Medical specialties

Aedes aegypti mosquitos, the primary vector of dengue, seen at a lab of the Institute of Biomedical Sciences of the Sao Paulo University, on January 8, 2016 in Sao Paulo, BrazilPhoto: Nelson Ameida/AFP (Getty Images)A dangerous viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes has seemingly landed in Arizona. Earlier this week, health officials reported that a Maricopa County resident recently contracted dengue, while routine surveillance has found traces of the dengue virus in at least one nearby mosquito population. These…

Though highly contagious and dangerous to young children, measles is nearly 100% preventable with two doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. Photo: Justin Sullivan (Getty Images)An outbreak of measles in Ohio has spread through at least 7 daycares and a school in the area. Officials are now investigating 18 suspected cases of the fast-spreading but vaccine-preventable viral illness, all among unvaccinated children. Several of the children have been hospitalized.Columbus Public Health (CPH) and Franklin…

Photo: Philippe Huguen/AFP (Getty Images)As a rule of thumb, people with hay fever may want to avoid going outside after 2pm. A new study released this week found that pollen counts tend to be lowest during the morning hours and highest during mid-afternoon into the late evening.Segment of Challenger Space Shuttle Found at Bottom of Atlantic Ocean01:05Star Wars: Shatterpoint Announcement TrailerYesterday 1:23PMResearchers in Atlanta conducted the study, using a recently developed device meant to measure pollen…

Illustration: Shutterstock (Shutterstock)An important clinical trial is now underway in the UK. The study is the first to transfuse red blood cells grown in the lab from donated stem cells into humans. Should this research pay off, these blood cells would be incredibly valuable for people with rare blood types, though they wouldn’t replace the need for traditional blood donation.The RESTORE trial, as it’s known, is being conducted by scientists from the UK’s National Health Services and various universities. At least 10…

Folded pink clothImage: JpegPhotographer (Shutterstock)Here’s a new piece of trivia to toss out at a party sometime: The human clitoris seems to contain more than 10,000 nerve endings. Researchers this month are apparently the first to try counting the precise number of nerve fibers located in the pleasure-giving organ, using tissue samples taken from human volunteers. The findings surpass previous estimates, which were based on studying other animals.The new research was led by scientists from Oregon Health & Science…

A man walks through a flooded street with his belongings in the Orlovista neighborhood following Hurricane Ian on October 1, 2022 in Orlando, Florida.Photo: BRYAN R. SMITH/AFP (Getty Images)Hurricane Ian hit Florida as category 4 storm in late September, bringing torrential rains and a storm surge that left much of coastal and central Florida underwater. But while the immediate dangers involved drowning and injuries, an invisible threat would soon sicken some people who came in contact with the water: flesh-eating…

Trailers are inundated by floodwaters at the Peace River Campground on October 4, 2022 in Arcadia, Florida.Photo: Sean Rayford (Getty Images)Hurricane Ian slammed into Florida in late September as a category 4 storm, bringing widespread flooding. Those toxic floodwaters appear to be spreading Vibrio vulnificus, a flesh-eating bacteria that turns fatal for many people unlucky enough to contract it.The symptoms of these infections include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and open lesions on theskin, according to the CDC.…

You would never know that something horrible happened at the foam pit at TwitchCon this past weekend if you simply followed Twitch’s official pages. The streaming platform has spent recent days highlighting good times at its signature conference on its social media channels, refusing to answer questions related to the foam pit or offer comment on the condition of Adriana Chechik, the streamer and adult performer who broke her back in two places and had a five-hour surgery this week to treat it.While not commenting on…

Image: Shutterstock (Shutterstock)In a recent case study, doctors describe the unfortunate tale of a man who developed an allergy-like reaction to his own orgasms. The bizarre and rare affliction left him unable to pursue sexual and romantic relationships. But thankfully, the doctors managed to treat his problem using a simple over-the-counter antihistamine.The condition is known as postorgasmic illness syndrome, or POIS. Sufferers (almost always men) experience symptoms similar to hay fever or a flu following ejacul…

A sign is posted at a vaccination booster shot clinic on October 01, 2021 in San Rafael, California. Photo: Justin Sullivan (Getty Images)The toll of covid-19 in the U.S. this winter will depend heavily on how many Americans are able and willing to get an upgraded booster shot, suggests a new expert analysis. Even a moderately successful booster campaign would save tens of thousands of lives as well as billions of dollars in medical costs, researchers with the Commonwealth Fund predict. Currently, however, booster rates…