Plague

New York City Health Department officials announced on August 12 that they've identified traces of the poliovirus in the city's sewage system. Since 1979, there have been no cases of wild polio originating in the US, according to the CDC. Before vaccines were made available in 1955, the disease caused 15,000 cases of paralysis each year in the US.  Here's a look back at 25 photos from that time period.  Loading Something is loading. ...

For as long as humans have lived in close proximity to animals, there has been the ever-present risk of infectious agents making the jump from them to us. This process is known as spillover: when a pathogen, like a virus, crosses a species barrier to infect a new host. It's not a rare phenomenon; some estimates have suggested that over 60 percent of infectious diseases that have emerged in humans have animal origins. A list of these infections – called zoonotic diseases – reads like a who's who of the most feared of human afflictions: Ebola, HIV, rabies, and bubonic plague, to name a few. Recently, reports of spillover cases of bird flu in humans, including the tragic death of a young girl in Cambodia, have sparked fears of more such events. But what is the science underlying spillover, and how worried should we be? How does spillover happen? There are lots of factors that determine whether a particular disease will spill over into the human population. To start with, you need ...

Our team is dedicated to finding and telling you more about the products and deals we love. If you love them too and decide to purchase through the links below, we may receive a commission. Pricing and availability are subject to change. OK, so maybe you wash your feet in the shower with soap and a washcloth — or perhaps you just swish them around in the suds that trickle down your body. If you're in the latter group, you really should add a good foot scrub to your routine. Washing your feet could help prevent bacteria and fungus from growing and causing infections, remove dry skin and maybe even keep your heels from cracking. If you want soft, healthy feet, you have take care of them, just like the rest of your body. Nonetheless, one easy way to wash your toes is to get a foot scrubber. People on Amazon especially rave about the LOVE, LORI Foot Scrubber, which is basically a silicone mat that has hundreds of soft bristles to really get in between your toes. It uses suction cups t...

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An epidemic is when an infectious disease spreads more rapidly than expected in a geographical location. They normally occur when the cause of the disease, be it a virus or bacteria, grows stronger, finds its way to a new location, or discovers a new way to enter the bodies of hosts. Generally, scientists are able to contain many epidemics, though some can become pandemics, which are widespread, affecting most of the world's population. Throughout history, some of the greatest losses and difficulties have come from epidemics. While rapidly spreading diseases still pose a threat to humanity, they no longer have the same impact they once did. Learn about the top ten worst epidemics in...

There is a legend that you may have heard about the arrival of the Black Death in Europe. According to a story told by Italian notary Gabriele De' Mussi, plague arrived in 1346, when "Tartars" attacking the city of Caffa in the Crimea came down with a mysterious illness. The dying Mongols decide to catapult the bodies of their dead over the walls of the city to infect the inhabitants within. That illness was bubonic plague. From there, the story goes, the plague spread throughout Europe, killing between 30 percent and 50 percent of the population. Bubonic plague victims in a mass grave in Martigues, France. S. Tzortzis/CDC/Wikimedia Commons While the impact of the Black Death in the 14th century is undeniable, this does not mean that the narrative about how or when it began is accurate. New research that fuses paleogenetics, historical detective work, ecological studies, and biology is challenging what scientists and historians thought they knew about the plague with so...

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexican officials say about 12% of Mexicans suffer from malnutrition, a situation they blamed in part on consumption of junk food. Officials told legislators the problem is more common in rural areas. The Health Department said Saturday the problem is often reflected in anemia, protein deficit and an imbalance in micronutrients. Simón Barquera, the head of the country's health and nutrition research center, said marketing and junk food were the main drivers of unhealthy consumption patterns. "Marketing, economic interests and the influence of the junk food industry are the main drivers of consumption patterns in the Mexican population that create health problems," Barquera said. However, poverty also clearly plays a role. Mexico's commission for poverty measurement said that in 2020, 22.5% of Mexicans lacked enough income to buy quality, nutritious food...

A dog named Ramsey snuggles in a quilt. Dog owners, dog breeders and dog rescue groups are struggling with the rise in canine brucellosis in Montana. Courtesy photo ...

Proposed rule would require disclosure of additional ownership and management information to shine a light on private equity ownership Administration seeking to implement Section 6101(a) of the Affordable Care Act As President Biden made clear in his second State of the Union address, the Biden-Harris Administration is unwavering in its commitment to improve the safety and quality of care in the nation's nursing homes. Over the past year, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has taken historic actions to deliver on the President's call to action and ensure seniors and people with disabilities get the reliable, high-quality care they deserve. Today, in a continued effort to deliver on the President's commitment, HHS announced additional action to increase the transparency of nursing home ownership and management. The Department issued a proposed rule to require nursing homes to disclose to CMS and states additional ownership and management information. ...

A storm is brewing over the U.S. polar research program's medical qualifications process, which screens hundreds of scientists for physical and psychological ailments each year before they deploy to field sites in Antarctica and Greenland where they will have limited access to medical care. Scientists are too often rejected for questionable reasons, some researchers argue. "We have learned of far too many accounts of unfair treatment," a group of senior polar researchers asserts in a letter sent today to the National Science Foundation (NSF), which funds research in polar regions and coordinates field logistics. "Systems for transparency, reporting, and accountability are needed." NSF's screening process is administered by the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) and involves detailed medical questionnaires, blood tests, and a physical examination by each applicants' personal doctor. NSF says it is an important tool for catching potentially danger...

There is a huge invisible crisis going on in our community. The lack of qualified and trained caregivers to help older adults and people with disabilities remain in their homes and live productive lives in the community is the biggest obstacle facing people in Madison's long-term care system. One of the limiting factors for having enough caregivers is the low wages they receive. When there is no care provided in their homes, people have no other recourse than to live in institutional care—hospitals, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities. Families are needed to provide the care their loved ones require.  Many family members are overworked and being forced out of their jobs because of a lack of outside paid help. This issue will be discussed at the Disability Rights Commission on Thursday, February 23 at 5:00pm. The public is invited to attend the virtual meeting. To register, use the following link: https://www.cityofmadison.com/city-hall/committees/meeting-schedu...

News Home Thursday, February 23, 2023 04:06 AM | GlobeNewswire via QuoteMedia US Physician Groups Market Exhibits 3.7% CAGR to hit USD 360.47 Billion by 2029 According to Fortune Business Insights, US Physician Groups Market to Reach USD 360.47 Billion by 2029; Prevalence of Various Medical Conditions and the Need For Early Diagnosis to Drive Market Growth Pune, India, Feb. 23, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The US Physician Groups Market size was valued at USD 271.41 billion in 2021 and USD 279.65 billion in 2022. The market is expected to reach USD 360.47 billion by 2029 with a CAGR of 3.7% during the fore...