Latest news with #ThomasRusso
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
What Are The New NB.1.8.1 COVID Variant Symptoms And When Will It Hit The U.S.? Doctors Explain
A new COVID variant is spreading quite quickly and is under monitoring by the WHO. The new is variant called NB.1.8.1 and is in the same family as Omicron. Here's what to look out for and potential symptoms. You probably haven't thought much about COVID-19 recently, and with good reason. While the virus is still circulating, cases have generally been down across the country. Unfortunately, that may change soon. There's a new COVID variant called NB.1.8.1 that's suddenly getting a lot of attention. NB.1.8.1 has been named a 'variant under monitoring' by the World Health Organization (WHO)—meaning, the global health agency is keeping a close eye on it. It also has 'increasing proportions globally,' according to the WHO, which points out that the variant has shown up in 22 countries so far and seems to be spreading quickly. "This particular variant is concerning simply because of the rapid spread," says Perry N. Halkitis, PhD, dean of the Rutgers School of Public Health. "However, it remains to be seen how widespread this variant would be given the immunity that exists in the other parts of the world." The news comes on the heels of the Trump administration limiting access to COVID-19 vaccines, including revising its guidance for children and pregnant women, raising questions about what to look out for with this variant and how to protect yourself. Here's what doctors want you to know. Meet the experts: Thomas Russo, MD, professor and chief of infectious disease at the University at Buffalo in New York. Perry N. Halkitis, PhD, dean of the Rutgers School of Public Health. NB.1.8.1 is a variation of the JN.1 COVID variant, which is from the Omicron family. 'It doesn't seem to be a huge jump, like we saw from the Delta to Omicron strains,' says Thomas Russo, MD, professor and chief of infectious disease at the University at Buffalo in New York. With that, the symptoms of NB.1.8.1 aren't wildly different from what we've seen in the past with COVID. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), those include: Fever or chills Cough Shortness of breath or trouble breathing Sore throat Congestion or a runny nose New loss of taste or smell Fatigue Muscle or body aches Headache Nausea or vomiting It's already here. 'There have already been a few cases detected in the U.S.,' Dr. Russo says. (The WHO points out that there was a big jump in NB.1.8.1 cases detected in the Americas between early April to mid-May, going from 1.6 percent of cases to nearly 5 percent.) It hasn't yet shown up on the CDC's variant tracker, though. It's hard to say as of this second, given that the variant has only recently taken off, Dr. Russo says. However, it does seem to be spreading fast, which suggests that it's highly infectious, he says. Here's where things get slightly tricky. In the past, the No.1 piece of advice doctors would share on protecting yourself from COVID-19 was to get the COVID vaccine. But federal health officials recently changed eligibility for the vaccine, putting it out of reach for most people who don't have specific underlying health conditions. Worth noting: A New England Journal of Medicine paper on this change that was written by Food and Drug Administration officials stated that pregnant women would have access to the vaccine, but Health and Human Services secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said in an announcement on X this week that he would be removing that access. That can make prevention tricky, Halkitis says. "Individuals who have no vaccination or those who just have the first generation vaccination are particularly susceptible since they don't have updated immunity against the variants that have been evolving over the course of the last five years," he says. So…? If you're not eligible for the vaccine and you're worried about getting COVID-19, Russo recommends wearing a mask in crowded indoor situations and trying to avoid people who are obviously sick. You Might Also Like Jennifer Garner Swears By This Retinol Eye Cream These New Kicks Will Help You Smash Your Cross-Training Goals
NBC News
4 days ago
- Health
- NBC News
A new Covid variant could drive up summer cases: Here's what you should know
