The omicron subvariant XBB.1.16 is quickly gaining prevalence in the U.S., spurring the CDC to start tracking the strain separately last week.
Category: Public Health
Bird flu shows mutations in Chilean man
The CDC found two bird flu genetic mutations in a Chilean man who recently fell ill with the disease. The mutations show signs of the virus adapting to mammals, The New York Times reported April 14.
Why weight loss drugs are not the answer to obesity
Drugs that cause weight to melt away sound more tempting than chocolate cake, but weight loss drugs won’t cure obesity. And that’s OK, because obesity isn’t a disease to be cured. Obesity is just a risk factor for more important risk …
CDC starts tracking XBB.1.16: Where it's most prevalent
The latest omicron subvariant experts are keeping their eye on accounts for 7.2 percent of cases in the U.S., according to the CDC’s latest variant proportion estimates.
Cook Children's warns of 'co-sleeping' dangers after seeing 30 infant deaths
Cook Children’s Medical Center is warning about the dangers of unsafe sleeping conditions after seeing 30 associated infant deaths since January 2022.
The risk of long COVID-19 after subsequent infection
The chances of experiencing long COVID-19 after a second bout with the infection appear to be lower than the first time around, according to new survey findings.
What drives recurring UTIs in some patients
Some individuals may be more susceptible to catching recurring urinary tract infections because the infections can actually change the urinary tract lining, creating conditions that make an infected individual more prone to catching them again, finding…
'One step closer' to diagnosing Parkinson's before symptoms appear: Study
A newly discovered test for Parkinson’s disease shows promise in diagnosing the condition very early — and may help in identifying if a person is at risk of developing the disease, according to research findings that will be published in May in The Lan…
China's lab safety issues spur concern over another pandemic
China’s efforts to ramp up the country’s biotechnology capabilities are outpacing progress to strengthen laboratory safety, prompting concerns that a deadly pathogen could escape the laboratory setting and potentially spur another pandemic, experts tol…
The Confusing Fate of the Abortion Pill
The legality and availability of the abortion pill mifepristone is in question after a federal judge in Texas canceled the FDA’s approval of the first drug used in the two-drug medication abortion regimen. A 5th Circuit Court of Appeals panel overruled that decision in part, saying the pill should remain available, but only under the onerous restrictions in place before 2016. Meanwhile, another federal judge in Washington state issued a ruling in a separate case that conflicts with the Texas decision, ordering the FDA not to roll back any of its restrictions on the drug. Victoria Knight of Axios, Shefali Luthra of The 19th, and Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet join KFF Health News chief Washington correspondent Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more.
