Many Americans now have two oral antiviral pills that can be taken at home to treat a fresh case of COVID-19. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Thursday approved the emergency use of Merck’s molnupiravir pill for the treatment of mild to moderate COVID in people who’ve just tested positive. The approval comes on…  read on >  read on >

In a sign that white-tailed deer are becoming a reservoir for the new coronavirus, researchers report that COVID-19 variants are spreading among the wild animals. How they became infected and if these variants can infect humans isn’t known, experts say. “Animal reservoirs of zoonotic viruses pose obstacles to infectious disease control and open doors to…  read on >  read on >

When a child has severe health problems, the suffering often extends to the entire family, new research finds. Using data from a single health insurance provider, the study authors assessed nearly 7,000 children with life-threatening conditions and their families, and compared them to a control group of more than 18,600 children without a life-threatening condition…  read on >  read on >

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday approved the emergency use of Pfizer’s new antiviral pill Paxlovid in people who are at high risk for severe COVID-19. It’s the first approved treatment for COVID-19 meant to be taken at home. “Today’s authorization introduces the first treatment for COVID-19 that is in the form of…  read on >  read on >

Determining whether a young person with autism is ready to drive can be tricky for their health care providers. That’s the upshot of a new survey that included 78 pediatric physicians, psychologists and other providers in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Half of the respondents said they routinely talk to teen patients about their transportation needs…  read on >  read on >