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How Andes virus super-spreaders reveal the risk behind the MV Hondius hantavirus cluster

A 2020 NEJM study of the 2018 to 2019 Epuyén outbreak showed that Andes virus spread from one zoonotic introduction into four generations of human infection, causing 34 cases and 11 deaths. The findings are newly relevant after WHO reported an ANDV cluster linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship, where close indoor exposure may have enabled onboard human-to-human transmission.

14 May 2026

Scientists develop a dual action strategy to destabilize the COVID virus

An unprecedented study led by researchers at the University of Malaga proposes a new antiviral strategy against SARS-CoV-2 -the virus responsible for causing COVID-19 disease- based on a treatment that combines two complementary approaches, capable of attacking the virus simultaneously, forcing its instability and hindering its ability to adapt.

14 May 2026

Turning the flu virus into a powerful tool to fight cancer

A recent Views & Comments article published in Engineering highlights advances in repurposing influenza viruses as flexible therapeutic platforms for infectious diseases and cancer, driven by progress in reverse genetics and viral vector engineering.

14 May 2026

The complex peptide mixture that makes ant venom a powerful shield

In addition to serving as biochemical weapons for offense and defense, the venoms produced by ants in the subfamily Formicinae also fulfill additional roles. For example, the ants use it to protect their nests from pathogens. It has long been assumed that the primary constituent of these venoms, formic acid, was responsible for these functions.

14 May 2026

Experts urge WHO to strengthen airborne virus precautionary measures

With three people dead and 11 cases from the recent hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship, UMD's internationally renowned expert on airborne viruses, Dr. Don Milton, joins public health colleagues in an opinion piece in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) calling on the World Health Organization (WHO) to shift its default response to emerging respiratory viruses.

13 May 2026

Wastewater monitoring may predict influenza outbreaks one week earlier

Seasonal influenza can spread rapidly, and timely information on rising cases is essential for public health decisions and healthcare resource planning.

13 May 2026

Study reveals hidden airborne infection pathways in multi-family buildings

Airborne diseases like measles, influenza and COVID-19 can easily spread between units in multi-family buildings via a type of bathroom ventilation system commonly used around the world, new research suggests.

13 May 2026

New compound shows promise as single-dose malaria treatment

A Portland State University-led research team has developed a novel chemical compound that shows promise for the treatment and prevention of malaria, one of the world's deadliest diseases.

13 May 2026

Worms help researchers tackle rare childhood genetic disease

A new worm model developed by Brown University researchers could play a key role in treating a rare genetic disease that causes paralysis in children and worsens with age.

13 May 2026

New malaria vaccine offers long-lasting protection without refrigeration

Malaria is a deadly disease killing more than half a million people every year, but a new vaccine is showing promise as it not only offers long-lasting strong protection but also inhibits transmission of malaria by mosquitos.

13 May 2026

Intestinal stem cells identified as active defenders against Salmonella infection

Researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Weizmann Institute of Science have identified a previously unrecognized defense mechanism in the intestine, showing that intestinal stem cells can actively respond to Salmonella infection and help protect the gut from bacterial invasion.

12 May 2026

Johns Hopkins researchers develop life-saving AI for early sepsis detection

An early warning system for sepsis, one of the deadliest infections for hospital patients, has been approved for use by the FDA, one of the first AI-based medical tools to get clearance.

12 May 2026

Enterprise Therapeutics achieves primary efficacy outcome in Phase 2 clinical trial for cystic fibrosis with novel inhaled ENaC blocker ETD001

Enterprise Therapeutics Ltd (Enterprise), a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery and development of novel therapies to improve the lives of people with respiratory diseases, today announced that its Phase 2 trial for ETD001, the Company's lead candidate for treatment of cystic fibrosis (CF), achieved its primary efficacy outcome.

From Enterprise Therapeutics Ltd 12 May 2026

Common tuberculosis screening test could predict long-term patient survival

Scientists have long known that the immune system plays a key role in aging. As people age, they have weaker responses to vaccination, greater risks of infection and higher levels of inflammation.

11 May 2026

Study compares two antibiotics in treating severe hemorrhagic bacterial pneumonia

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (S. maltophilia) is a multidrug-resistant bacterium that can cause severe and life-threatening hemorrhagic pneumonia in individuals with weakened immune systems.

11 May 2026

New CRISPR RNA scissors specifically target and destroy hepatitis E virus

An enzymatic scissors recognizes and cuts viral RNA, but leaves the host cell unharmed. This opens up new antiviral strategies against hepatitis E.

11 May 2026

Rockefeller scientists reveal how HIV strains escape broadly neutralizing antibodies

Broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) are among the most promising new treatments for HIV, offering the potential to forego traditional daily dose of antiretroviral drugs.

11 May 2026

Andes hantavirus outbreak highlights global spillover and transmission risks

A Virginia Tech disease ecologist said the outbreak of Andes hantavirus aboard the international MV Hondius cruise ship underscores how little scientists still know about the viruses circulating silently in wild rodent populations before they spill into humans.

11 May 2026

Atomic-level images could improve future COVID-19 antiviral drug design

The closest-ever detailed look at a key enzyme inside the virus that causes COVID-19 could lead to more effective treatment of the disease.

10 May 2026

Did COVID-19 reshape fatherhood? New study finds Filipino dads stepped back, not up, after lockdown

A longitudinal study of 307 Filipino fathers found that COVID-19 lockdowns did not produce lasting increases in paternal caregiving, with routine care actually declining post-pandemic. Shifts in employment status emerged as the strongest predictor of changes in fathers' time spent with their children.

10 May 2026