Giant Rats Detect Tuberculosis

Giant African rats spotted hundreds of TB-positive sputum samples that a standard microscope test missed on first pass, researchers report in the December American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. Peter Hotez, M.D., Ph.D., Distinguished Research Professor, Walter G. Ross Professor and chair of the Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Tropical Medicine in the School of Medicine and Health Sciences, says the rats’ accuracy rate would need to improve for this low-tech approach to become a standard screening strategy.

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The George Washington University (GW) School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS) is pleased to announce that Monica M. Bertagnolli, MD, will be the keynote speaker for the 2026 GW MD Graduation Celebration and Diploma Ceremony on May 17, 2026, in Lisner Auditorium.
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