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Bird flu virus detected in Alaskan polar bear

Researchers reported a natural infection of a highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) virus in a free-ranging juvenile polar bear in Alaska, highlighting the importance of wildlife health surveillance in detecting emerging pathogens.

2 Jul 2024

Study shows how milking equipment spreads bird flu risk

Bird flu, or H5N1 virus, in unpasteurized milk is stable on metal and rubber components of commercial milking equipment for at least one hour, increasing its potential to infect people and other animals, report researchers from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and Emory University in Emerging Infectious Diseases.

28 Jun 2024

Experts call for better information and treatments for post-orgasmic illness syndrome

A study in the "International Journal of Impotence Research" reveals that sexual medicine experts find current information on post-orgasmic illness syndrome (POIS) inadequate, often referring patients for psychotherapy or prescribing antihistamines with limited symptom improvement.

26 Jun 2024

Sleep patterns reveal hidden health clues

Your sleep tracker might give you information about more than just your sleep–specifically, it might give you information about chronic conditions such as diabetes and sleep apnea, and illnesses such as COVID-19.

25 Jun 2024

Wearable devices show how sleep patterns change with health conditions

Examine changes in the sleep phenotype of an individual over time and to determine if these changes in sleep patterns or phenotypes are informative about periods of acute illness.

25 Jun 2024

New study warns of potential pandemic risk from α-H1N2 swine flu virus

The α-H1N2 influenza virus in swine poses a higher pandemic risk due to its ability to evade human immunity and transmit between species, highlighting the need for vigilant monitoring.

23 Jun 2024

Low-cost CRISPR-based paper strip test offers rapid influenza diagnosis

Fewer than one percent of people who get the flu every year get tested, in part because most tests require trained personnel and expensive equipment.

21 Jun 2024

WHO commends Chad for eradicating sleeping sickness

The World Health Organization (WHO) congratulates Chad for having eliminated the gambiense form of human African trypanosomiasis, also known as sleeping sickness, as a public health problem.

20 Jun 2024

‘We’re flying blind’: CDC has 1M bird flu tests ready, but experts see repeat of covid missteps

It's been nearly three months since the U.S. government announced an outbreak of the bird flu virus on dairy farms.

20 Jun 2024

TOMI Environmental Solutions supports partners and customers to combat global avian influenza (H5N1) bird flu outbreak

TOMI Environmental Solutions, Inc.® (“TOMI”), a global company specializing in disinfection and decontamination utilizing its premier Binary Ionization Technology (BIT) platform through its SteraMist brand of products, today announced that the Company is working closely with customers and partners to support efforts to combat a current outbreak of avian influenza (H5N1) that is causing widespread disruption globally.

19 Jun 2024

¿Cómo se dice? California loops in AI to translate health care information

Tener gripe, tener gripa, engriparse, agriparse, estar agripado, estar griposo, agarrar la gripe, coger la influenza. In Spanish, there are at least a dozen ways to say someone has the flu — depending on the country.

18 Jun 2024

KFF Health News' 'What the Health?': SCOTUS rejects abortion pill challenge — for now

A unanimous Supreme Court turned back a challenge to the FDA's approval and rules for the abortion pill mifepristone, finding that the anti-abortion doctor group that sued lacked standing to do so.

13 Jun 2024

Study shows increase in mandatory flu vaccinations for hospital staff

In just a few months, hospitals and health systems nationwide will start working to vaccinate as many staff as possible against the flu.

13 Jun 2024

Rising syphilis cases highlight gaps in public knowledge on symptoms and treatment

Syphilis cases are on the rise around the globe, but many Americans don't know the symptoms.

12 Jun 2024

Bird flu tests are hard to get. So how will we know when to sound the pandemic alarm?

Stanford University infectious disease doctor Abraar Karan has seen a lot of patients with runny noses, fevers, and irritated eyes lately.

11 Jun 2024

WHO and FIND join forces to accelerate diagnostic innovation and access

FIND and the World Health Organization (WHO) have signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that lays the foundation for accelerating innovation and achieving equitable access to quality diagnostics for people globally.

8 Jun 2024

VUMC researchers discover potent antibody against influenza B

Researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center have isolated human monoclonal antibodies against influenza B, a significant public health threat that disproportionately affects children, the elderly and other immunocompromised individuals.

31 May 2024

The chicken and egg problem of fighting another flu pandemic

Even a peep of news about a new flu pandemic is enough to set scientists clucking about eggs.

31 May 2024

Inexpensive “duckbill” N95 becomes the champion in COVID-19 mask effectiveness

In a head-to-head comparison of masks worn by people with active COVID-19, the inexpensive "duckbill" N95 came out on top, stopping 98% of COVID-19 particles in the breath of infected people from escaping into the air.

30 May 2024

Vaccination remains crucial for preventing avian influenza spread, says study

Vaccination remains the most effective strategy for avian influenza prevention and control in humans, despite varying vaccine efficacy across strains.

29 May 2024