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☆ China says seasonal germs, rather than ‘unusual or novel pathogens,’ behind spike in pediatric respiratory illness, WHO says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( Jen Christensen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Some of those increases are a little earlier than usual, but WHO said they were “not unexpected.”Similar early surges in respiratory illnesses were seen in other countries after Covid-19 restrictions were lifted. At Thursday’s teleconference, WHO said, the Chinese officials reported enhanced surveillance of respiratory illnesses that may be contributing to increases in reported cases of disease. Even with the spike in cases, China also said that its hospitals are not overwhelmed with patients. WHO has been monitoring data from Chinese surveillance systems since mid-October, when it initially noted an increase in respiratory illnesses in children in northern China. WHO said it will continue to closely monitor the situation, stay in close contact with national authorities in China and provide updates when appropriate.

Persons: teleconference, ”, Dr, Sanjay Gupta, CNN’s Katherine Dillinger Organizations: CNN, World Health Organization, WHO, Chinese Center for Disease Control, Beijing Children’s, Media, International Society for Infectious Diseases, CNN Health Locations: China, Beijing, United States

COVID-19 vaccine uptake this fall is perhaps not what many had hoped it would be. The rates appear to be on track with the rollout of the previous updated COVID-19 shot but fall significantly short of the flu vaccine coverage so far this season. A couple other factors have probably affected vaccine uptake to a smaller extent. Smith says that it is surprising how the COVID-19 vaccination rates compare to flu shot uptake. Combination flu and COVID-19 vaccines are in the works but aren’t expected to be available to the public until 2025.

Persons: “ It's, ”, Camille Kotton, ” Kotton, “, they've, haven’t, they're, Kotton, didn't, Emily Smith, Smith, it's, it’s Organizations: Massachusetts General Hospital, Centers for Disease Control, CDC, George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health, U.S . Locations: Massachusetts, COVID, U.S

WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans can order more free COVID-19 tests online for home delivery. Anyone who did not order a batch of four COVID-19 tests in September can secure up to eight of them this time around starting Monday at COVIDtests.gov. The new release of free COVID-19 nasal swab tests also comes ahead of the first winter since the pandemic started that insurers are no longer required to cover the cost of them. Political Cartoons View All 1256 ImagesThe Food and Drug Administration also approved updated COVID-19 vaccines in September in the hopes of revving up protection for Americans this winter. U.S. taxpayers have spent tens of billions of dollars to develop COVID-19 tests, vaccines and treatments in the three years since the pandemic started.

Organizations: WASHINGTON, U.S . Postal Service, Drug Administration Locations: U.S, COVIDtests.gov, COVID, United States

☆ U.S. Offers Another Round of Free Covid Tests Through the Mail
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Sheryl Gay Stolberg | More About Sheryl Gay Stolberg | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Just in time for the holiday season, the Biden administration is offering Americans a fresh round of free at-home coronavirus tests through the Postal Service. The administration revived the dormant program in September, announcing then that households could order four free tests through a federal website, covidtests.gov. Beginning Monday, households may order an additional four tests — or eight tests if they had not ordered any in the previous round. Hospital admissions of patients with Covid ticked up this summer, but they began declining slightly in September and have held fairly steady in recent weeks. About 16,000 people were admitted to hospitals with the virus in the week that ended Nov. 11, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Persons: Biden Organizations: Postal Service, Centers for Disease Control Locations: Covid, United States

Over 16,200 new COVID-19 hospital admissions were reported last week – an increase of more than 8% over the week prior. CDC continues to monitor HV.1, EG.5 and all other lineages.”HV.1 was responsible for 29% of new COVID-19 cases in recent weeks, according to estimates from the CDC. Updated COVID-19 vaccines are expected to work on HV.1, which is a descendant of EG.5. Political Cartoons on Women’s Issues View All 73 ImagesNearly 15% of American adults have received the updated COVID-19 shot, according to a survey from the federal government. While the COVID-19 vaccine coverage so far is comparable to the last updated COVID-19 vaccine, it’s still lower than experts were hoping for ahead of the holiday season.

