In The News

Scientists have recently reported finding in the upper Midwest a new species of tick-borne bacteria that can cause Lyme disease. The new species has been given the name Borrelia mayonii after the Mayo Clinic where it was discovered. Photo source: CDC / James Gathany; William L. Nicholson, Ph.D.

Environmental lead testing and elevated blood lead levels in children living in Flint, MI revealed the extent of the city's water contamination problem. Photo source: CDC , Richard Duncan

Recent technological advances are enabling the development of new tests that make medical screening, diagnosis, and monitoring less invasive, more affordable, and more patient-focused. Photo courtesy of Dong Jin Shin, Johns Hopkins University

The CDC has issued a travel alert for more than 20 countries, primarily in South and Central America and the Caribbean, because of an outbreak of Zika virus, an infection spread by mosquitos. Pregnant women are advised to postpone travel to these areas following reports of microcephaly in babies born to mothers who were infected with the Zika virus while pregnant. Photo source: CDC , James Gathany

Scientists are concerned about a rise in the number of infections caused by bacteria called "superbugs" because they are resistant to just about all antibiotics and have resulted in death in almost half of all patients who contracted them. They belong to a family of bacteria called CRE, according to the CDC, which called them an "urgent public health threat" in a new report released in December. Photo source: CDC , Melissa Dankel

All overweight and obese adults over age 40 should get screened for diabetes, say new guidelines from the USPSTF. Intensive diet and exercise counseling are advised for those with high blood glucose levels or type 2 diabetes to prevent or delay complications. Photo source: CDC , Amanda Mills

A recent study found that highly-sensitive troponin blood tests are better than standard tests in ruling out heart attacks and determining who can be can be safely discharged sooner from the ER. Photo source: NHGRI, Jeannine Mjoseth

Two years after being told by the FDA to discontinue marketing direct-to-consumer genetic tests, 23andMe has launched a new genomic service. Far fewer reports will be available to consumers than previously, at least for now, but the new reports have been cleared by the FDA and include carrier status test results for over 35 diseases. Photo source: National Human Genome Research Institute, Jonathan Bailey

A recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that a 21-gene test is accurate in predicting which women diagnosed with certain types of breast cancer will do well with hormone therapy alone and can forego chemotherapy. Photo source: National Cancer Institute (Bruce Wetzel, Harry Schaefer)

The American Cancer Society (ACS) recommends that women with average risk of breast cancer consider waiting until age 45 to have their first mammogram and annually thereafter, switching to having the test every other year beginning at age 55. Previously, the ACS recommended annual mammograms beginning at age 40. Photo source: National Cancer Institute, Rhoda Baer