Researchers in the U.K. may have uncovered evidence that Alzheimer's disease can be transmitted via some medical procedures. 

Dog bites led to more than 48,600 emergency room visits by California residents in 2022, KFF Health News reported Jan. 26. It's a trend that doesn't show any signs of easing anytime soon.

While respiratory virus activity remains elevated, most parts of the country are seeing some levels of decrease, according to the latest CDC updates. 

The winter virus season is often characterized by a hallmark sound: coughing. This year, though, some physicians and patients say coughing has been more persistent, often lasting for weeks after a virus passes, according to a Jan. 22 report in The Washington Post.

The CDC is urging healthcare providers to monitor patients for measles symptoms amid a recent uptick in U.S. cases, according to Minneapolis-based University of Minnesota's Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy.

The CDC has rejected findings from Ohio State University researchers that the JN.1 coronavirus variant is more severe than previous strains.

The Infectious Disease Society of America has announced the success of a program it jointly developed in 2017 aimed at drawing more physicians into the field and building a strong path to retain more of them in positions at the public health level.

Blastomycosis, a rare infection caused by the fungus Blastomyces, may be more common in the U.S. than previously thought, particularly in the Northeast, the CDC said Jan. 24.  

A blood test that could detect signs of Alzheimer's disease even prior to symptom onset is in the works, and early evaluation of it has proven to be highly accurate, according to new research, published Jan. 22 in JAMA.

More than a week has passed since a new measles case was reported in connection with the Philadelphia outbreak. City health officials said Jan. 23 that they will continue to monitor the situation, but wind down updates further if no additional cases are confirmed for two weeks. While cases may be winding down there, measles continues to spread in pockets across the U.S.

More than 25 infants under 8 months old and 128 pregnant women received the incorrect respiratory syncytial virus vaccines, the CDC warned clinicians via email Jan. 22. 

Global leaders are trying to get ahead of Disease X —  the name used by the World Health Organization to "indicate an unknown pathogen that could cause a serious international epidemic." Preparing now for the next global pandemic is vital, according to Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, PhD, director-general at the WHO.

Respiratory virus season's burden on the healthcare system may begin to ease after weeks of crowded emergency departments and hospital strain, the latest data suggests. 

Researchers from Columbia University in New York City built an open-access viral database to "to longitudinally explore respiratory viral infections, their interactions with other pathogens and host transcriptomic changes" per the project's description. Its creation could help advance research into the severity of illnesses.

Persistent research into understanding the condition known as "long COVID" is finally clearing up clinical confusion and is also paving the way for the development of tests and treatments.

A ninth case of measles has been confirmed in connection with the outbreak in Philadelphia, the city's health department reported Jan. 17.

U.S. hospitals are reporting a lower flu hospitalization rate than the past two seasons at this point in the year, though admissions remain elevated compared to many previous seasons.

The number of deaths related to fungal infections is complicated to measure and as a result likely underreported. The updated mortality rate is almost double that of past estimates, according to a study published Jan. 12 in The Lancet Infectious Diseases.

Illness and disease are common with age, but new research suggests that U.S. adults are now spending more time in their life sick than well, The Wall Street Journal reported Jan. 17.

Thirty-five states are experiencing high or very high respiratory virus activity, according to the CDC, despite a recent dip in flu hospital admissions and a slower increase in the rate of new COVID-19 hospitalizations.