Persons: “, EG Organizations: Centers for Disease Control, CDC, EG Locations: U.S

NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. flu season is underway, with at least seven states reporting high levels of illnesses and cases rising in other parts of the country, health officials say. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention posted new flu data on Friday, showing very high activity last week in Louisiana, and high activity in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, New Mexico and South Carolina. “We’re off to the races,” said Dr. William Schaffner, a Vanderbilt University infectious diseases expertTraditionally, the winter flu season ramps up in December or January. Flu activity was moderate but rising in New York City, Arkansas, California, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, Tennessee and Texas. Flu vaccination rates are better than rates for the other two main respiratory viruses — COVID-19 and RSV.

Persons: “, ”, William Schaffner, Alicia Budd, Budd, it’s Organizations: Disease Control, District of Columbia, Vanderbilt University, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science, Educational Media Group, AP Locations: U.S, Louisiana, Alabama , Florida, Georgia , Mississippi, New Mexico, South Carolina, District, Puerto Rico, New York City , Arkansas , California , Maryland , New Jersey, North Carolina , Tennessee, Texas, Alaska

☆ CDC expedites release of more doses of infant RSV drug from Sanofi, AstraZeneca amid shortage
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The shortage – and other issues related to insurance coverage – threatens to prevent infants from receiving critical protection against RSV. Each year, the virus kills a few hundred children younger than 5, and 6,000 to 10,000 seniors, according to the CDC. RSV also causes around 58,000 to 80,000 hospitalizations among children younger than 5 years old each year, the CDC said. The U.S. started to see a sharp uptick in RSV cases in the middle of October. The U.S. suffered an unusually severe RSV season last year.

Persons: Sanofi, Nirav Shah Organizations: Disease Control, U.S, Sanofi, AstraZeneca, CDC, Vaccines, Children Program, Food and Drug Administration, FDA Locations: U.S

NEW YORK (AP) — RSV infections are rising sharply in some parts of the country, nearly filling hospital emergency departments in Georgia, Texas and some other states. To help counter the surge, federal officials on Thursday announced they were releasing 77,000 doses of a new RSV shot for newborns that have been in short supply. In Virginia, 20 kids are currently hospitalized with RSV at the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU Health, with about half of them in the intensive care unit, said spokesperson Shira Pollard. “Our emergency departments, our urgent cares are extremely busy. RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, is a common cause of mild cold-like symptoms such as runny nose, cough and fever.

Persons: Meredith McMorrow, Shira Pollard, Jim Fortenberry, ” Fortenberry, ___ Hunter, Robert Wood Johnson Organizations: Centers for Disease Control, Children’s Hospital of Richmond, VCU Health, Children’s Healthcare, CDC, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science, Educational Media Group, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, AP Locations: Georgia , Texas, Virginia, Georgia, Atlanta, Children’s

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Puerto Rico health officials on Thursday declared an influenza epidemic in the U.S. territory. At least 25,900 cases have been reported since July, with 42 deaths and more than 900 hospitalizations on the island of 3.2 million people, Health Secretary Carlos Mellado said. Those who are 0 to 19 years old have been most affected, with more than 13,600 cases reported in that population, Mellado said. Health officials said there were plenty of vaccines, tests and treatments available on the island. Political Cartoons View All 1237 ImagesA record 53,708 influenza cases were reported in 2015 in Puerto Rico.

Persons: Carlos Mellado, Epidemiologist Melissa Marzán, Mellado Organizations: JUAN, —, Health Locations: Puerto Rico, — Puerto Rico, U.S

A new COVID-19 variant has entered the scene in the U.S.HV.1 was documented by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in low numbers over the summer. It’s a descendent of EG.5, which is the second most common variant in the U.S. at nearly 22% of new cases, according to estimates from the CDC. That estimate also includes cases from HV.1 and another similar strain, HK.5. The CDC is predicting a “moderate” COVID-19 wave, according to its respiratory disease season outlook. “COVID-19 variants continue to emerge but have not resulted in rapid disease surges,” the CDC said in an update to its respiratory disease season outlook published last month.

Persons: eris, ”, Perry, We've, ” Halkitis, “ Organizations: Centers for Disease Control, EG, World Health Organization doesn’t, WHO, HK, Rutgers School of Public Health, CDC Locations: U.S

☆ CDC to expand disease surveillance at four major US airports to include flu, RSV
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Manav Tanneeru | Amanda Musa | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is expanding its infectious disease surveillance program at four major US airports to more than 30 pathogens, including flu, RSV and other respiratory viruses. The program currently operates Covid-19 surveillance at seven major international airports in the United States. The traveler surveillance program was introduced in 2021 when the CDC began collecting nasal swab samples from anonymous international travelers arriving at participating airports who volunteer to get swabbed. The program has collected samples from travelers from more than 135 countries and has sequenced more than 14,000 samples for further analysis. The wastewater program, which was introduced in August 2022, collects wastewater from a single plane using a custom-made collection device.

