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A dead northern gannet (Morus bassanus) on a beach
Unprecedented Avian Flu Epidemic Could Presage Year-Round Outbreaks
Nearly 50 million birds have been culled amid efforts to mitigate the spread of the virus, which continues to ravage the Northern Hemisphere.
Unprecedented Avian Flu Epidemic Could Presage Year-Round Outbreaks
Unprecedented Avian Flu Epidemic Could Presage Year-Round Outbreaks

Nearly 50 million birds have been culled amid efforts to mitigate the spread of the virus, which continues to ravage the Northern Hemisphere.

Nearly 50 million birds have been culled amid efforts to mitigate the spread of the virus, which continues to ravage the Northern Hemisphere.

epidemic

Ribbon diagram of the protein coat of an adeno-associated virus
Preprints Propose Constellation of Causes for Kids’ Liver Disease
Christie Wilcox, PhD | Jul 25, 2022 | 2 min read
Two independent groups suggest the suite of recent unexplained hepatitis cases may stem from coinfection with an adeno-associated virus and a helper adeno- or herpesvirus, a duo which may be especially virulent in children with a particular genetic variant.
Vicu&ntilde;as <em>(Lama vicugna)</em> run across the plains in San Guillermo National Park, Argentina.
How Mange Remade an Ecosystem
Shawna Williams | Jul 5, 2022 | 5 min read
A study traces the effects of a mite outbreak from the earth to the heavens.
The Scientist's LabTalk - Episode 3
The Scientist’s Creative Services Team | 1 min read
Halting the Tuberculosis Epidemic with Research and Diagnostics: A Conversation with David Alland
Black and white photo of excavation<br><br>
Black Death Likely Originated in Central Asia
Andy Carstens | Jun 15, 2022 | 5 min read
Genetic testing of people who died in Kyrgyzstan eight years before plague reached Europe reveals an ancient strain of the bacterium Yersinia pestis.
Grey and white image of transmission electron tomography of monkeypox virus
US Case Adds to Unusual Monkeypox Outbreak
Natalia Mesa, PhD | May 19, 2022 | 4 min read
Experts are scrambling to understand clusters of the normally rare disease that have been reported in Europe and North America in the last month.
A Ticking Time Bomb: Tracing the Origin and Spread of SARS-CoV-2
The Scientist’s Creative Services Team | 1 min read
Linda Saif will give a historical overview of SARS spillovers from animals to humans, and Neville Sanjana will describe recent work on a SARS-CoV-2 spike protein variant that increases human infectivity.
Liver glowing red underneath human torso
Mysterious Hepatitis Cases Reported in Young Children
Natalia Mesa, PhD | Apr 18, 2022 | 3 min read
Officials have ruled out known hepatitis viruses as the cause of a rash of illnesses in Europe and the US.
Chickens in front of brown mesh coops
Bird Flu Hits US Hard
Natalia Mesa, PhD | Apr 8, 2022 | 3 min read
So far this season, tens of millions of birds have died of disease or been culled, driving up prices of eggs, chicken, and turkey meat.
Colored 3D rendered image SEM view of Ebola virus
New Ebola Case Confirmed in DRC Months After Previous Outbreak
Chloe Tenn | Oct 11, 2021 | 3 min read
Ebola virus was detected in samples from a child who died last week, the World Health Organization and Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Ministry of Health announce.
a kitten looks up at a person listening to its chest with a stethoscope
Tracking Companion Animal Disease
Anthony King | Aug 3, 2021 | 5 min read
Surveillance networks set up to detect outbreaks among pets could one day have public health uses too.  
A vial containing a red blood sample is balanced on its end on a table or desk by someone wearing a blue medical glove on their right hand
New Evidence Shows COVID-19 Was in US Weeks Before Thought
Abby Olena, PhD | Jun 17, 2021 | 4 min read
Some of the blood specimens collected in the United States for the NIH’s All of Us research program starting on January 2, 2020, have antibodies against SARS-CoV-2.
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Ebola, virus, Guinea, West Africa, outbreak
Ebola Outbreak in Guinea Originated from Past Epidemic
Asher Jones | Mar 15, 2021 | 2 min read
Genetic analyses suggest that the virus came from a patient who survived the 2013–2016 West African outbreak.
Second Person Dies in Latest Ebola Outbreak in DRC
Catherine Offord | Feb 11, 2021 | 2 min read
The woman may have had a link to another person, who was married to an Ebola survivor and who died a few days previously in Democratic Republic of Congo.
Antibody Spike Months After Ebola Infection Surprisingly Common
Catherine Offord | Jan 27, 2021 | 4 min read
A study of people in Sierra Leone suggests that the virus can lie in hiding from the immune system before re-emerging later and sparking a new response—although researchers didn’t examine whether this could make people infectious again.
three masked students studying
Study: Test College Students for Coronavirus Every Two Days
Shawna Williams | Aug 4, 2020 | 3 min read
A model scenario concludes that frequent testing with fast turnaround is key to avoiding campus outbreaks of COVID-19, even if the tests are imperfect.
bubonic plague Yersinia pestis marmot mongolia pandemic
Bubonic Plague Cases Are No Cause for Panic
Chris Baraniuk | Jul 17, 2020 | 3 min read
Reports of the infection—including one death this month—recently shook up social media. But, unlike COVID-19, plague is a disease that countries have more or less got under control.
Jean Macnamara’s Multiple Causes, 1931
Catherine Offord | Jul 13, 2020 | 3 min read
The medical scientist made important contributions to polio treatment and Australian environmental policy—despite substantial resistance.
gold spots on a blue background
A Brief History of Human Coronaviruses
Shawna Williams | Jun 2, 2020 | 5 min read
Milder, cold-causing members of this pathogenic viral family long remained under the radar, although they aren’t entirely harmless.
False Negatives in Quick COVID-19 Test Near 15 Percent: Study
Lisa Winter | Apr 21, 2020 | 3 min read
Abbott’s ID NOW test missed the most positive samples among five products given the green light by the FDA to use during the pandemic.
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