Shingles, which is caused by the varicella zoster virus, is an illness that one in three people will deal with in their lifetime. This is because the chickenpox virus is still in their body, and has reactivated to form what is now at this age, shingles. Various factors like age, medical status, and other diseases that could’ve possibly caused it to reactivate. Is shingles contagious? Can you catch shingles by hugging someone with shingles? While chickenpox is also caused by the same virus, does that mean that shingles is, too?

[Read more…]

Typhoid fever is a life-threatening illness caused by the bacteria Salmonella serotype Typhi. It’s a common traveler’s related disease, with around 21 million reported cases of typhoid globally each year. Typhoid is a highly infectious bacterial infection that is usually spread through the ingestion of food or water that has been contaminated by feces. Once infected, typhoid can affect multiple organs within the body, and without proper treatment, can lead to complications and even death. Currently it’s estimated that up to 1 in 5 people will die if their typhoid fever is left untreated. Luckily, there are preventative methods and treatments plans available to both help prevent and treat typhoid.

[Read more…]

Chickenpox and herpes are not the same thing. Chickenpox is a contagious disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus. Herpes, on the other hand, are types of viruses in themselves. The two common types of herpes viruses are the herpes-zoster virus which causes shingles and the herpes simplex virus.

[Read more…]

Airplanes can be crowded as it is. The prospect of getting up and using the bathroom is pretty drab. Honestly, no one really wants to squish inside of a bathroom that is the size of a small coat closet, but we have to do what we have to do. When traveling on an airplane, many people wonder about where the waste on an airplane goes after you flush the toilet. Here’s how it all goes down.

[Read more…]

The World Health Organization declared smallpox eradicated in 1979. In the 40 years since that achievement, a smallpox-related debate has remained within the scientific community.

Experts across the globe are still unsure whether live virus samples should be stored or destroyed.

Smallpox, caused by the variola virus, has been stored in frozen test tubes in two laboratories to preserve the surviving strains of the virus. While most were collected during the time of eradication, there are some samples dated to the early 1930s. After the complete eradication the WHO decided that the frozen samples should be destroyed. What the organization did not decide is a date for that destruction.

[Read more…]

HPV, also known as the human papillomavirus, is a common infection spread through skin-to-skin contact. There is currently no cure for HPV. Vaccination is the best form of protection against the virus.

[Read more…]

Shingles is a common viral infection that is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. Like chickenpox, shingles causes a painful rash to appear on the skin. If you had chickenpox as a child, you have a higher risk of developing shingles as an adult. Shingles normally affects people over 50, but it can affect anyone.

The chickenpox virus lies dormant in your nerves after it subsides. It can reawaken later in life as the shingles virus. When the virus reactivates, the infected nerves, and the skin the nerves go to, become inflamed, causing a burning or stabbing pain. A few days later, when the virus reaches the skin, a rash of blisters appears. The skin may be very sensitive, unable to tolerate even the lightest touch.

[Read more…]

Many people associate discomfort, pain and fatigue with shingles. While it’s true that most, if not all, symptoms of shingles are uncomfortable, is it safe to say that shingles always cause pain?

The answer to this question is relative and largely based on the infected person’s tolerance for pain. Analyzing the symptoms of shingles and how most people respond to them can help us accurately assess whether shingles are always painful.

[Read more…]

People in good health should receive a flu vaccination each year so that they are protected against illness during the flu season, which typically starts in October and ends in the spring. No matter what the size of your company, now is the time to start thinking about holding a workplace flu shot program in order to guarantee the health of your employees later on in the year. However, organizing an on-site flu clinic might seem a bit daunting and you may have concerns about how to maximize the number of vaccinations while not affecting the operation of your business. Thankfully, the process is much easier than you might expect! Here are some tips on how to make your flu shot program a success.

[Read more…]

The case of Typhoid Mary sparked a public health debate in early 1900s New York, and her legacy continues to be discussed to this day. March marks the 100th anniversary of Mary Mallon, an Irish cook who inadvertently infected multiple people with typhoid fever and was later placed in isolated quarantine for over 20 years of her life.

Typhoid fever is caused by a strain of Salmonella bacteria, resulting in high fever, abdominal pain and loss of appetite. Mary was a carrier of typhoid, meaning she appeared healthy but continued to carry the bacteria in her body. Her story is unique because it brought to light the conflicting priorities of public health policies and individual freedom. During that time, typhoid had no cure and was sometimes fatal. Mary is thought to have caused over seven outbreaks, 50 infections and three fatalities over a period of 15 years.  What can we learn from her case?  read on to find out!

[Read more…]