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More Mpox Cases Reported as Health Officials Fear a Summer Resurgence

U.S. health officials are bracing for the possibility that mpox could surge again this summer as cases mount in several states.

On Thursday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 21 more cases of mpox, with Illinois, New York and Maryland reporting the most new infections. Illi...

FDA Panel Backs First RSV Vaccine Given in Pregnancy to Protect Infants

The first vaccine designed to protect infants against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) by vaccinating their mothers during pregnancy has been backed by a panel of advisers to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

On Thursday the independent committee of experts voted unanimously that the Pfizer-made vaccine was effective, and 10-4 that there was adequate data on safety to move the vacci...

FDA Panel to Vote on First RSV Vaccine Given in Pregnancy to Protect Infants

The first RSV vaccine designed to protect infants is under consideration by a panel of advisers to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

An independent committee of experts will vote Thursday on whether to recommend the shot for pregnant mothers at 24 to 36 weeks gestation.

“Before the pandemic, RSV was the No. 1 cause of infant hospitalization in the United States, so this ...

Cleveland Case Suggests Tainted Eye Drops Were Harming Vision Months Before CDC Alert

Months before U.S. health officials warned that tainted eye drops were causing vision loss and even death, a Cleveland woman lost the sight in her eye in a case that puzzled her doctors.

The 72-year-old went to an outpatient eye clinic last November complaining of blurry vision. She was sent to a hospital emergency department from there.

Ophthalmologists evaluated her eye, cultured ...

Uptick Seen in Mpox Cases in Chicago

While the mpox outbreak has been waning since last summer, it hasn't disappeared yet.

Howard Brown Health, a LGBTQ-focused health clinic in Chicago, recently reported seeing an increase in mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) cases, with eight diagnosed since April 17, compared to only one in the previous three months.

Last week's case count was the highest in Chicago since early No...

Dangerous Infections in 'Preemie' Babies May Begin in the Gut

About half of extremely preterm babies have at least one life-threatening bacterial infection in their bloodstream after 72 hours of life.

Now, new research points to the babies' own gut microbiomes as the source.

Knowing that the most common bacteria in bloodstream infections are also commonly found to colonize the gut without causing disease at first, researchers set out to test...

FDA Approves First RSV Vaccine

The first vaccine for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in seniors aged 60 and older.

Arexvy, manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), is expected to help prevent lower respiratory tract infections caused by RSV, the agency said Wednesday.

“Older adults, in particular those with underlying health conditions, such as ...

CDC Reports No New Mpox Cases in Over a Week for First Time Since Outbreak Began

For the first time since the mpox outbreak began last spring, no new cases have been reported in more than a week, fresh government data shows.

At the peak of the outbreak, there were 500 new infections reported daily, but by late last year that number was 16, CDC statistics show.

FDA Approves First Pill for Fecal Transplant Therapy

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday approved the first pill form of fecal microbiota -- similar to what's known as fecal transplant therapy -- to treat the bacterial infection Clostridioides difficile, one of the most common and deadly infections found in health care settings.

The drug, Vowst, is approved to prevent recurrence of C. difficile in people who...

USDA Cracks Down on Salmonella in Breaded Stuffed Raw Chicken Products

The U.S. Department of Agriculture plans to get tougher on Salmonella bacteria found in breaded, stuffed raw chicken products, the agency announced Tuesday.

About 1.35 million people are infected with Salmonella bacteria each year in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Almost a quarter of the nation's Salmonella infections are caused by ...

RSV in Infancy Could Raise a Child's Risk for Asthma

Kids who were infected with respiratory syncytial virus, better known as RSV, in their first year may be at greater risk for asthma, according to researchers.

Their new study looked at the effects of RSV infections of different severities on childhood asthma risk.

“For...

Strep Infections Surged This Winter

This past winter delivered a surge in strep infections, including more serious cases, a new analysis shows.

After two years of very low levels of strep infections during the pandemic, the number of strep infections is now almost 30% higher than the most recent peak, which was in 201...

Many At-Risk Kids With COVID Can Be Cared for at Home

A new Australian study found that children who had COVID-19 during the first couple of years of the pandemic could be safely treated at home, taking the burden off hospitals.

Children who had COVID-19 with moderate symptoms or preexisting high-risk conditions could be treated effectively via a Hospital-in-the-Home (HITH) program, according to the study.

The program took pressure of...

Is It Time to End Universal Masking in Hospitals, Clinics?  Many Experts Think So

Health care facilities remain one of the last places left in the United States with COVID-era mask requirements still in effect.

