Tag: virus

Scientists discover signs a virus may trigger polio-like illness

Is THIS what causes mysterious polio-like illness in kids? Scientists discover signs that a common cold virus may trigger life-threatening paralysis in children Since 2014, nearly 600 people – mostly young children – have been diagnosed with acute flaccid myelitis   The mysterious polio-like condition has left young children with mysterious paralysis that becomes life-threatening for some

The Zika virus discovered on the African continent

Researchers from the University of Oxford teamed up with the Angolan Ministry of Health to study the introduction and circulation of the Asian genotype of Zika virus in Angola, southwestern Africa. The Asian genotype caused the 2015-16 epidemic of microcephaly and other birth defects in the Americas. Their findings are published today in The Lancet

Three-year-old gets rash from the herpes virus after a kiss

Mother’s warning after her three-year-old caught the herpes virus ‘when he was kissed by a relative’ and was left covered in a rash Hayley Etheridge had no idea children could get the virus from adults Her son, Baylie-Grey, had blistering skin on his face and was lethargic Herpes simplex virus is passed on through skin

Trapping female mosquitoes helps curb chikungunya virus

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently developed an Autocidal Gravid Ovitrap (AGP trap) that attracts and captures female mosquitos looking for a site to lay eggs. Now, researchers writing in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases report that AGO traps successfully protected people from infection with chikungunya virus (CHIKV) in communities in Puerto

New Zombie disease is spreading increasingly in the United States

New study shows: people are at risk American authorities currently report the strong spread of a mysterious disease dubbed by the American media as the “Zombie disease”. The Name was derived from the symptoms of the disease, because the Affected with a drastic weight loss, coordination difficulties, increased saliva flow, lack of fear and aggression.

Measles Outbreak Spurs Vaccination Surge in Anti-Vaxxer Hotspot

Weeks after a hotspot for anti-vaxxers turned into a hotspot for measles infections, vaccination rates have surged in the area, according to news reports. Last month, following 50 confirmed cases and 11 suspected cases of the measles, Clark County, Washington, declared a public health emergency. Now, residents of the area are scrambling for vaccinations, according

Dengue virus immunity may protect children from Zika symptoms

Previous infection with dengue virus may protect children from symptomatic Zika, according to a study published January 22 in the open-access journal PLOS Medicine by Eva Harris of the University of California, Berkeley, and colleagues. Zika virus emerged in northeast Brazil in 2015 and spread rapidly across the Americas, affecting populations that have been largely

Could herpes virus help cause alzheimer’s?

(HealthDay)—There’s growing evidence that the herpes virus responsible for cold sores also may cause Alzheimer’s disease, a new research paper contends. It’s been long known that herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV1) can been found in the brains of elderly people with Alzheimer’s disease, and research has shown that herpes increases Alzheimer’s risk in people genetically

Promising new therapeutic approach against Ebola virus identified

In a new study researchers have developed a two-pronged approach for targeting Ebola virus infection using linked nucleic acid (LNA) antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs)designed to interfere both genes essential for translation of Ebola virus genes and to block production of an intracellular human protein needed for the virus to enter cells. The results of using LNA

Study gauges impact of dengue virus on Ethiopia

Dengue, a mosquito-borne RNA virus, is one of the most serious and rapidly spreading arboviral diseases in the world. Now, researchers reporting in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases have provided the first baseline data on the prevalence and risk factors of the virus in Ethiopia. It is estimated that more than 390 million dengue virus (DENV)

Stopping Ebola before the virus goes viral

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) remains relatively small. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports 56 people with confirmed, probable or suspected infections, including 25 deaths. But despite the modest numbers, other countries shouldn’t be complacent. It’s in everyone’s interest to help WHO and DRC bring this outbreak under control

Researchers make key discovery about human cancer virus protein

University of Minnesota researchers in the dentistry school-based Institute for Molecular Virology (IMV) have made a key discovery that could have important implications for developing a strategy to stop the spread of a highly infectious virus currently spreading among remote areas of central Australia. Called human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1), infection rates are