diseases and illnesses

The cases are among dozens of possible instances of acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) that The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are investigating dozens of across the country.

In July, 2017 Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, was diagnosed with glioblastoma, aggressive form of brain cancer. A little over a year later, on Aug. 25, McCain passed away from the disease. That is, according to Dr. Roberto Martinez, fairly common.

Federal guidance issued by CMS is now making it possible for health insurers to deny coverage to patients who receive assistance from non-profit charities. Maryland is one of 42 states with health plans that are now denying coverage to patients based on this CMS rule.

Legionnaires' disease leads to restricted water use at a North Baltimore apartment complex

A five-year effort by the University of Maryland and other researchers aims to figure out how best to reduce tick populations, and, they hope, Lyme disease.

Century senior Theo Johnson, a member of the Knights boys cross country team, talks about being an athlete with cystic fibrosis.

Doctors and public officials in Maryland are dealing with increasing STD rates.

The Baltimore County Department of Health and Human Services has limited water consumption and temporarily stopped showers at the Eastern Family Resource Center after two individuals developed Legionnaires' disease.

As fall inches closer, you’ve likely seen signs at your local pharmacy advertising a flu shot. And while you should definitely get a flu shot this year, Carroll County health experts say it is probably better to wait a few more weeks until October to get vaccinated.

Palliative care can offer an “extra layer” of treatment to help patients have a better quality of life when living with a serious or terminal illness.

From Scottsdale, Ariz., to the University of Oklahoma to Baltimore, rookie tight end Mark Andrews has preached the same message to children once like him: Diabetes doesn’t define you. It’s only a part of you.

No, you can’t get sick from a flu shot.

Local data on the flu season over the past several years allows Carroll County health officials to make more specific recommendations around flu season. October is the best time to get a flu shot.

A salmonella outbreak that began in September 2017 sickened 17 people in the Mid-Atlantic and northeast, including one in Maryland.

 Studying health impacts of disasters for a living, I often think about worst-cases and who bears the brunt. This outlook became unexpectedly relevant several days ago when I sat in the exam chair of a dentist who specializes in root canals and was reminded how fortunate I am to have dental care.

The Johns Hopkins Medicine biocontainment unit is one of 10 regional centers across the country prepared to provide treatment in the event of an infectious disease or bioterrorism attack.

The last four years have been a difficult journey for Mike Wright Jr., and not just through the Orioles organization. His mother, Sherry, has dementia.

If lawmakers in Washington truly seek to strengthen America against all threats foreign or domestic, they must reauthorize the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act. Isolationism is not an option with infectious diseases, and PAHPRA keeps the United States engaged and vigilant.

Two Baltimore firms will work to develop and manufacture a vaccine for the Lassa virus, a deadly emerging virus threat in Africa, under a $36 million grant from a global disease preparedness organization.

The separation of body and mind that humanity has created is artificial. We as a society should not continue to tolerate a medical system that treats the body but fails to acknowledge and prevent the negative health effects of social injustice, poverty and trauma.

Frozen tuberculosis spilled within the Johns Hopkins Cancer Research Building, creating a potential hazard after a latch failed on a transport container, an official with the medical institution said Friday.

Maryland health officials are warning consumers to avoid unpasteurized Venezuelan crab meat because they believe it has sickened nine people with infections of Vibrio bacteria. They have not pinpointed a single source of the contaminated meat.

A building at Johns Hopkins Hospital was evacuated Thursday due to possible tuberculosis contamination, according to the hospital.

Frequent rain and flooding in May and June have helped mosquito populations multiply across Maryland — to three times their normal early summer numbers. The state has increased spraying to limit the public health threat and nuisance.

The spread of illnesses from mosquito, tick Lyme disease and other illnesses spread from mosquito, tick and flea bites more than tripled from 2004 to 2016 in what the Centers for Disease Control has called an increasing public health risks.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is suing Home Instead Senior Care, in Towson, alleging they broke the law by rescinding a job offer after a positive TB test.

