DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

Doctors told CNN they are being forced to turn away parents begging for baby milk, unable to even triage young patients with chronic illnesses compounded by severe hunger. Dozens of other Gazans crowd together to access water as aid workers nearby distribute thick, steaming red soup from large saucepans. It is God’s decision, but it is caused by people,” her father, Ahmed Maqat, told CNN, after she died on Saturday. But health workers told CNN there are few alternatives, with shortages of lactose free or soya milk for infants. Children line up for food aid in Jabalya refugee camp, the northern Gaza, on June 13.

Persons: CNN — Younis, Ghanima Juma’a, Khan Younis, “, Israel ramped, ”, Doctors, Israel, Younis, Hassan Kalash, CNN Israel, General António Guterres, Benjamin Netanyahu, Court’s, Omar Al Qatta, Israel —, Razan, Um Razan Mheitem, Kamal Adwan, Amal, Samaher, Ahmed Maqat, Maqat, Deir Al Balah, Ashraf Amra, Ahmed Kahlot, OCHA, Omar Al, Ismail Madi, Ahmad, Joe Biden … Organizations: CNN, Nasser Hospital, UN, Integrated, Palestine, UNRWA, Programme, Getty, Humanitarian Affairs, Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, Kamal, Kamal Adwan Hospital, Ministry of Health Locations: Nasser, Gaza, Khan, Rafah, Israel, Asda’a —, Gaza’s, Israeli, Jabalya, AFP, Al, Aqsa, Deir Al, Anadolu, soya

☆ Gaza population at risk of famine as it continues to face emergency levels of hunger, report finds
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-25 | by ( Jennifer Hansler | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

“A high risk of famine persists across the whole of the Gaza Strip as long as conflict continues and humanitarian access is restricted,” the report said. The Rafah crossing – a key transitway for humanitarian aid to Gaza – has been closed since early May, and only a handful of other land crossings remain open. Humanitarian aid workers continue to face tremendous risks to try to distribute the desperately needed aid to Gaza. “The humanitarian space in the Gaza Strip continues to shrink and the ability to safely deliver assistance to populations is dwindling,” the report said. “The humanitarian situation is deteriorating rapidly, and the specter of famine continues to hang over Gaza,” Phillips-Barrasso told CNN.

Persons: “, Gaza –, Netanyahu, Joe Biden, Israel, Matthew Miller, dory, it’s, ”, Cindy McCain, “ There’s, It’s, Kate Phillips, ” Phillips, Barrasso, Philippe Lazzarini Organizations: CNN, Hamas, Integrated, IPC, ”, Food, Mercy Corps, “, UNRWA Locations: Gaza, Israel, Rafah, United States

☆ Japan reports record spike in potentially deadly bacterial infection
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-17 | by ( Helen Regan | Junko Ogura | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Cases of a dangerous and highly fatal bacterial infection have reached record levels in Japan, official figures show, with experts so far unable to pinpoint the reason for the rise. STSS is a rare but serious bacterial infection that can develop when bacteria spread into deep tissues and the bloodstream. In March, Japanese authorities warned of a jump in STSS cases. The reason for this year’s rise in cases of STSS in Japan remains unclear, according to Japanese public broadcaster NHK. “So, more people are now susceptible to infection, and that may be one reason for the sharp rise in cases.”

Persons: iGAS “, Ken Kikuchi, people’s, ” Kikuchi Organizations: CNN, Japan’s Health, Japan’s National, of Infectious, US Centers for Disease Control, Prevention, CDC, World Health, of Infectious Diseases, NHK, Tokyo Women’s Medical University Locations: Japan, STSS, Tokyo

☆ Bird flu is rampant in animals. Humans ignore it at our own peril
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-11 | by ( Brenda Goodman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +15 min

Then, three healthy ferrets were placed in the same enclosures with three of the sick animals. These animals could touch, nose and lick the sick animals, and all of them became ill.Next, the CDC tested airborne transmission by putting three healthy ferrets into an enclosure where they could breathe the same air as sick animals but couldn’t touch them. In her lab, ferrets with previous exposures to seasonal flu strains didn’t get as sick when exposed to new flu viruses compared to those with no prior exposure to seasonal strains. How much help we might get from past exposures to flu viruses is difficult to predict, however, which is why vaccination would still be important to tune up our immunity. They never spread the virus to any of the other animals in the facility — including themselves.

