YourA new study has found that while many long-term vegans consume enough total protein daily, a significant number still fall short of essential amino acids, raising concerns about protein quality in plant-based diets.

Conducted by a team of nutritionists from Massey University in New Zealand, the research analysed the diets of 193 vegans using four-day food diaries. The team used data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the New Zealand FoodFiles database to estimate amino acid intake from various plant-based foods. Their findings, published in the journal PLOS One, shed light on the challenges vegans face in achieving complete protein nutrition.

According to the study, around 75% of participants met their total daily protein needs. However, only about half reached the required intake for two crucial amino acids—lysine and leucine. These amino acids are classified as "indispensable" because the human body cannot produce them on its own and must obtain them through diet.

“Meeting adequate total daily protein intake in a vegan diet does not always guarantee a high protein quality diet,” the researchers warned. “Simply considering total protein intake without evaluating protein quality may lead to an overestimation of nutritional adequacy among vegans.”

Lead researchers Bi Xue and Patricia Soh emphasized the importance of including a diverse range of plant foods to meet the full spectrum of amino acid needs. While the body can synthesize many amino acids, nine must be sourced directly from food—making dietary balance crucial, especially in vegan diets.

The study pointed to legumes, nuts, seeds, and soy products as valuable sources for boosting lysine and leucine intake. These plant-based options can help vegans meet both their total protein requirements and maintain the right amino acid profile necessary for overall health.

“Achieving high protein quality on a vegan diet requires more than just consuming enough protein,” the team noted. “It also depends on the right balance and variety of plant foods to supply all the amino acids in the quantities our body needs.”

The researchers concluded by calling for further studies to explore effective strategies for improving amino acid intake in vegan populations. As more people adopt plant-based lifestyles, understanding how to maintain both protein quantity and quality is becoming increasingly important for public health.

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Thailand's health officials reported on Wednesday the first human anthrax death since 1994, a tragic first in the northeastern province of Mukdahan. A 53-year-old man who had slaughtered and eaten raw beef developed cutaneous lesions and systemic symptoms before dying from infection despite being treated. Another case was confirmed in a friend with the same exposure, and three more suspected cases are being investigated. This unusual death has triggered an emergency public health response from several government agencies.

Anthrax is caused by the spore‑forming bacterium Bacillus anthracis, which mainly infects grazing livestock and wildlife. Humans become infected by direct contact with infected animals, contaminated animal products, or by eating undercooked meat. There are three clinical forms:

Cutaneous anthrax, the most prevalent, develops from itchy papules, which become black eschars, and is usually lethal if untreated.

Gastrointestinal anthrax, caused by the ingestion of tainted meat, causes acute pain in the abdominal area, nausea, and hemorrhagic diarrhea.

Inhalational anthrax—isolated, yet fatal—is produced when the spores are breathed in and manifest as respiratory insufficiency and systemic shock.

Unlike most infectious diseases, anthrax is not transmitted person-to-person. Early antibiotic treatment is effective, but delay in diagnosis can permit the bacteria to spread and cause life-threatening illness.

All About the Mukdahan Outbreak

The epidemic hub was in Don Tan district, Mukdahan Province, literally on the other side of the Mekong River from Laos, where 129 cases of anthrax (one fatal) were reported during the last year. Thai authorities have tracked down 638 people possibly exposed via butchering or eating raw beef: 36 butchers and 602 consumers are now being closely monitored and administered prophylactic antibiotics

Dr. Weerawat Manosuthi, Thailand's Disease Control Department spokesman, reported, "All those who are suspected to have come into contact with contaminated meat are under observation," emphasizing the need for expedient containment measures to avoid further infections.

Following the death and second confirmed case, Thailand's Agriculture Ministry has declared a 5‑kilometer cordon of quarantine around the animal exposure site. In this cordon, 1,222 cattle will be vaccinated by the Livestock Department, although none have as yet shown signs of disease or unexplained death

In the meantime, all suspected human contacts are on a course of ciprofloxacin or doxycycline, under close observation for the first symptoms of the disease. Clinics have been set up to identify anthrax signs, including painless ulcers on the skin and swollen lymph nodes, and to provide quick diagnostic tests, such as PCR assays.

