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COVID-19: These Are Most Likely Symptoms Of New Pirola Variant Identified In Five States COVID-19: These Are Most Likely Symptoms Of New Pirola Variant Identified In Five States
Covid-19: These Are Most Likely Symptoms Of New Pirola Variant Identified In Five States The most likely symptoms of a new COVID-19 variant with around 30 mutations are expected to be similar to the highly contagious Omicron strain based on reports so far. COVID-related hospitalizations have increased in the US for six straight weeks, with a 19-percent increase reported in the most recent week, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The BA.2.86 strain, known as Pirola, has now been identified in five states: New York, Texas, Michigan, Virginia, and Ohio. The strain was first detected in Israel around Sunday, Aug. 20, and cases have also been identif…

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by Joe Lombardi
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COVID-19: First US Case Of Pirola Variant With 30 Mutations Confirmed COVID-19: First US Case Of Pirola Variant With 30 Mutations Confirmed
Covid-19: First US Case Of Pirola Variant With 30 Mutations Confirmed The first case of the newly identified COVID-19 variant with 30 mutations has been identified in the United States. The World Health Organization (WHO) upgraded BA.2.86 to a “variant under monitoring," citing the "large number of mutations it carries." BA.2.86, which has now been nicknamed "Pirola," was first detected in Israel, and cases have also been identified in the United Kingdom and Denmark. The initial case in the US has been detected in Michigan. The patient, an older person with mild symptoms, is from Washtenaw County, the Michigan Department of Health and Hu…

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by Joe Lombardi
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COVID-19: Highly-Infectious 'Arcturus' Variant Detected In PA COVID-19: Highly-Infectious 'Arcturus' Variant Detected In PA
Covid-19: Highly-Infectious 'Arcturus' Variant Detected In PA A new COVID-19 variant first detected in New York in January has now been identified in 27 states, including Pennsylvania. The so-called Arcturus strain — officially known as XBB.1.16 — is believed to be one of the most infectious versions of Omicron to date.  Shortly after the World Health Organization began monitoring the variant in late March, cases had been reported in about two dozen countries. The WHO says Arcturus is a "recombinant" of COVID subvariants BA.2.10.1 and BA.2.75. In addition to New York, XBB.1.16 has also been confirmed in California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, V…

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by Joe Lombardi
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CDC Tracking More Immune-Evasive COVID-19 Variant Growing In Northeast CDC Tracking More Immune-Evasive COVID-19 Variant Growing In Northeast
CDC Tracking More Immune-Evasive Covid-19 Variant Growing In Northeast With more than 300 COVID-19 Omicron sublineages circulating around the globe, a new potentially more contagious variant called XBB is being closely monitored by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC). XBB is considered more immune-evasive than other Omicron variants, Chief White House medical advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci said last week. But government officials said they don't think XBB will become a threat at the level of Omicron, which first emerged on the global scene almost exactly a year ago. Though XBB now accounts for just over 3 percent of new cases in t…

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by Joe Lombardi
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WHO Renaming Monkeypox Amid Concerns Over Racism, Stigma WHO Renaming Monkeypox Amid Concerns Over Racism, Stigma
WHO Renaming Monkeypox Amid Concerns Over Racism, Stigma The World Health Organization will officially rename monkeypox to make clear that it isn’t African and remove the possibility of offending anyone by making a particular race or skin complexion the face of the disease. The concerns about racism and stigma are similar to those that convinced the WHO to rename SARS-CoV-2 after it became commonly called the China or Wuhan virus. With more than 1,600 reported human infections in over two dozen countries, the WHO is “working with partners and experts from around the world on changing the name of monkeypox virus, its clades and the disease it cau…

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by Jerry DeMarco
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Monkeypox Arrives In Philadelphia: Reports Monkeypox Arrives In Philadelphia: Reports
Monkeypox Arrives In Philadelphia: Reports Philadelphia, Chicago and Los Angeles County all announced their first monkeypox cases on Thursday, June 2. The disease is normally spread by infected wild animals in Africa. There were two cases in the United States last year, both in travelers returning from Nigeria, reports said. At least two of the newest US cases involved travel. All three locations’ public health departments are awaiting confirmation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), The Hill reported.  New York City also has recorded five monkeypox cases. Philadelphia's health department said any …