Persons: Mark Naniot, Naniot, “, ”, It’s, Jeremy Farrar, Jesse Bloom, Fred Hutch, ” Naniot, Naniot hadn’t, Scott Weese, Weese, there’s, Covid, Rick Bright, Sanjay Gupta, Bright, Erin Sorrell, Zahl, Seema Lakdawala, hasn’t, ” Bright, Dr, Richard Webby, Jude Children’s, “ It’s, Ducks, Michael Osterholm, “ I’ve, he’s Organizations: CNN, Swiss Army, World Health Organization, Fred Hutch Cancer Center, University of Guelph, US Centers for Disease Control, CDC, Research, Development Authority, CNN Chief, Bright Global Health, Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, Getty, Emory University, STAT, Administration, Strategic Preparedness, USDA, Jude Children’s Research, Infectious Disease, University of Minnesota, CNN Health Locations: Wisconsin’s, United States, Seattle, Canada, Texas, Vadso, Finnmark, Norway, AFP, Finland, St, Wisconsin

☆ H5N1 Already Killed Millions of Birds. Humans Share the Blame. - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-10 | by ( Alex Tey | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

We don’t yet know if H5N1 bird flu will spill over from animals to infect a large number of humans. It’s my belief that humans have an obligation to the nonhuman life we share this planet with to mitigate the harm we’ve enabled this virus to cause. But even if you don’t share that conviction, it is still in our best interest to keep this virus from spreading. Wild birds are routinely exposed to mild viruses, but are seldom killed by them. Humans, however, have introduced factors that favor disease: A warming climate can weaken avian immune systems, and infections spread more easily when birds come into more frequent contact while sharing what little habitat remains.

Organizations: World Health

☆ WHO clarifies what counts as a pathogen that can spread through the air
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-18 | by ( Jacqueline Howard | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

“Airborne transmission” refers to when infectious respiratory particles expel into the air, such as from coughing or sneezing, and enter the respiratory tract of another person who inhales them, according to WHO. The subcategory “direct deposition” refers to when infectious respiratory particles expel into the air and directly land on another person’s mouth, nose or eyes, potentially causing infection. “Public health agencies were hesitant to use the word ‘airborne’ because of differences in understanding among experts about what it meant. When I say ‘aerosol’, when I say ‘through the air’, it doesn’t matter whether I’m an engineer, a clinician, a nurse, a public health person. ‘There were many failures’During the pandemic, various terms were used in different ways to describe how the coronavirus could spread, causing much confusion – terms like airborne, airborne transmission or aerosol transmission.

Persons: ” Linsey Marr, “, ” Marr, ”, Jeremy Farrar, ” Farrar, Jessica Justman, Justman, Dr, Sanjay Gupta, Stephen S, Morse Organizations: CNN, World Health, WHO, Virginia Tech, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, CNN Health, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health

With 23% of the vote, Wilders stands a good chance of leading any future governing coalition. In the Netherlands, forming a majority coalition with Wilders' party was considered unthinkable not long ago. "And Wilders took off in the polls.”In December, a member of Wilders' party became president of parliament, marking a breakthrough in political acceptance. There is now a real prospect of his far-right party joining, or even leading, a majority governing coalition. Rather than far-right parties being pulled to the center, the center may veer to the right.

Persons: SINT, ”, Geert Wilders, Wilders, ’ ”, Rem Korteweg, “, Walter de Jong, De Jong, Mark Rutte, Tom Theuns, ” Wilders, Theuns, ” Theuns, Jean, Marie Le Pen, Le Pen’s, —, North Africa —, Mark Rutte's, Frans Timmermans Organizations: Party, Freedom, European Union, EU, Party for Freedom, Rabobank, “, Leiden University, National, Frontex, ”, Pulitzer Center, Crisis Locations: SINT WILLEBRORD, Netherlands, Willebrord, Europe, Germany, France, Spain, Sweden, Austria, The Hague, Hungary, Serbia, Poland, Rucphen, Sint Willebrord, Ukraine, Soviet, Syria, Turkey, Belgium, Dutch, North Africa, EU

☆ In Gaza, disease could be even deadlier than airstrikes, WHO says
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Jacqueline Howard | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —As the Israel-Hamas conflict continues, there’s growing concern about how the situation may raise the risk of disease and illness in Gaza. There could be more deaths in Gaza from disease and a broken health infrastructure than from bombs and missiles, the World Health Organization has warned. “If the conflict impacts access to safe water, then there may be challenges with waterborne diseases,” she said. In this situation, the risk of death due to disease is much greater than the risk of death due to bombardment,” said Haque, who is not involved in WHO but has studied infectious disease, conflict and war. During the Israel-Hamas conflict, maternity care facilities have been affected by Israeli airstrikes due to evacuations, power outages, and a shortage of medical supplies.

