Abuja - In Nigeria, vulnerable populations, especially those in underserved communities, remain at high risk of infectious diseases, including Lassa fever—an acute viral hemorrhagic illness caused by the Lassa virus. Endemic in Nigeria, Lassa fever continues to affect thousands annually, with the dry season (December–April) being the peak transmission period. In 2024, the disease has been particularly severe, with 1,059 confirmed cases reported across 28 states, resulting in 175 deaths (16.6% case fatality rate). Alarmingly, 35 healthcare workers have been infected during the outbreak, underscoring the urgent need for robust infection prevention measures. The Lassa virus is primarily transmitted to humans through exposure to food or household items contaminated with the urine or feces of infected Mastomys rats. Secondary transmission can occur through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected individuals, posing significant risks to healthcare and laboratory workers who la...
State College, Pennsylvania — Penn State researchers are presenting fresh persuasive data linking diets to ageing. Their study focused on telomeres, the genetic "end caps" that protect our chromosomes, and how calorie restriction impacts them. The scientists studied data from a two-year trial of caloric restriction in humans and published their findings in the journal Ageing Cell. They discovered that those who restricted their calories lost telomeres at different rates than the control group. Despite this, both groups concluded the research with roughly identical telomere lengths. Previous research found that reducing calories by 20 to 60 percent resulted in prolonged life for a variety of species. When a person's cells split, some telomeres are lost as chromosomes are copied to a new cell. The cell's telomeres are then shortened in total. The telomere cap eventually disappears as cells divide. The genetic information on the chromosome becomes more vulnerable to de...