Enterovirus Infection Reportedly Linked to Severe Myocarditis in Babies
On Apr. 5, 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) received information from the National IHR Focal Point (NFP) for the United Kingdom (U.K.) of an increase in severe myocarditis in infants believed to be associated with an enterovirus infection in Wales.1 Enterovirus is a common pathogen that can cause respiratory illness, hand, foot and mouth […]
U.S. Military Uses AI Monitored Wearable Devices to Detect Infectious Disease in Service Members
In a public-private collaboration with a technology company, the U.S Department of Defense’s (DoD) Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) developed AI monitored wearable devices that were used to detect infections in military personnel during the COVID-19 pandemic. The project is known as the Rapid Assessment of Threat Exposure (RATE),1 which characterizes infections as a security and […]
U.S. May Vaccinate Poultry in Response to Bird Flu Outbreak
The U.S. government is considering a mass vaccination campaign for commercial poultry as an option to address an outbreak of pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 (bird flu) in the country.1 In February 2022, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced an H5N1 virus outbreak in a commercial turkey […]
U.S. Starts to Discern Between Those Dying From COVID and Those Dying With COVID
There is a difference between dying from COVID-19 and dying with COVID-19. The number of people dying with the disease may be significantly greater than those dying from it. A recent article by CNN medical analyst and Washington Post columnist Dr. Leana Wen made the distinction between dying from COVID and dying with COVID. Dr. […]
African Nations Report Fewer Deaths from COVID Than Other Countries
During the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, several countries in Africa were praised for controlling the pandemic by implementing traditional public health strategies to contain the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, despite having underdeveloped and fragile public heath systems. With a population of more than one billion people, the African continent appears to have been […]
Doctors Link Shortage of Children’s Medications to Spike in Respiratory Infections
In the last few months, parents and caregivers of children have struggled to find over-the-counter and prescription medications used to treat common childhood illnesses like influenza, ear infections and sore throats for their sick children.1 2 The four medications reportedly in short supply are Amoxicillin (an antibiotic), Tamiflu (an antiviral), Albuterol (a bronchodilator) and children’s Tylenol […]
Study Finds SARS-CoV-2 Virus Can Survive on Some Food Surfaces
Findings from a new study, which was conducted by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) in the United Kingdom to determine whether the SARS-CoV-2 virus can survive on food and food packaging, found evidence that survival of the virus varied depended on the type of foods and food packaging examined.1 In 2020, it was determined that […]
Monoclonal Antibodies No Longer Effective Against New Strains of SARS-CoV-2
Monoclonal antibodies, which are synthetic versions of antibodies that are produced in a lab, appear to have lost effectiveness against COVID-19 disease as new variants of the virus emerge. Previously touted as the top-of-the-line outpatient treatment by public health officials and many clinicians, monoclonal antibodies have fallen out of favor as outpatient treatment for patients […]
Polio Case in New York Caused by “Vaccine-Derived” Poliovirus
Opinion | The first reported case of polio in the United States since 2013 was confirmed in New York last week. According to New York health officials, a young adult in Rockland County contracted type 2 “vaccine-derived” poliovirus (VDPV2), which may have been transmitted by someone who received the Sabin live attenuated oral polio vaccine (OPV). […]
‘COVID-19 Rebound’ May Be Worse Than Initial COVID Illness
On May 24, 2022, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a health advisory to health care providers, public health departments and the general public regarding Pfizer’s antiviral drug Paxlovid, designed to treat symptoms of COVID-19. The advisory warns that some people who take Paxlovid may experience a recurrence of COVID symptoms […]