Anthrax is also endemic in Southeast Asia, and border states have recently struggled with outbreaks as well. Laos's outbreak in 2024 and Vietnam's 13 cases reported in May 2023 underscore the impermeable nature of zoonotic disease transmission across the region. Thai health officials are meeting with their colleagues in Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam to exchange information and coordinate surveillance efforts along borders.

Dr. Narong Chankaeo, head of the Mukdahan provincial health department, cautioned that environmental conditions—like flooding which exposes spores to the surface—could cause future outbreaks. "Increased surveillance in border towns and among cattle handlers is a must," he said.

Why Anthrax Reemerges?

In Mukdahan, the eating of raw beef dishes is a cultural norm that adds to risk. Flooding during certain seasons can disrupt spores hidden beneath the soil, infecting pastures and water sources. Added to unregulated butchering practices—frequently without protective equipment—these create a perfect storm for the reemergence of anthrax.

Experts also point out that years without a fatal case could have bred complacency both among the public and veterinarians. Dr. Saneemongkol Sawettanan, an epidemiologist at Bangkok's Ministry of Public Health, added, "We need to retrain rural health workers and farmers of livestock about anthrax prevention—lapses in awareness can be fatal."

From Rapid Response to Long‑Term Prevention

Although Thailand's rapid quarantine and vaccination campaign are essential initial actions, long‑term prevention involves a One Health strategy—aligning human, animal, and environmental health initiatives. These are:

• Routine cattle vaccination in areas of high risk
• Public awareness on proper meat handling
• Surveillance of anthrax spores in water and soil
• Exchange of data across borders and joint simulation of outbreaks

Through an improvement in veterinary services and public health infrastructure, Thailand can decrease the chances of future deaths.

Thailand’s first anthrax death in three decades is a stark reminder that even well‑known pathogens can re‑ignite under conducive conditions. As global travel and trade resume post-pandemic, zoonotic threats remain ever‑present. The Mukdahan outbreak underscores the importance of:

• Maintaining robust vaccination programs for livestock
• Ensuring rapid diagnostic capacity at local clinics
• Fostering regional collaboration on disease surveillance
• Balancing cultural practices with food safety education

What is Anthrax?

Anthrax is an uncommon but sometimes life-threatening illness caused by the spore-forming bacterium Bacillus anthracis that is naturally distributed in soil. Although it only infects animals and wild animals, humans are at risk when they have direct or indirect exposure to infected animals or contaminated animal products.

Unlike most contagious diseases, anthrax is not directly spread from human to human. Yet, skin sores from anthrax do carry a slight risk if a person touches them or contaminated objects (fomites) directly. The majority of human infections happen when bacterial spores gain entry into the body through cuts in the skin, eating undercooked contaminated meat, or through inhaling airborne spores.

Symptoms to Know

There are four major forms of anthrax infection, each having different symptoms. Incubation usually lasts between one to six days, but inhalation anthrax can take weeks to appear.

Cutaneous Anthrax (Skin-Related)

This is the most frequent and least deadly form of anthrax. It happens when the bacteria get into the body through a cut or scratch on the skin. If medical treatment is sought soon enough, cutaneous anthrax seldom develops life-threatening complications.

Common signs and symptoms are:

• A small, itching bump that looks like an insect bite and soon develops into a painless ulcer with a black center
• Swelling around the infected sore
• Swollen lymph nodes near the infection site
• At times, flu-like signs and symptoms like fever or headache

When Should You Seek Medical Attention?

Since initial anthrax symptoms may be similar to those of run-of-the-mill viral infections—such as the flu—it's simple to miss the early warning signs. But if you suspect exposure, particularly in a work environment where contact with infected animals or animal by-products may occur, immediate medical assessment is paramount.

Consult a doctor immediately if you experience strange skin lesions, fever, or respiratory disease following exposure in areas where anthrax infection is known to exist. Early treatment with antibiotics can make a big difference.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has officially reported the largest number of pediatric deaths in more than 15 years, topping even last year's death count and paralleling the killing impact of the 2009-2010 swine flu pandemic. At least 216 U.S. children have lost their lives from influenza-related causes through the current 2023–2024 flu season as of early May, a count that experts cautioned will likely still grow as further data are accumulated.