Persons: Dr, Cindy Friedman, John F, “, ” Friedman, Friedman, Ginkgo Bioworks, Matthew McKnight, ” McKnight, Sanjay Gupta, Deidre McPhillips Organizations: CNN, Centers for Disease Control, CDC’s, Health, Boston Logan International Airport, San Francisco International Airport, Dulles International, Washington , D.C, Kennedy International, CDC, Get CNN, CNN Health Locations: United States, Washington ,, New York, Ginkgo

☆ Fingers Crossed: Flu Season Might Not Be So Bad This Year
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Sumathi Reddy | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

There’s some good news about flu season this year. Doctors and scientists don’t expect the worst. The flu season in the Southern Hemisphere, where the cold-weather illness period wraps up as we head into ours, often serves as a harbinger of what’s to come for us. There, cases picked up a little earlier than usual in some countries but didn’t result in an especially large number of hospitalizations and deaths, say public health experts and doctors.

Organizations: Southern

☆ A New Sickle Cell Treatment Will Change Lives — but How Many? - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( Daniela J. Lamas | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

And though comprehensive sickle cell care — at dedicated centers with expert hematologists, social workers and pain management specialists — reduces hospitalizations, and is the standard for diseases like cystic fibrosis and hemophilia, which do not disproportionately affect Black people, these centers are few and far between for sickle cell. Into this complicated landscape enters the possibility of gene therapy. It’s important to note that this isn’t the first cure for sickle cell. is expected to review another gene therapy from the company Bluebird Bio that targets sickle cell disease but does not use CRISPR; this was the therapy Mr. Holmes received as part of the N.I.H. When she was 17 and hospitalized, facing the reality of her chronic illness, she told her mother that she was ready to pursue gene therapy.

Persons: Holmes, Elizabeth Ford, Ford Organizations: Vertex Pharmaceuticals, CRISPR Therapeutics, Bluebird

NEW YORK (AP) — A month after federal officials recommended new versions of COVID-19 vaccines, 7% of U.S. adults and 2% of children have gotten a shot. The data also indicated that nearly 40% of adults said they probably or definitely will not get the shot. In the late summer, government health officials made the nation's COVID-19 vaccination campaign more like the annual flu campaign. Even so, health officials say about 18,000 hospitalization and 1,200 deaths are still being reported each week. ___The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group.

Persons: didn't, hospitalizations, Camille Kotton, David Kimberlin, “ Organizations: Centers for Disease Control, CDC, Harvard Medical School, University of Alabama, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science, Educational Media Group, AP Locations: U.S, Birmingham

☆ British health agency warns of fake Ozempic pens linked to hospitalizations
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Amanda Musa | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Britain’s health agency is warning the public not to buy pre-filled pens claiming to contain the weight loss drugs Ozempic and Saxenda without a prescription, after a small number of people were hospitalized. Ozempic is used to treat adults with type 2 diabetes, and is used off-label for weight loss. More than 350 potentially fake Ozempic pens have been seized since January of this year, according to the MHRA. The agency has also received reports that patients have obtained fake Saxenda pens in the UK through “through non-legitimate routes.”No fake weight-loss pens were seized before January 2023, the agency says. The maker of both drugs, Novo Nordisk, told CNN Thursday that it is aware that counterfeit pens are being circulated.

Persons: Ozempic, ” Allison Schneider, Dr, Sanjay Gupta, Alison Cave, ” Ozempic, “, Meg Tirrell Organizations: CNN, Medicines, Healthcare, Agency, Novo Nordisk, “, “ Novo Nordisk, General Pharmaceutical Council, Get CNN, CNN Health, European Medicines Agency, European Union Locations: Ozempic, “ Novo, Novo, Germany, Europe

☆ RSV vaccine from GSK shows potential to protect adults 50 to 59
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

A vaccine from GlaxoSmithKline showed the potential to protect adults ages 50 to 59 from respiratory syncytial virus in a late-stage clinical trial, the company said Wednesday. Currently, Arexvy is approved in the U.S., Europe, Japan and other countries for adults ages 60 and older. A single dose of the British drugmaker's shot elicited an immune response in adults ages 50 to 59 who are at an increased risk of catching RSV due to certain underlying medical conditions. The immune response wasn't worse than that observed in adults 60 and above, GSK said in a release. Safety data in adults ages 50 to 59 was also consistent with data in adults 60 and above, according to GSK.

