Amoeba Infection and Improper Neti Pot Use

  A recent report has confirmed that two people in Louisiana have died of a rare brain infection caused by an amoeba found in tap water used in a neti pot. The amoeba, Naegleria fowleri, can be found in freshwater, including tap water. The amoeba infection is...

Cantaloupe Concerns—Deadly Listeria Outbreak

  You’ve probably heard about the deadly listeria outbreak linked to cantaloupe grown on a Colorado farm, Jensen Farms. Twenty-one deaths (and counting) have been reported out of 109 people infected with the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes in over 20 states. The...

Infectious Triggers of Alzheimer Disease

Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia, accounting for 50 to 80 percent of all dementia cases. Dementia involves memory loss and other impaired intellectual abilities, all of which interfere with everyday life. Though most people with Alzheimer disease...

Parasites in the Pool

  A particular parasite, called Cryptosporidium, is showing up in pools, lakes and fountains, causing a diarrheal disease known as cryptosporidiosis, or “crypto” for short. A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found 134 disease outbreaks...

Vegetarian Diet Benefits Diverticular Disease

  Vegetarians are 30 percent less likely to develop the bowel disorder diverticular disease than meat eaters, according to a recent study published by the British Medical Journal. Diverticular disease involves the development of pouches in the wall of the large...