COVID-19
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Bay Area Scrambles To Find Elusive Eggs As Avian Flu Throttles Supplies
Joe Warne of San Francisco took one look at the empty shelves on Saturday and all but cracked up: “There’s no freakin’ eggs!” Not at the Safeway on Monterey Boulevard where Warne hoped to find them, nor at the Trader Joe’s on nearby Winston Drive. “That’s crazy!” Meghan Berry said as she stared at the barren counters at Trader Joe’s where the eggs were supposed to be. She had hoped to stock up after returning from a trip to Missouri and Florida for the holidays. But what lay before her were just a few open cartons, smeared with cracked contents. In fact, customers all over California are scrambling to find eggs, and the problem has gotten worse in the last week or so. It’s as if they’ve all been poached. SF Chronicle Read more
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City of San Francisco, Schools Have No Plans To Reinstate Masks As New COVID Subvariant Hits State
The new COVID Omicron subvariant XBB.1.5 accounts for 75% of cases in the Northeast. Predicting a surge, large school districts like Philadelphia and Boston Unified have reinstated mask policies. So far, there are no plans to do the same in San Francisco. SFUSD follows the California Department of Public Health in terms of COVID guidance, and the agency is only requiring masks in high-risk facilities such as nursing homes and hospitals. The San Francisco Department of Public Health in an emailed statement said it also “does not have plans to implement restrictions at this time and will continue to monitor the situation closely.” San Francisco Examiner Read more
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San Jose, Oakland Airports Battle To Regain Pre-COVID Passenger Levels
Passenger trips through the airports in San Jose and Oakland are cruising at levels that are well below the altitudes where they soared before the coronavirus outbreak. The deadly bug unleashed an array of economic ailments on the travel markets and the hotel sector in the Bay Area and worldwide. The East Bay and South Bay airports have yet to fully recover from their prior maladies. Updated reports suggest that both San Jose International Airport and Oakland International Airport continue to struggle to reclaim the activity stratospheres they had reached prior to the coronavirus. Mercury News
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COVID Vaccine/Treatment News |
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Bivalent Boosters Substantially Cut November Hospitalizations
American adults who did not receive an updated COVID-19 bivalent booster were nearly three times more likely to require hospitalization for an infection in November, according to data published Friday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For unvaccinated individuals over the age of 18, the rate of hospitalization was about 16 times higher compared to those who completed their primary vaccine series and received the updated booster. The rate of hospitalization following a COVID-19 infection was highest for people between 18 to 49 years old, with vaccinated but unboosted individuals in that age group 3.2 times more likely to be hospitalized, and the rate 29.9 times higher for those who are unvaccinated. SF Chronicle Read more
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COVID Vaccine Study Raises Questions About Boosters
It turns out that COVID-19, and the efforts to fight it, still have some mysteries for scientists to puzzle over. A new Cleveland Clinic study of vaccinations of thousands of its employees had a surprising finding: Employees with a high number of vaccine doses, including boosters, were more likely to contract COVID-19. “The study found that the longer it has been since last exposure to the virus by infection or vaccination, the higher the risk of acquiring COVID-19. It also found that the higher the number of vaccine doses an individual previously received, the higher the risk of contracting COVID-19,” according to a statement from the Cleveland Clinic summarizing the study.
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Study Notes Racial Disparities In Kids' COVID Vaccine Uptake
COVID-19 vaccination rates among US children aged 5 to 17 years varied widely by race as of August 2022, with the highest coverage among Asian youth and the lowest in Black children, underscoring the need for culturally relevant information, according to a study published today in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) researchers analyzed data from the National Immunization Survey-Child COVID Module from 94,838 respondents with children 6 months to 17 years old from December 2020 to September 2022. CIDRAP Read more
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State/National/International News |
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Biden Administration Launches Pilot Program For COVID-19 Telehealth Care
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) on Thursday announced the launch of a pilot program that will allow people to receive free testing, consultation and treatment for COVID-19 from their homes. The NIH estimated up to 8,000 eligible individuals will participate in the pilot program, called the Home Test to Treat program, which will be led by local and state officials in Berks County, Pennsylvania. “At-home testing for COVID-19 is now widely available in the United States, as are antiviral treatments, and this program combines easy home access to both,” said Bruce Stromberg, director of the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering at the NIH. The Hill