A new Covid variant that's gaining momentum globally has landed in the U.S. The World Health Organization announced last week that it was monitoring the variant, NB.1.8.1, following a rise in cases in several parts of the world, including Europe, Southeast Asia and North and South America. The variant appears to be more transmissible than the dominant strain worldwide, LP.8.1, meaning it has the potential to drive up cases this summer. But it does not seem to be much better than LP.8.1 at evading protection from vaccines or a prior infection. And the WHO has found no evidence that it leads to more severe illness, so the agency has determined that it doesn't pose an added health risk. 'It's an important one to track, but it doesn't show any signs so far of being able to drive a large surge in Covid-19 cases — at least in the U.S.,' said Andrew Pekosz, a virologist at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Federal and state health officials regularly monitor Covid strains to identify potential changes in how the virus behaves and help inform vaccine updates. The strains that have been dominant in the U.S. since late 2021 are versions of the omicron variant and generally produce similar symptoms. NB.1.8.1 is part of that lineage. Covid vaccines are updated each fall to better match the circulating strains, but eligibility will likely be limited this year to older adults and young people with medical conditions. Infectious disease doctors said NB.1.8.1 could potentially lead to a small surge of infections for two reasons: The U.S. hasn't seen a Covid wave in awhile and less than a quarter of adults have received the latest booster, meaning population immunity has likely waned. 'It may unfortunately come back with a little bit of vengeance on us. Let's hope that doesn't happen, but I am concerned that we may be setting ourselves up for that with this combination of factors,' said Dr. Thomas Russo, chief of infectious diseases at the University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. Covid cases typically rise twice a year — in the summer and winter — regardless of what variant is circulating, said Dr. Scott Roberts, associate medical director of infection prevention at the Yale School of Medicine. 'I'm going to go ahead and guess that it's going to lead to an uptick in the summer — probably a mild to moderate one,' he said of NB.1.8.1. A spokesperson for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said there have been fewer than 20 sequences of NB.1.8.1 reported in the U.S. to date. That means the variant is not prevalent enough to appear on the CDC's dashboard, which lists variants that make up more than 1% of national Covid cases over a two-week period. The Arizona Department of Health Services said it identified three samples of the variant in late April and early May through routine surveillance. NB.1.8.1 has also been detected in Rhode Island, according to the state's health department. The Cleveland Clinic said it had detected a few cases in Ohio. 'Whether it gets a foothold in this country and it becomes our new dominant variant or not remains to be seen,' Russo said. The variant is now dominant in China, where it has spread rapidly since the start of the year. By late April, it made up nearly 11% of genetic sequences submitted to a global virus database called GISAID, up from 2.5% earlier that month. Meanwhile, LP.8.1 has become less prevalent since mid-April, according to the WHO. A preprint study, which has not been peer-reviewed, found that NB.1.8.1 had the 'potential for future dominance' over other circulating variants due to additional mutations that could make it more transmissible. People who haven't been vaccinated or had Covid in awhile should get a booster now if they're eligible, Roberts said. NB.1.8.1 is a cousin of JN.1 (the variant targeted by the current booster), so the vaccine should protect against it to some degree. The Food and Drug Administration has asked drugmakers to update Covid vaccines to target the LP.8.1 variant this fall. Data from Pfizer and Moderna suggest the updated vaccines would offer protection against NB.1.8.1 as well. But the FDA has said it will limit its approval of updated Covid shots to older adults and younger people with a medical condition that puts them at risk of severe illness. And the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday stopped recommending Covid vaccines for healthy children and pregnant women. 'I haven't seen any substantial new data to guide these decisions,' Roberts said. Doctors said they worry that, because of those changes, pregnant people and children under 5 may be vulnerable to severe outcomes from Covid this winter. And even healthy adults who've been vaccinated before might not have optimal protection, Russo said. 'Even for people that have received one shot, two shots, even three shots — yes, that's better than no shot,' he said. 'But we know that immunity wanes and we know the virus evolves.'
