It’s not just cold and flu cases that are on the rise this winter

It’s not just cold and flu cases that are on the rise this winter

As temperatures drop and people host holiday gatherings indoors, cases of COVID-19, flu, RSV and other illnesses are ticking up. The holiday season comes with more parties, family gatherings and, thanks to cold temperatures, more time spent indoors. While coming together for festive fun can provide Christmas cheer, it can also provide the perfect conditions … Read more

In Graphics | How do we catch a cold in winter? – Firstpost

In Graphics | How do we catch a cold in winter? – Firstpost

As the chilly winds blow past and the mercury plummets, there is an uptick in cases of people experiencing body aches and fever with a runny nose and cough. As the temperatures dips, it causes the air to dry up, weakening the human body’s immune system. Moreover, viruses tend to survive longer in low temperatures, … Read more

Scientists watching wastewater for signs of H5N1 as U.S. bird flu outbreak in dairy cattle grows

Scientists watching wastewater for signs of H5N1 as U.S. bird flu outbreak in dairy cattle grows

Scientists in the U.S. and Canada are watching wastewater for early signs of H5N1 as an outbreak of bird flu among American dairy cattle keeps growing. With cases confirmed in dozens of herds across nine states — and roughly 300 people being tested or monitored for symptoms after the detection of one human case — … Read more

Feds put $15M into pathogen tracking, health-care supply chain research to prep for next pandemic

Feds put M into pathogen tracking, health-care supply chain research to prep for next pandemic

A new $15-million cross-border research project is underway to monitor the movement of pathogens in Canada and the U.S. in the event of future pandemics.  The federal government put up the money that will cover four years of equipment and research. The Integrated Network for the Surveillance of Pathogens: Increasing Resilience and Capacity in Canada’s … Read more

Does your Mac need antivirus software? We ask the experts

Does your Mac need antivirus software? We ask the experts

Riley Young/Digital Trends / Digital Trends There’s been a long-held belief that if you own a Mac, you don’t need to use any type of antivirus software to keep your machine free of malware and other destructive code. But it turns out this may actually be more of an old wive’s tale than even the … Read more

Who’s to blame for contaminated shellfish? Researchers follow the fecal matter to find out

Who’s to blame for contaminated shellfish? Researchers follow the fecal matter to find out

For the shellfish industry, high fecal counts detected in areas where shellfish such as oysters are harvested can mean long — and costly — closures. The fecal matter is associated with human-borne viruses, like norovirus, but the tests that are typically used to measure the fecal matter don’t distinguish between different types of animals, including … Read more

How to check your Mac for viruses and malware

How to check your Mac for viruses and malware

Thanks to several rigorous security measures Apple integrates into its computers, Macs are generally considered among the safest systems. However, there’s always an opportunity for malware and malicious threat actors to gain access to your Mac. Relying on the built-in security features protecting your system may be well and good, but it can be useful … Read more

Lab-grown meat could be the future of food — but possibly not in our lifetimes: experts

Lab-grown meat could be the future of food — but possibly not in our lifetimes: experts

The Current24:29Will lab-grown meat ever reach our plates? What’s cultivated, meat-like, and could help lower greenhouse gas emissions? Lab-grown meat — and it could be the future of protein. Sometimes known as cultured meat, lab-grown meat is unlike plant-based alternatives from companies such as Beyond Meat or Impossible Foods. Instead, it’s made by taking a few stem … Read more

We swabbed GoodLife, Planet Fitness and Anytime Fitness locations to find the germiest piece of equipment

We swabbed GoodLife, Planet Fitness and Anytime Fitness locations to find the germiest piece of equipment

Sweat, heavy breathing, warm temperatures and lots of people — the gym is the perfect environment for bacteria to thrive in, which is why wiping equipment down is a normal part of gym etiquette.  But does a quick wipe really eliminate all those germs? CBC’s Marketplace swabbed equipment at several popular national gym chains to … Read more