‘Modern Polio’ Cases Confirmed in 16 States
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported 38 confirmed cases of a severe polio-like disease in children known as acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) in the United States from January through September of this year. A total of 16 states have reported cases of the condition, also referred to as acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) […]
Smallpox-like Disease Spreading in Africa
There is a growing epidemic of monkeypox—a close cousin to smallpox—in Africa during the past two years. More than 1,000 cases of monkeypox have been confirmed among people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) since 2016, followed by 88 confirmed cases in the Republic of the Congo, over 80 cases in Nigeria, 19 […]
CDC Predicted “Second Wave” of Influenza This Year
Although spring is when the typical “flu season” ends, officials at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned in mid-March 2018 that a “second wave” of influenza B virus appeared to be on the way and could cause more illness, especially among young children. News reports stated that the majority…
The Antibiotic Resistance Crisis and Vaccines
Ever since the discovery of the antibiotic commonly known as penicillin in the late-1920s, antibiotic drugs have transformed the face of modern medicine. Antibiotics have historically played an instrumental role in successfully treating bacterial infections. However, the overuse and misuse of these medications over the last…
CDC Calls for Antiviral Drug Use to Combat Flu
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a public health advisory warning that the incidence of influenza infection, primarily with the virulent A(H3N2) strain, has been increasing rapidly over the last month.1 Historically, influenza A(H3N2) has been linked to an increased risk of hospitalizations…
Viruses May Be Harmful, Helpful, or Passengers
One of the best estimates we have for the average total number of cells in the human body is 37.2 trillion. It sounds like a lot, until you consider that the average number of microbes in an adult human is estimated at 20 times the number of cells in the body. That would equal approximately 744 trillion microorganisms. In other words, we humans are vastly more microbial than cellular in nature. Each of us is, essentially, one giant germ.