Virology
The Deadliest Virus
By Gertrud U. Rey | | Basic virology, Commentary, Gertrud Rey, Information
by Gertrud U. Rey Rabies virus infection in mammals is nearly 100% fatal if left untreated. The signs and symptoms that precede death – agitation, anxiety, hallucinations, hydrophobia, excessive salivation, and biting – have inspired countless fictional characters and narratives. The recent death of a British woman who was scratched by a rabid stray puppy …
A Pill to Prevent Gastroenteritis
By Gertrud U. Rey | | Basic virology, Gertrud Rey, Information
by Gertrud U. Rey Norovirus is the most common food-borne virus and the leading cause of gastroenteritis globally. Despite an urgent need, there are currently no licensed vaccines to prevent norovirus-induced illness. Nevertheless, recent developments in this field have led to remarkable and promising new advances. A phase 1b clinical trial has revealed that a …
H5N1 in U.S. Dairy Cattle: An Unprecedented Event in the History of Virology
By Gertrud U. Rey | | Basic virology, Commentary, Fabrício Souza Campos, Information
by Fabrício Souza Campos Fabrício Souza Campos is a virologist and professor at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Brazil. He coordinates the Graduate Program in Agricultural and Environmental Microbiology and leads research on virus surveillance in wildlife and domestic animals, with a focus on zoonotic threats and One Health. He has …
H5N1 in U.S. Dairy Cattle: An Unprecedented Event in the History of Virology Read More »
A Vaccine Against Dementia
By Gertrud U. Rey | | Basic virology, Commentary, Gertrud Rey, Information
by Gertrud U. Rey The shingles vaccine is highly effective at preventing shingles, a painful rash caused by reactivation of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) – the herpes virus that also causes chickenpox. But what if this vaccine also prevented dementia? New data suggest that it just might. The authors of a recent multinational collaborative research study …
Vitamin A, Cod Liver Oil, and Measles
By Gertrud U. Rey | | Basic virology, Commentary, Gertrud Rey, Information
by Gertrud U. Rey The number of measles cases is steadily increasing across the United States, especially in areas with low vaccination rates. Instead of recommending that children be vaccinated with the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. continues to promote ideas that are rooted …
West Nile Story
By Gertrud U. Rey | | Commentary, Gertrud Rey, Information
by Gertrud U. Rey On February 7, 2025, the world lost Dickson Despommier, a formidable parasitologist, gifted storyteller, and original co-host of the podcast This Week in Virology. Being a life-long learner, Dickson developed a keen interest in medical ecology, an interdisciplinary field that investigates how our ever-changing environment impacts human health. In his book …
David Tuller
Trial By Error: Interview with Jonathan Edwards about “Therapy Guide” from British Association of Clinicians in ME/CFS
By David Tuller, DrPH The British Association of Clinicians in ME/CFS, known as BACME, defines itself as “a multidisciplinary organisation providing information, resources, education and networking opportunities to UK professionals to deliver high quality care” to people with the illness. Its members include psychotherapists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, physicians, and others involved in delivering services to patients. …
Trial By Error: More on the Controversy over Invisible Illness
By David Tuller, DrPH Emily Mendenhall’s new book, Invisible Illness: A History from Hysteria to Long COVID, has caused a bit of an uproar in some circles. Mendenhall, a medical anthropologist at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., covers a range of what she calls “complex chronic illnesses,” including ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, Lyme disease, and so on. …
Trial By Error: More on the Controversy over Invisible Illness Read More »
Trial By Error: Some Things I’ve Read Recently…Maryland Boosts LC Research, van der Zee on CBT, Thoughts on Hope and Chronic Illness
By David Tuller, DrPH My rib injury sidelined me for a month. Now that I’m mostly better, I’ve been trying to get back up to speed and catch up with lots of lots of reading (and some viewing). Here are a few items that caught my eye. Maryland seeks to boost Long COVID research, per …
Trial By Error: New Medical Anthropology Book on Chronic Illness Triggers Controversy
By David Tuller, DrPH While I was on medical leave for the last few weeks, the fascist regime’s brownshirts executed two people protesting the military occupation of Minneapolis. (It seems important to make that point before anything else.) Of course, other stuff has been happening too. In the domain of common interest here, a new …
Trial By Error: New Medical Anthropology Book on Chronic Illness Triggers Controversy Read More »
Trial By Error: An Essay on Living with Severe ME
By David Tuller, DrPH I’ve been totally out of commission for three weeks while recovering from bruised ribs sustained in a fall. I have devoted most of my time trying to find sitting and lying positions that did not cause excruciating pain. That part is over, and I’m slowly getting back to work and catching …
Trial By Error: An Essay on Living with Severe ME Read More »
Trial By Error: My Unexpected E-Mail Exchange with Alem Matthees
By David Tuller, DrPH In recent months, one of the most high-profile people with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS)—Australian Alem Matthees—has reported significant improvement in his condition. He is still bed-bound, and is still not speaking. This is not, by any means, “recovery.” Nonetheless, the change in Alem’s ability to read, consume information and communicate …
Trial By Error: My Unexpected E-Mail Exchange with Alem Matthees Read More »