disease

“The Plague Hospital,” a painting by Francisco Goya.

The Black Death—the world's second bubonic plague pandemic—decimated the populations of Asia, the Middle East, and Europe in the 14th century. But there was a silver lining.

Cats provide comfort and affection. Everyone once in a great while, they also share Bubonic plague.

Using a toothbrush that doesn't belong to you isn't a romantic gesture. It's a health risk.

Ticks can't fly, but they can still defy gravity to start sucking your blood.

A new Alzheimer's drug shows promise for those in the early stages of the disease.

Leqembi could slow the progression of Alzheimer's, but the side effects can be severe.

The composer suffered from hearing loss and a number of mysterious ailments before his death at age 56. His hair is providing some answers.

Celine Dion performs in London's Hyde Park.

Celine Dion recently announced that she has been diagnosed with stiff-person syndrome (SPS), a rare and progressive neurological disorder that only affects about one or two out of every 1 million people.

COVID boosters targeting Omicron are here.

Thinking of getting a booster? Here's what you should know.

Wellcome polio vaccine dropped on to sugar lump for child patient.

Go check those medical records to see if you’re vaxxed, and meanwhile, learn more about the polio with these nine facts.

Ticks are selfless when it comes to sharing the bacteria causing Lyme disease.

The tick-borne illness causing inflammation and fatigue may be more prevalent than we knew.

Monkeypox is cause for some concern, but not alarm.

The blistering viral illness is seeing an uptick in cases. Here's why you shouldn't be too worried.

A cutting-edge mosquito is flying into California and Florida soon.

Californians may not know it on sight, but there’s going to be something different about their mosquitoes this summer.

An 1858 cartoon shows Death rowing down the polluted River Thames.

In 1858, Londoners were overwhelmed with the stench rising from the River Thames. Joseph Bazalgette built an entire sewer system to get rid of of the smell.

Roughly 1500 years ago, someone in Sicily suffered from intestinal worms. Here’s why researchers are excited about that.

Here's how to make sure your masks are legitimate.

Packaging that says "FDA approved" is a clear sign that your N95 face mask is fake. Here's how to identify the real thing.

Watercolor drawing of the leg of a patient, age 50, who had scurvy for 12 months' standing.

Scurvy’s mysterious cause wasn’t identified until the 20th century. Here are a few facts from the disease's long and miserable history.

The plague devastated Eyam in the 17th century.

Eyam, England's drastic response to the plague—including quarantines and social distancing—influenced later medical practice.

Give back during Breast Cancer Awareness Month and save big during this Sleeper sale, which goes to support Kvitna, a breast cancer education charity.

Many of Australia’s koalas have chlamydia, which is making it extra difficult for them to keep their population numbers up.

James Gillray's 1802 cartoon depicted anti-vaxxers' predictions of the smallpox vaccine's effects.

Life-saving medical advances shouldn't be scary, but these notorious anti-vaxxers in history didn't get the memo.

13 Facts About the Black Death

Bubonic Plague Resurfaces in Oregon, and It's All Thanks to a Cat

Why You Should Never Use Someone Else’s Toothbrush

The ‘Seinfeld’ Double-Dip Is Exactly as Gross as It Seems, According to Science

Bummer: A Brain-Infesting Worm in Rats Can Also Attack Humans

Your Expired At-Home COVID-19 Test Might Not Be Expired After All

What You Should Know About Necrotizing Fasciitis, the Flesh-Eating Bacterial Infection

A Little-Known Tick Trick Allows Them to 'Jump' Onto Your Skin

The FDA Has Just Given Rare Approval to a New Alzheimer's Drug, Leqembi—Here's What We Know So Far

DNA Analysis of Beethoven’s Hair Reveals New Clues About His Death

What Is Stiff-Person Syndrome?

The CDC Has Approved New COVID Boosters Targeting Omicron Subvariants—Here's What You Should Know

9 Essential Facts About Polio

Over 14 Percent of the World's Population Has Contracted Lyme Disease, According to a New Study

Monkeypox: What You Need to Know About the Disease

Billions of Genetically Modified Mosquitoes Are Set to Descend on California and Florida This Summer

How London's Great Stink Turned the Tide of Victorian Pollution

Intestinal Worms Just Helped Researchers Identify an Ancient Roman Chamber Pot

How to Identify Counterfeit N95 Masks

11 Facts About Scurvy

How One Small English Village Sacrificed Itself to Stop the Plague From Spreading

This Fashion Brand Lets Shoppers Choose How Much Money Goes to Charity for Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Australia Is Vaccinating Hundreds of Its Koalas Against Chlamydia

8 of History's Most Misguided Anti-Vaxxers