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Infectious Diseases

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Kissing Bugs Spreading Deadly Chagas Disease In 29 States, Creeping North Kissing Bugs Spreading Deadly Chagas Disease In 29 States, Creeping North
Kissing Bugs Spreading Deadly Chagas Disease In 29 States, Creeping North They bite at night and leave more than an itch.  Kissing bugs capable of spreading the parasite behind Chagas disease have been found in 29 states, and the often-silent infection can turn deadly years later. Chagas disease is caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi and is primarily spread by triatomine “kissing” bugs.  Most infections in the United States were acquired in Latin America, but local transmission does occur in the US, particularly in the South and Southwest where the insects are more common.  The CDC estimates about 280,000 people in the United States are livi…

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by Joe Lombardi
Business
Bill Gates To Donate Nearly All His Wealth In 20 Years: 'Too Many Urgent Problems To Solve' Bill Gates To Donate Nearly All His Wealth In 20 Years: 'Too Many Urgent Problems To Solve'
Bill Gates To Donate Nearly All His Wealth In 20 Years: 'Too Many Urgent Problems To Solve' Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates said he'll give away virtually all of his fortune and permanently close his foundation by the end of 2045. Gates announced his massive philanthropy plans in a blog post on his website on Thursday, May 8. The billionaire also said the third-largest charitable foundation in the world will be shuttered on Sunday, Dec. 31, 2045. The Seattle businessman said he'll donate more than $100 billion over the next 20 years in what he calls the "last chapter" of his career. The Gates Foundation was created in 2000 by Gates and his ex-wife Melinda Gates French. …

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by Chris Spiker
News
First 2025 Measles Case Confirmed In Virginia: Officials Warn Of Clinic Exposure First 2025 Measles Case Confirmed In Virginia: Officials Warn Of Clinic Exposure
First 2025 Measles Case Confirmed In Virginia: Officials Warn Of Clinic Exposure Virginia has reported its first confirmed measles case of the year, health officials announced — and it’s tied to international travel. The patient is a child under the age of five from the state’s Northwest Region who recently returned from a trip abroad, according to the Virginia Department of Health on Saturday, April 19. To protect the child’s privacy, no further personal information was released. Officials said the child was at two Virginia medical centers earlier this week, raising concern for potential public exposure.  Health officials listed two locations tied to the case: t…

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by Zak Failla
News
Mysterious Illness Claims 53 Lives In Africa With Many Dying Hours After Onset Of Symptoms Mysterious Illness Claims 53 Lives In Africa With Many Dying Hours After Onset Of Symptoms
Mysterious Illness Claims 53 Lives In Africa With Many Dying Hours After Onset Of Symptoms A mysterious illness has led to 53 fatalities, with many dying within hours of developing symptoms.  The outbreak in Central Africa has emerged in a northwestern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo, prompting the World Health Organization (WHO) to classify the situation as "a significant public health threat." Frontline medics from the WHO have reported hundreds of cases, revealing a chillingly brief timeline from symptom onset to death.  Since the outbreak began on Tuesday, Jan. 21, there have been 419 reported cases and 53 deaths, resulting in a mortality rate of 12.49 p…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
First US Human Death From Bird Flu Reported First US Human Death From Bird Flu Reported
First US Human Death From Bird Flu Reported Authorities have confirmed the first human death in the United States caused by highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), or H5N1.  The announcement was made by the Louisiana Department of Health on Monday, Jan. 6.  Earlier Report: First Severe Bird Flu Case Confirmed In US The patient, a man over 65 with underlying health conditions, was hospitalized before succumbing to the illness after exposure to a non-commercial backyard flock and wild birds. The Louisiana Department of Health said it has conducted a public health investigation and found no additional cases or …

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Rare Bird Flu Case Confirmed In Child, CDC Says Rare Bird Flu Case Confirmed In Child, CDC Says
Rare Bird Flu Case Confirmed In Child, CDC Says A rare case of avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, has been confirmed in a child in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The child, who is a resident of California, experienced only mild symptoms and is now recovering. The case, detected through routine flu testing, revealed low levels of the virus in the initial sample, and follow-up tests were negative for bird flu, but positive for other common respiratory viruses.  The CDC is working with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) to determine how the child might hav…

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by Joe Lombardi
Politics
Trump Taps Vaccine Skeptic To Lead CDC Trump Taps Vaccine Skeptic To Lead CDC
Trump Taps Vaccine Skeptic To Lead CDC Another vaccine skeptic with New York ties could soon shape public health policy. President-elect Donald Trump nominated former Florida congressman and physician Dave Weldon to serve as director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Weldon was born on Long Island, in Amityville, and graduated from Stony Brook University in 1978 before earning his M.D. degree at the University of Buffalo in 1981. Earlier Report: Trump Selects Vaccine-Skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. As Secretary Of Health, Human Services “In addition to being a medical doctor for 40 years, and an Ar…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
Rise In Walking Pneumonia Cases Prompts CDC Warning Rise In Walking Pneumonia Cases Prompts CDC Warning
Rise In Walking Pneumonia Cases Prompts CDC Warning Cases of walking pneumonia have spiked significantly, especially among children, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is warning in a brand-new advisory. The agency said increases in M. pneumoniae-associated pneumonia infections began late this past spring, peaked in August, and have remained high.  The CDC said it's using various surveillance tools "to better understand any differences in demographics, severity of illness, and outcomes as compared to M. pneumoniae infections prior to the COVID-19 pandemic." The agency said it's also contacting heal…

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by Joe Lombardi