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The Symptoms Of COVID Variant XBB That Doctors Are Seeing
Right Now
If you’ve been following COVID news, then you’re likely well aware there’s a new variant in town that’s concerning the scientific community. Known as XBB, the variant is believed to be the most immune-evasive to date and currently accounts for over 40% of infections in the United States, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That percentage is expected to grow exponentially in the coming weeks as XBB out-competes other Omicron variants like BQ.1. Because XBB is relatively new, scientists are still working to figure out if and how the variant behaves differently from other recent variants. Though XBB’s symptoms are expected to be on par with past Omicron infections, doctors say they are seeing some issues becoming more prevalent than others. “In general, I think people are more achy and still have congestion and headache,” Dr. Julie Parsonnet, an infectious diseases specialist with Stanford Health Care, told HuffPost. You may also expect to see the other usual symptoms: fever, chills, cough and sore throat. HuffPost Read more
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Stanford Medicine Scientists Pinpoint COVID-19 Virus’s Entry And Exit Ports Inside Our Noses
Somebody just coughed on you. On a plane. At a dinner party. In a supermarket line. If only there were a “morning after” nasal spray that could knock out respiratory viruses’ ability to colonize your nose and throat. In a study recently published in the print issue of Cell, Peter Jackson, PhD, a Stanford Medicine professor of pathology and of microbiology and immunology, and his colleagues brought that possibility closer to reality by pinpointing the routes that SARS-CoV-2, the COVID-19 virus, takes to enter and exit cells in our nasal cavity. “Our upper airways are the launchpad not only for infection of our lungs but for transmission to others,” Jackson said. Stanford Medicine Read more
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Here’s What People With Long COVID Need To Know About Navigating Health Insurance
Navigating the health insurance system is often difficult and overwhelming, even in the best of times. For patients with long COVID , a relatively new condition that frequently leaves patients with a lengthy and unpredictable list of debilitating symptoms, it can be especially nightmarish. “Even if you remain on the same [health insurance] plan you had before COVID, you will probably utilize the health-care system more, whether it be more office visits, more prescription medications or even more medical devices,” said Caitlin Donovan, a spokesperson for the National Patient Advocate Foundation. CNBC
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WHO Wants More Data From China As Omicron Drives COVID Surge
Two known Omicron subvariants are driving the vast majority of infections as COVID-19 surges through China, the World Health Organization said on Wednesday, repeating a call for more transparency as the country grapples with the end of its COVID Zero policy. The WHO wants rapid, regular and reliable data on hospitalizations, as well as more comprehensive real-time viral sequencing, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said. A lack of adequate epidemiological data from China is a key factor cited by the U.S. and other countries as they put new COVID testing requirements in place for travelers.
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China’s COVID Wave Threatens Another Snarl of U.S. Medical Supply Chain
As COVID infections surge across China, the U.S. again risks falling short of medical supplies as that country struggles to keep factories running and goods flowing out of its ports. U.S. hospitals, health care companies and federal officials worked to lessen their dependence on China for medical goods after the first wave of COVID infections in 2020 laid bare the major role China plays in manufacturing such crucial items as masks, latex gloves and surgical gowns, along with the key drugs and components in many medical devices.
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RSV And Flu Cases Subside As COVID Hospitalizations Tick Up
Seasonal flu activity remains high but is declining in most areas, according to data released Friday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While this flu season started earlier than in previous years, metrics have slowed in recent weeks. So far this season, there have been at least 22 million illnesses, 230,000 hospitalizations, and 14,000 deaths from flu, according to CDC estimates. The number of new flu hospital admissions was similar to last week and declined for the three weeks prior. ABC News Read more
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The CDC Issues An Advisory About A Surge In Strep Throat Cases In Kids
The CDC recently issued an advisory about a surge in strep throat in kids ages 5 to 15. Grown-ups can get this, too. Our colleague Leila Fadel had it over the holidays. It's been more complicated to detect lately because it is just one of several respiratory illnesses. So we called Dr. Afif El-Hasan, who's with the American Lung Association and a pediatrician with Kaiser Permanente in Orange County, Calif. NPR Read more
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A Printable Guide For Helping Someone In A Mental Health Crisis
When you see someone experiencing a mental health crisis, you may need to act fast. You’ve got to find the right resources, and in some cases, you may need to call in professionals and talk with dispatchers about what’s going on. But how do you know which numbers to call? And how do you know if the situation is, in fact, a crisis?