It's time for that to end, experts say.

A prestigious collection of infection disease experts and epidemiologists say universal masking requirements in health care settings should be lifted, according to a commentary they published April 18 in the

Bird Flu in Chilean Man Shows Virus Adapting to Human Spread

Tests done on a Chilean man infected with bird flu showed signs that the virus has partially adapted to spread between mammals. However, the public health risk still remains low, U.S. health officials say.

“Those genetic changes have been seen previously with past H5N1 infections, and have not resulted in spread between people,”

  • Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
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  • April 17, 2023
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  • No Sign Mild COVID in Pregnancy Can Harm Infant Brain

    Molly E. came down with COVID last February when she was 36 weeks pregnant.

    “My symptoms were mild, and after speaking to my obstetrician, I felt reassured to hear that if anything, my baby would maybe have some antibodies,” said the New Jersey resident, who did not want her last name used. Her daughter was born on March 23 and, so far, she is a normal and healthy baby.

    Now, new...

    In Early Days of Outbreak, Access to Mpox Vaccine Varied by Race

    In the early days of the mpox virus outbreak in the United States, vaccines got to the states that needed them but distribution was unequal across racial groups, new research reveals.

    Black and Hispanic patients had to travel significantly farther for doses than white people, according to researchers at Yale School of Medicine, in New Haven, Conn.

    “The correlation between vaccine...

    CDC Issues Warning as Two African Countries Fight Spread of Marburg Virus

    Two ongoing outbreaks of Marburg virus in Africa prompted U.S. health officials to issue an alert on Thursday for doctors to be on the lookout for any cases that might surface in the coming weeks.

    The virus causes a deadly hemorrhagic disease that is similar to Ebola. The U.S. Centers for Dise...

    New RSV Vaccine May Prevent Illness in Infants, Seniors

    An RSV vaccine developed by Pfizer provides safe and effective protection in both seniors and newborns, clinical trial results show.

    The vaccine is 86% effective in protecting older adults against RSV infections severe enough to cause three or more symptoms, according to findings published

    FDA Finds Contamination Issues at Eye Drops Plant

    U.S. regulators inspecting a factory in India that has been linked to contaminated eyedrops have uncovered a laundry list of problems.

    An outbreak of eye infections involving products made at the factory stems from exposure to a highly drug-resistant bacteria known as Pseudomonas aeruginosa

    Pope Francis Discharged From Hospital, Leads Palm Sunday Service

    Pope Francis was back delivering Mass on Palm Sunday, just one day after he was released from the hospital following a three-day stay for bronchitis.

    Francis, 86, celebrated in St. Peter's Square in Rome as about 60,000 people looked on, carrying palm fronds or olive tree branches, CBS News reported.

    CDC Investigating Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Flour

    U.S. health officials are investigating a Salmonella Infantis outbreak that is likely linked to raw flour. It's not clear what brand of flour is the culprit.

    Investigators from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Food and Drug Administration have identified 12 illnesses and three hospitalizations occurring across 11 states.

    Repor...

    Iguana Bite Left Vacationing Toddler a Medical Issue Months Later

    A family vacation to remember, but maybe not for the best reasons.

    Doctors report on an unusual case where a hungry iguana bit a vacationing toddler's hand, passing on an infection with a germ called Mycobacterium marinum.

    A 3-year-old girl named Lena Mars, of San Jose, Ca., was visiting Costa Rica with her family and eating cake while sitting on the beach. Suddenly an igua...

    Low Vaccination Rates Put U.S. at High Risk of New Mpox Outbreaks

    U.S. public health officials want high-risk individuals who haven't been vaccinated for mpox — previously called monkeypox — to do so before a potential resurgence of the virus in the coming months.

    That surge could be worse than last year, federal modeling has found, but only about 23% of those at high risk for the virus have received vaccines, according to a report released Thursda...

    New Clues to Recent Hepatitis Outbreak in Kids

    New research has provided answers to a mystery involving an outbreak of severe hepatitis in children last year.

    A total of about 1,000 cases emerged around the world in spring 2022, after the easing of COVID-19 lockdowns.

    Children in about 35 countries, including the United States, experienced severe hepatitis that caused 50 kids to need liver transplants and 22 children to die, a...

    U.S. Tuberculosis Cases Rose in 2022: CDC

    Tuberculosis cases climbed again in 2022, U.S. health officials announced Thursday.

    Still, the 5% increase, which amounted to 8,300 cases, didn't reach higher pre-pandemic numbers, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

    “The message is loud and clear — TB is still here. For the second year in a row, TB disease cases in the U.S. have continued to rise,...

