disease

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.

Preschoolers waiting to be vaccinated for smallpox outside their doctor's office.

The prospect of COVID-19 vaccine mandates for schools has been ruffling some feathers lately. It’s not a new issue.

Roughly 5.86 billion doses of the COVID-19 vaccines have been administered, and these are the 25 countries with the highest vaccination rates worldwide.

You never know what's lurking in your salami.

Until a formal food recall happens, the best way to avoid this latest salmonella outbreak is to cook your charcuterie board meats.

From how it mutated to how COVID-19 vaccines stack up against it, here's what you should know about the delta variant of the coronavirus.

Dementia and Alzheimer's have different meanings.

Dementia and Alzheimer's both affect cognitive functioning and can interfere with daily life, but they're not the same.

This man has never gotten a vaccine for the common cold. He's being a bit dramatic about it.

Science has done some incredible things, but finding a cure for the leaky sniffles has proven elusive.

Is the COVID-19 vaccine safe? What do COVID-19 vaccine side effects really mean? Here’s the truth about some prevalent misinformation.

A medical professional does the vaccination; your body does the immunization.

If we’re being pedantic here (and we are), ‘vaccination’ and ‘immunization’ shouldn't be used interchangeably.

The Triumph of Death by Pieter Bruegel the Elder, circa 1562.

COVID-19 restrictions are difficult, but at least we don’t have to carry 6-foot canes to make sure we’re properly social distancing.

In the weeks leading up to his inauguration on March 4, 1857, James Buchanan was recovering from a disease that got hundreds of people sick in Washington, D.C.

Those white spots on your teeth might be trying to tell you something (like that your mouth is suffering a plaque attack).

People turned to unusual remedies to avoid catching the plague.

From fart jars to drinking urine, here are strange, gross, or downright dangerous historical methods people used to prevent catching a plague.

Seventy years ago, a polio epidemic swept through Wytheville, Virginia—and the town went on lockdown.

A new at-home test for COVID-19 can provide results in 30 minutes.

The molecular test is highly accurate in detecting coronavirus and can offer results in 30 minutes, but the general public probably won't see it until the spring.

Science is closer to understanding what prompts severe COVID-19 illness.

The "cytokine storms" that precede severe illness in patients with COVID-19 has been poorly understood. New research has traced the risk of lung damage and organ failure to two key proteins that have the potential to be treated with drugs.

President Woodrow Wilson photographed in good health.

Woodrow Wilson never publicly acknowledged the 1918 influenza pandemic—not even after he caught the virus himself.

Who wouldn't be screaming in this situation?

Our ancestors may have predisposed us to fear spiders, insects, and other many-legged creatures, but there's a lot more to it.

Air quality in airplane cabins has become a growing concern during the coronavirus pandemic.

The coronavirus has brought new attention to air quality on airplanes. And while it's better than you think, there are still risks to consider.

It's not exactly the "safety in numbers" situation you might be imagining.

The facts on where it comes from, how it works, and whether it could happen with the novel coronavirus.

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

Mandatory Vaccines for Schools Began in Boston Nearly 200 Years Ago

These 25 Countries Have the Highest COVID-19 Vaccination Rates

The CDC Says You Should Be Heating Your Charcuterie Meats to Avoid Salmonella

6 Facts About the Delta Variant and COVID-19

The Difference Between Dementia and Alzheimer's, Explained

Why Isn't There a Vaccine for the Common Cold?

5 COVID-19 Vaccine Myths, Debunked

Vaccination vs. Immunization vs. Inoculation: What's the Difference?

The National Hotel Epidemic: The Mysterious Disease That Nearly Sidelined James Buchanan on His Inauguration Day

Yes, You Can Reverse a Cavity—Here’s How

9 Weird Historical Ways to Ward Off a Plague

How the Polio Epidemic of 1950 Gave Wytheville, Virginia, a 'Summer Without Children'

The FDA Has Approved the First At-Home COVID-19 Test Kit—Here's What You Need to Know About It

Scientists Come Closer to Understanding COVID-19 'Cytokine Storms'

When Woodrow Wilson Caught the 1918 Flu During a Pandemic, But Hid It From the Public

Why Are Humans Afraid of Bugs?

Just How Clean Is the Air On an Airplane?

What Is Herd Immunity?