Articles tagged with Epidemics
The National Academies have released a report on the intersection of opioid use disorder and infectious diseases, highlighting the urgent need for integrated treatment strategies. The report suggests five action steps to target both opioid use disorder and its resulting rise in infectious diseases, including screening for OUD, implemen...
An expert panel has identified parallels between the current opioid epidemic and the early days of the HIV epidemic. The panel recommends five crucial steps for clinicians treating patients affected by opioid addiction and these intersecting infections, including increasing access to addiction care and developing hospital-based protocols.
Oregon Health & Science University researchers recommend routinely screening and treating patients for opioid abuse when they come to clinics and hospitals seeking other services. This approach can save lives and turn around the national opioid epidemic by addressing opioid use disorder as a chronic medical condition.
Researchers update IDCs list, highlighting their critical roles in NTD research and epidemic preparedness. Countries like Brazil, Turkey, and China demonstrate higher prioritization on NTDs research.
A study by Stanford researchers found that physician burnout is equally, if not more, responsible for medical errors as unsafe work environments. The study suggests that addressing burnout among healthcare providers is crucial to reducing medical errors and improving patient safety.
Current opioid epidemic responses neglect to account for gender-specific factors, including pain sensitivity and treatment outcomes. Women are disproportionately affected by opioid addiction, with increased risk of overdose deaths and limited access to effective treatment options.
A trial from Niger found that village-wide prophylactic antibiotics significantly reduced the spread of meningitis. The study showed a 60% lower number of new meningitis cases in villages with antibiotic distribution compared to those without, highlighting the effectiveness of mass prophylaxis as an epidemic response.
A study by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that health insurers have not done enough to combat the opioid epidemic. The researchers analyzed coverage policies for drugs to treat chronic lower-back pain and concluded that these policies missed opportunities to steer patients towards safer treatments.
Holistic thinking patterns can make consumers more susceptible to advertisements for unhealthy foods. In experiments, holistic thinkers showed increased cravings and desire to buy unhealthy food options when viewed with context. Researchers hope their findings can inform strategies to help countries battling obesity epidemics.
Researchers employed a concrete interplay model in quenched multiplex networks to study the connection between adaptive human behavior and epidemic spread. The model accurately describes actual epidemic spread in complex networks while characterizing interactions between transmission and human behaviors.
A preclinical study shows a new cholera vaccine can provide long-term immune response and immediate protection within 24 hours. Mathematical modeling predicts the vaccine could save up to 20,000 infections compared to traditional vaccines.
Researchers created a genetic family tree of the Ebola epidemic, revealing its spread between 2013-2016. Closing international borders proved effective in slowing down the virus, while local measures had little impact.
A recent study by Brigham and Women's Hospital reveals a sharp increase in organ donations from US donors who died of drug intoxication. Despite concerns over the sensitivity of these organs to blood supply restrictions, survival rates are similar to those for other causes of death.
NIH scientists found that Makona Ebola virus mutations did not impact disease progression or viral shedding in animal models, suggesting a consistent disease presentation. The study also compared EBOV-Makona to the original EBOV-Mayinga strain, finding that Makona is less virulent.
Researchers at ETH Zurich found that initial estimates of Ebola's genome change rate were due to biased computer models and limited virus sample data. The team's new calculations show a slower, more accurate mutation rate over time.
A new study suggests that amphibian populations in Panama have started becoming more resistant to the deadly fungal pathogen chytridiomycosis. Over 2,000 diagnostic samples show a decrease in the prevalence of the fungus since the initial epidemics occurred.
A recent study published in Science reveals that some tropical amphibian species are recovering from a deadly fungal disease, despite the pathogen remaining equally deadly over time. The researchers found that nearly a decade after the outbreak, some frogs in Panama are surviving and may have better defenses against the infection.
Researchers found that frogs surviving the chytridiomycosis epidemic developed stronger defenses against the fungus, inhibiting its growth. However, captive breeding programs face challenges in replicating these findings, highlighting the need for further research on disease dynamics and host resistance.
Researchers analyzed sea star populations along the US west coast and found severe declines in southern California and the Channel Islands. Juvenile sea star mortality increased by approximately 90 percent, while ochre sea stars are a keystone species crucial to intertidal ecosystems.
Researchers have made groundbreaking discoveries regarding the onset of cholera, paving the way for a fast-acting antidote. The study shows that mice without a specific receptor can still get diarrhea after consuming cholera toxin, offering new possibilities for producing a drinkable antidote.
