Infectious Diseases


Fuller Story of H5N1 Mutations Studies Now Publicly Available

The journal Science has published the second of two papers describing methods to make mutated H5N1 influenza transmissible between humans.

CDC Develops New Test to Detect Dengue Virus

The new test will help diagnose dengue within the first seven days after symptoms of the illness appear.

More Blood Donors Needed Worldwide, WHO Says

The need for blood is being driven by increasingly sophisticated medical and surgical procedures such as cardiovascular and transplant surgery, trauma care, and therapy for cancer and blood disorders.

H5N1 Outbreak Confirmed in Northwest China

The Ministry of Agriculture reported it Tuesday, according to a Xinhua New Agency report. WHO reports 168 cases of human H5N1 infection have been confirmed in Egypt, 60 of them fatal.

FDA, NIOSH, OSHA Urge Use of Blunt-Tip Suture Needles

Their May 30 joint safety communication document strongly encourages their use for suturing fascia and muscle, as a way to prevent needlestick injuries.

Targeting Tuberculosis 'Hotspots' Could Have Widespread Benefit

Tuberculosis infects more than 8.8 million people worldwide, resulting in 1.4 million deaths each year. The disease is known to cluster in hotspots typically characterized by crowding, poverty, and other illnesses such as HIV.

Many people incorrectly believe police or fire personnel clean the accident scene after a factory or home accident.

Accident Cleanup

In a larger facility, it may be well worth the investment to have custodial workers trained to handle accident cleanup operations.

Chlorinated Silk Kills Bacillus Spores, ACS Reports

A podcast in the American Chemical Society's Global Challenges/Chemistry Solutions series and a journal article describe the simple process for making "killer silk."



Calif. Veterans Affairs Health Care Facilities Hit with 30 Safety Violations

OSHA issued notices for serious violations involving blocked emergency exit doors and routes, multiple electrical hazards, a lack of proper machine guarding, and exposure to contaminated needles.

CDC Issuing Recommendations for Identifying Chronic HCV Cases

Coming during Hepatitis Awareness Month and immediately after the agency's first Hepatitis Testing Day on May 19, the goal is to identify more of the people who have the disease but aren’t aware of it.

OSHA Finds N.J. Launderer Awash in Hazards

Three willful violations involve a failure to conduct proper training and provide hepatitis B vaccinations, as well as to have engineering and work practice controls in place to eliminate or minimize exposure to bloodborne pathogens.

WA Governor Grants Emergency Funds for Pertussis Vaccine

The state Department of Health declared it an epidemic a month ago. Reported cases are on pace to hit 3,000 this year, more than triple the total of 965 cases in 2011.

WHO Releases Fact Sheet on Oral Health

Worldwide, 60-90 percent of school children and nearly 100 percent of adults have dental cavities.

Hospital-Linked Infections Down, CDC Says

Twenty-one states had significant decreases in central line-associated bloodstream infections between 2009 and 2010, according to the report.

OSHA Opens Nursing Care NEP

Focused on specific hazards including workplace violence and ergonomics injuries, the three-year emphasis program may allay some of the concerns that OSHA is not sufficiently involved in health care industries.

Dengue Virus Increases Mosquitoes' Thirst for Blood, Study Says

Research has shown that infection with dengue virus turns on mosquito genes that makes them hungrier and better feeders, and therefore possibly more likely to spread the disease to humans.

'Wicked' Challenge Highlights UAB School of Public Health's NPHW

National Public Health Week activities are taking place across the country this week. At UAB, teams in a "Wicked Problem" competition are tasked with solving a very real challenge for the local health department.

It's Tick Time: Mayo Clinic Offers Tips for Avoiding, Spotting Tick-Borne Diseases

Physicians are seeing new cases of tick-borne illness several weeks earlier than usual, likely because a mild winter in much of the country made life easier for ticks and their offspring.

Low Levels of Resistant Bacteria Found in Chicago-Area Ambulances: Study

“These results indicate that first responders are doing a good job of protecting their patients,” said James Rago, Ph.D., lead study author and assistant professor of biology at Lewis University.

CDC: Disease Outbreaks from Imported Food on the Rise

From 2005-2010, 39 outbreaks and 2,348 illnesses were linked to imported food from 15 countries.

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