A new initiative combines satellite data with ground observations to assess and predict the risk of cholera outbreaks in Bangladesh’s vulnerable populations. By Ali S. Akanda, Sonia Aziz, Antarpreet Jutla, Anwar Huq, Munirul Alam, Gias U. Ahsan, and Rita Colwell. Originally published on Earth & Space Science News Cholera, an acute waterborne diarrheal illness, poses a major
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Record-high patients at icddr,b Dhaka hospital as summer hits
It takes several people to resuscitate a man who arrived at the hospital an hour ago, inches away from death. This summer, Cholera strikes back, with water supplying authority declaring that it cannot guarantee safe water. Up to 700 patients rushed in for admission in a hospital that can accommodate 250. This is about 200
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Natural diversity and evolution of viral CRISPR/Cas system in cholera bacteriophages
Recent findings from icddr,b genomics laboratory, published in the prominent Scientific Reports journal (part of the Nature Publishing Group), shed new light on the natural diversity and evolution of CRISPR/Cas system in the bacteriophage viruses that target Vibrio cholerae, the causative agent of cholera. What is the CRISPR/Cas system? The CRISPR/Cas system has featured
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DNA-based diagnosis can help overcome barriers to kala-azar elimination
Despite global commitments to eradicate neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), they continue to cause widespread death and suffering in vulnerable communities across the world. Visceral leishmaniasis (VL), also known as kala-azar, is a vector-borne NTD caused by Leishmania parasites. VL kills over 20,000 people a year and predominantly affects countries in the Indian subcontinent – 60%
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Living in the era of Superbugs: Curse and Remedy
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the biggest threats to global health, food security and development for which the environment is recognised as an important actor. It is estimated that the annual AMR attributed death toll will reach 10 million by 2050. Poultry is a key driver of AMR in its transmission between the outdoor
