Infectious Disease Blog

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How far would you go to earn $4,000?

Some people in the Seattle area may go so far as to become infected with malaria.

The Seattle Biomedical Research Institute will pay volunteers up to $4,000 to be bitten by mosquitoes infected with malaria, according to the Seattle Times.

Scientists pointed out that the trials will not be life-threatening, as the malaria strain used in the study can be quickly cured. The purpose of the trials will be to test which malaria vaccines work fastest.

Dr. Patrick Duffy, head of SBRI’s malaria research programs, told the Seattle Times:

“It’s really important for people to understand how well-controlled this process is. The disease follows a predictable course, and it’s treated very early — as soon as parasites show up in the blood.”

Bloggers and forums have picked up on this story and generated quite an online discussion. There’s been a decent response on Current TV. While some people want to sign up, others were skeptical.

The blogger of The Good Human definitely wouldn’t do it:

“I think this shows that some medical studies are going a little too far, but if you want to participate, there is a study taking place up in Seattle that will pay you $4,000 to be infected with malaria. Yikes. Personally, no amount of money is worth jeopardizing my health, even if they claim it is “controlled”. Allow myself to be bitten by an infected mosquito? No thanks…”

What do you think? Would you get infected with malaria for money?

While studies have yet to prove if there is a link between childhood vaccinations and autism, the case of a Georgia girl seems to suggest otherwise.

Nine-year-old Hannah Poling was developing normally during her infancy, but when she received five shots against nine infectious diseases, things changed dramatically, according to the New York Times.

She came down with a fever and refused to walk. A year later, she was diagnosed with autism.

Hannah’s parents are fighting the government, saying the vaccines may be what spurred their daughter’s autism.

The U.S. government will pay for Hannah’s medical care and agrees that the vaccines may have hurt her. However, officials say there was no concession that vaccines and autism are linked, according to the New York Times.

“Let me be very clear that the government has made absolutely no statement indicating that vaccines are a cause of autism,” Dr. Julie L. Gerberding, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said Thursday. “That is a complete mischaracterization of the findings of the case and a complete mischaracterization of any of the science that we have at our disposal today.”

But how did Hannah get sick? According to the Chicago Tribune, one theory is that the vaccines stressed Hannah’s body and provoked a preexisting mitochondria disorder. The other idea is that thimerosal, an ingredient in the vaccine, caused the mitochondria disorder.

Dr. Emily Willingham, the blogger of A Life Less Ordinary, provided some insight on the Hannah Poling case. She commented on the anti- vaccine movement, but reminded people about the good vaccines have done for the world. Here’s just a tidbit of what she had to say:

“Hannah Poling is a single data point, and as has already been pointed out, an unusual and possibly unique case. My own plea is that we please stop wasting so much time, money, and energy on this long-since-dead avenue of investigation and turn to more promising possibilities. Autism has a multifactorial etiology probably traceable back down many many paths that lead to a similar suite of behavioral manifestations. Based on that alone, Hannah Poling cannot be its avatar.”

Surviving countless scratchy throats and red, swollen tonsils throughout my childhood, “strep throat” became something I grew accustomed to.

I no longer gagged when the pediatrician shoved a tongue depressor in my mouth and asked me to say “ahh.”

This week, I read about the possibility of a strep throat vaccine. The news was exciting, especially for people like me, who were prone to strep as children.

According to Reuters, Group A streptococcal infections strike more than 600 million people each year and kill 400,000 worldwide. Many of these infections cause an inflammation of the throat, or what most of us call strep throat.

In addition to causing strep, Group A streptococcus causes rheumatic fever and the life-endangering “flesh-eating” syndrome called necrotizing fasciitis.

Creating a vaccine has been difficult because the antigen – the section of the bacteria that is easily identified by the immune system – is the most dangerous part of the bacteria, according to the UK’s Enews 2.0. It causes inflammation and an overreaction of the immune system that may cause heart damage.

However, researchers were able to create a version of the protein that can make the immune system stronger, without the dangerous consequences.

The study was published in the March 7 issue of Science. Click here to read the abstract.

An agitated meow. A quick swipe at your face.

Ouch! You find yourself with an infected wound a couple days later.

Did you ever consider that you may have Cat Scratch Disease?

Cat Scratch Disease is caused by the bacteria Bartonella henselae, according to the CDC. Patients of the disease are people who have been bitten or scratched by a cat and developed a mild infection where they were injured.

According to the CDC, symptoms of Cat Scratch Disease may include:

• Lymph nodes, especially those around the head, neck, and upper limbs, become swollen
• May experience fever, headache, fatigue, and a poor appetite
• Rare complications of B. henselae infection are bacillary angiomatosis and Parinaud’s oculolandular syndrome

For most people, there’s little reason for alarm. The disease is a mild infection that they may not even be aware of having, according to The (Annapolis) Capital.

