What scientists know about bird flu symptoms from the first 9 U.S. human cases (nbcnews.com)

What the 9 human cases of bird flu in the U.S. so far tell us about the disease The illnesses, all in farm workers, have been relatively mild — a contrast to the flu’s deadly effect on many birds and some mammals. NBC News

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Study finds no increased risk of birth defects after COVID-19 infection or vaccination in early pregnancy (medicalxpress.com)

Neither COVID-19 infection nor vaccination during the first trimester of pregnancy is associated with increased risk of major birth defects, finds a study from Scandinavia published by The BMJ today.

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Inquiry finds Britain was ill-prepared for COVID-19 pandemic and failed its citizens An inquiry into the U.K. government's response to COVID-19 found it was ill-prepared for a pandemic and serious errors in planning failed its citizens. AP News

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Long Covid risk has dropped over time but remains substantial, study shows | CNN With a summer wave of Covid-19 infections sweeping the country, a timely new study has looked at the risk of getting long Covid and whether those odds have changed over time. Brenda Goodman CNN

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It found that the likelihood of developing long Covid has dropped since the start of the pandemic but remains substantial, especially for people who aren’t vaccinated against the coronavirus.

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President Joe Biden tests positive for Covid-19 at pivotal moment in reelection campaign | CNN Politics President Joe Biden tested positive for Covid-19 on Wednesday, disrupting a key campaign event meant to shore up Latino voters at a critical juncture in the run-up to the election. Priscilla Alvarez, Donald Judd, Piper HudspethBlackburn CNN

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Biden, 81, was experiencing mild symptoms and has received his first dose of the antiviral drug Paxlovid, according to his doctor.

Paxlovid led to better outcomes in hospitalized COVID cohort than Veklury or both drugs Hospitalized COVID-19 patients treated with the antiviral drug nirmatrelvir–ritonavir (Paxlovid) are at lower risk for death, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and need for ventilation than those given a combination of Paxlovid and the antiviral drug remdesivir (Veklury) or Veklury alone, a University of Hong Kong target trial emulation study suggests. CIDRAP

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UN climate talks leader says financial help for poor nations is urgent goal of negotiations The head of upcoming climate negotiations is telling world leaders that a new financial aid package for poor and disaster-struck nations is the urgent and make-or-break goal of United Nations talks this fall ABC News ABC News

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EU court criticises Commission over handling of COVID vaccine contracts Europe's second-highest court on Wednesday criticised the European Commission for a lack of transparency over COVID-19 vaccine contracts four years ago, a day before a key vote on Commission head Ursula von der Leyen's bid for a second term. Foo Yun Chee,Bart H. Meijer Reuters

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R21 vaccine: Children in Ivory Coast receive first doses of new malaria vaccine, hailed as major milestone | CNN

Children receive first doses of new malaria vaccine, hailed as major milestone | CNN Children in Ivory Coast received the first doses of a new, relatively cheap malaria vaccine on Monday, a step that has been hailed as a key moment in the battle against one of the world’s most deadly diseases. Issy Ronald CNN

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UN Expert on Climate Change and Human Rights Sees ‘Crucial and Urgent Demand’ to Clarify Governments’ Obligations - Inside Climate News “The world hasn’t been making progress on this fast enough.” Elisa Morgera’s role is to get countries thinking about, and acting on, the many human rights consequences of the climate crisis. Derek Harrison Inside Climate News

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Rising conflicts globally slowed childhood vaccination rate in 2023, UN says More children were left out of critical vaccination drives for diseases such as diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough last year as a rise in conflicts across the globe hindered the supply of life-saving shots mostly in strife-torn regions, the United Nations said on Monday. Jennifer Rigby,Christy Santhosh Reuters

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US COVID-19 activity rising steadily Respiratory illness viruses as a whole remain at low levels, but many parts of the countries are experiencing consistent increases in COVID-19 activity, which has been trending upward from very low levels, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said today in its latest updates. CIDRAP

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1 in 10 pregnant women with COVID-19 go on to develop long COVID, study finds A new study suggests that almost 1 in 10 women infected with COVID-19 during pregnancy will go on to develop long COVID. The study was published yesterday in Obstetrics & Gynecology and adds to evidence showing COVID-19 infection posing unique risks to pregnant women.  CIDRAP

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Prior research has shown that pregnant women infected with the virus are more likely to suffer hospitalization and death compared to non-pregnant controls. COVID in pregnancy also leads to a higher risk of stillbirth and preterm birth.

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