    Warming Climate Could Bring Flesh-Eating Bacteria to More U.S. Waters

    Global warming is fostering the spread of a deadly flesh-eating bacteria along the northeastern coast of the United States, researchers report.

    Vibrio vulnificus bacteria grow in warm shallow coastal waters and can infect a person via a cut or insect bite during contact with seawater. The bacteria is found as far north as Philadelphia and is spreading even further north as ocean...

    Gerber Baby Formula Recalled Due to Bacteria Concerns

    Perrigo Co., which makes Gerber Good Start SootheProTM Powdered Infant Formula, has recalled the product over concerns about contamination with a potentially dangerous bacteria.

    Cronobacter sakazakii was possibly present between Jan. 2 and Jan. 18 at the company's Gateway Eau Claire, Wisc., manufacturing facility.

    No distributed products have tested positive for the bacter...

    In Rare Cases, Drug-Resistant 'Superbugs' Can Pass Between People & Their Pets

    In more bad news about antibiotic resistance, new research suggests that people and their pets may be able to transmit multidrug-resistant germs to each other.

    Still, cases of cross-transmission are rare and it's not clear if pets are giving germs to people or people are giving germs to their pets, the study authors noted.

    "In urban areas in high-income countries, pets do not seem ...

    COVID Origins Tied to Raccoon Dogs Sold at Wuhan Market

    A new theory about the start of the COVID-19 virus points to illegally traded raccoon dogs at a market in Wuhan, China.

    Genetic data from swabs connected to these fox-like animals with a raccoon face offers tangible evidence of the virus' possible origin, according to an international team of virus experts.

    These animals are known to be able to transmit the coronavirus, the New ...

    Tick-Borne Illness Babesiosis Spreads to New U.S. States

    Cases of a parasitic disease spread by ticks have been on the rise, particularly in states in the Northeast that had previously seen few cases, U.S. health officials reported Friday.

    Between 2011 and 2019, more than 16,000 cases of babesiosis were reported in the United States, with the lion's share of those cases reported in the Northeast, the latest data from the U.S. Centers for Disea...

    Bird Flu Outbreak Killed New England Harbor Seals, Raising Alarms for Humans

    A strain of avian (bird) flu appears to be killing seals off the New England coast, heightening fears among scientists that mammal-to-mammal transmission could be happening.

    If so, it would be a step towards something health experts have long dreaded: A strain of H5N1 bird flu that might spread easily among people, with potentially devastating effects.

    "We report an HPAI A (H5N1)...

    Looking for Accurate Info on Mpox? Maybe Avoid TikTok

    Don't rely on TikTok for accurate health information about mpox, the virus once known as monkeypox, a new study says.

    An international group of researchers who watched and analyzed videos about mpox on the social media site found them to be often inaccurate, incomplete and of poor quality. Study findings were published May 14 in

  • Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
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  • March 15, 2023
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  • New York City Rats Can Carry COVID Virus

    Rats can become infected with the virus that causes COVID-19, according to a new study that found many rodents in New York City's sewer system and elsewhere had been exposed.

    Rats collected in the study tested positive for alpha, delta and omicron variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

    The findings were published March 9 in

    Gene That Shielded Some Against Black Death May Be Helping, Harming People Today

    Some people may have a gene that helps protect them from respiratory diseases like COVID-19 -- and helped their ancestors fight the plague.

    It comes at a cost.

    This same gene variation may be linked to an increased risk of autoimmune disease, including rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease, according to British researchers.

    “This gene essentially chops up prote...

    Two More Brands of Eyedrops Recalled Over Infection Risks

    U.S. Federal health officials have issued recall notices for two more brands of eyedrops.

    In the latest round of recalls, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration posted notices after the companies voluntarily pulled several lots of their eyedrops from the market.

    These recalls do not appear to be connected to other recent recalls or an outbreak in drug-resistant infections, the As...

    1 in 4 U.S. Parents Lied About a Child's COVID Status

    Public health officials offered a lot of advice to prevent the spread of COVID-19 early in the pandemic, but some parents apparently tuned it out.

    About 1 in 4 misled others about their child's COVID status, vaccination and related details, a nationwide survey found.

    “Like everyone else, parents worried about getting sick with COVID-19 or about losing their job, but parents also h...

    Following Infection Outbreak, Experts Offer Guidance on Safe Use of Eyedrops

    An outbreak of serious bacterial infections in 13 U.S. states linked to use of artificial tears has prompted experts to offer tips for keeping dry eyes safe.

