Introduction: If you have visited someone in the hospital or have watched a medical drama, you may be familiar with the gowns, masks, or goggles healthcare staff wear. You may have also worn a mask during a visit to a hospital or clinic. These items represent personal protective equipment (PPE) that staff wear to protect themselves, patients, and visitors from healthcare associated infections. Healthcare associated infections (HAI), also known as healthcare acquired infecti

To some, a diagnosis of a disorder may be given shortly after speaking with a patient and completing a physical examination. Demonstrating a macro diagnosis of a disorder. However, what about cases that are unable to be diagnosed by physical examination? How are medical professions able to gain confirmed and specified diagnosis for cancers such as Hodgkin’s lymphoma? How does this determine patient treatment or create novel therapies? The answer to these questions is the cell

By: Labiba Khandaker A highly contagious and potentially fatal viral disease - but one that's almost entirely preventable with the right care. Understanding canine parvovirus. Canine parvovirus (CPV) is a viral illness that attacks a dog's digestive system and, in some cases, the heart. The virus attacks white blood cells and the gastrointestinal tract of dogs (1). It spreads easily through contact with the feces of an infected dog — even indirectly, through soil, shoes, or c

By: Pawan Krishna Murti Zika virus is a disease caused by a virus that is mainly spread through the bite of infected mosquitoes, especially the Aedes aegypti mosquito. It was first identified in 1947 in Africa and later spread to Asia, the Pacific Islands, and the Americas. In recent years, it became a global public health concern due to large outbreaks, especially in Brazil between 2015 and 2016 (1, 2). How Zika Spreads The most common way Zika spreads is through the bite of

By: Pawan Krishna Murti Chikungunya is a disease caused by the chikungunya virus (CHIKV), which is spread to humans through the bite of infected mosquitoes, mainly Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. These are the same mosquitoes that transmit dengue and Zika viruses. The disease was first identified in Tanzania in 1952. The name “chikungunya” comes from a local word meaning “bent over,” referring to the severe joint pain that often forces people into a stooped posture. How t

Introduction Pinworm infection or Enterobiasis is a common cause of night-time perianal itching, especially in children. It is caused by Enterobius vermicularis, also known as pinworm. It is one of the most common helminth infections worldwide, affecting around one billion people. It commonly occurs among pre-school and school-going children, institutionalized persons and household members of those with pinworm infection. Habitat and transmission Humans are the only h

Photo by Jorge Rojas on Unsplash Written by Hannah Simpson, BSN, RN Overview Many people are familiar with athlete’s foot, but fewer people are familiar with a condition known as tinea manuum. Tinea manuum and athlete’s foot are the same fungal infection, but they affect different parts of the body. Athlete’s foot, as the name implies, affects the feet. Tinea manuum affects the hands. Tinea manuum is a ringworm infection. Ringworm is the general term that describes a kind

A man cleaning his home's porch using a water hose, By: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Introduction "E. coli are germs called bacteria." (Centers of Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2024, Overview, para.1). It's found in numerous places such as water, foods, and the intestines of animals and people (CDC, 2024, Overview, para.1). The majority of E. coli are innocuous, and are a component of a healthy intestinal tract; E. Coli can assist people to produce

Image credit: Freepik News of severe respiratory illness, including two deaths and a critically ill passenger, aboard the Dutch-flagged cruise ship MV Hondius was reported to the World Heath Organization (WHO) on May 2nd 2026. Subsequently, total of eleven cases including three deaths were reported on May 11th 2026. Among the eleven cases reported, eight cases were confirmed in the laboratory for hantavirus infection, two cases were considered probable, and one case was repor

​ Hantavirus is a family of viruses that is caused by contact with rodents such as mice and rats. Humans can contract hantavirus by getting exposed through saliva, droppings, and urine from these rodents. Hantavirus can distinctly cause two different symptoms: hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) and hantavirus pulmonary syndrome HPS. HFRS predominantly affects the kidneys; symptoms of this specific strand include nausea,blurred vision, intestinal headaches, and fev

