Dengue Bites: Southeast Asia and the Explosive Growth of an Emerging Disease
Last year, the sudden emergence of Zika virus stunned onlookers around the world. Now dengue [deng-gay] fever, a close relative of Zika, is infecting tens of thousands across Southeast Asia. This summer’s outbreaks are a result of decades of explosive growth: since 1970, dengue’s endemic area expanded from nine countries to more than 100, threatening… Read more about Dengue Bites: Southeast Asia and the Explosive Growth of an Emerging Disease
The Dangerous (and Profitable) Business of Counterfeit Drugs and Medications
Imagine this: you’re traveling through Sub-Saharan Africa on a business trip and begin to develop terrible flu-like symptoms. You head to a local physician for anti-malarial medication and after taking the medicine, your symptoms become progressively worse. The symptoms resemble an allergic reaction and your overall medical condition is quickly deteriorating. In some areas of… Read more about The Dangerous (and Profitable) Business of Counterfeit Drugs and Medications
Africa: Dead on the Road
When thinking about the leading cause of death in Africa, you may be surprised to learn it’s not malaria or cholera. In fact, seemingly inconsequential road traffic accidents are responsible for more deaths than malaria in some African countries, including Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Africa and Sudan. As a continent, Africa has some of the… Read more about Africa: Dead on the Road
Deadly Virus is Spreading in Hospitals in the UK
Hospital-acquired infections are a common cause of patient illness and death around the world, including in well-developed hospital systems. The United Kingdom recently reported on an outbreak in which over 200 patients were colonized with the fungus Candida auris (C. auris). Colonization occurs when the fungus is detected on a patient’s skin, and patients may… Read more about Deadly Virus is Spreading in Hospitals in the UK
The Reappearance of Vaccine Preventable Diseases
Human beings have benefited from vaccinations for over two centuries. The introduction of medicine as a pathway to prevent diseases came in 1796 when Edward Jenner, a country doctor from England, discovered that milkmaids who had been infected with cowpox (the first vaccine) did not show symptoms of smallpox. Fast forward to the late 1800’s through the… Read more about The Reappearance of Vaccine Preventable Diseases
Cholera Plagues East Africa
Africa is no stranger to cholera, with the continent accounting for 41% of the world’s reported cholera cases in 2015. Cholera is an easily preventable, acute diarrheal disease that is spread by ingesting food or water contaminated with feces. VIGILINT Staff Physician, Dr. Jason Pickett, highlights the dangers of cholera: “Most people infected have mild… Read more about Cholera Plagues East Africa
This Summer's Tick Boom Could Equal a Surge in Lyme Disease Cases
This year, experts have reported that tick danger is particularly scary due to last year’s warmer winter and a higher population of White-footed mice in the Northeast. More ticks equal a potential surge of tick-carrying diseases, such as Lyme Disease. In a recent interview with NPR, an ecologist couple from New York explained that the… Read more about This Summer's Tick Boom Could Equal a Surge in Lyme Disease Cases
Hong Kong's Summer Flu Crisis Leaves 200+ Dead and Thousands more Infected
Hong Kong is experiencing a significant seasonal flu outbreak, with over 200 dead since May; this summer’s strain has infected thousands more and hospitals have been overloaded with new patients. According to the Hong Kong Center for Health Protection, over 2,000 new cases were reported in the last week, with cases predicted to rise. Aside from the… Read more about Hong Kong's Summer Flu Crisis Leaves 200+ Dead and Thousands more Infected
Google-owned Company, Verily, Uses Mosquitoes to Reduce Mosquito-Borne Diseases
Alphabet, Google’s parent company, owns and operates the biotechnology company Verily. The company, formerly known as Google Life Sciences, is receiving a lot of attention with an ongoing project. Verily is releasing bacteria-infected mosquitoes in Central California with the goal of reducing the Aedes aegypti mosquito population – known carriers of the Zika, dengue and… Read more about Google-owned Company, Verily, Uses Mosquitoes to Reduce Mosquito-Borne Diseases
Ebola Crisis in the DRC Declared Defeated
Two months ago, the deadly Ebola virus made international headlines as it appeared that the virus had returned to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) And on May 11, the DRC’s Ministry of Health affirmed to the World Health Organization (WHO) that a blood sample taken from a suspected case had tested positive for the… Read more about Ebola Crisis in the DRC Declared Defeated