    Five of the 58 people infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa had vision loss, and one person died, leading to the recall of EzriCare and Delsam Pharma artificial tears. Some of those sickened also reported lung and urinary tr...

    Florida Man Dies from Brain-Eating Amoeba Infection

    A brain-eating amoeba has killed a Florida man, state health officials reported.

    The man may have acquired this very rare infection after rinsing his sinuses with tap water, the Florida Department of Health in Charlotte County said in a news release.

    While ...

    Two Bird Flu Cases in Cambodia Did Not Spread Person-to-Person

    Two cases of bird flu in Cambodia, in a girl and her father, were not spread from one to the other.

    Both got the virus from poultry, according to health officials, easing concerns about a potential public health crisis, the Associated Press reported.

    The 11-year-old girl died Feb. 22 at a hospital in the capital, Phnom Penh. She was from the southeastern province of Prey Ve...

    CDC Warns of Rise of Drug-Resistant Shigella Bacteria

    Public health officials are warning about an increase in drug-resistant strains of the bacteria shigella.

    About 5% of shigella infections reported to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last year were caused by the drug-resistant XDR strain. That compares to 0% in 2015.

    Limited treatment options exist for people infected with XDR strains. The bacteria are easily tran...

    Is it COVID or Flu? FDA Approves 1st Home Test for Both

    A new at-home test will help people struggling with upper respiratory symptoms figure out whether they have COVID-19 or the flu.

    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Lucira under an emergency use authorization (EUA) on Friday.

    “Today's authorization of the first OTC [over-the-counter] test that can detect influenza A and B, along with SARS-CoV-2, is a major mileston...

    Mpox Can Be Fatal for People With Advanced HIV

    The mpox virus -- formerly known as monkeypox -- often causes severe illness and death in those with advanced HIV infection that is not under control, researchers report.

    What does that mean? All people diagnosed with mpox should also be tested for HIV, the investigators said.

    The international collaboration of scientists also recommends that the World Health Organization and the U....

    Rectal Pill May Give Days-Long Protection Against HIV: Study

    Could a quick-dissolving pill placed in the rectum prove to be an effective and safe “on-demand” way to prevent HIV infection among sexually active men and women?

    It might, new research indicates.

    The experimental form of PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) is designed to be placed directly into either the rectum or the vagina. In the new study, conducted among 21 men and women, it...

    Two Vaccines May Soon Shield Seniors Against RSV

    Older people have vaccines available to prevent severe influenza and COVID-19, but there's been nothing to protect against the third respiratory virus that contributed to this season's wretched “triple-demic.”

    Until now.

    Two major pharmaceutical companies published clinical trial results this week that pave the way for an RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) vaccine to be available...

    'The Last of Us': How Likely Is a Fungal Apocalypse?

    HBO's hit series “The Last of Us" envisions a world decimated by a fungal apocalypse.

    A real-life insect fungus called Cordyceps makes the leap into humans, turning those stricken into violent zombie-like creatures that spread it to others through bites. Society collapses in a matter of days after the fungus emerges.

    But viewers can relax: There's very little real risk th...

    How Worried Should the World Be About Bird Flu in Humans?

    A highly infectious strain of avian influenza is tearing through commercial and backyard poultry flocks, causing egg prices to rise as sick chickens are culled across the United States.

    Now, some experts are worried that the H5N1 avian flu might become humankind's next pandemic-causing pathogen, if the raging virus makes the leap from birds to humans.

    That's because other mammals ha...

    Vaping Could Raise Teens' Odds for Severe COVID

    Healthy young people who vape or smoke may be putting themselves at greater risk for developing severe COVID, new research finds.

    Both smoking tobacco and vaping electronic cigarettes may predispose people to increased inflammation, future development of severe COVID-19 and lingering cardiovascular complications, said lead study author

  • Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
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  • February 10, 2023
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  • Big Changes Are Coming to U.S. Health Care as Pandemic Emergencies Expire

    Americans received unprecedented access to health care during the pandemic, including hassle-free public insurance and free tests, treatments and vaccines for COVID-19.

    Now, they need to prepare for most of that to unwind, experts say.

    “Essentially, Congress and the administration moved to a model of universal health coverage for COVID vaccines, treatments and tests” during the ...

    Surge in Severe Strep Cases in Kids Was Really a Return to Normal: CDC

    While a health alert warned doctors late last year about rising cases of severe strep in children, U.S. officials now say those numbers were actually a return to normal.

    “Based on preliminary 2022 data, iGAS [invasive group A streptococcal] infections in children have returned to levels similar to those seen i...

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