Persons: “, Margaret Harris, Barry Levy, ”, Levy, Rebecca Katz, ” Katz, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, ” Tedros, Abed Rahim Khatib, Ubydul Haque, Haque, Dr, Sanjay Gupta, Shifa, CNN’s Martin Goillandeau, Eleni Giokos Organizations: CNN, World Health Organization, WHO, Tufts University School of Medicine, Center for Global Health Science, Security, Georgetown University, United Nations Relief, Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees, United Nations Office, Humanitarian Affairs, Getty, Rutgers Global Health Institute, CNN Health, Shifa Locations: Israel, Gaza, Covid, Al

☆ WHO Says Gaza's Health System Must Be Protected as Disease Spreads
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

By Gabrielle Tétrault-FarberGENEVA (Reuters) - The World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday called for Gaza's vulnerable health infrastructure to be safeguarded as the war-torn enclave faces an increased risk of epidemics and challenges in detecting infectious diseases. Speaking at a press conference in Geneva, World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said only 15 of Gaza's 36 hospitals were still functioning and were completely overwhelmed. "The remaining health system capacity must be protected, supported and expanded." "With severe overcrowding, the risks are increasing for epidemics of respiratory tract infections, acute watery diarrhoea, hepatitis, scabies, lice and other diseases," Tedros said. "Any resumption of violence could damage the health facilities and make more health facilities dysfunctional," said Richard Peeperkorn, WHO Representative in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Persons: Gabrielle Tétrault, Farber, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Tedros, Mike Ryan, Richard Peeperkorn, Linda Pasquini, Christina Fincher Organizations: Farber GENEVA, World Health Organization, WHO, WHO's, West Bank Locations: Israel, Geneva, Gaza, Palestinian Territories

☆ Disease could be bigger killer than bombs in Gaza - WHO
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Mohammed Salem/ File photo Acquire Licensing RightsGENEVA, Nov 28 (Reuters) - More people could die from disease than from bombings in the Gaza Strip if its health system is not repaired, a World Health Organization spokesperson said on Tuesday. Gaza health authorities deemed reliable by the United Nations say more than 15,000 people have been confirmed killed in Israel's bombardment of Gaza, around 40% of them children, with many more dead feared to be lost under rubble. Citing a U.N. report on the living conditions of displaced residents in northern Gaza, she said: "(There are) no medicines, no vaccination activities, no access to safe water and hygiene and no food. She described the collapse of Al Shifa Hospital in northern Gaza as a "tragedy" and voiced concern about the detention of some of its medical staff by Israeli forces during a WHO evacuation convoy. They don't have access to safe water and it's crippling them," he said.

Persons: Khan Younis, Mohammed Salem, Margaret Harris, James Elder, Emma Farge, Rachel More, Nick Macfie Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Health Organization, United Nations, Al, WHO, Children's Agency, Thomson Locations: Israel, Gaza, Geneva, Al Shifa

Children and their parents wait at an outpatient area at a hospital in Beijing on Thursday. Photo: jade gao/Agence France-Presse/Getty ImagesThe World Health Organization said it has asked China to provide more information on an outbreak of pneumonia among children in northern parts of the country, an unusual public disclosure that revives questions about Beijing’s transparency on the spread of infectious diseases. In a statement issued Wednesday, the WHO cited reports about “clusters of undiagnosed pneumonia in children in northern China,” which prompted the United Nations agency to ask Beijing for “additional epidemiologic and clinical information, as well as laboratory results” related to the infections.

