On March 11, the World Health Organization announced that coronavirus (COVID-19) is officially a pandemic.

For months, countries around the world had already been taking action against the virus. Increased cases led to mass quarantines and more testing.

But, the decision from the WHO is rare, even for a disease that’s spread worldwide. The world’s last official pandemic was in 2009, caused by the H1N1 swine flu.

With the entire globe now working to slow the COVID-19 pandemic, what does that term mean?

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So often in everyday conversations, you hear the words “virus” and “bacteria” used interchangeably, but they’re not the same thing.

In fact, it’s important to know the difference between the two because treatment and prevention differ for each. It’s key to recognize these differences and know if something is a virus or a disease.

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Is it okay to travel if I feel sick? Many people are asking this question, or if they should be traveling at all due to the recent global outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19).

Depending on who you ask, people are going to have different opinions on this question. Although, the real answer depends on how sick you are.

Although it’s not ideal to travel while sick, sometimes you have to. Maybe you have to get home or need to hope on a plane for work. Or you can’t get a refund for a trip and simply can’t afford not to go.

Whatever the reason, most people like to try and travel, even if they’re not feeling the best. But is this safe?

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This July, the 2020 Summer Olympics are heading to Tokyo.

Millions of athletes, fans, and tourists are planning to come to Tokyo from nearly every country in the world to participate in the games and celebrate culture. With such a large amount of people gathering in one place, it’s important to always keep yourself safe and keep yourself healthy.

This year, the world is focusing on the olympics for a different reason: coronavirus. This global epidemic is raising the question: will the Olympics even happen?

If the answer remains yes, it will be important for everyone traveling to Tokyo to be prepared and safe.

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According to the CDC, the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is a safe and very effective vaccination that protects against diseases when it’s given at the proper ages.

HPV is the most common sexually transmitted disease. According to the CDC, 79 million Americans are infected with HPV, most of which are in their late teens and early twenties.

There are over 100 strains of HPV and each can cause other health complications. While the low-risk strains can cause genital warts, high-risk HPV can lead to cancer.

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Two recent studies reveal new insight into cerebral malaria, a severe and deadly form of malaria that mainly targets children.

Malaria, a mosquito-borne disease, causes over 200 million cases every year. Still lacking an official vaccine, the virus is one of the most dangerous in the world. According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), a group of those who are infected with develop cerebral malaria.

Largely happening to young children, the malaria parasite gets into blood vessels within the brain. The virus can then cause the brain to swell, causing pressure and damage to the brain.

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Researchers of the HVTN 702 study in South Africa, which began in 2016 to create a HIV vaccine, announced earlier this year that they have stopped administering vaccinations in clinical trials.

The promising HIV vaccine wasn’t showing negative side effects or safety issues in the clinical trials. The vaccine failed because it wasn’t proving to be effective against HIV.

“An HIV vaccine is essential to end the global pandemic, and we hoped this vaccine candidate would work. Regrettably, it does not,” said Dr. Anthony Fauci, infectious disease chief of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

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The flu may be prominent for months an end, but there are many steps to avoid the virus.

The first prevention method is the flu shot, designed with that flu season in mind. Other methods include washing your hands often and avoiding close contact with those infected. Covering coughs and sneezes also helps control spreading and contracting the flu.

Another tool that many people use is wearing face masks that cover their noses and mouths. More importantly, those infected with the flu can use face masks to help prevent the spread of the virus to those who are healthy.

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An Ebola epidemic may still be active in the DRC, but we’re making progress with the virus. A vaccine used in the outbreak has shown some ability to prevent the deadly virus.

But, while some scientists are working to prevent Ebola, others are repurposing the virus.

A recently-published study showed that Yale University scientists have found a new and unlikely ally in the Ebola virus. The study found that Ebola may help us fight brain tumors.

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If you assume that mosquitoes die off in the winter, you’re not alone.

As the temperature drops and reaches the air gets cold, the winged insects lose their ability to fly. So, it makes sense to guess that they can’t make it through the season.

Although, many female mosquitoes and eggs have a technique that allows them to get through the season. Much like you see in bears and similar animals, mosquitoes have their very own unique form of hibernation.

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