Fenit Nirappil

Author's posts

Covid, flu, RSV declining in hospitals as ‘tripledemic’ threat fades

The third pandemic winter is nowhere near as bad as the previous two, likely because most Americans have some immunity from shots and previous infections.

New variant XBB.1.5 is ‘most transmissible’ yet, could fuel covid wave

A recent swirl of misinformation linking the rise of new coronavirus variants to vaccination has cast a spotlight on XBB.1.5, raising concerns that it could limit booster uptake.

How the monkeypox outbreak revealed the path for vanquishing viruses

The disease’s decline revealed the power of public health to quash threats when politics and science align and a community mobilizes to protect its own.

Why mask mandates aren’t coming back even though covid is

Mask mandates are an effective tool against respiratory viruses. But health officials hesitate to reinstate them after years of political controversy.

Flu hospitalizations soar as triple viral threat looms ahead of holidays

The CDC urged Americans to get the latest flu and coronavirus vaccines to protect themselves.

Covid hospitalizations rising post-Thanksgiving after an autumn lull

Public health authorities are concerned the increase in covid patients will exacerbate the strain on hospitals already reeling from RSV and influenza cases.

Biden administration poised to lift monkeypox emergency declaration

Fewer than 10 cases a day are being reported, compared with more than 450 in early August.

Men are using condoms less, even as syphilis and other STDs surge

The United States recorded nearly 2.5 million cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis in 2021, more than doubling in the last two decades.

My mom was finally ready to accept my gay wedding. Then she got covid.

As a Post reporter who covers the covid-19 pandemic, I feared my wedding would be a superspreader event. As a son, I just wanted my mom there.

CDC warns of tough winter as flu, RSV and covid collide

CDC reports unusually high flu hospitalizations amid concerns of flu, covid and RSV further straining health system this winter.