Latest news with #disease
The Independent
2 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
Why rabies is making a comeback this summer — and what you should know
Cases of rabies, a viral and potentially fatal disease that primarily spreads through the bites or scratches of infected animals, have recently been reported around the Northeast. This week, officials in the town of Westfield, New Jersey, issued a public health alert after two reports of bites associated with a raccoon that may be infected with rabies, put the surrounding communities on high alert. Last week, New York's Nassau County Department of Health declared an imminent public health threat in response to the ongoing spread of rabies among wild and feral-domesticated animals in the county. 'The resurgence of rabies in Nassau County, with its high population density and after nearly a decade of absence, represents a serious and evolving public health concern,' Nassau County Health Commissioner Dr. Irina Gelman said in a release. 'This declaration allows us to respond to prevent further spread and protect the health and safety of Nassau County residents.' The resurgence comes after the county had successfully eradicated the virus since 2016. Over the last year, the department has confirmed 25 rabid animals, including raccoons and feral cats. The department noted that surveillance data shows that the virus is circulating in the area. "Let me be clear, there is no cause for alarm, as we have not yet received any reports of human transmission,' Gelman said, according People. 'However, the time for prevention is now." The declaration comes as health authorities in nearby Suffolk County reported two cases of rabies — the first since 2009. But, whether or not an uptick in new cases indicate that rabies is becoming more prevalent in the region is unclear right now. The summer season has something to do with it, Stony Brook Children's Hospital Chief of Pediatric Infectious Diseases Division Dr. Sharon Nachman told News 12 Long Island. "It is a question of where you are and what the season is, and certainly the summertime is always associated with more bites and more worries about rabies," she said. A large number of cases has also been reported in Queens. Around 4,000 animal rabies cases are reported each year. The animals most frequently found with rabies in the U.S. are bats, skunks, raccoons, and foxes, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. Outside of the Northeast, there has been a rise in cases linked to bats, resulting in three rabies deaths in a period of just five weeks a couple of years ago, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2021, five Americans died of rabies, the largest number in a decade. Human-caused climate change has resulted in the expansion of vampire bats' habitat, and increased the risk of rabies in domestic animals, according to scientists. This week, Denver Animal Protection warned that the public should be cautious after two bats tested positive for the rabies virus, 9 News reported. Still, fewer than 10 people in the U.S. die from rabies each year. That's thanks to post-exposure care and the rabies vaccine. Nearly 100,000 people are vaccinated following a possible exposure each year. Treatment is nearly 100 percent effective if you get it after an exposure. Initial rabies symptoms are similar to the flu, including fever, headache, and muscle aches. They can progress to neurological and physical symptoms, such as delirium, a fear of water, and seizures. To prevent the risk of infection, there are several steps people can take. Make sure pets are up to date with their vaccines, stay away from wildlife, call animal control to remove stray animals from the neighborhoods, and wash any bites or scratches immediately with soap and water after possible exposures before seeking medical attention. 'Rabies is preventable through vaccination and pet owners should remember that the best protection is to vaccinate for rabies and license all pets with the town,' Westfield officials said.
Fox News
3 days ago
- Health
- Fox News
Health officials alarmed by unprecedented July spike in West Nile-infected mosquitoes in 2 major cities
Mosquitoes carrying the West Nile virus have reached one of the highest numbers ever recorded in Minnesota during the month of July, and authorities caution citizens to stay inside at dusk and dawn. The blood-sucking bugs in all seven counties of the Minneapolis-Saint Paul metropolitan area tested positive for the disease, according to the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District (MMCD). MMCD ecologists processed nearly 200 mosquito pools and found Culex tarsalis mosquitoes, the species most blamed for spreading the West Nile virus, were "active in some of the highest numbers" ever recorded, according to FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul. Of 133 pools tested, 34 tested positive for the virus, showing a rate of more than 25% positivity, MMCD reported. The rate is one of the highest recorded in the month of July, more in line with numbers seen in late August, when mosquito populations wind down. Positive West Nile virus samples were also found in mosquitoes in other states, including Georgia, where they were confirmed in three different areas of Atlanta. Though the city is working on coordinating insect control, officials asked residents near affected areas to protect themselves from bites and eliminate standing water to prevent mosquito breeding. The West Nile virus is a mosquito-borne disease that can cause encephalitis, or inflammation of the brain, according to the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). Originating between mosquitoes and birds in Africa and Europe, the virus spread to the U.S. in 1999 when an outbreak in New York sent nearly 60 people to the hospital over two months. Most of the patients had clinical signs of brain swelling, and seven patients died, according to a report from the National Institutes of Health. While the disease can be more detrimental to older patients and those with muscle weakness, MDH officials said most people bitten by infected mosquitoes experience either mild symptoms or none at all.
