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- Salmonellosis in Finland 2021: After 450 Cases, How to Prevent the Next Outbreak?
written by Chandana Balasubramanian About 150 children in Finland and a total of 450 individuals have fallen ill from Salmonella poisoning. Most affected individuals … Continue reading
- Mosquito-borne Diseases Dengue, Zika, and Chikungunya in the United States
written by Chandana Balasubramanian Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquito-borne illnesses are not just tropical diseases anymore There’s Dengue fever in California and reports … Continue reading
- New Tetanus Cases Reported. What to Do About This Deadly Infection?
PATHOGEN OF THE MONTH: CLOSTRIDIUM TETANI written by Chandana Balasubramanian There’s an urban legend about Tetanus shots. Many people feel you need them only … Continue reading
- Lymphatic Filariasis: Everything You Need To Know About This Neglected Tropical Disease
written by Chandana Balasubramanian Lymphatic Filariasis, commonly known as Elephantiasis, is considered a Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD). This is unfortunate because it is … Continue reading
- Epidemiology Terms Explained: Incidence, Prevalence, Seroprevalence, Morbidity, Mortality, Outbreaks, Epidemics, and Pandemics
Written by Chandana Balasubramanian Whether you are a student of nursing, health sciences, public health, or another specialty, you may be interested in expanding … Continue reading
- Busy Microbiology Labs Can Detect Infectious Diseases And Biological Threats Faster. Here’s How.
written by Chandana Balasubramanian Could your patient have kissed a camel recently? A new patient may have fallen ill after indulging in a … Continue reading
- Recent Anthrax Infections: All You Need to Know About the Deadly Bacillus Anthracis
PATHOGEN OF THE MONTH: BACILLUS ANTHRACIS written by Chandana Balasubramanian Trends from past decades can be delightful when they return to inspire today’s music, … Continue reading
- Bacterial Unknown Project: Hundreds of Easy Dichotomous Keys for Microbiology Courses
written by Chandana Balasubramanian Fast, Online Flowcharts for Bacterial Unknown Projects GIDEON’s Bacterial Unknown Project allows microbiology professors to make and print dynamic dichotomous … Continue reading
- COVID-19 Vaccine: Do You Need It Even After Surviving COVID-19?
written by Chandana Balasubramanian “Should I get the COVID-19 vaccine even if I had COVID?” The answer is yes. Getting COVID-19 in the past is … Continue reading
- Nipah Virus Outbreaks: New Reasons Why the West Needs to Start Caring
written by Chandana Balasubramanian Nipah virus (NiV) has been detected in several species of bats. While the Pteropus genus of bats has been the … Continue reading
- Less Prep, More Insights: GIDEON R for Epidemiology-Related Research
We are excited to introduce the GIDEON R Package, released this month as a beta test for our researchers worldwide. GIDEON R is an efficient … Continue reading
- New Dengue Study Identifies New High-Risk Countries
Pathogen of the month: Dengue virus written by Chandana Balasubramanian Halfway through every Hollywood disaster movie, when all hell breaks loose, a few … Continue reading
- Monkeypox Virus in Texas: Are We Ready to Prevent the Next Outbreak?
written by Chandana Balasubramanian Hot on the heels of the COVID-19 virus and its variants, another infectious virus recently landed in the United States. … Continue reading
- Misdiagnosing Legionellosis or Legionnaires’ Disease Can Be Fatal. But Why Is It Still Common?