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by Jon Craig
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Here's Who Is Most At Risk Of Getting Monkeypox, WHO Says Here's Who Is Most At Risk Of Getting Monkeypox, WHO Says
Here's Who Is Most At Risk Of Getting Monkeypox, WHO Says More cases of monkeypox are expected to be identified in the coming days as surveillance is expanded in countries where the disease is not typically found, said the World Health Organization, which identified those most at risk of being infected. "The situation is evolving and WHO expects there will be more cases of monkeypox identified as surveillance expands in non-endemic countries," the WHO said in a statement on Saturday, May 21.  "Immediate actions focus on informing those who may be most at risk for monkeypox infection with accurate information, in order to stop further spread." …

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by Joe Lombardi
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Child Dies Days After CDC Issues Nationwide Alert For Mysterious Hepatitis Outbreak Child Dies Days After CDC Issues Nationwide Alert For Mysterious Hepatitis Outbreak
Child Dies Days After CDC Issues Nationwide Alert For Mysterious Hepatitis Outbreak Just days after the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention issued a national alert to doctors over a mystery hepatitis outbreak, the death of a child has now been confirmed, the World Health Organization announced. At least 169 cases have now been reported in the United States and 11 other countries, the WHO said, adding that the cases range from those in the ages of 1 month to 16 years old. The CDC notified clinicians and public health authorities on Thursday, April 21 about a cluster of children identified with hepatitis and adenovirus infection, asking all physicians to be on …

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by Joe Lombardi
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Omicron Mutant Variant 'XE' Could Be Most Transmissible Yet, WHO Says Omicron Mutant Variant 'XE' Could Be Most Transmissible Yet, WHO Says
Omicron Mutant Variant 'XE' Could Be Most Transmissible Yet, WHO Says The new mutant variant of Omicron, "XE." could be the most transmissible strain of Covid yet, Express reports citing the World Health Organization. A hybrid of Omicron variants BA.1 and BA.2, XE is 10 percent more transmissible than the BA.2 subvariant and could be the most dominant strain of the virus in the near future. Currently. BA.2 — or the "Stealth Variant" — represents nearly 86% of all sequences cases, the WHO says. The BA.2 subvariant has caused surges in Asia and Europe, and could cause another one in the US, Reuters says. More research is still needed, the WHO said. Click…

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by Cecilia Levine
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COVID-19: This Key Factor Could Indicate Whether Stealth Omicron Will Cause New Surge In US COVID-19: This Key Factor Could Indicate Whether Stealth Omicron Will Cause New Surge In US
Covid-19: This Key Factor Could Indicate Whether Stealth Omicron Will Cause New Surge In US With the new “stealth” COVID-19 sub-variant emerging from the shadows in the US and overseas, researchers are concerned that one subset of Americans could potentially lead to a possible new surge of infections. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Omicron, which is known as B.1.1.529, has three sub-variants: the original BA.1 that remains the dominant strain, the “stealth” BA.2, which is picking up steam, and the more elusive BA.3. The new “stealth” variant - named for its difficulty to identify due to a lack of certain genetic characteristics - has been becoming more of a co…

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by Zak Failla
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COVID-19: Two Omicron Cases Detected In Lehigh Valley COVID-19: Two Omicron Cases Detected In Lehigh Valley
Covid-19: Two Omicron Cases Detected In Lehigh Valley Two cases of the Omicron COVID-19 variant have been detected in the Lehigh Valley, health officials announced. St. Luke's University Health Network confirmed two cases on Thursday and is investigating at least 30 other suspicious cases, according to a news release. The network says those cases likely account for a portion of recent breakthrough cases. “This is another reason to strongly consider getting a booster shot, or to be immunized if you haven’t already,” said Jeffrey Jahre, MD, St. Luke’s Senior Vice President of Medical & Academic Affairs and Section Chief Emeritus of Infectio…

