Mapping Monkeypox Cases in the U.S.

Since the first case of monkeypox was reported in the U.S. in mid-May, infections have grown to the highest number reported in any country. The U.S. has documented nearly 5,200 cases of monkeypox as of July 29, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. States reporting the highest number of cases include New York, California, Illinois, Florida, Texas and Georgia......Read More

Taking Stock of Breakthroughs and Struggles in Pediatric Cancer Care

Despite many treatment advances, about 10,500 children under age 15 are diagnosed with cancer each year, according to statistics from the American Cancer Society. And while new approaches to care have improved overall survival rates, cancer is still the No. 1 cause of death by disease for kids......Read More

How the COVID-19 Pandemic Sparked a Surge in Opioid Overdose Deaths

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently reported 93,980 drug overdose deaths in 2020, a record high. That's about 5,000 people short of the population of Erie, Pennsylvania. The number of overdose deaths, up from 70,890 in 2019, marks the largest annual surge in at least five decades. Federal officials attributed nearly three-quarters of the fatal overdoses to opioids. Many of the deaths were associated with fentanyl, a powerful synthetic drug. Overdose fatalities from use of methamphetamines and cocaine......Read More

When Allergy or Cold Medicine Makes You Drowsy

Most medications carry the risk of side effects, and one of the more common of these is drowsiness. Those with seasonal allergies, now in full pollinated swing, are especially aware of this. "Many common over-the-counter and prescription medications can cause drowsiness, including pain relievers, cold and allergy medications, muscle relaxants, sleep aids and some blood pressure medications," says Dr. Ada Stewart, a family physician in Columbia, South Carolina,.......Read More

5 Ways Stress Makes You Gain Weight

You’re stressed out lately and you’ve been comfort eating like there’s no tomorrow. Then "tomorrow" comes, and your belly is a little bigger. Is it just the result of extra calories you’re consuming or is there something more to stress and weight gain? The answer is a bit of both. “Stress provides the perfect storm for gaining weight and having difficulties losing weight down the road......Read More

Should I Get the COVID-19 Booster?

Recommendations for getting the COVID-19 booster vaccine keep getting stronger. Now, with winter coming and omicron emerging as the latest variant of concern, everyone ages 16 and and older can get a booster shot after their initial vaccine series, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention......Read More

First confirmed case of omicron variant detected in United States

The California and San Francisco Departments of Public Health have confirmed the first case of the omicron variant in the United States in an individual in California who was fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and returned Nov. 22 from South Africa, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced today. The individual had mild symptoms that are improving and is self-quarantining. All of the individual’s close contacts have been contacted and tested negative, CDC said.......Read More

U.S. CDC Calls for More COVID-19 Vaccinations Among Pregnant Women

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Wednesday issued a health advisory to increase COVID-19 vaccinations among women who are pregnant, recently pregnant or trying to become pregnant, to prevent serious illness and death.The CDC said its data showed only 31% of pregnant people have been vaccinated against COVID-19. .........Read More

Even at Same Hospital, Black Patients Face More Complications Than Whites

Black Americans admitted for inpatient hospital care are far more likely than white patients to experience safety-related health complications -- even when both are treated in the same facility, And having good insurance didn't appear to bridge racial differences in patient safety, investigators found.....Read More

Moderna’s Coronavirus Vaccine is 96% Effective, Safe in Teens, Trial Shows

I Got the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine. Now What?

Don't panic. U.S. health officials on Tuesday recommended pausing vaccinations with J&J's shot as they look into reports of six clots out of nearly 7 million doses given in the country. Health officials say to be vigilant, but to remember that reports of blood clots that may be associated with J&J’s single-dose vaccine are....Read More

Heart Damage Seen in Many Hospitalized COVID Patients: Study

Heart damage was found in more than half of a group of hospitalized COVID-19 patients after they were discharged, according to a new British study. The study included 148 patients who were treated for severe COVID-19 at six hospitals in London. The patients all had raised levels of a protein called troponin, which is released into the blood when the heart muscle is injured........Read More

California faces 'darkest days' as COVID-19 cases surge, pushing hospital staff to the breaking point

These are scenes from a battlefield. Full intensive care units. Doctors and nurses working for hours without sleep. Waves of patients dying. Across California, a post-Thanksgiving COVID-19 spike is ravaging cities and counties that once had been models for how to keep coronavirus cases low. To date, the state has logged 1.9 million cases and 22,000 deaths, with new records seemingly set daily........Read More

FDA gives emergency authorization to drug that can keep COVID-19 patients out of the hospital

In more good news for the fight against COVID-19, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration late Monday authorized use of a drug that appears to protect infected people at high risk from getting very sick. The FDA issued an emergency use authorization to drug-maker Lilly for bamlanivimab, a monoclonal antibody that mimics the immune system’s response to infection with the virus that causes COVID-19......Read More

Rising vaccine wariness in some nations doesn't bode well for COVID vaccines

Public confidence in vaccines varies widely around the world, with low but improving acceptance in some areas of Europe and growing wariness in countries experiencing political instability and religious extremism,.....Read More

With emergency visits down 42%, US hospitals reeling from COVID-19

In April, 42% less people visited emergency departments (EDs) across the United States than in April last year, according to data published today in Morbidity and Mortality . This significant drop-off, which took place while most states had stay-at-home orders, translates to millions of dollars lost by US hospitals still fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, and Americans becoming at risk for worsening outcome.....Read More