The largest-known virus — both in terms of physical size and its genome — has been discovered and named, French researchers recently reported in the journal Science. It'sone micrometer long, more than twice the size of the Megavirus, previously thought to be the largest virus at 440 nanometers. Most viruses are about 100 nanometers. The new virus iscalled Pandoravirus — a chilling name because in mythology, Pandora's Box is the source of the world's evil. But the virus doesn't pose...

The Center for Science in the Public Interest publishes two annual lists: The FDA-regulated foods most likely to give you a foodborne illness, and the USDA-regulated meats most likely to give you a foodborne illness. See which foods are most likely to make you sick here. (Thinkstock/Jupiterimages) Summer is the season for foodborne illness, as bacteria grows faster, outdoor cooking techniques raise infection risk and individuals consume more fresh fruits and vegetables. So far this summer, the intestinal illness cyclosporiasis...

Jumping into a lake or pool sounds like a great way to cope with the extreme heat that's crippling parts of the nation. But doctors at the Cleveland Clinic warn that warm weather, especially when it follows a summer rain, encourages bacteria to grow, so you should exercise caution before diving into the local swimming hole. Susan Rehm, MD, of the Cleveland Clinic and the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases said in a release that all water contains bacteria, but...

When it comes to national optimism, picturesque beaches and a comfortable year-round climate is no match for a crippled economy and nationwide political unrest, according to Gallup World’s new ranking of the most-pessimistic countries. From Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, 141 nations were used to determine the most-pessimistic nation. Researchers interviewed approximately 1,000 adults per country, asking how, on a 0 to 10 scale, how they saw their lives in five years compared to the present day. These respondents were then classified...

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Federal health investigators have confirmed that ticks carry the new virus that sickened two Missouri men. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suspected ticks were a likely source of the Heartland virus, which was named for the St. Joseph hospital where the men were treated in 2009. (ABOVE: Diseases From Mosquitos, Ticks and More) A study published Monday and authored by Harry Savage, a CDC research entomologist, said samples from ticks taken from the patients'...

One man died earlier this year after receiving a kidneyfrom a donor infected with rabies. Three additional people who received transplanted organs from the donor appear to be in good health, despite going months without treatment for the infection, according to a new report. The three patientsreceived a kidney, heart and liver from the same donor. None of the patients had signs of rabies infection, even though 18 months had passed since their transplants. Before these cases, researchers thought that...

A widespread foodborne illness outbreak is continuing to spread across the country, according to a new report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention—and it's still stumping health officials. The culprit is the parasite cyclospora, which has now sickened more than 275 residents of multiple states, including Iowa (where the outbreak was first reported), Nebraska, Texas, Wisconsin, Georgia, Connecticut and New Jersey. To date, the source of the outbreak is unknown, though typically, the parasite lurks in fresh...

Every day local news outlets across the country are reporting evidence of West Nile Virus-positive mosquito pools, livestock and other domesticated animals, dead birds and in 32 states, humans. In California, for example, local officials said the virus is hitting earlier than it did last year, meaning the West Nile season could be longer — especially if summer weather doesn'tcooperate. (ABOVE: Deadly Diseases from Mosquitos, Ticks and More) But so far, only 31 human West Nile cases have been reported...

Chest X-ray of a person with advanced tuberculosis. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Tuberculosis, which peaks around the world throughout the spring and summer, poses a massive global health threat. The world's second-deadliest infection behind HIV/AIDS, it has devastated the former Soviet Union in particular, with the highest death rates recorded in the frozen Siberian tundra. At one point, 7,000 out of every 100,000 Siberian residents were infected. (Siberia's winter climate has not been shown to spread TB; but...

Rabies and vampires might no longer be the scariest health hazards associated with bats. Scientists now believe that the deadly MERS coronavirus originated from bats in Africa before traveling across continents to the Middle East, according to a study published in the journal Emerging Infectious Disease from the University of Bonn in Germany. A collection of fecal pellets collected from 62 African bats, including 13 species, revealed a virus that is the closest genetic relative to the MERS coronavirus of...

One lesser-known warm-weather health risk: Exposure to the bubonic plague, whichwiped out almost half of 14th century Europe, and still exists in rare cases today. This summer, the discovery of a plague-infected squirrel has prompted the closing of a California campground for a least a week, according to Los Angeles County health officials.Humans risk plague exposure during the summer months because of flea and animal activity. It's most common in the Western United States. The squirrel was trapped on July...

Maybe it's the warm weather, natural beauty and sunshine, but Hawaiians live longer than residents of any other state,according to a recent analysis from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And now, there's good news for those of us whodon't live in tropical paradise. Across the country,Americans are living longer — and they are aging healthier, despite the increased longevity, Harvard University researchers are reporting after an analysis of 90,000 individuals over an 18-year period. (ABOVE: The WORST...