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Fascinating Ancient Leprosy Discovery Rewrites Disease’s History in the Americas

October 15, 2025 by Logan Hamilton Leave a Comment

Grayscale Photography of Human Skull
Image courtesy of Ahmed Adly.

When most people think of leprosy, they picture history books or ancient tales. The disease is rarely linked to early populations in the Americas. However, new research challenges that assumption in a surprising way. A recent study published in Nature Communications sheds new light.

Researchers studied two ancient skeletons from northern Chile. They found DNA from Mycobacterium lepromatosis, a rare leprosy-causing bacterium. This species causes Hansen’s disease, a lesser-known form of leprosy. The bones are about 4,000 years old.

This pushes back the known history of leprosy in the region. Until now, experts believed leprosy arrived with European colonizers. There was no confirmed bone evidence before the colonial era. These findings raise new questions about leprosy’s spread and origins.

Most known cases involve Mycobacterium leprae, which came from Eurasia. M. lepromatosis, by contrast, may have evolved in the Americas. The two bacteria likely emerged on opposite sides of the world. This discovery reshapes how scientists understand the disease’s global history.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: General Posts

New Study Reveals COVID Vaccines Saved Millions of Lives Worldwide

October 13, 2025 by Logan Hamilton Leave a Comment

Flask Lying Down on Stone
Image courtesy of Flávia Motta.

If a superhero saved over 2 million people in four years, we might call them the best in the world. That title could instead go to COVID-19 vaccines. From 2020 to 2024, these vaccines saved 2.5 million lives.

They prevented one death for every 5,400 doses given. Researchers also calculated 14.8 million years of life gained from vaccination. The study was published in JAMA Health Forum by Università Cattolica and Stanford University researchers.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: General Posts

New Breakthrough Reveals Hidden Cause Behind Exhausting Post-COVID Symptoms

October 8, 2025 by Logan Hamilton Leave a Comment

xxxxx
Image courtesy of Andrea Piacquadio.

In addition to its early devastation, COVID-19 has left lasting damage. Millions of Americans now suffer from long-term symptoms after infection. Fatigue, chronic pain, and brain fog impact daily life and work. ME/CFS and post-COVID syndrome (PCS) now pose major health risks.

The Long COVID crisis continues with few clear answers. Every new finding helps build a better picture of the illness. A recent study published in Allergy offers fresh hope. It shows a strong link between gut health and PCS fatigue.

Researchers in Vienna found the gut barrier may play a key role. They tracked patient gut health before, during, and after infection. Blood, saliva, and stool samples were used to find biomarkers. People with prior gut issues were more likely to develop PCS.

These patients also showed shifts in their immune system markers. The study suggests PCS could begin with immune and gut disruptions. Researchers say tracking symptoms and biomarkers may lead to earlier diagnosis. This could help identify at-risk patients and guide treatment.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: General Posts

New Study Shows Aspergillus Is a Growing Health Threat Worldwide

October 6, 2025 by Logan Hamilton Leave a Comment

xxxxx
Image courtesy of Wikimedia.

The HBO drama The Last of Us opens with a heavy conversation. Two scientists argue about the threat fungi could pose in the future. One scientist warns that fungi may become a major threat to humans.

He says climate change will help fungi adapt to warmer temperatures. That could make fungal infections more dangerous and harder to control. The other scientist brushes off these concerns.

The Last of Us focuses on a fungus called Cordyceps. While Cordyceps is not currently a real threat to humans, another fungus is: Aspergillus.

Aspergillus fungi are everywhere. They infect people, animals, and plants. A new study warns that Aspergillus will spread north as the planet warms. The more severe the warming, the more intense the spread. Human health risks will likely increase as Aspergillus reaches new regions.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: General Posts

Devastating, Hidden Toxins Lurking in Toddlers: How to Limit Exposure

October 1, 2025 by Logan Hamilton Leave a Comment

Young Boy Playing with Toy Tractor Indoors
Image courtesy of Polesie Toys.

Non-sustainable packaging is a growing health concern for young children. Many people know about the risks of plastic byproducts like microplastics. But it’s alarming to see these chemicals affect early development. A new study shows just how widespread this problem has become.

The study was published in Environmental Science & Technology. Researchers tested urine from 201 children aged 2 to 4. They looked for 111 different chemicals across many product types. The results showed high levels of chemical exposure in these young children.

Ninety-six chemicals were found in at least five children. Forty-eight chemicals showed up in more than half of the participants. Thirty-four chemicals were found in over 90% of the children tested. Nine of these chemicals are not tracked by national health surveys.

These results suggest key exposures may go undetected by current programs. Young children are being exposed to a wide range of harmful substances. More monitoring and safer packaging choices are urgently needed to protect their health.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: General Posts

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Passport Health's blog

provides travelers and travel enthusiasts with a variety of news and features. We focus on bringing the most interesting and relevant stories right to our readers. Topics range from the vaccines needed for a destination to updates on recent outbreaks, travel advice and much more. Feel free to check out some of our most popular posts, linked in the sidebar, or our most recent posts below.

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Recent Blog Posts

  • Fascinating Ancient Leprosy Discovery Rewrites Disease’s History in the Americas
  • New Study Reveals COVID Vaccines Saved Millions of Lives Worldwide
  • New Breakthrough Reveals Hidden Cause Behind Exhausting Post-COVID Symptoms
  • New Study Shows Aspergillus Is a Growing Health Threat Worldwide

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