'Tripledemic' Threat: COVID-19, Flu, RSV Surging This Season 'Tripledemic' Threat: COVID-19, Flu, RSV Surging This Season
'Tripledemic' Threat: Covid-19, Flu, RSV Surging This Season The United States is experiencing a rise in respiratory illnesses, commonly referred to as a “tripledemic,” involving COVID-19, influenza (flu), and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). As of Friday, Jan. 3, the amount of acute respiratory illness causing people to seek healthcare is high and continues to increase nationally, the agency said. COVID-19 cases are increasing nationwide, with the XEC variant—a mix of earlier Omicron strains—now accounting for about 45 percent of cases.  Symptoms include congestion, cough, fe…
COVID-19: XEC Now Leading Variant in US - Here Are Symptoms COVID-19: XEC Now Leading Variant in US - Here Are Symptoms
Covid-19: XEC Now Leading Variant in US - Here Are Symptoms The XEC COVID-19 variant, first identified in Europe, now accounts for 45 percent of cases in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  Click here for a new, updated story - COVID-19: Virus Levels Now Surging In These States As infections tick upward, public health experts are urging vigilance. The strain, a mix of earlier Omicron subvariants, exhibits symptoms similar to Omicron and its predecessors. These include: Congestion,  Runny nose,  Cough,  Shortness of breath,  Fever or chills,  Fatigue.  Not…
Nationwide Spike In Norovirus Cases: CDC Reports Surge In Outbreaks Nationwide Spike In Norovirus Cases: CDC Reports Surge In Outbreaks
Nationwide Spike In Norovirus Cases: CDC Reports Surge In Outbreaks A sharp increase in norovirus cases is sweeping the United States, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  Often called the "stomach flu," norovirus is a leading cause of gastroenteritis, resulting in symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramps. The CDC reports 41 outbreaks in the first week of December alone, surpassing levels recorded in prior months. This spike aligns with the virus's typical winter peak but underscores the need for heightened vigilance this season. Norovirus spreads through contaminated food, surfaces, and …
Warning Issued After Nationwide Recall Of Popular Candy Bar Warning Issued After Nationwide Recall Of Popular Candy Bar
Warning Issued After Nationwide Recall Of Popular Candy Bar Federal authorities have issued a nationwide warning after the recall of a popular candy bar. Gardners Candies, based in Tyrone, PA, has voluntarily recalled its Cappuccino Meltaway Bars due to undeclared tree nuts (cashews), posing a serious risk to those with allergies. What to Know: Affected Products: 1.25-ounce packages of Cappuccino Meltaway Bars. Distribution: Sold across the country through retail stores and mail orders starting Sunday, Sept. 1. Packaging: The bars are in white plastic wrappers marked with lot #082725 and an expiration date of Aug. 27, 2025. They can also be found …
Mutations Observed In First Severe Human Bird Flu Case In US, CDC Says Mutations Observed In First Severe Human Bird Flu Case In US, CDC Says
Mutations Observed In First Severe Human Bird Flu Case In US, CDC Says The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has identified mutations in the the first severe bird flu case in the US that may increase its ability to infect humans.  These mutations, found in the hemagglutinin (HA) gene, play a key role in helping the virus attach to cells in the upper respiratory tract. This discovery stems from the first severe US case of H5N1, involving a Louisiana resident over 65 who had direct contact with infected backyard birds.  Earlier report: First Severe Bird Flu Case Confirmed In US Notably, these mutations weren’t present in the bird sam…
Norovirus Outbreak Prompts Recall Of Oysters Sold In NY Norovirus Outbreak Prompts Recall Of Oysters Sold In NY
Norovirus Outbreak Prompts Recall Of Oysters Sold In NY New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Washington DC residents are being urged to avoid consuming certain oysters after a recall linked to a norovirus outbreak, federal officials announced.  The contaminated oysters were sold under the brands Fanny Bay, Buckley Bay, and Royal Miyagi and harvested between Dec. 1 and Dec. 9, 2024, from British Columbia (BC), Canada, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The oysters, distributed by S&M Shellfish Co. of San Francisco, were shipped to retailers and restaurants across several states, including New Jersey, New York, Pe…
Drugstore Deserts On Rise Amid Nationwide Pharmacy Closures Drugstore Deserts On Rise Amid Nationwide Pharmacy Closures
