Highest Rated Comments


LeeWetzler76 karma

Sanitation has been the greatest public health advance ever, and vaccines comes in at number two. There are examples in the developing world, i.e. elimination of polio in India, use of meningococcal vaccine in subsaharan Africa. However, if immunologic memory is not significantly induced, diseases can return if sanitation is not improved.

LeeWetzler29 karma

I am sorry for your friend. Though uncommon, herpes encephalitis is not rare. I see one or two a year. If not treated early, it can be lethal or leave significant sequelae. I can't comment on your friends recovery but rehab and PT are very important. However I am not sure he will be 100%.

LeeWetzler28 karma

There is a heroin vaccine in development. It prevents the high from opiates. It may work and I am cautiously optimistic.

LeeWetzler27 karma

Not many of these "super" viruses are known (ie. smallpox, flu), however scientists have obtained copies of the 1918 influenza virus form burial sites, so it is possible that viable viruses could be obtained. It is certainly a concern with climate change and warming of these areas with permanent frost. I certainly agree that climate change has affected the spread of infections due to the spread of vectors (like mosquitoes) to broader areas, and longer warm seasons the facilitate this spread. Moreover, as humans spread into areas that were previously wild, they interact wth environments that can facilitate spread of various diseases.

LeeWetzler25 karma

Sooner rather than later, and funding may be forthcoming but I always feel it is always a little late than it should be. CDC's budget is being cut and they don't fund research on their own, the money needs to come form the NIH. This is one reason why an NIH budget cuts could be devastating.