Ticks are tenacious little creatures that cause disease and misery to both man and beast. Even without warm weather, pet owners need to know that ticks should be considered as a year-round threat to animals and humans.

Walk MS is the largest fundraising vehicle for the National Ms Society, according to Chartese Berry, president of the greater D.C.-Maryland chapter. Held annually in cities across the U.S. since 1988, it has raised a total of $1 billion dollars through 2017, she said.

It’s National Public Health Week, and the each day the Times is exploring a different aspect of the Carroll County Health Department’s efforts to keep Carroll healthy. Wednesday's Q & A is with Leigh Broderick, director of environmental health at the health department.

There are a lot of promising research avenues for Parkinson's, potentially helping sufferers including Neil Diamond.

March is Endometriosis Awareness month, and the Times caught up with Dr. Candace Wilson, and OB/GYN with Carroll Health Group, to better understand this condition that affects an estimated 176 million women world-wide.

Tens of millions of African-Americans are disproportionately affected by chronic kidney disease. African Americans are three times more likely than whites to have the disease. While they make up 13.2 percent of the U.S. population, they account for more than 35 percent of those on dialysis.

The nasal spray version of the flu vaccine popular with kids but largely unavailable during the flu season could return next year.

“This is a serious flu, but it is actually a typical H3N2 epidemic,” Taylor said, noting the particular strain of the flu virus predominate at the moment. “Flu every year kills people.”

On Saturday, 5-year-old Trip Walker of Severn, Md., was one of 600 kids on the Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic waiting list. But after a visit from WWE Superstar Roman Reigns, Trip — who has sickle cell disease — had his wish granted, and he and his family will going to WrestleMania this April.

On Saturday, 5-year-old Trip Walker of Severn, Md., was one of 600 kids on the Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic waiting list. But after a visit from WWE Superstar Roman Reigns, Trip — who has sickle cell disease — had his wish granted, and he and his family will going to WrestleMania this April.

As flu season hits in Harford, its two hospitals are implementing a limited visitor policy to help prevent the spread of the illness, University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Health announced Monday.

Maryland hasn’t been immune to the country’s struggle with the flu this winter. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, influenza is widespread in every state in the continental U.S.

Just over a decade ago, my father-in-law, Jon Fowler, passed away at the age of 68 after years of suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Those who have witnessed this illness affect their loved ones understand fully how cruel and painful it is. I'm grateful I'm in a position to do something about it.

The new report is the latest measure of how well public health authorities are doing at boosting rates of early diagnosis and care for HIV — goals that will extend life expectancies for patients and reduce the virus’ spread.

Complications from the flu can be serious for pregnant women, but there are precautions that can help stave off the virus.

As National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Immunologist Wolfgang Leitner told a group at Carroll Community College Wednesday, a coarse version of modern vaccination was in use against smallpox in China centuries ago.

Dog adoptions are set to resume at BARCS on Wednesday as the shelter lifts a weeks-long quarantine that was put in place to protect against a contagious virus.

The holidays: That cozy time of year when friends and family gather under one roof to ward off the cold, indulge in food and drink and share each others company. And each other’s germs.

The number of people sickened during an oyster fest at an Faidley's Island restaurant in Ocean City has increased to 164 as state health investigators continue to look for the cause of the outbreak.

State and Worcester County health officials are investigating after 145 people were sickened after attending a beer and oyster event Nov. 4 at Fager's Island restaurant in Ocean City.

In the wake of the first laboratory-confirmed cases of seasonal influenza in Maryland, local public health officials are reminding people that October is an excellent time to get a flu shot.

New deer feeders in four Howard County parks will begin treating white-tailed deer for ticks as part of a five-year study by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service.

The Maryland Department of Health said the state has seen its first three flu cases of the season.

It’s imperative that our leaders and communities encourage people to take vaccines and support policies that encourage innovation.