Walking pneumonia cases are rising this year, especially among young children. The increase is linked to bacteria called Mycoplasma pneumoniae. These bacteria often cause mild respiratory illnesses, including walking pneumonia. While mild, walking pneumonia can still cause persistent and uncomfortable symptoms.
Cold Water Immersion: What to Know about This Popular Trend
Cold water immersion (CWI) is a growing health and wellness trend. People have used ice baths and cold showers for generations. Modern culture now promotes them as performance therapy and self-care.
A new study in PLoS One reviewed the effects of CWI. The study found that CWI reduces inflammation and stress for a short time. It also boosts immunity, sleep quality, and overall well-being.
Seasonal Flu Cases Skyrocket Past 15 Year Record
The U.S. is facing its worst flu season in 15 years. At least 24 million flu cases have been reported this season. Since October, hospitals have treated up to 650,000 flu patients. This is the highest hospitalization rate since 2017.
Flu season often peaks in January and February. Experts warn that cases could keep rising in the coming weeks.
The Eye-Opening World History of Bird Flu Since 2020
Highly pathogenic A(H5N1) bird flu first appeared in southern China in 1996. The next year, large outbreaks in poultry led to 18 human infections.
The virus was not controlled and re-emerged in 2003, spreading widely across Asia. Over time, A(H5N1) reached Africa, Europe, and the Middle East.
Since 2020, 91 human cases of highly pathogenic bird flu have been reported worldwide. Here’s what to know about the outbreaks in affected locations.
Rare Strain Of Bird Flu Detected for the First Time in the U.S.
A California duck farm has tested positive for H5N9, marking the first confirmed case in the U.S. The outbreak began on November 23, 2024, after a rise in duck deaths.
H5N9 is a low-pathogenic virus that usually causes mild symptoms in birds. Officials have not reported any human infections linked to the outbreak. The virus has been detected in farmers in other countries, but no cases have been confirmed in the U.S.
Latest Kansas Tuberculosis Outbreak is the Deadliest in U.S. History
A tuberculosis (TB) outbreak has become the largest ever recorded in U.S. history. Since early 2024, officials have reported 67 active TB cases and 79 latent cases.
The World Health Organization recorded 8.2 million global TB cases in 2023. This is the highest number since WHO began tracking TB in 1995. Last year, tuberculosis once again became the world’s deadliest disease.
The Truth About Exercise and Mortality: New, Massive Study
A new meta-analysis in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that higher physical activity decreases disease risk and early death. Researchers analyzed data from over 30 million people across 94 large studies. The study focused on non-occupational physical activity, including exercise and walking.
New Research Finds Link Between Salmonella And Climate Change
A new study in the Journal of Infection links salmonella outbreaks to climate change. Warmer temperatures, higher humidity, and lower rainfall increase infection risks.
Researchers examined 14 weather factors to estimate salmonella rates. They used case reports from 2000 to 2016 and weather data from England, Wales, and the Netherlands.
The study’s methods could apply to other countries. Salmonella cases likely follow similar weather patterns worldwide.
Pandemic Lockdowns Reduced Social Skills in Children: New Research
The COVID-19 pandemic redefined daily life for many families. Schools and daycares closed, parents worked from home, and social distancing limited interactions. These changes disrupted early childhood development. Until recently, researchers had not studied how they affected social cognition.
A new study in Scientific Reports compared two groups of 3.5- to 5.5-year-olds. Researchers tested one group before the pandemic, and the other afterward.
Researchers focused on false-belief understanding (FBU), a key social cognition skill. FBU is the ability to recognize others’ different or incorrect beliefs.
Results showed that children tested after the pandemic performed worse on false-belief tasks. Even after controlling for age and language skills, the post-pandemic group struggled more. The effect was stronger for children from lower-income families.
Malaria Research Now in Jeopardy as US Freezes Funding
The Trump administration’s foreign aid freeze halted major malaria vaccine research. The USAID Malaria Vaccine Development Program (MVDP) told partners to stop work immediately. The freeze disrupts collaboration between U.S. and international researchers.
Affected teams included experts from Johns Hopkins University and the University of Oxford. The program aimed to reduce child deaths by developing improved malaria vaccines.
The funding freeze also halted medicine shipments and raised global health concerns. Malaria kills about 450,000 children under five in Sub-Saharan Africa each year.
