You may not need to throw out those ‘expired’ Covid-19 home tests | CNN Four free home Covid-19 antigen tests are available to order at COVIDTests.gov, the seventh round of the federal government’s test-distribution program. Sam Tupper CNN

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U.S. death from Lassa fever, an Ebola-like virus, is reported in Iowa A person from Iowa who recently returned to the United States from West Africa has died after contracting Lassa fever, a virus that can cause Ebola-like illness in some patients. Helen Branswell STAT

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Paxlovid tied to fewer COVID-19 hospitalizations, reduced risk of long COVID Paxlovid was associated with a 61% lower risk of hospitalization. CIDRAP

A new retrospective cohort study conducted in Dubai shows that the antiviral nirmatrelvir plus ritonavir, sold as Paxlovid, is tied to a 61% reduction in COVID-19 hospitalization and a 58% lower rate of long COVID.

Why protective antibodies fade after COVID-19 vaccines New findings could help explain why the immune protection generated by COVID-19 vaccines tends to decline over time. National Institutes of Health (NIH)

• Researchers found that current COVID-19 vaccines fail to generate mature and durable antibody-producing cells in the bone marrow.
• The findings could help explain why protection tends to decline over time.
• Better understanding of long-term immune responses could lead to improved vaccines that provide enduring protection.
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Tuberculosis returns as top infectious disease killer, WHO says

Adding up the Public Health Costs of Using Coal to Make Steel - Inside Climate News A new report found connections between the American steel industry’s few remaining coal-based facilities and increased rates of asthma, cancer and premature deaths. Derek Harrison Inside Climate News

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Vance Wrongly Blames Rural Hospital Closures on Immigrants in the Country Illegally - KFF Health News Experts disputed the claim by Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance, noting that a range of other issues — from low reimbursement rates to declining patient use — combine to cause these facilities to shutter. khnkytjaw KFF Health News

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Biden administration announces $3 billion in grants for clean port projects - UPI.com The Biden administration announced the distribution of $3 billion in grants to 55 applicants to address environmental issues at ports, including infrastructure improvements and reducing diesel air pollution. UPI

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The administration said the funds, made available through the Inflation Reduction Act, will be distributed through the Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Ports program. The 55 approved applications were from 27 states.

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An unprecedented number of flood emergencies have ravaged the US. It’s a warning of what’s to come | CNN Extreme weather has thrashed the United States this year with more flood emergencies than any other year — a deadly, sobering statistic that scientists say paints a picture of the future as the planet warms. Mary Gilbert CNN

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Climate change has increased the destructive force of natural disasters, knocking down power lines and leaving thousands in the dark. You don’t realize how much of your life depends upon a steady electricity stream until authorities say it may be weeks until service returns.

Here’s how natural disasters impact our energy security, what we can do about it and what hurdles we must first overcome.    ...

'Perfect storm' of distrust deepened inequalities during COVID-19 pandemic

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Research led by University of Manchester academics, examined the attitudes of people from minoritized ethnic groups, young adults and those with long-term physical and mental health conditions toward the COVID-19 vaccination program.

Researchers found that a "perfect storm" of marginalization and experience of structural inequalities led to distrust of the COVID-19 vaccination drive—and that marginalized communities felt "left behind" by policy and decision-makers prior to and during the pandemic.

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