Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases News

• Air Conditioning May Be Spreading COVID The air currents that are produced by air conditioners and also fans and other air moving devices can carry particles further than they might otherwise go.
  WebMD Health News, July 10, 2020
• Speaking of Pandemics: The Art and Science of Risk Communication Public health messages should be loud and clear so that everyone listens and stays safe. But that's easier said than done — especially with a case as complex as COVID-19.
  Knowable Magazine, July 10, 2020
• COVID Cuts a Lethal Path Through San Quentin's Death Row In recent days, five death row inmates have died after contracting COVID-19 at San Quentin State Prison, north of San Francisco.
  Kaiser Health News, July 08, 2020
• Analysis: How A COVID-19 Vaccine Could Cost Americans Dearly The United States is the only developed nation unable to balance cost, efficacy and social good in setting prices.
  Kaiser Health News, July 08, 2020
• Hollowed-Out Public Health System Faces More Cuts Amid Virus The U.S. public health system has been starved for decades and lacks the resources necessary to confront the worst health crisis in a century.
  Kaiser Health News, July 01, 2020
• Map Shows Growing Insecticide Resistance in Africa's Malaria-Transmitting Mosquitoes Newly developed maps of insecticide resistance among mosquitoes that carry malaria show that increasing numbers of the blood-sucking insects are becoming immune to the five most commonly used insecticides.
  Reuters Health Information, June 25, 2020
• COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Builds on Pandemic Flu Plan Developing a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine and distribution plan is an 'insurmountable task' but can be done with timely planning that builds on lessons learned during the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic.
  Medscape Medical News, June 26, 2020
• Congo Declares End of Ebola Outbreak in East, Second Deadliest in History The second-largest Ebola outbreak on record is over after nearly two years and more than 2,200 deaths, Democratic Republic of Congo said on Thursday, even as a separate flare-up of the virus continued elsewhere in the country.
  Reuters Health Information, June 25, 2020
• US Halts Trial of Hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19 Patients The US NIH said on Saturday it has halted a clinical trial of the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine for the treatment of hospitalized COVID-19 patients.
  Reuters Health Information, June 22, 2020
• Dexamethasone for COVID-19: Some Hospitals Wait to Change Practice Dexamethasone may be the first treatment shown to reduce mortality in COVID-19 patients. While some physicians were prescribing steroids already, others are still wary.
  Medscape Medical News, June 19, 2020
• Systemic Empirical TB Therapy No Better Than Targeted Treatment in HIV Patients The strategy of routinely treating newly diagnosed HIV patients with drugs to quell tuberculosis, even if the person has no signs or symptoms of TB, is not as effective as treatment based on TB testing, according to a large international study.
  Reuters Health Information, June 17, 2020
• Hookworm Therapy for MS: First Randomized Trial The primary endpoint was not significant but there was some evidence of a beneficial effect in this pioneering study; the authors believe this approach could have a role in a niche group.
  Medscape Medical News, June 18, 2020
• After the ICU: A 'Fraternity of People Who Are Struggling' Thousands of coronavirus patients have survived the ICU. Now, a prepandemic research movement may help physicians figure out how to help them through what comes next.
  Medscape Medical News, June 18, 2020
• In the Uncertainties of Lyme Testing, Lessons for COVID-19 The coronavirus testing debacle, much like early Lyme testing, is a reminder that diagnostics aren't perfect.
  Undark, June 18, 2020
• Four-Month Rifampin Less Costly Than Nine-Month Isoniazid for Latent TB A four-month regimen of rifampin - already shown to be as effective against latent tuberculosis as a nine-month course of isoniazid - is also less expensive and requires less health service use, a cost-comparison study finds.
  Reuters Health Information, June 15, 2020
• Up to 17 Infected, 11 Dead in New Ebola Outbreak in Congo The Democratic Republic of Congo has recorded up to 17 Ebola cases in a new outbreak of the deadly virus in the western province of Equateur, and 11 of those infected have died, medical authorities said on Monday.
  Reuters Health Information, June 15, 2020
• How a Vaccine Made of Mosquito Spit Could Help Stop the Next Epidemic Five years ago, in an office complex with a giant sculpture of a mosquito just northwest of Phnom Penh, Jessica Manning struck on a novel idea.
  Reuters Health Information, June 12, 2020
• Meet the Young Doctor Leading Nepal's COVID-19 Testing Program A 31-year-old Nepali infectious disease specialist is playing a key role in the country's efforts to contain COVID-19.
  Medscape Medical News, June 12, 2020
• COVID-19 Vaccine: Latest Updates With more than 160 potential vaccines for COVID-19 under study, optimistic experts hope that a viable vaccine may be ready by the end of 2020.
  WebMD Health News, June 10, 2020
• COVID Testing FAQ, From Reinfection to Persistent Positives Infectious Diseases Society of America past president and Medscape contributor Paul Auwaerter, MD, provides answers to Medscape readers' frequently asked questions about coronavirus testing.
  Medscape Medical News, June 10, 2020