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Hospitals have seen an influx of children sneezing, coughing or complaining of breathing difficulties.

Researchers documented 55 instances of what they call ‘mini lightning’ over two Martian years

BACKGROUND HIV screening strategies in alternative settings, such as emergency departments (EDs), aim to increase diagnosis of occult infections and achieve 95–95–95 targets for 2030. AIM To assess the effectiveness of an opt-in HIV screening strategy in EDs based on six clinical scenarios from a 2020 Spanish consensus document, while examining patient characteristics and linkage to-care. METHODS This descriptive, multicentre, retrospective study analysed epidemiological, clinical, and linkage-to-care data of individuals aged ≥ 18 years newly diagnosed with HIV between July 2021 and March 2024 in 17 EDs covering 73% of the population in Catalonia, Spain. RESULTS From 23,105 HIV serologies performed, there were 172 new diagnoses (positivity rate: 0.7%). Of these, 88.4% (152/172) were assigned male at birth, had a median age of 39 years (IQR: 30–50), and 47.9% (81/169) were Spanish. Sexual transmission was reported in 75.6% (130/172) of cases, with 55.5% (81/146) heterosexual. Fiebig stage data, available in 78.5% (135/172) of cases, showed 57.8% (78/135) had acute infection. Advanced HIV was found in 24.2% (30/124). Diagnoses related to the six clinical scenarios accounted for 54.6% (94/172) of cases. For all new diagnoses, 82.0% (137/167) were linked to specialised healthcare and started antiretroviral treatment within 9 days (IQR: 4–17), with no significant differences regarding urban/rural hospital coverage areas. CONCLUSION An opt-in HIV screening strategy in the ED is feasible and effective, especially in detecting highly transmissible patients with acute infection. However, one in five newly diagnosed individuals remained untreated, highlighting the need for improved linkage to care.

BACKGROUND Scabies is a skin disease caused by the mite Sarcoptes scabiei, resulting in intense itching and rash, and sometimes secondary infections with complications. Scabies is not typically a notifiable disease, which makes estimating its burden of disease challenging. In recent years, sharp increases have been reported in Europe. AIM This study characterises scabies epidemiology in Spain from 2011 to 2023. METHODS This retrospective study triangulated data from primary care, hospital admissions, occupational diagnoses and outbreaks. Annual incidence rates (IRs) were calculated to assess temporal evolution, demographics and geographic distribution. Joinpoint regression identified IR changes, and time-series analysis explored seasonality. Occupational and outbreak data analysis identified high-risk activities and settings. RESULTS Incidence rates increased across all data sources, with marked acceleration from 2020–21. The greatest rise was seen in primary care (annual percentage change rose from 22.8% (95% CI: 7.2–31.9) in 2011–20 to 65.8% (95% CI: 47.5–96.6) in 2020–23). The IR was highest amongst 15–24-year-olds. Hospitalisations, with highest IR among people > 65 years, peaked each January. Occupational diagnoses were predominantly registered in healthcare settings (82.0%). Islands and northern coastal regions were most affected. Outbreaks were most frequent in households and nursing homes, with largest outbreaks in healthcare settings. CONCLUSIONS Given the increasing incidence of scabies in Spain, a strong response is needed to improve prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Improved surveillance and targeted public health initiatives could mitigate further spread, as well as further research to better elucidate the mite-related and epidemiological factors that underline the recent increases across Europe.

In July–October 2025, two concurrent Campylobacter jejuni outbreaks (clones ST49#3 and ST52#4) with 112 notified cases were detected through Denmark’s whole genome sequencing surveillance programme. The outbreaks were clinically severe: 45 (40%) infected individuals were hospitalised and 16 (14%) had bacteraemia. We estimated 900 laboratory-confirmed outbreak cases. Both outbreaks originated from Danish-produced chicken meat. These outbreaks reveal the vulnerabilities in the current prevention and control framework given by the regulatory tolerance for Campylobacter in fresh poultry meat.

In 2022–2024, 14,153 of 28,521 (49.6%) new HIV diagnoses in 23 European Union and Economic Area (EU/EEA) countries were late. In adjusted analyses, older age and migrant status increased late diagnosis risk. The proportion of late diagnoses was 2.6-fold higher among migrants with pre-migration HIV acquisition than post-migration. Late-diagnosed migrants with likely post-migration HIV acquisition were often women, ≥ 50-year-olds, heterosexuals, people who inject drugs, or from South and South-East Asia. The 2025 target of < 20% late diagnosis was unachieved.

Brazilian authorities on Wednesday approved the world’s first single-dose dengue vaccine, which they hailed as a “historic” achievement as cases of the mosquito-borne disease soar globally due to risi...

The deal with Carney boosts the premier. But a lot of people are going to hate it.

Canadian Identity and Culture Minister and former environment minister Steven Guilbeault is resigning from Prime Minister Mark Carney’s cabinet, according to a senior government source.

The change would expand Finland's military reserve to around a million people by the year 2031.

Advocates allege navy knew levels of airborne plutonium at Hunters Point shipyard were high before it alerted officials

Alberta First Nations are being shut out of a sprawling carbon capture and storage project on their traditional territories that is a key part of Thursday's Alberta-Ottawa pipeline deal, chiefs say.

As apartment complex still blazes more than 24 hours after fire began, police suspect cause is owing to ‘grossly negligent’ action

Europe is failing to test and treat HIV early, with over half (54%) of all diagnoses in 2024 being made too late for optimal treatment.

ECDC has updated its key facts on the value, effectiveness and safety of vaccines, explaining how vaccines used in the EU are evaluated in a transparent way and independently from commercial interests...

A new fossil discovered at Woranso-Mille, Ethiopia, has revealed that Lucy's species co-existed with another relative species, Arizona State University researcher Yohannes Haile-Selassie reveled today...

Thanksgiving is the quintessential American holiday…but not for the reasons we generally remember.