Respiratory virus levels climb as JN.1 dominates COVID detections PeopleImages/iStock CIDRAP

... In its tracking of three main viruses that drive visits to health providers for symptoms such as fever and sore throat, the CDC said respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) activity remains elevated, especially for young children. Meanwhile, COVID-19 activity is increasing in many parts of the country, as is seasonal flu, though hospital bed occupancy and intensive care unit (ICU) capacity for all patients remains stable.

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COVID map shows where cases are highest across US Four states showed the highest rate of positive tests in the country in the week ended December 16. Newsweek

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In only four states in the entire country the rate was above 15 percent. Region Seven, which includes Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska, had the highest rate in the country as of the week ending on December 16, 18.5 percent. For weeks the four states have been identified as the worst-hit by the virus in the country, with more people testing positive than anywhere else.

Quality of care declines after private equity takes over hospitals, finds nationwide analysis Patients are more likely to fall, get new infections, or experience other forms of harm during their stay in a hospital after it is acquired by a private equity firm, according to a new study led by researchers ... Science X Medical Xpress

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2023 was the year of record heat temperatures Humans have just experienced what will go down as the hottest year in recorded history -- so far -- as the planet experienced heating at an unprecedented pace. ABC News ABC News

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Throughout 2023, records for the warmest temperatures around the world were broken one by one. But record-eclipsing temperatures will no longer be an anomaly if greenhouse gas emissions that fuel global warming continue at the current pace, according to climate scientists.

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King Charles III's Christmas message reflects a coronation theme and calls for planet's protection King Charles III has reflected his coronation theme of public service y in a Christmas message that he connected to the health of the planet and wars that are raging. AP News

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New JN.1 COVID variant may be more contagious but less severe A new, fast-spreading variant named JN.1 now makes up 44% of all cases nationwide. Yahoo News

A new, fast-spreading variant named JN.1 now makes up 44% of all cases nationwide, more than doubling (21.3% vs. 44.2%) its share from the week before, according to the CDC COVID Data Tracker: Variant Proportions. ...

Flu and COVID infections are rising and could get worse over the holidays, CDC says U.S. health officials say flu and COVID-19 infections are expected to ramp up in the coming weeks. They say the increases will be fueled by holiday gathering, low rates of vaccinations and the latest version of the coronavirus that appears to spread more easily. AP News

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High levels of flu-like illnesses were reported last week in 17 states — up from 14 the week before, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday.

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Health data breaches hit an all-time high in 2023 At least 116 million individuals were impacted by large and numerous health data breaches reported to federal regulators this year. Katie Palmer STAT

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As many as 116 million individuals have been impacted by large health data breaches reported to the Department of Health and Human Services this year, according to records from its Office for Civil Rights as of December 21. That number has more than doubled over recent counts, driven primarily by a surge in hacking and ransomware attacks on health care organizations regulated by the privacy rule HIPAA.