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Infectious Diseases

COVID-19: Omicron Surge Affecting Staffing Levels For Essential Workers COVID-19: Omicron Surge Affecting Staffing Levels For Essential Workers
Covid-19: Omicron Surge Affecting Staffing Levels For Essential Workers The spread of the more-transmissible Omicron COVID-19 variant is leading to staffing shortages for some essential employers who have been hit hardest by the winter surge of the virus. Essential employees have been forced to call out of work en masse in recent weeks due to positive Omicron infections that have led to staffing shortages for first responders, healthcare workers, supermarket workers, flight crews, and other key professions. The shortages have led to hundreds of canceled flights, closed restaurants, and short-staffed retail stores, leaving workers frustrated and fatigued af…
COVID-19: New Study Finds Significant Virus Spread Among Deer Population COVID-19: New Study Finds Significant Virus Spread Among Deer Population
Covid-19: New Study Finds Significant Virus Spread Among Deer Population A new study has found widespread COVID-19 infections among deer populations in Iowa. Researchers from the Penn State University found that more than 80 percent of white-tailed deer sampled in parts of Iowa between December of 2020 and January of 2021 tested positive for COVID-19, according to an announcement from the university on Wednesday, Nov. 3. “We found that 80 percent of the sampled deer in December were positive for SARS-CoV-2, which proportionally represents about a 50-fold greater burden of positivity than what was reported at the peak of infection in humans at the time,” said Sur…
COVID-19: Drugmaker To Seek Emergency Approval For Pill To Treat Virus COVID-19: Drugmaker To Seek Emergency Approval For Pill To Treat Virus
Covid-19: Drugmaker To Seek Emergency Approval For Pill To Treat Virus A new pharmaceutical company is throwing its hat in the ring as the country continues its fight against COVID-19. Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics announced on Friday, Oct. 1 that it is planning to apply for federal emergency approval of a pill that can reportedly help prevent hospitalizations and deaths in COVID-19 patients. According to the company, trials have found that the pill - dubbed molnupiravir - could potentially reduce the risk of hospitalization or death in patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 by approximately 50 percent. The results of the late-stage trial have bee…
COVID-19: Here's When Teens Could Start Getting Vaccinated, Dr. Fauci Says COVID-19: Here's When Teens Could Start Getting Vaccinated, Dr. Fauci Says
Covid-19: Here's When Teens Could Start Getting Vaccinated, Dr. Fauci Says It may not be long until high school students and other teenagers can begin getting vaccinated for COVID-19, according to infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci, who is President Biden's chief medical advisor. Fauci said on CBS News Sunday, March 7 that teens should be able to receive their COVID-19 vaccines by the fall, with younger students likely to become eligible for vaccinations early next year. High school students should expect to receive the vaccine at or near the beginning of the next academic school year, Fauci said. Tests are currently ongoing to ensure that the shots are s…
What Parents Need To Know About MIS-C What Parents Need To Know About MIS-C
What Parents Need To Know About Mis-c Dear Doctor, As the parent of three young kids, I’m kind of freaked out by the recent news that there’s a new life-threatening complication of COVID-19 in children. What do we know about this problem, and how worried should I be? Sincerely, “Panicked Parent” Dear Panicked: It’s totally understandable that you’re concerned about this new complication called multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). Since MIS-C is so new (it was first identified in April), there’s still a lot that we don’t know about it. But we are fairly confident that it’s related to the coronavirus as all o…
Protect Yourself From Lyme Disease This Summer Protect Yourself From Lyme Disease This Summer
Protect Yourself From Lyme Disease This Summer Lyme disease is on the rise, especially during active tick months from May through July. That’s why it’s especially important to take the steps to protect yourself from ticks through simple precautionary measures. “It’s so important to check yourself and your family for ticks after you’ve been hiking, gardening, camping or doing other outdoor activities,” said Dr. Azfar Chak, chief of infectious diseases at Montefiore Nyack Hospital. To protect against tick bites, the CDC recommends taking the following steps:  Cover up as much as possible when hiking, gardening or doing other outdoor act…