Articles tagged with Epidemics
Conflict durations in monkey societies grow more quickly as others join, according to researchers studying dynamic conflict patterns. The first interaction sets the tone for the fight, with brief episodes likely to follow if initial interactions are brief.
Researchers found that changing routine boarding protocols could reduce the spread of disease on commercial airliners. A two-zone system where passengers board at random is suggested as a more efficient way to prevent infection.
The American Chemical Society has unveiled its annual 'Talented 12' list, showcasing young scientists working on world-changing projects. The researchers are developing alternative fuel sources, novel cancer treatments and innovative materials for everyday products.
A team of scientists used whole genome sequencing to identify the cause of a respiratory disease that affected almost 77,000 native Icelandic horses in 2010. The researchers found that the gram-positive bacterium Streptococcus zooepidemicus was the culprit behind the outbreak.
Experts argue that working 24-hour shifts may not negatively impact patient care, but can lead to burnout. The medical profession must address the issue of sleep deprivation and its effects on doctors' wellbeing and patient safety.
The second Swaziland HIV Incidence Measurement Survey (SHIMS2) reveals significant progress in combating the HIV epidemic, with a doubling of population viral load suppression since 2011. The survey found nearly half fewer new HIV infections among adults aged 18-49 years compared to 2011.
A new study published in the International Journal of Epidemiology found that drug-related deaths have skyrocketed among middle-aged white men, increasing by over 25-fold between 1980 and 2014. The researchers argue that economic insecurities and an 'obesogenic' environment are contributing factors, rather than 'despair deaths'.
A recent study conducted in São Paulo, Brazil found that prior dengue infection does not intensify Zika disease severity. The research involved 65 individuals who contracted Zika virus during the 2016 epidemic, and analyzed their viral loads, finding no significant difference between those with prior dengue exposure and those without.
Family physicians are well-qualified to treat addiction due to their focus on relationships, communities, and team-based care. Primary care physicians must be responsible for the initial and longitudinal care of patients with substance use disorders, and specialized services must be widely available and accessible.
A study published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology found that diabetes prevalence is increasing among low socio-economic backgrounds living in urban areas of affluent states in India. Diabete's rates are higher among people from low socio-economic status, especially in cities with poor access to healthcare.
Researchers used genome sequencing to track Zika virus spread across Brazil, discovering it was present a year before first confirmed cases. The study's findings have significant public health implications and could improve responses to future outbreaks.
Researchers analyzed 174 Zika virus genomes from patient and mosquito samples to reconstruct the virus's spread across South and Central America. The study suggests that Zika was circulating in Brazil around February 2014, months before local cases were detected.
A study of schoolchildren found that overweight and obese kids drink more sugar sweetened soft drinks than their normal weight peers. The researchers suggest taxing such drinks could reduce consumption, particularly in children, and have the potential to impact the scale of childhood obesity.
Psychologist Robert Gatchel's research highlights how patients' irrational beliefs about chronic pain can impact treatment outcomes and pain management. His work suggests that a more comprehensive approach to treatment is needed, incorporating lifestyle habits, attitudes, and social support systems.
New research from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health reveals that the US could see a significant decline in HIV infections and prevalence if critical milestones are met. By 2025, annual new infections could drop to 12,000, marking a turning point for the epidemic.
A new management approach developed by an international team of researchers, including the University of Warwick, helps to streamline outbreak decision-making. The approach identifies two effective strategies: reducing transmission rates at funerals and in communities, such as educating people about disease transmission.
A new study models HIV incidence, prevalence, and mortality to determine feasible targets for ending the US AIDS epidemic. Achieving a reduction of 12,000 new infections by 2025 could mark an important turning point in the epidemic, with significant declines in HIV transmission rates and related deaths.
A new USC-led study suggests that the prescription opioid epidemic is creating a heroin epidemic, which may lead to an injection drug use epidemic. The study found that individuals born in the 1980s and 1990s are more likely to progress from first illicit drug use to drug injection than previous generations.
A new computer model assesses real-time Zika epidemic risk in US cities by combining population dynamics, historical infection rates, socioeconomics, and mosquito density. The model predicts that certain counties in Texas have the highest risk of Zika transmission, while others have nearly no risk.
A computational analysis led by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health researchers estimates that even a mild Zika outbreak in the US could result in $183 million in medical costs and productivity losses. A more severe outbreak could cost over $1 billion, with increased risks of birth defects and Guillain-Barré syndrome.
