Mosquitoes Have Mixed Feelings About Soap, Study Finds
Mosquitos and the humans they feed on seem to have something in common: a discerning palate for soap. In a new study this week, scientists have found that female, blood-sucking…
Wild Koalas Are Being Vaccinated Against Chlamydia
Scientists in Australia have just begun an ambitious public health campaign, but not for humans. As part of a new field trial, koalas in the wild are being temporarily captured…
CDC Looking Into Possible Increase of Rare Brain Infections in Children
There may be a rise in concerning brain infections afflicting U.S. children. Hospitals and public health officials in some areas have documented higher than expected numbers of pediatric brain abscesses…
FDA Approves Poop-Based Pill to Treat Hardy Gut Infections
The healing powers of poop can now officially come in a more palatable pill. This week, the Food and Drug Administration approved the drug Vowst, an oral capsule packed with…
Babies Who Catch RSV Are at Higher Risk of Later Asthma, Study Finds
A common and sometimes dangerous respiratory germ might also raise the risk of asthma if encountered early in life, new research this month suggests. The study found that children were…
Rapid Test Could Tell You If There’s Salmonella in Your Chicken
Scientists in Canada say they’ve developed a cheap and easy way to find out Salmonella is lurking in food. Their method can apparently detect the bacteria within an hour’s time…
Donated Blood Is Safe No Matter a Person’s Sex, Large Trial Finds
A large new randomized clinical trial should put people who are ever in need of a blood transfusion more at ease. Scientists in Canada have found that the sex of…
Strep Throat Is Surging, Alongside an Antibiotic Shortage
Covid-related precautions helped minimize the spread plenty of other communicable diseases. But now, those bugs are back, along with some new challenges. The CDC reports that strep A infections (a.k.a…
Wild Iguana Steals Little Girl’s Cake, Gives Her Rare Bacterial Infection
A 3-year-old girl’s holiday in Costa Rica was ruined by an iguana in more ways than one. The scaly reptile stole her cake, but not before biting her hand and…
Scientists May Have Found the Culprit Behind Mysterious Hepatitis Outbreaks in Kids
Several teams of scientists believe they have uncovered the likely cause of a mysterious surge of severe hepatitis last year that hospitalized and killed children around the world. In three…