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Mental Health Days Off From School May Soon Become A Reality In New York
Lawmakers in New York state are considering joining a dozen other states that allow students to take mental health days off from school. The proposal is expected to be introduced this month in Albany. The intention is to make emotional wellness a health priority. The stresses of growing up, amplified by the isolation of the pandemic, have created a generation of anxiety and depression, with suicide on the rise. In South Huntington, Walt Whitman High School now offers students counseling at a nearby urgent care center, removing the stigma of asking for help. "Students who are kind of maybe struggling and may just need a day to go somewhere," senior Hasham Coudrey said. CBS News Read more
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NFL Player’s Collapse Sparks Concern For Athletes’ Mental Health
Athletes’ mental health has been an increasing topic of discussion over the last several years. With national champions like Simone Biles and Naomi Osaka speaking out about their experiences with mental illness, the subject has been breached, facilitating conversations about personal wellness, autonomy, and national duty. What once might have been a blissful ignorance that the strongest and fastest among us were made of stronger armor, now a very real, very important discourse emerges. After the NFL’s latest incident, sports fans and leagues across the country must reconsider what it means to be well and healthy in body and mind to ensure all athletes feel safe and supported. Addiction Center Read more
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Fentanyl Crisis/Drug Trends |
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Fentanyl Is The Deadliest Drug In America, CDC Confirms
Fentanyl is now the most commonly used drug involved in drug overdoses, according to a new government report. The latest numbers from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics say that the rate of drug overdoses involving the synthetic opioid skyrocketed by about 113% each year from 2013 through 2016. The number of total drug overdoses jumped 54% each year between 2011 and 2016. In 2016, there were 63,632 drug overdose deaths. CNN Read more
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Tranq Dope: Animal Sedative Mixed With Fentanyl Brings Fresh Horror To U.S. Drug Zones
Over a matter of weeks, Tracey McCann watched in horror as the bruises she was accustomed to getting from injecting fentanyl began hardening into an armor of crusty, blackened tissue. Something must have gotten into the supply. Switching corner dealers didn’t help. People were saying that everyone’s dope was being cut with something that was causing gruesome, painful wounds. “I’d wake up in the morning crying because my arms were dying,” Ms. McCann, 39, said. In her shattered Philadelphia neighborhood, and increasingly in drug hot zones around the country, an animal tranquilizer called xylazine — known by street names like “tranq,” “tranq dope” and “zombie drug” — is being used to bulk up illicit fentanyl, making its impact even more devastating. NY Times Read more
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245% Increase in Abuse: Children Are Ditching Alcohol For Marijuana
A recent study published in the journal Clinical Toxicology has found that marijuana abuse among adolescents in the United States has increased 245% since 2000, while alcohol abuse has decreased over the same period. The study, which tracked intentional misuse and abuse reported to the National Poison Data System (NPDS) until 2020, found 338,000 instances of intentional abuse or misuse among American children aged 6-18. The majority of these cases involved males (58.3%), and more than 80% of all reported cases occurred among teenagers aged 13 to 18. In total, over 32% of these instances resulted in “worse than minor clinical outcomes.” SciTechDaily Read more
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Pharmaceutical Company Says Drug Shrinks Tumors In Common Pediatric Brain Cancer, Setting Up Potential Approval
Day One Biopharmaceuticals said Sunday that a targeted therapy shrank tumors by at least 50% in a majority of children with the most common form of pediatric brain cancer, setting up a potential approval in a rare disease long overlooked by drugmakers.
The new data expand on earlier results released last year from 22 patients. Of the 69 pediatric low-grade glioma patients now evaluated, 44, or 64%, saw their tumors dwindle to less than half their original size, including three patients whose tumors disappeared. STAT Read more
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Israeli Researchers Develop Promising New Blood Cancer Treatment
Israeli patients suffering from multiple myeloma (a cancer of white blood cell) or amyloidosis (in which abnormal proteins build up in tissue) have improved or gone into remission with an experimental treatment of CAR-T positive cells. The medical technology – called HBI0101, anti-BCMA CAR-T cells –was given as part of an ongoing Phase 1b clinical trial at Hadassah-University Medical Center in Jerusalem. Some 85% of the myeloma patients improved, while the complete response rate of the amyloidosis patients reached 100%. In both patient populations, no significant unexpected side effects were observed, the researchers reported. The Jerusalem Post Read more
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Moderna Signs $35 Million Deal With Cancer Drug Developer CytomX
Moderna Inc. on Thursday announced a $35 million licensing deal with cancer-focused drug developer CytomX Therapeutics to work on messenger RNA-based therapies for a wide range of diseases. The news comes a month after an experimental cancer vaccine from Moderna based on mRNA technology was shown to work against a type of skin cancer. The deal offers CytomX access to Moderna's mRNA technology, which has been used to develop COVID-19 vaccines, while Moderna would get access to CytomX's Probody platform, used in the development of cancer therapies targeting diseased tissues. Reuters Read more
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Total Confirmed Cases
Bay Area: 1,883,035
California: 11,878,886
U.S.: 101,258,912
Alameda County
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the Latest Figures
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Total Reported Deaths
Bay Area: 9.559
California: 98,922
U.S.: 1,096,581
Contra Costa County
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the Latest Figures
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How Doctors Treat Their Own Colds At Home
Coming down with a cold is a pretty miserable experience. You’re tired, uncomfortable and ready to just feel better. If you have a cold, you may have a runny nose, cough or congestion. You may even have “low-grade fevers, fatigue, sneezing, sinus pressure and muscle soreness,” according to Dr. Christopher Scuderi, a family physician in Jacksonville, Florida. Unfortunately, there isn’t a magic pill that will just make your cold go away. Instead, you have to wait it out. But experts also say there are things you can do at home to help yourself feel a little better throughout your sickness — and many of these things don’t cost any money at all.
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- COVID-19 testing is a good idea, but keep in mind, people who test negative can still harbor the virus if they are early in their infection.
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A viral test tells you if you have a current infection.
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An antibody test might tell you if you had a past infection.
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About Eden Health District |
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The Eden Health District Board of Directors are Chair Mariellen Faria, Vice Chair Pam Russo, Secretary/Treasurer Roxann Lewis, Surlene Grant and Ed Hernandez. The Chief Executive Officer is Mark Friedman.
The Eden Health District is committed to ensuring that policy makers and community members receive accurate and timely information to help make the best policy and personal choices to meet and overcome the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
We welcome your feedback on our bulletin. Please contact editor Lisa Mahoney.
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