Contagious Disease

The FDA approved Omicron-specific vaccines recommended for everyone ages 12 and up with a minimum of two doses of the original vaccine. However, with the public’s unfamiliarity with the vaccine, there have been a series of concerns about the effectiveness of these new vaccines. Along with the…

In China’s Shandong and Henan provinces, Chinese scientists have announced 35 infected cases of the new Langya henipavirus. With symptoms found in both humans and animals, this pathogen causes fever, cough, and fatigue – possibly related to the early days of COVID-19. However, there are no reports…

As a national health emergency, more preventative measures are in place to contain this crisis, while also providing more funds towards developing and evaluating vaccines and drugs. With increasing pressure, the Biden administration had been criticized for moving too slowly with the distribution of…

Monkeypox, a far less deadly relative of smallpox, is spreading over the world. According to the World Health Organization, more than 250 cases have been documented in at least 16 countries. According to the WHO, monkeypox is an endemic in tropical rainforests in central and western Africa, where…

A new study from Ontario, Canada has linked poor air quality to severe COVID-19 infection. The research published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal found that individuals who lived in areas of Ontario with high concentrations of pollutants such as fine particulate matter, nitrogen…

Pfizer announced on Monday that their long-awaited vaccine for young children was found to elicit a strong immune response with no significant adverse effects. The dose given to the children was one-tenth the dose given to adults which were found to be well tolerated by their immune systems.…

For the third time, Americans can order free at-home COVID-19 tests at COVIDtests.gov. Through the U.S postal service, up to 8 tests will be sent per household. This comes as a result of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations increasing by 60% in the past 2 weeks due to highly contagious Omicron…

According to the White House, the United States has reached 1 million COVID-19 deaths. However, it is believed by experts that the death toll is much higher. There was a decrease in people with non-Covid related cases going to the hospital because of fear of going to the hospital during Covid and…

As COVID-19 cases rise some cases are returning after usage of Pfizer’s antiviral pill, putting the efficacy of the medication into question. The drug was first authorized in December 2021 for adults with preconditions based on a study where 1,000 adults took the pill. Since then the United States…

The White House has issued a warning that COVID-19 could infect 100 million people in the fall and winter similar to surges at this time of year in 2021 and 2020. This estimation is based on the assumption no new variants arise and COVID-19 funding and precautions remain the same as what they are…

A new study has shown some severe COVID-19 cases to cause substantial damage to cognitive processes. Researchers from the University of Cambridge found 400,000 people who may have a level of cognitive impairment equivalent to a 10-point IQ drop or the mental decline that occurs between ages 50 and…

Although the United States has seen a recent spike in COVID-19 cases, there doesn’t seem to be a rise in severe illness. Areas where Omicron sub-variants such as BA.2 first hit have seen a flattening in cases. In other places such as New York, easier spreading omicron versions such as BA.2.12.1…

A new study from the Health Institute Carlos III in Madrid, Spain has linked shorter telomere length to higher COVID-19 mortality, particularly in older women. Telomeres are the end tips of a chromosome and they are made of repetitive sequences of non-coding DNA that protect the chromosome…

Two new Omicron sub-lineages called BA.5 and BA.4 have been discovered in South Africa and some parts of Europe. There now have been 4 omicron sub-variants BA.2, XE (combination of BA.2 and BA.1), and the two new ones. Currently, there is no indication that the BA.5, BA.4, and XE sub-variants are…