Latest news with #infectiousdiseases
WebMD
3 days ago
- Health
- WebMD
Traveling? Measles Is Still Out There
— Planning a summer trip abroad? If you or your kids aren't fully vaccinated against the measles, you risk bringing home more than souvenirs. While measles cases in the U.S. seem finally to be slowing down, experts warn that international travel could reignite outbreaks and push the country's already high case numbers even higher. Since January, Texas has confirmed more than 700 measles cases, including 94 hospitalizations and two deaths. Across the country, outbreaks are also in 11 other states — in Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee — with well over a thousand cases total nationwide, making 2025 the second-worst measles year since the illness was declared eliminated from the U.S. in 2000. While experts can't say for sure how these flare-ups started, many U.S. measles outbreaks trace back to international travel — when a partially vaccinated or unvaccinated person journeys to a country where the disease is still common, catches the virus, and returns home to a community with low vaccination rates. 'Measles has been historically eliminated from the U.S.,' said infectious disease specialist Nathan Lo, MD PhD, assistant professor of infectious diseases at Stanford University. 'That means that outbreaks in the U.S. (and in Texas) start with a travel-associated 'imported case.'' This travel season, health officials stress extra caution to protect yourself, your family, and your community. Navigating a Highly Contagious Disease Measles is one of the most infectious diseases in the world. The virus spreads when an infected person coughs or sneezes, and it can survive on a surface for up to two hours. If you're unvaccinated and around someone with measles, chances are very high — 90% — that you'll catch it, too. Countries with ongoing measles outbreaks include Romania, Ireland, Austria, India, Indonesia, Thailand, and many others. But even if you're traveling to an outbreak-free area, you can still be exposed. 'Airports and airplanes are easy places to get infected,' said Paulo H. Verardi, PhD, professor of virology and vaccinology at the University of Connecticut in Storrs. Protecting Yourself When Traveling Abroad There are only two ways to be fully protected against measles when you travel: through vaccination or natural immunity. Just about everyone should get two doses of a measles vaccine -- either the MMR vaccine (measles, mumps, rubella) or the MMRV vaccine, which combines the MMR vaccine with the varicella (chickenpox) shot. The second shot should occur at least two weeks before travel, according to the CDC. Exceptions include children under 6 months old, who are not eligible for the vaccine. Those whose mothers are vaccinated receive some protection passed during pregnancy, but it doesn't long — typically waning at about six months. Babies between 6 and 11 months should get one dose at least two weeks before they travel. Important: This early dose doesn't count toward the standard two-shot series — the child will still need to get two more doses later (at 12 to 15 months, and again at 4 to 6 years). If you were born before 1957, then you're considered protected through natural immunity. Prior to the vaccine, nearly everyone got measles — because, again, it's incredibly contagious — and measles infection triggers an immune response that continues to protect you decades later. What If You Can't Get the Measles Vaccine? Patients with weakened immune systems — like if you've had an organ transplant or are undergoing treatments like chemotherapy, radiation, or immunotherapy — might not be able to receive the vaccine. If that's you, then a conversation with your doctor belongs on your pretravel to-do list, said pediatrician David M. Higgins, MD, a pediatrician at the University of Colorado and Children's Hospital Colorado in Aurora. If you or your child can't get the measles vaccine, traveling — especially abroad and to parts of the U.S. with outbreaks — can carry serious risks. This is particularly true for children under 5, who are more vulnerable to severe complications from measles. Deciding whether to travel in this situation is deeply personal. 'There are many different degrees of immunocompromised, so it's really an individual decision,' Higgins said. Your health care provider can help you weigh the risks and explore options. If vaccination isn't possible and you decide to travel, take extra precautions. Make sure that everyone traveling with you is fully vaccinated. Stick to commonsense hygiene practices like washing hands often, avoiding high-touch surfaces, and wearing a mask in crowded or enclosed spaces. Also talk to your health care provider about what to do if there's a chance you've been exposed to measles. Post-exposure treatments like immunoglobulin may be given within six days of exposure — it won't replace the vaccine, but it could offer some protection or reduce symptoms. What If You're Not Sure Whether You've Been Vaccinated? Go ahead and get the jab. Experts say it's perfectly safe to get a booster, even if you've already had two shots. You can also ask your doctor to order an antibody test to check your immunity status, but these tests aren't always accurate and are not routinely recommended. 'For practical purposes, it's often easier to simply get vaccinated again rather than try to track down medical records,' Higgins said. What to Do If You Think You Were Exposed Abroad If you think you were exposed or start having symptoms, either abroad or back home, contact a health care provider immediately. The provider might recommend a measles test and ask whether you've been vaccinated. Measles can have a long incubation period — it could take up to two weeks after exposure for symptoms to show up. Early signs like fever, runny nose, cough, and red, watery eyes can feel like an ordinary virus, but eventually you'll see the telltale red bumpy rash and possibly tiny white dots with red rims in your mouth (Koplik's spots). 