Biden administration has no current plans to authorize a bird flu vaccine for humans

Biden administration officials said Wednesday they have no current plans to authorize a stockpiled bird flu vaccine, despite an escalating outbreak among livestock in the U.S. and at least 58 human infections across seven states. 

Avian flu suspected in cats that drank raw milk as virus kills animals at Arizona zoo The Los Angeles County Department of Health today announced that it is investigating two suspected avian flu illnesses in indoor pet cats that drank recalled raw milk, fueling more concerns about wider spread in other animals, which includes zoo animals infected in Arizona's Maricopa County. CIDRAP

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Improving health in rural areas takes community, say researchers With type 2 diabetes on the rise, prevention measures are critical. But it's often hard for people living in rural areas to access health care and lifestyle resources that can improve their health. Sydney Barrilleaux Medical Xpress

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Involving local leaders and churches could make all the difference in these communities, according to a study from the University of Georgia. The research is published in The Journal of Rural Health.

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Flu vaccines drop among kids despite record deaths last year: CDC Fewer children in the U.S. have gotten a flu vaccine in 2024 compared to last year, according to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).   As of Nov. 30, about 36 p… aoconnelld The Hill

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As of Nov. 30, about 36 percent of the nation’s children aged six months to 17 years received a flu vaccination, a drop from last year’s 43 percent.

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Latest symptoms of COVID-19: New strain presents like the common cold XEC, the latest strain of the coronavirus, is more transmissible than others, but its symptoms tend to be milder. Newsweek

Another year is drawing to a close, with another strain of the coronavirus making the rounds.

But this time, medical professionals say it might be harder to distinguish whether you have COVID-19, the flu or the common cold without taking a test.

Kennedy tenure at HHS would jeopardize public health, Nobel laureates say in letter to Senate | CNN Dozens of Nobel Prize winners are urging the US Senate to oppose Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination to lead the US Department of Health and Human Services in a letter dated Monday. It was first reported in the New York Times. Katherine Dillinger CNN

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What states have the highest COVID rates? Map shows where it's spreading as winter approaches Is COVID going around again as the U.S. approaches the winter? Infectious disease experts share what to know and how to stay safe. TODAY

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According to viral activity in wastewater — one of the most accurate ways to measure cases since the CDC stopped tracking overall cases, — the states with the highest COVID rates, as of Nov. 30, are:

Studies describe vaccine efficacy against long COVID In the first study, published in eClinicalMedicine, researchers measured the real-world efficacy of the Pfizer-BioNTech (BNT162b2) vaccine against long COVID in children and adolescents using data from 20 US health systems collected in as part of the RECOVER PCORnet electronic health record (EHR) Program. CIDRAP

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Record outbreak of Dengue fever in Central and South America More than 12.6m cases were recorded this year, the region's UN health organisation says. BBC News

The number of cases of dengue fever in Central and South America has nearly tripled to a record high this year, the Pan American Health Organisation (Paho) said on Tuesday.

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Malaria cases up again in 2023, African children worst hit, WHO reports

More than 3 million adults in nine states would be at immediate risk of losing their health coverage should the GOP reduce the extra federal Medicaid funding that's enabled states to widen eligibility, according to KFF, a health information nonprofit that includes KFF Health News, and the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families. That's because the states have trigger laws that would swiftly end their Medicaid expansions if federal funding falls.

The states are Arizona, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Montana, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Utah, and Virginia.

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