All articles tagged: Infectious Diseases

About 6 in 10 people say they probably won’t get an updated shot this year, despite the CDC’s recommendation that everyone do so.

New data for 2023 showed a decline of approximately 2% across three notifiable infections.

Only one individual in a high-risk population who received early intervention progressed to an AIDS diagnosis.

Multi-year data spotlight low screening rates in high-risk population.

Negotiations continue, but a changing political climate and a missed key deadline cast doubt over readiness for a World Health Assembly vote in May 2025.

Approximately 80% of patients who started STI-PEP via telehealth remained in HIV PrEP care after 3 months

Discussion topics showed variation when the same program was used in a rural vs urban setting.

In hospitalized patients, eosinophil levels positively correlated with antibiotic use, systemic inflammation, and worsened outcomes.

Older adults with infections and air pollution exposure showed significantly increased AD risk.

There are certain phrases that Wachuka Gichohi finds difficult to hear after enduring four years of living with long COVID, marked by debilitating fatigue, pain, panic...

MMWR described four cases of individuals presenting with rash on the face, buttocks, or genitals.

So far this year, authorities have identified at least 13 cases of locally acquired dengue, up from two in 2023, with 11 in Los Angeles County and two in the San Diego area.

The World Health Organization will convene a meeting of its Emergency Committee next week to determine whether mpox remains a global health crisis, it said in a statement on...

France has stepped up its bird flu risk assessment to 'high' from 'moderate', it said on Friday in a decree that will trigger reinforced security measures around poultry...

The public pleas for testing are part of health officials’ efforts to halt the outbreak that has disproportionately hurt Native Americans in the Great Plains and Southwest.

Farm workers who have been exposed to animals with bird flu should be tested for the virus even if they do not have symptoms, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and...

A successful study in animal models sets the stage for clinical trials.

SARS-CoV-2 burden on the floor was linked to outbreaks in two acute care hospitals, suggesting that floor sampling could play a role in localized surveillance of the virus.

Bird flu has infected three more people from Washington state after they were exposed to poultry that tested positive for the virus, according to health authorities in...

Cases of M pneumoniae, or walking pneumonia, are on the rise.

New study showed no increase in mortality risk or disease severity in adults with tick-borne coinfections.

Building trust over time and reducing practical barriers for vaccines may increase uptake.

Policy, funding, and public apathy hold back the search for more advanced COVID vaccines — but researchers persist and have made headway.

Europe is still polio-free, but that status is not guaranteed, with concerns around immunization rates and containment issues in some vaccine manufacturing facilities.

Expanding global vaccine coverage could reduce the use of 2.5 billion doses of antimicrobials annually, according to a new WHO report.

Reducing vaccine disparities was a key factor in the decision to lower the age-based coverage.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday approved Pfizer's RSV vaccine for the prevention of lower respiratory tract disease caused by RSV in adults aged 18 to 59 at...

When it was prescribed within a week of SARS CoV-2 infection, metformin was associated with a 53% reduction in long COVID or death.

High-dose flu vaccinations resulted in a 23% reduction in hospitalizations among people aged 65 years or older, according to a French study.

Avian flu was detected in wastewater before the first reported outbreak among Texas dairy cattle in 2024.

Investigators of the seven-country BALANCE trial said cutting duration to 7 days could slash costs and reduce harms and may reduce antibiotic resistance.

Large study showed current statistical trends of PrEP access vs PrEP need.

Economic estimates are rising as more long COVID case data become clear. Experts weigh the fixes.

Europe’s drug regulator recommended two novel vaccines for influenza alongside updated composition for two COVID-19 vaccines previously approved by the EC.

Siiltibcy compared favorably with other diagnostic products for detecting Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.

Embedding discharge orders that reflected the latest guidelines helped drive a dramatic drop in the duration of antibiotics for the common condition.

The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) needs more funds and has pushed back by three years its target to officially wipe out all forms of the disease, officials said...

Safety issues were not a factor in manufacturer's decision.

New data: Researchers cautioned those with previous CVD have a higher risk of developing long COVID and should take steps to avoid infection.

Several scenarios in a recent study projected the potential elimination of cervical cancer in Canada between 2032 and 2040.

The World Health Organization said on Monday it had approved Bavarian Nordic's mpox vaccine for adolescents aged 12 to 17 years, an age group considered especially...

California on Thursday confirmed a fourth case of bird flu in a person who had contact with infected dairy cattle.

The CDC said the influenza vaccine being used this flu season might be less effective than the one used last flu season.

The program modeled on HIV screening uses opt-out screening to simplify testing and avoid bias.