Drugstore Deserts On Rise Amid Nationwide Pharmacy Closures Nearly 30 percent of US pharmacies closed between 2010 and 2021, according to a new study in the health-policy publication Health Affairs. The research, led by University of California Berkeley assistant professor Jenny S. Guadamuz and colleagues, analyzed data from the National Council for Prescription Drug Programs, county health statistics, and ZIP Code demographic surveys.  Of the 88,930 retail pharmacies operating in 2010, almost one-third shuttered by 2021, with those in predominantly Black and Latino neighborhoods disproportionately affected, Independent pharmacies were hit ha…
First Severe Bird Flu Case Confirmed In US First Severe Bird Flu Case Confirmed In US
First Severe Bird Flu Case Confirmed In US Health officials have confirmed the first severe case of H5N1 bird flu in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) made the announcement on Wednesday, Dec. 18 saying the infection was diagnosed on Friday, Dec. 13, following contact the patient made with sick and dead birds from a backyard flock. The case was reported in Louisiana and marks the first H5N1 case in the US linked to exposure to backyard poultry.  Since April 2024, there have been a total of 61 reported human cases of H5 bird flu reported in the United States. H5 is generally less severe than…
Cat With Rabies Dropped At Westchester Vet Prompts Health Alert: Officials Seek Couple Cat With Rabies Dropped At Westchester Vet Prompts Health Alert: Officials Seek Couple
Cat With Rabies Dropped At Westchester Vet Prompts Health Alert: Officials Seek Couple Health officials in Westchester are urgently seeking two people who dropped off a sick and injured cat that tested positive for rabies at a veterinary hospital. The Westchester County Department of Health is searching for a man and woman who brought a black cat to the Yonkers Animal Hospital at 526 Saw Mill River Rd. on Thursday, Dec. 12, officials announced on Tuesday, Dec. 17.  The cat, which was sick, injured, and believed to have been struck by a vehicle, tested positive for rabies. Officials said the individuals left without providing their names or contact information. Now the h…
Boar’s Head Deli Meat Listeria Outbreak Linked To 10 Deaths Ends After 61 Illnesses: CDC Boar’s Head Deli Meat Listeria Outbreak Linked To 10 Deaths Ends After 61 Illnesses: CDC
Boar’s Head Deli Meat Listeria Outbreak Linked To 10 Deaths Ends After 61 Illnesses: CDC The deadly Listeria outbreak linked to Boar's Head deli meats is over, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says. Boar's Head recalled all deli products made at its Jarratt, Virginia facility in July 2024, due to contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.  The recall included prepackaged deli products and ready-to-eat liverwurst. The CDC announced the conclusion of its investigation, noting that the outbreak resulted in 61 confirmed illnesses across 19 states. Among those affected, 60 were hospitalized, and 10 deaths were reported, underscoring the severity of the cont…
Feds Issue Order For National Milk Testing To Monitor Bird Flu Feds Issue Order For National Milk Testing To Monitor Bird Flu
Feds Issue Order For National Milk Testing To Monitor Bird Flu The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is stepping up efforts to monitor avian influenza (better known as bird flu) with a new federal order mandating national testing of raw milk for the H5N1 virus. The order requires all producers of raw, unpasteurized milk across the US to provide samples for testing as part of a broad initiative to prevent the spread of bird flu from potentially infected dairy cattle to humans.  The move follows recent detections of the virus in dairy herds in several states, underscoring the importance of controlling outbreaks at the source. While pas…
Rare Bird Flu Case Confirmed In Child, CDC Says Rare Bird Flu Case Confirmed In Child, CDC Says
Rare Bird Flu Case Confirmed In Child, CDC Says A rare case of avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, has been confirmed in a child in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The child, who is a resident of California, experienced only mild symptoms and is now recovering. The case, detected through routine flu testing, revealed low levels of the virus in the initial sample, and follow-up tests were negative for bird flu, but positive for other common respiratory viruses.  The CDC is working with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) to determine how the child might hav…