Persons: Tony Wood Organizations: GlaxoSmithKline, Arexvy, GSK, Food and Drug Administration Locations: U.S, Europe, Japan, British

☆ Why you shouldn’t postpone your flu vaccine
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Katia Hetter | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

It’s fine to receive the flu vaccine from any of these place — just don’t delay getting it. Wen: The flu can be dangerous, and the flu vaccine has two important positive effects. Wen: If you had flu in years past, then yes, you do still need to receive the flu vaccine this year. I hear from my patients that they don’t need the flu vaccine this year because they’ve already had “the flu” but they never actually tested positive for influenza. First, waning immunity means that the protection from last year’s flu shot won’t carry you through this year’s flu season.

Persons: Leana Wen, Wen, they’ve Organizations: CNN, US Centers for Disease Control, CNN Wellness, George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health, wanes

☆ Picking health insurance can be tricky: 6 key terms to know as open enrollment starts
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Greg Iacurci | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

PremiumsFrederic Cirou | Photoalto | Getty ImagesThe premium is the sum you pay an insurer each month to participate in a health plan. It's perhaps the most transparent and easy-to-understand cost component of a health plan — the equivalent of a sticker price. The average co-insurance rate for consumers is 19% for primary care and 20% for specialty care, according to KFF data. For example, would you struggle to pay a $1,000 medical bill if you require health care? If so, a health plan with a larger monthly premium and a smaller deductible may be your best bet, Sun said.

Persons: Frederic Cirou, Karen Pollitz, Luis Alvarez, you've, KFF, Pollitz, McClanahan, there's, Winnie Sun, She's, Sun, Carolyn McClanahan Organizations: Sdi, Photoalto, Kaiser Family Foundation, CNBC, Digitalvision, Getty, Kaiser Family Foundation Health, Network Health, Sun Group Wealth Partners, CNBC's FA Locations: Aetna, Irvine , California, CNBC's

☆ From town hall prep to disaster predictions: Mayors descend on Washington to learn how they can use generative AI in their cities
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Lauren Feiner | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

More than 100 mayors attended Bloomberg CityLab's Mayors Innovation Studio to learn about using artificial intelligence in city government. James Anderson, head of government innovation programs at Bloomberg Philanthropies, introduces mayors to the Mayors Innovation Studio on AI. The focus of Wednesday's session was primarily on how generative AI may streamline processes for cities or offer new insights to make them safer or more efficient. More than 100 mayors attended Bloomberg CityLab's Mayors Innovation Studio to learn about using artificial intelligence in city government. The event sought to give mayors a starting point for how to think about implementing generative AI into their processes.

Persons: Bloomberg Philanthropies, they're, James Anderson, Anderson, Mitch Weiss, Weiss, ChatGPT, chatbot, they've, Breda, Santiago Garces, Garces, Tim Kelly, Kelly, Andrew Ginther, Ginther, we're, Breed Organizations: Bloomberg CityLab's, Innovation, Bloomberg, Congress, Harvard Business School, Boston, CNBC, Center for Government Excellence, Johns Hopkins University, AI, San Francisco Mayor London Breed, YouTube Locations: Washington ,, Washington, Boston, New York City, York, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Chattanooga , Tennessee, Columbus , Ohio, coders, India

☆ Pfizer to price COVID treatment Paxlovid at $1,390 per course
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Michael Erman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The new list price, which does not include rebates and other discounts to insurers and pharmacy benefit managers, is $1,390 per course, Pfizer said in an emailed statement. The U.S. government paid around $530 per course for Paxlovid it has made available to Americans at no cost. The United States purchased around 24 million courses of the oral two-drug treatment from Pfizer, and still had a large supply, but arranged to return 7.9 million courses last week. In 2022, patients were given around 7 million courses of the drug, according to U.S. government data. Through Oct. 1, around 3.4 million courses had been administered in 2023.

