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CoVaRR-Net research network concludes with major contributions to pandemic preparedness

The operations of CoVaRR-Net, a national interdisciplinary research network initiated with the support of the University of Ottawa to study COVID-19 variants and enhance Canada's preparedness for future pandemics, have concluded following the expiration of funding.

25 Apr 2025

Buprenorphine improves outcomes for pregnant women with opioid use disorder

Pregnant women living with opioid use disorder (OUD) and their infants had significantly better health outcomes when treated with buprenorphine, according to a new study at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health.

25 Apr 2025

Children with chronic conditions face higher RSV hospitalization risk

Young children with chronic conditions are more likely to be hospitalized for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) than healthy children, according to a new study.

25 Apr 2025

WHO urges renewed global effort to end malaria

On World Malaria Day, the World Health Organization (WHO) is calling for revitalized efforts at all levels, from global policy to community action, to accelerate progress towards malaria elimination.

25 Apr 2025

Antibiotic use by humans is polluting rivers across the globe, study shows

A global modeling study found that 8,500 tonnes of antibiotics from human use alone enter rivers annually, threatening aquatic ecosystems and accelerating antimicrobial resistance. Over 6 million kilometers of river length exceed safety thresholds, especially in low- and middle-income countries with limited wastewater treatment.

24 Apr 2025

Transitioning pancreatic cells show lasting epigenetic cancer traits

Johns Hopkins Medicine scientists say they have found a pattern of so-called epigenetic "marks" in a transition state between normal and pancreatic cancer cells in mice, and that the normal cells may keep at least a temporary "memory" of those cancer-linked marks.

24 Apr 2025

Study pinpoints vast 'air quality deserts' across nearly 60% of US counties

Over half of U.S. counties lack air quality monitoring stations, exposing 50.7 million people, especially in rural and disadvantaged areas, to invisible pollution risks. The study links monitoring gaps to systemic inequities and urges equitable infrastructure expansion.

24 Apr 2025

Urgent action needed to protect children from extreme heat in schools and child care settings

As Canadians face increasingly intense and frequent heat waves, health, education and legal experts are sounding the alarm on a growing crisis: extreme heat in schools and child care settings due to the escalating effects of climate change.

24 Apr 2025

What’s behind Gen Z’s skepticism about Ozempic and Wegovy

A U.S. study of over 500 youth aged 14–24 found high awareness but widespread hesitation about using semaglutide for weight loss. Concerns focused on safety, social stigma, and a preference for lifestyle changes like diet and exercise.

24 Apr 2025

Shingles vaccine eligibility lowers dementia risk in older adults

A large quasi-experimental study in Australia found that adults eligible for free shingles vaccination based on their date of birth were significantly less likely to be diagnosed with dementia over a 7.4-year period. The findings reinforce previous results from Wales and suggest a potential preventive role for HZ vaccination.

24 Apr 2025

COVID-19 lowers sperm count and motility, new study confirms

SARS-CoV-2 infection is linked to significant declines in sperm quality, including reduced sperm count, motility, and increased DNA fragmentation, as shown in both cross-sectional and longitudinal observations.

24 Apr 2025

H5N1's evolutionary leap could undermine vaccines and heighten human infection risk

From egg prices to pet food recalls – and now, confirmation that another strain of bird flu has infected a large commercial flock of broiler chickens on a Mississippi farm – headlines are capturing escalating concern over H5N1's spread.

24 Apr 2025

New biosensor offers fast detection of H5N1 in farm air

As highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza continues to spread in the U.S., posing serious threats to dairy and poultry farms, both farmers and public health experts need better ways to monitor for infections, in real time, to mitigate and respond to outbreaks.

24 Apr 2025

Both low and moderate-high intensity exercise could help fight against Alzheimer's

Researchers at University of California San Diego and Wake Forest University have found that both low and moderate-high intensity exercise could be valuable tools in the fight against Alzheimer's.

24 Apr 2025

Measles could become endemic again in the United States

Childhood vaccination rates have been falling in the United States, especially since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

24 Apr 2025

Baloxavir marboxil shows promise in reducing household flu spread

One dose of the antiviral baloxavir marboxil lowers the chance of transmitting the influenza virus to family members by about 30%, according to research in the New England Journal of Medicine.

24 Apr 2025

AI-powered BEACON platform enhances global disease surveillance

The Biothreats Emergence, Analysis and Communications Network (BEACON) leverages advanced artificial intelligence (AI), large language models (LLMs) and a network of globally based experts to rapidly collect, analyze, and disseminate information on emerging infectious diseases affecting humans, animals, and the environment.

24 Apr 2025

New strategy for TB screening aims to save lives

A new strategy for tuberculosis (TB) screening, proposed by a team of researchers led by Queen Mary University of London, provides a solution to problems with current TB screening, which does not always accurately detect disease.

24 Apr 2025

Postmenopausal women can reclaim intimacy with support and self-awareness, study finds

A qualitative study conducted in Qazvin, Iran, explored how cultural beliefs, personal experiences, and social dynamics affect the sexual well-being of postmenopausal women. The findings reveal that emotional support, open communication, and reframed attitudes are key to enhancing intimacy after menopause.

23 Apr 2025

Research offers new hope in the fight against antibiotic-resistant bacteria

Antibiotic resistance is a serious threat to public health. When antibiotics don't work, we risk not being able to treat many types of infections and people who would previously have been cured, can die.

23 Apr 2025