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
What Doctors Want You to Know About NB.1.8.1, the New COVID-19 Variant
There is a new COVID-19 variant gaining attention worldwide. The latest iteration of the coronavirus, called NB.1.8.1, is driving cases in several countries. The variant has been detected in the U.S. Here's what doctors want you to know about the latest iteration of the virus. New COVID-19 variants have quietly popped up since the start of the pandemic, but there's one in particular that's suddenly getting a lot of attention. It's called NB.1.8.1, and it's reportedly driving a surge of COVID-19 cases in China. NB.1.8.1 is showing up all over the world, including in the U.S. COVID-19 consistently has spikes in cases each summer, raising questions about whether NB.1.8.1 will fuel another wave. (Currently, COVID-19 infections are spreading in four states, per data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).) While it's unclear whether this new variant will cause the virus to spread even more, with updated COVID-19 vaccine guidance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, it's normal to want to know what you can do to protect yourself from the virus. Meet the experts: Thomas Russo, M.D., professor and chief of infectious disease at the University at Buffalo in New York, William Schaffner, M.D., an infectious disease specialist and professor at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine; infectious disease specialist Amesh Adalja, M.D., senior scholar at Johns Hopkins University Center for Health Security Here's the deal with the new COVID variant NB.1.8.1, including symptoms, prevention, and what infectious disease doctors want you to keep in mind now that the vaccine is off the table for many Americans. The NB.1.8.1 variant is a member of the Omicron family, according to William Schaffner, M.D., an infectious disease specialist and professor at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. 'It's another cousin,' he says. 'It appears to be quite contagious, but also quite similar to the other Omicron variants that are out there.' Late last week, the World Health Organization (WHO) designated NB.1.8.1 as a 'variant under monitoring,' which means that it 'may require prioritized attention and monitoring.' Still, 'it's early days for this variant,' says Thomas Russo, M.D., professor and chief of infectious diseases at the University at Buffalo in New York. The NB.1.8.1 has been detected in 22 countries, and cases have increased 2.5% from the previous four weeks. As of now, the variant has been spotted in the Western Pacific region, the Americas, Southeast Asia, and Europe. 'We're primarily seeing cases in the Pacific Rim and China,' Dr. Russo says. 'There are some cases in the U.S., suggesting that perhaps this variant has a selective advantage.' Dr. Russo notes that the ways that variants can surge are by evading immunity or being more infectious than previous strains. 'The early data suggests that it may be more immune evasive,' Dr. Russo says. While the WHO points out that NB.1.8.1 is 'growing rapidly compared to co-circulating variants,' the agency also notes that there's no evidence that the variant will cause more health risks compared to the current Omicron variants that are circulating. 'The symptoms are similar to the spectrum of symptoms seen with all versions of COVID-19,' says infectious disease specialist Amesh Adalja, M.D., senior scholar at Johns Hopkins University Center for Health Security. According to the CDC, those may include: Fever or chills Cough Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing Sore throat Congestion or a runny nose New loss of taste or smell Fatigue Muscle or body aches Headache Nausea or vomiting Dr. Adalja stresses that there's no reason to panic over the NB.1.8.1 variant. 'There is no reason to have any additional concern with this variant vs. others that have risen to dominance in the recent past,' he says. But federal health officials recently made changes to eligibility for the COVID-19 vaccine, limiting its availability to certain groups and raising questions about preventing the virus along the way. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, also announced in a video posted on X that the COVID-19 vaccine is no longer recommended for healthy children and pregnant women—a stark contrast to previous guidance. 'If individuals are high risk for severe disease, they should stay up to date with vaccination,' Dr. Adalja says. 'For lower-risk people, it is important to remember that this is an endemic virus that will always be generating new variants, and each person's risk tolerance will differ.' But if you have a big event coming up and want to lower the odds of getting sick (or just want to lower the odds of getting sick in general), Dr. Schaffner recommends wearing a mask in crowded indoor settings. Dr. Russo agrees. 'If you want to make every effort to protect yourself, masks are the way to go,' he says. You Might Also Like Can Apple Cider Vinegar Lead to Weight Loss? Bobbi Brown Shares Her Top Face-Transforming Makeup Tips for Women Over 50
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Scientists Warn Bird Flu May Spread Between Humans and Cats