'There's typical management of the condition but also prevention of transmission, which means that a person needs to be isolated,' said Wassim Ballan, MD, division chief of infectious disease and associate director of the infection prevention program for Phoenix Children's in Phoenix, Arizona. Patients should isolate for as long as they are considered contagious — for four days before the rash appears and continuing until four days after it's gone.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Warning to Aussie gardeners after string of deaths: 'People should be frightened'
Victims of a "life-changing" disease that has killed dozens of Aussies this year are urging others to stay vigilant, with those who spend time outdoors or tending to gardens at greatest risk. There have been 221 cases and 31 deaths from melioidosis in north Queensland this year, and authorities are scrambling to understand what brought on the sudden surge. James Schmidt, 54, is currently suffering from the disease which is caused by bacteria commonly found in soil and water in South East Asia and northern Australia. From a Townsville hospital bed he told Yahoo News he first noticed something wasn't right when he found an abscess in his glute. "I developed the abscess in early February and it was first treated with antibiotics," he said, detailing his diagnosis and battle to beat the disease. "I was then admitted to the hospital to have it drained. After being discharged, 24 hours later the infectious diseases ward rang me asking me to report back to the hospital. Pathology had found melioidosis," he explained, saying he had no idea he had it. James has since been fighting the life-threatening disease and faces a long recovery after suffering a spinal fracture from a seizure. The bacteria causing melioidosis live in soil and groundwater. The bacteria thrive in warm and humid areas, meaning those in North Queensland, the Top End of the Northern Territory and the Kimberley region of Western Australia are most at risk. Melioidosis increases with high rainfall and flooding and these conditions have driven the current outbreak in north Queensland. Another Townsville resident Scott Kirstenfeldt, 47, who previously worked in Casuarina in the Northern Territory and survived the disease twice — once in 1999 and 2002 — told Yahoo News he believes he was more susceptible to it as he worked as a groundskeeper for a large shopping complex and "did gardening at home". "If you are immune compromised with illness, have a cut or abrasion, or breathe in the bacteria it can infect your body in the area of initial infection and spread through the bloodstream if not treated quickly," Scott said. James confirmed to Yahoo he frequently maintained residential homes as part of his job as a disability home carer and it's likely he picked up the bacteria then. While Scott is wary of causing panic, he has issued an urgent plea to Aussies who live in the current hotspot and along the northern parts of the country to be wary of it. "Melioidosis is generally considered rare to catch... but people should be frightened, [it] is extremely dangerous and if not treated quickly will result in death from total organ failure," he said. "Imagine the worst cold or flu you've suffered from and multiply it by five... I don't know how to put into words how truly life-changing it is, and after you've been released from hospital it takes years to fully recover." The disease generally takes up to four weeks to establish itself, meaning many don't develop symptoms immediately once exposed. Symptoms include fever, headache, non-healing skin cores and seizures. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
NHK
20-05-2025
- Health
- NHK
WHO member states unanimously approve Pandemic Agreement
The member states of the World Health Organization have adopted a new international treaty to strengthen measures against future infectious diseases. The WHO members unanimously approved the Pandemic Agreement in a plenary session in Geneva, Switzerland, on Tuesday. The treaty calls on countries to promote the transfer of knowledge and technology for the production of vaccines to developing countries. It also aims to launch a new framework for countries to share information on pathogens to help accelerate the production of vaccines and medicines. The member states have been discussing the agreement for three years with the aim to better respond to the next pandemic based on lessons learned from the coronavirus pandemic. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the agreement is a victory for science and multilateral action. He said it will ensure that the WHO can better protect the world from future pandemic threats. The member states will decide the details of the agreement by next year's plenary session. The treaty will take effect after ratification or other procedures by 60 members. But the United States, which announced its intention to withdraw from the WHO, did not attend the plenary session. The US is the largest financial contributor to the WHO. The Secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., said in a video message on Fox News that the US will not participate in the treaty. Withdrawal of the United States from the WHO would have an adverse impact on global measures against future infectious diseases.