Hepatitis C patients with substance use disorders face barriers to care, including lack of access to conventional healthcare and fear of stigmatization. Innovative approaches, such as integrated screening and treatment in methadone clinics and telehealth techniques, are being developed to improve outcomes for this population
An international effort analyzed 1,610 Ebola virus genomes from the 2013-2016 West African epidemic, revealing insights into factors that sped or slowed the outbreak. The study found that cities played a major role in the magnitude of the epidemic and that distance between cities was key to sparing nearby regions from severe epidemics.
A point/counterpoint debate examines two approaches to controlling the opioid epidemic: increasing regulation of physician prescribing practices or better educating patients and doctors. The discussion highlights the importance of finding a balance between regulating opioid use and providing alternative pain management options.
New estimates show a decline in smoking prevalence, but deaths attributable to smoking have increased by 4.7% globally, with over one in 10 deaths caused by smoking. Tobacco control programs are effective, but population growth has led to an increase in smokers worldwide.
A study from UC Berkeley found that Zika's decline before the Olympics was foreshadowed by seasonal patterns of similar diseases. Despite this, vulnerable populations in urban slums continue to be affected, highlighting the need for targeted public health efforts.
A new article explores how malnutrition and obesity are affecting obstetrical difficulties in women, leading to more difficult and dangerous births. The study highlights the importance of healthy nutrition in addressing this issue.
A study found that Medicaid expansion in 26 states led to a 70% increase in buprenorphine prescriptions and a 50% increase in Medicaid spending on the medication. The growth was largely driven by increased physician prescribing capacity, with each additional approved prescriber associated with a 45% boost in prescriptions.
A new study suggests that the virus may have been circulating silently in the South Pacific since a large epidemic in 1979-80. Researchers found that many people born after the epidemic had antibodies to the virus, indicating local transmission.
The PHIA Project's survey results reveal extraordinary progress in confronting the HIV epidemic in Zimbabwe, Malawi, and Zambia. The rate of new infections is stabilizing or declining, with more than half of all adults living with HIV having a suppressed viral load.
A new study found that Ebola superspreaders were responsible for infecting 61% of all cases in the 2014-15 outbreak. These superspreaders often fit into certain age groups and continue to spread disease after being placed in care facilities.
A new method developed by Joana Goncalves-Sa's group can predict the onset of seasonal flu epidemics with accuracy, allowing health services to prepare and respond more promptly. The method integrates data from various sources, including official influenza incidence rates and Google searches, to identify changes in case numbers.
A study led by UC Santa Cruz researchers found that drought increases the severity of West Nile virus epidemics in the US, while populations that have experienced large outbreaks acquire immunity to limit subsequent epidemics. Drought is a key driver of transmission, particularly after large outbreaks.
Research suggests that cannabinoids in medical marijuana could alleviate heroin withdrawal symptoms and cravings. A specific compound, cannabidiol, shows promise in reducing anxiety related to cravings and restoring neurobiological damage.
A global partnership, CEPI, aims to create vaccines for emerging infectious diseases with a $460m initial investment from governments and foundations. The Coalition will target MERS-CoV, Lassa, and Nipah viruses, as well as Ebola and Zika, to develop safe and effective vaccines that can be deployed rapidly to contain outbreaks.
Research using 20,000 virus samples and weather statistics found that cold weeks precede flu outbreaks. Cold and dry weather allows aerosol particles to remain airborne, increasing the spread of viruses.
A study found that over half of Brazilian women aged 18-39 avoided pregnancy due to the Zika epidemic. The authors urge the government to review reproductive health policies and improve access to safe and effective contraceptives.
A widely publicized initiative has placed over 95% of individuals with substance-use disorders into detoxification or treatment programs. The Gloucester Police Department's Angel Program has filled a needed gap in accessing substance-use treatment services, with 376 people seeking help in the first year.
Researchers developed algorithms to track Ebola epidemic spread, revealing that most infected individuals stayed within their districts. The study's findings suggest using this method could inform effective control measures for new emerging epidemics.
Researchers at the University of São Paulo developed a platform that analyzes clinical samples to diagnose infection by 416 viruses found in tropical regions. The tool is designed for reference laboratories and can detect pathogens with the potential to cause epidemics in humans.
Researchers have found a strong association between El Niáo-Southern Oscillation conditions and observed weather in Sri Lanka, leading to exacerbated dengue epidemics. The study used the Oceanic Niño Index to quantify data associations and found an increasing relative risk of dengue with increasing rainfall and temperatures.
