A child in Elmore County, Idaho, was diagnosed with the plague shortly after he returned from a trip to Oregon. It is unclear where the kid contracted the disease. He is the first human plague case in the state since 1992. Doctors gave the child antibiotics and said that his condition was stable. Idaho authorities have detected the plague recently in squirrels, but none of the sick animals … [Read more...]

A recent study has found that kitchen towels can be packed with harmful bacteria that can food poison an entire family. Scientists analyzed 100 kitchen towels to see the levels of harmful bacteria. The experiment was conducted for a period of one month. The research team at the University of Mauritius in Moka, Mauritius, found harmful levels of bad bacteria on nearly half of the towels. … [Read more...]

Currently, pregnant women can learn when their child will be born via ultrasound, but the screening method is not readily available in all parts of the world. A research group is working on a blood test that could accurately tell the due date. The blood test could be used in developing economies that usually have poor health care access as the test is a more affordable method for most … [Read more...]

On Tuesday night, San Francisco pushed forward an ordinance that will ban the sale of flavored nicotine and tobacco products within the city’s limits. The move comes after a city-wide survey that asked San Franciscans whether cotton-candy-flavored tobacco products are a good idea. The survey was funded by the Tobacco Industry after the city council banned the products last year. On Tuesday, … [Read more...]

A new study suggests that store-bought sauces can boost the risk of an aggressive form of breast cancer. Researchers recommend cooks to make their own sauces as they are a much healthier option in the long run. Scientists found that ready-made sauces contain ingredients that can promote inflammation. All ready-made sauces seem to be hazardous to the health, from those for pasta dishes and … [Read more...]

A metanalysis shows that old couch potatoes can greatly benefit from exercise even if they start later in life. After sifting through nearly 100 studies, University of Miami researchers found that people over the age of 60 can remain mentally fit if they exercise. Keeping the brains of the elderly in good shape is critical as, by the year 2050, the world will have 2 billion seniors. … [Read more...]

On Monday, New Zealand announced an ambitious plan to slaughter 150,000 cows to completely eliminate a type of disease-causing bacteria from the country. Countries whose herds are affected by Mycoplasma bovis have not managed to completely eradicate the bugs. If everything goes as planned, New Zealand will be the first nation to get rid of Mycoplasma bovis for good. New Zealand is a relatively … [Read more...]

A new study suggests that catching up on sleep on the weekend can considerably prolong your life. Researchers found that people aged 65 or younger that don’t get enough shuteye on the weekend can boost their risk of dying prematurely. For instance, sleeping less than 5 hours at night was linked to a 52% higher risk of dying prematurely than sleeping seven hours. The study appeared this week … [Read more...]

Last week, it was reported the first death caused by an e-cigarette after a device blew up in a 38-year-old Florida man’s face. But vapers are unlikely to quit vaping, according to a study. The police found the body of Tallmadge D’Elia lying on his parents’ home's floor with severe injuries to his skull. D’Elia's e-cigarette’s lithium-ion battery likely overheated and exploded while the man was … [Read more...]

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns that the nation’s swimming pools are not as clean as they may look like. Government researchers advise taking some precautionary measures to prevent getting infected with nasty germs. CDC explained that the bulk of the infections is caused by a parasite called Cryptosporidium, which seems to be immune to the substances used to keep swimming … [Read more...]