The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have stated that cases of West Nile virus rose 40 percent last week and are on pace to hit the record levels of 2002 and 2003.
The CDC says 1,590 cases have now been confirmed with 66 deaths. Half the cases have been in Texas. Continue reading
A little over a week after announcing that one of two vacationers had died from contracting hantavirus at Yosemite National Park, a second fatality has been confirmed by government officials.
Officials from Yosemite National Park officials have confirmed that over 1,700 visitors were put at risk for the potentially fatal disease after conditions in various rental cabins allowed infected rodents to breed and grow. Continue reading
The director of Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases for the CDC is warning that the United States could see the worst outbreak of West Nile Virus in history.
The virus is responsible for 41 deaths in the US and over 1,100 people infected. The CDC states that increase is alarming considering that only 25 cases had been reported last month. The only states that do not have cases reported are Alaska, Hawaii and Vermont. Continue reading
Researchers are reporting that a new disease is affflicting many in Asia and some in the United States with AIDS-like symptoms despite the patients not being infected with HIV.
The researchers do not believe the disease is infectious but like AIDS leaves the patients with damaged immune systems that leave them vulnerable to germs that an ordinary immune system can fend off. Continue reading
Ebola, the virus that kills up to 90% of those infected, has broken out in Uganda and now has killed one person in the capital city of Kampala. President Yoweri Museveni is urging people to avoid physical contact in an attempt to stop the disease.
Health officials are attempting to track down anyone who had contact with the victim in an attempt to constrain the outbreak. Nationwide, fourteen have died from the disease in this latest outbreak. Continue reading
The World Health Organization has found the cause of a mysterious illness that has killed over 60 children who died within 48 hours of being hospitalized. WHO says the condition is caused by a combination of pathogens.
Enterovirus 71, streptococcus suis and dengue fever were part of the cocktail of diseases. The problem was compounded by doctors using steroids to treat the illness which suppressed the immune system. Continue reading
