Animals
A Person Got COVID from a Cat in First Confirmed Case
Scientists in Thailand have established that a tabby passed SARS-CoV-2 to a veterinary surgeon—although such cases of cat-to-human transmission are probably rare
Epidemiology102 articles archived since 1845
Epidemiology
This AI Tool Could Predict the Next Coronavirus Variant
The model, which uses machine learning to track the fitness of different viral strains, accurately predicted the rise of Omicron’s BA.2 subvariant and the Alpha variant
Epidemiology
Poliovirus Detected in London Sewage, U.K. Officials Warn
The detected strain can sometimes cause severe disease in people who are not vaccinated against polio
Epidemiology
We Can’t Let Monkeypox Turn into a Repeat of COVID
Will governments apply lessons learned from COVID to this latest viral outbreak?
Epidemiology
How to Compare COVID Deaths for Vaccinated and Unvaccinated People
The death rate among unvaccinated people is still far higher than that among the vaccinated even though vaccinated people now make up a significant proportion of deaths
Epidemiology
Monkeypox Outbreaks: 4 Key Questions Scientists Have
Researchers are racing to understand the latest monkeypox outbreaks—from their origins to whether they can be contained
Epidemiology
Why Unprecedented Bird Flu Outbreaks Are Concerning Scientists
Mass infections in wild birds pose a significant risk to vulnerable species, are hard to contain and increase the opportunity for the virus to spill over into people
Epidemiology
Long COVID Risk Falls Only Slightly after Vaccination
Results from a large study suggest that vaccines offer less protection against lingering symptoms than expected
Epidemiology
What We Know about the Rise in Monkeypox Cases Worldwide
It is unclear how some people recently diagnosed with the disease became infected with the monkeypox virus or how it is likely to spread
Epidemiology
This Tick Can Make You Allergic to Meat, and It’s Spreading
Work on genetically modified pigs might provide a solution to the strange illness
Epidemiology
What Is Monkeypox, the Virus Infecting People in the U.S. and Europe?
A microbiologist explains what is known about this smallpox cousin
Epidemiology
What One Million COVID Dead Mean for the U.S.’s Future
The country has reached an unthinkably grim milestone. Nearly 200,000 children have lost parents, many more elderly have been killed, and family well-being has been ripped apart
Epidemiology
A Guide to the Different Omicron Subvariants
How to tell the different versions of SARS-CoV-2 apart, and how well vaccines protect against them
Epidemiology
Climate Change Will Boost Viral Outbreaks
A modeling study is the first to project how global warming will increase animal encounters and virus swapping between species
Epidemiology
How to Judge COVID Risks and When to Wear a Mask
Scientific American asks experts in medicine, risk assessment and other fields how to balance the risks of COVID with the benefits of visiting public indoor spaces
Epidemiology
Are New Omicron Subvariants a Threat? How Scientists are Keeping Watch
In South Africa, a network of researchers are studying whether new lineages BA.4 and BA.5 escape immunity from COVID-19 vaccines and prior infections
Epidemiology
New Cases of Childhood Diabetes Rose during the Pandemic
It isn’t clear why, but researchers are investigating a possible COVID link
Epidemiology
What We Know about Omicron’s BA.2 Variant So Far
Does the new strain sweeping the globe mean COVID will become ever more contagious?
Epidemiology
How the War in Ukraine Is Causing Indirect Deaths
Crowded shelters and destroyed health care facilities will likely exacerbate COVID, TB and other diseases
Epidemiology
Are ‘COVID Toes’ Actually Caused by the Coronavirus?
A study adds to evidence suggesting that SARS-CoV-2 infection doesn’t cause an inflamed-toe condition called chilblains, but it doesn’t close the door
