As temperatures rise, so does the threat of Zika

/
As temperatures rise, so does the threat of Zika

Summer heat is already beginning to bear down on the southernmost tip of the Texas border known as the Rio Grande Valley and along with it comes mosquito season.  One particular type of mosquito known as the Aedes species will be watched and tracked very closely as it is the type that spreads the virus Zika.  Discovered in 1947 and named after the Zika Forest in Uganda, this virus is an infectious disease spread mainly by this mosquito but also can be transmitted through sex and from a pregnant woman to her fetus.

Read More

Bacterial vs. viral infections: How to protect yourself from antibiotic-resistant illness

/
Bacterial vs. viral infections: How to protect yourself from antibiotic-resistant illness

Over prescription of antibiotics for sore throats and mild respiratory infections has been a continuous issue in the health care community, even after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) declared antibiotic resistance as a serious health threat in September.    

Researchers are calling for a further intervention to stop unnecessary use of antibiotics, particularly for patients with acute bronchitis or sore throats, who are not likely to benefit from taking them.  

Read More