by Chandana Balasubramanian Pathogen of the month: Legionella Doubt strikes fear into the hearts of many. But it is a powerful tool in the hands … Continue reading
- Vaccine Heroes
The COVID-19 pandemic has been an eye-opener regarding the detrimental impact of microbial species on the human body. Vaccines act as vital tools for … Continue reading
- Tracking Dengue: An Interview With Alisa Aliaga-Samanez
“The rapid spread of Dengue could lead to a global pandemic, and so the geographical extent of this spread needs to be assessed and predicted. … Continue reading
- Pathogen of the month: Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis), a non-motile, obligately aerobic, intracellular bacterium known to cause Tuberculosis (TB), was discovered by Robert Koch in 1882 [1]. TB primarily … Continue reading
- Disease Outbreaks and Economics: an Interview with Prof. Rodolphe Desbordes
“Our results indicate that factors fostering a disease outbreak in one country can quickly lead to the emergence of a disease outbreak in another country.” … Continue reading
- Diagnosing Emerging Infectious Diseases Early: How Epidemiology Can Help Clinicians on the Frontline
by Chandana Balasubramanian In 2019, a crew of nine pilots and astronauts broke a world record. They flew around the Earth in just 46 … Continue reading
- Preventing Foodborne Illness
Since 2019, World Food Safety Day is celebrated each year on the 7th of June, to promote awareness regarding the need to develop and … Continue reading
- Pathogen of the Month: Vibrio cholerae, the Causative Agent of Cholera
Vibrio cholerae (V. cholerae) is a species of Gram-negative facultatively anaerobic bacteria of curved rod-shaped with single polar flagella. V. Cholerae has been classified … Continue reading
- Yellow Fever: Past and Present
written by Dr. Jaclynn Moskow What is Yellow Fever? The yellow fever virus, a flavivirus, is transmitted via the bites of various mosquito species. … Continue reading
- How Vaccines Work
You may know they save lives, but have you ever wondered how vaccines work? As mass vaccination programs in response to the COVID-19 pandemic … Continue reading
- Pathogen of the month: Staphylococcus aureus
by Dr. Jaclynn Moskow Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a facultative anaerobic, gram-positive coccus. S. aureus is part of the normal flora of the … Continue reading
- What to Do When Faced With a Fungal Infection at Home
written exclusively for gideononline.com by Jennifer Birch Fungal infections are a rampant problem in America. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention … Continue reading
- What Do Plastics Have To Do With Infectious Diseases and the Immune System?
by Dr. Jaclynn Moskow Most people are aware that plastics are harmful to the environment. They pollute soil, air, and water and disrupt our … Continue reading
- Chagas Disease
by Dr. Jaclynn Moskow In 1909, Brazilian physician Carlos Chagas learned of a local phenomenon in which blood-sucking insects were biting people on the … Continue reading
- Occupational Infectious Diseases
by Dr. Jaclynn Moskow In recognition of World Health Day 2021, which falls on April 7, the WHO points out that “some people are … Continue reading
- Pathogen of the Month: Escherichia Coli (E. Coli)
by Dr. Jaclynn Moskow Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a species of Gram-negative, rod-shaped, facultatively anaerobic bacteria. Many E. coli strains are a part … Continue reading
- World Tuberculosis Day 2021
by Dr. Jaclynn Moskow Each year on March 24th, we recognize “World Tuberculosis Day” in an effort to build global awareness about the ongoing tuberculosis … Continue reading
- Springtime Diseases: From Spring Fever to Lyme Disease
by Dr. Jaclynn Moskow March 20th marks the Spring Equinox when the sun crosses the equator and spring officially begins in the Northern Hemisphere. We … Continue reading
- Reviewing Fungal Infections
by Dr. Jaclynn Moskow Fungi are similar in many ways to bacteria – both have a cell nucleus and complex cell walls. Unlike bacteria, … Continue reading
- Congenital Infections: TORCH
by Dr. Jaclynn Moskow Congenital infections are caused by pathogens transmitted from a mother to her offspring during pregnancy or delivery. These infections can … Continue reading
- Dr. Oli prepares medical students for real-life situations
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, universities all over the world had to accelerate their digital teaching programs. This has created a greater need for … Continue reading
- Pathogen of the month: Chikungunya virus
by Dr. Jaclynn Moskow Chikungunya refers to an infection caused by the Chikungunya virus, an alphavirus of the Togaviridae family. Like its close … Continue reading
- Hospital-Acquired Infections
by Dr. Jaclynn Moskow Hospital-acquired infections, also known as “healthcare-associated infections” or “nosocomial infections,” refer to infections that were not present before seeking medical care … Continue reading
