A man in Colorado became infected with West Nile virus through a blood transfusion, despite the fact that the blood he received was screened for the virus, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. West Nile virusis most commonly transmitted through mosquito bites, and infection through blood transfusion is rare in the United States because all donated blood is screened for the virus, the CDC says. There have been just 12 reported cases of...

Heat waves can harm people's health in unexpected ways, according to a new report. While it has been thought that in cities, people living alone or in big apartment buildings are the most susceptible, a new analysis of heat-related illnesses and deaths in New York City suggests the real problem is not necessarily where a person lives, but that hyperthermia can kill a person quickly without showing obvious warning signs. For the report, New York City health officials looked at...

(Thinkstock/Brand X Pictures) The process by which viruses and other diseases "escape" the natural world to infect humans is a complicated one, and the recently-discovered MERS virus appears to be following a somewhat-complicated chain in moving from infecting animal to human hosts. Recent research found that bats might be responsible for the virus, but they might not be the only animal to blame for the spread of the deadly infection,which hassickened94 individuals in eight countries, killing 46. Camels could be...

Malaria is adisease someresearchers believe will become more of a problem, as the global temperature increases because of climate change. Disease-carrying mosquitos thrive in warm, muggy environments, and as their mating season grows, so does the global malaria risk, researchers said last week in the journal Science. Which is why the first successful clinical trial of a malaria vaccine could not come at a better time. For the first time, a vaccineprovided 100-percent protection against the mosquito-transmitted disease, a team...

10. High school sports can cause serious injuries and even death. For example, from 1982 to 2011, boy’s cross-country had a fatality rate of .36 per 100,000 children, according to data from the National Center for Catastrophic Sport Injury Research. Here’s a countdown to the deadliest high school sport. (Thinkstock/Jupiterimages) Slightly cooler weather means fall, which means the return of football. Although fans always embrace a new football season, some parents of high school athletes might fear the sport’s return....

((Thinkstock/Digital Vision)) Cows could be feeding us more than milk and beef – they could also be responsible for a potential MRSA pandemic, according to a study from the American Society for Microbiology published in the journal mBio. Infectious diseases often originate in animals and nature before being transmitted to humans. For example, the origin of the MERS-coronavirus was recently linked to bats and camels. But these discoveries are much harder to stomach when the animals in question are also...

We're in the midst of peak hurricane season — Atlantic hurricanes are most active in between mid-August and October, according to the National Hurricane Center. We're also nearing the eight-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina and the one-year anniversary of Superstorm Sandy, which devastated much of the Eastern seaboard last October. As these key anniversaries approach and new tropical storms continually crop up, people in high-risk areas may experience mental and physical stress — not only because of the threat of...

((Thinkstock/Digital Vision)) Chipotle has always tried to distance itself from other restaurant chains by claiming that its food comes from naturally raised cows, pigs and chickens — inspiring the restaurant’s slogan “food with integrity.” Contrary to previous policies, the popular Mexican grill recently announced that it is considering using antibiotic-treated beef. A final decision has not been reached. This beef would be produced from sick cows that were treated and cured with antibiotics, according to a press release. The use...

((Thinkstock/Comstock)) A South Carolina woman who died from rabies she contracted from bats in her home might have been saved if she had been told of rabies risks associated with bats, according to a new report of her case. The 46-year-old woman, who died in December 2011, was the first person to die from rabies in South Carolina in more than 50 years, according to the report published today (Aug. 15) by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)....

Taken on August 15, 2013, a picture of the community of Frasquia on the foothills of the Illampu snow-capped mountain in the Bolivian Andes. (AIZAR RALDES/AFP/Getty Images) Some people who live at high altitudes suffer breathlessness, palpitations and dizziness, while others have no health problems, and now a new study reveals which genes may explain the difference. The genetic changes, described today (Aug. 15) in the American Journal of Human Genetics, allow people to take in enough oxygen from the...

Getting people to eat healthy is a heavy challenge. It can be tricky to separate the good from the bad when it comes to food. Everyone knows that roughly 2000 calories is the suggested daily intake. But how many calories is that really? And what even is a calorie? Luckily, the good folks at AsapSCIENCE have it covered with this educational and entertaining video, "This is 200 Calories." MORE FROM WEATHER.COM: Are You Living In The Fattest State In America?...

Here, a test subject at Canfield Scientific sits for a VISIA® Complexion Analysis System scan, which compares the skin as it appears in normal lighting to ultraviolet and digitally processed images that show subsurface spots and skin damage. (Canfield Imaging Systems) Despite the health risks of UV rays — both artificial rays and those from the sun — indoor tanning is common among white teenage girls, especially older teens, according to a new report from researchers at the U.S. Centers...