Anchor lead: It’s important to get to the bottom of what’s causing acute flaccid myelitis, Elizabeth Tracey reports Two viruses are the most likely culprits when it comes to acute flaccid myelitis, or AFM, the condition that’s caused over a hundred children nationally to experience muscle paralysis. Matthew Elrick, a pediatric neurologist at Jo ...…

Anchor lead: Can characterizing acute flaccid myelitis help clinicians spot it? Elizabeth Tracey reports Acute flaccid myelitis, the mysterious illness that has stuck fear into the hearts of parents nationally, has better definition now. Matthew Elrick, a pediatric neurologist at Johns Hopkins, and colleagues, have reviewed the clinical charact ...…

Anchor lead: What’s the most likely scenario for a pandemic? Elizabeth Tracey reports This year marks the 100 year anniversary of a sobering event – the 1918 flu pandemic, which killed millions of people worldwide. Now many experts are sounding the warning that we are sadly underprepared to cope with such an event, even as […]…

Anchor lead: If you suspect acute flaccid myelitis in your child, what should you do? Elizabeth Tracey reports It’s every parents’ nightmare – your child has what you think is a common cold, but then suddenly begins falling down for no reason, or develops other symptoms consistent with a muscle problem. As the CDC has […]…

Anchor lead: A disturbing condition called acute flaccid myelytis is now in 22 states in the US, Elizabeth Tracey reports Acute flaccid myelitis is a condition that follows what seems to be a garden variety upper respiratory infection, causing muscle weakness in children younger than 18 years of age. CDC data just released indicate that […]…

Anchor lead: Last year’s flu season was bad. How can you protect yourself this year? Elizabeth Tracey reports In the wake of CDC data reporting 80,000 plus deaths last year due to the flu, your best strategy to avoid infection this year remains getting vaccinated. That’s according to Lisa Maragakis, senior director of infection control […]…

Anchor lead: About 80,000 people died last year due to influenza infection, Elizabeth Tracey reports Influenza and its complications killed over 80,000 people last year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported. Lisa Maragakis, senior director of infection control at Johns Hopkins Hospital, says that should motivate everyone ...…

Anchor lead: Taking a look at all the genes in tuberculosis can help design more effective treatments, Elizabeth Tracey reports A look at genes, mutations, and resistance to drugs in tuberculosis bacteria published recently in the New England Journal of Medicine should help design better diagnostic tests and lead to more efficacious treatments. ...…

Anchor lead: TB vaccines are needed for the minority of people who can’t fight the infection off, Elizabeth Tracey reports Most people are capable of fighting off tuberculosis infection on their own, but now a new vaccine offers hope to those who don’t have the ability, a recent study in the New England Journal of […]…

Anchor lead: A new vaccine against tuberculosis brings hope, Elizabeth Tracey reports A new tuberculosis vaccine protects about 50% of the people who receive it from contracting the infection, a recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine found. Richard Chaisson, a TB expert at Johns Hopkins, says this is actually very hopeful news. […]…