Organizations: Agence France, Health Organization, United Nations, Beijing Locations: Beijing, China

GENEVA (AP) — The World Health Organization says it has made an official request to China for information about a potentially worrying spike in respiratory illnesses and clusters of pneumonia in children. The U.N. health agency cited unspecified media reports and a global infectious disease monitoring service as reporting clusters of undiagnosed pneumonia in children in northern China. Political Cartoons View All 1265 ImagesWHO said media reports about a week later reported clusters of undiagnosed pneumonia in children in northern China. WHO said that northern China has reported a jump in influenza-like illnesses since mid-October compared to the previous three years. It is rare for the U.N. health agency to publicly ask for more detailed information from countries, as such requests are typically made internally.

Persons: David Heymann, ” Heymann, Francois Balloux, ” Balloux, China's, ___ Cheng, Wanqing Chen Organizations: GENEVA, World Health Organization, WHO, National Health Commission, London School of Hygiene, Tropical Medicine, University College London, Beijing Children’s Hospital, China National Radio, Health Commission, Xinhua News Agency Locations: China, Beijing, London

☆ WHO warns of 'worrying trends' in disease spread in Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"As deaths and injuries in Gaza continue to rise due to intensified hostilities, intense overcrowding and disrupted health, water, and sanitation systems pose an added danger: the rapid spread of infectious diseases," WHO said. "Some worrying trends are already emerging." It said that the lack of fuel in the densely populated enclave had caused desalination plants to shut down, which increased the risk of bacterial infections like diarrhoea spreading. WHO said that more than 33,551 cases of diarrhoea had been reported since mid-October, the bulk of which among children under five. "Disrupted routine vaccination activities, as well as lack of medicines for treating communicable diseases, further increase the risk of accelerated disease spread," it warned.

Persons: Hassan Zain al Din, Gabrielle Tétrault, Farber, Aurora Ellis Organizations: World Health Organization, WHO, United Nations, Thomson Locations: Israel, Deir ., GENEVA, Gaza

The program, called the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief Program, or PEPFAR, started in 2003 by President George W. Bush. Congress missed the Sept. 30 deadline to renew funding for PEPFAR before it expired. The policy had not been included as a part of PEPFAR funding until 2017, when the Trump administration expanded the policy to include it as a part of the program. Advocates for PEPFAR contend the program does not directly or indirectly fund abortion services. For some countries, the health benefits of the PEPFAR program go beyond its mission of reducing the spread of AIDS.

Persons: George W, Joe Biden, PEPFAR, “, ”, Chris Smith, Biden, Ronald Reagan, Trump, Bush, George Ingram, Matthew Miller, ” Miller, reauthorization, Ingram, ” Ingram, Carlos del Rio Organizations: U.S, President’s, AIDS Relief, U.S . State Department, PEPFAR, Congress, House Republicans, Biden Administration, House Global Health, Senate, Senators, Republicans, Center for Sustainable Development, Brookings Institute, Kaiser Family Foundation, Program, Emory University School of Medicine, State, Committee, Infectious Diseases Society of America Locations: U.S, New Jersey, Mexico, Washington, Africa, China, Russia

☆ Unleashing a New Weapon on the Mosquito: A Mosquito
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( Stephanie Nolen | Eleanor Lutz | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +17 min

Anggy Aldana working at the World Mosquito Program lab in Medellín, Colombia. Researchers found, after painstaking trial and error, that they could insert the bacteria into mosquito eggs using minute needles. How mosquito eggs are injected with Wolbachia A looping video showing a thin needle injecting fluid into a row of black mosquito eggs. How Wolbachia spreads among wild mosquitoes A series of three illustrations showing the outcomes of breeding between wild mosquitoes and mosquitoes infected with Wolbachia. Mosquito eggs and a tray of chilled mosquitoes at the World Mosquito Program lab.

Persons: Eleanor Lutz, Wolbachia, Scott O’Neill, —, O’Neill’s, Steven Sinkins, Marlon Victoria, ”, Victoria, “, O’Neill, It’s, Laura Harrington, They’re, won’t, ” Mr Organizations: Mosquito Program, Mosquito, Brazil —, FRANCE Croatia United, ARGENTINA CHILE Americas, CHILE Americas, University of Glasgow, —, Medellín Health, Colombian, Cornell University Locations: Medellín, Colombia, Cali, Honduras, Australia, Australian, Vietnam, Indonesia, France, Florida and Texas, Brazil, Americas, African, Asia, Europe, FRANCE Croatia United States PORTUGAL JAPAN CHINA Texas PAKISTAN Florida EGYPT INDIA MALI MEXICO PHILIPPINES SUDAN ETHIOPIA Colombia SOMALIA INDONESIA BRAZIL ANGOLA PERU NAMIBIA AUSTRALIA, AFRICA Africa, Oceania, ARGENTINA CHILE, FRANCE Croatia United States PORTUGAL JAPAN CHINA Texas Florida EGYPT, MEXICO MALI PHILIPPINES SUDAN Colombia SOMALIA INDONESIA BRAZIL ANGOLA PERU NAMIBIA AUSTRALIA ARGENTINA Africa, CHILE, Africa, United States, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Wolbachia, Siloé, West Africa, Medellin

