One of that largest myths when it comes to the flu is that you can get sick from the flu vaccine. In fact, this can stop someone from getting the flu shot all together.
But, this fear is not based in fact.
Fear of infection from the vaccine exists because the shot contains the flu virus. Although, keep in mind that the flu shot doesn’t contain a live version of the virus. Any flu that exists in the vaccine is inactive or deadened. An inactive version of the virus cannot spread the illness.
You’ve probably heard a lot about climate change affecting global aspects such as glaciers and agriculture. Thanks to recent studies, we now that it also impacts disease rates.
A new study due to be published in January 2019 suggests that as average temperatures in India continue to increase, so too will the country’s risk for further chikungunya cases.
With no cure or vaccine to fight chikungunya, researchers fear the threat that the potentially fatal illness could pose.
When you picture harmful infections, shingles is probably not the first one that comes to mind.
Yet, while the illness may seem to “just” cause an irritating rash, pain, itching and tingling, it can also cause permanent damage. Some patients may even deal with constant pain for years after infection.
Considering almost one in every three people in the United States will develop shingles in their lifetime, understanding how it works is necessary for millions.
Over the summer, we noted a rise in cases of the West Nile Virus throughout the United States. Since then, the possible risks have only continued to rise.
Records are breaking across the country as a case of West Nile has been reported in every single state in the U.S. except Hawaii. The most reports of the disease are coming out of Texas and Florida.
Due to these cases, there have been many deaths associated with West Nile throughout the country.
Even with the help of modern medicine, the possibility of disease pandemics doesn’t go away. Outbreaks like the Spanish Flu in 1918 show the costs of one of these pandemics. It just takes one dangerous and previously unseen virus that can spread across the globe.
It’s important for us to ask how much would it cost to develop vaccines that could prevent these pandemics from even happening?
A study published earlier this year in the Lancet looked at this exact issue. Researchers from the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) conducted the study.