Persons: Wolfgang Rattay, Paxlovid, Michael Erman, Bill Berkrot Organizations: REUTERS, Pfizer, for Clinical, Economic, United, Wall Street, Thomson Locations: U.S, United States, Maplewood , N.J

New COVID-19 hospitalizations have declined for the third week in a row following the late summer increase of coronavirus in the U.S.Last week saw more than 18,100 new COVID-19 hospital admissions – a 6% decrease from the week prior – according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While it's clear that the late summer increase of COVID-19 has passed its peak, health officials warn that the months ahead are likely to bring another wave. According to CDC’s respiratory disease outlook, the agency expects a “moderate” COVID-19 wave with about as many peak hospitalizations as last winter. Last winter’s COVID-19 hospitalizations peaked at about 44,500. U.S. health agencies recently endorsed new COVID-19 shots that more closely align with circulating variants.

Persons: Biden, Mandy Cohen Organizations: Centers for Disease Control Locations: U.S, Boston

The summer increase of COVID-19 appears to have passed its peak. The mindset change is likely how health officials will examine COVID-19 during the fall and winter months for years to come. Last winter saw a peak of new weekly COVID-19 hospital admissions at nearly 44,500. That would mean that the U.S. enters peak respiratory disease season with an elevated level of COVID-19 circulating already, so a further increase could be possible on top of that. But to get the most protection against this form of the COVID virus that's circulating right now, get the updated COVID vaccine."

Persons: Ashish Jha, ”, – COVID, don’t, Andrew Pekosz, It’s, Mandy Cohen, ” Pekosz, “ pirola, it's, Biden, ” Cohen, Cohen, – Organizations: White, for Disease Control, CDC, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Locations: U.S, hospitalizations, Boston

A new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns that COVID-19 hospitalization is a “continued public health threat” that predominantly affects adults ages 65 and older. The study looked at hospitalizations from January to August and found that adults ages 65 and older accounted for 63% of all hospitalizations associated with COVID-19. Nearly all hospitalized individuals ages 65 and older had two or more underlying medical conditions. Despite the issues, uptake of the shot is likely to be significantly higher than the last round of boosters. Broken down by age group, about two-thirds of adults ages 65 and older are likely to get the vaccine.

Persons: ≥, Biden Organizations: Centers for Disease Control Locations: hospitalizations, U.S

☆ RSV vaccine: There’s one for older adults, pregnant people and infants
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( Katia Hetter | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —For the first time, adults 60 and older are eligible to receive a vaccine against the respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV. Since this is the first time an RSV vaccine has been made widely available, some older people may be wondering why it might be needed. Is RSV a major problem in adults, especially older adults? Tragically, around 10,000 to 13,000 older adults annually die from this infection. I also do not recommend that people who have decided to get the RSV vaccine to wait.

Persons: Abrysvo, Leana Wen, —, Wen Organizations: CNN, Food and Drug Administration, GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer, US Centers for Disease Control, CNN Wellness, George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health, CDC, FDA Locations: United States, It’s

☆ US plans shift of Merck COVID treatment to commercial market
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( Michael Erman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

A COVID-19 treatment pill, called molnupiravir developed by Merck & Co and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics LP is seen in this undated handout photo released by Merck & Co Inc and obtained by Reuters May 17, 2021. Merck & Co Inc/Handout via REUTERS/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 4 (Reuters) - The U.S. government will stop distributing free doses of Merck & Co's (MRK.N) COVID-19 antiviral treatment molnupiravir by the middle of next month and expects it to be sold on the commercial market instead. Molnupiravir was initially hailed as a potential breakthrough when few treatment options were available but was soon eclipsed by Pfizer's (PFE.N) rival treatment Paxlovid, which had more impressive data. Merck said the study was limited and that it is confident in the clinical profile of the drug. Merck said it would have a patient assistance program for people who cannot afford the drug.

Persons: Ridgeback Biotherapeutics, Molnupiravir, Merck, Michael Erman, Bill Berkrot Organizations: Merck & Co, Merck & Co Inc, Reuters, Merck, Co Inc, REUTERS, U.S, Co's, Administration, Strategic Preparedness, U.S . Department of Health, Human Services, U.S . Food, Drug Administration, Pfizer's, Thomson Locations: U.S, United States

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