Archive for the ‘Virus’ Category

Alert!!: West Nile virus has arrived

Tuesday, May 19th, 2009

The state has its earliest case of the potentially fatal West Nile virus in six years, with the mosquito-borne illness being found in York County. This is the earliest reported evidence of the virus since 2003, when the virus was detected in late April, according to the state’s West Nile Virus Surveillance Program. The virus goes dormant each winter as mosquito populations die off.

The virus was detected May 5 in a dead crow found in Springettsbury Twp. No human cases have been detected this year. In 2008, West Nile virus was discovered in 37 of the 67 counties, with 14 people infected. One death was attributed to the disease last year.

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Meningitis is Dangerous!!!

Wednesday, May 13th, 2009

Meningitis is a medical condition caused by inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, known collectively as the meninges. The inflammation is usually caused by infection with viruses, bacteria, or other microorganisms but may also arise due to certain drugs, or other diseases.Meningitis is potentially life threatening due to the inflammation’s proximity to the brain and spinal cord; it is therefore a medical emergency.

There are two main forms of meningitis, bacterial meningitis, and viral meningitis. Bacterial meningitis affects fewer people than the viral form, but it often results in more serious health consequences. Bacterial meningitis is fatal in 1 in 10 cases and leaves 1 in 7 survivors with a severe disability caused by brain injury. Viral meningitis is far more common than the bacterial form and, in most cases, much less debilitating. Most people exposed to viruses that cause meningitis experience mild or no symptoms and fully recover without complications. The disease can be caused by many different viruses. Some of the viruses are transmitted by coughing or sneezing or through poor hygiene. Other viruses can be found in sewage polluted waters.

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Face Mask Is Not Sure for Swine Flu Prevention.

Sunday, May 10th, 2009

Most travelers at the airport were wearing face masks, which are loose fitting and designed largely to help stop the spread of droplets from the person wearing the mask, not to protect the wearer from the virus. Respirators more close fitting, pricier masks are designed to reduce exposure to airborne particles. But there is general uncertainty, even among health professionals, about the value of wearing either during a flu outbreak.

Masks may give people a false sense of security, said Dr. Laurene Mascola, director of acute communicable disease control for the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. “You would have to wear it 100% of the time that you are outside,” she said of masks and respirators.

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Vaginal Gel can stop AIDS virus

Thursday, March 5th, 2009

The new vaginal gel are founded have potential to stop AIDS virus. Vaginal gel prevents sexual transmission of the AIDS virus in monkey studies.  A research study by Ashley T. Haase, MD, head of the microbiology department at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis is said “The results are very encouraging. They point to a novel avenue to prevent sexual transmission of HIV“.

It is good point a ways to prevent the AIDS virus. Still on the research and hope that method will be help. Find out the more news on it. Click in here.

Flu Prevention

Sunday, February 15th, 2009

Flu is a common disease for people. Flu appears most frequently in winter and early spring. The flu virus attacks the body by spreading through the upper and/or lower respiratory tract. Flu prevention is an important thing to consider when you’re trying to stay healthy especially during flu season. Check below the ways to prevent flu.

1) Eating/Drinking-  Think before you eat. The flu germs are spread by hand-to-mouth transmission. So when someone with the flu sneezes, the germs land on the doorknob, where they can live for a few hours.It also can separete by a glass. Be careful on that.

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Marburg Virus In Colorado

Tuesday, February 10th, 2009

The lates marburg virus are detect in Colorado US. Marburg virus is similar with Ebola but it is not as deadly. Despite that, it is still quite virulent. It is a member of the filovirus family; the five species of Ebola virus are the only other known members of the filovirus family.

Marburg virus was first recognized in 1967. Outbreaks of hemorrhagic fever occurred simultaneously in laboratories in Marburg and Frankfurt, Germany and in Belgrade, Yugoslavia (now Serbia). Marburg is indigenous to Africa, however.

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