- ‘It’s not just COVID-19’ – Dr. Berger on Outbreak News Today podcast
The global pandemic caused by COVID-19 has rightly taken center stage in media and scientific journals but overshadowed other concerning outbreaks that could do with … Continue reading
- The Gut Microbiome and Its Role in Health and Disease
by Dr. Jaclynn Moskow It is difficult to overstate the importance and complexity of the gut microbiome. Humans live in symbiosis with hundreds (and … Continue reading
- Examining Salmonella Typhi and Typhoid Fever
by Dr. Jaclynn Moskow Typhoid fever refers to the disease caused by Salmonella typhi (Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhi), a facultative anaerobic Gram-negative bacillus. Both … Continue reading
- Pathogen of the Month: Yersinia Pestis
by Dr. Jaclynn Moskow The most researched pathogen on GIDEON in January was Yersinia pestis, a facultative anaerobic, Gram-negative, coccobacillus. It is the causative agent … Continue reading
- Understanding Leprosy on World Leprosy Day
Leprosy is a chronic and progressive disease that primarily affects the skin and peripheral nervous system. The disease has been with us for thousands of … Continue reading
- All you need to know about waterborne diseases
by Dr. Jaclynn Moskow Waterborne diseases are contracted through exposure to contaminated water including drinking water, water used in food preparation, and swimming water. They … Continue reading
- Strengthen Your Immune System! Your Guide to The Ultimate 2021 New Year’s Resolution
by Dr. Jaclynn Moskow Optimizing your immune system has perhaps never felt as critical as it does going into 2021. In 2020, we saw the … Continue reading
- What infectious diseases are due to be eradicated next?
Although Medical Science aims to eradicate Infectious Diseases in order to protect life and reduce the healthcare burden, it has only been able to … Continue reading
- How many diseases are preventable by vaccines?
The power of vaccines cannot be underestimated. Take, for example, Poliomyelitis, which was a significant problem 70 years ago – and is now close … Continue reading
- Common cold, flu, or coronavirus?
In the early days of the outbreak, the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) was repeatedly compared to the flu (influenza) and even to the common cold … Continue reading
- 21st century outbreaks
Which diseases have generated the highest number of cases from outbreaks during the first two decades of the 21st century? In this blog, we … Continue reading
- Dr. Berger speaks with CNN about dining out during pandemic
As the festive season approaches, the temptation of treating yourself to a dinner in your favorite eatery could become too much. But before you … Continue reading
- What is antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and why you should know about it
Today marks the beginning of World Antimicrobial Awareness Week, driven by the World Health Organisation to improve global knowledge of antibiotic drugs. Running from … Continue reading
- Pneumonia – “a disease of the ancients”
The COVID-19 pandemic has been a painful reminder of how important lung health is. But there are many other threats to this very vital … Continue reading
- Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C is a recently discovered disease. Harvey J. Alter identified the variant form of Hepatitis during the 70s, which then became known as a … Continue reading
- Bayes in Medicine
What is Bayesian Analysis and where did it come from? Sometimes referred to as Bayesian Inference in Mathematics, Bayes’ is a method of statistical inference … Continue reading
- Herd immunity and COVID-19
By Dr. Stephen A. Berger WHAT IS HERD IMMUNITY? It stands to reason that a contagious disease should disappear from a population when a sufficient … Continue reading
- Let’s end Polio
Poliomyelitis dates back to ancient times, as captured in this 14th century BC Egyptian carving, detailing a typical symptom of atrophy in one or … Continue reading
- Hepatitis A in the United States
Few Americans are aware of a major epidemic that has taken hold of large areas of their country in recent years – by a … Continue reading
- From the desert to the lab: Dr. Berger
Today is the birthday of our co-founder Dr. Stephen A. Berger, and the perfect time to share his personal story and the history behind the … Continue reading
- Disease names – what do they mean?
In the midst of the continuing pandemic, World Dictionary Day seems like the perfect occasion to consider the meaning and origin behind some of the … Continue reading
- “Under the radar” – Ongoing Lassa Fever Outbreak
By Dr. Stephen A. Berger Lassa Fever in Nigeria is a paradigm for Infectious Disease outbreaks that continue to threaten massive populations “under the … Continue reading
- Monkeypox
By Dr. Stephen A. Berger WHAT IS MONKEYPOX? Monkeypox, as the name implies, is a disease of monkeys (unlike chickenpox – which has … Continue reading
- Antigen vs antibody – what is the difference?
