#infectious-diseases

#infectious-diseases

Pathogens have been a constant threat to human health throughout our evolutionary history. Infectious diseases are estimated to have been responsible for more than half of all children deaths before age 15.

Nearly 500,000 people are diagnosed with Lyme disease each year in the U.S. For about 75% of them, the first sign will be a skin lesion that appears one to four weeks after being bitten by an infected deer tick.

A lethal fungus, Aspergillus fumigatus, is rapidly spreading across the US, posing severe health risks, particularly for individuals with weakened immune systems.

"For decades, public-health experts have warned about the risks of infectious diseases jumping from animals to humans in markets such as Jatinegara, which are part of a global industry worth hundreds of billions of dollars annually."

Last year's recording breaking number of cases reached a total of 12,605; in 2023 there were more than 9,000 cases.

Reacting to the findings, virus experts have called for 'vigilance and investment in long-term preparedness' for potential outbreaks. 'This is a moment to recognise that the UK is no longer immune to some diseases once considered tropical,' said Professor James Logan, mosquito-borne disease specialist at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM).

The sacrifice to research is immense, says Gigi Kwik Gronvall, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, emphasizing the critical impact of halting these studies.

This study reveals that the fox tapeworm infection is rare yet increasing, with significant implications for health, lifespan, and treatment approaches.

In 2024, the U.S. saw 35,435 cases of whooping cough, revealing a concerning surge that highlights decreasing vaccination rates amid ongoing fears from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The overall risk to the public regarding Lassa fever is very low, as the virus does not spread easily between people, experts advise.

While it has long been purported that closing the toilet lid before flushing prevents the spread of harmful bacteria and viruses, recent studies show it has minimal effect.