Hong Kong’s marine ecosystem over the last 100 years
The skyscrapers and urban development that have made Hong Kong the “Pearl” have also generated pollutants that affect the marine species that live in Hong Kong’s coastal waters. On-going climate change and dams along the Pearl River have also altered these coastal ecosystems. However, it is largely unknown in what ways they are altered, because […]
La. ‘A Very Dangerous Place’; Fla. Mask Ban Nixed; ‘Mr. Anti-Vax’ Dies of COVID
Note that some links may require registration or subscription. After Hurricane Ida battered Louisiana, leaving large swaths of the state without power, the state’s hospitals are in a “very dangerous place,” said Gov. John Bel Edwards (D); ventilators “don’t work without electricity,” he pointed out. (AP) A federal “surge team” was called in earlier this […]
Can Lyme Disease Be Detected by a Blood Test?
Lyme disease can be detected by tests that look for antibodies in the blood. Learn more about Lyme disease testing, stages, and symptoms Lyme disease can be detected by tests that look for antibodies in the blood or in the fluid from the joints or spine. However, antibodies can take 4-6 weeks to be detected […]
Seabed recovers more quickly following extreme storms than from the impacts of bottom-towed fishing
Extreme storms can result in major damage to the seabed similar to that caused by prolonged periods of bottom-towed fishing, according to new research. However, important seabed habitats and species recover more quickly following extreme storms than in the wake of such fishing activity. That is one of the key findings of a first-of-its-kind study […]
Bacterial bloom as the Earth thawed: Photosynthetic organisms during the Snowball Earth
Some researchers hypothesize that ice sheets enveloped the earth during the Marinoan glaciation (650-535 million years ago) in what is dubbed the “Snowball Earth.” The glaciation also impacted the climate and chemical compositions of the oceans, restraining the evolution of early life. Yet, as the earth warmed, and the Ediacaran period dawned, biotic life began […]
Study confirms virus variants reduce protection against COVID-19: Researchers say findings suggest need to double down on vaccinations, public health measures
A new laboratory study from Oregon Health & Science University finds that blood serum drawn from people previously vaccinated or naturally infected show “significantly reduced” defense against two widely circulating variants of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. The study published today in the journal Nature Communications. Researchers said that their findings emphasize the importance of vaccinations […]
Salmonella Outbreak in 17 States Tied to Italian-Style Meats – MedicineNet Health News
Latest Infectious Disease News WEDNESDAY, Aug. 25, 2021 Two salmonella outbreaks that appear related to salami and other Italian-style meats have sickened at least 36 people in 17 states, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Twelve people have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported. Because some people recover […]
Moderna Tees Up for Approval; Boosters Now at 6 Months? Infusion Pump Recall
Note that some links may require registration or subscription. Moderna said it completed the application for full FDA approval of its COVID vaccine, which is marketed as Spikevax abroad. Not to be outdone, Pfizer and BioNTech said they would submit the remaining data for approval of their COVID booster shots by week’s end. Speaking of […]
Getting Ready for the Next Plague
Yesterday I got an email from the Department of Health here in New York City announcing that they are spraying local bodies of water in Brooklyn starting this Thursday, to eliminate mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus. Man, it’s bad enough that we’re dealing with the Delta variant of COVID-19 — now we’ve got to remember […]
COVID Closes Texas Town; Vax Resistant Strain ‘Likely’?; Oregon’s Outdoor Mask Rule
Note that some links may require registration or subscription. COVID has hit this small Texas town so hard that the schools closed and then the town shut down. (CNN) The Ohio legislature is considering a bill that would bar employers in the state from instituting vaccine mandates for their employees. (Associated Press) Ohio State University, […]