October 27, 2023

Yellow Fever: Coming to the U.S.?

The 19th-century viral scourge of the U.S. South known as “yellow fever” seems to be on the brink of a resurgence. Tropical disease experts predict a return of the historically devastating disease to the U.S.  Yellow fever is stil...

October 3, 2023

Narcan® and the New York City streets

It appears that the fentanyl epidemic has gotten so bad in New York City that the authorities have requested that all residents carry Narcan® (generic name naloxone) to treat overdose victims in the street.  Naloxone is an "op...

September 15, 2023

There's probably a drug in your medicine cabinet that doesn't work

The coming fall and winter seasons are projected to bring waves of respiratory illnesses such as colds, flus, COVID, and RSV.  Since the list of viral infections isn't getting shorter, families are stocking up more than ever on medicati...

July 12, 2023

Why malaria returned to the USA

What's the deadliest animal in the world?  A tiger?  A great white shark?  A poisonous snake?  Nope.  The most dangerous animal on Earth weighs about 2/1000 of a gram, is smaller than an M&M, ...

June 9, 2023

Wildfire smoke: Not just an annoyance

Around 400 wildfires are active north of the border, and half of them are considered "out of control."  From January to early June, close to 10 million acres of Canadian woodland has burnt to the ground.  Compare it to t...

April 15, 2023

Another drug to threaten and kill Americans

As if we needed more bad news on the drug front — a common livestock sedative, street name "Tranq," has made its way into other dangerous drugs like fentanyl.  Also called xylazine, Tranq was first manufactured in 1962 by Ba...

January 30, 2023

The WHO's nuclear update: Trouble ahead?

On January 27, 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO), which keeps a list of what it considers essential medicines for times of trouble, updated its recommendations for what should be stockpiled for nuclear emergencies.  Specificall...

October 18, 2022

What You Need to Know About Fentanyl

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has sent out an advisory to the public regarding the opioid crisis, specifically warning of the presence of brightly-colored fentanyl pills in general circulation.  The presence of highly addictive ...

September 1, 2022

Despite public acceptance, today's highly potent marijuana can be dangerous

The public perception of marijuana use has evolved significantly in the 21st century.  A comprehensive 2017 Marist poll revealed that an estimated 54 million U.S. citizens smoke pot, the majority of which claimed to use it regularly. ...

August 12, 2022

Are Democrats setting a trap for Trump?

In Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, Admiral Ackbar believes he is ambushing a partly built "death star," only to find that it is fully operational and an enemy fleet has arrived.  In a famous movie understatement, now emb...

July 6, 2022

When a shooter targets the crowd you're in

On July 4, 2022, parade spectators in Highland Park, Illinois were exposed to an active shooter.  This time, it was a 120-pound, 22-year-old man who calls himself "Awake the rapper."  Dressed in women's clothing, he ...

June 8, 2022

The Democrat Senate candidate in Pennsylvania had a stroke

The Senate race in Pennsylvania is, perhaps, the most important in 2022.  It is, arguably, the best chance for a pickup by Democrats of a seat currently held by retiring senator Pat Toomey (R).  Their candidate is Lt. Governor Joh...

May 25, 2022

Should We Censor Doctors?

Legislation entered in California’s state legislature has gone where Biden’s “disinformation bureau” couldn’t.  Bill AB-2098 gives power to the state’s medical board to investigate and punish doctors whose adv...