News & Perspective

(CIDRAP News) – A detailed look at California children during the state's large pertussis outbreak in 2010 revealed that protection from the diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTaP) vaccine wanes 5 years after kids receive their last dose, which could be fueling outbreaks.

(CIDRAP News) – Meningococcal disease outbreaks in Africa this year have spread to five more countries, sickening nearly 12,000 people and killing almost 1,000, the World Health Organization (WHO) said today.

(CIDRAP News) – Washington state is battling its biggest pertussis outbreak in more than three decades, and cuts in local health department budgets are among the factors reported to be complicating the state's response to the epidemic.

(CIDRAP News) – More than 90% of sinus infections are caused by viruses and should not be treated with antibiotics, a common practice that can increase bacterial resistance to the drugs, the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) said in new guidelines released today.

(CIDRAP News) – In a closely watched trial of the world's first malaria vaccine in thousands of African children, researchers today reported that in the latest phase of testing, the vaccine prevented about half of malaria infections in young children.