What is the difference between antigen vs antibody, and what role do they play in creating an effective vaccine? With the recent focus on … Continue reading
- Rabies – a dumb disease
Rabies is endemic to over 150 countries, and according to the World Health Organization, 99% of all transmissions to humans are from dogs, potentially … Continue reading
- Penicillin: the accident that saved many lives
There have been many happy accidents in science. Several of these were of great benefit to medicine. For example, in 1895, a German physicist … Continue reading
- Brucellosis – how dangerous is it?
Zoonotic diseases seem to be keeping the world on its toes. What is the disease responsible for the latest outbreak in China and what … Continue reading
- Leeuwenhoek: scientist who saw ‘animalcules’
Some discover their aptitude for science by natural curiosity, which causes them to investigate their surroundings. In doing so they find many hidden secrets … Continue reading
- Streptomyces – the smell of life
Did you know that humans can detect the smell of wet soil 200,000 times better than sharks sense blood? [1] It appears our olfactory … Continue reading
- Mosquito: more than a bug
In one half of the world, the mosquito is seen to most as a minor annoyance, but for others, mosquitoes are synonymous with disease, … Continue reading
- COVID-19 Case Series: Publishing Trends in High-Incidence Countries
Written by GIDEON co-founder, Dr. Steve Berger Medical publishing has been significantly influenced by this year’s events. An unfortunate side effect of the COVID-19 pandemic … Continue reading
- Testing the new GIDEON – what did clinicians say?
It is GIDEON’s mission to provide robust support to clinicians, microbiologists, and educators that interface with the infectious diseases field. As such, consulting with our … Continue reading
- What is ME – Myalgic Encephalomyelitis?
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, also known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, is a little-understood, female-biased [1] illness. It is estimated that up to 90% of people with … Continue reading
- Vaccines save lives
Want to learn more about how vaccines work? Read our latest blog here This year vaccines and immunology are probably on many more … Continue reading
- Coronavirus effect on other diseases
The effect of coronavirus on the economy and our daily lives has been huge. COVID-19 has rightly dominated government and organization policies, social life, … Continue reading
- National Picnic Month and how to enjoy it amid COVID-19
Did you know July is National Picnic Month? It was a pleasant surprise for us too! Summer picnics are a fantastic way to spend time … Continue reading
- How to safely visit loved ones during COVID-19
Since COVID-19 arrived, there has been a constant stream of concern and curiosity about how to safely visit loved ones during the pandemic. Can I … Continue reading
- Insurance risk solution powered by GIDEON data
Read the full case study here INCREASING EPIDEMIC FREQUENCY There’s mounting evidence that the rates of infectious disease outbreaks have been increasing in frequency … Continue reading
- Independence Day: 5 tips to stay healthy and safe
Independence Day is a time for celebration, family reunions, good food, good drink and momentarily escaping the everyday. The 4th of July has been one … Continue reading
- Diagnosis tool of choice for 27 years
Read the full case study here Medical Doctors have a serious enough job to do when caring for people’s health. But when their patients … Continue reading
- Predicting the future with GIDEON data
“Study the past if you would define the future.” – Confucius If you want to study the past then GIDEON is a great place to … Continue reading
- Catching COVID-19 In A Crowd (Even If You’re Outside)
Recent waves of crowd protests throughout the country in the wake of George Floyd’s death have set off alarming new concerns about the spread of … Continue reading
- Dr. Berger On Face Shields: Are They Functional or Just Fashionable?
Plastic face shields, or now “COVID visors,” are one piece of PPE still questionable as to how effective and necessary they are at protecting against … Continue reading
- Dining Out Amid COVID-19: Dr. Berger speaks with Healthline
Missing dining out in your favorite restaurant? As businesses have begun to reopen, many are wondering if it is safe to eat out again. GIDEON … Continue reading
- Do gloves protect you from COVID-19?