A Stanford-led study identified 14 individuals in Sierra Leone who had Ebola antibodies but no symptoms, contradicting previous assumptions about the disease's severity. The research suggests that 25% of Ebola infections were minimally symptomatic, and public health efforts may not have been effective in containing the virus.
A new study from Oxford University reveals that the first month after infection is crucial in controlling drug-related HIV spread. Researchers found that needle exchange programmes and harm reduction measures are essential in targeting transmissions within this period.
The use of prescription opioids in Canada has increased steadily over the past 20 years, leading to a rise in overdose deaths and addiction. Experts propose several interventions, including guidelines for prescribing, limited dosages, electronic monitoring systems, and access to evidence-based treatment.
The University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health recommends distributing naloxone to inmates upon release from jail and improving overdose data collection to combat the opioid epidemic. The policy focuses on vulnerable populations such as veterans, inmates, and school children.
Researchers discovered a non-virulent variant of Vibrio cholerae O1 strain in Haitian aquatic environments dating back to the 1500s, sparking concerns about its potential virulence through gene transfer with toxigenic strains. The study sheds light on the history of the pathogen and highlights the need for increased surveillance.
Researchers reconstructed the origins of the AIDS pandemic in unprecedented detail by recovering genetic material from 40-year-old serum samples. The study suggests that HIV emerged in New York City around 1970 and spread rapidly across North America, with the city serving as a critical hub for the epidemic.
A new study proves that Gaétan Dugas was one of many thousands infected in the years before HIV was recognized. The term 'Patient Zero' was created inadvertently in the earliest years of investigating AIDS, and Dugas's global defamation is attributed to this mistake.
A recent survey of US adolescents found that most teens vape for flavorings rather than nicotine in e-cigarettes. The study suggests that efforts to curb vaping among teens focusing on nicotine may be ineffective and that alternative approaches may be more effective.
Researchers cloned an epidemic strain of Zika virus, creating a model to test strategies for stopping the pandemic. The clone is used for developing a live but attenuated vaccine to create long-term immunity.
Researchers in Delaware are using geo-mapping to identify neighborhoods with high rates of fentanyl and opiate prescriptions, finding that women and people over 50 years old are prescribed these medications at higher rates than men. These 'hot spots' tend to be rural areas, suggesting a shift away from the urban drug problem narrative.
A new Brown University study projects that treating 2,000 Rhode Islanders for hepatitis C virus infection per year could reduce cases by 90 percent and prevent over 70 percent of expected liver-related deaths by 2030. The analysis found that doubling the number treated annually could reduce death rates by less than 20 percent.
A new study shows that substituting sick workers with healthy ones can explosively accelerate the spread of some epidemics, contradicting standard mass-action models. The researchers' dynamic network model indicates that a sudden reduction in replacement rates can lead to a significant increase in disease prevalence.
The Ebola epidemic led to a significant decline in child and maternal health in Liberia, with a 30% reduction in facility-based deliveries. The study found that fear of Ebola transmission in healthcare facilities was the primary factor contributing to this decline.
A study published in PLOS Medicine found that maternal health services in rural Liberia suffered a significant impact during the Ebola epidemic, with facility-based deliveries decreasing by approximately 8%. The researchers noted that fear of transmission in health facilities was a major factor contributing to this decline.
Researchers propose that women in Zika-affected countries can safely conceive during the 'trough' of low mosquito activity, reducing the risk of birth defects. This approach could prevent thousands of cases per year, especially in Brazil and Puerto Rico.
The yellow fever virus, transmitted by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, is a significant public health threat to the Americas. The recent resurgence of YFV in Africa and Asia, combined with vaccine shortages, highlights the need for urgent measures to prevent infection and control its spread.
Researchers estimate that up to 90 million infections could result from the initial stages of the spread of Zika in Latin America and the Caribbean. The team's projections suggest Brazil is expected to have the largest total number of infections due to its size and suitability for transmission.
Researchers project up to 93 million people at risk of Zika infection, including 1.6 million childbearing women, due to herd immunity. The projections highlight the potential scale of the epidemic and emphasize the importance of addressing it before it spreads too far.
A recent model-based study suggests that the current Zika epidemic in Latin America will likely peak within three years, with subsequent herd immunity preventing future outbreaks. The authors also emphasize the importance of targeted mosquito control measures, which may actually hinder herd immunity.
A new study from Imperial College London predicts that the current Zika epidemic in Latin America will burn itself out within two to three years due to herd immunity. The team's analysis also concludes that large-scale transmission is unlikely to restart for at least another ten years.