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Study Warns That Cats Might Be Bird Flu Carriers
- India Edwards HealthDay Reporter
- December 12, 2024
- Full Page
Picture this: a beloved cat, playful and healthy one day, falls mysteriously ill the next. Soon after, the shocking culprit is revealed -- bird flu, a virus that most people associate with poultry and wild birds.
Now, scientists are warning that domestic cats could pote...
Mystery Illness Outbreak in Congo May Be Malaria
- Robin Foster HealthDay Reporter
- December 12, 2024
- Full Page
There's early evidence that a mysterious flu-like illness that has sickened 416 people and left 75 dead in the Democratic Republic of Congo over recent weeks may be malaria.
Laboratory samples taken from infected people are suggestive of malaria, although more research i...
USDA Orders Testing of Milk Supply for Presence of Bird Flu Virus
- Robin Foster HealthDay Reporter
- December 6, 2024
- Full Page
Faced with rising cases of bird flu virus being detected in raw milk in California, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on Friday announced it would mandate testing for the virus in milk nationwide.
The National Milk Testing Strategy (NMTS) "builds on measures take...
California Farm Expands Raw Milk Recall After Bird Flu Virus Found in More Samples
- Robin Foster HealthDay Reporter
- December 5, 2024
- Full Page
A California dairy farm has expanded a recall of its raw milk and cream after state health officials discovered bird flu virus in more milk samples.
In a notice posted Tuesday, Fresno-based Raw Farm LLC said it has now r...
Mystery Illness Kills Dozens in Congo
- Robin Foster HealthDay Reporter
- December 5, 2024
- Full Page
Health officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo are racing to try to identify the cause of a mysterious, flu-like illness that has sickened 376 people and left 79 dead in that country.
In a alert pos...
Genomic Test Might Quickly Diagnose Any Type of Infection
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- November 12, 2024
- Full Page
A cutting-edge genetic test can rapidly detect and identify almost any kind of disease-causing microorganism in the human body, whether it’s a virus, bacteria, fungus or parasite, researchers say.
Doctors have been using the genetic test for more than a decade to i...
Here's Where Viruses Love to Lurk in Your Bathroom
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- October 9, 2024
- Full Page
The bad news first: shower heads and toothbrushes in an average bathroom are teeming with an extremely diverse collection of viruses, most of which have never been seen before, a new study finds.
Now, the good news.
These viruses target bacteria, not people, and co...
Experimental Nasal Spray Might Ward Off Multiple Viruses
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- September 25, 2024
- Full Page
A non-drug nasal spray could theoretically help stop the spread of respiratory viruses like the flu and COVID-19 better than wearing a mask, a new study suggests.
The spray uses i...
What Is the EEE Mosquito-Borne Virus?
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- September 3, 2024
- Full Page
New England is on alert following one death and a handful of infections of eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) virus.
A New Hampshire resident died after contracting EEE, which is spread by mosquito bites, according to a
Ancient Viruses Might Be Spurring Modern-Day Cancers
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- July 19, 2024
- Full Page
Cancer growth can be fueled by flecks of ancient viral DNA lodged into the genetics of modern humans, a new study says.
Overall, about 8% of the human genome is made of bits of DNA left behind by viruses that infected our primate ancestors, researchers say.
Called ...
Could OTC Nasal Sprays Ease Colds & Flu and Cut Antibiotic Use?
- Carole Tanzer Miller HealthDay Reporter
- July 15, 2024
- Full Page
Over-the-counter nasal sprays could be a potent weapon against a major public health threat -- antibiotic resistance, researchers report.
Their analysis, which looked at data from nearly 14,000 adults, found that common nasal sprays could help keep upper respiratory trac...
Raw Milk Exposure a Real Bird Flu Risk for Humans, but Fast Spread Unlikely
- Carole Tanzer Miller HealthDay Reporter
- July 10, 2024
- Full Page
While exposure to raw cow's milk infected with the H5N1 avian influenza virus can make you sick, a new study suggests the virus may not spread quickly to other people.
