Here’s how public health fared in 2024

The world faced many public health challenges this year, including dangerous heat waves and outbreaks of the infectious diseases dengue and mpox. In the United States, after years of increases, there are early but promising signs of a downward trend in drug overdose deaths.

Dengue, mpox and bird flu raised alarms

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Public health experts are warning of a ‘quad-demic’ this winter. Here’s where flu, COVID, RSV, and norovirus are spreading Taking precautions to protect yourself from the quartet of infectious diseases can lessen your odds of bringing an illness into the new year. Lindsey Leake Fortune

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Global warming can't be ignored, Montana's top court says, upholding landmark climate case Montana’s Supreme Court has upheld a landmark climate ruling that said the state was violating residents’ constitutional right to a clean environment by permitting oil, gas and coal projects without regard for global warming. AP News

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California declares first statewide emergency over bird flu The declaration comes the same day the first “severe” case was found in a human outside of the state. Emma Anderson Politico

California on Wednesday declared a statewide emergency over bird flu, with Gov. Gavin Newsom warning that “conditions of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property” meant greater efforts were needed to defeat the spread. ...

U.S. reports first severe human case of bird flu, in a patient hospitalized in Louisiana The CDC said the person was most likely exposed to the virus from sick or dead birds in a backyard flock. NBC News

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“The patient is experiencing severe respiratory illness related to H5N1 infection and is currently hospitalized in critical condition,” said Emma Herrock, a spokeswoman for the Louisiana Health Department.

Five years on from the pandemic, long COVID keeps lives on hold Three years ago, Andrea Vanek was studying to be an arts and crafts teacher when spells of dizziness and heart palpitations suddenly started to make it impossible for her to even take short walks. Science X Medical Xpress

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About six percent of people infected by coronavirus develop long COVID, according to the global health body, which has recorded some 777 million COVID cases to date. ...

Health workers think COVID, flu vaccines safe and effective, but many remain hesitant, global survey shows A survey of more than 7,700 healthcare workers (HCWs) in 12 countries in 2022 and 2023 finds that respondents agreed that COVID-19 and influenza vaccines are safe, effective, and useful, yet 1 in 5 reported moderate or strong COVID vaccine hesitation. CIDRAP

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https://www.science.org/content/article/infamous-paper-popularized-unproven-covid-19-treatment-finally-retracted

Infamous paper that popularized unproven COVID-19 treatment finally retracted

A 2020 paper that sparked widespread enthusiasm for hydroxychloroquine as a COVID-19 treatment was retracted today, following years of campaigning by scientists who alleged the research contained major scientific flaws and may have breached ethics regulations. The paper was pulled because of ethical concerns and methodological problems, according to a retraction notice.