Infectious Disease /tags/infectious-disease Infectious Disease en-US Copyright © 2024 Wed, 07 May 2025 09:00:00 GMT Health officials on high alert as measles closes in on St. Louis /health-science-environment/2025-05-07/health-officials-high-alert-measles-st-louis-missouri Measles can take hold when vaccination rates fall below 95%. Health workers say pockets of the state are at risk as immunization rates drop. Wed, 07 May 2025 09:00:00 GMT /health-science-environment/2025-05-07/health-officials-high-alert-measles-st-louis-missouri Sarah Fentem State reports first measles case in southern Illinois /health-science-environment/2025-04-24/illinois-first-measles-case The Illinois Department of Public Health is working to identify potential locations of exposure, including the clinic in southern Illinois where the patient sought care, to see whether any other patients were exposed. Thu, 24 Apr 2025 19:46:06 GMT /health-science-environment/2025-04-24/illinois-first-measles-case Beth Hundsdorfer Measles case reported in southern Missouri patient /health-science-environment/2025-04-18/measles-case-reported-in-southern-missouri-patient State health officials said the pediatric patient tested positive for measles and that the case was a “associated with international travel.” Fri, 18 Apr 2025 20:56:17 GMT /health-science-environment/2025-04-18/measles-case-reported-in-southern-missouri-patient Sarah Fentem Life sciences company Varro sees a big and bright future in St. Louis /economy-business/2025-02-17/life-sciences-company-varro-bright-future-st-louis The company is developing diagnostic devices that can detect airborne pathogens in just minutes. Mon, 17 Feb 2025 11:00:00 GMT /economy-business/2025-02-17/life-sciences-company-varro-bright-future-st-louis Eric Schmid Whooping cough spikes dramatically among Missourians /health-science-environment/2024-11-04/whooping-cough-spikes-dramatically-among-missourians Reported cases of the infectious disease have surpassed pre-pandemic levels in Missouri. Mon, 04 Nov 2024 11:00:00 GMT /health-science-environment/2024-11-04/whooping-cough-spikes-dramatically-among-missourians Sarah Fentem Syphilis has spiked in St. Louis. Here’s what health officials are doing to address it /health-science-environment/2024-04-29/st-louis-syphilis-spike-public-health-plans St. Louis has the highest rates of syphilis infection in the state. Local health officials want to slow the spread in parts of the city where resources are scarce. Mon, 29 Apr 2024 10:00:00 GMT /health-science-environment/2024-04-29/st-louis-syphilis-spike-public-health-plans Sarah Fentem SLU researchers say they’ve found a better way to test tuberculosis vaccines /health-science-environment/2023-12-19/slu-researchers-say-theyve-found-a-better-way-to-test-tuberculosis-vaccines Scientists at SLU think they can use an existing immunization to test how well people respond to tuberculosis vaccines in development. Scientists are on the hunt for a more effective vaccine to protect people from the bacterial infection, which kills more than 1 million people a year globally. Tue, 19 Dec 2023 11:15:00 GMT /health-science-environment/2023-12-19/slu-researchers-say-theyve-found-a-better-way-to-test-tuberculosis-vaccines Sarah Fentem A device under development at Missouri S&T could use breath to detect disease /health-science-environment/2023-07-17/a-device-under-development-at-missouri-s-t-could-use-breath-to-detect-disease The patented device can analyze various chemicals in people’s breath, compare them to a database, and be an initial screening for ailments including diabetes and kidney disease. Mon, 17 Jul 2023 21:23:02 GMT /health-science-environment/2023-07-17/a-device-under-development-at-missouri-s-t-could-use-breath-to-detect-disease Jonathan Ahl Wash U scientists build cyclone-fueled coronavirus detection machine /coronavirus/2023-07-12/wash-u-scientists-build-cyclone-fueled-coronavirus-detecting-machine Wash U researchers have developed a microwave-size box that uses electrodes and a “wet cyclone” to detect coronavirus particles in the air within five minutes. The scientists say the prototype could be fitted to detect other pathogens and bacteria, as well. Wed, 12 Jul 2023 10:59:57 GMT /coronavirus/2023-07-12/wash-u-scientists-build-cyclone-fueled-coronavirus-detecting-machine Sarah Fentem St. Louis scientists study if mRNA vaccines could make a stronger, faster flu shot /health-science-environment/2022-12-05/st-louis-scientists-study-if-mrna-vaccines-could-make-a-stronger-faster-flu-shot Millions received the COVID-19 vaccine, which was the first widely used immunization to use mRNA technology. Washington University researchers hope they can use the same method to make an mRNA flu shot. Mon, 05 Dec 2022 20:33:06 GMT /health-science-environment/2022-12-05/st-louis-scientists-study-if-mrna-vaccines-could-make-a-stronger-faster-flu-shot Sarah Fentem