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison found that mice and ferrets got sick with
Scientists Develop High-Tech 'Air Mask' to Ward Off Viruses
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- July 10, 2024
- Full Page
An experimental "air mask"could help ward off infectious diseases while people are on the job, researchers report.
The mask uses an air curtain blowing down from the brim of a hard hat to prevent airborne viruses from reaching a worker's eyes, nose and mouth.
The m...
Florida Keys Issues Dengue Fever Alert After Two Cases Reported There
- Robin Foster HealthDay Reporter
- July 3, 2024
- Full Page
Health officials in the Florida Keys have issued a dengue fever alert after two confirmed cases of the mosquito-borne disease were reported there.
In the alert, issued this week by the Monroe County Depar...
Why Were Kids Hit Less Hard by COVID? New Study Offers Clues
- Carole Tanzer Miller HealthDay Reporter
- July 3, 2024
- Full Page
Your children's never-ending colds and sniffles may have protected them from the worst effects of COVID-19, new research suggests.
Throughout the pandemic, it was clear that the SARS-CoV-2 virus tends to cause less severe symptoms in
FDA Study Shows Pasteurization Kills Bird Flu in Milk
- Robin Foster HealthDay Reporter
- July 1, 2024
- Full Page
As bird flu continues to spread among U.S. dairy cows, reassuring new government research finds the pasteurization process widely used in the industry effectively kills all bird flu virus in milk.
FDA Says First Round of Tests Show No Live Virus in Pasteurized Milk
- Robin Foster HealthDay Reporter
- April 29, 2024
- Full Page
Live bird flu virus has not been found in any of the first batch of retail milk samples tested, federal health officials said Friday.
Amid an ongoing outbreak of bird flu in U.S. dairy cows, the early findings should reassure the public that the milk sold in stores remai...
Dairy Cows Moved Across State Lines Must Now Be Tested for Bird Flu
- Robin Foster HealthDay Reporter
- April 25, 2024
- Full Page
As bird flu continues to spread among dairy cows in the United States, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said Wednesday it will start requiring testing of the animals if they are moved across state lines.
The "USDA has identified [bird flu] spread between cows within t...
Man Dies in First Fatal Case of Alaskapox
- Robin Foster HealthDay Reporter
- February 14, 2024
- Full Page
Alaska health officials say a man in that state has died after contracting Alaskapox, a rare virus that mostly infects small mammals.
In a statement, the Alaska Section of Epidemiology said the patient was ...
Too Few Americans Are Getting Vaccinated for Flu, COVID & RSV, CDC Warns
- Robin Foster HealthDay Reporter
- December 15, 2023
- Full Page
Low vaccination rates for the flu, RSV and COVID-19 are putting Americans at higher risk for severe illness and hospitalization this winter, a new government alert warned Thursday.
There is an "urgent need"to boost vaccination rates as the trio of viruses spread through ...
Respiratory Illnesses in China Not Caused by New Virus, CDC Director Testifies
- Robin Foster HealthDay Reporter
- December 1, 2023
- Full Page
FRIDAY, Dec. 1, 2023 (Healthday News) -- In testimony provided Thursday to members of Congress, the head of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that a surge in respiratory illnesses in China is not being fueled by a new virus.
Instead, the spike can ...
Air Filters Probably Won't Cut Your Odds for Illness: Study
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- November 17, 2023
- Full Page
Air filters might help keep the air in your home fresh, but a new review finds they don't appear to reduce your risk of catching an airborne virus.
Technologies designed to make indoor spaces safer from infection are not effective in the real world, researchers from the ...
Could a Cheap, DIY Air Filter Help Rid Your Home of Viruses?
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- October 30, 2023
- Full Page
A cheap, do-it-yourself air purifier is powerful enough to effectively protect a home from free-floating flu and COVID-19 viruses, according to test results from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
The filter, crafted with common hardware store supplies costing $60...
Shortage of Shots That Protect Babies Against RSV Prompts CDC Alert
- Robin Foster and Cara Murez and Ernie Mundell HealthDay Reporters
- October 24, 2023
- Full Page
Demand for a new shot that protects babies against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) has outpaced supply, prompting U.S. health officials to recommend the doses be saved for high-risk infants.