Over the past week, reports of a Hantavirus outbreak aboard a cruise ship in the Atlantic have sparked a familiar wave of “next pandemic” headlines. It is understandable. Terms like “outbreak” and “fatalities” tend to raise alarm. However, a closer look at the situation, particularly the nature of the Andes virus (ANDV), shows that while this is a serious medical concern for those affected, it is not a cause for global panic. What’s Actually Happening? The current focus is on

Yellow fever is a mosquito-borne viral disease that has shaped human history across sub-Saharan Africa and tropical South America for centuries. Despite the availability of one of the most effective vaccines ever developed, yellow fever continues to cause outbreaks, and unvaccinated travellers remain at real risk (1). In 2024 alone, 61 confirmed human cases were reported in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Guyana, and Peru, with a case fatality rate of approximately 50%. By May 202

Figure 1: Antimicrobial Resistance & Phyto-Pharmacotherapeutics (Source: https://vegconomist.com/science/plant-based-nanoparticles-can-combat-antibiotic-resistance/) What is Antimicrobial Resistance? Antimicrobial resistance is the tendency of a microorganism to counteract the microbistatic or microbicidal effects of an antimicrobial drug. Antimicrobial resistance arises in a single microbe and is inherited in the newly reproduced microbes. The resistant microbe is able to gr

The Measles outbreak in the United States of America has been in the headlines for a while now. New cases have been reported all over the United States over the past couple of months. These cases have managed to reach places like Disneyland and universities like Ave Maria University and UW-Madison. Measles is a highly contagious disease and can be extremely serious. The best way to stay protected is with two doses of the MMR vaccine. Symptoms of measles can include cough, fev

Source: Leptospirosis in Dogs Zoonotic diseases, or diseases that may be transmitted between animals and humans, have been a prevalent issue for centuries. The most recognized zoonotic diseases include foodborne pathogens like E. coli or Salmonella, tick or mosquito-borne diseases such as Lyme disease and West Nile Virus respectively, and viral infections such as Coronavirus, Rabies, and Influenza (avian/swine). An under-discussed but incredibly relevant zoonotic disease is L

A series of articles exploring the botanical origins of the medicines we use every day by B. Kristine Burneko, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC, APHN-BC

Wild animals harbor a wide array of pathogens and act as natural reservoirs, living in complex ecosystems that allow diseases to persist and spread. These wildlife-borne pathogens not only threaten animal populations, including endangered species, but also pose significant risks to human health. In fact, over 60% of emerging infectious diseases in humans originate from animals, with nearly 72% coming specifically from wildlife. Migration patterns of wild animals and birds fur

Introduction HIV affects over 40 million people worldwide, with up to 77% of patients accessing antiretroviral therapy. Despite efforts to control the progression of the disease with antiretroviral therapy, approximately 30-50% of people living with HIV may develop HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder, or HAND. These patients present with difficulties in executive function, memory, attention, verbal fluency, and concentration. Pathogenesis HIV enters the central nervous sy

Introduction At the turn of the 20th century, the mysterious spread of typhoid fever in affluent New York households baffled physicians and health officials. Behind these outbreaks was an unlikely figure: Mary Mallon, an Irish immigrant cook who would go down in history as Typhoid Mary . Her story is not just a tale of science and scandal, but a pivotal moment in the development of public health policies and ethics. The Story of Mary Mallon Mary Mallon arrived in the United S

Introduction Cholera is an acute diarrheal illness caused by the ingestion of food or water contaminated with Vibrio cholerae . This gram-negative, comma-shaped bacterium produces cholera toxin, which leads to profuse watery diarrhea, rapid dehydration, and if untreated, death. Although largely preventable and treatable, cholera remains a major public health concern in many developing nations, particularly in regions with inadequate sanitation and limited access to clean wate