epidemic

Antibiotic shortages could worsen the syphilis epidemic

by
In an undated image from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, treponema pallidum, the bacterium that causes syphilis. (NIAID via The New York Times)

In an undated image from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, treponema pallidum, the bacterium that causes syphilis. (NIAID via The New York Times) A new shortage of a type of penicillin crucial for fighting syphilis is alarming infectious disease experts, who warn that a prolonged shortage of the drug could worsen the … Read more

1 chart shows why you should care about the silent epidemic of ‘tranq’ street drug deaths

by
The image shows a teal syringe in front of a black background. The tip of the needle has a drop of liquid hanging down.

Cris Cantu/Getty Images A new report from the CDC shows that there has been a 276% increase of xylazine in opioid overdoses. Xylazine, a veterinary tranquilizer, is increasingly being added to street drugs to create a euphoric effect. The CDC recommends using xylazine test strips to check street drugs for contamination before use. Xylazine, also … Read more