Asian longhorned ticks came on the scene in the United States a couple of years ago. Since the, the bugs have continued to pose an imminent threat to livestock and citizens.

This new species was first discovered on a sheep in New Jersey. Back in August of this year, six states across the U.S. confirmed illnesses from this species of tick.

Now, a total of nine states or about 45 counties, have reported the Asian longhorned tick on people, as well as domestic animals and farms. These states, along with New Jersey, include Virginia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Arkansas, West Virginia, New York, Maryland, and Connecticut.

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If you’ve ever done any research into vaccinations, you may have come across the different kind of viruses in those vaccines.

Some vaccines contain a dead or inactive version of the virus they’re protecting against. Other use a weakened or live version of the virus.

But, what’s the difference between weakened and dead vaccines?

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Travelers and locals in tropical and subtropical areas know the dangers of malaria. One parasite makes the mosquito-borne disease one of the world’s most dangerous diseases.

The CDC estimated about 216 million cases of malaria around the world in 2016. Of those cases, 445,000 resulted in death.

In the United States alone there are close to 2,000 cases a year, despite no local transmission. Travelers and immigrants return from countries with malaria, unknowingly spreading the disease.

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Since October, there have been over 52 cases of E. coli as a result of eating romaine lettuce.

Months after it started, the outbreak doesn’t seem to be slowing down either. Cases of E. coli are still popping up in 15 states in the United States. There are also dozens of cases being reported in Canada as well.

In the U.S., E. coli cases have been present in states such as Wisconsin, Maryland, New Hampshire, New York, and Michigan.

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As we’ve reached the middle of holiday season, so comes the flu.

Did you know that there are numerous strains of influenza? The virus generates new strains all the time. These strains outsmart your body’s immune system and mutate so that they cannot be detected. This is one of the reasons why researchers and doctors encourage you to get the flu shot every year.

But, what if scientists developed a flu vaccine that only needed to be administered every few years?

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More than 10,000 cases of cholera have been reported in North Nigeria in 2018. Since the outbreak began in early November, 175 people have died from the disease.

And much like the ongoing cholera outbreak in Yemen, it’s more than a disease causing this epidemic. The situation continues to worsen due to the presence and attacks from Boko Haram, a local terror group.

Most of the cases of cholera are present in displacement camps in Northern Nigeria, specifically in the state of Borno. The displacement camps were founded out of necessity in the last decade. More than 400,000 people were forced to leave their homes because of Boko Haram’s presence.

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France is currently the most popular international destination, with 85.7 million people visiting France each year.

It’s not difficult to imagine why millions would visit the European country every year. The Eiffel Tower alone brings in about 7 million visitors every year, ranking as one of the world’s most popular attractions. Hungry travelers might just visit France for the local food, considered some of the best in the world. And if the modern attractions aren’t enough, France has a vast history that’s easy to explore on a trip.

But, even all those traits might not be enough to help France keep its title.

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Although there is currently a polio vaccine, researchers from the University of Southern California have successfully developed a polio vaccine that does not have to be refrigerated.

The new temperature-stable vaccine could potentially eradicate polio worldwide. While the disease has long been eradicated in most countries, some regions still struggle with outbreaks. Some countries, like Papua New Guinea, are experiencing a resurgence of the disease. Nigeria and Pakistan, where constant refrigeration is not always possible, could make strides in polio prevention with the new vaccine.

This new vaccine is promising because the current vaccine has caused damaging effects in these areas. The oral vaccine contains a small amount of the live virus. Vaccinations can then occasionally turn into a form the virus that can cause paralysis instead of preventing polio.

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Everyone knows about flu season.

Starting in the fall, we all usually have some kind of plan to fight off the virus in the coming months. For many people, that involves the flu shot. Some people even need a booster shot during the flu season. Along with the vaccine, we might try to practice better hygiene during the winter months to protect ourselves. Because we know when the flu is likely to be at its worst, we are able to protect ourselves.

But, influenza isn’t the only disease that has a season.

An assistant professor, Micaela Martinez, at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public recently published a calendar that shows the seasons of 69 different infectious diseases. The calendar is known as the “Epidemic Calendar.”

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Ebola has been raging in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) since this past August. Even with some progress in a vaccine for the virus, the World Health Organization fear that it could last another six months.

Since our last update about this outbreak, the confirmed cases of Ebola virus rose to 379, and the death toll rose to just over 245 people. Those numbers make this outbreak the second-worst Ebola epidemic in recorded history.

But, those rising case numbers may not be the most worrisome part of the outbreak.

Ebola is a viral infection, initially transmitted through eating infected meat. Then, the disease spreads from person-to-person through contact with that person’s body fluids.

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