While respiratory virus activity remains elevated, most parts of the country are seeing some levels of decrease, according to the latest CDC updates.
Category: Public Health
The winter of persistent coughing
The winter virus season is often characterized by a hallmark sound: coughing. This year, though, some physicians and patients say coughing has been more persistent, often lasting for weeks after a virus passes, according to a Jan. 22 report in The Wash…
How Fringe Anti-Science Views Infiltrated Mainstream Politics — And What It Means in 2024
Opposition to vaccines and other public health measures backed by science has become politically charged. That makes dangerous misinformation much harder to fight.
CDC to physicians: Be alert for measles
The CDC is urging healthcare providers to monitor patients for measles symptoms amid a recent uptick in U.S. cases, according to Minneapolis-based University of Minnesota’s Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy.
Senate Probes the Cost of Assisted Living and Its Burden on American Families
In the wake of a KFF Health News-New York Times series, members of the Special Committee on Aging are asking residents and their families to submit their bills and are calling for a Government Accountability Office study.
KFF Health News’ ‘What the Health?’: Health Enters the Presidential Race
New Hampshire voters have spoken, and it seems increasingly clear that this November’s election will pit President Joe Biden against former President Donald Trump. Both appear to be making health a key part of their campaigns, with Trump vowing (again) to repeal the Affordable Care Act, and Biden stressing his support for contraception and abortion rights. Meanwhile, both candidates will try to highlight efforts to rein in prescription drug prices. Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico, Anna Edney of Bloomberg News, and Jessie Hellmann of CQ Roll Call join KFF Health News chief Washington correspondent Julie Rovner to discuss these issues and more. Also this week, Rovner interviews Sarah Somers of the National Health Law Program about the potential consequences for the health care system if the Supreme Court overturns a key precedent attempting to balance executive vs. judicial power.
CDC dismisses severity claims of JN.1 variant
The CDC has rejected findings from Ohio State University researchers that the JN.1 coronavirus variant is more severe than previous strains.
How IDSA is boosting infectious disease expert, public health collaboration
The Infectious Disease Society of America has announced the success of a program it jointly developed in 2017 aimed at drawing more physicians into the field and building a strong path to retain more of them in positions at the public health level.
Rare fungal infection gains prevalence in new region
Blastomycosis, a rare infection caused by the fungus Blastomyces, may be more common in the U.S. than previously thought, particularly in the Northeast, the CDC said Jan. 24.
A more accurate Alzheimer's blood detection test is on the horizon
A blood test that could detect signs of Alzheimer’s disease even prior to symptom onset is in the works, and early evaluation of it has proven to be highly accurate, according to new research, published Jan. 22 in JAMA.
