When will the next COVID, flu surge start? Experts weigh in October is typically the calm before the storm when it comes to respiratory viruses. But health experts say it’s not time to get comfortable. A surge in flu and COVID cases is likely on the w… amartichoux The Hill

... A surge in flu and COVID cases is likely on the way, but the timing of the winter wave may be different this year.

Over 2,700 suspected new mpox cases in one week in Africa A total of 2,729 new suspected cases of the disease mpox have been reported in Africa over the period of one week, according to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Dpa Medical Xpress

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Of these, 1,001 have been confirmed through tests, said Ngashi Ngongo, the head of the mpox team at the Africa CDC.

He added that this number, however, does not provide reassurance regarding the other cases, as it is due to limited testing and laboratory capacities in the affected countries.

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US COVID markers continue to decline Though the KP.3.1.1 variant is still dominant, levels of the newer XEC variant continue to rise. CIDRAP

After a long summer wave that peaked in August, COVID-19 activity continues to decline in most areas, with more downward trends seen in wastewater detections, test positivity, emergency department visits, and hospitalizations, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said in its latest respiratory virus updates (Friday)...

GAO report shows how US schools spent pandemic relief funds, including on better ventilation A new report from the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) concludes that, by the end of the 2021-22 school year, US school districts had spent about $60 billion in federal COVID-19 emergency aid through the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) fund. CIDRAP

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Contrary to perceptions, vaccine refusal found to be lower for Black patients than white patients Throughout the COVID pandemic, the media widely reported that Black patients were more likely than white patients to refuse vaccines, including the influenza and COVID vaccines. American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology Medical Xpress

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Exclusive: Emails Reveal How Health Departments Struggle To Track Human Cases of Bird Flu - KFF Health News Emails show how health officials struggle to track the bird flu, partly in deference to the agricultural industry. As a result, researchers don’t know how often farmworkers are being infected — and could miss alarming signals. kffhnamym KFF Health News

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CDC panel lowers age for key vaccine. What older adults should know. A panel for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention voted to lower the recommended age for older adults to get their pneumococcal vaccine. Adrianna Rodriguez USA TODAY

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UnitedHealth says data of 100 million stolen in Change Healthcare breach UnitedHealth has confirmed for the first time that over 100 million people had their personal information and healthcare data stolen in the Change Healthcare ransomware attack, marking this as the largest healthcare data breach in recent years. Lawrence Abrams BleepingComputer

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Crackdown on Homeless Encampments Raises Public Health Questions - KFF Health News As states turn to the health-care system to help address homelessness, experiments with housing and other social services aimed at getting people healthier and off the streets are running up against new, aggressive crackdowns — with some cities ratcheting up enforcement of existing anticamping laws and others passing new restrictions. From Florida to California, elected […] khnerich KFF Health News

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U.S. CDC recommends expanding pneumococcal vaccines to adults aged 50-64

Maternal COVID infections may affect newborn heart development Ten percent of newborns in the COVID-19 group had abnormalities, compared with 4% in the control group. CIDRAP

Maternal COVID-19 infection during pregnancy may adversely affect the development of the newborn's heart, resulting in congenital heart defects (CHD), researchers suggested yesterday in Scientific Reports.

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