Why the latest mpox outbreak is raising alarm among health experts (cnbc.com)

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UN migration agency appeals for $18.5 mln in assistance for mpox outbreak | Reuters

Should you get a COVID shot now or wait for the updated booster? The current state of things leaves people in a tough position: get boosted now amid summer travel plans and widespread infections, or hold out just a bit longer for an updated version of the vaccin… amartichoux The Hill

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COVID vaccine efficacy against severe illness just under 50%, per early estimates from 2023 Two European observational studies estimate the vaccine effectiveness (VE) of the COVID-19 XBB.1.5 vaccine approved in fall 2023 against hospitalization, the first one finding 49% overall VE in adults, and one showing good protection—but uneven uptake—among pregnant women. CIDRAP

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Harris-Walz Ticket Sharpens Contrast With Trump-Vance on Health Care - KFF Health News As Democrats convene in Chicago to make official their presidential and vice presidential nominees, Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz together are raising the prominence of health care as a 2024 election issue. paulavirna KFF Health News

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US to survey dairy cattle brought to slaughter to study bird flu infections Regulators will inspect cows to see how widespread virus is and determine whether ageing and cooking inactivate it The Guardian

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COVID-related loss of smell tied to changes in the brain A new study of 73 adults recovering from COVID-19 finds that those who lost their sense of smell showed behavioral, functional, and structural brain changes. CIDRAP

..."Given the significant global incidence of COVID-19, identifying factors that can distinguish individuals at risk of developing brain alterations is crucial for prioritizing follow-up care," the study authors wrote. 

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Congo gives update on mpox vaccine amid global emergency The Congo's health minister announced the country will soon receive its first batch of mpox vaccines. Newsweek

The Congo is set to receive its first batch of vaccine doses from the United States to combat the ongoing mpox outbreak next week, the country's health minister said in a press conference on Monday.

Rural communities of color across the US find new ways to get the health care they need Haywood Park Community Hospital was the closest hospital for many in Brownsville, Tennessee, a rural city in the eastern part of the state. Kenya Hunter Medical Xpress

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It's more common for people in rural areas to die earlier than urban residents from things like heart disease, cancer and stroke, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But hospitals have closed throughout rural America in the last decade, leaving some of the 46 million people who live in these areas fewer options to get the care they need when they need it.

U.S. Health and Human Services launches awareness campaign on viruses, vaccines - UPI.com Health and Human Services announced a national campaign on Monday to increase public awareness of common respiratory viruses and available vaccines. UPI

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Now that mpox is a global health emergency, will it trigger another pandemic? The World Health Organization has declared the ongoing outbreaks of mpox in Congo and elsewhere in Africa to be a global emergency, requiring urgent action to curb the virus’ transmission. AP News

Is mpox going to trigger another pandemic:

That seems highly unlikely. Pandemics, including the most recent ones of swine flu and COVID-19, are typically sparked by airborne viruses that spread quickly, including by people who may not be showing symptoms.