Category: Public Health

‘The floodgates opened’: Flu hits hospitals

In a one week period, new flu hospitalizations in the U.S. rose nearly 30 percent, and experts say cases are expected to continue rising in the coming weeks. 

COVID-19 admissions up in 32 states

COVID-19 hospitalizations have ticked up nationwide in recent weeks amid concerns of a potential winter surge, according to data tracked by The New York Times.

A New Use for Dating Apps: Chasing STIs

For contact tracers of sexually transmitted infections, telephones and text messages have become ineffective. Dating apps increasingly are their best bet for informing people of their exposure risks.

How COVID-19 has changed what we know about the flu

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, public health experts didn’t believe the flu could be contained. But, when flu transmission came to a halt during the pandemic, scientists were able to gain a new understanding of the virus. 

Ohio’s measles outbreak grows: 4 notes

At least 44 unvaccinated children in the Columbus, Ohio, region have been infected with measles since the first few cases were confirmed in early November, according to a dashboard run by the city’s health department. 

Rural Colorado Tries to Fill Health Worker Gaps With Apprenticeships

A Grand Junction program is training and retaining nurse and personal care aides in areas where the aging population is creating a need for them. But challenges remain for these workers.

Amid lack of guidance, COVID-19 long haulers spend thousands on unproven treatments

Nearly three years into the COVID-19 pandemic, the medical community is still a long way from being able to effectively treat and diagnose the long lasting symptoms millions of Americans experience. In turn, many who are desperate to find relief are sp…

70% of US reports high or very high flu activity: 8 FluView notes

Thirty-five states and regions are now reporting “high” or “very high” flu activity levels, according to the CDC’s latest FluView report.

CDC now tracking subvariant XBB: 3 notes

The CDC has begun tracking omicron subvariant XBB, which is now estimated to account for 3.1 percent of U.S. cases. 

Measles is ‘imminent’ global threat, CDC and WHO say

The pandemic spurred major setbacks in global efforts to eliminate measles, making the disease an “imminent threat” for every part of the world, the CDC and World Health Organization said Nov. 23.