Tag: virus

  • Polio – Another Step Backwards

    Briefly last week there were headlines about a small number of polio cases found in the Philippines, a country declared polio free in 2000. While a few cases in another country may not seem very alarming, these cases starkly reflect a global public health failure. Polio is a very contagious viral infection that is usually…

  • Do I Really Need a Flu Vaccine This Year?

    Do I Really Need a Flu Vaccine This Year? It’s September and flu season will soon be upon us. Each year people ask if they need another flu vaccine. The answer is no – as long as you are willing to be miserably ill for 5-10 days; to spread disease to your family, friends, co-workers,…

  • Antibiotics vs. Antivirals

    You may know that we don’t use antibiotics on viral infections, but do you know why? The word antibiotic comes from the Greek language and literally means “against life”. Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial infections, since bacteria are living, single-cell organisms. Each bacterial cell is comprised of an envelope structure that forms the outer…