Although COVID-19 positivity rates are up, there have been fewer coinfections with other respiratory viruses than expected, according to recent findings from Helix, a lab that assists the CDC with variant tracking.
Category: Public Health
HHS unveils report on supporting long COVID-19 patients
HHS on Nov. 21 released an 88-page report on how the healthcare and public sector can best support the estimated 7.7 million to 23 million Americans living with long COVID-19.
WHO convening 300 scientists to identify pandemic-capable pathogens
The World Health Organization is convening more than 300 scientists to update its list of pathogens most likely to cause future outbreaks or pandemics. The priority pathogen list is meant to guide global investments, and research and development on vac…
UK investigates possible Ebola case
The UK Health Security Agency is investigating a possible case of Ebola in an individual with a travel history to Africa who was displaying “early symptoms” of the disease, according to a Nov. 17 report from The Telegraph.
H3N2: 3 notes on the dominant flu strain
The majority of U.S. influenza cases detected this season have been H3N2, an influenza A variant associated with more severe illness.
COVID-19 admissions to rise through early December, CDC forecasts
The CDC is projecting an increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations for the first time since July, national disease modeling shows.
Patient Mistrust and Poor Access Hamper Federal Efforts to Overhaul Family Planning
For decades, many women of color, particularly those with low incomes, had little control over their family planning care. Now, a White House effort aims to give patients more choices as abortion care evaporates, but patients remain wary of providers.
After Election Win, California’s AG Turns to Investigating Hospital Algorithms for Racial Bias
Attorney General Rob Bonta handily won election on a progressive, social justice platform. He’s already begun with an inquiry into hospital software programs that might bake in racial discrimination.
Half of COVID-19 cases are now BQ.1 + BQ.1.1 infections: 10 CDC findings
Omicron subvariants BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 — dubbed “escape variants” for their immune evasiveness — now account for 49.7 percent of U.S. COVID-19 cases, according to the CDC’s COVID-19 data tracker weekly review published Nov. 18.
Nearly 9,000 flu patients hospitalized last week: 8 FluView notes
Flu activity metrics are quickly ramping up in the US, with 8,707 lab-confirmed flu patients admitted to hospitals for the week ending Nov. 12, according to the CDC’s latest FluView report.
