastern Africa.
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NewsNew study shows invasive Group A Streptococcus outcomes shaped by treatment strategies, not species lineage
Researchers highlight the role of early clindamycin prescription in improving the recovery rate of patients with invasive Group A Streptococcus infections in a study that examined the evolving epidemiology of such infections.
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NewsERC Synergy Grant awarded to physicist Michael Lässig and virologist Florian Klein
Researchers have been awarded a Synergy Grant by the European Research Council (ERC) for the project CoEvolve, which investigates the co-evolution of viruses and the immune system.
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NewsNot just a common cold: studies show RSV’s severity and impact on long-term health
Often confused for a common cold, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) can in fact be serious and should be studied more closely. Researchers found that the illness could be of comparable severity to other more well-known respiratory viral infections (RVIs) – such as influenza and COVID-19.
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NewsAI can speed antibody design to thwart novel viruses: study
Artificial intelligence (AI) and “protein language” models can speed the design of monoclonal antibodies that prevent or reduce the severity of potentially life-threatening viral infections, according to a multi-institutional study
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NewsResearch finds higher rare risk of heart complications in children after COVID-19 infection than after vaccination
A whole-population study showed that although these conditions were rare, children and young people were more likely to experience heart, vascular or inflammatory problems after a COVID-19 infection than after having the vaccine — and the risks after infection lasted much longer.
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NewsDemographic shifts could boost drug-resistant infections across Europe
The rates of bloodstream infections caused by drug-resistant bacteria will increase substantially across Europe in the next five years, driven largely by aging populations, according to a new paper.
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NewsNew study reveals not all bats carry equal viral risk
A groundbreaking study sheds new light on the relationship between bats and dangerous viruses, showing that contrary to widespread assumptions, not all bats carry viruses with high epidemic potential, only specific groups of species.
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NewsAdvanced disease modelling shows some gut bacteria can spread as rapidly as viruses
Escherichia coli (E. coli), a type of bacteria commonly found in the human gut, could spread as quickly as swine flu, new research suggests. For the first time, researchers are able to predict the rate at which one person could transmit gut bacteria to those around them.
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NewsAI and citizen science reveal potential first detection of invasive malaria mosquito in Madagascar
Researchers used AI and citizen science to identify what may be the first Anopheles stephensi mosquito ever detected in Madagascar — a species capable of spreading deadly malaria across urban Africa. A single smartphone photo submitted through NASA’s GLOBE Observer app led to the discovery.
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NewsNew software tool fast-tracks identification and response to microbial threats
MARTi is an open-source software tool that powers real-time analysis and visualisation of metagenomic data. The team have created an accessible interface which increases the usability and accessibility of metagenomic analysis.
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NewsStudy shows differences between documented and self-reported polio vaccination rates
Until poliovirus is eradicated worldwide, vaccination protection is important as the virus could be reintroduced at any time. Epidemiologists have now shown that many people in Germany do not know their vaccination status and cannot find it on their vaccination record.
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NewsRare virus transmitted by rats infects woman in Germany—link to private pet rat breeding facility
The Seoul virus, which has been rarely detected in Germany to date and can be transmitted by rats, caused a woman to become seriously ill. Given that rats are becoming increasingly popular as pets, health experts view this as a warning sign.
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NewsUS funding cuts could result in nearly 9 million child tuberculosis cases, 1.5 million child deaths
A new study projects that US funding cuts to global health aid will have a catastrophic effect on pediatric TB, with children in Sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia likely to experience a spike in preventable cases and deaths over the next decade.
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NewsFreshwater snails are an overlooked reservoir of AMR, study reveals
Freshwater snails across Africa and the UK carry bacteria containing a wide range of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes, including those predicted to confer resistance against last-resort antibiotics, according to a new study led by AMI members.
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NewsTracking infectious disease spread via commuting pattern data
Researchers have introduced a Commuter Metapopulation Model (CMPM) to simulate the spread of COVID-19 with actual commuting data provided by the country’s second-largest telecommunication network, revealing it could better capture spatial variety in outbreak patterns.
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NewsWHO upgrades its public health intelligence system to boost global health security
The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched version 2.0 of the Epidemic Intelligence from Open Sources (EIOS) system, used globally for the early detection of public health threats.
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NewsWHO warns of widespread resistance to common antibiotics worldwide
One in six laboratory-confirmed bacterial infections causing common infections in people worldwide in 2023 were resistant to antibiotic treatments, according to a new World Health Organization (WHO) report.
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NewsNew global burden of disease study: Mortality declines, youth deaths rise, widening health inequities
The world faces an emerging crisis of higher death rates in adolescents and young adults in North America and Latin America due to suicide and drug and alcohol consumption, and in sub-Saharan Africa due to infectious diseases and unintentional injuries.
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NewsLittle-known strep bacteria behind growing number of severe infections
An under-recognised strep bacterium is causing a growing number of serious infections in Australia, with First Nations Australians disproportionately affected, according to new research.