Risk of bird flu spreading to humans is ‘enormous concern’, says WHO Chief scientist voices fears about H5N1 variant that has ‘extraordinarily high’ mortality rate in humans The Guardian

...

After COVID, WHO defines disease spread 'through air' The World Health Organization and around 500 experts have agreed for the first time what it means for a disease to spread through the air, in a bid to avoid the confusion early in the COVID-19 pandemic that some scientists have said cost lives. Jennifer Rigby Reuters

...

COVID-19 caused 21% excess of respiratory infections last winter, analysis finds Adults aged 30 to 39 years had the highest cumulative incidence, with 208 infections per 100 people. CIDRAP

A new study based on German data shows that SARS-CoV-2 caused a 21% excess of acute respiratory infections (ARIs) during the winter of 2022-23. The study was published this week in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases and suggests COVID-19 will add a significant burden during cold and flu seasons. 

Study shows increase in serious alcohol-related complications early in pandemic Women aged 40 to 64 years experienced increases of 33.3% to 56.0% in serious alcohol complication episodes in 10 of the 18 months. CIDRAP

...

US measles cases top 120 as LA County tracks case with multiple exposures The visitor to Los Angeles County had visited Universal Studios and several other public places. CIDRAP

Eight more measles cases have been reported, putting the nation's total at 121 so far this year, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said in its latest weekly update. The number of affected jurisdictions remained the same, at 18.

...

2023 was a record year for wind installations as world ramps up clean energy, report says The world installed 117 gigawatts of new wind power capacity in 2023, a 50% increase from the year before, making it the best year for new wind projects on record, according to a new report by the industry’s trade association. AP News

...

The increase in wind installations “shows that the world is moving in the right direction in combating climate change,” the report said.

Only One Harm From mRNA COVID Vaccines, Report Determines Independent reviewers reject causal links to infertility, myocardial infarction, stroke Nicole Lou medpagetoday

Independent reviewers confirmed a causal relationship between the first mRNA COVID-19 vaccines and myocarditis, and also determined that, more broadly, intramuscular shots can cause a series of shoulder injuries.

Biden administration announces new partnership with 50 countries to stifle future pandemics President Joe Biden's administration is launching a program that will help 50 countries identify and respond to infectious diseases, with the goal of preventing pandemics like the COVID-19 outbreak. AP News

...

Is smallpox still a threat?

Smallpox, a disease that killed an estimated 500 million people in the 20th century alone, is the only human disease to be eradicated. However, a new report, "Future State of Smallpox Medical Countermeasures," from the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) argues that the U.S. and the global community should prepare for smallpox to make a return.

...

Bogus 'tax service specialists' duped business owners in latest Covid relief debacle, IRS says IRS officials say the Employee Retention Tax Credit program has been a magnet for unscrupulous promoters who filed a “tsunami of bad claims.” NBC News

...

Congress said the Employee Retention Tax Credit would cost around $55 billion, but new estimates put the cost at $250 billion, and claims are still pouring in...

Many healthcare workers unsure about COVID vaccine boosters for themselves, kids A survey of more than 4,100 healthcare personnel (HCP) at a New York healthcare system from 2021 to 2022 reveals that 17% were hesitant to receive the recommended COVID-19 vaccine booster, and 33% were unsure about vaccinating their children.  CIDRAP

...

Many of the HCP polled held unsubstantiated beliefs not only about COVID vaccines but also childhood vaccines.

...

U.S. pharmacy database shows record-high shortages of medical drugs - UPI.com Americans are facing more shortages of the drugs they need for medical care than ever before, a national pharmacy database shows. UPI

...

The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists and the University of Utah Drug Information Service started tracking drug shortages as far back as 2001.