Health News
- Respiratory Virus That Is Sweeping Midwest Has Found Its Way To Kentucky; Frequent Handwashing Remains Best Defense
The respiratory virus that has been hospitalizing children in the Midwest has come to Kentucky, reports Chris Kenning of The Courier-Journal: "Kraig Humbaugh, deputy commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Public Health, said the Centers for Disease...
- First Kentuckian Gets Caribbean Virus, Chikungunya Or Chik-v
State officials have confirmed Kentucky's first case of the Caribbean virus chikungunya?or CHIK-V. The first case is an Anderson County man who recently went to Haiti. Though CHIK-V is not native to Kentucky and doesn't usually result...
- Laurel County Man Talks About Bout With West Nile; One Of Few Diagnosed With Disease In Kentucky
A Laurel County man has shared his story after contracting the West Nile Virus, which, though rare in Kentucky, has been more common nationwide this year than it has been since it was first discovered in 1999. Kelly Curens spent three weeks at the University...
- Measles Is Still Around; Rate In 2011 Was Highest In 15 Years
Measles virus (Photo by Scott Camazine/CDC/Getty Images)In 2000, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declared measles had been eliminated in the United States. But last year, the nation had the most cases of the infectious disease since 1997....
- Dec. 1 Is World Aids Day; 1.2 Million Americans Are Thought To Be Infected, But Only 1 In 5 Know It
Friday is World AIDS Day, an opportunity to learn the facts about the virus and show support for people living with it. In the United States, there are 1.2 million people living with the HIV infection, which leads to AIDS. Of those who are infected with...
Health News
Many more serious cases of West Nile virus reported this year, but only one in Kentucky
Though only one Kentuckian has been affected, more serious cases of people infected by the West Nile virus have been reported this year than any since 2004. Through July, 241 cases were reported in 22 states. The virus has caused four deaths. Nearly 150 cases have been in Texas, particularly in the Dallas area, reports Mike Stobbe for The Associated Press.
Of the 241 cases, 144 were considered serious, meaning the virus spread to the brain and nervous system, causing, among other ailments, encephalitis. Last year, less than 700 cases were reported.
Health officials blame the combination of a mild winter, early spring and hot summer, prime conditions for mosquitoes to breed. "Unless the weather changes dramatically, we'll see more cases (in 2012) than we have in the last couple of years," said Roger Nasci of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
About 1 in 5 people who are infected with the virus get sick. One in 150 get severe symptoms, including neck stiffness, disorientation, coma and paralysis, Stobbe reports. (Read more)
Of the 241 cases, 144 were considered serious, meaning the virus spread to the brain and nervous system, causing, among other ailments, encephalitis. Last year, less than 700 cases were reported.
Health officials blame the combination of a mild winter, early spring and hot summer, prime conditions for mosquitoes to breed. "Unless the weather changes dramatically, we'll see more cases (in 2012) than we have in the last couple of years," said Roger Nasci of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
About 1 in 5 people who are infected with the virus get sick. One in 150 get severe symptoms, including neck stiffness, disorientation, coma and paralysis, Stobbe reports. (Read more)
- Respiratory Virus That Is Sweeping Midwest Has Found Its Way To Kentucky; Frequent Handwashing Remains Best Defense
The respiratory virus that has been hospitalizing children in the Midwest has come to Kentucky, reports Chris Kenning of The Courier-Journal: "Kraig Humbaugh, deputy commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Public Health, said the Centers for Disease...
- First Kentuckian Gets Caribbean Virus, Chikungunya Or Chik-v
State officials have confirmed Kentucky's first case of the Caribbean virus chikungunya?or CHIK-V. The first case is an Anderson County man who recently went to Haiti. Though CHIK-V is not native to Kentucky and doesn't usually result...
- Laurel County Man Talks About Bout With West Nile; One Of Few Diagnosed With Disease In Kentucky
A Laurel County man has shared his story after contracting the West Nile Virus, which, though rare in Kentucky, has been more common nationwide this year than it has been since it was first discovered in 1999. Kelly Curens spent three weeks at the University...
- Measles Is Still Around; Rate In 2011 Was Highest In 15 Years
Measles virus (Photo by Scott Camazine/CDC/Getty Images)In 2000, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declared measles had been eliminated in the United States. But last year, the nation had the most cases of the infectious disease since 1997....
- Dec. 1 Is World Aids Day; 1.2 Million Americans Are Thought To Be Infected, But Only 1 In 5 Know It
Friday is World AIDS Day, an opportunity to learn the facts about the virus and show support for people living with it. In the United States, there are 1.2 million people living with the HIV infection, which leads to AIDS. Of those who are infected with...