Articles by Athena Chan
Teen Gets Hookworms From Being Buried In Beach Sands: What To Know About Hookworms
What are some important things to remember about preventing hookworm infections? It would be wise to not defecate outdoors and avoid walking barefoot on potentially contaminated soil.
Mass Mortality Of Sea Turtles In Florida Likely Caused By Longest Red Tide Event Since 2006
Almost a hundred stranded sea turtles have been recovered in beaches around Southwest Florida, possibly because of an ongoing algal bloom. The organism responsible for the red tide is notorious for causing massive fish kills and human respiratory problems.
New Jersey Woman Strangles Rabid Fox That Attacked And Bit Her
In an escape attempt, a New Jersey woman strangled the rabid fox that had already bitten her multiple times. In 2015 alone, there were over 5,500 rabies cases in the United States.
Siberian Worms Frozen In Permafrost For Up To 42,000 Years Defrosted Back To Life
After tens of thousands of years of being trapped in Siberian permafrost, two female nematodes were successfully defrosted. Researchers say they are showing signs of life, moving and eating.
Man Dies Of Flesh-Eating Bacteria From Eating Raw Oysters: Safety Reminders To Avoid Vibrio Infections From Oysters
What are some food safety tips to avoid getting infections from oysters? Contrary to some people's belief, even experienced oyster lovers cannot determine the presence of harmful bacteria just by seeing, smelling, or tasting an oyster.
Diet Soda Linked To Reduced Colon Cancer Death And Recurrence Risk: Study
A Yale study found that drinking artificially sweetened drinks can help reduce colon cancer death and recurrence by almost half. This is likely that the benefit is due to the replacement of sugar-sweetened drinks with artificially sweetened ones.
Wild Parsnip Causes Serious Burns And Blisters On Vermont Woman's Legs
After the giant hogweed, there is another invasive plant that people might have to watch out for to avoid serious burns. A Vermont woman shares her experience with wild parsnip to warn the public of its potential dangers.
Investigation On 500 Illnesses At Zip Line Destination Continues: Tennessee Department Of Health
What caused the outbreak of over 500 illnesses linked to a zip line destination in Tennessee? E. coli and norovirus are possible sources, but investigations are still ongoing to find the main source.
Invasive Weed Causes Teen To Suffer Third-Degree Burns: Safely Identify And Remove Giant Hogweed
How can one safely identify or remove a giant hogweed? The first step is always to wear protective gear that covers the skin and eyes.
Virginia Teen Suffers Third-Degree Burns From Giant Invasive Weed While Gardening
A teen from Virginia had to be treated for severe burns after an encounter with the noxious giant hogweed. The plant was introduced to the United States as an ornamental plant but has since become invasive.
Eight Endangered Black Rhinos Die In Relocation Attempt In Kenya
Eight critically endangered black rhinos have died following a translocation attempt. The deaths are unprecedented as such efforts have been done in past years with little mortality.
New Smallpox Drug Approved By FDA To Address Bioterrorism Risks
To address bioterrorism risks, the FDA has approved the first drug that's specifically designed to treat smallpox. Research on the disease continues even if it has been considered eradicated since 1980.
Icelandic Whalers Possibly Killed Endangered Blue Whale, Say It Was A Hybrid
Did Icelandic whalers kill a blue whale or a hybrid blue/fin whale? Photographs from the current whaling season suggest the whalers might have killed a protected species.
3-Year-Old Girl FaceTime's Mom At Work To Save Dad Who Had A Stroke
More than 85 percent of people who experience the same stroke as Trevor McCabe end up dead. His survival is thanks to his 3-year-old daughter's quick thinking to call her mom for help.
Scientists Use CRISPR To Engineer Cancer Cells That Kill Own Tumor
Researchers were able to shrink the tumor in mice that were introduced with therapeutic protein-infused cancer cells, thanks to CRISPR. Can this lead to a potential cancer cure?
West Nile Virus Reported In Over 20 States In 2018
Over 20 U.S. states have reported cases of West Nile virus in humans, mosquitoes, and birds since the beginning of 2018. The presence of the disease in birds is actually one way to test the disease's presence in a location.
Common Heart Medication Recalled In 22 Countries For Possibly Containing Carcinogenic Chemical
Why is a commonly prescribed drug being recalled in 22 countries? Authorities learned that certain batches of an active ingredient are tainted with a possibly carcinogenic chemical.
Rare Outbreak: Knox County Investigation On E.coli Outbreak Finds 2 Separate Sources
What caused the cluster of E.coli cases that sickened 15 children last June? Investigations revealed that the cases were actually from two different E.coli strains that affected children at the same time.
Hawaii First State To Ban Sunscreens With Coral Reef-Harming Ingredients
Some groups praise Hawaii's move to ban sunscreens with coral reef-harming chemicals while others criticize it. There are still other ways to protect the skin from UV rays even without such products.
4-Year-Old Takes First Independent Steps After Spine Surgery: What Is Cerebral Palsy?
A young girl just took her first steps weeks after a spinal surgery to help her be more mobile even with cerebral palsy. What Maya has is the most common motor disability among children.
Colorado Woman Rescues Baby Raccoon, Exposes 21 People To Rabies
A Weld County woman's rescue of a baby raccoon turned into the largest rabies exposure case in the county. Authorities advise the public to stay away from wildlife, even if they appear to have been abandoned.
Rhino Poachers Believed To Be Eaten By Lions At Nature Reserve In South Africa
The human remains discovered at a South African nature reserve are believed to be the bodies of poachers who attempted to kill rhinos. Rhino poaching for horns remains to be a major wildlife issue in South Africa.
110-Year Anniversary: Tunguska Impact Event Remains A Mystery After A Century
What really caused the Tunguska event 110 years ago? Scientists believe it might have been a near-surface space rock explosion or an icy asteroid impact, but the answer remains a mystery.
Swimmers Beware: CDC Warns Of Waterborne Diseases This July
Most of the recorded outbreaks associated with untreated recreational waters evidently occurred between June and August. What can swimmers do to reduce the risks of pathogen transmission?
Study Finds That People Wash Their Hands Incorrectly Most Of The Time: How To Wash The Hands Properly
What's the necessary amount of time for proper hand washing? If in doubt, sing two "Happy Birthday" songs from start to finish while lathering the hands with soap and water.
Majority Of Supermarket Meat Contaminated With Superbugs: Report
A new report states that nearly 80 percent of raw meats in supermarkets are contaminated with superbugs. What can consumers do to stop the spread of such bacteria?
FDA Approves Cloth Drug That Combats Excessive Armpit Sweating
A drug-infused cloth that can prevent the activation of sweat glands has been approved by the FDA as a drug to combat excessive armpit sweating. It only needs to be wiped on the skin once a day.
California Doctor On Probation For Exempting 2-Year-Old From Vaccines
A California doctor is now facing 35 months of probation as a result of a vaccine exemption note he wrote four years ago. Why did he write the note in the first place?
Teen Girl Declared Brain Dead 5 Years Ago Dies After Surgery
Jahi McMath has died after years of being at the center of a brain death debate. Her ordeal began almost five years ago and she has even sparked the 'Jahi McMath Effect.'
Two Young Siblings Diagnosed With Brain Tumor Just Weeks Apart, What Is Medulloblastoma?
Four-year-old Noah Avery was diagnosed with medulloblastoma just days after his sister had an operation to remove the same type of tumor. What could have caused this twin diagnosis?