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (AP) — For decades, preventing dengue fever in Honduras has meant teaching people to fear mosquitoes and avoid their bites. Enriquez, a 52-year-old mason, had volunteered to help publicize a plan to suppress dengue by releasing millions of special mosquitoes in the Honduran capital. The Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that most commonly spread dengue have been resistant to insecticides, which have fleeting results even in the best-case scenario. SCIENTISTS SURPRISED BY BACTERIAThe Wolbachia strategy has been decades in the making. But along the way, O’Neill’s team made a surprising discovery: Mosquitoes carrying Wolbachia didn’t spread dengue — or other related diseases, including yellow fever, Zika and chikungunya.

Persons: they’ve, Hector Enriquez, Enriquez, ”, Scott O’Neill, Conor McMeniman, McMeniman, haven’t, Raman Velayudhan, Velayudhan, O’Neill, Oliver Brady, ” Brady, Bobby Reiner, “ It’s, ” Reiner, Edgard Boquín, Marlene Salazar, María Fernanda Marín, Lourdes Betancourt, Betancourt –, ” Betancourt, “, ___ Burakoff, Marko Álvarez, — Organizations: Mosquito Program, World Health Organization, Johns Hopkins University, WHO, London School of Hygiene, Mosquito, University of Washington, Workers, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science, Educational Media Group, AP Locations: TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras, Tegucigalpa, Honduran, El, Australia, ”, Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Fiji, Vietnam, Indonesia, COLOMBIA, Medellín, HONDURAS, Medellin, Northern Tegucigalpa, New York City

The updated shots are part of a push by public health officials to align the next COVID vaccines more closely with the actual circulating variant of the virus, similar to the way annual flu shots are designed. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Monday authorized updated COVID vaccines made by Pfizer (PFE.N) and its German partner BioNTech SE (22UAy.DE) as well as by Moderna (MRNA.O). CDC Director Mandy Cohen is expected to approve the recommendations issued by the advisers, allowing Americans to get the updated vaccines. The first COVID vaccines in 2020 were monovalent, or single-target vaccines, aimed at the original strain of the virus. They were followed by bivalent COVID vaccine booster shots that targeted both the original and the Omicron strains.

Persons: Emily Elconin, BioNTech, Caitlin Rivers, Mandy Cohen, Rivers, bivalent, Daniel Kuritzkes, Eris, Kuritzkes, Novavax, Bhanvi, Julie Steenhuysen, Will Dunham, Caroline Humer Organizations: REUTERS, U.S . Centers for Disease Control, Prevention, U.S . Food, Drug Administration, Pfizer, Moderna, FDA, Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, CDC, Omicron, Brigham, Women's Hospital, Vaccine, EG, Thomson Locations: Waterford , Michigan, U.S, United States, Baltimore, Europe, Asia, Boston, Moderna, Bengaluru, Chicago

☆ Moderna says updated COVID vaccine is effective against newer variant
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( Patrick Wingrove | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] A vial and sryinge are seen in front of a displayed Moderna logo in this illustration taken January 11, 2021. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 6 (Reuters) - Moderna (MRNA.O) on Wednesday said clinical trial data showed its updated COVID-19 vaccine will likely be effective against the highly-mutated BA.2.86 subvariant of the coronavirus that has raised fears of a resurgence of infections. The Omicron offshoot carries more than 35 mutations in key portions of the virus compared with XBB.1.5, the dominant variant through most of 2023 and the target of the updated shots. Moderna said it had shared the new finding on its vaccine with regulators and submitted it for peer review publication. European regulators have since backed the Pfizer/BioNTech shot, with Britain's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency approving the vaccine on Tuesday, but have yet to make any announcements on Moderna’s updated vaccine.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Jacqueline Miller, Moderna, COVID, BioNTech, Patrick Wingrove, Bill Berkrot Organizations: REUTERS, World Health Organization, WHO, U.S . Centers for Disease Control, Prevention, ” Moderna, CDC, Omicron, U.S . Food, Drug Administration, Pfizer, Moderna, Britain's Medicines, Healthcare, Agency, Reuters, Thomson Locations: The Massachusetts, Switzerland, South Africa, Israel, Denmark, U.S, Britain, New York

