New Atlas

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"Global measles crisis" as WHO reports cases up 300% from last year

Rich Haridy April 16, 2019

Preliminary measles surveillance data released by the WHO has revealed a stark surge in global cases over the first three months of 2019. The data indicates measles cases are 300 percent higher than at the same time in 2018, with major outbreaks currently occurring in a dozen different countries.

Measles cases around the globe are soaring to levels not seen in decades

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Injecting immune stimulants turns tumors into "cancer vaccine factories"

Nick Lavars April 8, 2019

Scientists at New York's Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have made an exciting breakthrough in the realm of cancer treatment, describing a new way of supercharging the body's immune system so that it can take the upper hand and destroy tumor cells around the body.

Scientists have come up with a new way to enhance the body's immune system in its ...

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No link between MMR vaccine and autism, massive decade-long study confirms

Rich Haridy March 6, 2019

A new study has further dispelled the myth of a link between the MMR vaccine and the onset of autism. Following over half a million children for more than a decade, the research found the MMR vaccine does not trigger autism, even in children with high specific autism risk factors.

A massive study has looked at 650,000 children and found no evidence to suggest the MMR ...

Health & Wellbeing

Microneedle patch packs silver nanoparticles for safer vaccinations

Ben Coxworth March 5, 2019

Although it's important to get vaccines to people in developing nations and elsewhere, it's also crucial that those medications subsequently be administered in a safe and sterile manner. A new microneedle patch could help, as it incorporates bacteria-killing silver.

An illustration depicts the microneedle patch in microbe-killing action

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Measles resurgence raises concerns over vaccine exemptions

Rich Haridy February 10, 2019

A major measles outbreak in Washington state is being blamed on low-vaccination rates. In response, Washington lawmakers are currently debating a measure seeking to remove a current exemption that allows parents to refuse vaccinating their child based on philosophical or personal beliefs.

Officials in Washington are debating removing personal belief vaccine exemptions in the wake of an ongoing ...

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"Whole bacterial" pneumonia vaccine approaches human trials

Darren Quick February 3, 2019

GPN Vaccines has developed a vaccine that is claimed to be effective against all forms of Streptococcus pneumoniae, the main cause of pneumonia, and the Australian company has now secured funding to conduct preclinical trials.

A new pneumonia vaccine that is claimed to be effective against all strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae ...

Medical

World Health Organization lists "vaccine hesitancy" as a global health threat

Nick Lavars January 17, 2019

Vaccine hesitancy, where people are reluctant or refuse to have themselves or their children vaccinated, is a growing problem and has now gathered such momentum that the World health Organization (WHO) sees fit to list it as one of its 10 threats to global health in 2019.

WHO sees vaccine hesitancy as a rising threat

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Single-dose drug protects against all forms of Ebola

Ben Coxworth January 11, 2019

Although Ebola vaccines have been developed, each one has typically only been able to protect against a single strain of the virus. A new medication, however, has been shown to ward off all types of Ebola – and it does so via just one low dose.

There are currently five known strains of the Ebola virus

Medical

Freeze-dried vaccine may help eradicate polio once and for all

Ben Coxworth November 27, 2018

Although polio is now rarely heard of in First World countries, it still occurs in developing nations which lack facilities for refrigerating the vaccine. That may soon no longer be a problem, however, as scientists have developed a freeze-dried vaccine which can be stored at room temperature.

A computer rendering of the human polio virus

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Peanut allergy desensitization treatment shows success, but for how long?

Rich Haridy November 20, 2018

A new oral desensitization treatment for children with peanut allergies is on the cusp of FDA approval, however questions remain over both the long-term efficacy of the treatment and the ultimate cost for what is essentially not that different to peanut flour in a capsule.

A desensitization treatment that involves slowly introducing small doses of peanut protein to a child's diet ...