New Zika Transmission Pathway May Enable Virus to Survive Winter Months
September 2nd 2016Researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch Institute for Human Infection and Immunity have confirmed pathway for transmission of the Zika virus that may enable the virus to “survive during adverse conditions,” such as the colder and drier climate conditions of the winter months.
National Collaboration Continues in the Fight Against Zika—Is it Enough?
September 1st 2016As cases of Zika infection continue to increase, the Centers for the Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Health and Human Services have ramped up funding and collaborative efforts in affected regions.
Researchers at NCATS Identify Compounds to Fight Zika Virus
September 1st 2016Researchers at the NIH’s National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), working with colleagues at Johns Hopkins and Florida State University have identified compounds that “potentially can be used to inhibit Zika virus replication and reduce its ability to kill brain cells.”
Hepatitis & HIV-infected Hospitalized Patients at Higher Risk for Suicide Death
August 29th 2016Researchers from the Copenhagen University Hospital of Denmark find that individuals who are hospitalized with infections have an increased risk of suicide ideation and death; individuals infected with hepatitis and HIV or AIDS have the highest risk of suicide-related death.
USDA Issues Food Safety Tips for Areas Affected by Flooding
August 26th 2016Many Louisiana residents have been impacted by severe flooding. In response, the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service is issuing food safety recommendations to guide those in Louisiana who have been affected.
Study Finds Food and Healthcare Workers More Susceptible to Norovirus
August 26th 2016Individuals who handle foods in the course of their work, as well as those working in healthcare settings, have a higher risk for infection with highly contagious, gastroenteritis-inducing noroviruses when an outbreak occurs where they work.
Severity of Zika Threat Still Open for Debate—US Health Officials Not Taking Any Chances
August 25th 2016With 43 “local” cases of Zika virus infection now reported in Florida, and as far north as St. Petersburg, health officials in other Gulf states are ramping up responses in the event of potential outbreaks—even as there remains some disagreement as to the true nature of the threat of local transmission in the United States.
New Genetic Research Holds Promise for C. Difficile Treatment
August 25th 2016In the battle against drug-resistant pathogens, genetic research holds promising answers to our toughest threats. A new study shows that the best tool for treating Clostridium difficile infections could be within the genome of the bacteria itself.
Fruit Flies May Provide Answers to How HPV-induced Cancers Work
August 25th 2016By using a fruit fly model of human papillomavirus (HPV) induced human cancer, a team of researchers from the University of Missouri hope to better understand the mechanism that allows HPV to cause cancer as well as identify therapies that can potentially treat HPV-induced cancers.