Two new studies link black-legged ticks to red meat allergy. This condition is called alpha-gal syndrome, or AGS for short. People with AGS react after eating meat from mammals.
AGS was once only linked to bites from lone star ticks. As spring temperatures rise, insect activity increases across the country. Climate change is also pushing many bug species farther to the north.
Tanzania has confirmed two cases of Marburg virus in the Kagera region. The outbreak now includes ten cases—two confirmed and eight probable. Nine people have died, giving the outbreak a 90% fatality rate.
The WHO first reported the outbreak on January 14. Tanzania officially declared it a confirmed outbreak on January 20.
Antibiotic-resistant superbugs are a growing health threat. Nearly 5 million people die from these infections each year. Experts predict this number will rise by 70%, reaching 40 million deaths by 2050. Scientists must find new ways to stop harmful bacteria.
A new PLOS One study offers hope. Researchers found that hemolymph protein extract (HPE) from Sydney rock oysters (Saccostrea glomerata) can kill harmful bacteria. These proteins, called antimicrobial proteins and peptides (AMPPs), also help antibiotics work better. The study suggests that HPE could improve antibiotic treatments and slow resistance.
Childhood vaccination rates in the U.S. have dropped since the COVID-19 pandemic. Vaccines for common diseases are now less common among kindergartners. Even states with high coverage rates have seen declines.
This trend increases risks for individuals and the broader community. Falling rates could expose adults to illnesses considered childhood diseases. They could also bring back diseases like polio, once thought eradicated.
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a fatal prion illness in deer. It also affects elk, moose, and reindeer. The disease has no cure and spreads through saliva, feces, and blood. CWD has been found in 35 U.S. states and five Canadian provinces.
The University of Minnesota’s Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) released a new report. It examines how genetic differences in CWD strains influence disease spread. Some experts worry CWD could jump to humans or livestock.
