Measles has been at the forefront of the news, from its rapid increase to countries forming new laws and varying opinions about the vaccine. Whether you’re looking on social media or a news site, measles is in the headlines.

Don’t expect that to change soon.

A recent study conducted by Italian scientists predicts that measles will significantly rise by 2050. Published in BMC Medicine, results showed a possible 50% rise in measles cases. Study authors Filippo Trentini, Ph. D and Piero Poletti, Ph. D concluded that some high-income countries, such as South Korea and Singapore, have already met “elimination threshold.”

[Read more…]

In today’s world, the poliovirus circulates in just three countries; Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria, plus a risk for the return of polio in Papua New Guinea.

That wasn’t always the case. In the last century alone polio plagued the United States.

But, the entire history of polio dates back long before there was any recorded history. It wasn’t until British physician, Michael Underwood, provided the first clinical description of the disease in 1789 that the world recognized polio as a detrimental problem.

[Read more…]

When you travel, it is always important to consider all health risks.

One risk you are taking, especially in developing countries, is contracting hepatitis A (or HAV).

Hepatitis A is a viral liver disease that can cause mild to severe illness. But, as is the case with most dangerous diseases, it’s quite easy to unknowingly spread and contract HAV.

The virus is most commonly transmitted through the ingestion of contaminated food and water. Usually that comes in the form of infected fecal matter that somehow ends up in your food or drink. Any direct contact with an infectious person can also spread hepatitis A.

[Read more…]

Each year, about 1 million cases of shingles occur in the United States alone.

Shingles tends to be labeled a virus that attacks the elderly. Most people who do contract the virus, do so past the age of 50 years old. From a public health standpoint, it’s important that those who can be vaccinated receive the vaccine against shingles.

Shingles can have several serious complications, such as effects on the eye. Once the virus does affect the eye, it can lead to some dangerous situations that may need surgical solutions.

[Read more…]

Until recently, only people living near wooded areas or spending large amounts of time outdoors were at a consistent danger for lyme disease. But, it seems that lyme disease is becoming more prevalent in urban areas.

Typically, this illness is found among populations that are in rural regions. Regions near forests and areas where there is tall grass growing could pose a higher risk for the disease.

Ticks, especially the black-legged ticks, are the primary way people are infected with lyme disease. They climb those tall grasses and low tree limbs to survive. The insects eventually nestle and attach themselves in a warm, cozy section of a mammal’s body. Deer and humans seem to be the most preferred mammals for ticks.

[Read more…]