infection infection

Stories About

infection

Friday August 18, 2023

Chikungunya virus surges in South America. But a new discovery could help outfox it

A patient infected with chikungunya looks out from mosquito netting at a hospital in San Lorenzo, Paraguay. The country has counted over 100,000 cases of the mosquito-borne virus this year. Jorge Saenz/AP hide caption

toggle caption

Jorge Saenz/AP

Goats and Soda

Chikungunya virus surges in South America. But a new discovery could help outfox it

August 18, 2023 • South America has seen a quarter million cases this year, as climate change is a boon for the mosquitoes that spread it. A study about how the virus infects cells could help inform future treatments.

Chikungunya virus surges in South America. But a new discovery could help outfox it

Listen · 3:53 3:53

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1194392519/1194865651" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Tuesday March 21, 2023

The potentially deadly Candida auris fungus is spreading quickly in the U.S.

This undated photo made available by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows a strain of Candida auris cultured in a petri dish. Shawn Lockhart/AP hide caption

toggle caption

Shawn Lockhart/AP

Health

The potentially deadly Candida auris fungus is spreading quickly in the U.S.

March 21, 2023 • Cases of the fungus that did not respond to antifungal medicine tripled in 2021. It can be deadly, but does not seem to have adverse effects on healthy people.

Monday January 30, 2023

The zombie fungus from 'The Last Of Us' is real — but not nearly as deadly

In the video game and HBO show The Last of Us, an infectious fungi turns humans into zombies. David McNew/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption

David McNew/Getty Images

Science

The zombie fungus from 'The Last Of Us' is real — but not nearly as deadly

January 30, 2023 • This species of fungus, Ophiocordyceps, is known for using "mind control" on insect hosts. Humans, however, are immune.

Friday July 22, 2022

Coronavirus FAQ: I got it on a family vacay! Can my relatives stay (relatively) safe?

Malaka Gharib/ NPR

Goats and Soda

Coronavirus FAQ: I got it on a family vacay! Can my relatives stay (relatively) safe?

July 22, 2022 • It's a common dilemma in this summer of surging travel and surging COVID. If one member of a vacation party comes down with the virus, what steps can be taken to reduce the risk to others?

Tuesday February 22, 2022

Who might benefit from a 4th shot — and who might not

Staff volunteers queue to receive a fourth dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at Sheba Medical Center in Israel on Dec. 27, 2021, as the hospital conducted a trial of a fourth jab of the vaccine. Jack Guez/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption

Jack Guez/AFP via Getty Images

Goats and Soda

Who might benefit from a 4th shot — and who might not

February 22, 2022 • Some countries are moving ahead with plans to offer a fourth dose of COVID-19 vaccine. But studies are raising questions about the potential advantages of this extra booster.

Friday December 17, 2021

Omicron may be less severe in South Africa. That may not be the case for the U.S.

Daniel Wood/NPR

Goats and Soda

Omicron may be less severe in South Africa. That may not be the case for the U.S.

December 17, 2021 • Researchers in South Africa have found that people infected with omicron, on average, are less likely to end up in the hospital. But the variant may act differently here in the U.S.

Wednesday May 19, 2021

Visual Explainer: Why Some Coronavirus Variants Are More Contagious Than Others

Kaz Fantone for NPR

Goats and Soda

Visual Explainer: Why Some Coronavirus Variants Are More Contagious Than Others

May 19, 2021 • This animated video uses puzzle pieces to show how a coronavirus binds to a cell's surface — and what happens when a mutation occurs.

Tuesday October 20, 2020

Do Masks On Plane Flights Really Cut Your Risk Of Catching COVID-19?

There's increasing emphasis on wearing masks while flying. How much protection do they offer against COVID-19? James D. Morgan/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption

James D. Morgan/Getty Images

Goats and Soda

Do Masks On Plane Flights Really Cut Your Risk Of Catching COVID-19?

October 20, 2020 • On an eight-hour Emirates flight, with mask-wearing enforced, a whopping 27 coronavirus-positive people boarded the plane in Dubai. Guess how many passengers got infected?

