Viruses, Infections & Disease, features and articles | Educational Science

Feb 22, 2021

Russia reports first cases of humans catching bird flu H5N8

Russian authorities have reported the first known cases of an avian influenza virus called H5N8 passing from poultry to humans, according to news reports. Seven workers at a poultry plant became infected with the virus in December 2020, following an outbreak among the bird flocks, Anna Popova, the head of...

Jun 1, 2021

China reports first known human case of H10N3 bird flu

A man in China caught the first case of H10N3 bird flu ever reported in a human, China's National Health Commission (NHC) announced Tuesday (June 1). The H10N3 strain of avian influenza normally causes mild disease in birds, and until now, no cases of the viral infection had been reported...

Oct 15, 2021

3 seals and a fox die from bird flu in rare outbreak at wildlife center

An unusual bird flu outbreak in the U.K. killed five swans, three seals and a fox at a wildlife rehabilitation center, according to a new report. The outbreak, which occurred in late 2020, surprised researchers because bird flu viruses rarely spill over to infect mammals; and yet in this case,...

Oct 26, 2021

Rise in H5N6 bird flu may be explained by more-infectious variant, experts worry

China has reported 21 cases of the H5N6 subtype of bird flu this year, compared with only five last year, leaving experts concerned that the strain currently circulating is more infectious than past versions of the virus, Reuters reported. Scientists first identified H5N6 avian influenza in poultry in Laos in...

Nov 1, 2021

The flu shot isn't that effective. Here's why you should still get it.

Health officials recommend that everyone 6 months and older, with a few exceptions, get a flu shot each year. Yet, the flu vaccine is far from foolproof, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If that's the case, why should you get it? On average, people who...

Nov 8, 2021

Why is the flu shot less effective than other vaccines?

The effectiveness of the seasonal flu shot pales in comparison to knockout shots like the MMR vaccine, which is about 97% effective at preventing measles, 88% effective at preventing mumps and 97% effective against rubella. By contrast, flu shots typically range from 40% to 60% effective, and sometimes their effectiveness...

Nov 15, 2021

CDC to probe massive flu outbreak at the University of Michigan

A sudden surge of influenza cases on the University of Michigan's Ann Arbor campus has drawn the attention of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which has now deployed a team of experts to investigate the outbreak. The campus's first flu case was flagged on Oct. 6, and,...

Dec 17, 2021

Flu shot may be a 'bad match' for dominant strain

The dominant strain of influenza that's circulating this season has picked up a troublesome mutation, making this year's flu vaccine a bad match, a new study suggests. From our lab-based studies it looks like a major mismatch, study coauthor Scott Hensley, a professor of microbiology at the Perelman School of...

Dec 22, 2021

Is fluoride good for your teeth?

Fluoride is something most of us are aware of, but is fluoride good for your teeth? Every time you choose a toothpaste or toothbrush, options with added fluoride are often in the mix. You might even learn about fluoride because you live in an area where the water is fluoridated....

Jan 7, 2022

U.K.'s first human case of H5N1 avian flu detected in man with pet ducks

A 79-year-old man named Alan Gosling, who kept pet ducks at his home in Devon, England, recently became the first U.K. resident to catch the H5N1 strain of bird flu, DevonLive reported. A flock of more than 100 ducks lived outside on Gosling's property in Buckfastleigh, and after feeding the...

Feb 11, 2022

'Highly pathogenic' bird flu hits U.S. farm

A highly pathogenic strain of bird flu was detected in a commercial turkey flock in Dubois County, Indiana, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reported on Wednesday (Feb. 9). State officials said that 29,000 turkeys have now been culled to prevent the virus's spread, Reuters reported. Avian influenza, or bird...

Apr 27, 2022

1st human case of H3N8 bird flu reported in 4-year-old boy in China

A 4-year-old boy in China has become the first human case of the H3N8 strain of bird flu, according to news reports. The boy, who lives in Henan province, was exposed to chickens and crows at his home, which could have transmitted the virus, according to news reports. The boy...

Oct 23, 2014

NYC Doctor Tests Positive for Ebola

A doctor in New York has Ebola, officials announced on Thursday evening (Oct. 23). Testing confirmed that a patient here in New York City has tested positive for Ebola, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said at a news conference Thursday evening. The man is now in an isolation...

Oct 24, 2014

Dallas Nurse Nina Pham Free of Ebola: 'I Feel Blessed'

Nina Pham, the first nurse in Dallas to be infected with Ebola, is now free of the virus, and will be released from the hospital today (Oct. 24), officials said. I feel fortunate and blessed to be standing here today, Pham said at a news conference today. Throughout this ordeal,...

Oct 24, 2014

Ebola in NYC Is 'No Cause for Alarm,' Mayor Says

A New York City doctor who recently returned from Guinea in West Africa became the first person in the city to test positive for Ebola, on Thursday Oct. 23, but authorities are emphasizing that there is no cause for alarm. We are fully prepared to handle Ebola, New York City...