A worker wears a mask, as he touches a camel on May 12, 2014, outside of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Citizens have been urged to wear masks and gloves when dealing with camels to avoid spreading MERS, as health experts said the animal was the likely source of the disease. AFP PHOTO/FAYEZ NURELDINE Two employees of the Dr. P. Phillips Hospital in Orlando, who were exposed to the United States' second confirmed MERS patient, now show symptoms of the disease, officials...

((CDC)) The deadly MERS virus has infected hundreds of patients worldwide, including at least two in the United States. But MERS is not yet considered an international emergency, according to the World Health Organization. (MORE: The World’s 15 Deadliest Diseases) Although the virus has shown it can easily transmit from camels to humans, the organization feels the lack of evidence for sustained human-to-human transmission prevents MERS from meeting the conditions for a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. The potential...

Julio Valenzuela, 11, smiles as he gets a Measles, Mumps and Rubella vaccination (MMR), at a free immunization clinic for students. (ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images) From January to April this year, there have been more measles cases in the United States than any year since 1996, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Fifteen distinct outbreaks have occurred, accounting for 69 percent of the 187 CDC-confirmed measles cases. In total, the disease has been detected in...

Where you live might in part determine how much you drink — an activity that in moderation can help you live longer, but when taken to the extreme can seriously damage your health. In Russia, for example, it’s not the cold weather that drives individuals to drink. It’s part of the culture; drinking rates also increased after the Soviet collapse, a public health issue that causes the majority of deaths of Russian men under the age of 55, according to...

While cases of measles were popping up across the country, doctors intentionally administered the virus to two cancer patients after all other treatments had failed. The doctors at Mayo Clinic used large amounts of the virus in two patients, successfully knocking out the cancer in one woman with multiple myeloma, according to a study published in the journal Mayo Clinic Proceedings. (MORE: 15 Deadly Diseases that Should Terrify You) After 10 years, researchers were able to make highly concentrated doses...

(Thinkstock/Pixland) As summer nears, it’s more important than ever to be aware of one of the top causes of death among children: drowning. Drowning is responsible for more deaths among toddlers than any other cause except heart defects — including car accidents — according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Another issue with drowning deaths are the vast racial and ethnic disparities that exist, Julie Gilchrist, M.D., and Erin M. Parker, Ph.D., wrote in a new report...

The debate whether marijuana is nature’s miracle medicine or a dangerous substance rages on. Meanwhile, in some states — where the drug is legal for medical and even recreational use — more marijuana edibles are popping up every day to help treat medical conditions. We're also heading into the high time for recreational use. (More teens try marijuana during the summer than any other season, according to a 2004 study.) (MORE: 10 Amazing Uses for Marijuana) The newest edible on...

You might dream about living out your days on a beach somewhere in the middle of a tropical climate. Going that route might help you live a happy life, but it’s not necessarily the best option for living a long life, according to the World Health Organization’s World Health Statistics 2014 report on life expectancy. (MORE: These Countries Have the WORST Air Pollution) Although the best country for life expectancy does feature a subtropical climate, the weather for the rest...

((Thinkstock/George Doyle)) Although cases of infectious diseases such as measles continue to rise, the defense against using vaccines weakens. Australian researchers have shown that, once again, there is no association between autism and vaccines, according to a large study from the University of Sydney published in the journal Vaccine. (MORE: 15 Deadly Diseases that Should Terrify You) The evidence-based meta-analysis looked at ten studies including more than 1.2 million children. In the study’s highlights, the authors note that there was...

A worker wears a mask, as he touches a camel on May 12, 2014, outside of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Citizens have been urged to wear masks and gloves when dealing with camels to avoid spreading MERS, as health experts said the animal was the likely source of the disease. AFP PHOTO/FAYEZ NURELDINE An Illinois man tested positive for MERS, or Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, making him the first individual to contract the virus on U.S. soil, the U.S. Centers for...

The CDC has records of the deadliest foodborne illness outbreaks since the early 1970s, and five of the top ten outbreaks have occurred since 2000. Click through to see history's deadliest outbreaks. (Thinkstock/Jupiterimages) Summer — when foodborne illnesses peak — isn’t here yet, but a spread of E. coli has given the nation a preview of what might soon be a regular occurrence. An E. coli outbreak has caused a nationwide recall of ground beef, according to the U.S. Centers...

(Thinkstock/Jupiterimages) Memorial Day marks the beginning of the peak season for foodborne illnesses, thanks to outdoor cooking and warmer weather promoting bacteriagrowth. This year, the recall season started early: Nearly 2 million pounds of ground beef potentially tainted with E. coli have been recalled, an effort recently expanded to including distributors and restaurants nationwide. The products subject to recallare from Michigan's Wolverine Packing Company and bear the establishment number “EST. 2574B” and will have a production date code in the...