Friday October 9, 2020

Coronavirus FAQ: What's The Deal With The '15 Minute Rule'?

Outdoor dining in Bonn, Germany. Indoor dining is riskier than outdoor meals, experts say. Outdoor air can disrupt viral particles that have been expelled. Andreas Rentz/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption

Andreas Rentz/Getty Images

Goats and Soda

Coronavirus FAQ: What's The Deal With The '15 Minute Rule'?

October 9, 2020 • The conventional wisdom is that it takes 15 minutes of close contact to a contagious person to put you at risk. But even a short exposure could prove problematic.

Thursday June 25, 2020

Dutch Minks Contract COVID-19 — And Appear To Infect Humans

Minks at a mink farm. Yuri Tutov/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption

Yuri Tutov/AFP via Getty Images

Goats and Soda

Dutch Minks Contract COVID-19 — And Appear To Infect Humans

June 25, 2020 • This outbreak of COVID-19 adds to the list of animals that can contract the disease. And, in this instance, the minks seem to have passed the virus on to humans.

Friday June 5, 2020

Coronavirus FAQs: How To Stay Safe While Protesting, When To Go Out After Recovery

Malaka Gharib/NPR

Goats and Soda

Coronavirus FAQs: How To Stay Safe While Protesting, When To Go Out After Recovery

June 5, 2020 • Also: If I head to a new state or country for a visit, do I need to self-isolate to protect others in case I'm contagious?

Wednesday December 5, 2018

Infections May Raise The Risk Of Mental Illness In Children

Childhood infections may increase the risk of developing certain mental illnesses in childhood and adolescence. Kathleen Finlay/Getty Images/Image Source hide caption

toggle caption

Kathleen Finlay/Getty Images/Image Source

Shots - Health News

Infections May Raise The Risk Of Mental Illness In Children

December 5, 2018 • A large study of Danish kids finds that childhood infections are linked with a higher risk of developing some mental illnesses. The risk is highest in the months immediately following the infection.

Wednesday March 28, 2018

Healing Drug Injection Wounds Can Help Get Care Closer To Patients

Sheila Dhand, a wound care nurse, treats many people who use drugs via mobile unit. Elana Gordon / WHYY hide caption

toggle caption

Elana Gordon / WHYY

Shots - Health News

Healing Drug Injection Wounds Can Help Get Care Closer To Patients

WHYY

March 28, 2018 • Infections from intravenous drug use are often hidden, under sleeves and beneath pants. These wounds of addiction may be buried in shame. They can also be serious, requiring surgery or constant care.

Wednesday February 21, 2018

Did An IV Cocktail Of Vitamins And Drugs Save This Lumberjack From Sepsis?

Kristopher Kelly near his home in Concrete, Wash., in February. He broke his pelvis and all his ribs in a work accident last year. The resulting infection he developed in the hospital almost killed him. Ian C. Bates for NPR hide caption

toggle caption

Ian C. Bates for NPR

Shots - Health News

Did An IV Cocktail Of Vitamins And Drugs Save This Lumberjack From Sepsis?

February 21, 2018 • A 51-year-old man nearly died from septic shock, when a crushing injury led to overwhelming infection. After getting an experimental treatment, he's recovering well, but some doctors want more proof.

Did An IV Cocktail Of Vitamins And Drugs Save This Lumberjack From Sepsis?

Listen · 4:45 4:45

Transcript

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/583845485/587731914" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

Tuesday May 30, 2017

Are State Rules For Treating Sepsis Really Saving Lives?

A 4-year-old regulation in New York state requires doctors and hospitals to treat sepsis using a protocol that some researchers now question. Getty Images/iStockphoto hide caption

toggle caption

Getty Images/iStockphoto

Shots - Health News

Are State Rules For Treating Sepsis Really Saving Lives?

May 30, 2017 • Some states dictate how doctors must treat this life-threatening reaction to infection, and early intervention is helping. But scientific evidence may be changing too rapidly for the rules to keep up.

Are State Rules For Treating Sepsis Really Saving Lives?

Listen · 3:59 3:59

Transcript

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/530224517/530769881" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript