Even after leaving 2019 behind, we haven’t eliminated all the disease outbreaks in recent years. According to new estimates from the World Health Organization and CDC, “more than 140,000 people died from measles in 2018” worldwide.

The most noteworthy outbreaks have come from the United States and Europe. Although, smaller regions are also struggling with measles.

With a population of under 200,000 people, the southern Pacific island Samoa has been hit with a devastating outbreak of measles. Since October of 2019, there have been nearly 4,900 reported cases of measles. Officials have reported 71 deaths, most of them children under five.

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Public health organizations continue to grow more concerned as tickborne diseases increasingly threaten the health of thousands.

But, for many regular citizens, illnesses like tickborne encephalitis and Lyme disease may appear to be the same thing. So, what’s the difference between the two diseases?

Let’s find out.

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After the Spanish American War, members of the United States Army Yellow Fever Commission ventured to Cuba. The group was looking to study yellow fever due to the large amount of casualties during the war caused by the disease.

This commission was led by Major Walter Reed, a U.S. Army surgeon during the Spanish American War.

While many have never heard of Walter Reed, his story was once well known.

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It’s been a busy year for polio around the world.

Some countries have been able to finally put an end to the virus. Other countries, like the Philippines, have found unexpected returns of polio.

But, as we head into a new decade, there’s hope to end polio completely.

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Flu season is in full swing and has been causing many to worry about the progression and outcome of the season.

As of December 7th, the CDC revealed there has been “3.7 million flu illnesses, 32,000 hospitalizations and 1,800” flu-related deaths so far in the United States. Typically flu season ramps up in early fall and peaks sometime between December and March. Unless there’s a late surge of the virus like we saw in 2019, the season will die down by May.

The CDC monitors flu indicators, such as influenza-like illnesses and flu related hospitalizations. The organization can track trends and determine when the season has started and peaked.

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