All articles tagged with #covid
Doctors report a summer uptick in COVID-19 with an atypical shift toward gastrointestinal symptoms (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea) alongside flu activity; while the cause isn’t yet clear, experts urge continued precautions, hydration, and fever management at home, and to seek emergency care for severe dehydration or shortness of breath as schools return.
Updated Covid vaccines for fall were being prepared after an FDA advisory committee recommended target strains and the agency forwarded guidance to manufacturers, signaling progress. However, with the CDC’s vaccine advisory committee (ACIP) not meeting to issue recommendations yet, there’s uncertainty about whether the updated shots will be officially endorsed for fall and how quickly they’ll be rolled out, especially since many states tie pharmacists’ ability to administer Covid vaccines to ACIP guidance.
CDC data and WastewaterSCAN show a summer uptick in Covid-19 activity across about 43 states, with rising infections and more emergency visits, especially in coastal states like California and Florida. Experts say the virus may be returning to a seasonal pattern, though it’s more variable than flu due to evolving variants and waning immunity, while vaccines continue to reduce the risk of severe illness.
AI-rich demand is pushing San Francisco’s housing market higher, with rents around $4,000 for a one-bedroom and properties selling far above asking as OpenAI, Anthropic and SpaceX bring capital and talent to the city; experts warn the surge may reflect a bubble risk—echoing the dot-com era—while officials push affordable-housing measures and residents worry about long-term affordability.
A Dorset nurse was struck off after telling a cancer patient undergoing chemotherapy that Covid vaccinations caused their illness, and after it emerged she accessed patient records without authorization. The Nursing and Midwifery Council found four of six charges proven, ruling the misconduct undermined public confidence in health advice.
A JAMA Internal Medicine study of more than 1 million U.S. veterans found that receiving the 2024–2025 Covid-19 vaccine is associated with a lower risk of Covid-related major adverse cardiovascular events, particularly among those aged 75 and older; however, the study’s limitations include an older, predominantly white male population and no analysis of variant-specific vaccine effectiveness.
LeAnn Rimes revealed a severe laryngitis diagnosis linked to a COVID infection, prompting the cancellation of upcoming shows and moving two dates—Waukegan, IL and Wilmington, OH—to November 6–7; tickets for the original dates will be honored and refunds available, following earlier Spokane and Seattle cancellations.
Key updates across infectious disease news: some antibiotics can disrupt the gut microbiome for 4–8 years; the South Carolina measles outbreak neared 1,000 cases as the US total approaches 1,500; avian flu has hit farms in Pennsylvania with over 350,000 birds killed in Indiana and wildlife losses in California, while Europe reports its first H9N2 case; the Covid variant BA.3.2 is in 23 countries, differing from the JN.1 vaccine lineage, though wastewater and ER visits are down and vaccines do not raise sudden-death risk; severe infections may accelerate dementia; five children have been sickened by E. coli from raw milk; bacteriophage therapy shows promise for cystic fibrosis; glyphosate and drought may raise antibiotic resistance genes in soil; fewer than 25% of LMICs meet measles vaccination targets; the CDC needs a new director and Hepatitis C remains curable but treatment uptake is low; the post also includes fundraising notes for Daily Kos and an invitation to join the Infectious Information group.
Doctors warn that catching COVID again isn’t harmless: reinfections are linked to a higher risk of long COVID and chronic conditions like diabetes or kidney disease, with CDC data showing substantial hospitalizations and deaths in the latest year. The best defense is staying up to date with annual vaccines, which reduce the risk of severe disease and long COVID, though there is currently no cure for long COVID. Management focuses on symptoms and quality-of-life improvements through rehab, sleep and mental health support; if you suspect long COVID, consult your healthcare provider.
Nature Communications suggests infection- and vaccine-derived immunity to SARS-CoV-2 may act as a barrier against related sarbecoviruses, potentially lowering the risk of a future coronavirus pandemic; vaccines could slow the spread of a hypothetical SARS-CoV-X if deployed promptly after its first case, with delays reducing effectiveness.
A newly identified Covid variant, BA.3.2, is spreading in the United States with evidence from travelers and wastewater tests across at least 25 states. Descended from Omicron and carrying many spike-protein mutations, it may evade protection from current vaccines. While not yet dominant or associated with more severe disease, scientists warn that vaccines might need updating and continued surveillance is essential.
A new Covid variant, BA.3.2, has been detected across the United States, with cases identified in travelers and widespread wastewater signals in at least 25 states. Early data suggest it may partially evade antibodies from current vaccines, though it has not been shown to cause more severe disease; health authorities say vaccine updates may be needed and ongoing surveillance is essential as thousands of Covid deaths continue this year.
A Daily Kos Infectious Information update says the measles elimination status review has been moved to November amid outbreaks from unvaccinated travelers, with exposure alerts in Colorado and Sacramento and a Utah surge; Covid and long Covid persist; a dengue vaccine shows strong Phase 3 results; avian flu and a moderately severe influenza season continue; the FDA plans a real-time adverse-event dashboard (AEMS) to replace VAERS/FAERS/AERS, though credibility checks remain unclear. Other notes include rising aspergillosis and human metapneumovirus, concerns over RNA vaccine funding, misinformation impacts, Tylenol use in pregnancy decline, and a WHO warning about health consequences of the Iran war.
Amid an early and severe flu season in the US, at-home flu tests are widely available at pharmacies and online, costing around $20-$30, and can provide results within 15-20 minutes. While highly specific, these rapid tests have a sensitivity of 50-70%, meaning false negatives are possible, especially later in the season. Experts recommend testing early and consulting healthcare providers if symptoms are severe or high-risk, with vaccination still advised to reduce severe illness.
A doctor highlights that a persistent, dry cough lasting more than an hour or occurring three or more times in a day is a key symptom distinguishing Covid from the flu or cold, which typically have milder or different cough patterns.