Author: Claudinne Miller
New York Resident Dies of Eastern Equine Encephalitis Infection
New York Times The first person to be diagnosed with Eastern equine encephalitis in New York in nearly a decade has died, prompting Gov. Kathy Hochul to declare the rare, mosquito-borne viral illness an imminent public health threat on Monday. Ms. Hochul announced the death, in Ulster County, in a news release outlining the steps that state officials are […]
Sep 24, 2024
FDA approves first nasal spray flu vaccine for use at home
Washington Post The Food and Drug Administration on Friday approved the first at-home flu vaccine, a nasal spray that consumers with a prescription will be able to order online starting next year. Health experts say the convenience of the spray — FluMist — could lead to increased flu vaccination rates. The maker of the vaccine, […]
Sep 24, 2024
Vaccine Misinformation Spreads as Children Head Back to School
KFF This edition highlights vaccine hesitancy and misinformation around MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccines as children return to school and measles cases resurge in parts of the U.S. We also examine emerging narratives around COVID-19 vaccine misinformation following the FDA approval of COVID-19 boosters and false claims linking mpox to the vaccines. Additionally, a review of recent research explores […]
Sep 18, 2024
Research Shows Severe COVID-19 Contributes to Long-Lasting Cognitive Impairment
University of Miami In a study that followed COVID-19 patients for two years or more, researchers at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine showed the disease contributes to long-lasting brain fog and other cognitive issues. These results could be especially concerning for Hispanic, Black and other underrepresented communities, which are already at higher […]
Sep 18, 2024
A history of mpox so far
STAT In August, the World Health Organization declared the mpox outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and several other African countries a public health emergency of international concern. This is the second time in two years that mpox, formerly called monkeypox, has been listed as a PHEIC. In 2022, mpox spread through multiple […]
Sep 18, 2024
NIH releases mpox research agenda
NIH Plan will advance knowledge of virus biology to improve detection, treatment and prevention.As part of the U.S. government response to the current mpox outbreak(link is external), the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) has released an update on its priorities for mpox research. The NIAID mpox research agenda focuses […]
Sep 18, 2024
FDA Committee to Discuss Flu Vaccine, Pandemic Preparedness
Bloomberg The Food and Drug Administration will hold a meeting of its Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee on Oct. 10. The panel will discuss influenza vaccine strain selection for the 2025 southern hemisphere season and pandemic preparedness for avian influenza, according to a notice published in the Federal Register. The committee will also hear overviews […]
Sep 18, 2024
Locally Acquired Dengue Case Confirmed in California
Medscape A case of locally acquired dengue fever has been confirmed in a resident of Baldwin Park, California, according to a press release from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. This locally acquired case of dengue is the third to be reported in California and the first to be reported by the Los Angeles County […]
Sep 18, 2024
What Is Wetland Virus, China’s Newly-Discovered Tick-Borne Illness That Can Infect the Brain?
Prevention Tick-borne infections are on the rise, causing about half a million new illnesses in America each year. But while most people are familiar on some level with infections like Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, there’s a new tick-borne infection to have on your radar. It’s called Wetland virus, and it’s a newly-discovered illness spotted in China […]
Sep 18, 2024
Mosquito-borne diseases are surging in Europe — how worried are scientists?
Nature Diseases such as West Nile virus and dengue are becoming increasingly common as the insects that spread them move north. Climate change is turning Europe into a breeding ground for mosquito-borne diseases, researchers warn. Longer summers, hotter temperatures and heavy rainfall are creating favourable conditions for mosquitos in places where they couldn’t previously thrive. […]
Sep 18, 2024