Study: Long-term post-COVID altered sense of smell in healthcare workers common The authors found that 37% of the COVID-positive group suffered quantitative olfactory dysfunction. CIDRAP

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"Perhaps even more striking, 24% of all tested COVID-19 survivors still experience parosmia 2.6 years after COVID-19 diagnosis, nearly half of which experience medium to severe symptoms," the authors concluded. "Given the length of time, it is possible that these olfactory problems may not be fully reversible in a plurality of individuals."

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New variants of Covid have started to spread across the UK. ...new strains of Covid named N FLiRT and LB.1.

Dr Mariyam Malik, an NHS and private GP at Pall Mall Medical.:

“The FLiRT variant has specific changes in its spike protein that might make it spread more easily and dodge immunity from past infections or vaccines,” says Dr Malik. “Similarly, the LB.1 variant has mutations that help it spread and possibly weaken the protection we get from previous immunity, making these variants different from earlier versions of the virus.

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Where COVID cases are increasing in the US amid summer 'bump' Amid an expected "bump" in summer COVID-19 cases, data indicates the southern and western U.S. are seeing the largest increases. ABC News ABC News

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Test positivity was highest in the Southwest and western U.S. with 15.7% positivity in the region comprised of Arizona, California and Nevada, CDC data showed.

This may be the most overlooked COVID symptom Many of us associate COVID with respiratory issues. But some people end up feeling more like they have food poisoning than anything else. The Seattle Times

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Many of us associate COVID with respiratory issues. But some people who get sick with the virus never experience a sore throat, coughing or body aches, said Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease specialist at the University of California, San Francisco. Certain people end up feeling more like they have food poisoning than anything else.

When Hospital Cyberattacks Compromise Care, Not Just Data - KFF Health News When hospitals are hit by cyberattacks that compromise crucial technology systems for managing patient care, the stakes are staggering. “We’ve started to think about these as public health issues and disasters on the scale of earthquakes or hurricanes,” said Jeff Tully, a co-director of the Center for Healthcare Cybersecurity at the University of California at […] khnerich KFF Health News

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Environmental factors, both natural and man-made, play a significant role in shaping our well-being, affecting everything from respiratory conditions to the spread of infectious diseases.

As global populations grow and industrial activities expand, understanding these relationships becomes crucial to public health planning and intervention.

In this blog, we will share insights into how various environmental factors critically impact public health and what measures can be taken to mitigate these effects.

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Sleep disturbances linked to worse COVID-19 outcomes Pre-existing sleep disturbances were tied to an increased risk of COVID-19 infection of 12%. CIDRAP

A new meta-analysis of 48 observational studies that included 8,664,026 people reveals that pre-existing sleep disturbances are tied to an increased risk of COVID-19 infection and worse outcomes if infected. The study is published in eClinicalMedicine. 

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Commission finds COVID pandemic caused $18 trillion in economic damage to US | Fox Business

A new report by the Heritage Foundation's Nonpartisan Commission on China and COVID-19 found that the COVID pandemic caused $18 trillion in economic losses to the U.S. and placed blame for the outbreak on the Chinese government.

'Playing COVID roulette': Some infected by FLiRT variants report their most unpleasant symptoms yet COVID cases and hospitalizations rise in L.A. County — and some of those recently reinfected with the FLiRT variants are finding the latest bout the worst yet. Yahoo News

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Heat waves are getting longer and more brutal. Here’s why your AC can’t save you anymore | CNN The combination of a hurricane, heat wave and a multi-day blackout is a nightmare scenario, but it’s one that is set to become more common as humans continue to warm the planet. Laura Paddison CNN

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Earth sees warmest June on record, boosts odds of warmest year June marked the 13th-straight month to meet or beat the 1.5-degree Paris Agreement target. Andrew Freedman Axios

June was the warmest such month on record worldwide, according to figures released Monday, extending a heat streak even longer.