In an alert post...
Cache Valley Virus: Another Mosquito-Borne Illness Making Inroads in U.S.
- Steven Reinberg HealthDay Reporter
- October 19, 2023
- Full Page
A potentially deadly infection carried by mosquitoes may be more prevalent than once thought, U.S. health officials report.
Named the Cache Valley virus after the Utah area in which it was first fo...
Could a Warming Climate Bring Yellow Fever to America?
- Denise Mann HealthDay Reporter
- October 18, 2023
- Full Page
Yellow fever may be resurfacing in the United States, thanks to climate change.
The mosquito-borne viral illness decimated southern U.S. cities from 1820 to 1905, and now a new report says it could return to those areas.
One of the potential reasons fo...
Serotonin May Play Big Role in Long COVID
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- October 18, 2023
- Full Page
New research has uncovered evidence that remnants of the COVID-19 virus may remain in some patients' guts for months, contributing to the lingering symptoms known as long COVID.
The remnants appear to trigger a drop in levels of the chemical serotonin, which may explain ...
Local Rates of Flu, RSV Show Up in a City's Wastewater
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- October 11, 2023
- Full Page
Toilet bowls reveal much about the health of a community, alerting scientists to coming outbreaks of flu and other seasonal viruses, researchers say.
COVID Might Raise Odds for Immune Disorders Like Crohn's, Alopecia
- Steven Reinberg HealthDay Reporter
- October 10, 2023
- Full Page
In rare cases, some patients may develop an autoimmune disease following a bout of COVID, Korean researchers report.
Conditions such as alopecia (hair loss), psoriasis, vitiligo (white skin patches), vasculitis (inflammation of blood vessels), Crohn's disease, ulcerativ...
Flu Shot Season Is Here: Why You (and Your Kids) Need One
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- October 7, 2023
- Full Page
It's time to get the flu shot.
They're important not just for adults, but also for children, and keeping the whole family safe, according to an expert in pediatrics.
Could Folks Suffer From 'Long Colds,' Similar to Long COVID?
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- October 6, 2023
- Full Page
Long COVID, a constellation of symptoms that extend past the initial illness, is now a recognized condition.
But researchers say COVID-19 may not be the only respiratory virus that causes these lasting health impacts -- "long colds" may also exist.
"Our findings s...
In Early Trial, Promising Results for Moderna's Combo COVID-Flu Vaccine
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- October 5, 2023
- Full Page
Moderna Inc. announced Wednesday that it has seen positive early results with a new vaccine that would guard against four strains of flu plus COVID-19.
In interim findings from a Phase 1/2 trial, the vaccine showed both a strong immune response compared to the standard d...
Why So Many Americans Aren't Getting COVID Boosters
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- October 5, 2023
- Full Page
More than 80% of eligible Americans did not get a COVID-19 booster shot last fall. Now, a new study reveals the reasons for the hesitation.
Nearly 40% of survey participants said a prior COVID-19 infection factored into their decision to not get the booster. Another 31.5...
Antiviral Meds Could Help Ease or Prevent Type 1 Diabetes in Kids, Study Finds
- Ernie Mundell HealthDay Reporter
- October 4, 2023
- Full Page
Recent research has suggested that viruses could play a role in the loss of pancreatic beta cells, which triggers type 1 diabetes.
Now, a new trial finds antiviral medications, when given soon after a child is diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, might help preserve those vi...
Scientists Gain Insight Into How COVID Harms the Heart
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- October 2, 2023
- Full Page
New research shows the COVID-19 virus can directly infect coronary arteries, inflaming fatty plaque inside them, which can increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.
This may explain why some people who get COVID-19 have a greater chance of developing heart disease. ...
Is the First Cure for Advanced Rabies Near?
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- September 28, 2023
- Full Page
Rabies virus is incurable and almost always fatal once it has invaded the central nervous system, with the victim doomed to suffer a horrible death.
But researchers now think they've found an effective and simple treatment that can cure even advanced cases of rabies.
...
