While the United States is one of the only developed nations without universal sick leave, workers with COVID-19 can take paid emergency leave — at least for now. Problem is: Fewer than half of U.S. workers know it’s available, according to a new study. And, the researchers add, cases of sick employees who couldn’t take…  read on >  read on >

An alliance of leading U.S. cancer centers has updated guidance about COVID-19 vaccine boosters for cancer patients and the people around them. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network’s new recommendations are intended for health care providers. “COVID-19 can be very dangerous, especially for people living with cancer, which is why we’re so grateful for safe and…  read on >  read on >

Breast milk can give preemies’ hearts a big boost, a groundbreaking study suggests. “This study … adds to the already known benefits of breast milk for infants born prematurely,” said study leader Dr. Afif El-Khuffash, a clinical professor of pediatrics at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) University of Medicine and Health Sciences…  read on >  read on >

MONDAY, Sept. 6, 2021 (HealthDay News) – As the COVID-19 pandemic grinds on and stress on families mounts, more kids are falling victim to accidental poisoning. Experts attribute the surge to disrupted sleep patterns, work schedules and parenting routines. “I think what’s happening is, parents are challenged with a couple of things,” said Helen Arbogast,…  read on >  read on >

Danish researchers have found genetic causes for epilepsy in half of children they studied and said half of those could be treated with targeted therapies. That’s the upshot of genetic testing of 290 children born between 2006 and 2011. Some had been diagnosed with epilepsy. Others had had seizures along with a high temperature; they…  read on >  read on >

Boat traffic picks up on Labor Day weekend, and the Safe Boating Campaign offers some safety reminders for those leaving shore. “No matter your age, wear a life jacket from the moment you reach the dock and while you’re out on the water,” Yvonne Pentz, communications director of the National Safe Boating Council, said in…  read on >  read on >

It’s still not OK to kiss your chickens or your ducklings — you could catch a salmonella infection from barnyard birds. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has offered that warning before, and now an agriculture expert reminds backyard farmers that it’s better to have a less hands-on approach with their feathered friends.…  read on >  read on >

A new coronavirus variant called Mu that may be able to evade existing antibodies, including those from vaccines, is under close watch by U.S. health officials. The variant hasn’t taken extensive hold in the United States at this point, but the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases is taking it “very seriously,” according…  read on >  read on >