The infectious diseases defining Nevada’s public health landscape, and the simple solution that eludes officials

We’re in the heart of the holiday season, people are going on vacation. They’re gathering with friends in homes, bars, restaurants; maybe seeing shows in crowded Strip venues. It really is a time for fun and relaxation. And, unfortunately, it’s also a time for something we don’t want to think about after three years of COVID-19: disease. But the reality is, Nevada does seem to be something of a hotbed for communicable disease and infections.

At one point in 2021, there was a playful culture war pitting #teampfizer against #teammoderna, with social media tags eliciting posts of loyalty for which brand of vaccine eager adults received. Fast forward two years and the brand loyalty has faded, herd immunity has taken hold, and staying up to date on your vaccines can be confusing.

The virus is most prevalent in semi-tropical and tropical areas, such as Central and South America, Southeast Asia, and Africa. Tropical diseases could spread more widely in the U.S. as the climate changes.

Travelers may have an additional step at the airport this holiday season. The CDC is expanding its testing of international air travelers for flu, RSV, COVID-19, and other viruses.

Those dealing with cold and flu season are not alone this time of year. Experts describe the fall season as the prime time to see several respiratory illnesses going around.

Many of the automatic hand sanitizer dispensers in the United States either dispense too much or too little sanitizer to be fully effective, according to a study presented at the IDWeek conference this month.

A new study found that many hand sanitizer dispenser systems either dispense too much or too little sanitizer to be fully effective.