Category: Public Health

CDC: COVID-19 surveillance efforts in wildlife ‘now critical’

The CDC has removed an earlier recommendation from its animal testing guidance webpage that said state health officials could “avoid routine animal testing” as concerns grow over the potential for new coronavirus variants to emerge in animals and sprea…

WHO monitoring ‘sister variants’ of omicron: 4 notes

The World Health Organization on April 11 said it is monitoring two new “sister variants” of the original omicron strain dubbed BA.4 and BA.5, according to global news network WION.

California Sees Dramatic Decline in Child Homicide Victims. What’s Changed?

Bucking the alarming spike in overall homicides in recent years, the homicide rate involving young children is down 70% in California from three decades ago. The nation has seen a parallel, albeit slower, decline.

Colorado Moves Toward Statewide Coverage of Wastewater Surveillance

Colorado was among the first states to embrace wastewater testing to track the coronavirus, an important public heath intervention that can give early warning of outbreaks.

Flu hospitalizations rise for 9th week straight: 8 CDC notes

Nationally, flu activity continues to rise, with the highest test positivity levels seen in central and south-central states, according to the CDC’s April 8 FluView report. 

The state of nasal COVID-19 vaccines: 4 notes

Some experts are calling for the development of a nasal COVID-19 vaccine as federal officials continue to weigh what the nation’s booster strategy could look like, The Washington Post reported April 10. 

COVID-19 cases projected to jump 54.4% by April 23: 3 forecasts

Daily COVID-19 cases are projected to increase 54.4 percent nationwide over the next two weeks, according to modeling from Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic.

Fauci, Gottlieb urge self-interpretation amid COVID-19 case undercounts, relaxed mask rules

Public health experts and officials took to the Sunday shows April 10 to talk about COVID-19 case increases in numerous states, the BA.2 omicron subvariant and mitigation strategies. 

Refurbished Walkers and Wheelchairs Fill Gaps Created by Supply Chain Problems

Loan closets are playing an important role as supply chain issues and the rising price of aluminum have led to shortages in medical equipment such as wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, and knee scooters.

It’s Your Choice: You Can Change Your Views of Aging and Improve Your Life

Becca Levy of Yale University talks with “Navigating Aging” columnist Judith Graham about how people can alter ingrained perceptions of aging — which are often formed unconsciously and are unrecognized.