Measles is spreading throughout multiple Asian countries, causing over 150 reported cases of the illness. During the outbreak more than 3,500 people have been quarantined, with about 1,000 people monitored, according to Outbreak News Today and The Straits Times.

The main locations of the outbreak include Okinawa, Japan, and Taiwan. But, the disease is reaching other highly-populated regions. Numerous cases have also been noted in mainland China, Hong Kong and the rest of Japan.

Okinawa is currently the most affected area with almost 100 recorded patients. Thousands in Taiwan have been quarantined and many others are being watched closely.

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Currently, over 1,000 sites are protected by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. The growing list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites all carry some importance to local communities.

The organization defines cultural and natural heritages as, “irreplaceable sources of life and inspiration.” They deem the sites, ” touchstones, our points of reference, our identity.”

The sites can be natural or man-made. They can have a long history or be an up-and-coming destination. But, how does a location become a UNESCO World Heritage Site?

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The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is a virus that can affect the skin and mucous membranes. If it goes untreated, HPV can lead to cervical cancer, a potentially deadly form of cancer.

There are over 100 different strains of HPV and due to this diversity, there are many misconceptions and questions regarding HPV.

Here are some basics that you should know:

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Summer may mean the end of flu season, but it’s also prime time for ticks. Bites from the tiny bugs increase throughout the world in the warmer months, increasing risk of Lyme disease.

To make matters worse, the illness is even becoming more common.

According to the CDC, Lyme disease cases, a bacteria spread through a bite from an infected tick, have more than doubled since 2001. The disease joins many others that are up due to bug bites that have spiked across the country. This increase in cases is partially due to climate change and also the lack of a vaccine for Lyme disease.

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New research revealed a new method that may help us fight the spread of malaria: odor profiling. Published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), the study shows smell may be a fast and reliable way to detect the disease.

Many people infected with malaria and the Plasmodium parasite don’t show any symptoms. Despite being asymptomatic, they are still fully capable of spreading the illness. Numerous people in an endemic region will go unidentified despite their role in the transmission process.

These unknowing sources of malaria may even be a large part of the malaria problem. Authors behind the work estimate that these “hidden reservoir” patients could possibly account for up to 90 percent of the spread.

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