Author: bnapolitano

Outbreaks of disease caused by the Cryptosporidium parasite (a key symptom of which is diarrhea) shot up an average of 13% annually between 2009 and 2017, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It’s now the top cause of disease outbreaks via water in the U.S. There were 444 outbreaks over the study period, resulting in hundreds of hospitalizations and one fatality. Around 35% of the outbreaks were linked …

The recently concluded meeting of the Centers for Disease Control’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) resulted in a few major developments on the vaccine front: Serogroup B Meningococcal (MenB) Vaccine ACIP has recommended MenB vaccine boosters in the past for patients between 16 and 23 years of age. However, recent outbreaks prompted discussion of whether that was adequate; ultimately, the committee decided it is not and now says children 10-years-old and up should receive …

Just as sure as your dog will be cowering in the corner once fireworks start booming, urgent care centers can expect to see a range of injuries related to “celebrations” gone awry in the coming days. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the most common injuries occur to hands and fingers, followed by the head and face, the legs, and the eyes. Last year, Independence Day sent roughly 9,100 people to emergency rooms. The …

In a flu season that has been classified as the worst in decades, influenza vaccinations prevented anywhere from 40,000 to 90,000 hospitalizations according to data just released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The effectiveness data are less straightforward; the 2018–2019 vaccine was 29% effective overall. That figure is deceptively low, however, in that the CDC says this year’s vaccine offered “no significant protection” against H3N2 influenza, but lowered the risk of H1N1 …