A recent study found that pregnant women infected with Zika virus experienced a significantly lower rate of congenital neurological abnormalities than initially thought. The study, which monitored over 2,000 women, revealed a 12.7% risk of complications when infected during the first trimester.
A majority of US adults (59.7%) would pay at least $1 for an Ebola vaccine, according to a national survey conducted during the 2014-2016 West African outbreak. Participants who had traveled internationally and were interested in getting vaccinated were more likely to be willing to pay.
High-ranking mothers' cubs have lower CDV infection probability and reduced mortality, while high-ranking adults are more likely to be infected but experience similar mortality rates. The study highlights the impact of social status on immune processes and disease transmission in a wildlife population.
Researchers have pinpointed a single genetic code variation in African Salmonella that enables its virulence, contributing to devastating bloodstream infections. The discovery has implications for understanding and combating this dangerous strain of bacteria.
African Salmonella's deadly epidemic is caused by a specific genetic change, known as a SNP, which helps the bacteria survive in the human bloodstream. The discovery could lead to new insights into other pathogens and pave the way for a vaccine against this devastating infection.
A study by the University of Waterloo found that early childhood behaviors are strong predictors of adult obesity. The research team identified four clusters of risk: Inactive Screen-Users, Moderately Active Substance Users, and two groups with healthier behaviors. Public health efforts should focus on modifying these behaviors earlier...
A new study found that Rhode Island's opioid addiction treatment program for inmates reduced post-incarceration drug overdose deaths by 61% and contributed to an overall 12% reduction in overdose deaths statewide. The program provides medications for addiction treatment (MAT) for those who need it, with linkage to community treatment a...
A randomized controlled trial found no significant difference in weight status among children taking part in a school-based lifestyle and healthy eating program compared to those not participating. The study suggests that wider influences from families, communities, and the food industry may have a greater impact on childhood obesity t...
Researchers analyzed daily social encounters of 1,450 residents to better understand epidemic growth. They found that age and day-to-day variation play a significant role in shaping these patterns.
Research classifies olive varieties by their susceptibility to anthracnose, with Picual variety found to be highly resistant. Almost all Spanish cultivars are classified as susceptible or moderately susceptible, highlighting the need for farmers to choose resistant varieties.
A recent study published in Nature Scientific Reports suggests that containment measures during epidemics can make a society less resilient and more vulnerable to economic and social disruption. By limiting mobility, authorities may create greater risks than they mitigate. The study's findings highlight the need for policymakers to con...
Researchers developed a new theory identifying key individuals spreading news and viruses in epidemics by analyzing message transmission dynamics. The study predicts the influence of spreaders in networks, enabling efficient immunization strategies and identifying influential actors.
The Colorado Consortium for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention at CU Anschutz Medical Campus receives a $1.5 million grant from the Colorado Health Foundation to advance its mission to reduce misuse and abuse of prescription drugs in Colorado.
Researchers design a mathematical model that predicts how mobility affects disease spread, finding that daily mobility reduces epidemics in large cities. The model suggests that recurring mobility helps even out population density, reducing the occurrence of epidemics.
Researchers from Max Planck Institute and Harvard University use ancient DNA analysis to uncover the possible cause of a devastating epidemic in Oaxaca, Mexico. The study found evidence of Salmonella enterica Paratyphi C, a pathogen that causes enteric fever, in skeletons of victims of the cocoliztli epidemic.
A commentary argues that Canada should develop a regulated program to distribute pharmaceutical-grade opioids to people at highest risk of overdose. This approach aims to provide safer alternatives to illegal sources of pain relief, reducing the protracted epidemic of overdose deaths.
Conflict-induced displacement of people in eastern Ukraine has been shown to drive the spread of HIV within the country. The largest exporters of viral lineages were regions of Donetsk and Lugansk, which then spread to central and southern regions, as well as cities like Kyiv and Odessa.
A recent spike in homicide rates across the nation doesn't tell the whole story. According to a new UT Dallas study, long-term factors like segregation and poverty play a more significant role in increases than short-term fluctuations. The study found that most cities' homicide rates have remained relatively stable over time.
Researchers found that women are more likely to survive crises like famines and epidemics due to biological factors, not behavioral differences. Newborn girls are particularly hardy, outliving newborn boys by up to 50%.
Building stronger health systems in Madagascar could significantly reduce plague outbreak severity, as recent epidemics have shown. Improvements include staffing, infrastructure, supply chain enhancements and surveillance data integration.
Experts argue that sugar may play a key role in obesity and type 2 diabetes due to its unique metabolic effects, potentially beyond just excess calories. The World Health Organization describes the twin epidemics as a 'slow-motion disaster,' but critics say current recommendations targeting only calories are insufficient.
Researchers found that dietary trehalose enhances the virulence of epidemic C. difficile lineages, leading to increased disease severity and mortality in animal models. The study suggests that trehalose may be a key trigger for the predominance of these lineages, contributing to hospital-acquired infections.
A recent study by Hokkaido University found that the global risk of Madagascar's pneumonic plague epidemic is limited, with an estimated risk of less than 0.1 person per country between August and October. The basic reproduction number was calculated at 1.73, and case fatality risk was 5.5 percent.
A new study found that heavy rainfall can indicate upcoming outbreaks of mosquito-borne viruses Zika and Chikungunya. The researchers developed a framework to predict where and when future outbreaks will occur, enabling municipalities to prepare measures to limit the spread of diseases.
A new model reveals that cooperative contagion processes can lead to more severe spread of infectious diseases, generating abrupt outbreak transitions and multi-stability. This discovery highlights the need for new containment strategies to combat epidemics in realistic systems.
Researchers are developing abuse-deterrent opioids with special coatings or infusions to make them harder to misuse, but at a higher cost. Novel painkillers and powerful opioid detectors are also being developed to help combat the crisis.
Researchers developed a new 'rule-book' to estimate the risk of different cholera strains causing epidemics. The study found that 7PET strains from Asia repeatedly introduced into two main regions of Africa: West Africa and East/Southern Africa, leading to massive epidemics in some cases.
Researchers analyzed genomic data to identify the source of the seventh cholera pandemic, linking it to human-related transmission factors. The study found that the pandemic strain was introduced into Africa at least 11 times since 1970, replacing drug-susceptible populations with multidrug-resistant bacterial sublineages.
A study by UTHealth researchers found that a 'promiscuous' carbapenemase gene and a bacterial clone carrying an antibiotic-killing gene created the perfect storm for Colombia's antibiotic resistance epidemic. The gene spread horizontally across Gram-negative bacteria, while the clone was introduced via an infected patient from the US.
A study reconstructing climatic patterns in China from AD 1-1911 found long periods of cold and dry conditions associated with epidemic outbreaks. However, the relationship between temperature and epidemics varied across short time scales, highlighting climate's scale-dependent impacts on disease prevalence.
Gun violence in US cities like Washington D.C. shows an endemic pattern, with clustering in certain neighborhoods rather than spreading rapidly. Researchers recommend place-based interventions targeting neighborhood features to reduce crime rates.
A 12-week course of hepatitis C drugs can be manufactured for just $50, making it cheaper than a plane ticket on many low-cost airlines. Generic copies are as effective as branded medicines, but restrictions and patent issues prevent widespread access.
African teams join forces with UK experts to develop novel treatments for malaria and sleeping sickness, as part of the £7 million Tackling Infections to Benefit Africa (Tiba) project. The initiative aims to strengthen health systems across the continent.
A new study assesses pandemic potential in Africa prior to outbreaks, mapping vulnerabilities to mitigate the spread of Ebola and other deadly viruses. Researchers identify high-risk locations, including parts of Central African Republic, Chad, Somalia, and South Sudan, highlighting the need for targeted preparedness activities.
Researchers analyzed data from thousands of students and found a significant decline in narcissism, particularly in traits like vanity and entitlement. The average college student scores lower on the Narcissism Personality Inventory than grandparent counterparts, suggesting that age brings a decrease in narcissistic tendencies.
A study suggests that donor organs classified as 'increased risk' due to factors like drug use or incarceration are less likely to be used by transplant patients. Despite low disease transmission risks, these organs account for 1 in every 5 deceased donor organs and could lead to hundreds of additional transplants each year.
Researchers identified a single genetic change, S139N, that enabled the Zika virus to cause microcephaly in mouse models of fetal infection. This mutation made the virus more lethal to human neuron precursor cells and substantially more severe in cases of microcephaly.
A study by Northeastern University expert Marco Ajelli found that people who spend less time outdoors are less likely to contract the Zika virus. However, a small group of people who spend large amounts of time outdoors are at high risk for infection and can spread the disease quickly.
Lesotho achieves high viral load suppression rates, while Uganda's previously expanding epidemic stabilizes due to circumcision and treatment expansions. New US strategy aims to accelerate progress in high-burden countries by 2020
A new report from The Lancet Commission highlights opportunities to improve health in Sub-Saharan Africa by seizing the workforce's growth and transforming health systems. The report emphasizes the need for prevention, public health, and primary care, as well as addressing emerging challenges like non-communicable diseases.