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Author: Jennifer Tsang

Why do we get more colds and respiratory illnesses in the wintertime?

Posted on May 2, 2025May 2, 2025 by Jennifer Tsang

Note: As an Amazon Associate I may earn commissions from qualifying purchases from links in this post (affiliate disclosure). It has been a while since I read an actual book so at the beginning of this year, I set a goal: 12 books this year (as of now, I’ve read six). The first of these…

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Boo! How Bacterial Ghosts Can Help Treat Disease

Posted on October 29, 2024October 29, 2024 by Jennifer Tsang

It’s been a while since I did spooky microbiology stories back in 2021. Then, I nerded out about zombie worms that melt away bones and use microbes to help them gain nutrients, vampire bacteria that feast upon other bacteria, and zombie fungi that take over the minds of ants.  But this time, I’m bringing you…

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influenza b microscopy image

When should I get my flu shot? Here’s what science says.

Posted on October 9, 2024October 9, 2024 by Jennifer Tsang

Pharmacies and doctors start booking flu vaccine appointments in late August, long before the number of flu cases are on the rise. The CDC recommends getting vaccinated in September or October. But most years, flu cases don’t peak for a couple months. So why September or October? 

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Meet a Microbe: Anaplasma phagocytophilum

Posted on July 15, 2024July 15, 2024 by Jennifer Tsang

We’re deep into tick season in the Eastern US. As dog parents, we give our pup monthly flea and tick medication and check her for ticks if she’s been in fields or wooded areas. We thought we were in the clear, but when we went to the vet one time, her routine bloodwork came back…

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three teddy bears holding tissues to their noses

The Snotty Science Behind Daycare Respiratory Illness Transmission

Posted on February 5, 2024 by Jennifer Tsang

It’s the season of respiratory illnesses and with COVID-19, RSV, and flu abound, it’s hard to make it to spring unscathed. Stories in the news talk about the recent rise in respiratory virus activity over the holidays (here, here, and here) and how respiratory symptoms just won’t seem to subside. A winter full of respiratory…

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Recent Posts

  • Why do we get more colds and respiratory illnesses in the wintertime?
  • Boo! How Bacterial Ghosts Can Help Treat Disease
  • When should I get my flu shot? Here’s what science says.
  • Meet a Microbe: Anaplasma phagocytophilum
  • The Snotty Science Behind Daycare Respiratory Illness Transmission

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