- Supper
- Posts
- The Alaskapox Virus
The Alaskapox Virus
Get smarter in 1,200 words or less. Medical and public health updates
Supper Team
February 18, 2024
Today’s public health update brought to you by LandCo Shops
This week’s coverage:
The Alaskapox Virus spread.
Biotech CEO fired for inappropriate relationships.
CDC Director on respiratory virus season.
Misinformation on Epilepsy as a neurological disorder.
Understanding the surge in Cancer cases.
AI to cure sleep Apnea.
Healthcare worker shortage.
Healthcare Fraud.
The reality about bedbugs.
Healthcare worker racism towards patients.
by Frank Vinluan
Exscientia founder and CEO Andrew Hopkins is out of a job after an investigation found the CEO engaged in relationships with two employees, says the artificial intelligence drug discovery company on Tuesday. Read More..
Respiratory infections such as influenza (flu), COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) continue to spread within communities and healthcare settings. In a recent webinar with CDC’s Project Firstline and the American Medical Association (AMA), CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen discussed the impacts of the current respiratory virus season, the importance of vaccination, and the importance of effective risk communication to help built trust with the public. Read More..
From the Arctic to the Lab: Exploring the Origins of ALASKA POX
Reviewed by iCliniq Medical Team
The Alaskapox virus was first found in a patient in Fairbanks, Alaska, in 2015 and was added to the existing list of viral adversaries. It is a member of the orthopoxvirus genus, generally infecting animals and causing skin sores, but humans might catch it, too. But recently, there were seven documented cases of sickness and one death from the virus, which turns things a bit grave for the healthcare community.
This virus mainly affects small mammals and domestic pets like dogs or cats. And from them, it gets passed on to humans. While human-to-human transmission has not been documented, chances are high by direct contact with lesions. One might get a skin lesion or two, enlarged lymph nodes, and joint or muscle discomfort. Often, it is a bump or pus-filled blister surrounded by a reddish rash on the skin. Most affected individuals suffered moderate infections that cleared on their own within a few weeks. Read More..
by Sreejaya K K
Within the extensive spectrum of human concerns exists an arena of uncertainty known as convulsions. Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that affects millions of people worldwide. Amid the maze of misinformation and challenges, International Epilepsy Day shines as a ray of advocacy and hope. The goal is to spread awareness and foster empathy to cast light upon the shadow of epilepsy. Read More..
by Dr Amruthasree V
There has been an increase in cancer cases in recent years, which is cause for concern. It's crucial for both individuals and communities to comprehend the reasons behind this surge and the preventative measures that can be taken. Read More…
Concerning increase in cancer cases reported globally in recent years has sparked conversations among researchers and medical professionals. The seeming increase may be attributed to improvements in detection and diagnosis, but sedentary behavior, poor diet, and smoking are important lifestyle factors as well. The landscape of cancer prevalence is further complicated by environmental factors like pollution and exposure to carcinogens.
Mount Sinai researchers will use a $4 million NIH grant to investigate how artificial intelligence could advance outcome prediction for patients with sleep apnea.
The condition, which is caused by improper breathing and intermittent airflow blockage during sleep, is estimated to impact nearly 39 million adults in the United States. Sleep apnea can significantly impair sleep and contribute to adverse outcomes like hypertension, diabetes, long COVID, and all-cause mortality. Read More..
by Kelly Nguyen
By all forecasts, the healthcare worker shortage isn’t going away. More than 80% of healthcare executives admit talent acquisition is so challenging it puts their organizations at risk. The latest survey from Experian Health shows complete agreement across the industry—the inability to recruit and retain staff hampers timely reimbursements. The side effects of the healthcare worker shortage are increased errors, staff turnover, and lower patient satisfaction.
With the healthcare worker shortage becoming a chronic red flag on the list of industry challenges, is throwing more revenue at hiring the best answer? Experian Health’s new report, Short-staffed for the long term, polled 200 healthcare revenue cycle executives to find out the effects of the continuing healthcare worker shortage on the bottom line. Respondents unanimous agreed that healthcare’s recruitment problem is limiting their ability to get paid. Read More..
by Kelly Nguyen
For Michael Smith, it all began with seemingly innocuous text messages from a PA University Hospital, indicating a wait time for an emergency room visit. A peculiar situation for someone who no longer resided in Philadelphia and hadn’t used the hospital system for years. Initially dismissing it as spam, Mike’s skepticism deepened when a hospital staffer named Ellen reached out to discuss diagnostic results from an ER visit, he never made.
The revelation was unsettling – someone had registered with Smith’s name, and the lack of ID verification raised eyebrows. While the recorded name and date of birth were accurate, the address associated with the account was outdated. A discrepancy that hinted at a more insidious problem. Read More…
by Ute Eberle
This all adds up to a sobering new reality: For many people, bedbugs are becoming a fact of life again, much as they used to be throughout humanity’s history. But as scientists race to find new strategies to combat these pests—everything from microfabricated surfaces that entrap the insects to fungal spores that invade and kill them—they also learn more about the often-bizarre biology of bedbugs, which might one day reveal the parasite’s Achilles’ heel.
Genomics shows that bedbugs emerged 115 million years ago, before the dinosaurs went extinct. When the first humans appeared and moved into caves, the ancestors of today’s bedbugs were ready and waiting. It is thought that these insects initially fed on bats. But bats reduce their blood circulation during their sleeplike torpor state, likely making it harder for the bloodsucking parasite to feed. Presumably, then, at least some bedbug ancestors happily switched to humans. Read More…
by Alejandra O'Connell-Domenech
A new survey from The Commonwealth Fund found 47 percent of healthcare workers have observed discrimination or racism directed toward a patient.
The survey also found that 44 percent of healthcare workers have witnessed a colleague suffer discrimination based on race or ethnicity.
The 3,000-person survey found that 47 percent of doctors, nurses, dentists, physician assistants and other health workers witnessed a racist incident toward a patient last year.
Healthcare workers said Black patients were the most likely to be discriminated against because of their race when seeking or receiving care.
The survey also found that 44 percent of healthcare workers have witnessed discrimination or racism against a colleague. Read More…
Send to a friend.
Reply