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 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.

The symptoms of meningitis are similar for both bacterial and viral forms of the disease. Adults and older children typically experience: 

It is almost always caused by an infection, usually by a bacteria (bacterial meningitis) or a virus (viral meningitis). In rare cases it can be triggered by a fungus or parasite. Meningitis occurs most commonly in young children under 5, those aged 17-25 (who often live in close quarters like dormitories and barracks), and people over age 55. People with compromised immune systems, such as people with HIV or AIDS, are also at increased risk.

• Fever and chills  
• Headache  
• Vomiting  
• Stiff neck (patient may not be able to curl up in bed with nose to knees)  
• Irritability and drowsiness  
• Eyes that are sensitive to light  
• Delirium and confusion (uncommon) 
• Seizures (rare)  
• Coma (rare)  

Symptoms in infants and young children include: 

• Whimpering and crying in a high-pitched tone  
• Difficulty in waking and very lethargic when awake  
• Fussiness when being held or cuddled  
• Arching the back and retracting the neck  
• Staring blankly at their surroundings  
• Having a high fever and cold hands and feet  
• Refusing food
• Vomiting
• Appearing pale or blotchy

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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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 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.

2) Wash your hands and watch where your kids hands have been. Everyone should have a good habit of getting those hands under water with soap, but if there is the flu in the school or neighborhood be extra vigilant.

3) Keep your hands away from your face to reduce the chance of delivering viruses directly to your eyes or nose. One study found that people typically touched their face fifteen times in an hour.

4) Don’t smoke. Smoke paralyzes the cilia, the hairlike cells lining the nose and airways that sweep incoming viruses away before they can infect.

5) Stay away from the samples. No matter where you are at, if a flu outbreak is in your area, restrain yourself from those free samples on the corners of the warehouse superstores. It isn’t a good idea to eat those.

Here the simple ways to prevent a flu especially on Flu season. I hope i may help you on to get beter health life without flu.

]]> http://themedictalk.com/2009/02/15/flu-prevention/feed/ 0 http://themedictalk.com/2009/02/10/marburg-virus-in-colorado/ http://themedictalk.com/2009/02/10/marburg-virus-in-colorado/#comments Tue, 10 Feb 2009 00:24:46 +0000 shaffik http://themedictalk.com/?p=176

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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