Month: July 2022

Even many doctors don’t realize that this can be a problem for younger as well as older patients, experts say. View original article Contributor: Netana Markovitz

When the pandemic first began, COVID-19 seemed to lurk around every corner, so it came as a big relief when scientists established that the virus doesn’t easily spread outdoors. This summer, however, that feeling of relative safety has come into question. Now that the BA.5 subvariant is driving a new wave in the U.S., can … Read more

LONDON — The number of outbreaks of diseases that jumped from animals to humans in Africa has surged by more than 60% in the last decade, the World Health Organization said, a worrying sign the planet could face increased animal-borne diseases like monkeypox, Ebola and coronavirus in the future. There has been a 63% rise … Read more

British authorities issued their first ever “red” warning for extreme heat early next week, declaring a national emergency as forecasters predict record temperatures that will put even healthy people at risk of serious illness and death. The warning covers Monday and Tuesday, when temperatures in England may reach 40 C (104 F) for the first … Read more

Experts often talk about the “burden” of a disease or illness. The word acts as a tidy container for all the unpleasantness people with that condition may experience—from their symptoms, to the cost of their care, to the restrictions imposed on their lifestyle, to the health complications that may arise. For people with Type 2 … Read more

In May 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that key variants of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, would be assigned names from the Greek alphabet, in addition to their scientific designations, to give people around the world a simple, non-stigmatizing way to talk about them. (Previously and problematically, variants were often referred to … Read more

America is about to take a big step toward better health care. Beginning on July 16th, anyone in America, anywhere in America, can dial just three digits–988–to get free, confidential, and immediate help for a mental health emergency. Now the two of us might make an odd pair teaming up to talk about mental health: … Read more

Some worry the window is closing to prevent the virus from becoming permanently entrenched in the United States. View original article Contributor: Dan Diamond

“Booster doses should be obtained immediately when persons become eligible,” the C.D.C. scientists wrote. View original article Contributor: Benjamin Mueller