GSK said on Tuesday that its Arexvy respiratory syncytial virus vaccine was 43.3% effective in preventing severe illness in its third season after patients received the...

Recent data from the CDC showed a decline in pertussis vaccinations in adults and schoolchildren.

How should doctors and patients approach SARS-CoV-2 testing when the prevalence of acute respiratory diseases is high?

The World Health Organization authorized Abbott Laboratories' mpox diagnostic test for emergency use on Thursday, the first such approval in the agency's effort to bolster...

Europe has announced a €2 million project to research long COVID, following €100 million already invested since 2021. Is all this money bringing new insights?

Fresh data show that long COVID in children is more common than previously thought, while symptoms — particularly gastrointestinal — can differ from adults'.

Physicians detail their predictions on the upcoming COVID-19 and flu season, sharing recommendations to increase patient awareness and advise on vaccinations.

The World Health Organization on Tuesday recommended vaccinating pregnant women and administering infants with an antibody to prevent severe respiratory synctial virus (RSV)...

Public health officials continue to emphasize protection against mosquitoes and enhanced surveillance in affected neighborhoods.

Recently analyzed data point to masked palm civets and civets at the Huanan market in Wuhan.

With rising temperatures in the Baltic Sea, the North Sea, and the Mediterranean, Vibrio infections are becoming a concern.

Hello Health Rounds Readers! Today we report on new genetic research that may lead to tools or treatments to prevent cholera outbreaks, and on a study of a potentially...

A large prospective study suggests that nasal decolonization could be a simple intervention to reduce surgical site and blood infections.

U.S. President Joe Biden announced on Tuesday the donation of 1 million mpox vaccine doses and at least $500 million to African countries to support their response to the...

U.S. President Joe Biden will announce on Tuesday the donation of 1 million mpox vaccine doses and at least $500 million to African countries to support their response to...

Increased numbers of pertussis cases were reported in multiple states during the late summer.

The EMA has approved Penbraya for protection against invasive meningococcal disease and an update of the composition of two COVID-19 vaccines.

With more than 200 mpox-related deaths reported globally, the EMA has approved Imvanex for adolescents aged 12-17 years.

In an emulated target trial, a single dose of modified vaccinia Ankara-Bavarian Nordic vaccine was moderately effective in preventing mpox infection.

Vector control operations include trapping mosquitoes for identification and testing.

Public health officials advise travelers and residents to see a doctor if they experience prolonged respiratory symptoms.

In promising experiments, phage therapy forces bacteria into a no-win dilemma that lowers their defenses against drugs they'd evolved to withstand.

Medical risk-based approaches outperformed age-based strategies, even when vaccine prices were low, the study authors said.

The World Health Organization and partners on Friday set up a scheme to help bring mpox vaccines, tests and treatments to the most vulnerable people in the world’s poorest...

Massachusetts opted for mosquito spraying in high-risk counties.

Investigation into potential exposure remains ongoing, but CDC considers current risk low.

Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines are updated to better match currently circulating COVID strains, while the Novavax adjuvant will target the JN.1 variant — a predecessor of KP.2.

United Nations officials are preparing to launch a polio vaccination campaign in Gaza on Sunday that will rely on a series of limited pauses in fighting between Israeli...

The United Nations will start vaccinating some 640,000 children in the Gaza Strip against polio on Sunday, a campaign that relies on daily eight-hour pauses in fighting...

The rate of fetal loss or neonatal death from invasive listeriosis is 29%.

A Listeria outbreak linked to deli meats has resulted in 14 new illnesses and five additional deaths, the agency said.

The program's end will leave the Canadian province without a valuable tool for monitoring infectious disease.

An experimental vaccine additive triggered a more potent immune response, demonstrating the power of combining adjuvants.

The competitive environment of the gut microbiome could be an ideal place to find new drugs that can beat antimicrobial resistance.

More than half of US states are reporting signs that COVID levels are poised to continue their summerlong rise.

Like many diseases, whooping cough reached record low levels during the early days of the COVID pandemic.

The World Health Organization has declared that an outbreak of mpox, a viral infection that spreads through close contact, represents a global health emergency for the...

Long COVID rates in pregnant women are higher than previously thought and symptoms harder to treat, making motherhood more difficult and putting the child at risk.

Beyond the dystopian vision of the TV series "The Last of Us," real fungal threats lurk.

Data raise questions about whether more testing for RSV and more vaccination are needed.

Canada has begun virus surveillance among cattle, and preliminary results are expected in the next week.

Britain is refusing to sign the World Health Organization's (WHO) pandemic accord because the country says it would have to give away a fifth of its vaccines, the Telegraph...

