Delta variant cases rising in U.S., Midwest showing higher rate than national average
June 20, 2021 at 15:45
The Delta variant of COVID-19 continues to spread through the U.S., with Missouri and Kansas seeing high transmission as vaccination efforts remain sluggish in some parts of the country. Data from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) shows that the variant...
Brain scans of coronavirus patients suggest ‘significant’ grey matter loss over time: study
June 18, 2021 at 23:09
An analysis of brain scans from people once infected with COVID-19 suggested a consistent pattern in loss of grey matter over time, researchers say. Researchers affiliated with the University of Oxford posted findings ahead of peer review this week to medRx...
Is it a cold or COVID-19? Symptoms to look out for
June 18, 2021 at 17:48
The risk of catching COVID-19 sent many in search of tests at the first signs of a common cold over the past year, and now as the nation gradually reopens there is an increased chance you will come into contact with someone carrying a summer cold. So how ca...
Murphy says NJ hits COVID-19 vaccination goal
June 18, 2021 at 17:06
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy announced Friday the state hit a vaccination goal with 4.7 million people fully protected against COVID-19. "We are proud to announce that we have now exceeded our initial goal and with 12 days to go before our self-appointed dea...
CDC warns on uptick in RSV cases after low activity during COVID-19: What to know about respiratory illness
June 18, 2021 at 15:25
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) national surveillance system has noted an uptick in the number of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) cases detected in the U.S. over the last several weeks, noting that the illness can be associated with s...
Doctors warn over TikTok challenge involving fake tongue piercings
June 18, 2021 at 15:05
Doctors are warning over a dangerous TikTok challenge involving fake tongue piercings with magnetic balls, said to pose a deadly risk if the magnets are swallowed. "Warning: Families, be aware of a TikTok challenge where kids pretend to have tongue piercing...
Canada: Pfizer, Moderna COVID-19 vaccine preferred 2nd dose after AstraZeneca
June 18, 2021 at 12:05
Canada's National Advisory Committee on Immunization said Thursday people who got the AstraZeneca vaccine as their first dose should get Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna for their second shot. On June 1, committee had said AstraZeneca recipients "could" get Pfize...
Ohio ends COVID-19 state of emergency after 15 months
June 18, 2021 at 11:57
Ohio’s governor announced the COVID-19 state of emergency would end Friday citing a decline in new cases and hospitalizations. Mike DeWine, who first declared the state of emergency in March 2020, said the declaration "really does not impact what we need to...
Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines don’t lower sperm count, study says
June 18, 2021 at 11:43
Men who received the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine did not see a drop in sperm count or quality, a new study found. Researchers at the University of Miami studied the sperm quality of 45 healthy volunteers before their first shot and 70 days after thei...
CDC panel meeting on COVID-19 vaccines, rare heart issues postponed in observance of Juneteenth
June 18, 2021 at 11:32
Friday’s scheduled CDC panel discussion on reports of heart inflammation among a small fraction of COVID-19 vaccine recipients has been postponed in observance of the Juneteenth National Independence Day holiday, the agency said. In an update posted to the...
Fauci: US to spend $3.2 billion for antiviral pills for COVID-19
June 17, 2021 at 17:23
The United States is devoting $3.2 billion to advance development of antiviral pills for COVID-19 and other dangerous viruses that could turn into pandemics. The pills for COVID-19, which would be used to minimize symptoms after infection, are in developmen...
UK records over 10,000 coronavirus cases for first time since Feb
June 17, 2021 at 17:17
The U.K.'s latest surge in coronavirus infections gathered pace Thursday with new confirmed cases rising above 10,000 for the first time in nearly four months as a result of the spread of the more contagious delta variant. Government figures showed another...
EU regulator will weigh COVID-19 vaccine candidates with below 50% efficacy
June 17, 2021 at 17:04
A top official with Europe’s regulatory agency on Thursday said it would weigh COVID-19 vaccines for approval despite the efficacy potentially falling below a 50% threshold. The comments from Marco Cavaleri, head of Biological Health Threats and Vaccines St...
Novartis experimental prostate cancer drug gets FDA breakthrough designation
June 17, 2021 at 15:59
Novartis announced on Wednesday that the FDA granted Breakthrough Therapy designation to an experimental therapy that targets advanced castration-resistant prostate cancer. The agency said the decision was based on positive data from a Phase 3 clinical tria...
Intermittent fasting 'no magic bullet' for weight loss, researchers say
June 17, 2021 at 15:13
While a preferred method of many dieters, intermittent fasting may not be the most effective way to lose weight. A study published in Science Translational Medicine is challenging the long-held belief that fasting provides better results than traditional ca...
Germany’s CureVac COVID-19 vaccine flops in clinical trial
June 17, 2021 at 14:56
German biopharmaceutical company CureVac's COVID-19 mRNA vaccine candidate revealed a disappointing 47% efficacy against COVID-19 disease of any severity, and failed to meet statistical success criteria in a late-stage trial, sending stocks tanking. "In the...
Australia says AstraZeneca vaccine only for people 60 and older
June 17, 2021 at 13:48
Australia has limited use of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine to those 60 and over, recommending that younger adults receive the Pfizer-BioNTech jab instead amid instances of rare, severe blood clots. The country has seen 60 cases of blood clots, including...
Coronavirus variants behind fresh surge in Indonesia, WHO warns
June 17, 2021 at 11:37
Indonesia’s president ordered authorities to speed up the country's vaccination campaign as the World Health Organization warned Thursday of the need to increase social restrictions in the country amid a fresh surge of coronavirus infections caused by worri...
COVID-19 vaccine effort turns into slog as Delta spreads
June 17, 2021 at 11:20
One major concern is the highly contagious and potentially more severe delta variant of the coronavirus that originated in India. While health officials say the vaccines are effective against it, the fear is that it will lead to outbreaks in states with low...
Can you mix and match COVID-19 vaccines?
June 17, 2021 at 11:11
Can you mix and match two-dose COVID-19 vaccines? It's likely safe and effective, but researchers are still gathering data to be sure. The authorized COVID-19 shots around the world are all designed to stimulate your immune system to produce virus-fighting...