☆ Moderna, Pfizer say updated COVID shots generate strong response vs newer variant
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( Patrick Wingrove | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Moderna said its shot generated an 8.7-fold increase in neutralizing antibodies against BA.2.86 compared with an untreated natural antibody response in clinical trials in humans. Pfizer said its updated vaccine with partner BioNTech (22UAy.DE) elicited a strong antibody response against BA.2.86 in a preclinical study in mice. Moderna, Pfizer/BioNTech and relative newcomer to the COVID vaccine market Novavax (NVAX.O) have created versions of their shots aimed at the XBB.1.5 subvariant, the dominant variant through most of 2023. Moderna shares were down 1.6% and Pfizer shares were off nearly 3% in afternoon trading. The Omicron offshoot carries more than 35 mutations in key portions of the virus compared with XBB.1.5, the target of the updated shots.

Persons: Moderna, Jacqueline Miller, BioNTech, Cowen, Tyler Van Buren, Dado Ruvic, Patrick Wingrove, Michael Erman, Bill Berkrot Organizations: Pfizer, World Health Organization, WHO, U.S . Centers for Disease Control, Prevention, ” Moderna, Moderna, REUTERS, CDC, Omicron, U.S . Food, Drug Administration, Britain's Medicines, Healthcare, Agency, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Switzerland, South Africa, Israel, Denmark, U.S, Britain, New York, New Jersey

☆ Rich, poor countries split over costs of pandemic prevention
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +9 min

REUTERS/Bruno Kelly/StringerSince early in the COVID-19 pandemic, global health officials have sought to create a “pandemic treaty” to better prepare for future outbreaks. The governing body of the World Health Organization, or WHO, chose delegates from each of its six administrative regions worldwide to lead the negotiations. Ahead of next week’s meeting, according to officials interviewed by Reuters, the biggest sticking point remains financing for poor countries. The United States and the European Union have both said they support the inclusion of “One Health” provisions in a pandemic treaty. But as a far-reaching and sometimes abstract concept, “One Health” measures could be costly to put into practice.

Persons: ”, Chadia Wannous, zoonotic spillover, Bruno Kelly, Stringer, Lawrence Gostin, ” Gostin, –, Maria Van Kerkhove, “, Deborah J, Nelson, Ryan McNeill, Helen Reid, Sam Hart, Simon Newman, Edgar Su, Paulo Prada, Janet Roberts, Feilding Organizations: LONDON Health, World Health Organization, Organisation for Animal Health, Reuters, REUTERS, WHO, European Union, Center, National, Global Health Law, “, Pacific, Brazilian, South Locations: Geneva, France, United States, Asia, Africa, Latin America, Americas, Southeast Asia, Brazil

☆ Which arm gets the Covid-19 booster may make a difference, study shows
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-18 | by ( Madeline Holcombe | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —When you go to get your newly updated Covid-19 booster this fall, you might want to choose the arm the vaccine goes in carefully. The immune response may be stronger if your booster goes in the same arm as your last Covid-19 shot, according to a study published August 11 in the journal eBioMedicine. The immune response may be stronger if a Covid-19 booster goes in the same arm as your last shot, a new study suggests. Two weeks after the booster, the number of “killer T cells” was significantly higher in those who had both shots in the same arm, according to the study. This study made Schaffner think about this fall, when he will get vaccines for respiratory syncytial virus, known as RSV, and influenza as well as a Covid-19 booster.