European countries have reported a surge in whooping cough cases in 2023 and the first quarter of 2024, with 10 times as many identified as in each of the previous two...

A randomized, double-blind study casts doubt on the effectiveness of a common treatment.

The mRNA technology enables quick and flexible responses to new variants of pathogens and rapid scale-up in production, said one researcher.

Despite safety and effectiveness, COVID vaccination rates remained lower than flu vaccination rates — and resulting death rates put this in a grim light.

A randomized study published in 2022 showed the vaccine's efficacy in preventing urinary tract infections over 9 months.

One person in the United States has been infected after exposure to a cow with avian flu, but no human-to-human transmission has occurred.

A network of countries and health agencies will coordinate a strategy to identify and mitigate future disease threats.

Prescriptions for broad-spectrum antibiotics fell when clinicians were intercepted by a risk-assessment prompt.

The global rise in antibiotic resistance has complicated the therapeutic choices for urinary tract infections.

Although annual incidence decreased from 2.5 million in 2019 to 2.2 million in 2022, the WHO considers it to be high.

Although annual incidence decreased from 2.5 million in 2019 to 2.2 million in 2022, the WHO considers it to be high.

Republic of the Congo has declared an epidemic of mpox after 19 cases were confirmed across five departments, including the capital Brazzaville.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said on Tuesday that it had found bird flu virus particles in some samples of pasteurized milk, but said commercial milk supply remains...

ECDC data show that measles and pertussis cases are on the rise again after a post–COVID-19 pandemic decline.

The World Health Organization and around 500 experts have agreed for the first time what it means for a disease to spread through the air, in a bid to avoid the confusion...

Where long COVID treatment and research is right now — and where it's going.

Primary care doctors who serve marginalized communities had the highest rate of patients unvaccinated against COVID-19 in a recent study.

The vaccine should be used alongside measures such as vector control, prevention, and education, according to the organization.

Pfizer said on Tuesday its respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine Abrysvo was well tolerated and generated an immune response in higher risk adults under the age of 60...

While the hepatitis E virus causes tens of thousands of deaths each year, data suggest that a vaccine approved in China has long-term efficacy.

The risk for widespread infection for humans from avian influenza remains low in Europe, but health authorities have urged enhanced vigilance and biosecurity measures.

Pandemic burnout has persisted with doctors just as long COVID has with patients, with some reluctant to seek treatment.

A recent study provides strong economic arguments about the true costs of tuberculosis and the benefits of increasing funding to combat it, according to the WHO.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued an advisory on Thursday alerting healthcare providers about an increase in invasive meningococcal disease and...

Dengue cases in the Americas rose in the first three months of this year by three times the number of infections reported in the same period last year, the head of the Pan...

A post-winter rise in estimated long COVID cases may last well into 2024, experts said.

Victorious rowers in Britain's University Boat Race have been warned not to jump into the River Thames this weekend due to alarming levels of E. coli bacteria, as official...

Findings from two phase 3 trials demonstrate that the aztreonam-avibactam combination safely treats gram-negative bacterial infections.

Five useful tips for helping the vax-hesitant people get past their objections.

The recent rise in cases across the country is linked to unvaccinated travelers and lower-than-ideal vaccination rates, experts said.

Certain strategies have proven helpful for sufferers of long COVID as they slowly progress through recovery.

Clinicians are evaluating optimal timing for vaccination now that the first pentavalent vaccine against all five major serogroups of meningococcal disease is available.

Clinicians are evaluating optimal timing for vaccination now that the first pentavalent vaccine against all five major serogroups of meningococcal disease is available.

Rapid testing doesn't necessarily reduce antibiotic use but can help in specific cases with high-risk patients and infection control in hospitals.

With a maternal vaccine already on the market to protect newborns from RSV, the outlook for another looked promising, but latest phase 3 trial of a new candidate is now halted over safety concerns.

After years of not seeing any cases of syphilis, rising rates mean that clinicians are having to refresh their diagnostic and treatment skills for the sexually transmitted infection.

Scientists found COVID antigens in the blood for up to 14 months after infection and in tissue samples for more than 2 years after infection.

Sexually transmitted infections surged across Europe in 2022, with reported cases of gonorrhoea jumping by nearly a half, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and...

Postexposure prophylaxis with doxycycline reduced some sexually transmitted infection rates in half in certain populations but concerns about antibiotic resistance remain.

Unlike vector transmission, oral transmission of Chagas disease entails high lethality in pediatric and adult populations.

New evidence continues to suggest a complicated link between sex hormone fluctuation and immune dysfunction in long COVID.

