#Rarediseases

Staying active is a cornerstone of health, but for people living with hereditary angioedema (HAE) the decision to exercise comes with unique considerations. The newest guidance emphasizes that, with proper planning and access to on‑demand therapy, most people with HAE can participate in low‑ to moderate‑intensity activities. The key is finding the right balance between movement and the risk of swelling, and ensuring that medical support travels with the person when they exercise.

A routine sore throat took a shocking turn for Vanessa Abraham, a California speech pathologist, whose mysterious illness sent her to the intensive care unit for weeks and left doctors baffled for months. Abraham’s ordeal, recently reported by CBS News, highlights the challenges of diagnosing rare neurological diseases—including a little-known variant of Guillain-Barré syndrome—that have implications both in the United States and here in Thailand, where uncommon health conditions can similarly stump practitioners and families.

A routine sore throat became a life-changing crisis for Vanessa Abraham, a California speech pathologist. Her condition deteriorated rapidly, landing her in intensive care for weeks and leaving doctors puzzled for months. The case, highlighted by CBS News, spotlights the challenges of diagnosing rare neurological conditions, including a little-known Guillain-Barré syndrome variant. The story resonates beyond the United States and offers lessons for Thai readers navigating similar medical uncertainties.

Abraham’s initial symptoms appeared flu-like: fatigue, body aches, and a raspy voice. Within days, she could barely move or breathe on her own. She was rushed to hospital, intubated, and placed on a ventilator. She recalls the experience as among the most fear-filled moments of her life as clinicians searched for answers while she could not speak or eat. The medical team’s tireless efforts eventually revealed a diagnosis four months later: the pharyngeal-cervical-brachial (PCB) variant of Guillain-Barré syndrome—a rare form that affects nerves in the throat, neck, and arms.

Two recent deaths in Hood River County, Oregon, have reignited concern over Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), a rare but devastating brain disorder that continues to puzzle medical experts worldwide. Local health officials announced that the fatalities were confirmed cases of CJD, a condition known for its rapid mental decline, neurological symptoms, and inevitable fatal outcome. News of these cases has caused unease not only among the local community in Oregon, where CJD remains exceedingly uncommon, but also for people in Thailand and globally who follow emerging infectious disease threats closely, particularly those with parallels to previous public health scares like mad cow disease.

Two fatalities in Hood River County, Oregon, have renewed concern about Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), a rare but devastating brain disorder. Local health officials confirmed these as CJD cases, underscoring how rapidly the disease can progress and its grim prognosis. The news unsettles residents in Oregon, and resonates with audiences in Thailand and around the world who track emerging infectious threats and past food-safety scares.

CJD is among the world’s rarest neurodegenerative illnesses, affecting an estimated one to two people per million each year. It is a prion disease, caused by abnormal proteins that trigger normal brain proteins to misfold, resulting in irreversible brain damage. Early symptoms typically include rapidly progressive dementia, movement problems, and psychiatric changes. Public health authorities note that most patients die within a year of onset. While many cases arise sporadically, others are inherited or, in very rare instances, transmitted through contaminated medical instruments or nerve tissue. Authorities in Hood River County have stressed that there is no evidence of a broader public health risk, nor any link between the two patients or to potentially infectious materials.