XBB.1.5 may be 'most transmissible subvariant of Omicron to date,' scientists warn | CNN Health experts voiced concern Wednesday over the rapid growth of the new Omicron sublineage XBB.1.5, advising the public to stay informed but not alarmed as they work to learn more. Brenda Goodman CNN

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COVID-19 enters 4th year with successes, but new threats CIDRAP

As the pandemic enters its fourth year, the world is in a better place with managing the disease but still faces threats from inequities for accessing tools to battle COVID-19, intense transmission in several countries, and the emergence of another highly transmissible Omicron subvariant, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) said today.

In a related development, the WHO today shared details about its virus evolution advisory group's assessment of viruses circulating in China and said the experts are also assessing the Omicron XBB.1.5 subvariant, which is quickly becoming dominant in the United States.

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EU recommends pre-flight testing of passengers from China, wastewater testing in airports European Union government officials recommended on Wednesday that passengers flying from China to the EU should have a negative COVID-19 test before they board, as Beijing plans to ease travel restrictions despite a wave of new COVID infections. Reuters Reuters

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2022 was the worst for many US hospitals. The aftershocks will last for years. Constant health crises have made it impossible for some hospitals to plan for the future. Patients will pay the price. Dylan Scott Vox

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Public Health Agencies Try to Restore Trust as They Fight Misinformation As public health departments work on improving their message, the skepticism and mistrust often reserved for covid-19 vaccines now threaten other public health priorities, including flu shots and c… khnkytjaw Kaiser Health News

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New Covid strain is the most transmissible yet, WHO says The global health body is now trying to figure out how severe the sub-variant is. POLITICO

The coronavirus Omicron strain XBB.1.5, which has become the dominant strain in the U.S. in just a matter of weeks, could drive a new wave of cases, a World Health Organization official told reporters Wednesday.

“We are concerned about its growth advantage, in particular in some countries in Europe and the Northeast part of the United States, where XBB.1.5 has rapidly replaced other circulating sub-variants,” said Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO’s Covid-19 technical lead.

Experts urge domestic action against winter COVID surge Much of the U.S. is in the throes of a winter COVID-19 surge with cases poised to eclipse last year’s summer peak, driven by new variants, waning immunity and holiday gatherings.   The co… tlejeune The Hill

... public health experts are expressing frustration that instead of focusing on mitigation measures including masking and improved ventilation, U.S. officials have turned their attention towards China.

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3 challenges to watch in global health in 2023 As the third year of the Covid pandemic ends and we look to 2023, what can be spotted on the horizon? Helen Branswell STAT

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As the third year of the Covid pandemic ends and 2023 begins, what can be spotted on the horizon? We already know about a bunch of things that are going to jostle for our attention; rest assured others we’re not anticipating will materialize as well.

 ...three issues we can see right now.

China COVID data shows no new variant, WHO says, easing some global fears No new coronavirus variant has been found in China, data released by the World Health Organization showed on Wednesday, easing some concerns about an outbreak that has spread rapidly there since Beijing abruptly reversed its "zero COVID" policy. Alessandro Diviggiano,Bernard Orr Reuters

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Covid misinformation spikes in wake of Damar Hamlin's on-field collapse The baseless tweets began to circulate within minutes of Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin's stunning collapse on the field during "Monday Night Football." Anti-vaxxers and right-wing provocateurs sought to link the injury that left Hamlin in critical condition and the coronavirus vaccine, without any evidence. Their claims built on years of coronavirus vaccine misinformation that has been seeded across social media.Subscribe to The Post Most newsletter for the most important and interesting sto YahooNews

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'I don't trust it:' Vaccine hesitancy lingers even as China COVID cases surge The problem is a growing headache for Beijing as it tries to persuade more people to get vaccinated in the face of a spike in infections and the prospect of more than 1.5 million deaths after the lifting of strict anti-COVID measures. David Kirton Reuters

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COVID-19 Virus Found in the Brain: Autopsies Reveal Startling New Information An analysis of tissue samples from the autopsies of 44 people who died with COVID-19 shows that SAR-CoV-2 virus spread throughout the body—including into the brain—and that it lingered for almost 8 months. The study was published on December 14 in the journal Nature. Scientists from the National Mike O'Neill SciTechDaily

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COVID booster prompts good immune response, except after recent infection CIDRAP

A study today in Clinical Infectious Diseases finds that a third COVID-19 vaccine dose triggered a robust immune response, regardless of whether recipients had been infected more than 3 months earlier, but it didn't significantly increase antibody levels in those infected less than 3 months before.

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