There's early evidence that a mysterious flu-like illness that has sickened 416 people and left 75 dead in the Democratic Republic of Congo over recent weeks may be malaria.

Laboratory samples taken from infected people are suggestive of malaria, although more research is needed to confirm that, health officials said.

“Of the 12 samples taken, nine were positive for malaria bu...

Faced with rising cases of bird flu virus being detected in raw milk in California, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on Friday announced it would mandate testing for the virus in milk nationwide.

The National Milk Testing Strategy (NMTS) "builds on measures taken by USDA and federal and state partners since the outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza [HPAI] H5N1 in dairy ca...

A California dairy farm has expanded a recall of its raw milk and cream after state health officials discovered bird flu virus in more milk samples.

In a notice posted Tuesday, Fresno-based Raw Farm LLC said it has now recalled all whole milk and cream products with "use by" dates of Nov. 27 to Dec. 13.

Meanwhile, California health ...

Health officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo are racing to try to identify the cause of a mysterious, flu-like illness that has sickened 376 people and left 79 dead in that country.

In a alert posted on the social media platform X on Tuesday, the Congo's Ministry of Public Health, Hygiene and Social Security said t...

A cutting-edge genetic test can rapidly detect and identify almost any kind of disease-causing microorganism in the human body, whether it’s a virus, bacteria, fungus or parasite, researchers say.

Doctors have been using the genetic test for more than a decade to identify pathogens in spinal fluid, after its development at the University of California-San Francisco.

And now re...

Health officials are investigating the case of an Iowa resident who died of Lassa fever after traveling recently to West Africa.

The Ebola-like virus is rarely seen in the United States, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"The CDC and the Iowa Department of Health are investigating a suspected case of Lassa fever, which was diagnosed today in an Iowa r...

The bad news first: shower heads and toothbrushes in an average bathroom are teeming with an extremely diverse collection of viruses, most of which have never been seen before, a new study finds.

Now, the good news.

These viruses target bacteria, not people, and could provide a new means of confronting the rise in antibiotic-resistant germs, researchers report.

These microorga...

A non-drug nasal spray could theoretically help stop the spread of respiratory viruses like the flu and COVID-19 better than wearing a mask, a new study suggests.

The spray uses ingredients that are medically inactive to trap germs in the nose before they can infect a person, researchers said.

New England is on alert following one death and a handful of infections of eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) virus.

A New Hampshire resident died after contracting EEE, which is spread by mosquito bites, according to a release issued in late August from t...

Cancer growth can be fueled by flecks of ancient viral DNA lodged into the genetics of modern humans, a new study says.

Overall, about 8% of the human genome is made of bits of DNA left behind by viruses that infected our primate ancestors, researchers say.

Called “endogenous retroviruses,” these DNA fragments have long been considered harmless junk littering the modern ...

Over-the-counter nasal sprays could be a potent weapon against a major public health threat -- antibiotic resistance, researchers report.

Their analysis, which looked at data from nearly 14,000 adults, found that common nasal sprays could help keep upper respiratory tract infections at bay, reducing the need for antibiotics.

Antibiotic resistance caused by overuse and misuse of thes...

While exposure to raw cow's milk infected with the H5N1 avian influenza virus can make you sick, a new study suggests the virus may not spread quickly to other people.

Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison found that mice and ferrets got sick with influenza when H5N1 bird flu virus was...

An experimental "air mask"could help ward off infectious diseases while people are on the job, researchers report.

The mask uses an air curtain blowing down from the brim of a hard hat to prevent airborne viruses from reaching a worker's eyes, nose and mouth.

The method can block 99.8% of viruses, lab tests show.

"Our air curtain technology is precisely designed to protect wea...

Health officials in the Florida Keys have issued a dengue fever alert after two confirmed cases of the mosquito-borne disease were reported there.

In the alert, issued this week by the Monroe County Department of Health, officials said they were taking precautions to curb the spread of dengue fever. Those measures include ...

Your children's never-ending colds and sniffles may have protected them from the worst effects of COVID-19, new research suggests.

Throughout the pandemic, it was clear that the SARS-CoV-2 virus tends to cause less severe symptoms in children than in ad...

As bird flu continues to spread among U.S. dairy cows, reassuring new government research finds the pasteurization process widely used in the industry effectively kills all bird flu virus in milk.

In a health update posted Friday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administr...

Live bird flu virus has not been found in any of the first batch of retail milk samples tested, federal health officials said Friday.

Amid an ongoing outbreak of bird flu in U.S. dairy cows, the early findings should reassure the public that the milk sold in stores remains safe, officials added.

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