COVID variants BQ.1/BQ.1.1 make up nearly half of U.S. cases - CDC The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated on Friday that Omicron subvariants BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 account for nearly half of the COVID-19 cases in the country for the week ending Nov. 19, compared with 39.5% in the previous week. Reuters Reuters

...

Ugandan doctors face fear and shortages in Ebola outbreak When Ebola broke out in Uganda in September, 10 doctors immediately stepped forward to work in an isolation unit at Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital, but now only three are left. Tommy Wilkes,Elias Biryabarema Reuters

...

Explainer: How the World Health Organization might fight future pandemics Negotiations on new rules for dealing with pandemics are underway at the World Health Organization (WHO), with a target date of May 2024 for a legally binding agreement to be adopted by the U.N. health agency's 194 member countries. Emma Farge Reuters

...

COVID-19 fears led to anxiety in pregnant women Threats of COVID-19 caused significant anxiety and depression among pregnant women during the first wave of the pandemic, a new study shows. Gregory Filiano-Stony Brook Futurity

The COVID-19 pandemic has had unprecedented impact on public health, including mental health, and has affected social and economic conditions of people worldwide.

Long-COVID clinics are wrestling with how to treat their patients The clinics have popped up all over the country, but doctors still don't know the best way to treat these patients, whose symptoms can vary dramatically. NPR.org

...

Pfizer/BioNTech's updated COVID shot shows strong response against BQ.1.1 Pfizer Inc and its German partner BioNTech SE said on Friday their Omicron-tailored shot produced higher virus-neutralizing antibodies in older adults against the emerging subvariant BQ.1.1 than its original vaccine. Reuters Reuters

...

Risk of seizure rises in six months after COVID-19 A bout of COVID-19, even a milder one, may raise the risk of having a seizure in the next six months, a large new study suggests. UPI

...the increased risk was among people who were not hospitalized: Of those who dealt with COVID-19 at home, just over 0.7% were later diagnosed with a first-time seizure or epilepsy. That compared with just under 0.5% of people who were sick at home with the flu.

...

US home births rise in pandemic, to highest level in decades U.S. home births increased slightly in the pandemic’s second year, rising to the highest level in decades, according to a government report published Thursday. AP NEWS

...

Indian Health Service steps up COVID, other vaccine push PHOENIX (AP) — The Indian Health Service announced Thursday that all tribal members covered by the federal agency will be offered a vaccine at every appointment when appropriate, under a new vaccine strategy. AP NEWS

... Indigenous people are especially vulnerable to vaccine-preventable illness, and IHS officials recently noticed fewer patients have been getting vaccines for COVID-19. Monkeypox is now an additional health concern.

...

USDA program keeps extra COVID-era money for fruits, veggies U.S. agriculture officials proposed changes Thursday to the federal program that helps pay the grocery bills for low-income pregnant women, babies and young children, including extending a bump in payments for fresh fruits and vegetables allowed during the COVID-19 pandemic. AP NEWS

...

The update also adds more whole grains, canned fish and non-dairy options to their shopping carts. The effort is aimed at expanding the number and type of healthy foods available to families who get assistance from the Agriculture Department’s program known as WIC, officials said.

RSV hospitalization rate for seniors is 10 times higher than usual for this point in the season | CNN The respiratory virus season has started early in kids this year and flooded children's hospitals in many parts of the country -- especially with respiratory syncytial virus, known as RSV. Jen Christensen CNN

...

Africa CDC chief urges more COVID-19 testing as cases rise KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — The head of Africa's top public health institute is urging authorities across the continent to step up COVID-19 testing amid a concerning rise in new cases in some countries. AP NEWS

...

The continent of 1.3 billion people saw a 37% rise in new cases over the past week, Ahmed Ogwell, acting director of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said Thursday.

...