Swine flu outbreak causes 103 deaths in Mexico – and triggers worldwide action

Governments and health organizations around the world are ramping up efforts to prevent a pandemic of swine flu, which to date, has led to 103 deaths in Mexico and has spread to several states in the U.S., as well as in Canada. ... Continue Reading

Drug-resistant tuberculosis could cause deadly epidemic

Modern drugs are becoming ineffective at killing certain strains of tuberculosis. And health officials fear that drug-resistant tuberculosis cases could “spiral out of control,” causing a deadly epidemic. ... Continue Reading

Experimental virus material contained live bird flu virus, flu vaccine maker confirms

Baxter International released a contaminated “experimental virus material” from a plant in Austria, which was based on a human flu strain, but contaminated with live H5N1 avian flu virus, then distributed it to an Austrian research firm. While the combination can have dire consequences, there has been no evidence to date of any public health issues. ... Continue Reading

Drugs to fight superbugs becoming ineffective

Drugs that were successful in killing multi-drug resistant strains of bacteria, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, are becoming ineffective. Finding effective new drugs is especially difficult, experts say. ... Continue Reading

Natural News Editor questions validity of immune system intervention

Does mass vaccination produce a better long-term result than allowing one's own immune system to activate an adaptive response? Mike Adams of Natural News asks important questions about the merits of vaccination programs for non-fatal diseases. ... Continue Reading

Cod enzyme kills H5N1 virus

An Icelandic cod enzyme might be the cure for bird flu, a recent experiment, which the Icelandic company Ens ... Continue Reading

Inadequate sleep increases cold risk

Sleeping for less than seven hours each night significantly increases the odds of catching a cold, according to results of a recently published study. ... Continue Reading

Bird flu becoming resistant to antiviral drugs

New research suggests that bird, or avian, flu is becoming more resistant to antiviral drugs, so say researchers at the University of Colorado at Boulder. ... Continue Reading

New Study Finds No Link Between Kawasaki Disease And Newly Discovered Coronavirus

A newly described virus is not a cause of Kawasaki disease, according to an article by a group of researchers in Denver, Colorado. Their article appears in the Dec. 15 issue of The Journal of Infectious Diseases, now available online. The cause or causes of Kawasaki disease, an important pediatric infection that may lead to heart disease, have long been elusive. ... Continue Reading

Dieting during the flu season a no-no

Dieting during the flu season may impair the body’s ability to fight the flu, new research suggests. ... Continue Reading

Probiotics should be prescribed to patients given antibiotics

Physicians should prescribe probiotics to patients given antibiotics in order to prevent diarrhea and thus increase the likelihood that patients complete their course of therapy, say researchers. ... Continue Reading

More than half of US adults shun flu vaccine

New figures have revealed that more than half of US adults have no intention of getting vaccinated against the flu this season. ... Continue Reading

Cold sores linked to Alzheimer’s disease

People who suffer from cold sore, which are caused by infection with herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1, may be at significantly increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, new research suggests. ... Continue Reading

Incidence of serious bacterial infections rises with temperature

Researchers have discovered that the incidence of serious infections caused by gram-negative bacteria climbs in line with the temperature outside. ... Continue Reading

Rats spreading new plague

Research suggests that brown rats may be carrying a type of bacteria that can cause serious illnesses in humans. ... Continue Reading

Deadly fungal infection hits Pacific Northwest

Cases of a potentially deadly fungal infection typically seen in tropical climates have been reported in Oregon and Washington. ... Continue Reading

Countries ill-prepared for flu pandemic says UN

The United Nations (UN) has warned that the majority of countries around the world are unprepared for a flu pandemic because they have not tested their strategies for dealing with a global outbreak of the disease. ... Continue Reading

Malaria advice 'crucial' for vulnerable travellers

Holidaymakers are advised to "always" seek malaria advice prior to travelling abroad, as the disease is not confined to tropical countries. ... Continue Reading

Pneumonia vaccine halves heart attack risk

Recent study results suggest that being vaccinated against pneumonia may dramatically reduce the risk of heart attack. ... Continue Reading

Climate change may aid spread of deadly diseases

Climate change may lead to deadly diseases spreading to new parts of the world, so says a new report by health experts from the Wildlife Conservation Society. ... Continue Reading