Persons: Martina Sester, Scott Olson, Laura Ziegler, “, ”, William Schaffner, Schaffner Organizations: CNN, of Infection, Saarland University Hospital, Saarland University, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, American Cancer Society, National Institutes of Health Locations: Germany, Nashville

☆ The next Covid booster is on the horizon: Will the vaccine be covered by insurance?
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-16 | by ( Renée Onque | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Now that the national emergency is no longer in effect, many are wondering if their insurance will cover the latest booster shots. Will insurance cover the newest Covid booster? If you get your vaccines at your local pharmacy, consider asking a pharmacist at the location if your insurance covers Covid boosters, she adds. If you don't have insurance or your provider isn't covering the cost of your vaccine, booster shots should also be available for free through local public health authorities, Patel adds. What else should you know about the 'Eris' Covid variant?

Persons: Payal Patel, Patel, Sorana Segal, Maurer, Segal, you'll, who've Organizations: EG, Intermountain Health, World Health Organization, CNBC, Presbyterian Queens Locations: Salt Lake City, U.S, NewYork, Covid

☆ STIs are on the rise in the US. A pill taken after sex could help slow them down
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( Jacqueline Howard | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +14 min

Yet recent research suggests that one pill of the drug can be effective in preventing such infections among men who have sex with men if taken within 72 hours after unprotected sex. He added that any guidance from the CDC will help “fill gaps,” provide direction to clinics and offer a framework for using doxyPEP for STI prevention. “Drug resistance when taking doxyPEP is currently being studied in people using this treatment for STI prevention. “There are still many STI prevention and treatment gaps left to fill. “In STI prevention, we’ve been relying on tools that are decades, sometimes centuries old.

Persons: Dr, Jonathan Mermin, ”, doxyPEP, Stephanie Cohen, “, “ We’re, ” Cohen, ” David C, Harvey, ” Harvey, DoxyPEP, someone’s, Annie Luetkemeyer, gonorrhea, ” Luetkemeyer, Connie Celum, Kenya Medical Research Institute —, Jenell Stewart, Stewart, ” Stewart, Suneer Chander, Wisp, ” Chander, Sanjay Gupta, Mermin, Deidre McPhillips Organizations: CNN, US Centers for Disease Control, CDC’s National Center, HIV, CDC, San Francisco Department of Public Health, California Department of Public Health, San Francisco Department of Public, National Coalition, STD, “, New England, of Medicine, Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, UCSF, University of Washington, Hennepin Healthcare Research Institute, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Hennepin Healthcare, University of Minnesota, PEP, Food and Drug Administration, CNN Health Locations: United States, San Francisco, Seattle, King County, Washington, Kenya, Hennepin

☆ Vaccines for flu and RSV now available ahead of fall virus season
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-01 | by ( Amanda Musa | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —With the fall respiratory virus season just around the corner, major US pharmacy chains have begun rolling out flu and RSV vaccine appointments. CVS is now scheduling flu vaccinations, as well as allowing walk-in vaccinations at certain pharmacies, spokesperson Amy Thibault said. Rite Aid, CVS and Walgreens say they will also offer the new Covid-19 vaccines once they’re available. The US Food and Drug Administration approved the world’s first RSV vaccines, from GSK and Pfizer, this year. Those who want all three vaccines should get their RSV vaccine well before or after their flu and Covid-19 shots, Schaffner says.

Persons: Catherine Carter, Amy Thibault, Xavier Becerra, Becerra, Albert Bourla, William Schaffner, it’s, ” Schaffner, Schaffner, Dr, Sanjay Gupta, “ We’re, “, ” Organizations: CNN, Walgreens, Aid, CVS, Walmart, Publix, Kroger, Rite, FDA, US Centers for Disease Control, US Department of Health, Human Services, Pfizer, Moderna, Food and Drug Administration, GSK, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, CDC, CNN Health

☆ FDA approves AstraZeneca, Sanofi shot that protects infants and toddlers against RSV
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-17 | by ( Spencer Kimball | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The FDA approval of nirsevimab, sold under the brand name Beyfortus, comes ahead of RSV season this fall. This is a major advantage over palivizumab, which is administered monthly throughout RSV season. Nirsevimab is administered either before or during an infant's first RSV season. Toddlers up to two years old who remain vulnerable can also receive the shot during their second RSV season. Pfizer has developed a vaccine that protects infants by administering the shot to the mother while she is pregnant.

Persons: Biden, Nirsevimab Organizations: Drug Administration, AstraZeneca, Sanofi, FDA, Disease Control, Children, CDC, Pfizer Locations: U.S, Nirsevimab

Search resuls for: "of Infectious Diseases"

25 mentions found