An ongoing dialogue on HIV/AIDS, infectious diseases,
February 17th, 2011
Zinc May Work for Colds — But Don’t Pretend It’s Not a Drug
Does zinc work for colds? Apparently it does, according to this Cochrane Review. From the “Plain Language Summary”: This review identified 15 randomized controlled trials, enrolling 1360 participants of all age groups, comparing zinc with placebo (no zinc). We found that zinc (lozenges or syrup) is beneficial in reducing the duration and severity of the […]
FROM NEJM — Recent Infectious Disease Articles- Stability of Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Virus in Milk from Infected Cows and Virus-Spiked Milk December 4, 2025Highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) virus has spread among dairy cattle, with virus detected in milk samples. In this report, virus viability after cold storage or pasteurization is assessed.
- Updated Evidence for Covid-19, RSV, and Influenza Vaccines for 2025–2026 December 4, 2025Results from recently published, peer-reviewed studies support the safety and effectiveness of immunizations against Covid-19, RSV, and influenza.
- Glucocorticoids for Pneumonia in Africa — Old Therapy, New Context December 4, 2025The African continent is home to 1.55 billion people, one fifth of the world’s population, spread over an area larger than the United States, China, and India combined. The disease burden is enormous,1 and health care resources are severely constrained. In one multinational survey, one in eight hospitalized...
- The New U.S. Global Health Strategy — A Reset of America’s Health Cooperation December 4, 2025The U.S. administration recently unveiled its new approach to global health. A retreat from multilateralism, a geopolitical emphasis, and rushed transitions could threaten progress.
- Empyema Necessitans December 4, 2025A 66-year-old man presented with 2 weeks of shortness of breath and cough, 5 days of left flank pain, and 2 days of a rapidly expanding mass on his left side.
- Stability of Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Virus in Milk from Infected Cows and Virus-Spiked Milk December 4, 2025