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The Hill
15 minutes ago
- The Hill
Where the summer COVID-19 infections are hitting hardest
The number of people with COVID-19 in the U.S. is low but increasing, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data released Friday. COVID-19 is trending up in many Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, Southern, and West Coast states. The agency said infections are 'growing or likely growing' in 40 states, based on emergency department visit data as of July 29. Infections were unchanged in nine states. The weekly percentage of emergency department visits among people diagnosed with COVID-19 is low, but growing, CDC said. Visits were highest for children younger than 4 years old, which experts said makes sense because many remain unvaccinated. WastewaterSCAN, which monitors infectious diseases through municipal wastewater systems, categorized national coronavirus levels as 'high' and trending upward since mid-July. According to CDC, the wastewater viral activity level for coronavirus is currently low, and only Alabama, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, California, Alaska and Texas reported 'high' or 'very high' levels. Experts say a lack of data is making it harder to track COVID-19 in real time, but the available information indicates the expected seasonal wave is happening. Ever since 2020, COVID-19 has peaked twice a year. Cases rise in the winter and drop into the spring, and then again in the summer as travel peaks and people seek air-conditioned indoor spaces away from the heat. While other respiratory viruses remain at low levels until the winter, experts have said COVID-19's ability to mutate sets it apart and contributes to a much higher baseline infection rate. More cases circulating year-round means more opportunities for the virus to mutate. The vaccine being updated for the coming fall season is targeted to the JN.1 variant, as it was last year. But Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has significantly narrowed recommendations on who should get the vaccine, raising significant questions about the availability and affordability come the fall. In May, Kennedy said the shots would no longer be recommended for healthy kids, a decision that health experts have said lacks scientific basis. A coalition of medical groups subsequently sued over the move. In addition, a new policy requires all updated COVID-19 vaccines to undergo extensive placebo-controlled clinical trials, as if it were a new shot rather than an update to one that already exists. The updated Covid shots are expected to be available in the fall to adults 65 and up and kids and adults with at least one medical condition that puts them at risk for severe illness — the groups exempt from the clinical trial requirement.
Axios
2 hours ago
- Axios
Colorado kindergartners' vaccine rates lag in 2025
Vaccination rates among Colorado kindergartners stayed stubbornly low during the 2024-2025 school year, new CDC data shows. Why it matters: The stagnation comes as U.S. measles cases reach a 33-year high, and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. challenges long-standing vaccine norms ahead of the start of school. By the numbers: 4.2% of Colorado kindergartners were exempt from one or more vaccines — unchanged from last year and above the national average of 3.6%. Colorado's goal for herd immunity is 95% coverage for core vaccines like MMR, which protects against measles, mumps and rubella. Last school year, Colorado kindergartners' MMR coverage was 88%, Polio was 87.6% and DTaP was 87.4%. Only Hepatitis B topped 90%.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Nutritionists warn that your matcha obsession could have this health drawback
The world has developed a thirst for matcha – a bright green Japanese drink that's sought after for its health benefits and caffeine. However, the drink of choice for many may have a downside. Not only is its popularity drying up global supplies, but drinking too much of it could contribute to an iron deficiency. Nutritionists warn the green lattes can affect iron absorption and vegetarians are at a higher risk than meat eaters. Matcha is made from the green tea plant, Camellia Sinensis, which is ground into a powder. Because it's grown in the shade the plant produces more chlorophyll, which not only gives it a deep green colour but also means it contains more nutrients. Rob Hobson, a nutritionist and author of Unprocess Your Family Life, explains the drink does have health benefits. 'It contains polyphenols which protects the body against oxidative damage. So, it helps to reduce inflammation which then helps to protect against chronic diseases,' he told the Independent. 'Because it contains caffeine it helps with mental focus. But it also contains L-theanine which helps to lessen that jittery edge that you get from caffeine,' he added. Research has also suggested these polyphenols in matcha can reduce the risk of heart disease. But the same health boosting polyphenols also make it harder for the body to absorb iron. Gunter Kuhnle, a professor of nutrition and food science at the University of Reading explained matcha tea can affect iron absorption by binding the (non-haem) iron that is found in many plant foods – such as lentils, leafy greens and tofu. 'It contains the compounds catechins and tannins – which are both polyphenols – that can bind to iron in the digestive tracts, and this stops them from being taken up by the body,' Professor Kuhnle told the Independent. 'These complexes then pass through the gut and are not useful for the body – this can reduce iron uptake by up to 50 per cent, but this varies a lot between individuals and depends on the timing of the meal and the type of food,' he added. He explained there is a similar problem with green tea because it also contains high levels of polyphenols. Although rare, in one instance a 48-year-old man became anaemic from excessive green tea consumption Professor Kuhnle said. Mr Hobson stressed that you don't need to worry if you have a balanced diet, but warned vegetarians are at a greater risk. That's because it only affects non-haem iron which is in tofu and lentils and not haem iron which is found in meat. 'If you are vegan or vegetarian and you are relying on lentils, leafy green and tofu for your iron, then you might want to avoid drinking matcha with your meals because it can inhibit iron absorption in the gut,' Mr Hobson said. He also stressed that if you are low in iron anyway and take iron supplements, you should avoid taking these at the same time as drinking a matcha. An iron deficiency, also called anaemia, can cause tiredness, shortness of breath, paler skin, headaches and heart palpitations, according to the NHS. Low iron is common among teenage girls, vegans and vegetarians with a study by Lund University in Sweden finding 38 per cent of participants who were teenage girls and 70 per cent of participants who were vegetarian or vegan, affected by the deficiency. If you want to reap the health benefits of matcha, in addition to not drinking it at mealtimes, make sure to avoid adding a lot of syrup or cream. Mr Hobson instead suggests the healthiest option is to drink it plain.