New data suggest that cats can get bird flu from people. The infected cats were owned by dairy workers. Doctors say it's possible to get bird flu from pets, but unlikely to be an issue for most Americans. Bird flu continues to make headlines while farmers across the United States grapple with cases in their flock and cattle, and one person died from a case of severe bird flu in January. While there is currently no evidence of human-to-human transmission, a new study is looking at the potential spread between humans and cats. The study, which was published in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, breaks down how two indoor domestic cats contracted highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) virus, a.k.a. bird flu. The cats lived in the homes of dairy workers. One dairy worker had vomiting and diarrhea before their cat became sick, and the other cat owner had eye irritation after being splashed in the face with milk—but both declined to be tested for bird flu. Both cats developed respiratory symptoms and neurological issues, and one cat later died. While the owners declined to be tested for bird flu, the cats were tested and confirmed to have the virus. Meet the experts: Thomas Russo, M.D., professor and chief of infectious disease at the University at Buffalo in New York, William Schaffner, M.D., an infectious disease specialist and professor at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine; Bruce Kornreich, D.V.M., Ph.D., director of the Cornell Feline Health Center at Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine The study is raising a lot of questions about whether bird flu can be transmitted to pets and vice-versa, as well as how this could even happen. Here's what we know, plus what infectious disease experts and a veterinarian want you to keep in mind. Again, because these farm workers refused to be tested for bird flu, we can't say for sure that they gave their pets the virus. However, there are a few theories on how the cats may have gotten sick if they did, in fact, get bird flu from their owners. 'It's possible that the dairy workers came home with the virus on their hands, and that the pet cat licked their hands,' says William Schaffner, M.D., an infectious disease specialist and professor at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. The virus could also be spread from contaminated work clothes, and there's also a chance that cats would get it after drinking unpasteurized milk that their owners brought home from work, says Thomas Russo, M.D., professor and chief of infectious disease at the University at Buffalo in New York. While there's no definitive proof that the cats got bird flu from their owners, 'the possibility of transmission exists,' says Bruce Kornreich, D.V.M., Ph.D., director of the Cornell Feline Health Center at Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine. Infected birds can shed bird flu in their saliva, nasal secretions, and poop, according to the CDC. The virus can also infect others through contaminated surfaces, per the organization. But bird flu has also been detected in unpasteurized milk, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Eating uncooked or undercooked poultry or beef may also lead to infection, per the CDC. Cats may develop a few symptoms of bird flu, and they tend to get progressively worse, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Those may include: Loss of appetite Lethargy Fever Neurologic symptoms like circling, tremors, seizures, or blindness Heavy discharge from the nose and eyes Severe depression Rapid breathing, trouble breathing Sneezing Coughing 'Cats can get really sick, and they develop life-threatening disease in most cases,' Kornreich says. So far, there have been 70 cases of bird flu in humans detected in the U.S. and one death, per CDC data. The majority of cases have been in people exposed to infected dairy herds or poultry, although there are at least three cases where the source of exposure isn't known. Human infections with bird flu may happen with the virus gets into a person's eyes, nose, or mouth, or is inhaled, per the CDC. Symptoms of bird flu in people have ranged from mild to severe, according to the CDC, and may include: Eye redness Mild flu-like upper respiratory symptoms Pneumonia Fever or feeling feverish Cough Sore throat Runny or stuffy nose Muscle or body aches Headaches Fatigue Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing Diarrhea Nausea Vomiting Seizures Dr. Schaffner says he's increasingly heard questions about pets getting bird flu. While he says outdoor cats are the biggest concern, given that they may mouth or play with dead birds or even catch infected birds, there is 'potential' that dogs may get infected, too. While Dr. Russo says it's 'biologically plausible' to get bird flu from your pet, he also points out that this is less likely if you have an indoor pet. If you're worried about your pet becoming infected with bird flu, Dr. Schaffner suggests doing your best to keep them indoors or away from dead or sick animals by keeping a close eye on them when they're outside. It's also important not to feed your pets raw food or unpasteurized milk, Kornreich says. Dr. Schaffner recommends being cautious when you interact with birds, too, to protect you and your pets. 