The United States should take the lead in starting discussions toward an international agreement requiring the strictest oversight and highest biosafety level for research on other potentially highly contagious and lethal pathogens.
The world is ever smaller. Flu strains incubating in China can be in New York or LA or DC in the span of a day. This is a world in which an incurable bacterial disease, spread by a tiny insect native to Asia, decimates the citrus crop in Florida.
This situation, a bilateral meltdown, happened just once in our married life. It was while we were on vacation.
In spite of our current low risk, it is just a matter of time before H5N1, H7N3 or another influenza strain evolves into a dangerous form that results in a pandemic. And the events in Mexico and Cambodia beg the question: Are we ever going to be safe from bird flu?
You might feel that you're letting the team -- or yourself -- down, but there are lots of reasons not to work if you're not up to it.
Whether we're talking about the flu, and hence its immunity-boosting ability, or back pain, acupuncture makes us stronger so that we can naturally resist illness and pain. This is true whether it's happening due to fired up neurotransmitters or a practitioner with exceptional bedside manner.
Regardless of whether or not this controversial research continues, you can bet one thing: Our risk for a deadly form of the "bird flu" virus and other pathogens remain high as long as we don't improve our treatment of animals.
The world's supply chain forms the backbone of our global economy, security and health, and the risks it faces are many. What to do? We cannot plan for precisely how or when, but we can plan for the fact that disruptions will strike.
Until this month I had never been even a bit sick at any point in the 21st century. But weeks after my latest flu inoculation, on Friday, Jan. 4, my throat started feeling scratchy. Uh-oh!
What will you do while you huddle together under your possibly infected covers? Well, do we have the answer(s) for you! These five dregs offer great suggestions for hobbies to pick up while you futilely struggle to avoid the flu.
Vaccinations and antiviral drugs are not the only options available for preventing and treating influenza. There is some scientific evidence that that certain nutrients and herbs may also be useful.
The current flu season already has claimed the lives of 29 children, the CDC said Friday. The flu was associated with 829 children's deaths between 2004 and last year, CNN reported in October.
As etiquette deals with behaviors and interactions, etiquette also has something to say about contagious individuals traveling among us.
This afternoon in religion and end-of-life news: More on the Rev. Louie Giglio, Dear Abby, the growth of secularism, a viral video ad of Jewish men looking for shabbat dates, the flu and religion and forgiveness (or not) for Lance Armstrong.
By spring, strains of the speedy influenza virus will evolve again as virologists race against next season's deadline to create a new vaccine. For all the wonders of modern medicine, nature always seems to be one step ahead of human ingenuity.
This question originally appeared on Quora. Answer by David Agus, M.D., Professor of Medicine and Engineering...
