Author: Claudinne Miller
Namesake of the poinsettia, enslaver, secret agent and perpetrator of the ‘Trail of Tears’
The Conversation If people know the name Joel Roberts Poinsett today, it is likely because of the red and green poinsettia plant. In the late 1820s, while serving as the first ambassador from the U.S. to Mexico, Poinsett clipped samples of the plant known in Spanish as the “flor de nochebuena,” or flower of Christmas Eve, from […]
Dec 19, 2023
Fast evolution of SARS-CoV-2 BA.2·86 to JN.1 under heavy immune pressure
The Lancet The SARS-CoV-2 saltation variant BA.2.86, which was quickly designated as a variant under monitoring after its emergence, has garnered global attention. Although BA.2.86 did not show substantial humoral immune escape and growth advantage compared with current dominant variants, such as EG.5.1 and HK.3, it showed remarkably high ACE2 binding affinity. This increased binding […]
Dec 19, 2023
4 Big COVID Predictions for 2024
AARP It’s been about four years since COVID-19 was first identified, and in that time, much has changed, including the virus itself. We now have pills that can treat it and at-home tests that can identify an infection. We also have vaccines that have been updated to better match versions of the virus that are currently circulating. Despite […]
Dec 19, 2023
Teenage Girl Left With Paralyzed Vocal Cords From COVID in First-Ever Case
Newsweek A healthy 15-year-old girl had her vocal cords paralyzed after contracting COVID-19. The patient was admitted with “severe respiratory distress” to Mass Eye and Ear, a member of Mass General Brigham, nine days after contracting the virus. An examination with an endoscope revealed that both her vocal cords and voice box had become paralyzed, […]
Dec 19, 2023
How to stay safe from the ‘triple threat’ respiratory Illness this holiday season
MSNBC Video at the link – NBC News medical contributor Dr. Vin Gupta warns Ana Cabrera of a respiratory illness ‘triple threat’, and advises what you can do to stay safe during this holiday season.
Dec 19, 2023
Should You Wear a Mask on a Plane This Holiday Season? We Asked the Experts
Conde Naste Traveler Masks on planes: It’s a topic of conversation that has become more and more convoluted in the past year and change. But in the gauntlet of holiday air travel, one of the most challenging factors for fliers to contend with is avoiding getting sick in overcrowded terminals and jam-packed plane cabins. The Christmas season is […]
Dec 19, 2023
Map shows where mysterious dog respiratory illness has spread in U.S.
CBS News A mysterious illness that causes fever, cough and lethargy in dogs has now spread to at least 16 states, the Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine said earlier this month. Over the last year, there’s been a rise in the number of dogs getting infected with what vets have named Atypical Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease […]
Dec 19, 2023
Threat of Nipah virus in winter
Bangladesh Post At least 240 people have died of the Nipah virus across the country in the last 23 years during the winter season, according to media report. At least 339 cases of Nipah virus infection were identified in the country during the period. The deadly virus may spread to different districts of the country […]
Dec 19, 2023
WHO declares new JN.1 COVID strain a “variant of interest.” Here’s what that means.
CBS News The World Health Organization announced Tuesday it would step up its classification of the new COVID-19 variant JN.1 to a standalone “variant of interest,” after tracking the strain’s rapid ascent around the world. Health officials have been careful to say that JN.1 has so far not been found to lead to different or more severe symptoms compared […]
Dec 19, 2023
Avian flu blamed for deaths of more than 1,000 snow geese at Cheyenne Bottoms
12 News Testing revealed more than 1,000 migrating snow geese have died of avian influenza at wetlands in central Kansas. Wildlife officials want to bring awareness to protect other birds at Cheyenne Bottoms where dead geese line the shores of its pools. While the avian flu impact raises alarm, compared with the overall population at […]
Dec 19, 2023