However, Dr. Edward McSweegan, the writer of that article, brought up that patients with weakened immune systems may face significant problems if they fall ill with the disease.

“That may not be true for HIV patients and others with underlying illnesses or immuno-deficiencies. Among such patients, more serious infections may occur (such as bacillary angiomatosis), and prolonged antibiotic therapy may be necessary to prevent a life-threatening infection and related complications.”

Emergency preparedness has become a standard in airports all over the world, especially after the Sept. 11 bombings.

But, has anyone ever heard of emergency drills for infectious diseases?

Officials and staff held a drill at Hong Kong International Airport today to test the effectiveness of infectious disease contingency measures, according to news.gov.hk.

Recent human cases of avian flu in the region signify the disease is still a threat to the public.

Airport Management Director Howard Eng told news.gov.hk:

“We must remain vigilant against the possible occurrence and spread of infectious diseases at the airport. Today’s exercise presented an excellent opportunity for all relevant parties to practice our contingency procedures and collaborative responses in the event of an avian flu incident.”

The five-hour drill simulated a sick passenger with apparent avian flu symptoms arriving on a flight carrying 56 passengers and five crew members, according to Xinhuanet.

The sick passenger was taken to the hospital for treatment while other passengers were put under quarantine. The airplane was isolated and disinfected in the mean time.

How many potential cases of avian flu did this emergency drill prevent? How effective would a quarantine be after passengers already spent a flight with the sick passenger?

What do you think?

Did you know there was a right way to wash your hands? Many people are doing this simple task the wrong way. Watch my video to see the proper way to wash your hands. 

Proper hand-washing techniques came from the Mayo Clinic.   

The U.S. government is saying sayonara to its oldest vaccine: the historic smallpox vaccine.

The CDC announced on Friday that it was dumping its 12 million doses of Dryvax, according to MSNBC.

Even though smallpox is a “dead” disease, some may ask if there will be a new vaccine.

The answer is yes. Dryvax will be replaced by a more modern vaccine

Dr. William Schaffner, chairman of Vanderbilt University’s department of preventive medicine, said the following in the article:

It is a “historical moment, because it’s our oldest vaccine,” Schaffner said. “It was a vaccine that eliminated smallpox from the United States.”

In the past, Dryvax proved to be a dangerous vaccine, allegedly triggering heart attacks and heart inflammation in some people, the article said.

Here’s some information about the previous usage of the smallpox vaccine, according to the CDC:

Routine smallpox vaccination among the American public stopped in 1972 after the disease was eradicated in the United States. Until recently, the U.S. government provided the vaccine only to a few hundred scientists and medical professionals working with smallpox and similar viruses in a research setting.

The blogger of Moments in Time discusses America’s post-9/11 fears of smallpox being used in bioterrorism:

“After the 9/11 attacks there were fears that smallpox would be used by bio-terrorists. Many emergency workers were vaccinated in case of that resulting in a painful heart inflammation for a small number. Because of the risks to the vaccine a new one has been developed called ACAM2000. It was derived from Dryvax but created in the lab. It is unclear if it will have fewer side effects than the old vaccine.”

Two malaria drugs produced by GlaxoSmithKline are being scrapped because they may lead to anemia.

While yanking these drugs from the market is a setback in the fight malaria, there are numerous drugs out there that treat the disease, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Health officials hope to promote price competition and give doctors more treatment options.

The two drugs pulled were Lapdap and Dacart, an experimental pill still in development.

Both of the drugs appear to lower hemoglobin levels in the blood of some patients, which can lead to anemia.

As About.com’s Infectious Disease blogger Anna Spector pointed out:

Malaria itself causes anemia, but Dacart causes anemia in those who have a hereditary enzyme disorder that estimated to affect 10-25 percent of all Africans.

In the ABC’s of infectious diseases, what would the letter Q stand for?

Q is for Q fever.

Q fever is caused by the bacteria Coxiella burnetii, which is found in animals like cattle, sheep and goats, according to the Reno Gazette-Journal. The disease is underreported, making it difficult to estimate the number of cases of Q fever in the U.S.

The MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia gave the following definition:

Q fever is an infection caused by the bacteria Coxiella burnetii, which can affect the lungs, liver, heart, and other parts of the body.

People who work in barnyard settings or in the animal sciences are the most common to become ill with Q fever. They become infected by breathing in airborne particles from the birth fluids or excreta of infected animals.

Some people who become ill with Q fever may not know it, because only about half of these people exhibit symptoms.

Here are some of the symptoms, according to the CDC:

• High fever
• Severe headache
• Fatigue
• Chills & sweats
• Muscle pain
• Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
• Sore throat
• Confusion

For most people, the disease is not deadly. Even if untreated, most patients return to normal health in several months.

The CDC, however, believes Coxiella burnetii could be a potential bioterrorism threat. The bacterium is highly infectious and resistant to heat and drying.