We call rabies “almost invariably fatal” in people. Rabies kills an estimated 50,000 people a year globally, mostly in Africa and Asia. Even with very intensive care, the prognosis is grave. Only a very small number of people have survived rabies: there are approximately 34 documented cases of survival, but an even smaller number
Antimicrobials are often used at the time of surgery, but it’s widely accepted that there is tremendous overuse of antimicrobials in this context in both human and veterinary medicine. Antimicrobial prophylaxis is indicated in some surgical patients to reduce the risk of surgical site infection, but in a large percentage of cases use of antimicrobials
We’re in the midst of a pretty bad human flu season. That’s a problem by itself, as it also means severe flu cases and hospitalization rates are high, and likely to increase. High flu activity in people also amplifies concerns regarding H5N1 avian influenza, because it creates more opportunities for an infection with both
That headline might get some people worked up, but hopefully they’ll read the whole post before firing off an angry email.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a huge problem in humans and animals, which means we need to improve or optimize how we use antimicrobials, but this is not synonymous with reducing use. Most of the
Change is tough. Repeated changes are even tougher, especially when it takes a lot of time and effort for each one to be understood and implemented. But change is also good – and important – when it improves how we do things.
In 2024, the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) changed some important breakpoints
I’m on my way back from Copenhagen where we had a very productive meeting to update the ISCAID pyelonephritis antimicrobial treatment guidelines for dogs and cats. As the process for developing guidelines like these has matured, it’s no longer about simply getting some very smart people in a room and agreeing on recommendations; it’s now
It’s nice to finally be able to talk about H5N1 influenza without discussing ostriches, but unfortunately, we still have things to talk about.
1) Peacocks. Specifically peacocks that don’t have influenza and aren’t going to be culled.
Last month I posted about an animal sanctuary in BC (Critteraid) that was dealing with an outbreak
It’s World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week. Did you know that? Probably not. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a huge global health threat with an unfortunately crappy marketing plan.
I’m on my way back from the BC One Health and Zoonoses Symposium where I was talking about AMR. It’s a complex issue and there are a
The mention of fur farming can evoke some pretty strong reactions from some people, but this industry largely flies under the radar most of the time. The industry itself is dying out in much of the world, as people turn away from raising animals solely for their coats, but large numbers of animals are still
Canada recently lost its measles-free status, in large part because of a slip in our overall vaccination rate. A lot of that has been driven by vaccine hesitancy. The resurgence of measles in people shows what can happen when we aren’t using one of our best control methods (vaccination) optimally.
Vaccine hesitancy is an issue
