Medical - global

In hopeful sign for the US, flu vaccine shows strong protection against hospitalization in South America, CDC report shows | CNN Early data from South America shows that the flu vaccine has cut the risk of hospitalization in half this year, a hopeful sign that the vaccine will provide a similar level of protection in the United States as the country heads into its own respiratory virus season. Deidre McPhillips CNN

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England confirms 34 COVID cases linked to highly mutated variant - UKSHA UK Health Security Agency (UKSHA) said on Friday that 34 COVID-19 cases linked to the highly mutated variant BA.2.86 had been identified in England. Reuters Reuters

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The agency said 28 of the confirmed cases were identified from a single outbreak at a care home in Norfolk.

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Study links blood clots to brain fog after Covid

A recent UK study suggests that blood clots in the brain or lungs may explain some of the common symptoms experienced by people with "long Covid", including brain fog and fatigue. The study, which included 1,837 people admitted to hospital due to Covid, found that two blood proteins, fibrinogen and D-dimer, were associated with cognitive problems. It is estimated that 16% of these patients experience difficulties with thinking, concentrating, or remembering for at least six months.

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WHO airs concerns about global COVID trends Meanwhile, several more BA.2.86 sequences were reported, as Moderna notes reassuring lab findings against BA.2.86 for its updated vaccine. CIDRAP

At a briefing on global health issues today, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) said there are concerning trends ahead of the Northern Hemisphere winter, including rising deaths in parts of the Middle East and Asia and increased hospitalizations in multiple regions.