From the fall months through the spring, every sneeze or feeling of nausea creates fear of the flu. The virus is at its most dangerous and contagious during these months, also known as flu season. That’s because the respiratory illness can cause a range of severity, from mild to life-threatening.

One sneeze or cough from a seemingly infected person can spread the virus during these months. It may only take being in the same vicinity of the virus to contract the flu.

And after the infection starts, so do the symptoms.

A cough, sore throat, body aches and fever can all come from the flu. While most people recover in less than two weeks, it can be severe and lead to hospitalizations and death.

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Illnesses like E. coli and salmonella aren’t new to the United States. While outbreaks of these diseases aren’t common, some tainted food that’s sold across the country can lead to a spike in cases.

Like the salmonella outbreak in 2018, it appears we have a similar problem this year.

Over the last couple of months, salmonella has been reported throughout the entire continental United States. All 48 of those states have combined for almost 770 cases of the disease, according to the CDC. Of those infected, nearly 125 people were hospitalized, causing two salmonella-deaths in Ohio and Texas. The two states that had reported the most cases were Tennessee and Ohio.

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Consumer interaction with vaccines typically starts and ends with the shot at the doctor’s office. Many patients do not know the work that is required not only to manufacture a vaccine, but to create the vaccine base itself. Years of both research and development go into every immunization.

So what goes into a vaccine before you get it? And how is its development continued throughout the vaccine’s lifespan?

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Every flu season we hear doctors, nurses and experts alike recommend the flu shot.

Over the course of a flu season, millions will get the virus. According to the CDC, a range of 3-11% of Americans will get the flu every year.

Once it infects the throat, nose and lungs, the virus can cause some serious symptoms. That might mean a few days off work, trip to the hospital or for many, risk of death. That’s why so many harp on the importance of the flu vaccine.

The shot acts as the first toward protecting yourself against that season’s virus. But, one high-risk group is often worried about the vaccine.

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Did you know that the human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States? Earning much more attention over the last decade, that may not come as a surprise anymore.

What may still seem staggering are the current HPV statistics in the U.S.

Over one decade after the HPV vaccine was introduced, almost 80 million Americans still have the disease. That includes the 14 million people newly-diagnosed with the virus every year. The virus is even on the rise for women over the age of 40.

For a disease that’s been shown many times to be a contributing factor to cervical cancer, those are some dangerous statistics.

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Since the first case of measles in the New World-era United States 250 years ago, the country has had a rocky time with the disease.

It once killed thousands of people annually, but was eliminated due to a successful vaccine. The virus has since risen up to infect again as vaccination rates dropped. Recently measles has made a startling comeback with over 1,000 cases in the U.S. this year from January to June alone.

But how did we get here?

Let’s follow the virus’s journey and walk through the history of measles in the U.S., starting with the first “American” measles outbreak reported in 1765.

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Before you embark on your next adventure, it is extremely important that you take the necessary steps to keep yourself safe. What many travelers might not realize is every region of the world offers new health risks. That can come from different animals, insects, bacteria or a lack of medical help within the area.

Before that trip, one of the most important steps is to make sure that you have received the proper vaccines to protect from those illnesses.

This can seem like an intimidating and time-sucking process that deters some people from even traveling in the first place. But, it doesn’t have to be!

Here’s how you can get the vaccines you need in an easy and safe way.

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We already know one key thing that the rotavirus vaccine brings to the table: it prevents rotavirus.

The illness causes gastroenteritis, or the stomach flu. While a dangerous bout with the stomach flu can cause problems for anyone, children are at the greatest risk. That’s because gastroenteritis is most harmful for infants and young children. The virus can cause symptoms like diarrhea, vomiting and dehydration. With bodies that are less resilient, children may also need hospitalization.

So, any vaccine that prevents such a virus already offers on helpful perk.

But, the rotavirus vaccine may also offer some help with diabetes.

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Last August, the Democratic Republic of Congo saw the second largest outbreak of Ebola in history. To date, the outbreak has infected over 2,100 people and killed over 1,300.

But, even with those jarring numbers, the most dangerous development could be its recent spread to Uganda. The country’s fears of the virus spreading came true when the virus took the life of a 5-year-old boy.

The outbreak has not stopped or slowed down since it began in the DRC last year. So long as this continues, officials say the chances of it spreading to other neighboring countries will increase.

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In the past, doctors have largely believed that bacteria has been the cause of most pneumonia cases. While the flu has often been linked to the disease, bacteria within the environment was long considered the root of pneumonia. Although, new research shows that viruses are actually the cause of most cases.

Pneumonia often resembles bronchitis with its symptoms, causing a lung infection, cough, fever, nasal congestion, and shortness of breath. But, without treatment, these symptoms can become life-threatening. People of all ages are susceptible to the infection, but it can be treated with medication and prevented with a vaccine.

Every year, pneumonia kills almost 1 million children. This new research could be vital in understanding what causes pneumonia and how to prevent these deaths from occurring.

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