We may think we’re done with COVID-19, but COVID-19 is not done with us As we approach a new presidential administration and a new Congress, we cannot regard COVID-19 as one of several respiratory diseases that can be dealt with through a vaccination program and other … ckulat The Hill

As we approach a new presidency, a new Congress and new leaders in our health agencies, I am concerned that the sense of urgency about COVID-19 appears to have faded. The disease has not been discussed during the election season, even though it is an ongoing and developing public health threat.

1st US case of bird flu in a pig raises concerns over potential human threat A pig at an Oregon farm was found to have bird flu. It’s the first time the virus has been detected in U.S. swine and raises concerns about bird flu’s potential to become a human threat. AP News

...finding bird flu in a pig raises worries that the virus may be hitting a stepping stone to becoming a bigger threat to people, said Jennifer Nuzzo, a Brown University pandemic researcher.

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Shortage of IV fluids leads to canceled surgeries IV fluids used in hospitals remain in short supply, after Hurricane Helene shut down a key North Carolina factory. The closure has hospitals scrambling to stretch supplies and prioritize care. NPR

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Paxlovid tied to fewer COVID-19 hospitalizations, reduced risk of long COVID Paxlovid was associated with a 61% lower risk of hospitalization. CIDRAP

A new retrospective cohort study conducted in Dubai shows that the antiviral nirmatrelvir plus ritonavir, sold as Paxlovid, is tied to a 61% reduction in COVID-19 hospitalization and a 58% lower rate of long COVID.

Why protective antibodies fade after COVID-19 vaccines New findings could help explain why the immune protection generated by COVID-19 vaccines tends to decline over time. National Institutes of Health (NIH)

• Researchers found that current COVID-19 vaccines fail to generate mature and durable antibody-producing cells in the bone marrow.
• The findings could help explain why protection tends to decline over time.
• Better understanding of long-term immune responses could lead to improved vaccines that provide enduring protection.
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Tuberculosis returns as top infectious disease killer, WHO says

Adding up the Public Health Costs of Using Coal to Make Steel - Inside Climate News A new report found connections between the American steel industry’s few remaining coal-based facilities and increased rates of asthma, cancer and premature deaths. Derek Harrison Inside Climate News

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An unprecedented number of flood emergencies have ravaged the US. It’s a warning of what’s to come | CNN Extreme weather has thrashed the United States this year with more flood emergencies than any other year — a deadly, sobering statistic that scientists say paints a picture of the future as the planet warms. Mary Gilbert CNN

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Climate change has increased the destructive force of natural disasters, knocking down power lines and leaving thousands in the dark. You don’t realize how much of your life depends upon a steady electricity stream until authorities say it may be weeks until service returns.

Here’s how natural disasters impact our energy security, what we can do about it and what hurdles we must first overcome.    ...