Hantavirus is not easily spread, but is global heating upping our exposure? | Hantavirus

An outbreak in rural communities 30 years ago in the Patagonia area of Argentina led scientists, for the first time, to document person-to-person transmission of hantavirus, which until then had been known only to spread through contact with rodents. Nearly a decade ago another outbreak, also in Patagonia, provided detailed evidence of inter-human transmission when…

Read More
‘Empty and vapid’ CDC finally responds to hantavirus outbreak. But experts say it’s too little, too late | Hantavirus

‘Empty and vapid’ CDC finally responds to hantavirus outbreak. But experts say it’s too little, too late | Hantavirus

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed it is sending a team to Spain’s Canary Islands, where the hantavirus-stricken cruise ship MV Hondius is expected to arrive on Sunday, and US passengers will be evacuated to an airbase in Nebraska. However, experts say the US is unprepared for such a disease threat….

Read More
Showering Protocol for Hemodialysis Patients Shows No Increased Infection Risk

Showering Protocol for Hemodialysis Patients Shows No Increased Infection Risk

A structured showering protocol helped hemodialysis patients feel better without compromising safety, a quality-improvement initiative found. Conducted across four dialysis centers in Utah, the initiative involved two nurses who provided one-on-one education and protective materials to 60 patients with hemodialysis catheters. Equipped with the new education and materials, 92% of patients said they felt able…

Read More
Where Is the Off Ramp for Psychotropic Medications?

Where Is the Off Ramp for Psychotropic Medications?

When I first started taking an antidepressant as a teenager, no one talked to me or my parents about how I might eventually stop. Instead, the conversation was entirely centered on finding and starting the right medication. Since then, my prescription list has quietly grown — fluoxetine (Prozac) replaced with escitalopram (Lexapro), then venlafaxine (Effexor),…

Read More