All articles tagged: Infectious Diseases

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.

When asked about FDA boxed warnings on common antibiotics, the artificial intelligence chatbot tested by investigators too often shared inaccurate information.

Novavax said on Monday it was 'encouraged' by the broad availability of its updated COVID-19 vaccine being rolled out in the US, days after rival Pfizer slashed its full-year revenue forecast.

hospital staff, medics, teachers, and others who often put themselves at higher risk for infection.

European Union regulators have delayed a decision to give approval for Novavax's variant-tailored COVID-19 vaccine, the company said on Sunday.

Pfizer has slashed its full-year revenue forecast by 13% and said it will cut $3.5 billion worth of jobs and expenses due to lower-than-expected sales of its COVID-19 vaccine and treatment.

People are accessing antibiotics unsafely to self-medicate symptoms, report researchers, who say that patients need easier access to care and education about how antibiotics actually work.

Sharp increases in infectious syphilis and congenital syphilis are prompting calls for improved surveillance, prevention and testing strategies, and the destigmatization of sexually transmitted infections.

The maternal RSV vaccine will significantly reduce infant hospitalizations and curb medical costs, finds a new modeling study exploring the benefit of widespread use.

The US health regulator did not find any misconduct at clinical sites managed by Care Access for Pfizer and French partner Valneva's trial of a Lyme disease vaccine candidate.

The European Union, Gates Foundation, and the European Investment Bank have announced a new financing package of more than 1 billion euros ($1.06 billion) to eradicate polio.

Medscape polled more than 450 primary care and specialty physicians for an updated look at long COVID numbers, diagnosis and management.

Wastewater monitoring is an established tool for tracking COVID, and now new evidence shows it can be used alongside clinical testing to assess the burden of influenza and RSV in communities.

Around 15 vaccine candidates are being developed in the battle against tuberculosis to compensate for the poor efficacy of the Bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccine.

As many as 2 out of 3 people with long COVID also have mental health challenges, including high rates of depression and anxiety, new research shows.

Vaccine maker Novavax on Monday said it has shipped millions of doses its updated COVID-19 shots to distributors after receiving the go-ahead from US regulators.

The use of nirmatrelvir–ritonavir (Paxlovid) is associated with a lower risk for death or hospitalization in extremely vulnerable patients with COVID-19. Low-risk patients do not appear to benefit.

Pfizer, BioNTech and biotech firm Promosome have agreed to end Promosome's lawsuit accusing the COVID-19 vaccine makers of infringing a patent related to messenger RNA technology.

Around 4 million Americans received the updated COVID-19 shots in September, even as some people have found it difficult to book vaccination appointments or find the vaccines at no cost.

The government will stop distributing free doses of Merck's COVID-19 antiviral treatment molnupiravir by the middle of next month and expects it to be sold on the commercial market instead.

The bacteria that causes melioidosis has been discovered in the continental US for the first time, and with a death rate as high as 50%, speedy expert care is essential, warns the CDC.

No fresh cases of the deadly Nipah virus have been detected since September 15 in India's southern state of Kerala, the World Health Organization said on Tuesday.

The FDA said on Tuesday it authorized an updated version of Novavax's COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use in individuals aged 12 years and older.

Infants who were hospitalized with COVID-19 whose mothers were unvaccinated were more likely to need help breathing, compared to infants whose mothers had been vaccinated.

Scientists who pioneered an underlying technology to harness fragile genetic material in a way that ultimately resulted in the mRNA vaccines used to combat the COVID-19 pandemic were honored Monday.

As the rollout of the newly formulated shot begins in earnest, many Americans are finding roadblocks.

Technical issues that resulted in denied insurance coverage for the updated COVID-19 vaccines have been 'largely, if not completely, resolved.'

An antibiotic already in use in Europe to treat pneumonia controlled deadly bloodstream infections with Staphylococcus aureus bacteria just as effectively as the most powerful antibiotic currently in use, according to data from a late-stage trial.

Gritstone bio on Wednesday secured a $433 million contract by the US government to conduct a mid-stage study of its self-amplifying mRNA COVID-19 vaccine candidate.

Non-menstruating women were more likely to experience unexpected vaginal bleeding after receiving COVID-19 vaccinations.

Pfizer's chief executive said on Tuesday that almost 250,000 courses of the drugmaker's oral antiviral COVID-19 treatment Paxlovid were being administered per week.

The European Union is in talks with Moderna over a new supply deal for the company's COVID-19 vaccines amid concerns over a rise in infections in the region.

An estimated 18 million adults in the US have had long COVID, and half of them are still dealing with the condition, new national survey data shows.

'This is a decisive step forward in the development of valid and reliable blood testing protocols for long COVID,' said David Putrino, PhD, lead author of a new study published in the journal Nature.

Researchers looked at 15 million COVID genomes and discovered that hallmark mutations linked to molnupiravir increased in 2022.

New research from Northwestern University and the University of Wisconsin, however, is pointing to bacterial pneumonia as the cause of many severe COVID deaths.

The global effort to end polio is likely to miss two key targets this year on the path towards defeating the virus, according to an independent strategic review.

A real-world study found that Pfizer's COVID-19 antiviral Paxlovid is now less effective at preventing hospitalization or death in high-risk patients as compared with earlier studies.

The research in people with rheumatic diseases could have wider implications, including a blood-based biomarker to predict higher risk.

This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of supplemental creatine for fatigue, tissue bioenergetics, and patient-reported outcomes in patients with post–COVID-19 fatigue syndrome.

A 64-year-old woman diagnosed with pneumonia had abdominal pain, diarrhea, dry cough, and night sweats. A year of inexplicable symptoms ended in an open biopsy and a live, stringlike worm.

The European Medicines Agency expects to decide on the use of Novavax's updated COVID-19 vaccine in October.

Australia's centre-left Labor government on Thursday said it would hold an independent inquiry into the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The summer-long surge of COVID-19 may be peaking in some parts of the US, according to wastewater monitoring.

The rate of long COVID for children is "strikingly low," less than 1%, say researchers.

Moderna has said it will cut production of mRNA drug substance for its COVID-19 vaccine to align manufacturing of the shots with lower post-pandemic demand.

In a study widely reported earlier this month and published Monday in The Lancet, Japanese researchers raised concerns that BA.2.86 may be 'spreading silently worldwide.'

The American College of Physicians has issued an updated version of its living, rapid practice point guideline on the best treatment options for outpatients with confirmed COVID-19.

A conversation with Peter J. Hotez, MD, PhD, about his new book, The Deadly Rise of Anti-Science: A Scientist’s Warning.

60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals said on Monday it has withdrawn an application to the FDA for a midstage study testing its experimental drug for COVID-19.

Germany on Monday launched its autumn vaccination campaign to prevent respiratory infection, promoting an updated COVID-19 booster shot only for the elderly or for people at high disease risks.

The National Institutes of Health has begun an early stage study on its experimental vaccine targeting six strains of influenza virus.

The chief of the World Health Organization urged Beijing to offer more information on the origins of COVID-19 and is ready to send a second team to probe the matter.

Symptoms like anosmia and parosmia lingered for years. Both conditions caused a deep and life-altering depression that pushed Henderson to the brink of hopelessness.

China plans to manage mpox in the same way it handles infectious diseases such as COVID-19 after detecting around 500 cases of the viral infection last month.

Rapid antigen tests were dubbed ''the heroes of the pandemic." Now, experts said, it's time to expand their role for other diseases — and maybe the next pandemic.

The antibiotic acts on not one but three molecules that are essential to the construction of bacterial walls.

There's a concern that we don't yet know the true size of the surge because cost may lead some to skip testing. People who don't know they have COVID are unlikely to take precautions to stop its spread.

The 2024 update of the CPT codes also adds what are meant to be consumer-friendly descriptors in Spanish.

The weather phenomenon, which is accentuated by climate change, can promote malnutrition, cholera, typhoid fever, and even gender-based violence.

Contract research firm ICON said on Wednesday it is partnering with the US government for a clinical trial to test the effectiveness of next generation COVID-19 vaccine candidates.

Newly recommended COVID booster shots are expected to be available within days after a flurry of required approvals and recommendations this week from the CDC and the FDA.

Canadian health officials have authorized Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine targeting the Omicron subvariant.

Israel's health ministry has advised people with compromised immune systems to wear masks in crowded indoor spaces as it marks an increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations ahead of the Jewish holidays.

With COVID hospitalizing about 17,000 people a week in the US, according to the CDC, the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted nearly unanimously in favor of new XBB-containing shots.

Today's recommendation is the second-to-last step needed before the new version of the shots can become available.

The FDA authorized updated COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna on Monday as the country prepares to start an autumn vaccination campaign as soon as this week.

Bivalent vaccines lost their authorization for use in the United States after a decision announced today by the Food and Drug Administration focuses new vaccine efforts on circulating variants.

The FDA today authorized the newest COVID-19 vaccine, the first not to target the initial or 'ancestral' strain of the virus.

Are your patients up to date with their vaccines? For people living with long COVID and other chronic conditions, the answer may not be so clear.

'We think this is news people will want to hear as they prepare to go out and get their fall boosters.'

It's estimated that 1 in 8 people with COVID develop long COVID; of those patients, 44% also experience headaches. Research has found that many of those headaches are migraines.

An increase in cases of respiratory syncytial virus in Florida and Georgia signals that RSV season has begun.

The summertime surge in infections runs counter to expectations, since respiratory diseases usually peak during the winter months.

Pfizer has said their updated COVID-19 vaccine elicited a strong antibody response against the BA.2.86 subvariant of the coronavirus in a preclinical study.

Doctors, engineers, and AI experts are teaming up to develop "smart bandages" capable of treating chronic wounds, battlefield injuries, or even minor cuts and scrapes.

The updated vaccine better protects against currently circulating strains of the virus.

Having so many mutations increased the chance that it would behave differently from previous versions of the virus, possibly making it more dangerous.

Tonix Pharmaceuticals said on Tuesday its experimental drug failed to meet the primary goal in a midstage study for management of widespread muscle pain and tenderness associated with long COVID-19.

The UK drug regulator said on Tuesday it has approved an updated COVID-19 vaccine by Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech that targets only the Omicron XBB.1.5 subvariant.

Most of the 288 adults surveyed were not aware that HPV causes oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma and had not been told of the relationship by their healthcare provider.

Last week COVID-19 hospitalizations rose by 19% and deaths rose by 21%, according to figures from the CDC.

While 73% of US hospitals have sepsis teams, only 55% of them report that their team leaders get dedicated time to manage the programs for a medical emergency that affects at least 1.7 million people.