By India Edwards

“According to a new study published Dec. 9 in the journal Emerging Microbes & Infections, domestic cats could become an unexpected player in the evolution and transmission of the H5N1 bird flu virus, potentially creating opportunities for it to become more dangerous.”

“While there is no evidence that cats have transmitted H5N1 to humans, researchers caution that these pets may still present a risk.

If a cat were infected with both H5N1 and a seasonal flu virus at the same time, the bird flu virus could potentially acquire the mutations needed to spread widely among humans.

Cats frequently mingle with both wild animals and people, which could turn them into a bridge for the virus to evolve.”

to read the full story go to

https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2024-12-12/study-warns-that-cats-might-be-bird-flu-carriers#:~:text=While%20there%20is%20no%20evidence,to%20spread%20widely%20among%20humans

Norovirus causes up to 21 million illnesses in the U.S. every year. Here’s what to know about the contagious disease that hand sanitizer can’t kill

BY Erin Prater

“Each year norovirus causes an average 900 deaths, 109,000 hospitalizations, 465,000 emergency room visits, and 19 to 21 million illnesses in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

It’s that time of year again, when the misery of norovirus strikes much of the U.S. Each year the pathogen causes an average of 900 deaths, 109,000 hospitalizations, 465,000 emergency room visits, and 19 to 21 million illnesses, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

The agency reports national norovirus trends as three-week moving averages of positive test rates. So far in the 2024–25 season, infections peaked the week of Nov. 30, 2024, at 17.06% positivity.”

to read the full article go to

https://fortune.com/well/article/norovirus-cases-rising-symptoms-treatments-causes

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