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by Nicole Acosta
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COVID-19: First Case Of Omicron Variant Reported In New Jersey COVID-19: First Case Of Omicron Variant Reported In New Jersey
Covid-19: First Case Of Omicron Variant Reported In New Jersey The first case of the new COVID-19 variant has been detected in New Jersey, state officials announced Friday. The woman, who is a fully vaccinated Georgia resident, had recently traveled to South Africa, Governor Phil Murphy and New Jersey Department of Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli said in a joint statement. The woman has been kept in isolation since she tested positive on Nov. 28. She had moderate symptoms and is now recovering after being treated in a North Jersey emergency department, officials said. Officials are awaiting the results of a sequencing report from The New Jer…

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by Nicole Acosta
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COVID-19: Philadelphia Resident Tests Positive For Omicron Variant COVID-19: Philadelphia Resident Tests Positive For Omicron Variant
Covid-19: Philadelphia Resident Tests Positive For Omicron Variant UPDATE (8:30 p.m.):  New Jersey officials announced the first detection of the Omicron variant in the state just hours after this report was published. CLICK HERE to read "COVID-19: First Case Of Omicron Variant Reported In New Jersey" *** (4:55 p.m.): A day after the first case of the new COVID-19 variant was identified in a Minnesota man who traveled to New York City, a Philadelphia resident has tested positive for the Omicron COVID-19 strain. The person is a man in his 30’s from Northwest Philadelphia, the city's health department announced Friday. It was unclear when he tes…

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by Nicole Acosta
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COVID-19: First Case Of New Omicron Variant Identified In United States COVID-19: First Case Of New Omicron Variant Identified In United States
Covid-19: First Case Of New Omicron Variant Identified In United States Omicron, the new strain of COVID that has caused worldwide alarm the last week, has been detected in the United States for the first time. Health officials had been bracing for the first such Omicron case for days, and early Wedneday afternoon, Dec. 1, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention confirmed a person in California has been infected with the new strain. The San Francisco Department of Health said the individual was a traveler who returned from South Africa on Monday, Nov. 22, and tested positive for COVID on Monday, Nov. 29. The individual was fully vaccinated and experie…

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by Joe Lombardi
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New COVID Variant Has Scientists Worried New COVID Variant Has Scientists Worried
New COVID Variant Has Scientists Worried Another COVID-19 variant with multiple mutations is the subject of a special meeting called by the World Health Organization for Friday. The meeting on the B.1.1.529 variant detected in South Africa will focus on what the new variant means for treatments and vaccines, the organization said Thursday. The WHO was expected to give the new variant a name on Friday. WHO's technical COVID-19 lead Maria Van Kerkhove said in live Q&A briefing that a virus with many mutations impacts the nature of how it behaves. UK Health Security agent Sajid Javid says much is still unknown about the new var…

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by Cecilia Levine
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COVID-19: First Case Of 'Variant Of Concern' From India Found In US COVID-19: First Case Of 'Variant Of Concern' From India Found In US
Covid-19: First Case Of 'Variant Of Concern' From India Found In US As COVID-19 deaths mount in India, health officials in the United States are now contending with a new strain of the virus that has been reported stateside. One day after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that the COVID-19 variant from India was a “cause of global concern,” it was announced that the strain had spread to dozens of countries, including the United States. The so-called B.1617 variant made its first domestic appearance after it was discovered in a patient in Arizona being treated for COVID. According to researchers, the India variant, like several others that have …

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by Zak Failla
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Feds: PA Man Nabbed Collecting 950 Pounds Of Khat At Newark Airport Feds: PA Man Nabbed Collecting 950 Pounds Of Khat At Newark Airport
Feds: PA Man Nabbed Collecting 950 Pounds Of Khat At Newark Airport A Pennsylvania man was arrested by federal agents when he showed up at Newark Airport to collect a half-ton of khat that was flown in by freight container, authorities said. Azeez Adebari, 46, of Harrisburg, was listed as the consignee on a manifest and other documents the claimed the contents as clothing, ground melon and pepper, among other things, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig U.S. Customs and Border Protection authorities charged Adebari with conspiring to possess and distribute 430 kilograms (948 pounds) of the illegal drug after taking him into custody at the airport on Monday…

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by Jerry DeMarco