Data suggested that the vaccine reduces the risk for infection and reduces mortality rates by half.

The smallpox vaccine effectively induces immunity against mpox virus infection in patients with HIV, although patients with low lymphocyte counts require booster doses.

In recent days, there were several important new reports that help explain the pathophysiology of long COVID. The new findings are summarized here.

The vaccines, Celldemic and Incellipan, protect against the H5N1 subtype of the influenza A virus.

European agencies published evidence that reducing antibiotic use in humans and food-producing animals leads to a decline in antimicrobial resistance.

Dysfunctional complement system proteins could explain chronic inflammation, fatigue, and other long COVID symptoms, leading to new treatments.

Facing limited data and an absence of guidelines, clinicians debate what to do.

"Stupidest thing I've ever done": A lack of urgency surrounding virus spread and boosters may be triggering additional long COVID cases.

Researchers who uncovered a fresh class of antibiotics used a new process — explainable AI — that could propel drug discovery.

Researchers who uncovered a fresh class of antibiotics used a new process — explainable AI — that could propel drug discovery.

The vaccine protected children under the age of 1.5 years against infection with an efficacy of 68%-75%.

Long-COVID sufferers of brain fog and memory loss exhibit elevated biomarkers consistent with brain injury.

An alarming rise in measles cases across Europe is blamed on low vaccine uptake during the pandemic and vaccine mistrust.

Compared with controls, women with heavy menstrual bleeding were more likely to have received their last dose of mRNA vaccine in the previous 1-3 months in a recent study.

A malaria vaccine developed by the University of Oxford and the Serum Institute of India prevented around three-quarters of symptomatic malaria cases in young children the...

Healthcare workers have higher risks for SARS-CoV-2 infection and mental distress during the pandemic than the general population, data suggested.

Patients infected with gram-negative bacteria who were switched to oral antibiotics from an IV had comparable rates of death to those who kept receiving the drugs through an IV.

If even one of these comes true, long COVID sufferers could enjoy some much-needed relief.

South America is seeing a surge in cases of the mosquito-borne disease dengue during the southern hemisphere summer, prompting Brazil to roll out a novel vaccine campaign,...

The elimination of the endemic transmission of rubella in Italy prompted a reconsideration of the country’s pregnancy guidelines.

Infection rates are declining overall, but continuing vigilance is crucial, said WHO.

Emerging research showing links to female reproductive health may offer clues to why women experience long COVID at nearly twice the rate of men.

Daily toothbrushing was associated with a 33% reduction in risk for hospital-acquired pneumonia among inpatients, according to a recent analysis.

Fresh estimates from the CDC show a growing death tally from long COVID —– with numbers expected to increase as diagnostic expertise improves.

Fresh research and clinical anecdotes have given experts a much clearer picture of which patients are most likely to develop long COVID.

A small study generated impressive results.

JN.1 was previously grouped with its relative, BA.2.86, but has increased so much in the past 4 weeks that the WHO moved it to standalone status.

JN.1 was previously grouped with its relative, BA.2.86, but has increased so much in the past 4 weeks that the WHO moved it to standalone status.

Data suggest that few immigrants to Canada with tuberculosis infection were infected within the preceding 2 years, when the risk for progression to tuberculosis disease is the highest.

The analysis in PLOS ONE also found that people struggling with long COVID are more likely to report mental health or mobility problems, according to the analysis.

The drugs were submitted through the EU Medicines for All scheme, which enables Europe with the WHO to provide scientific opinions on high-priority medicines for markets outside of the European Union.

The current outbreak of mpox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has led to health and travel advisories with clinicians on the lookout for new cases.

A rare presentation of syphilis has experts questioning whether the bacterium has mutated.

Prevention strategies to reduce healthcare-associated infections are having an effect, according to a new report on national- and state-level incidence.

"Guidelines that are incomplete, weak, and without scientific basis will greatly undermine CDC’s credibility," said a former OSHA director.

The global status of malaria has been affected by factors such as the pandemic, which significantly disrupted malaria services, treatment, and diagnosis worldwide.

The World Health Organization is 'very worried' about the spread of a severe form of mpox that has killed nearly 600 people, mainly children, in the Democratic Republic of Congo this year, a senior official said. 

The Home Test to Treat program is virtual and offers at-home rapid tests, telehealth sessions, and at-home treatments to people nationwide.

Up to $1 billion will be available to boost African vaccine manufacturing as part of a new scheme set up by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the global health organization said on Thursday.

