All Posts

Measles was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000, but elimination does not mean the virus disappeared from the world. When measles is imported through travel and enters communities with low vaccination coverage, outbreaks can occur quickly. In 2026, the U.S. has already reported more than 1,800 confirmed cases and multiple outbreaks, showing how fast measles can return when immunity gaps grow. Measles spreads through the air when an infected person breathes, cough

Mpox became widely known during the 2022 global outbreak, but the virus had been known for decades before that. It belongs to the orthopoxvirus family, the same broad family as smallpox virus, though mpox is a different disease. The 2022 outbreak was mainly caused by clade IIb, but more recent global attention has focused on clade I and clade Ib, which have continued to spread in parts of Africa and have appeared in several countries through travel or local transmission netwo

H5N1 is an avian influenza virus, often called bird flu. It primarily infects birds, but it can occasionally infect mammals and humans after close exposure to infected animals or contaminated environments. In recent years, H5 bird flu has been detected in wild birds, poultry, other animals, and dairy cattle, raising concern because influenza viruses can change over time. For the general public, the current risk remains low. CDC reports no known person-to-person spread at this

Dengue is caused by four related dengue viruses and is spread mainly by Aedes mosquitoes. These mosquitoes often live near people and can breed in small amounts of standing water. Dengue is common in tropical and subtropical regions, but travel, urbanization, climate patterns, and mosquito expansion are increasing concern in more regions. Dengue outbreaks happen when three conditions come together: mosquitoes capable of transmitting the virus, people who are susceptible, and

Norovirus is one of the most common causes of acute gastroenteritis. People often call it “stomach flu,” but it is not influenza. It causes vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, and sometimes fever or body aches. Most healthy people recover in a few days, but dehydration can be dangerous for young children, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems. Cruise ships make headlines for norovirus because they are closed, shared environments where people eat togeth

Influenza is familiar, but it should not be underestimated. Seasonal flu causes illness every year and can be especially dangerous for older adults, young children, pregnant people, and those with chronic medical conditions. Unlike measles, which has a very stable vaccine target, influenza viruses change frequently. That means flu vaccines must be updated regularly, and protection can vary from season to season. Traditional flu vaccines are valuable and have saved many lives,

Marburg virus disease is a severe illness caused by Marburg virus, a filovirus related to Ebola virus. It can cause high fever, severe weakness, vomiting, diarrhea, bleeding, shock, and organ failure. WHO notes that the average case fatality rate is around 50%, though past outbreaks have varied widely depending on virus strain and quality of care. Marburg outbreaks often begin with zoonotic spillover, meaning the virus moves from animals to humans. Fruit bats are considered a

There is no approved Andes virus vaccine yet, but DNA and mRNA-based vaccine research is moving the field forward. Introduction The recent Andes virus outbreak has raised a natural question: Do we have a vaccine? The answer is: not yet. According to the CDC, there is currently no specific antiviral treatment or vaccine for Andes virus. Care is focused on early recognition, supportive treatment, and careful management of symptoms. That gap is important because Andes virus can

Andes virus is rare, serious, and usually linked to rodent exposure—but the recent cruise ship outbreak shows how global travel can bring unusual infections into the spotlight. Introduction A rare virus called Andes virus is now in the news because of a deadly outbreak linked to the cruise ship M/V Hondiusin the Atlantic Ocean. Andes virus belongs to a group of viruses called hantaviruses, which are usually carried by rodents. In people, Andes virus can cause hantavirus pulmo

A well-contained outbreak is easy to overlook—until you realize what it represents: hundreds of small actions performed quickly, correctly, and in coordination. Nipah virus is a clear case study in why public health infrastructure and vaccine R&D both matter, even when case counts are low. 1) Containment starts with the basics: confirm, isolate, trace In late January 2026, India’s Ministry of Health reported two Nipah cases in West Bengal and described a response familiar

When news breaks about a “rare but deadly” virus, it can be hard to separate signal from noise. Nipah virus is one of those pathogens that regularly triggers alarming headlines—partly because it can cause severe disease and partly because it sits on global “priority pathogen” lists. But there’s also an important balancing fact: most Nipah outbreaks are contained with classic public health tools . What is Nipah virus? Nipah virus (NiV) is a zoonotic virus—meaning it can spread

When you hear “vaccine,” you might picture a quick shot to avoid the flu or a childhood disease. But vaccines do so much more than stop short-term symptoms like fever or cough. They protect your future self—from chronic pain, disability, cancer, and even heart attacks. Think of vaccines not as a one-time fix, but as a long-term investment in your health . Here’s how. 🛡️ 1. HPV Vaccine: A Cancer-Preventing Shot Human papillomavirus (HPV) is extremely common—most sexually acti

Vaccines didn’t appear overnight. They’re the result of over 200 years of curiosity, courage, and collaboration —built not in a single “eureka!” moment, but through generations of scientists, doctors, and everyday people who believed disease didn’t have to be destiny. Let’s take a journey through the milestones that changed human health forever. 🐄 1796: The Birth of Vaccination – Edward Jenner and Cowpox In rural England, doctor Edward Jenner noticed milkmaids who caught cow

If you’ve ever heard someone say, “They made the COVID vaccine in months—how can it be safe?”—you’re not alone. That question comes from a good place: caring about your health. But here’s the truth: most vaccines take 10–15 years to develop . What happened during the pandemic wasn’t “rushed science”—it was decades of prior research, unprecedented global collaboration, and smart streamlining —all without skipping safety steps. Let’s walk through the real journey of a vaccine,

Global data on COVID-19 cases has become increasingly difficult to track as most countries, including China, have stopped reporting real-time, comprehensive statistics. The World Health Organization (WHO) and other trackers now often rely on a patchwork of information, which makes it challenging to pinpoint specific, recent "bursts" or "outbreaks" in a definitive way. What is known is that the virus, and its numerous subvariants, continues to circulate globally. While large-s

For many, Chagas disease seems like a distant problem, something confined to the tropics of Latin America. However, recent scientific...

🦟 A Dangerous Comeback In early 2025, chikungunya re-emerged on an alarming scale. Weekly case counts in Réunion Island skyrocketed from around 30 in late 2024 to nearly 4,000 by March ( World Health Organization ). Outbreaks have since spread beyond the Indian Ocean—affecting Madagascar, Mayotte, Mauritius, Somalia, Kenya, and India—and have even reached parts of Southeast Asia and Europe ( Reuters ). As of June 2025, over 220,000 cases and around 80 deaths were reported

Texas : The Texas Department of State Health Services has reported 561 confirmed measles cases , with 58 hospitalizations and two deaths involving unvaccinated school-aged children without underlying health conditions. ​ New Mexico : An unvaccinated adult has died from measles, marking the state's first measles-related death. Other States : Cases have also been reported in Kansas, Oklahoma, Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan. ​ Nationally, 712 measles cases have been confirmed in

What is EBV? Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) is one of the most common viruses in the world. In fact, about 90% of people will be infected with...

Influenza (flu) is an acute respiratory infectious disease caused by the influenza virus. It is highly contagious, rapidly mutating, and...