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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 bact...

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 Ne...

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...

    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

    FRIDAY, March 3, 2023 (HealthDay News) – 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

    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

    MONDAY, Feb. 27, 2023 (HealthDay News) – 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.

    ...

    Mpox Can Be Fatal for People With Advanced HIV

    WEDNESDAY, Feb. 22, 2023 (HealthDay News) – 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 fo...

    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 avail...

    '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 ris...

    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 mammal...

    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

    WEDNESDAY, Feb. 8, 2023 (HealthDay News) – 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 ha...

    Hispanic, Black Americans on Dialysis Face Higher Risks for Dangerous Infections

    Kidney disease patients on dialysis are 100 times more likely to contract a dangerous blood infection than people not receiving the treatment -- and that risk is borne primarily by Hispanic and Black Americans, U.S. government health officials say.

    Hispanic patients are 40% more likely than white patients to develop a staph bloodstream infection while on dialysis, according to a new

    Deer Carry COVID Variants No Longer Seen in People

    While COVID-19 variants Alpha, Gamma and Delta are no longer circulating among humans, they continue to spread in white-tailed deer.

    The animals are the most abundant large mammal in North America. Scientists aren’t sure whether the deer could act as long-term reservoirs for these obsolete variants.

    In a new study, researchers at Cornell University, in Ithaca, N.Y., collected 5,...

    Sepsis Raises Odds for Heart Failure After Hospital Discharge

    Having sepsis -- a life-threatening response to infection -- may put patients at risk for future heart failure and rehospitalization, according to a new study.

    Sepsis is an extreme immune response to an infection in the body. It can cause that infection to spread throughout the body and lead to organ failure and possibly death.

    “We know that infection may be a potential tr...

    Pandemic at a Tipping Point: WHO

    The pandemic has reached a “transition point,” the World Health Organization (WHO) said Monday.

    Still, that doesn’t mean the public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) designation declared by the WHO in January 2020 is over yet.

    The organization’s International Health Regulations Emergency Committee met last week to discuss COVID-19, saying in a

  • Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
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  • January 30, 2023
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  • Troubling Signs TB Is Gaining Resistance Against Combo Antibiotics

    New drugs may be needed to fight the deadliest form of tuberculosis, because it may no longer respond to current treatments.

    An animal study by Johns Hopkins University researchers found that an approved antibiotic regimen may not work for TB meningitis due to multidrug-resistant str...

    Updated Boosters Cut Risk of XBB Variant Infection by Nearly Half

    In a finding that suggests the updated bivalent COVID booster shots are worth getting, new government data shows they cut the chances of infection with the new XBB variant by nearly half.

    While those ages 49 and under saw a 48% reduction in risk, the shots were slightly less effective in older individuals -- about 40% in adults ages 50 to 64 and 43% in those 65 and up. Effectiveness was s...

    Home Drug Infusions Can Be Dangerous, But Many Home Care Staff Aren't Trained

    Intravenous (IV) lines are generally associated with medical centers — picture a patient in a hospital bed, an IV drip-dropping needed fluids, nutrients and medicines into their arm.

    But millions now are receiving IV treatments at home, and a new study warns that not enough people are being ...

    Omicron Silver Lining: Fewer, Milder Cases of MIS-C in Kids

    The COVID-19 Omicron variant caused fewer cases of a rare but sometimes deadly complication for children than the earlier Delta variant did, new research shows.

    “Our study is one of the first to show that during the change to Omicron, MIS-C has become milder and increasingly rare,” said senior researcher

    A Probiotic May Equal Antibiotics in Fighting Staph Infection

    A probiotic supplement appears to clear the body of a type of bacteria that can cause serious antibiotic-resistant infections, a new study finds.

    More research is needed, but experts said the work could lead to a way to prevent infections with the bac...

    What to Know About XBB, the New COVID Variant

    The new coronavirus continues to dodge, duck, dip and dive, mutating again and again to find its way past people’s immune defenses.

    The latest COVID variant to gain a foothold in America is called XBB.1.5, which has rapidly started to crowd out other competing variants.

    XBB.1.5 is the first recombinant COVID variant expected to become dominant in the United States, according to th...

    Plane Wastewater Study Shows How COVID Travel Restrictions Failed

    Wastewater research isn't for the squeamish, but it can get to the bottom of questions about such things as the effectiveness of COVID-19 air travel restrictions.

    Tests of toilet tank water from flights entering the United Kingdom helped Welsh scientists determine that steps meant to keep the virus from traveling among countries appear to have failed.

    "Despite all the intervention m...

    Kids' COVID More Dangerous When Co-Infected With RSV, Colds

    As colds, flu and COVID continue to circulate this winter, a new U.S. government study finds that young children infected with COVID plus a second virus tend to become sicker.

    While severe COVID is rare among children, kids can and do fall ill enough to end up in the hospital.

    During the pandemic's first two years, young U.S. children who were hospitalized with COVID tended to be mo...