Dr. Sean O'Leary, a pediatric infectious disease physician at the University of Colorado and a spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics, noted that the reported death toll is probably an underestimation. "This number that we have now is almost certainly an undercount," he said in an interview with the Associated Press, adding that final counts from CDC flu data are usually revised and finalized during the fall.

One of the most disturbing factors contributing to the surge in child flu deaths is the dramatic decline in rates of flu vaccination among children. The vaccination rate has plummeted from 64% five years ago to only 49% this flu season, reports Dr. O'Leary. The seriousness of the decline cannot be overstated—particularly with the fact that flu vaccines, though they cannot always prevent illness, are shown to significantly reduce the risk of hospitalization and death.

The information indicates that a majority of the deaths were preventable. The number of children who received vaccinations among the 216 that passed away was not released by the CDC, nor did they provide expert insight within the report. Nevertheless, it is hard to ignore the trend between declining flu vaccine usage and higher mortality.

Adults were not exempt from this year's flu season either. The CDC estimates that this season's flu has sickened at least 47 million people, hospitalized 610,000, and killed 26,000 in all ages up to this point. In adults who were hospitalized with flu, 95% had one or more underlying conditions, including diabetes or heart disease. But the scenario is very different among children: only around 53% of the nearly 2,000 hospitalized children researchers examined had an underlying condition, including asthma or obesity. This means many of the sickened children were otherwise well.

These kinds of statistics confirm the capricious and sometimes indiscriminate nature of the flu virus—especially in years when several aggressive strains are in circulation at the same time.

Why This Year Was Particularly Challenging?

The season of 2023–2024 has been peculiar when it comes to virology. Rather than a single prevalent strain, two distinct Type A strains—H1N1 and H3N2—have been spreading extensively, making it even more complex in terms of diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. Fortunately, the flu vaccine has been working fairly well, based on previous CDC information that indicated that it was efficient in cutting down hospitalizations and deaths.

Nevertheless, a large number of Americans did not get vaccinated or got vaccinated too late. Misinformation, logistical challenges, and decreased access to pediatric vaccination services have all contributed.

The healthcare infrastructure also has a part in these results. As Dr. O'Leary noted, pediatrician clinics nationwide are running short on staff and are seeing fewer after-hours clinics, which makes it harder for families to get their children vaccinated. Although pharmacies have become the default choice for many adults who are seeking vaccines, they are not all equipped—or even permitted by law—to vaccinate children.

This access structural gap is an increasingly pressing concern, particularly as more Americans are turning to retail healthcare environments for routine vaccinations.

Why is Vaccine Hesitancy and Political Rhetoric a Dangerous Mix?

Superimposed over this entire crisis is a general collapse in childhood vaccination rates across the board—led in part by a steady stream of misinformation online and amplified by political leaders. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., now the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, publicly sided with vaccine-critical language, which restarted debates that swept up speed during the COVID-19 pandemic. His divisive stance is thought to have impacted public trust and potentially led to a general collapse in vaccine confidence.

Experts fear that this politicization of public health measures may be eroding decades of effort in infectious disease prevention.

Flu Activity Now in Decline

There is some relief: the CDC says flu activity is now declining, with all 50 states reporting low or minimal levels. But for the families of the 216 children who died this season, it comes too late.

Public health officials continue to strongly recommend annual flu vaccinations for everybody six months and older, warning Americans not to get complacent. "My hope is that this season will be a little bit of a wake-up call," said Dr. O'Leary. "We actually do need to vaccinate our kids against influenza."

The increase in pediatric flu fatalities in the 2023-24 season is a failure of public health with several contributing layers—vaccine hesitancy, systemic gaps in healthcare, and politicization of science. And yet, it's also an moment of clarity. Influenza is a serious, occasionally fatal virus, and vaccines are among our most effective weapons in limiting its spread.

As flu season comes to a close, the call to action is clear: heightened awareness, greater vaccine availability, and a collective effort to restore trust in public health must be top priorities to avoid another tragic year.

