infection

Respiratory viruses, including COVID, flu and RSV, are spreading across the U.S. — and so are other infections. So how long are you contagious with some of the more common ones? Find out here.

New York has one confirmed polio case but health officials say wastewater surveillance indicates there may be hundreds of people infected. While most Americans are vaccinated against polio, experts say the case should serve as a wake-up call to those who aren’t. Here’s what you need to know.

South African scientists are warning that the new omicron variant may be causing more reinfections among COVID-19 survivors than earlier virus mutants.

So you’ve been exposed to someone with COVID-19. Or, at least, you think you have. What now? With cases on the rise and holidays ahead, NBC10 Boston asked three top Boston doctors on Tuesday to explain when someone is contagious, define exposure and the proper protocols — whether vaccinated or not — in a weekly series, “COVID Q&A.” Dr. Shira...

The rare parasite was found in samples of the water at a splash pad where the child was playing in early September.

Details that have emerged about the new virus from China reveal how challenging it may be to control the outbreak

Three cases of whooping cough have been reported at a high school in Maine, News Center Maine reports. The outbreak has been confirmed at Freeport High School in Freeport. The three cases of pertussis were reported over the past two weeks. Pertussis, which is commonly known as whooping cough, is a highly contagious respiratory tract infection. Patients with the infection…

More than 1,000 surgical patients are suing a northern Indiana hospital after being notified that a sterilization failure could have exposed them to deadly infections.

A health advisory has been issued after officials say two young children were diagnosed with meningococcal disease.

Boston officials have issued a health advisory after two children were diagnosed with meningococcal disease. Meningococcal disease is an infectious disease caused by a bacterial infection. Both cases have been associated with day care centers specializing in serving children who have experienced homelessness, but it is not known if the two cases are connected.

Pharmacists in California will be able to dispense HIV prevention pills to patients without a doctor’s prescription after Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation Monday that supporters say will greatly reduce the spread of infection.

The American Civil Liberties Union filed a complaint “demanding an immediate end” to the government turning away pregnant asylum-seekers under the Trump administration’s remain in Mexico policy, NBC News reports. The Department of Homeland Security “has returned a significant number of pregnant women to Mexico … exposing them to further harm” in dangerous border towns, the ACLU of Texas and...

A Central Texas girl died after her family says she contracted a brain-eating amoeba while swimming in a river over Labor Day weekend.

A horse in Douglas, Massachusetts, has tested positive for eastern equine encephalitis, prompting the risk level for infection to rise to critical, health officials said Tuesday. The risk level in neighboring Oxford and Webster has also been raised to high.

Two lawsuits were filed against Allergan Wednesday related to its line of Biocell textured breast implants, which are the subject of a worldwide recall, alleging a failure to warn of cancer risks.

A batch of mosquitoes in Manchester, New Hampshire, has tested positive for West Nile Virus for the first time this year. The Department of Health and Human Services said the batch of mosquitoes was collected Aug. 21. The department is working with the city’s health department to notify residents of Manchester and those in surrounding towns.

A 3-year-old Massachusetts boy who has been battling brain cancer for months was the guest of honor at a special concert at his Weymouth home. Quinn Waters has been in isolation since his last round of chemotherapy at Boston Children’s Hospital. In February, soon after his third birthday, he was diagnosed with a medulloblastoma, a brain tumor on the brain...

A New Britain man contracted flesh-eating bacteria and had to have his leg amputated after swimming at Hammonasset Beach State Park, according to his family.

A three-year-old Massachusetts boy who has been battling brain cancer for months has been getting lots of special visits as he remains stuck in isolation at his Weymouth home. Quinnie “The Mighty Quinn” has been in isolation since his last round of chemotherapy at Boston Children’s Hospital. In February, he was diagnosed with Medulloblastoma, a brain tumor on the brain...

A North Carolina man has died from a rare brain-eating amoeba after swimming in a manmade lake at a water park, officials said Wednesday. The state Department of Health and Human Resources said in a news release that the infection was caused by the amoeba naturally present in warm freshwater during the summer. The unnamed person became sick after swimming...