    Getting COVID in Pregnancy Greatly Raises a Woman's Odds for Death

    COVID-19 infection in pregnancy raises a woman's risk of death sevenfold and significantly elevates her odds for needing intensive care, a new study finds.

    Getting the virus during pregnancy also ups the likelihood of pneumonia, according to researchers at George Washington University in Washington, D.C.

    "This study provides the most comprehensive evidence to date suggesting that CO...

    U.S. Mails Out Some COVID Tests That are About to Expire

    WEDNESDAY, Jan. 11, 2023 (HealthDay News) – If you ordered COVID-19 tests through the federal government recently, you might want to check the expiration dates.

    Although the actual expiration had already been extended by six months for the iHealth COVID tests, some will still expire soon, CBS News reported.

    Nora Boydston, of Douglas County, Colo., was among those who ord...

    Study Pushes Back Smallpox Origins Another 2,000 Years

    While the origins of smallpox has remained a mystery for centuries, researchers now believe that it dates back 2,000 years earlier than previously thought.

    Until recently, the earliest genetic evidence of smallpox, the variola virus, was from the 1600s. And in 2020, researchers found evidence of it in the dental remains of Viking skeletons, pushing its existence 1,000 years earlier.

    Adults May Be Losing Immunity to Mumps. Are Boosters Needed?

    Despite routine use of a childhood vaccine, the United States still sees outbreaks of mumps. Now, a new study reinforces the belief that it's due to waning immunity post-vaccination.

    Mumps is a viral infection best known for causing puffy cheeks, a swollen jaw, fever and general misery. While it's usually relatively mild, mumps occasionally causes serious complications like brain inflamma...

    U.S. to Require Negative COVID Test For Chinese Visitor Entry

    All travelers flying from China to the United States will soon be required to produce a negative COVID test or show proof of recovery if they've had a recent COVID infection, U.S. health officials announced Wednesday.

    The new rule, set to go into effect on Jan. 5, was created in response to a surge in COVID cases in China and the “lack of adequate and transparent epidemiological and vir...

    Science Reveals Cause of Smell Loss in COVID-19

    One of the hallmarks of a COVID-19 infection has been a lost sense of smell after the infection ends.

    In a new study, researchers blame an ongoing immune assault on the olfactory nerve cells — cells found at the top of the nasal cavity — and a decline in the number of those cells. The study was led by a team at Duke Health in Durham, N.C.

    “One of the first symptoms that has ty...

    Flu, RSV, COVID: Shield Yourself From the 'Tripledemic' This Holiday

    Public health experts have been warning of a “tripledemic” of respiratory viruses this fall and winter, so the American Lung Association has some tips for breathing easier this holiday season.

    Flu, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and COVID-19 are all spreading throughout the United States, overwhelming health care systems.

    One way to make holiday or seasonal gatherings safer ...

    U.S. to Release Flu Meds From National Stockpile to Ease Shortages

    Having trouble finding influenza meds at your local pharmacy? You're not alone. Now, flu-infected patients will have better access to prescription medicines as the U.S. government releases doses of Tamiflu from the Strategic National Stockpile.

    The Biden administration announced Wednesday it will release an unspecified number of doses to U.S. states as the country deals with an early an...

    America Facing Shortage of Infectious Disease Doctors

    The COVID-19 pandemic. Dangerous antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The current waves of influenza and RSV ripping through schools and workplaces.

    America has had ample examples in recent years of the importance of infectious disease doctors.

    Despite this, the United States is facing a shortage of doctors choosing to specialize in infectious disease, according to the Infectious Diseases...

    White House 'Winter Preparedness Plan' Revives Free At-Home COVID Test Program

    With cases of the flu, RSV and COVID-19 rising and hospitals filling up nationwide, the Biden Administration on Wednesday announced a "winter preparedness plan" for what could be a tough season ahead.

    One step towards protecting Americans from spreading infection: Restarting a program where every household in the country is eligible to receive four free COVID-19 nasal swab testing kits, t...

    Patients' Genes Raise Odds for Rare Brain Infection When Using Certain Meds

    For some people, dozens of U.S.-approved drugs can lead to a rare but often fatal brain infection.

    Researchers have now confirmed a strong link between four genetic mutations and this illness, called progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML).

    A new study found that in people ta...

    Seniors Urged to Get Flu Shots as U.S. Cases Rise

    Experts are asking seniors to get their flu shots ASAP as an exceptionally nasty flu season unfolds across the United States.

    Already, 8.7 million flu cases have been reported, with 78,000 hospitalizations and 4,500 deaths, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In the last week alone, the nu...

    U.S. to End Mpox Public Health Emergency in January

    Mpox cases are down significantly in the United States, prompting the federal government to plan not to renew an emergency designation for the virus when it expires late next month.

    “Given the low number of cases today, HHS does not expect that it needs to renew the emergency declaration when it ends on January 31, 2023,” Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra said i...

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