The CDC issued a health alert on Thursday to notify clinicians and health departments about a deadly type of the mpox virus spreading in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

"A significant wave [of JN.1] has started here and could be blunted with a high booster rate and mitigation measures."

Though many people remain on the fence about getting the latest COVID vaccine booster, new research suggests a strong argument for getting the shot this winter.

France raised the risk level of bird flu to 'high' from 'moderate' on Tuesday after new cases of the disease were detected, forcing poultry farms to keep birds indoors to stem the spread of the highly contagious virus.

Vaccines and treatments that could help tackle an mpox epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo are lying unused outside the country despite a high death rate.

COVID-19 appears to be heading for a holiday season increase across most of the United States.

A rise in respiratory illnesses in China and clusters of pneumonia in children and resistance to a common antibiotic have specialists taking a closer look at important trends.

A rise in respiratory illnesses in China, clusters of pneumonia in children, and resistance to common antibiotics have specialists on alert looking for changes locally.

At least 450 patients at Mass General Brigham, Salem Hospital, near Boston are at risk of HIV and hepatitis infection, according to a lawsuit claiming negligent intravenous medication administration.

A mystery respiratory illness has stricken dogs in at least 14 states, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association, which is asking vets to report cases while laboratories race to isolate the pathogen.

An emerging variant of COVID-19 called BA.2.86 that caused alarm earlier this summer has landed on the CDC's radar again.

Researchers have pinpointed a potential common link to the varying symptoms of long COVID and specific testing could solve the mystery.

Novavax's updated vaccine has been granted emergency-use authorization by WHO for active immunization to prevent COVID-19 in individuals aged 12 and older, the company said on Tuesday.

The rise in measles outbreaks and deaths is not surprising, given the recent decline in vaccination rates, said an official of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Inactivity has emerged as a risk factor for respiratory infections but too much physical activity could also increase susceptibility.

'This entire year has been really filled with patients that have been trying to get access to the clinic for a year. And they’re still struggling.'

Simple 2 is the first test approved by the FDA that uses a sample collected at home to test for an STD, other than tests for HIV.

Flu is still nothing to mess with, and officials are promoting the flu activity results as a reminder for people to get their flu shots as soon as possible.

Rising temperatures and a longer monsoon in Bangladesh because of climate change are providing ideal breeding conditions for the dengue-spreading mosquito, experts said, as the country grapples with its worst-ever outbreak of the viral disease.

Despite our prevention efforts, some unlucky few may contract not just one of these viruses, but two at once or in close succession during the winter season.

The mosquito-borne virus has emerged as a global threat, with a new vaccine evaluated in two large clinical trials in North America. The new shot is a single-dose injection to the muscle.

The US Food and Drug Administration on Thursday cleared an over-the-counter at-home COVID-19 antigen test made by Acon Laboratories.

Brazil's agriculture ministry has extended a national health emergency for another 180 days due to more detections of the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza virus in wild birds.

A veterinarian recently called for the link between human health and animal health to be considered more systematically.

Could antidepressants hold the key to treating long COVID?

Lead researcher Ziyad Al-Aly, MD, spoke with Medscape about his team’s findings, what we know — and don’t — about long COVID, and what it means for physicians treating patients with the condition.

A pair of new studies about long COVID have shed more light on the sometimes-disabling condition that affects millions of people in the United States.

'There's an important opportunity here for regulators to understand there are still quite a number of businesses making problematic advertising claims.'

The commonalities among people in the study who developed long COVID suggest that the condition's cause is the same regardless of which variant led to the initial infection.

Among Canadians, patients aged 80 years or older are the least likely to have a history of COVID-19 infection and the most likely to be hospitalized or die following infection, data indicate.

Over 15 million people in the United States, around 4.5% of the population, had received the updated COVID-19 shots by October 27, lagging behind last year's vaccinations.

With the exception of venous thromboembolism and pulmonary embolism events, the antiviral drug did not reduce the incidence of post-COVID-19 conditions in a study of nearly 10,000 US veterans.

Bavarian Nordic said on Wednesday a CDC panel has voted in favor of recommending the routine use of Jynneos vaccine for adults at risk of mpox.

The single shot will cover the five most common serogroups that cause meningococcal disease in children and young adults.

Researchers in the United States have shown for the first time they can safely and effectively infect human volunteers with Zika virus.

French drugmaker Sanofi has said it is seeing an 'unprecedented level' of demand for an antibody therapy it co-developed to prevent respiratory syncytial virus.

Pfizer on Wednesday said it will set the US price for its COVID-19 antiviral treatment Paxlovid at nearly $1400 per five-day course when it moves to commercial sales after government stocks run out, more than double what the government currently pays for it.