Author: Claudinne Miller
Some 25 types of mammals died in latest bird flu outbreak
Reuters About 25 types of mammals have died in the latest bird flu outbreak, a larger number than in previous ones, increasing the risk of the virus turning into a pandemic, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) said. Cases of the disease, officially called highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), have been detected in mammals in […]
May 23, 2023
If bird flu starts to spread among people, existing vaccines may be inadequate, experts say
NBC News The current U.S. stockpile of H5N1 flu shots likely won’t offer much protection in the event of a pandemic, vaccine researchers said. Wild birds and poultry flocks alike continue to drop dead from the highly pathogenic bird flu that began spreading globally in 2020. Almost 59 million commercial birds have already been culled in the United States. It’s the broadest […]
May 23, 2023
Bird flu: Brazil declares animal health emergency after several cases found
BBC Seven cases have been reported in Espirito Santo state, with another discovered in Rio de Janeiro state. The emergency declaration makes it easier for the government to now bring in measures to stop the highly infectious H5N1 virus from spreading. Brazil is the world’s largest exporter of chicken meat, with annual sales of nearly […]
May 23, 2023
4th death, more vision loss cases linked to tainted eyedrops
AP U.S. health officials reported another death and several more cases of vision loss from illnesses linked to eyedrops tainted with a drug-resistant bacteria. The bacteria has infected 81 people, including four who died and 14 who lost vision, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday. That’s up from three deaths and eight […]
May 23, 2023
STAT The incarcerated people at Federal Medical Center Devens should have been some of the first to receive the Covid vaccines, back when they first came out in December 2020. At the time, the country was prioritizing high-risk people in high-risk settings, like older Americans in nursing homes. So Devens seemed a better candidate than […]
May 23, 2023
Physical Medicine Academy Issues Guidance on Long COVID Neurologic Symptoms
MedPageToday Clinicians need to evaluate new or worsening neurologic symptoms of post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC) and treat or refer them to specialists when appropriate, according to new guidance from the American Academy of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (AAPM&R). Neurologic symptoms related to PASC — commonly known as long COVID — include headache, weakness, […]
May 23, 2023
Today’s biweekly update is presented by Arthur Chang, MD. Dr. Chang provides an update about the drastic decrease in MIS-C cases post-Omicron and the persistence of PASC (aka “Long Covid”) in children.
May 23, 2023
How attractive are you to mosquitoes?
Virginia Tech researchers conduct proof-of-concept study on mosquito scent preferences. Using scented soaps, Virginia Tech researchers found that the smell of certain body soaps could make humans more or less attractive to mosquitoes. People have been using products to alter their scent for generations. From soaps to perfumes, people gravitate to floral and fruity smells. […]
May 23, 2023
Brazil declares 180-day animal health emergency amid avian flu cases in wild birds
Reuters Brazil on Monday declared a state of animal health emergency for 180 days in response to the country’s first ever detection of the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus in wild birds, in a document signed by Agriculture Minister Carlos Favaro. Infection by the H5N1 subtype of avian flu in wild birds does not trigger […]
May 23, 2023
An exercise trial for long covid is being criticized by some patients
Washington Post A proposed exercise trial for long covid is being criticized by some of the patients the government-funded researchers want to study. The trial is part of the Researching COVID to Enhance Recovery (RECOVER) initiative, funded by the government for $1.15 billion over four years. It aims to study long covid and help find treatments for […]
May 22, 2023