Mosquito Virus That Walloped Caribbean Spreads in U.S

The virus is called Chikungunya. Now, 11 cases have been confirmed as originating in Florida, spurring concern this may be the beginning of the type of explosive growth seen elsewhere from a disease that has no vaccine or cure. Medical and environmental experts are debating how best to quell the outbreak before it takes off. Patients who contract Chikungunya have joint swelling and pain, fever, headache and rash for about a week, though some symptoms last months or years in some patients, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Now that Chikungunya is in Florida, it could infect 10,000 people in that state alone, according to Walter Tabachnick, the director of the Florida Medical Entymology Laboratory, who said his estimate is based on the exponential growth of other outbreaks. More than 700,000 people, for instance, are suspected of being infected with the virus in South America, Central America and the Caribbean since it appeared there, according to the Pan American Health Organization. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-09-30/mosquito-virus-spreading-in-u-s-that-walloped-caribbean.html

Could a 'Fat Tongue' Be a Factor in Sleep Apnea?

reports that, according to a study to appear today in the journal Sleep, “fat deposits are increased in the tongue of obese patients with obstructive sleep apnea [OSA].” The study of “90 obese adults with sleep apnea and 90 obese adults without the disorder” revealed that those “with sleep apnea had significantly larger tongues, tongue fat and percentage of tongue fat than those without sleep apnea.” The fat tended to be deposited at the base of the tongue. http://consumer.healthday.com/sleep-disorder-information-33/misc-sleep-problems-news-626/could-a-fat-tongue-be-a-factor-in-sleep-apnea-692222.html

In Patients At High Genetic Risk For T2D Exercise May Have Smaller Protective Effect.

reports that, according to a study funded by the National Institutes of Health and published in the journal Diabetologia, “individuals with a relatively large number of genetic factors linked to type 2 diabetes [T2D] risk showed a smaller protective effect of exercise.” The study, which examined data on 8,101 patients found that “when participants were stratified by genetic risk (defined as the presence of single nucleotide polymorphisms [SNPs]) there was little difference in incidence rates for new-onset type 2 diabetes in those with high versus low levels of physical activity.” Conversely, “those with low genetic risk scores were half as likely to develop type 2 diabetes when their physical activity was rated as high versus low,” the study found. http://www.medpagetoday.com/Endocrinology/Diabetes/47883

VIDEO CDC: First diagnosed case of Ebola in the U.S.

The patient is believed to have had a handful of contacts with people after showing symptoms of the virus, and before being hospitalized, Frieden said. A CDC team is en route to Texas to investigate those contacts. http://www.cnn.com/2014/09/30/health/ebola-us/index.html?hpt=hp_inthenews

Sweat-eating bacteria may improve skin health Read more at:

Bacteria that metabolize ammonia, a major component of sweat, may improve skin health and could be used for the treatment of skin disorders, such as acne or chronic wounds, scientists say. Read more at: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/43901603.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

Temporary Paralysis and Other Things You Need to Know About Enterovirus

There's a new mystery surrounding a respiratory virus suspected of sickening children in 45 states since August: temporary paralysis. The virus, called enterovirus 68, can start out like the common cold but can quickly turn serious and send children to the hospital with breathing problems. And now, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says it is investigating whether the virus led to temporary limb paralysis in nine children in Colorado. http://abcnews.go.com/Health/temporary-paralysis-things-enterovirus/story?id=25840897

Dallas hospital monitoring patient for potential Ebola infection

A Dallas hospital says it is isolating a patient who is showing signs of having the Ebola virus. The hospital expects to receive preliminary test results Tuesday from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.foxnews.com/health/2014/09/29/dallas-hospital-monitoring-patient-for-potential-ebola-infection/