RSV Vaccine Given in Pregnancy to Help Shield Newborns Receives Full U.S. Approval
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- September 22, 2023
- Full Page
Women may soon have a vaccine they can take during a pregnancy to help protect their newborn from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
Following approval one month ago by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday also a...
Today's COVID Is Increasingly Looking Like a Cold or Flu
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- September 21, 2023
- Full Page
Symptoms of mild COVID-19 infection have shifted this season, and now are more akin to those of allergies and the common cold, doctors say.
Many people with COVID-19 now are presenting with upper respiratory symptoms like runny nose, watery eyes and a sore throat, said <...
Can You Still Get COVID Tests for Free?
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- September 13, 2023
- Full Page
COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths are gradually increasing in the United States, as two new variants gain a foothold in the nation. And with that rise, more people are looking for COVID test kits.
Hospitalizations rose by nearly 9% and deaths by nearly 11% in late Aug...
CDC Panel Gives Support to New COVID Booster Shots
- Robin Foster HealthDay Reporter
- September 12, 2023
- Full Page
Following on an approval granted Monday by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, an expert panel from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday also signed off on new COVID boosters for Americans.
Final approval is expected from CDC Director Dr. Ma...
People Exhale Less COVID Virus as Their Infection Wanes
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- September 12, 2023
- Full Page
When you have COVID-19, when are you most infectious? Researchers are getting closer to an answer, with a new study finding that folks exhale the highest amounts of virus during the first eight days of their illness.
Scientists found that patients exhale quite a bit of ...
FDA Approves New COVID Booster Shots
- Robin Foster HealthDay Reporter
- September 11, 2023
- Full Page
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Monday gave the green light to new COVID boosters for Americans, setting the stage for the updated vaccines to become available within days.
The COVID-19 shots from Pfizer and Moderna will join the flu shot and newly approved RSV ...
Yet Another Mosquito-Borne Threat: The 'Jamestown Canyon Virus'
- Steven Reinberg HealthDay Reporter
- September 11, 2023
- Full Page
You've probably heard of West Nile virus, but mosquitoes spread various other illnesses, too, including the little-known Jamestown Canyon virus (JCV), which is garnering attention across the United States.
For example, health officials in Connecticut have so far identifi...
Moderna Says Updated COVID Shot Shields Against Highly Mutated New Variant
- Robin Foster HealthDay Reporter
- September 6, 2023
- Full Page
Some good news for folks who are worried about the new, troublesome COVID variant known as BA.2.86: Moderna Inc. said Wednesday that its updated vaccine held its own against this highly mutated version of the virus.
While approval for the newest version of the vaccine i...
CDC Warns of Rise in RSV Cases Among Young Children, Infants
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- September 6, 2023
- Full Page
Doctors are seeing a spike in severe cases of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) among young children in Florida and Georgia, U.S. health officials warned Tuesday.
Rising COVID Hospitalizations, New Variants Have Americans on Edge
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- August 29, 2023
- Full Page
A new COVID-19 surge is underway, with seasonal changes and new variants fueling an increase in hospitalizations and deaths.
A new Omicron variant, named Eris, has become dominant in the United States amid signs that an even more highly evolved COVID variant called BA.2....
COVID Virus Is Evolving Three Times Faster in Deer Versus Humans
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- August 28, 2023
- Full Page
COVID-19 variants are evolving three times faster in white-tailed deer than in humans, according to a new study.
Deer serve as virus reservoirs, places where a virus thrives and multiplies, making them the perfect host for ongoing mutation.
The virus also appears...
U.S. Wastewater Tests Spot Highly Mutated Variant of COVID-19
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- August 24, 2023
- Full Page
Public health officials have detected the new BA.2.86 variant of COVID-19 in U.S. wastewater, giving rise to concerns about the highly mutated variant in the United States.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced
FDA Approves RSV Vaccine for Pregnant Women to Help Shield Newborns
- Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
- August 22, 2023
- Full Page
Women may soon have a vaccine they can take during a pregnancy to help protect their newborn from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), following U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval of the shot, called Abrysvo, on Monday
The vaccine is designed to be given to pregnan...