According to the USGS, White-nose syndrome (WNS) is an emergent fungal disease of hibernating bats that has spread from the northeastern to the central United States at an alarming rate. Since the winter...

Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, also known as chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis, is the most common cause of hypothyroidism in the United States with some 200,000 cases reported annually. It is an autoimmune...

According to a paper published in AIMS Public Health earlier this year–We estimate the number of lives saved and morbidity reduction associated with the discovery of the first human cell strain used...

Lyme disease is one of the most common infectious diseases in the United States with about 329,000 new cases each year, according to statistics released in 2015 by the CDC. Lyme disease is a potentially...

Naegleria fowleri is a protozoan parasite , more specifically an amoeba. This lethal parasite is commonly referred to as the “brain eating amoeba” in mainstream media. It is generally considered a...

What is health promotion and what is its role and importance in disease outbreaks? Author of the new book, Health Promotion in Disease Outbreaks and Health Emergencies, Glenn Laverack, PhD joined me...

Tens of millions of animals are used for scientific and commercial research in the US that benefits humans and animals alike. Despite the obvious benefits, animal research draws much criticism in some...

Meningitis is an inflammation or swelling of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord.  It can be caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites. Bacterial meningitis is very serious...

Dracunculus medinensis. The “fiery serpent”. Guinea worm. It is set to become the second human disease in history, after smallpox, to be eradicated. It will be the first parasitic disease to be eradicated...

A measles outbreak investigation can be a very expensive task as was demonstrated in the Minnesota outbreak earlier this year when some 79 mostly children were infected costing the health department $2.3...