It may not have a long history, but Nipah virus is rightfully causing some panic.

Since it was discovered in during a 1999 outbreak that led to 100 deaths, the virus has been the source of various outbreaks. Bangladesh, India, Singapore and Malaysia have all seen spikes in the virus. All told, there have been more than 500 reported cases of the Nipah virus in Southeast Asia, with almost 300 of those resulting in death.

As those numbers have increased, the WHO has give the Nipah virus more attention. They’ve included the virus on its list of, “priority pathogens with epidemic potential.” That list includes any illnesses that might be used in bioterrorism for a large number of deaths.

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Flu season can often be a time of year that varies. We expect the season to start around fall and end during the start of summer, but that timeline can change.

That’s because the virus is highly contagious and spreads different strains every year.

Some strains of the virus might spread late in the season, with flu cases popping up late into summer. Others will slow down early and end before children get out of school.

According to CDC calculations, they estimate approximately 13 to 15 million people will have the flu this year. They also suggest that 6 to 7 million people went to the doctor for experiencing flu symptoms and between 10,000 and 15,000 individuals have perished from the disease. These figures are based on information gathered in mid-February this year.

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In many of the world’s developing countries, we still can’t get a hold of cholera.

An ongoing outbreak in Yemen has already shattered records with no signs of stopping. Haiti’s decade-long outbreak cost over a million lives after one devastating earthquake.

If a country’s water supply becomes tainted, chances of a cholera outbreak skyrocket. Not only will the drinking water pose a risk for the Vibrio cholerae bacterium, but food will too. Any food or water that comes in contact with the contaminated water could be the cause of cholera’s symptoms that could prove deadly.

On March 11th Cyclone Idai made landfall along Africa’s southeast shoreline. The disaster struck the nation of Mozambique, as well as parts of Zimbabwe and Malawi. The port city of Beira, with over half a million people, was among the region that endured the most of the cyclone’s devastation left in its wake.

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Years ago we learned that women can still contract HPV without sexual intercourse. The good news is that the HPV vaccine has caused a significant drop in cervical cancer cases for women.

But, this discovery showed a further danger for a sexually transmitted infection that can even increase heart problems for women.

If women can get the virus without sexual intercourse, what about men?

While a man with HPV cannot get cervical cancer, the virus still poses a great risk for men. While rare, the virus can still cause some dangerous symptoms. Worse, they can spread the disease to another person without even knowing of their own infection.
Studies in recent years show men who abstain from sexual activity can still be infected with the HPV.

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Recommended for most travelers, the typhoid vaccination has helped save countless lives and provided protection against a troubling illness. We recently learned the vaccine may even protect against many diseases besides typhoid.

But, who originally created the typhoid vaccine?

Credit for the vaccination is granted to not one man, but two: Sir Almroth Wright and Richard Pfeiffer.

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