Globe and Mail
15-05-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals Announces First Quarter 2025 Results
Q1 2024 net product revenues increased 55% year-over-year to $163.6 thousand. Gross profit increased 124% to $90.3 thousand. WASHINGTON, May 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: SXTP; SXTPW) (the 'Company'), a pharmaceutical company focused on developing new medicines for infectious diseases, reported today their financial results for the first fiscal quarter of the 2025 year, ended March 31, 2025. Financial Highlights for the Quarter Ended March 31, 2025: Net product revenues increased approximately 55% from $105.7 thousand for the first quarter of 2024 to approximately $163.6 thousand for the first quarter of 2025; the Company credits growth from domestic sales of ARAKODA ®. The Company achieved a gross profit of approximately $90.3 thousand in the first quarter of 2025, compared with an approximate gross profit of $40.2 thousand in the first quarter of 2024. Operating expenses were approximately $2.09 million in the first quarter of 2025, compared with approximately $1.41 million in the first quarter of 2024. Increased expenditures in sales and investor-related services along with stock-based compensation accounted for $535.4 thousand of the increase. Net loss attributable to common shareholders in the first quarter of 2025 was approximately $2.01 million, or ($1.56) per share, compared with a net income of approximately $308.7 thousand, or $1.83 per share in the first quarter of 2024. The change in fair value of derivative liabilities accounted for $1.74 million of this difference in income attributable. About 60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals, Inc., founded in 2010, specializes in developing and marketing new medicines for the treatment and prevention of infectious diseases that affect the lives of millions of people. 60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals, Inc. achieved FDA approval of its lead product, ARAKODA ® (tafenoquine), for malaria prevention, in 2018. 60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals, Inc. also collaborates with prominent research organizations in the U.S., Australia, and Singapore. The 60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals, Inc. mission has been supported through in-kind funding from the U.S. Department of Defense and private institutional investors including Knight Therapeutics Inc., a Canadian-based pan-American specialty pharmaceutical company. 60 Degrees Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is headquartered in Washington D.C., with a majority-owned subsidiary in Australia. Learn more at Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release may contain 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward‐looking statements reflect the current view about future events. When used in this press release, the words 'anticipate,' 'believe,' 'estimate,' 'expect,' 'future,' 'intend,' 'plan,' or the negative of these terms and similar expressions, as they relate to us or our management, identify forward‐looking statements. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on our current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of our business, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy, activities of regulators and future regulations and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. Our actual results and financial condition may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause our actual results and financial condition to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements include, among others, the following: there is substantial doubt as to our ability to continue on a going-concern basis; we might not be eligible for Australian government research and development tax rebates; if we are not able to successfully develop, obtain FDA approval for, and provide for the commercialization of non-malaria prevention indications for tafenoquine (ARAKODA ® or other regimen) or Celgosivir in a timely manner, we may not be able to expand our business operations; we may not be able to successfully conduct planned clinical trials; and we have no manufacturing capacity which puts us at risk of lengthy and costly delays of bringing our products to market. More detailed information about the Company and the risk factors that may affect the realization of forward-looking statements is set forth in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ('SEC'), including the information contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 27, 2025, and our subsequent SEC filings. Investors and security holders are urged to read these documents free of charge on the SEC's web site at As a result of these matters, changes in facts, assumptions not being realized or other circumstances, the Company's actual results may differ materially from the expected results discussed in the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Any forward-looking statement made by us in this press release is based only on information currently available to us and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise. Media Contact: Sheila A. Burke SheilaBurke-consultant@ (484) 667-6330 Investor Contact: Patrick Gaynes patrickgaynes@ (310) 989-5666
