Virology
An Extremely Successful Vaccine Story
By Gertrud U. Rey | | Basic virology, Gertrud Rey, Information
by Gertrud U. Rey One of the most noteworthy advances in biomedical science is the vaccine for human papillomavirus (HPV). It has significantly changed the diagnostic and prognostic landscape in the field of cervical cancer. Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women globally, and it is a particular problem in low-income countries …
Effect of Diabetes and Obesity on Influenza Outcomes
By Gertrud U. Rey | | Basic virology, Gertrud Rey, Information
by Gertrud U. Rey Flu season is in full swing, and hospitalizations related to influenza virus infection are on the rise. During the 2009 “swine flu” pandemic it became evident that diabetes and obesity increase one’s risk for severe influenza disease, a correlation that was also later observed in the context of COVID-19. A series …
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There Is No Need to Panic About Bird Flu
By Gertrud U. Rey | | Basic virology, Gertrud Rey, Information
by Gertrud U. Rey Public health officials are continuing to monitor the spread of avian H5N1, the strain of influenza virus associated with “bird flu.” Although there is still no evidence that this virus can transmit from one person to another, two recently infected individuals are attracting close attention because the source of their infection …
Where Did HIV Come From?
By Gertrud U. Rey | | Basic virology, Gertrud Rey, Information
by Gertrud U. Rey As discussed in my previous post, we first became aware of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in the early 1980s. However, when did the virus actually emerge in humans, and where did it come from? There are two strains of HIV – HIV-1 and HIV-2. The vast majority of infections are caused …
Why Don’t We Have an HIV Vaccine?
By Gertrud U. Rey | | Basic virology, Gertrud Rey
by Gertrud U. Rey This post was written in honor of Virus Appreciation Day, which occurs annually on October 3. Public awareness of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) began in the early 1980s when separate clusters of infected individuals were identified in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York. These individuals all shared a group of …
Sloth Fever
By Gertrud U. Rey | | Basic virology, Gertrud Rey
by Gertrud U. Rey Recent news headlines have featured a mysterious and presumably new illness termed “sloth fever.” More aptly named Oropouche fever, the disease is caused by Oropouche virus (OROV), an arthropod-borne virus that is transmitted primarily through the biting midge Culicoides paraensis. OROV typically circulates in sloths, non-human primates, and birds, but it …
David Tuller
Trial By Error: Norway’s Problematic Draft Guideline Combining Long-Term Fatigue and ME/CFS
By David Tuller, DrPH On February 4th, the Norwegian Directorate of Health published a draft of a “national professional guideline” for diagnosis, management and treatment of “long-term fatigue—including ME/CFS.” A consultation period for the draft lasts for three months. All comments must be received by May 4th. The draft is intended to replace a 2015 …
Trial By Error: Recent Readings–Another Severe Case, per The Times; Guardian’s Take on “Brain Retraining”; Boston Globe’s Long COVID Tale
By David Tuller, DrPH Times coverage of another severe patient On February 15th, The Times covered the case of yet another patient with severe illness. The article, by health editor Eleanor Hayward, bore the headline “My body can take no more, says ME patient starving in hospital.” The subhead: “Campaigners say the suffering of Savannah …
Trial By Error: Interview with Jonathan Edwards about “Therapy Guide” from British Association of Clinicians in ME/CFS
By David Tuller, DrPH The British Association of Clinicians in ME/CFS, known as BACME, defines itself as “a multidisciplinary organisation providing information, resources, education and networking opportunities to UK professionals to deliver high quality care” to people with the illness. Its members include psychotherapists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, physicians, and others involved in delivering services to patients. …
Trial By Error: More on the Controversy over Invisible Illness
By David Tuller, DrPH Emily Mendenhall’s new book, Invisible Illness: A History from Hysteria to Long COVID, has caused a bit of an uproar in some circles. Mendenhall, a medical anthropologist at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., covers a range of what she calls “complex chronic illnesses,” including ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, Lyme disease, and so on. …
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Trial By Error: Some Things I’ve Read Recently…Maryland Boosts LC Research, van der Zee on CBT, Thoughts on Hope and Chronic Illness
By David Tuller, DrPH My rib injury sidelined me for a month. Now that I’m mostly better, I’ve been trying to get back up to speed and catch up with lots of lots of reading (and some viewing). Here are a few items that caught my eye. Maryland seeks to boost Long COVID research, per …
Trial By Error: New Medical Anthropology Book on Chronic Illness Triggers Controversy
By David Tuller, DrPH While I was on medical leave for the last few weeks, the fascist regime’s brownshirts executed two people protesting the military occupation of Minneapolis. (It seems important to make that point before anything else.) Of course, other stuff has been happening too. In the domain of common interest here, a new …
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