Five reasons why Africa is hungrier than ever How climate change, conflict and Ukraine are among drivers of the gravest food crisis in Africa's history Reuters

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The number of East Africans experiencing acute food insecurity – when a lack of food puts lives or livelihoods in immediate danger – has spiked by 60% in just the last year, and by nearly 40% in West Africa, according to the World Food Programme (WFP).

China's COVID spike not due to lifting of restrictions - WHO director GENEVA (Reuters) -COVID-19 infections were exploding in China well before the government's decision to abandon its strict "zero-COVID" policy, a World Health Organization director said on Wednesday, quashing suggestions that the sudden reversal caused a spike in cases. The comments by the WHO's emergencies director Mike Ryan came as he warned of the need to ramp up vaccinations in the world's No. 2 economy. Speaking at a briefing with media, he said the virus was spreading "intensively" in the nation long before the lifting of restrictions. YahooNews

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Dr. Sanjay Gupta: After two years of Covid-19 vaccines, here's why they're still vital | CNN In the United States, approximately 658 million Covid-19 vaccine doses have been administered since they were first distributed exactly two years ago Wednesday. Dr. Sanjay Gupta CNN

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China reduces COVID-19 case number reporting as virus surges China's National Health Commission is scaling down its daily COVID-19 report starting Wednesday after a sharp decline in PCR testing even though daily cases are hitting record highs. NPR.org

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Vaccine fatigue is leaving the US vulnerable to flu | CNN The flu season ramped up early in the United States this year, but vaccination rates are far from keeping pace. Deidre McPhillips CNN

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CDC says long Covid has contributed to thousands of U.S. deaths The agency’s report comes as Congress is considering whether to fund research and treatment. POLITICO

More than 3,500 Americans have died due, at least in part, to long Covid, according to new data from the CDC. The agency’s findings underscore the potential severity of a condition that continues to impact millions but is still poorly understood and — in some cases — dismissed entirely.

China faces 'tough' zero-COVID exit, WHO says China is facing a "very tough" time as it dismantles its rigid "zero-COVID" policy and allows people to live with the virus, posing challenges preparing hospitals and ensuring people are sufficiently protected, the World Health Organization said. Reuters Reuters

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Ohio court: Insurance doesn't cover business COVID losses COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A commercial insurance policy doesn’t cover the income a business lost when the governor ordered a shutdown early in the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ohio Supreme Court said Monday in a decision consistent with multiple court rulings nationally weighing similar questions. AP NEWS

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The state’s high court found that the temporary presence of COVID-19 in a community or at a business and the temporary presence of an infected person don’t amount to a direct physical loss that might be covered.

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DeSantis calls for grand jury investigation of COVID vaccines  Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) is calling for a grand jury investigation into alleged “crimes and wrongdoing” related to COVID-19 vaccines and setting up Florida’s own Public Hea… jmueller The Hill

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The Case for Cautious COVID Optimism This Winter Several key factors mean that we're unlikely to face a major COVID-19 surge this winter, argue Drs. Michael Daignault and Monica Gandhi YahooNews

At this time last year and two years ago, daily new infections and covid-related hospitalizations were already accelerating at a fast clip. BQ.1 and BQ.1.1, the latest Omicron subvariants, came to comprise the majority of cases during a relative lull in the pandemic. Combined with a Thanksgiving Holiday that saw the most travelers since the pandemic started, there has been a steady increase in covid metrics.

POTS, a debilitating heart condition, is linked to Covid and, to a lesser degree, vaccines The nervous system disorder POTS is linked to Covid infection and to a lesser degree Covid vaccination. POTS has been associated with long Covid. YahooNews

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