The spread of a virus from animals to people and back again is not unique to COVID-19 and has occurred at least 100 times, according to a new study. This so-called disease “spillback” has recently attracted significant attention due to the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in farmed mink, lions and tigers in zoos and wild white-tailed… read on > read on >
All Mommy:
Shift Work Might Delay Menopause, With Potential Harms to Health
Women whose jobs require shift work may experience delayed menopause, according to a new study, and it could be bad for their health. Whether it’s working the overnight shift or different hours from day to day, shift work has been linked to higher risks for a variety of health problems, including certain cancers, heart disease,… read on > read on >
Drink Up! Daily Coffee Tied to Longer, Healthier Life
In yet another finding that highlights the health perks coffee can brew, new studies show that having two to three cups a day not only wakes you up, it’s also good for your heart and may help you live longer. In this largest ever analysis of nearly 383,000 men and women who were part of… read on > read on >
Moderna Will Ask FDA to Approve COVID Vaccine for Young Kids
Moderna announced Wednesday that it will ask the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to approve the emergency use of its COVID-19 vaccine for children under 6. The company said that its request is based on interim results from its clinical trial that showed, even when given a dose that was one-quarter as strong as the… read on > read on >
Free COVID Tests, Treatments for Uninsured Americans Cut for Lack of Funding
Uninsured Americans will no longer be covered for free COVID-19 tests and treatments because of the budget impasse in Congress, a Biden administration official said Tuesday. The program was to stop accepting claims at midnight Tuesday, according to Martin Kramer, a spokesman for the Health Resources and Services Administration, the Associated Press reported. “The lack… read on > read on >
A New Male Birth Control Pill Works — in Mice
Science is moving closer to a male contraceptive pill, and human clinical trials of a non-hormonal version could begin later this year, researchers say. The experimental contraceptive works in mice, according to a preliminary study scheduled for presentation Wednesday at an American Chemical Society (ACS) meeting in San Diego. “Scientists have been trying for decades… read on > read on >
Babies, Toddlers Produce Stronger Immune Response to COVID Than Adults
In a finding that could influence future COVID vaccine recommendations for the youngest Americans, new research finds that infants and toddlers have a stronger immune response to the new coronavirus than adults do. To arrive at that conclusion, scientists analyzed blood samples collected from 682 unvaccinated children and adults up to age 62, in 175… read on > read on >
Ultrasounds, Exams Unnecessary Before Receiving Abortion Pill: Study
Women can safely use abortion pills without first getting ultrasound scans, or having an in-person medical appointment at all, a new study confirms. For more than 20 years, U.S. women have had access to medication abortions for ending early pregnancies, using the drugs mifepristone and misoprostol. But for most of that time, the U.S. Food… read on > read on >
Home COVID Tests Can Cause Harm If Not Stored Safely: FDA
At-home COVID-19 tests are a key tool in containing the spread of the coronavirus. But a few safety precautions are in order to prevent serious injury, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns. The tests can cause harm if they’re not used according to manufacturers’ instructions, and they also need to be kept out of… read on > read on >
Antibodies From COVID Infection Shield Kids for Up to 7 Months
Antibodies from a COVID-19 infection linger in most children for up to seven months, even if they had no symptoms, a new study finds. To come to that reassuring conclusion, researchers analyzed data from 218 children in Texas, ages 5 to 19, who were enrolled in an ongoing survey launched in October 2020 to track… read on > read on >