Infectious Disease

A skull discovered at a sacred Aztec temple. A new study analyzed DNA extracted from the teeth of people who died in a 16th century epidemic that destroyed the Aztec empire, and found a type of salmonella may have caused the epidemic.

Salmonella May Have Caused Massive Aztec Epidemic, Study Finds

11:13am January 15, 2018

by Rebecca Hersher

The 16th century epidemic, likely set off or exacerbated by European invaders, was one of the most deadly in human history. New evidence traces it to a type of salmonella that causes a deadly fever.

Activity levels are based on the percent of outpatient visits in a state due to influenza-like illness (ILI) and are compared with the average percent of ILI visits that occur during weeks with little or no influenza virus circulation.

Flu Season Is Shaping Up To Be A Nasty One, CDC Says

6:02pm January 12, 2018

by Rob Stein

The flu season started early this year and is already widespread throughout the country and intense in dozens of states. But it's not too late to get that flu shot, officials say.

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A fear of needles may keep some people away from receiving important vaccines.

Health & Safety

Fear Of Needles May Chip Away At Vaccination Rates

1:17pm December 28, 2017

by Tara Haelle

Public health officials worry about the number of parents who aren't getting children vaccinated. A study suggests that getting multiple shots while in preschool contributes to vaccine fear.

Health workers killed chickens in a Hong Kong market in 2014 in an effort to stop the spread of H7N9 flu. It's being watched closely as a virus that might spark a pandemic outbreak.

NIH Lifts Ban On Research That Could Make Deadly Viruses Even Worse

11:12pm December 19, 2017

by Nell Greenfieldboyce

After an unusual three-year moratorium, the federal government says it will once again allow research on deadly viruses that could spark pandemics. The work has sparked concerns about bioterrorism.

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Australia had a particularly hard flu season this year, which may predict similar challenges for the U.S.

In The U.S., Flu Season Could Be Unusually Harsh This Year

5:34pm December 08, 2017

by Rob Stein

Health officials fear the U.S. may have a nasty flu season because the main flu virus circulating this year tends to hit people hard and the flu vaccine may be weaker than normal.

Campylobacter infections are common in dogs, cats and people.

Pet-Store Puppies Linked To Campylobacter Outbreak In People

4:20pm September 12, 2017

by Greta Jochem

Adorable fuzzy puppies aren't usually thought of as disease vectors. But they come with germs, too. It's not clear how pet-store puppies caused dozens of humans to get sick with Campylobacter.

A patient with the H7N9 avian flu is treated in a hospital in Wuhan, in central China's Hubei province, in February of this year. The 2017 outbreak was the deadliest in China since H7N9 first appeared in humans in 2013.

Deadly Bird Flu In China Evolves, Spreads To New Regions

4:51pm September 07, 2017

by Michaeleen Doucleff

In the 2017 outbreak, the Chinese government reported 759 cases of the H7N9 avian flu, with 281 deaths. By comparison, in 2016 there were 123 cases.

A newly detected type of Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteria (in red) has acquired genes that make it more deadly.

Health & Safety

Triple Threat: New Pneumonia Is Drug-Resistant, Deadly And Contagious

12:59pm September 02, 2017

by Michaeleen Doucleff

When microbiologist Sheng Chen and his team sequenced the microbes found in the pneumonia infections, they were shocked at what they saw.

Tiny turtles are cute, but they can spread salmonella and make children very sick.

Why The Toxin Trouble With Tiny Turtles Continues

3:45pm August 30, 2017

by April Fulton

The government is warning people not to handle tiny turtles because of the risk of contracting salmonella. The problem is, it has been warning us for 40 years and we're still getting sick.

Probiotic Bacteria Could Protect Newborns From Deadly Infection

6:51pm August 16, 2017

by Michaeleen Doucleff

Each year more than 600,000 babies die of sepsis. Researchers have found a simple way to prevent it: Feed babies probiotic bacteria that are common in kimchi, pickles and other fermented vegetables.

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