There have been many recommendations set forth over the past few months by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) on wearing face masks to prevent … Continue reading
- First alpha testing is complete!
It takes a lot of courage to share a vision with users and critics, but the GIDEON team is in no short supply of that. … Continue reading
- Estimating the True Case-Fatality Rate of COVID-19
For several months, we have been inundated by reports summarizing incidence and mortality data for COVID-19, on both the national and global level. In a … Continue reading
- Can Cell Phones Carry COVID-19?
It’s long been known that cell phones can carry a multitude of germs, bacteria, and different forms of fungi. With the arrival of the COVID-19 … Continue reading
- Why Some Countries Have Fared Better in Fighting COVID-19
There are more than 1.2 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the United States right now with nearly 80,000 related deaths on record. This number … Continue reading
- Antibody vs antigen testing
Our co-founder and infectious disease expert, Dr. Stephen Berger, recently explained the differences between diagnostic, antibody, and antigen testing for the virus in Business Insider. Not sure … Continue reading
- Is it Safe to Go Back to the Gym? Dr. Berger talks to Shape.com
Many states are relaxing their stay-at-home guidelines, which includes opening up fitness facilities to the public again. Most must operate under a limited capacity, enhanced … Continue reading
- COVID-19 and Fame
Ask anybody on the planet, “What do Tom Hanks, Boris Johnson, and Prince Charles have in common?” and they will instantly shout – “Corona.” Ask … Continue reading
- How to wear a face mask – PEOPLE shares Dr. Berger’s advice
Wearing a face mask is now a part of our everyday life. In early April, the CDC made the official recommendation that everyone should wear … Continue reading
- LA Times: Dr. Berger Answers Questions About Food and COVID-19
LA Times Cooking Editor, Genevieve Ko, turned to GIDEON founder, Dr. Stephen Berger, to get an expert opinion about COVID-19 and food transmission. Dr. Berger … Continue reading
- HealthDay talks to Dr. Berger about ‘best practices’ for disinfecting
If you are one of those people who think you need to scrub down everything after an outing, here’s some good news…you can save some … Continue reading
- What’s The Difference Between a Face Mask and a Condom?
Cloth surgical masks were first used in the late 19th century and were replaced by modern masks during the 1960s. Surgeons do not wear masks … Continue reading
- GIDEON’s Dr. Stephen Berger offers up important coronavirus safety tips in Parade.com article
Besides consistent hand washing, self-quarantining, and social distancing, people want to know the best ways to remain healthy and reduce their risk of getting COVID-19. … Continue reading
- …But There Are No Cases in Turkmenistan
written by Dr. Stephen A. Berger If you search the Internet for countries which have reported COVID-19, an endless variety of sources will describe the … Continue reading
- Neglected Diseases – Neglected Once Again
written by Dr. Stephen A. Berger For several years, the World Health Organization has been following a group of twenty-or-so Neglected Tropical Diseases. In the Developed … Continue reading
- Dr. Stephen Berger on why COVID-19 is different for men than women in Healthline article
GIDEON founder, Dr. Stephen Berger was recently interviewed about gender disparities and COVID-19. Experts have been watching the data in Europe and have found that … Continue reading
- Drugs for COVID-19: A Publishing Epidemic
written by Dr. Stephen A. Berger As of April 9, PubMed listed 2,868 scientific publications that incorporate the word “COVID”. 323 of these (11.3%) were related to drugs … Continue reading
- Don’t panic. Prepare
Dr.Tracey McNamara on West Nile Fever and COVID-19 As interviewed by Edward Borton, GIDEON What was the experience of discovering a new virus outbreak … Continue reading
- Is COVID-19 the new plague?
written by Dr. Stephen A. Berger A frightening pandemic arises from animals in Asia and spreads westward, killing thousands in Italy, France, Spain, and many … Continue reading
- Ebola, forgotten but not gone
written by Dr. Stephen A. Berger, Dr. Yaakov Dickstein, and Edward Borton The recent WHO decision to declare the novel coronavirus outbreak a Public Health … Continue reading
