Did you know that there are more than 200 viruses that cause the common cold? Meanwhile, only three known viruses are behind the flu?

Cold and influenza viruses are common contagious illnesses that affect millions every year. Typically, the height of flu season is from October through March, and the cold season is between August and April.

As you can see, some of these months overlap.

So, does that mean you can only be sick with one virus at a time? Or, is it really possible to get sick with both a cold and flu virus simultaneously?

[Read more…]

Even after leaving 2019 behind, we haven’t eliminated all the disease outbreaks in recent years. According to new estimates from the World Health Organization and CDC, “more than 140,000 people died from measles in 2018” worldwide.

The most noteworthy outbreaks have come from the United States and Europe. Although, smaller regions are also struggling with measles.

With a population of under 200,000 people, the southern Pacific island Samoa has been hit with a devastating outbreak of measles. Since October of 2019, there have been nearly 4,900 reported cases of measles. Officials have reported 71 deaths, most of them children under five.

[Read more…]

Public health organizations continue to grow more concerned as tickborne diseases increasingly threaten the health of thousands.

But, for many regular citizens, illnesses like tickborne encephalitis and Lyme disease may appear to be the same thing. So, what’s the difference between the two diseases?

Let’s find out.

[Read more…]

After the Spanish American War, members of the United States Army Yellow Fever Commission ventured to Cuba. The group was looking to study yellow fever due to the large amount of casualties during the war caused by the disease.

This commission was led by Major Walter Reed, a U.S. Army surgeon during the Spanish American War.

While many have never heard of Walter Reed, his story was once well known.

[Read more…]

It’s been a busy year for polio around the world.

Some countries have been able to finally put an end to the virus. Other countries, like the Philippines, have found unexpected returns of polio.

But, as we head into a new decade, there’s hope to end polio completely.

[Read more…]

Flu season is in full swing and has been causing many to worry about the progression and outcome of the season.

As of December 7th, the CDC revealed there has been “3.7 million flu illnesses, 32,000 hospitalizations and 1,800” flu-related deaths so far in the United States. Typically flu season ramps up in early fall and peaks sometime between December and March. Unless there’s a late surge of the virus like we saw in 2019, the season will die down by May.

The CDC monitors flu indicators, such as influenza-like illnesses and flu related hospitalizations. The organization can track trends and determine when the season has started and peaked.

[Read more…]

Due to the recent worldwide rise in measles, it can be hard to distinguish whether a person is infected with the measles or influenza. Both viruses have similar symptoms, and, with measles cases increasing during flu season, it makes identifying the viruses even harder.

Some questions that might arise regarding the two viruses are:

How severe is each virus? What are the symptoms and how can you tell the viruses apart? How are the viruses transmitted? How can you prevent catching one of the viruses? And what treatments are available?

[Read more…]

For most people who like to spend their time outdoors, the risks of a tick bite are nothing new. With the rise of tickborne disease in cities, the pests might be a problem for even more people.

Maybe you like to spend weekends hiking with friends and family. Or, even just riding your bikes along scenic trails in the countryside. You know that there’s a chance that you’ll find a tick on your clothes here or there, but are not worried about it because they hardly ever get on you.

Then, you get home and see a tick on the back of your knee.

[Read more…]

A new vaccine to fight against typhoid, typhoid conjugate vaccine (TVC), has been introduced in Pakistan. Pakistan is now the first country to use and install this vaccine as a routine immunization for children.

Typhoid is a disease caused by Salmonella typhi, which infects people through contaminated food and water.

The symptoms of typhoid may seem much like a flu infection. An infected person might feel fatigue, stomach pain, headache, diarrhea, constipation, cough and loss of appetite. The disease is most prevalent in areas lacking resources, such as Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.

[Read more…]

With a constant news stream of virus outbreaks and mutating diseases, the future of healthcare seems dreary and uneasy. Although, artificial intelligence may be a viable solution to help us fight diseases.

Most people may have an idea of artificial intelligence through sci-fi movies, but it is a real part of technology today.

Artificial Intelligence Used in Healthcare

[Read more…]