Country music star Shania Twain contracted COVID-19 pneumonia at her home in Lake Geneva, Switzerland, at the height of the pandemic — and it got bad enough she required an airlift to a hospital. “It was progressively getting worse. My vital signs were getting worse, … and in the end I had to be air … Read more
By Judith Graham This story was originally published in KHN by Judith Graham. A new coronavirus variant is circulating, the most transmissible one yet. Hospitalizations of infected patients are rising. And older adults represent nearly 90%of U.S. deaths from covid-19 in recent months, the largest portion since the start of the pandemic. What does that … Read more
The Biden administration has renewed the COVID-19 public health emergency, as Omicron variant XBB.1.5 drives cases up across the US. “The COVID-19 Public Health Emergency remains in effect, and as HHS committed to earlier, we will provide a 60-day notice to states before any possible termination or expiration,” a spokesperson for the Health and Human … Read more
New COVID-19 Omicron variant XBB.1.5 is being called the most transmissible to date, with new infections caused by the variant rising from 4% to 41%, just over the month of December. “That’s a stunning increase,” says White House COVID-19 Response coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha. “If you had an infection before July OR your last vaccine … Read more
One thing none of us will forget is the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the world over the last few years. And while cases of COVID-19 have seemed to lessen in overall severity and number, we’re not out of the clear just yet. In fact, a new strain of COVID-19 discovered in … Read more
COVID-19 cases are surging in China as the country stops its “zero COVID” policy, and health officials are deeply concerned about new variants and mutations spreading to other countries. “First and foremost, any time there is death and illness anywhere around the world, we want to see a situation like that come to an end,” … Read more
Flu season continues to dominate national headlines as cases rise and hospitals are overcrowded. States across the country are experiencing a major uptick in people catching the flu and according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “So far this season, there have been at least 13 million illnesses, 120,000 hospitalizations, and 7,300 deaths … Read more
Government health agencies are warning against the spread of Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) as people return to their home countries after visiting Qatar for the World Cup. MERS is a viral respiratory disease, which, like COVID-19, is caused by a coronavirus. “MERS is a rare but severe respiratory illness that may affect travelers to … Read more
The number of flu cases is soaring and new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states, “Seven influenza-associated pediatric deaths were reported this week, for a total of 21 pediatric flu deaths reported so far this season. The CDC estimates that, so far this season, there have been at least 13 million … Read more
In incredibly sad news out of the UK, an outbreak of Strep A is killing more children than the COVID-19 virus did in 2020. Official reports say at least nine children in England, Wales and Northern Ireland have died after getting invasive group A Streptococcus (iGAS) infection, which is where bacteria gets into the bloodstream. “At … Read more