CDC preparing for ‘possibility of increased risk to human health’ from bird flu | ABC News
As federal health officials begin to stockpile H5N1 vaccines, CEID affiliate faculty Dr. John Brownstein commends the preparedness measure and explains it isn’t a sign for the general population to be overly concerned. “Public health, when it’s working at its best, is proactive and it’s actively looking for potential signals, is using all methodologies data […]
USDA conducting studies on beef due to bird flu outbreak but maintain supply is safe | ABC News
The USDA has not found any evidence of live, infectious H5N1 virus in pasteurized milk. USDA officials are now also testing beef for any potential for transmission of the virus. “Despite our confidence in the safety of the meat supply, the importance of continued and comprehensive investigations remains critical. These studies are crucial for maintaining […]
One in Five Milk Samples Has Bird Flu Virus Fragments, Suggesting Cow Infections Are More Widespread Than Thought | Smithsonian Magazine
“The discovery of bird flu virus fragments in commercial milk is significant, not because it poses a direct threat to public health, but because it indicates a broader exposure among dairy cattle than we previously understood,” says CEID affiliate faculty Dr. John Brownstein. Read the full story in Smithsonian Magazine.
COVID-19 hospitalizations hit record low, the CDC says | ABC News
COVID hospitalizations were down to an all time low of 5,615 hospital admissions in the most recently reported week compared to over 150,000 per week at the height of the Omicrom variant surge. “The significant decline in COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths to these new lows is encouraging, showing that our public health measures and vaccination […]
Mpox Cases Have Been Surging Again, CDC Says—These Are the Symptoms | Best Life
Though far from the number of cases seen in 2022, the number of mpox cases reported so far in 2024 is much higher, nearly double, the number reported at this time last year. “The increase in cases is a stark reminder of the virus’s presence and the ongoing need for vigilance and preventive measures,” said […]
Measles outbreak puts US elimination status at risk, CDC says | ABC News
The number of measles cases already recorded in 2024, and continuing to grow, is alarming, says CEID affiliate Dr. John Brownstein, “because it indicates a trend going in the wrong direction for us, a virus that we have successfully controlled, a virus that we successfully have an effective vaccine for.” Read more from ABC News.
Human case of bird flu reported in Texas, CDC says risk to public is low | ABC News
The first human case of H5N1 avian flu has been reported in a Texas patient who worked directly with sick cattle. No human-to-human transmission has been reported yet. CEID affiliate Dr. John Brownstein notes that there is little current concern of contracting H5N1 for those who don’t work around livestock. Read more at ABC News.
Mpox is on the rise: Who’s eligible for a vaccine, and do you need a booster? | ABC News
With mpox cases increasing in the US again, CEID affiliate Dr. John Brownstein emphasizes the need for high risk individuals to get vaccinated against this virus. Speaking to ABC News, he and other experts advise that those who have only received one dose of the two-dose series receive their second dose for maximum protection. Read […]
COVID vaccines found to cut risk of heart failure, blood clots following virus infection: Study | ABC News
“While there has been concern about the risk of myocarditis and other thromboembolic events following vaccination, this analysis highlights that the risk of such complications is notably higher when it comes from the SARS-CoV-2 infection itself,” CEID affiliate Dr. John Brownstein told ABC News.