'If you want to fill up your bird feeder or change the water in your bird bath, wear surgical-style gloves and wash your hands well afterward,' he says. But if you have a cat and they develop symptoms of bird flu, Kornreich says it's important to isolate your cat from other people and pets. 'Thoroughly wash your hands before and after interacting with your cat, and try to change your clothes afterward,' he says. Kornreich also recommends calling your pet's vet, but not bringing your cat in to be seen right away. 'It's important for your vet to take appropriate precautions first to protect themselves and other patients,' he says. As for the risk of getting sick from your pet, Dr. Russo says this is unlikely to be a big issue for most Americans. 'I wouldn't rule it out but, at this time, the risk seems to be close to zero,' he says. Overall, Kornreich recommends that pet owners just do their best to stay informed about the latest information around bird flu and pets. 'It's really important not to panic,' he says. You Might Also Like Can Apple Cider Vinegar Lead to Weight Loss? Bobbi Brown Shares Her Top Face-Transforming Makeup Tips for Women Over 50
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
The Largest Tuberculosis Outbreak In U.S. History Is Happening Right Now. Here's How To Protect Yourself, According To An Infectious Disease Doctor
It's easy to think that tuberculosis is an illness from another era. But the United States is actually experiencing the largest tuberculosis outbreak in its history. The outbreak, which is concentrated in Kansas, seems to have been going on since 2021, but a lot of cases have been reported since 2024. Making things even more complicated is that the form of tuberculosis circulating right now appears to be resistant to two common treatment methods for the disease. Unfortunately, officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other government organizations are not allowed to publicly weigh in on the outbreak (or any other matters) due to a communications pause put in place by the Trump administration, per The Washington Post. So… there are some unanswered questions. Here's what we know about the tuberculosis outbreak in Kansas right now, plus how the infection spreads. Meet the expert: Thomas Russo, MD, is a professor and chief of infectious disease at the University at Buffalo in New York. Unfortunately, yes, there is a tuberculosis outbreak happening in Kansas, according to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. The department has documented 66 active cases of tuberculosis since 2024 and 79 latent infections. "Active" cases means that someone is contagious and having symptoms. Meanwhile, "latent" means that someone has tuberculosis but doesn't have symptoms and can't spread it to others, explains Thomas Russo, MD, a professor and chief of infectious disease at the University at Buffalo in New York. Latent cases can turn into active cases, he points out. 'Currently, Kansas has the largest outbreak that they've ever had in history,' Ashley Goss, a deputy secretary at the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, told the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee on January 28, per The Topeka Capital-Journal. A CDC report issued in 2023 shows the outbreak may stretch back to 2021. It's not entirely clear. The 2023 CDC report found that the outbreak was focused on four households, and it seems to have spread from there. 'Part of it is that some of these strains have been resistant to certain [medications]—perhaps initial treatment wasn't appropriate that could have halted spread,' Russo says. Tuberculosis is a disease caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis, per the CDC. Tuberculosis spreads through the air from one person to another. Someone with an active infection can put the germs into the air when they cough, speak, or sing. Those germs can hang out in the air for several hours, according to the CDC. If you breathe them in, you're likely to become sick. People with active tuberculosis infections can experience a range of symptoms. According to the CDC, those include: A cough that lasts three weeks or longer Chest pain Coughing up blood or phlegm Weakness or fatigue Weight loss Loss of appetite Chills Fever Night sweats Yes, tuberculosis is curable. It's usually treated with a six-month course of four antibiotics, including rifampicin and isoniazid, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). When people have drug-resistant tuberculosis, the treatment is longer and more complex, per the WHO. 'We just need to be cognizant of which drugs are going to be active against it,' Russo says. The best way to protect yourself from tuberculosis is to avoid people who are obviously sick. And, if you've been diagnosed with tuberculosis, it's crucial to follow the prescribed treatment plan. By the way, there is a tuberculosis vaccine, but it's not commonly used in the U.S., according to the CDC. Overall, Russo says this outbreak isn't something most people should be worried about. 'The overall magnitude of this outbreak is small, and we do have treatments for multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis,' he says. 'Will there be a few more cases? Probably. But I'm not concerned that this will turn into an overwhelming number of cases.' You Might Also Like Jennifer Garner Swears By This Retinol Eye Cream These New Kicks Will Help You Smash Your Cross-Training Goals
