Hey Doc
medical headlines and memories of the good old days of medicine
Monday, March 16, 2026
Wednesday, February 18, 2026
Tuesday, February 17, 2026
marburg virus
This is what #GlobalHealthSecurity looks like: Tanzania faced its first-ever outbreak of deadly Marburg virus in 2023. Working closely with Tanzania’s Ministry of Health, CDC detected the virus within 48 hours, stopping it from crossing international borders. Keeping Americans… pic.twitter.com/U306ccwBtO
— CDC (@CDCgov) February 17, 2026
Sunday, February 15, 2026
Tuesday, February 3, 2026
Saturday, January 31, 2026
next pandemic. Nope unless the scientists investigate it to make it more lethal
China claims a drug used for covid might help patients.
several articles admit some cases are asymptomaticB
Human contraction of the virus may lead to asymptomatic infection, acute respiratory infection or fatal encephalitis. Clinical signs typically manifest within 3–14 days which include fever and headache, often accompanied by a cough, throat soreness, difficulty breathing, and other common signs of respiratory illness.[1] Patients may also initially present with symptoms of myalgia and vomiting.[2] This can be followed by dizziness, drowsiness, altered consciousness, and neurological signs that indicate acute encephalitis. Some people can also experience atypical pneumonia and severe respiratory problems, including acute respiratory distress. Encephalitis and seizures occur in severe cases, progressing to coma within 24 to 48 hours.
several articles insist there is a high rate of death and complications including long term brain problems. But what percentage of people have mild infections that don't go to hospital?
The mortality rate ranged from 7.7% (1/13 NiV patients) in Singapore (Chew et al. 2000) to 92% (11/12 patients) in Bangladesh
could this be because of better nourishment in Singapore, or because they tested more people and found those with mild infections?
In poor countries, a lot of sick people don't see doctors unless they are reallu really sick so mild cases won't get diagnosed.
ironically what was found is that those in contact with patients might develop the virus but most don't. And there are drugs to use that stop it, especially if you start it early (and will keep you from getting it if you are in contact with a case).
so no, unless someone stupidly does Gain of function research and increases it's ability to transmit to others easier, the disease won't be the next pandemic problem.
Alas, because of the question of which variation of the virus is most dangerous, there is a suspicion that gain of function research will be done anyway, claiming they need to investigate which mutaions will become more lethal. Which is what Dr. C is worried about.