The Independent
4 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
Photos of Gaza's worsening food crisis
Experts warn that Gaza is nearing famine, citing Israel's blockade and military offensive following Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack. The World Health Organization reports a sharp rise in malnutrition and disease, with a large portion of Gaza's 2 million residents now starving. ___ This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
Associated Press
4 days ago
- Health
- Associated Press
Photos of Gaza's worsening food crisis
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — Experts warn that Gaza is nearing famine, citing Israel's blockade and military offensive following Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack. The World Health Organization reports a sharp rise in malnutrition and disease, with a large portion of Gaza's 2 million residents now starving. ___ This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Rabies is making a comeback: here's what you need to know
Cases of rabies, a viral and potentially fatal disease that primarily spreads through the bites or scratches of infected animals, have recently been reported around the Northeast. This week, officials in the town of Westfield, New Jersey, issued a public health alert after two reports of bites associated with a raccoon that may be infected with rabies, put the surrounding communities on high alert. Last week, New York's Nassau County Department of Health declared an imminent public health threat in response to the ongoing spread of rabies among wild and feral-domesticated animals in the county. 'The resurgence of rabies in Nassau County, with its high population density and after nearly a decade of absence, represents a serious and evolving public health concern,' Nassau County Health Commissioner Dr. Irina Gelman said in a release. 'This declaration allows us to respond to prevent further spread and protect the health and safety of Nassau County residents.' The resurgence comes after the county had successfully eradicated the virus since 2016. Over the last year, the department has confirmed 25 rabid animals, including raccoons and feral cats. The department noted that surveillance data shows that the virus is circulating in the area. "Let me be clear, there is no cause for alarm, as we have not yet received any reports of human transmission,' Gelman said, according People. 'However, the time for prevention is now." The declaration comes as health authorities in nearby Suffolk County reported two cases of rabies — the first since 2009. But, whether or not an uptick in new cases indicate that rabies is becoming more prevalent in the region is unclear right now. The summer season has something to do with it, Stony Brook Children's Hospital Chief of Pediatric Infectious Diseases Division Dr. Sharon Nachman told News 12 Long Island. "It is a question of where you are and what the season is, and certainly the summertime is always associated with more bites and more worries about rabies," she said. A large number of cases has also been reported in Queens. Around 4,000 animal rabies cases are reported each year. The animals most frequently found with rabies in the U.S. are bats, skunks, raccoons, and foxes, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. Outside of the Northeast, there has been a rise in cases linked to bats, resulting in three rabies deaths in a period of just five weeks a couple of years ago, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2021, five Americans died of rabies, the largest number in a decade. Human-caused climate change has resulted in the expansion of vampire bats' habitat, and increased the risk of rabies in domestic animals, according to scientists. This week, Denver Animal Protection warned that the public should be cautious after two bats tested positive for the rabies virus, 9 News reported. Still, fewer than 10 people in the U.S. die from rabies each year. That's thanks to post-exposure care and the rabies vaccine. Nearly 100,000 people are vaccinated following a possible exposure each year. Treatment is nearly 100 percent effective if you get it after an exposure. Initial rabies symptoms are similar to the flu, including fever, headache, and muscle aches. They can progress to neurological and physical symptoms, such as delirium, a fear of water, and seizures. To prevent the risk of infection, there are several steps people can take. Make sure pets are up to date with their vaccines, stay away from wildlife, call animal control to remove stray animals from the neighborhoods, and wash any bites or scratches immediately with soap and water after possible exposures before seeking medical attention. 'Rabies is preventable through vaccination and pet owners should remember that the best protection is to vaccinate for rabies and license all pets with the town,' Westfield officials said.
