For many around the world, plans to stop malaria may seem like a roller coaster.

Hopes build as possible vaccines or methods to fight off mosquitoes progress. But, that optimism is often ruined quickly with news that the disease is still killing millions with no solution planned.

The serious and often fatal disease continues to be one of the world’s most dangerous. Citizens in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia in particular are still rather helpless against the mosquito-borne disease. While the illness is active in more than 100 countries, it’s these regions at the highest risk of malaria. That leaves almost half of the world’s population living in an area at risk of the disease. In 2017, that translated into an estimated 219 million cases and 435,000 deaths.

With these numbers in mind, why are we not on track to eradicate this disease sometime soon?

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In 2018 a large outbreak of acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) spread across the United States, with a reported 233 cases over the span of 41 states. Going into this year, doctors are looking for answers that we don’t have yet to help prevent AFM.

Outbreak of 2018

The cases of AFM peaked in the U.S. in September and October, coinciding with the flu season. As the flu season once again approaches, the CDC hopes to have more help in detecting and collecting samples of AFM. A more prepared and active approach may help us fully understand what causes AFM and what exactly it is.

Doctors first started surveilling AFM back in 2014, but 2018 held the largest outbreak of it yet. Within the last five years, there has been one reported death, with a potential case of two earlier this year (the CDC is still currently looking into this case).

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We’ve already seen some steps in using nanotechnology for medicine. And after the flu, it appears the technology may also help us prevent hepatitis B.

A new study out of the Butantan Institute shows promising advances in the use of nanotechnology to help deliver the hepatitis B vaccine.

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Many annual traditions are rightfully loved, but there are a few to dread every year.

Much like tax day, flu season remains one of those traditions that’s disliked by almost everyone. That’s because each year two main types of the influenza virus – types A and B – spread around the world. All it takes is droplets from a cough, sneeze or even speaking to spread the virus from person to person.

While the flu can cause various symptoms from a cough and sore throat to fatigue and body aches, it can be much worse. The flu can range from a mild illness to severe, especially in those who are at a higher risk for flu complications.

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A common saying is that it’s better to be safe than sorry.

This applies to vaccines in the sense that it’s better to prevent a disease than to treat one, especially since many deadly diseases don’t have cures.

Vaccines are something that, while we have scientific proof of their importance and success, can be an overwhelming topic for new parents. According to the CDC, “newborn babies are immune to many diseases because they have antibodies they got from their mothers. However, this immunity goes away during the first year of life.”

In Quebec, doctors are utilizing a new approach to help sway these parents who are hesitant in getting their infants vaccinated.

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