While the world is still trying to catch its breath from the aftermath of COVID-19, a new virus is quietly gaining prominence in the headlines—H5N1 avian flu, or bird flu. The recent upsurge of this highly pathogenic virus among the dairy cattle of the United States, and the increasing number of human cases, has raised alarm among global health experts. Is H5N1 taking silent steps toward becoming the next pandemic? The key is to carefully look at the numbers, the science, and the public health response.

In a frightening trend, Idaho has become the hotbed of the ongoing H5N1 outbreak in U.S. livestock, with the US Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) verifying 86 cases in dairy cows—the second-largest in the nation following California. The outbreak, which took a massive turn in March 2024, has now reached 17 states, with more than 1,047 cases detected in dairy herds.

This is a troubling change in the behavior of the virus, previously recognized to infect wild birds and poultry. The spread of the virus into mammalian livestock and now into humans suggests a chilling evolutionary trend that health authorities are scrambling to contain.

Why the H5N1 Human Infections Is Growing?

As reported by the Global Virus Network (GVN), more than 70 human infections have been confirmed in the U.S. since the outbreak began, with one reported fatality. Although human-to-human transmission has not yet been reported, scientists caution that virus mutations—particularly in mammalian hosts—may enhance the potential for person-to-person spread, potentially leading to a pandemic.

Dr. Sten H. Vermund, GVN Chief Medical Officer, explains, "In its capacity to infect animals and humans, as well as in recent genetic evolution, the threat of H5N1 disease highlights the need for active surveillance and immediate response."

Why Is H5N1 a Serious Threat?

Avian influenza A(H5N1) is an extremely contagious virus that, while initially infecting birds, can also cross-species, including to mammals and humans. When contracted by humans—most commonly through close contact with infected animals or contaminated surroundings—the disease tends to be severe and potentially deadly.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has cautioned that if this virus develops to transmit effectively among humans, it has the potential to create a world health emergency equal to previous pandemics. Already, 168 million birds have been slaughtered in the U.S. since 2022 because of avian flu outbreaks, and the threat to food supply chains, animal well-being, and human health is staggering.

The GVN, in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), has called on governments around the world to implement a multi-pronged preparedness strategy to prevent the virus from spreading before it mutates into a pandemic-strain. The strategy entails:

• Increased surveillance on farms, milk chains, and wastewater, as well as systematic testing of those who have been exposed to infected animals.
• Accelerated genomic data sharing to monitor the mutation and spread of the virus.
• Improved farm biosecurity, such as compulsory PPE use and sanitization practices.
• Rapid diagnostic testing of farm workers, especially self-testing with rapid healthcare access.
• Development and deployment of human and animal vaccines at high risk.
• Readiness for clinical research, such as pre-approved vaccine and antiviral trial protocols in the event that the virus continues to spread.
• Collaboration at the international level to exchange real-time information, coordinate response strategies, and support vulnerable areas.

What Is the Risk to the General Public?

Even as the outbreak was large, the CDC insists that the risk to the general public is still low. The agency has, however, suggested added caution for those who are in close contact with animals, particularly dairy and poultry workers. Hygiene, wearing of PPE, and prevention of exposure to ill animals continue to be paramount.

The CDC also insists on vigilance and says:

"We are following people with exposures to animals very closely, and continue to closely monitor the situation."

Could H5N1 Be the Next Pandemic?

The short answer is: not yet—but we shouldn't wait for it to do so. The virus has yet to reach sustained human-to-human transmission, the key element which converts an outbreak into a pandemic. But the spread of the virus in cows, coupled with the number of human infections and a confirmed death, are troubling indications that urgently need global notice.

Learning from COVID-19, experts call on policymakers to act now and not respond later. Research on vaccination, quick diagnostics, public health preparedness, and international collaboration need to be prioritized in order to remain ahead of the next move of the virus.

The H5N1 epidemic sweeping the United States is an awakening call. Short of a pandemic, it is a definite indication that the edge between animal and human viruses is rapidly growing thin. Whether or not H5N1 becomes an actual worldwide menace hinges on how quickly and efficiently we act now.